IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYON (130-202 A.D.) ONCE NOTED THAT: “NOTHING GLORIFIES GOD MORE THAN A HUMAN BEING MADE HOLY; NOTHING IS MORE LIKELY TO MAKE A PERSON HOLY THAN THE DESIRE TO GLORIFY GOD.”
WORSHIP. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WORD IS MORE THAN JUST THE TERM YOU USE FOR THIS SERVICE ON SUNDAY. WORSHIP SHOULD BE AT THE HEART OF ALL THAT WE DO. WORSHIP IS NOT JUST A “SERVICE” CONDUCTED ON SUNDAY, BUT AN ATTRIBUTE OF WHO WE ARE BECAUSE IT IS AT THE CORE OF OUR VERY BEING.
WORSHIP IS OUR WAY OF LIVING OUT AND EXPRESSING WHAT GOD MEANS TO US. THE WORD “WORSHIP” COMES FROM TWO WORDS THAT LITERALLY MEAN “WORTH-SHIP” OR “WORTHINESS.”
WORSHIP IS A WORD THAT MEANS “ATTRIBUTING WORTH, HONOR, REVERENCE OR RESPECT TO SOMEONE.” THAT MEANS “WORSHIP” IS OUR WAY OF EXPRESSING GOD’S WORTH TO US. WORSHIP IS OUR EXPRESSION OF JOY AND THANKSGIVING THAT WE HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO GOD THE FATHER.
HAVING AN AWARENESS OF WORSHIP SHOULD EMBODY OUR DAILY LIVES AND HOW WE PROCESS THOUGHT, CONDUCT OURSELVES AND RESPOND TO BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EVENTS IN OUR LIVES. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31, “SO WHETHER YOU EAT OR DRINK, OR WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.” WORSHIP IS ONE WAY TO DO TO JUST THAT.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE HOLINESS OF GOD, SHOULD BE AN AWARENESS WE CARRY WITH US. I PRAY THAT WE WILL NEVER LOSE OUR SENSE OF AWE OR FAIL TO FULLY GRASP WHAT WE ARE DOING WHEN WE WALK INTO THE SANCTUARY FOR SUNDAY SERVICES.
WHEN WE WALK THROUGH THE DOORS AND ENTER INTO THE SANCTUARY, WE ARE, IN A SENSE, LEAVING THE FINITE WORLD OF HUMAN UNDERSTANDING AND USHERING OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND MORTAL FLESH INTO THE SUPERNATURAL AND INFINITE PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD WORTHY OF OUR ATTENTION, FOCUS, ADORATION, PRAISE AND WORSHIP. WE SHOULD BE TAKING IT THAT SERIOUSLY AND APPROACHING GOD WITH UTMOST REVERENCE.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IN CORPORATE WORSHIP IS TO APPROACH GOD WITH DISRESPECT, DISHONOR, DISTRACTIONS, AND A HEART AND MIND NOT FOCUSED OR READY TO WORSHIP. YES, IT REALLY IS THAT SACRED AND THAT IMPORTANT.
I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT MAKES OUR SCRIPTURE LESSON SO POWERFUL, YET SAD AND DISAPPOINTING. AARON, THE BROTHER OF MOSES, HAD TWO SONS NADAB AND ABIHU WHO WERE SET APART AND CONSECRATED TO THE HOLY VOCATION OF PRIESTHOOD. YET, THESE TWO PRIESTS WERE CONSUMED BY GOD’S HOLY FIRE.
LET’S FIRST SET UP THIS SITUATION. REMEMBER FIRST, WHO STARTED THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR. LEVITICUS 9:24, “FIRE BLAZED FORTH FROM THE LORD’S PRESENCE AND CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE FAT ON THE ALTAR. WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW THIS, THEY SHOUTED WITH JOY AND FELL FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND.”
THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY GOD, HIMSELF, BECAUSE HE FOUND THE SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLE. THIS FIRE CAME DIRECTLY FROM GOD, SO THIS IS WHY IT HAD TO BE KEPT CONTINUOUSLY BURNING.
IF WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND THIS, WE MUST GO BACK AND REMEMBER GOD’S COMMAND BEFORE HE LIT THE FIRE. EXODUS 30:9, “DO NOT OFFER ANY STRANGE INCENSE ON THIS ALTAR, OR ANY BURNT OFFERINGS, GRAIN OFFERINGS, OR LIQUID OFFERINGS.”
