I am convinced that the most important thing in the life of a Christian is this matter of worshipping the Lord. Why did you come to church today? Be honest.
1. Mom, a few hours of escape.
2. Dad, to please the wife. Please the preacher.
3. Kids, parents made me do it.
Now adays it seems people in town would think you to be foolish for being in church. If the world thinks you are foolish, you are on the right track. The world should not treat us any different than it did Jesus. It does disturb me that God might think you to be foolish for going to church. There are times when God would call us foolish for coming to church and worshipping. The bible says that you and I can make fools of ourselves by worshipping the Lord
In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, God describes the worship of certain people, as the “sacrifice of fools.” The word sacrifice means worship, because worship is a sacrifice, an offering to God. Leviticus 1:1-5 we offer the sacrifice of our praise, love, substance, song, prayer to God. Yet God describes the worship of some people as the sacrifice of fools. The word, fool, indicates one who is self-deceived. Yes, I think you and I don’t take worship serious enough. For some, church is just a game. Fool is a strong word. In these seven verses, God uses the word fool three times. It is in reference to people who worship Him. It is possible for us to fall into this category. Our offerings being empty. Meaningless worship, no profit, vain, going through the motions. 2 Timothy 3:5. I want us to look and see from these verses if we could be guilty of foolish worship.
I. Foolish Worship is to Worship Without Preparation
1. We must prepare before worshipping God.
2. In verse 1, “Watch your step on the way to church.” What does that mean?
3. In the bible, “walk” relates to your manner of life.
a. Galatians 5:25, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Ephesians 4:1, 5:15
b. Colossians 2:6, 1 John 1:6-7
4. As you go to the house of God, keep an eye on your life, guard your life.
5. We start making our way to the house of God, not on Sunday morning, but on Monday morning.
a. All week long we are on our way, watch your step and how you live.
b. If you knew that you would stand personally before God next Sunday, would that make a difference in your life this week.
6. Many come to church and into the presence of the Lord with an unholy life. God calls you foolish.
7. We come in the presence of God in verse 2.
8. Moses, Exodus 3:5-6, Joshua, Joshua 5:13-15, you don’t rush into the presence of God without spiritually and morally preparing for it.
a. When we come into this place, we are on holy ground.
b. Not because it is a church, but because God meets here.
9. Before coming to church this morning, I got cleaned up. Don’t you think I look nice?
a. Do you know why I went to all that trouble? I am conscience about being in your presence.
b. I do not want to offend you.
c. I prepared for your presence.
10. It is foolish worship for a person who comes to church to spend more time getting prepared for the presence of the people, than for the presence of the Lord.
11. Our problem is we are more conscious of people than of God.
II. Foolish Worship is to Worship without Listening
1. We don’t come principally to fellowship, nor to speak, but to listen. Listen to God.
2. In verse 2, most of us think the most important thing is what we have to say. That is not true. The most important thing is what God has to say.
3. Would you like to know if your worship has any meaning today?
a. When you leave today, you can say, “God spoke to me.”
b. Not what the preacher said, but what God said.
4. Now God does not speak to hearts that are not prepared to listen.
a. That is why most of us never hear God, we don’t listen.
b. God was here and I knew it not. Genesis 28:16
5. When God speaks to a man and he hears it, his life is changed. You are never the same.
6. If you leave this place today exactly as you came, you are foolish.
a. No spiritual or moral change.
b. You did not worship.
7. In verse 7, fear God. If we feared God, we would not dare come into His presence without things right and prepared to listen. We need some old-fashioned fear.
8. How many sermons do you hear a year? God says this book is able to make us whole, wise, pure, and strong.
9. The tragedy is that for the most of us there is no, or very little change. No difference, spiritually or morally.
10. When you pray do you talk to God? Does God listen? Do you give God a change to talk back.
III. Foolish Worship is to Worship without Obeying
1. It is a foolish man who makes a vow to God and doesn’t pay. Or he is late in paying.
2. The main reason for the weak state of the church today is broken vows.
3. What is a vow? It is a commitment, a contract with God.
a. Lord, I need to tithe.
b. Lord, I need to witness.
c. Lord, I surrender my life to you for full time service.
d. Lord if you get me out of this I will never do it again.
e. Lord I am going to read my bible and pray.
f. Lord I am going to do this or that.
4. We better be careful about making vows, God takes us seriously, Matthew 12:36.
5. Most of our idle words are spoken in the church.
a. We say Lord, Luke 6:46.
b. We sing, “I love to tell the story.”
c. Do we really mean it.
6. God takes us seriously; he never makes me promise anything.
a. Deuteronomy 23:21-23
b. Acts 5:1-4
c. God does not forget.
7. Never use it was a mistake, verse 6
8. Many broken vows to God today, you know.
9. Was your worship this morning foolishness in the sight of God?
10. We must prepare, we must listen, we must obey. Has God spoken to you this morning? Will you come?
