Sermon #1389 Miscellaneous
Sermons
Title: WHO
WORSHIPS GOD?
Text: John 4:24
Subject: True
Worship
Date: Sunday Morning - January 23, 2000[1]
Tape
# V-66b and V-67a
Readings: Philippians
3:1-21
Introduction:
John 4:24 "God is
a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
In the light of that statement, I have a question, a
question which must be answered from the Word of God alone. It cannot be
answered upon the basis of our feelings, sentiments, or emotions. It cannot be
answered by creeds, confessions of faith, or religious customs. Who
Worships God? Only the Word of God can tell us who truly
worships God.
This
much is clear. -- If we
would worship God,
we must worship him in spirit and in truth. If we would worship
God, we must “we must worship him in
spirit.” That is to say, we must worship him by his Spirit, in our spirits,
in a spiritual manner. And we must worship him “in truth.”
Worshipping
God in truth means that we must worship
him truthfully, with sincerity, honesty, and uprightness. To worship in
truth is to worship without duplicity. We cannot worship God until we open our
hearts before him, take off all masks, do away with all pretense. Whether in
the public assembly of God’s saints or in the still and darkness of the night
watches upon our beds, if we would worship God, we must be deliberately naked
before him (Matt. 15:8-9).
(Matthew 15:8-9) "This people draweth nigh unto me with
their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips;
but their heart is far from me. 9 But
in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men."
But
there is more. If we would truly
worship God, we must worship
him in accordance with revealed truth, as he is revealed in Christ, who
is the Truth. And we must worship him according to the Word of Truth (John
17:17).
What does that mean? Without question, it means
much, much more than I can tell you now. But it certainly means this. If we worship God, we must worship him…
·
Confessing our sins,
like the publican
(Total Depravity). – 1 John 1:9
·
Trusting Christ’s blood and righteousness as our Substitute (Effectual
Atonement). – In Christ’s name. – “Caling
upon the name of the Lord.”
·
Upon an altar of earth, without steps – Free grace alone (Ex.
20:24-26).
(Exodus 20:24-26) "An altar of earth thou shalt make unto
me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings,
thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come
unto thee, and I will bless thee. 25 And
if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone:
for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps
unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon."
The Lord Jesus declares, “The Father seeketh such to worship him”
(John 4:23). God Almighty is seeking sinners to worship him in spirit,
sincerely, and in truth…
1. Upon the Basis of Blood
Atonement.
2. By the Power of His Spirit.
3. With a Heart of Faith.
4. Looking to Christ alone for
access to and acceptance with him.
Our
text declares, “God is a Spirit: and they
that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). But
it is ever the nature and tendency of fallen man to pervert the worship of God.
·
We have been blessed with ordinances of divine worship. But rather than using the ordinances to
worship God in spirit and in truth, we pervert them into carnal ceremonies,
services and rituals, without regard to God.
·
We content ourselves with the bodily exercise of outward worship and
neglect the inward reality of spiritual worship.
·
All men by nature prefer gaudiness to godliness!
Paul said, “Bodily exercise” (the mere outward
motions of divine worship) “profiteth
little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life
that now is, and of that which is to come” - (1 Tim. 4:8).
You
and I are impressed by, pleased with, and dedicated to outward religion. “But
the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). And “that
which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God” -
(Luke 16:15).
Understand
what I am saying. - Outward public
worship and the outward service of God must never be neglected. But if outward worship is all we have our
worship is vain worship! The absence of a true heart, the absence of heart
faith in Christ and heart devotion to the glory of God, makes all outward acts
of religion vain worship. Read Isaiah 29:13-14.
Isaiah
29:13-14 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as
this people draw near me with their
mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from
me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (14) Therefore, behold, I will proceed
to do a marvellous work among this people, even
a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding
of their prudent men shall be
hid."
In Matthew 15:1-9 our Lord
applies this text to the Pharisees of his day and to all in our day who pervert
the worship of God into nothing but hypocritical, outward religious
service. Read Matthew 15:1-9.
Matthew
15:1-9 "Then came to Jesus scribes and
Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
(2) Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they
wash not their hands when they eat bread.
