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Malachi 1:6-9
“I hate going to church. The church is frustrating and boring. It’s full of hypocrites who are just going through the motions.” You might think this is the words coming out of the mouth of a famous atheist or your 16-year-old daughter. These are God’s words. In fact, God tells Israel that instead of being eager to receive His people’s worship each morning, He wishes that they would quit and simply close the doors.
Over the last several weeks we’ve looked at various portions Scripture defining biblical worship. To do that, we started looking at the character and holiness of God, the meaning of worship, and the purpose of worship. We looked at worship patterns in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, and we examined how these are actually quite closely related. Then we studied what worship is supposed to accomplish and finally last week we discussed the elements of worship.
But what about hindrances? Are there things that can kill worship? Or are we free to do whatever we want as long as we like it and we love on Jesus? Is that what worship is all about? Are there things or elements that can dishonor God?
Worship is a word today loaded with personal mystery, preferences, and imagination. What the Bible calls us to do is God-centered, Spirit-led worship. In that, worship is not private or personal; it was not designed by God that way. However, our meetings are to be designed to honor God and give him glory publically for our faith.
We’ve defined worship as a response and recognition of who God is and what God has done. This is important because by this definition, the more you know about God and the more you know about His revelation, the more you can worship Him. So worship is not based on emotion. It is not base on feeling, or style, or preference. Worship is not based on your environment or your own righteousness. Worship is based on your knowledge of God (His holiness) and your relationship to Him.
Suppose a husband comes home from work with a Valentine’s Day gift. It’s a cheap plastic figurine from the handy-mart, dressed in an apron, bearing the logo “World’s Best Wife.” Would it be surprising if his wife were less than impressed by this gift, and the gift triggered a serious marital disagreement? Perhaps the man really does love his wife deeply and simply doesn’t know how to show it. But it is also possible that such a gift is a symptom of another, far deeper issue in their relationship (Ian Dugard)
I wonder what God would say about us today? Our houses of worship have become centers of man-made entertainment. Coming to church is not about what you are going to get out of it. It is coming to give something to God-our best. I don’t think it is an accident that the last book of the Old Testament. The place where God’s revelation was sealed up for 400 years prior to the coming of Christ. It was here that God lays out an inditement against Israel for their callous, lassi-fare approach to worshipping Him.
A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! (Malachi 1:6-10)
Four types of hindrances of worship in our lives and our church: Worldly, Withheld, Withered, Wrong Relationships
I. Worldly Worship
Some of us think of worldly worship as a means of style. That’s not the primary image I’m wanting to cast here, although it is possible to do that. My highest criticism of today’s worship is not style, but in devaluing the message. If at any point the worship, either in expounding the Word through preaching or musically portraying the Word of God differently for artistic convenience; or for the purpose of making the message more attractive to worldly desires, we have actually hindered true worship of God, not facilitated it for men.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:3-5)
Is it possible to honor God without the truth of God? No, it is not. This is what was happening in the temple of the Lord. A son honors his father. A servant honors his master. Yet the priests were dishonoring God’s name by offering inferior sacrifices. Now, you may wipe your brow and say, “Whew, glad I’m not a priest.” But the Bible declares through the blood of Christ the priesthood of believers. In other words, instead of having a priest be your intermediary to God, you are now coming to God with your own offering. How is that looking today? Are you offering God your best?
God tells the priests, “You have polluted my altar” and the priest responds, “How?” They’re oblivious. God tells them, “You are offering lame, blind, and diseased animals to me.” Remember when I told you that our worship is our greatest evangel. What does it look like when we approach our worship, the holiest of offerings to God in our faith, with an attitude of: I’m tired, it’s been a busy day at work. I don’t feel like worshipping. I don’t like this song. We come and instead of approaching the worship time with honor, we want to be entertained.
When we come to worship, we should come to bring our best. Not best as a phony, pretending like everything is ok. I’m talking about approaching God saying, “Lord, things in my life are rough right now. But you are Holy. You alone are my rock and my shield. You deserve my best. I give all my time and treasure to everyone else, and this morning there is no one else.
II. Wrong Relationships
You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.” (Matthew 6:13-16)
In the 1930s the divorce rate in America was 1 in 7 marriages. By the 60’s it was 1 in 4. In 1977 that rate was 1 in 2 marriages; 50%. The alarming part of this is it is virtually the same in the church. Marriage is not only a holy institution, but it is also the first institution given by God to man. Destroy marriage, as many are attempting to do today, and you destroy our culture and our faith in God. A sin against faithfulness in marriage is a sin against God as well. Marriage speaks into our very creation from God as men and women. If you are undermining marriage (and human sexuality) you are casting contempt to the holiness of God.
While I would like to spend some in-depth time on the subject of marriage and divorce (and I will in the future) this speaks into a broader issue we must pay attention to as a church, relationships. Relationships with each other are just as important in the church today as music, styles, and preaching, but the importance of relationships as it relates to worship is just as important.
