Sermon # 203          Series: Isaiah

 

Title:  A POOR EXCUSE FOR WORSHIP

Text:  Isaiah 58:1-7

Subject:  Useless Worship

Date: Sunday Evening – February 5, 1995

 

Introduction:

 

The title of my message tonight is A Poor Excuse For Worship.  I thought about calling it Useless Worship, or Hearing Without Profit.  But I think that nothing more accurately summarizes what is described in Isaiah 58:1-7 than these words – A Poor Excuse For Worship.  Read the text with me.

 

Proposition:  The people described in these seven verses were hypocrites, men and women who went to the house of God and participated in all the holy ordinances of Divine worship prescribed by God; but, because they did not believe the God they professed to worship, they did not profit by the worship of “God, and their worship was an act of sin!

 

What an indictment this text is against people who go through the bodily exercise of worship, but have no inward godliness, against all who have “a form of godliness,” but not the power of it.

 

I can think of nothing in the world more pleasant to behold and participate in than the assembly of God’s saints in public worship – (Ps. 122:1). 

 

I was glad I had:

 

How sad it is that so many who have the opportunity to gather with us in the house of God despise the privilege of doing so, while so many who would love to be here cannot be.

 

However, I realize that this pleasant delightful gathering may be nothing at all but a form of godliness, just an outward show!  There may be nothing to it at all!  In less than an hour this congregation will be dismissed and scattered across several counties.  When that happens, if our assembling together for the worship of God has no effect upon our hearts and lives, there was nothing to it at all!  If our meetings do not benefit our souls, they are like the waves breaking against the shore – they may make a lot of noise, but they leave nothing behind but waste!  The more hearing of the gospel will not save you.  The Word preached and heard must be missed with faith (Heb. 4:2), or it will only add to your damnation in the day of judgment.

 

The primary function and purpose of public worship is the preaching of the gospel of Christ.  We meet here three times every week to call on the name of God in prayer, read his Word, sing his praise, and hear the glorious gospel of Christ.  But the primary aspect of all true worship, in so far as the outward ordinance is concerned, is the preaching and hearing of the gospel.  I am here, this building is here, this assembly is gathered for the purpose of instructing eternity bound sinners in the way of life and salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

 

However, those who hear the gospel without profit do not honor God.  They only mock him in his house and in his face!  That is the issue of Isaiah 58:1-7.  Those people were mocking God in his house and in his face by going through the outward ordinances of worship without faith and without profit.  I can think of nothing more dangerous to your soul than the practice of religion without faith - If I had made up my mind to go to hell, I would far rather go to the pit of the damned from the jailhouse than from the church house.

 

In the opening verses of this chapter, (vv. 1-2), God requires his servant to show those who are numbered among his people, sitting in his house, and going through the ordinances of Divine worship without spiritual profit their transgressions and their sins.  I am honor bound to do that tonight – Because it is a useless thing to come here and hear the gospel if you do not profit by what you hear, I want to briefly describe ten ways in which men and women mock God while they pretend to worship him.  As I do, let each one examine himself and ask God to search his heart – (Psalm 139:23-24).

 

I.  Many do not profit by the preaching of the gospel because They Willfully Forget The Sermon As Soon As It Is Over.

 

You come in for whatever reason, sit down, make every effort possible not to hear the message, and as soon as it is over (The sooner the better, you think!), you forget it.

 

Those who profit from the Word of God realize the privilege they have, know the value and weightiness of Divine truth, and come seeking a message from God – His Word! – His Presence! – His Blessing!

 

     Illus:  “If I can just get a 15 or 20 minute nape before the service, it helps me tremendously.” – Judy Estes.

 

“Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth thee!”

 

II.  Some do not profit by the gospel because They Come To The House of God To Hear A Man Preach.

 

Do not come to hear a man preach.  Come to hear God speak by the man he has sent to preach.

 

 

III.  I know many who never profit by the hearing of the gospel and the worship of God because They Only Hear That Which Pleases Them.

 

A.  Some want doctrine; some want precepts; few want both.

 

B.  Some want sovereignty; some want responsibility; few want both.

 

The true hearer of the word says, “I do not come here to be pleased.  I come to be taught of God.  God, enable your servant to tell me the truth and enable me to hear it and obey it.”

 

NOTE:  God’s prophets do not speak smooth things.  They are sent to be rough hewers as well as tender comforters.

 

 

Do not seek a preacher to make you happy, but one who shows you how to be holly!  Do not come here seeking a word to lift you up, but a word to lift Christ up before you!

 

IV.  Some do not profit from the ordinances of Divine worship because They Always Want To Be Entertained by Some New Thing or Some Meaningless Question!

 

The true Israelite fed on manna for forty years, and never got tired of it.  Only the unbelieving wanted quails, leeks, and garlics!  The heir of heaven never tires of the manna from heaven, Jesus Christ and him crucified.

 

 

I never tire of hearing the gospel, studying the gospel, and preaching the gospel.

 

      Illus:  When I sit down at my table to eat I always want bread, salt, and pepper, a little butter and a little milk.  I never get tired of it.

 

And I never get tired of the gospel.

 

·         Sovereignty!

 

 

NOTE:  I get real tired of other things real quick! – Debates about Times – Questions of No Profit – Strife about Words.

 

V.  Some do not profit by the ministry of the gospel because They Come To Judge or Critique The Preachers Style, His Doctrine, or His Powers.

 

    Illus:  “You shouldn’t have used that word’ bretches.’” – Henry at Paintsville

 

VI.  Many gain no profit from the Word and worship of God because They Never Hear It For Themselves And Apply It To Themselves.

 

When we hear the Word of God, we ought to use it as:

 

 

VII.  Many receive no profit from the ministry of the Word because They Hear It Carelessly.

 

A.  You do nothing before the Sermon to prepare for hearing God’s message.

B.  You do nothing during the Sermon to get God’s Message.

C.  You do nothing after the Sermon to Retain God’s Message.

 

    Illus:  The Scottish Girl – “My Elder Brother has died.  I’m going to a gathering of the family to read his will.”

 

VIII.  Some do not profit from the gospel simply because They Do Not Come To The House of God To Worship God At All or To Hear Him Speak.

 

A.  Habit and custom constrain some.

B.  Some come because of a sudden tragedy.

C.  Some come because they want the preacher to marry them.

D.  Some come because they are visiting relatives or friends.

E.  Some come so that they can date one of our young people.

F.  Some come just to see what kind of man the preacher is about whom they have heard so many strange things.

 

IX.  Many come to the House of God, but after hearing the Word of God, It Has No Effect Upon Them.

 

They are no better off than before.  Like the barren fig tree, the digging, watering, and manuring produces no fruit – They just cumber the ground!   And like that tree, the Master will soon give the order, “cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground!”  (Lk. 13:7).

 

X.  But, when all is said and done, the greatest reason why people do not profit from the worship of God and the ministry of the gospel is the simple fact that They Do Not Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ – Thus heaping upon themselves the wrath of God – (Isa. 1:10-20).

 

·         I John 5:10

·         II Corinthians 2:14-17

·         Proverbs 1:23-33

 

Application:  Luke 8:18

 

·         If you would believe, you would understand.

·         If you would see the glory of God in Christ.

·         If you would believe      did but see the glory of God, you would profit from it.