(3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition? (4)
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that
curseth father or mother, let him die the death. (5) But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother,
It is a gift, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profited by me; (6) And
honour not his father or his mother, he
shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by
your tradition. (7) Ye hypocrites,
well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
(8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me
with their lips; but their heart is
far from me. (9) But in
vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
·
The Pharisees added to the Word of God the traditions of men, and
insisted upon obedience to their traditions - (Matt. 15:3).
·
And they perverted the
commandment of God to suit heir own self-serving, self-righteous,
hypocritical religion - (Matt. 15:5-6; Mk. 7:6-13).
Mark 7:6-13
"He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you
hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from
me. (7) Howbeit in vain do they
worship me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men. (8) For
laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and
many other such like things ye do. (9) And
he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep
your own tradition. (10) For Moses
said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother,
let him die the death: (11) But ye
say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban[2],
that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. (12) And ye suffer him
no more to do ought for his father or his mother; (13) Making the word of God of none effect through
your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things
do ye."
·
The Lord Jesus declares that all such religion is both vain and
hypocritical - an abomination to God!
5
STATEMENTS
1. All merely outward religion, that which does not
involve heart worship, is vain worship.
“This people
draw near to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have
removed their heart far from me.”
·
They prayed and called upon the name of God.
·
They professed to be the people of God.
·
The believed the doctrine of God.
·
They practiced the ordinances of God.
·
But their hearts were far removed from God; and God regarded their vain
worship as an abomination, a mere form of godliness! (Isa. 1:10-18; 66:1-3).
Isaiah
66:1-3 "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and
where is the place of my rest? (2) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite
spirit, and trembleth at my word. (3) He
that killeth an ox is as if he slew a
man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he
cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have
chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations."
2. All acts of divine worship, precepts of
righteousness, and doctrines imposed upon the church by the traditions and
customs of men are but vain worship.
God says, “Their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men!” (Creeds, Confessions,
Liturgies).
·
Romanism!
·
Infant Baptism!
·
Legalism!
·
Asceticism!
·
Free-willism!
·
Religious Activities!
·
Religious Ceremonies, Programs, etc.!
·
Sabbath Days, Holy Days, Solemn Seasons!
3. All true worship is a work of the heart (John 4:23-24; Phil. 3:3;
Rom. 10:9-10).
John
4:23-24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when
the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the
Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God
is a Spirit: and they that worship
him must worship him in spirit and in
truth."
Romans
10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation."
Philippians
3:3 "For we are the circumcision, which
worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh."
·
Faith is a Heart Work.
·
Repentance is a Heart Work.
·
Singing is a Heart Work.
·
Praying is a Heart Work.
·
Preaching is a Heart Work.
·
Hearing is a Heart Work.
·
Baptism is a Heart Work.
·
Communion - (The Lord’s Supper) - is a Heart Work.
It is
not the bodily exercise of religious service that God requires, but godliness. God wants our hearts! “My Son, give me thine heart.” If he has our hearts he will accept our
services of divine worship for Christ’s sake.
But if he does not have our hearts, God will never accept our services!
4. If we attempt to fool God with the hypocrisy of vain worship, God will leave us to the folly of vain religion (v. 14).
“Therefore, behold, I will proceed to
do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder:
for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their
prudent men shall be hid."
Joel
2:12-14 "Therefore also now, saith the LORD,
turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting,
and with weeping, and with mourning: (13)
And rend your heart, and not your
garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and
repenteth him of the evil. (14) Who
knoweth if he will return and repent,
and leave a blessing behind him; even a
meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?"
In
this day of darkness, idolatry, paganism, and superstition, let us return to
our God, and return to the worship of our God, in spirit and in truth.
5. The Holy Spirit gives us a striking example of true
worship in the apostle Paul (Phil. 3:1-14).
Turn with me to Philippians
chapter three, and I will wrap this message up by showing you from the Word of
God an example of true worship.
The
Apostle Paul is held before us in the Word of God as an example of what we
ought to be. His conversion, we are told, is the pattern of true conversion.
His preaching is the standard of all true gospel preaching. And his worship is
here held before us upon the pages of Inspiration by the Spirit of God as an
example of what it is to worship God in spirit and in truth.