It is nearly impossible for a church to worship when it is lacking unity. It is our responsibility to make sure that we actively and intentionally pursue unity in our worship (and our marriages).
Listen to Jesus’ words in His sermon on the Mount: 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 6:23-24)
Listen to the account at the first Pentecost 2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1-3)
The importance of unity in the church cannot be overstated. As soon as individuality takes preference over the community, worship is hindered. If you are coming here with bitterness and anger in your heart against someone, Jesus is clear that you must make every effort to reconcile the relationship. Matthew 18 gives you instructions
III. Withheld Worship
In fact, God tells the priests that the world gets higher honors than He does. Go offer that kind of animal to your governors. Is that honoring God? That’s what God calls worldly worship. When we design God to our own liking that makes us comfortable, we strip God of His holiness. That’s why God tells the people, bring that kind of sacrifice to your Governor and see if they accept it. Remember Brett Sanders from Frisco, Texas? He paid a $222 traffic ticket with pennies in 2016 by dumping two buckets of pennies. He was hailed a hero by some. His intent was really to be disrespectful to the authorities. This is what I mean when I say that not all forms of worship and expressions of worship are acceptable. If we intentionally change our forms of worship to match our preference we are worshipping the true God in false forms.
Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:7-10)
It seems that people get hung up on the issue of money and get mad at the church over the subject. I get it, there have been wolves who took advantage of the generosity of others. That doesn’t negate God’s position on the subject. Why is it people get hung up on the issue in the first place? It’s usually because they’re running from God. It is an issue of the heart, especially when it comes to money and it becomes a barrier between you and God.
We can easily list a slew of excuses for why we withhold our tithes. We’re under economic hardship and don’t make very much. Others make more than me. I have this bill or that bill. I need a new car. I really want to give but now is not a good time; God knows my heart. Yes, He does. When you put God first in every area of your life, especially money what happens in your worship and your relationship. As a pastor, my concern is more about your relationship than a church budget. Because in reality, your poverty in heart and wallet is because God is not the Lord of your finances.
Others argue about this being their own. It does not belong to God in the first place. The hardened and greedy heart refuses to acknowledge God as the One who provides all things. We have no problem paying 5 dollars for a latte every day at Starbucks but refuse to be generous in our worship. In reality, there is little need for God in this person’s life and the end result will be disastrous.
So God gives us a challenge. Put Him first. God actually invites His people to test him on the subject. Embrace an obedient heart and see if God is not truly the Lord of all. His promise is almost breathtaking, “Put me to the test, and see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you...” Andrea and I faithfully tithe and have for many, many years. Sometimes giving over 30% of our income to God. Early in our marriage, we decided we wanted to put God first in all things, including our finances. Over the years we’ve faced difficult times and challenges, but the devourer has never touched us financially. Even when it would have made sense to withhold our gift to pay a bill that was approaching, we put God first. Not only have we always paid our bills, but we’ve never gone without. The most important part of our giving has not been financial, but the resulting relationship with God and spiritual growth from always giving our first-fruits.
IV. Withered Worship
Worship touches every aspect and every part of our life. It is a way of life. Everything in my life converges on the fact that I am a worshipper of the living God. It is also the highest calling of our life. Withered worship is when we are doing all the right things, but there is not godly passion behind it. Worship always comes before ministry and ministry comes before service. When we as a church minister out of a life of worship out ministry and our service is transformed.
Worship of the Living God is why we give, why we don’t cheat on our taxes, why we are faithful in our marriage, why we feed the poor, why we go on a mission trip. The first priority is always true worship; everything else flows from that. That is why I require people who serve on Sundays to first be faithful worshippers. That is why if you are going to lead worship, you must first be a faithful worshipper. Worship leaders, your leadership in worship is happening regardless of whether you are on the stage. I expect your leadership at ALL times.
What worship should generate is holiness among the people, not happiness. We are shifting how we approach our song selection by understanding that the song must: Give Honor to God, Be Doctrinally True, Be Congregationally Driven, and Be Scripturally Pure.
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 4:1-3)
It is our duty and our honor, church to worship God as purely as we can. This room is holy ground for us to stand together as a congregation of the Lord and worship him and him alone. Let us do so with dignity. Let us do so with excellence. Let us put aside these hindrances so that our worship and ministry may give glory to Jesus Christ
Take it to the Cross
Close
Pray
Sermon Notes
1. Worldly Worship
2. Wrong Relationships
3. Withheld Worship
4. Withered Worship
Study Questions
1. How would you describe worship and its impact on your life?
2. Since godly worship covered all of society in the Old Testament, what applications can you make to your life today to incorporate a greater sense of worship?
3. Why is it a disservice to true biblical worship to simply try to stir someone's emotions?
4. How may work and our busy lives get in the way of true worship of God?