GOD LAID OUT HIS WISHES, COMMANDS AND INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE TO BE FOLLOWED EXACTLY AS HE SAID. NO ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, COMPROMISES OR DEVIATION. GOD’S WAY. PERIOD! THIS IS WHERE NADAB AND ABIHU MADE SEVERAL MISTAKES.
THEIR MISTAKES WERE:
1. THEY DIDN’T FOLLOW THE CLEAR AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS.
2. THEY DIDN’T USE COALS FROM GOD’S FIRE.
3. IT WAS AT THE WRONG TIME (NOT ONE GIVEN BY GOD).
4. WRONG CENSORS (THEIR OWN/NOT ONE OF THE TEMPLE).
5. THEY ASSUMED THE ROLE OF THE HIGH PRIEST (NOT THEIR JOB).
6. ASSUMING THIS ROLE, THEY APPARENTLY WENT INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES!
7. BASED ON VERSE 9, THEY WERE APPARENTLY INTOXICATED AT THE TIME. YES, DRUNK ON DUTY!
THAT IS A LOT OF MISTAKES ALL AT ONCE! YES, AS PRIESTS, THEY WERE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, BUT BEYOND THAT IS THE REALITY THAT THEY ARE DRUNK, BEING SLOPPY, DOING THINGS THEIR OWN WAY AND NOT FOLLOWING THE COMMANDS AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS GOD HAD PLAINLY REVEALED.
THE REASON GOD TOOK THEIR LIFE? THIS IS STRONG CASE OF TRIVIALIZING THAT WHICH IS HOLY AND SACRED. WHAT HAD BEEN INTENDED TO BE MOST HOLY AND SACRED WAS BEING DEGRADED DOWN TO MAKING IT MUNDANE, ORDINARY, AND WORLDLY “GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS” RITUAL. WHAT THEY HAD DONE WAS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF GOD’S COMMAND.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE A WORTHY PURPOSE AND A PROPER SPIRIT WHEN WE ENTER INTO SERVICE AND WORSHIP OF GOD; GOD’S WORK AND WORSHIP MUST ALSO BE DONE IN GOD’S WAY. PURSUING THE RIGHT END DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY IMPLY USING THE RIGHT MEANS.
SO, HOW IS THIS A MESSAGE FOR US TODAY? THE APPLICATION COMES FROM WHAT MOSES TOLD AARON AFTER THE LOSS OF HIS SONS. MOSES SAID, “THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE, SAYING‘BY THOSE WHO COME NEAR ME, I MUST BE REGARDED AS HOLY; AND BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE I MUST BE GLORIFIED.’ ”
OUR APPLICATION IS THAT WE MUST NEVER, EVER, WEAKEN OR LOSE OUR HEALTHY FEAR OF GOD. NEVER ASSUME THAT THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS SOMETHING THAT BELONGED BACK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD AND IS NO LONGER A PART OF THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TODAY.
THE FEAR OF GOD INVOLVES A SENSE OF REVERENCE AND AWE BECAUSE OF HIS GLORIOUS HOLINESS. WHEN WE COME INTO HIS PRESENCE, WE ARE TO COME AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE PREPARED AND HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND RECONCILED. GODLY FEAR IS INSPIRED BY HAVING A RESPECT FOR THE ONE WITH WHOM WE ARE DEALING.
THE MESSAGE IS ENTITLED, “THE STRANGE FIRE OF WORSHIP.” WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM NADAB AND ABIHU IN REGARDS TO OUR OWN WORSHIP PRACTICES WHEN WE GATHER ON SUNDAY? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
FIRST, I BELIEVE THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS KNOWING THAT WORSHIP STARTS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE! WHEN WE COME TO CHURCH WE ARE NOT ARRIVING TO BEGIN WORSHIP. WE ARRIVE ALREADY IN WORSHIP BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING ALL WEEK LEADING UP TO SUNDAY.
WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING OUR HEARTS AND MINDS ALL WEEK PRIOR TO COMING. EVERY DAY, WE HAVE BEEN LIVING OUT OUR FAITH THROUGH STUDY, PRAYER, SERVICE, DISCIPLESHIP, HOLINESS IN LOVE OF NEIGHBOR AND ENEMY, AND RECONCILING EACH DAY IN CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS. BY DOING SO, WE ARE PREPARED AND READY TO COME TO SUNDAY SERVICES TO CONTINUE WORSHIPING GOD, TOGETHER, IN CORPORATE WORSHIP.