I. This chapter begins with A
Solemn Exhortation (v. 1).
Paul
says, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.” He used this word,
rejoice, ten times in the four
chapters of this short Epistle. We ought to always, in the depths of our hearts
and souls, rejoice in the Lord. No matter what our providential experiences and
circumstances are, we always have reason to rejoice in the Lord. Here is an exhortation to joy. What a
blessed command! “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say rejoice!” As we
rejoice in him, we worship him. Rejoice in…
·
the greatness of his person as our all-sufficient Substitute.
·
the power of his blood, which cleanses us from all sin.
·
the perfection of his righteousness, which is imputed to us for
justification.
·
the abundance of his grace, which is always sufficient for us.
·
the immutability of his love, which never fails.
·
the rule of his providence, which works all things together for our
good.
·
the fact of his intercession, which is continual and effectual on our
behalf.
·
the fact that your names are written in heaven.
This
is the exhortation with which Paul opens this chapter - “Rejoice in the Lord!” May God give me grace ever to do so for the
glory of Christ and the good of his people.
II. In verse 2, the apostle
gives us a serious warning.
“Beware
of dogs.” - He warns us to beware of false prophets. He calls them
dogs because that is what the Word of God calls male prostitutes. False
prophets are men who have for their own sakes prostituted the gospel of Christ
and the glory of God.
Deuteronomy
23:18 “Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or
the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even
both these are abomination unto the
LORD thy God.”
Isaiah
56:10-11
“His watchmen are blind: they are all
ignorant, they are all dumb dogs,
they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one
for his gain, from his quarter.”
“Beware
of evil workers.” - This is a warning against those who teach,
preach, and promote any system of man centered, works based, free will religion
(Matt. 7:22-23).
Matthew
7:22-23 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity."
Man
centered, works based, free will religion is the single greatest cause of evil
in this world. The good works of
religion without Christ are the most abominably evil works done in this world.
·
They rob God of his glory.
·
They trample under foot the blood of Christ.
·
They do despite to the Spirit of grace.
·
They gradually abase man to his lowest, most contemptible state (Rom.
1:25-31).
“Evil
workers,” as Paul uses the term in this contexts, are Arminians,
freewillers, and legalists, people who teach that God’s salvation depends upon
and is determined by man.
“Beware
of the concision.” - Those who are of the concision are men and
women who cut, mutilate, and torture their bodies in hope of winning God’s
favor.
·
Doing Penance
·
Observing Lent
·
Monasticism, Flagellation
·
Religious Taboos, Asceticism
In
essence, Paul is saying, Beware of
Christless religion. Beware of any religious custom, doctrine, or service
that is centered in yourself and encourages you to focus attention on yourself.
III. Now look at verse 3. Here we
are given a description of true religion. Here the Holy Spirit
tells us who truly worships God. This is what it is to worship God in Spirit
and in truth.
Philippians
3:3 "For we are the circumcision, which
worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh."
True
religion is not man centered, but Christ centered. True religion is not
ceremonial, but spiritual. True religion is not a matter of creed, but of
conviction. True religion is not outward, but inward. “For we are the circumcision”
- We are God’s true, covenant people, the Israel of God, Abraham’s true
children, which…
“Worship
God in the Spirit” - We worship God as he is revealed in the
Scriptures, by the power of his Holy Spirit, in our spirits, and in a spiritual
manner. True worship is spiritual worship, not carnal, ceremonial ritualism
(John 4:23-24).
“And
rejoice in Christ Jesus” - We trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone,
placing all our confidence in him as our Savior. We are complete in him.
1
Corinthians 1:30-31 "But of him are ye in
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption: (31) That,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Colossians
2:9-10 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are
complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"
“And
have no confidence in the flesh” - We place absolutely no
confidence in our flesh, the experiences, emotions, or (imaginary) excellencies
of our flesh. The privileges of the flesh, the feelings of the flesh, and the
works of the flesh are no basis of confidence before God.
IV. In verses 4-8, Paul is set
before us as an example of self-denial. True worship is a
deliberate denial of self before God.
Philippians
3:4-8 "Though I might also have confidence in
the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the
flesh, I more: (5) Circumcised the
eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the
tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung."