THE SECOND LESSON WE CAN LEARN FROM NADAB AND ABIHU IS THAT WE NEED TO NOT ONLY BE READY FOR WORSHIP BUT KEENLY AWARE OF THE ORDER OF WORSHIP.
WE ONLY HAVE TO READ THE STORIES OF CREATION IN GENESIS AND THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE IN EXODUS 26 TO REALIZE GOD IS NOT A GOD OF CHAOS AND DISORDER. HE IS PRECISE, DETAILED WITH MEANING, ORDER AND PURPOSE.
WHEN WE ARRIVE FOR WORSHIP, I BELIEVE THE LESSON IS THAT WE ARE PREPARED, AWARE OF WHAT TO EXPECT, AND READY TO ENGAGE OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND BODY IN WORSHIP.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WE GET THE BULLETIN OFF THE WEBSITE AND SEE WHAT IS TAKING PLACE ON SUNDAY. WE LOOK AT THE SONGS SELECTED AND FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES WITH THEM. WE ARE READY TO SING! WHO IS PREACHING? WE PRAY FOR OUR PASTORS AS THEY PREPARE THE MESSAGE. WHAT SCRIPTURE PASSAGE IS LISTED? GO AND READ IT AND DO A GENERAL STUDY OVER IT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS SAYING. THAT’S JUST A START!
ANOTHER WAY OF PREPARATION IS SIMPLY BEING READY TO COME WHICH TAKES ON MULTIPLE THINGS. FOR ME, IT STARTS ON SATURDAY WITH MAKING SURE MY CLOTHES ARE READY AND THE CAR KEYS, COAT, SHOES, BIBLE ARE ALL GATHERED.
IT COULD ALSO MEAN WE GET ENOUGH REST AND RISE EARLY TO PREPARE OUR HEARTS IN PRAYER. WE COULD REFRAIN FROM OUR PHONES, SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELEVISION TO KEEP OUR MINDS FROM BECOMING SCATTERED AND OUR HEARTS FROM BEING UNNECESSARILY ANGERED OR WOUND UP.
PUT ON PRAISE MUSIC AND SET A TONE OF JOY IN YOUR HOUSE. EVEN SOMETHING AS OBVIOUS AS LEAVING EARLY ENOUGH TO ARRIVE AT CHURCH WELL BEFORE SERVICES BEGIN TO NOT ONLY HAVE TIME TO GREET AND FELLOWSHIP, BUT TO ENTER THE SANCTUARY TO QUIET YOUR HEART, TO BE IN PRAYER FOR THE SERVICE, PASTOR AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS. WE HAVE OUR BIBLES BOOK-MARKED AND OUR PHONES SET TO “SILENT.”
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT WE CAN ALL MAKE OURSELVES READY NOT ONLY TO BE PHYSICALLY HERE, BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY READY TO BE HERE TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY.
NADAB AND ABIHU DIED INSTANTLY IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR VIOLATING HIS HOLINESS. GOD IS A HOLY GOD. IN ALL THINGS, WE MUST ACT RESPONSIBLY AND REVERENTLY TOWARDS THAT HOLINESS BECAUSE GOD DESERVES TO BE HONORED AND PRAISED IN ALL THE FACETS OF OUR DAILY LIVING AND TIMES OF DAILY PERSONAL WORSHIP AND WEEKLY CORPORATE WORSHIP.
PSALM 99:1, 3, 5, “THE LORD IS KING! LET THE NATIONS TREMBLE! HE SITS ON HIS THRONE BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM. LET THE WHOLE EARTH QUAKE!... LET THEM PRAISE YOUR GREAT AND AWESOME NAME. YOUR NAME IS HOLY!... EXALT THE LORD OUR GOD! BOW LOW BEFORE HIS FEET, FOR HE IS HOLY!”
PSALM 122:1, “I WAS GLAD WHEN THEY SAID TO ME,’LET US GO TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD’.”LET US GO FORTH TODAY, AND GUARD OURSELVES FROM “THE STRANGE FIRE OF WORSHIP.”