Self-denial
is an essential aspect of saving faith. Though it increasingly comprehends all
aspects of life as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,
self-denial begins with a denial of
all personal worth and merit as a grounds of hope before God.
Here
is a legalist of highest order laying aside the filthy rags of his
self-righteousness for the blessed, pure, perfect righteousness of Christ. Paul
counted all his fleshly, carnal, natural privileges, religious distinctiveness,
and educational advantages as nothing but dung before God. He placed no
confidence in his flesh. He found that one Pearl of Great Price, and sold
everything he had to get it (Matt. 13:45-46).
NOTE: This
was done on the Damascus Road when the Lord saved him (v. 7). And this was a
decision he made everyday, with increasing, growing commitment and consecration
to Christ. He counted all things but dung for Christ.
Why?
What was the cause of this man’s self-denial, consecration, and commitment?
What made this man willing to forsake everything and follow Christ? Paul was
inspired, motivated, and driven to the point of utter obsession by four great
ambitions of faith.
He
gives us those four great ambitions in verses 8-11. Look at the last line of
verse 8.
A. “THAT I MAY WIN CHRIST!” – To worship God in the
Spirit is to seek Christ.
What an ambition! The life of faith is the
lifelong pursuit of Christ. Faith looks upon Christ as the most precious, most
desirable, most lovely, most valuable Person and Object in the world. The more
he is known, the more he is wanted. Therefore true faith willingly forsakes all
to follow him.
Christ
is the Treasure hidden in the field, for which we would gladly spend all. He is
the Pearl of Great Price, for which we must sell all. Jesus Christ is the “one thing needful” who must be chosen.
Christ is the one thing we must have.
·
I am thankful for the many comforts of life with which I am blessed;
but I must have Christ.
·
I am thankful for my friends; but I must have Christ.
·
I am thankful for health; but I must have Christ.
·
I am thankful for my family; but I must have Christ.
“I count all things loss that I may win
Christ.”
B. “AND BE FOUND IN HIM!” - (v. 9) – To worship God
in the Spirit is to seek to be found in Christ.
Philippians
3:9 "And be found in him, not having mine
own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
This
is the believer’s standing. We are in Christ. This is Christianity. This is
salvation - to be in Christ, nothing less, nothing lower, nothing different. It
is not partly in Christ and partly in the law, or partly in the ordinances, or
partly in the church. To be saved is to be in Christ.
·
Religion is knowing doctrines and facts. Salvation is knowing God (John
17:3; 1 John 5:20).
·
Religion is knowing what I believe. Christianity is knowing whom I believe (2 Tim. 2:12).
·
Religion is being reformed. Salvation is being regenerated (John 3:3).
·
Religion makes men new converts. Christianity makes us new creatures (2
Cor. 5:17).
·
Religion is being in the church. Salvation is being in Christ (John
15:1; Eph. 5:30).
1. Believers are people who are in Christ,
·
By God’s Eternal Decree.
·
By The Holy Spirit’s Operations Of Grace.
·
By Personal Faith.
Illustration: Grafted into Christ
2. To be in Christ is to have perfect righteousness
before God.
Our
righteousness is not something we establish by performing good works, but
something Christ established for us as our Representative before God. We do not
make ourselves righteous by our obedience to God’s law. Christ made us
righteous by his obedience to the law for us.
Romans 5:19 "For as by one man's disobedience many
were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made
righteous."
Our
righteousness before God is the righteousness of God in Christ imputed to us by
God himself.
3. As I stand before the holy Lord God, I want to be
found in Christ.
·
As I live in this world.
·
When I offer any service, prayer, or sacrifice to him.
·
When I leave this world.
·
When I stand before his great bar of judgment!
Now,
look at verse 10.
C. “THAT I MAY KNOW HIM!” – To worship God in the
Spirit is to seek to know Christ.
Philippians
3:10 "That I may know him, and the power of
his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable
unto his death;"
I
know that Christ is mine and I am his. Yet, I count all things but loss and
dung, that I might win Christ, that I might be found in Christ, that I might
know Christ. I know him; but, oh, how I want to know him! I want constantly
renewed, ever increasing knowledge of and communion with the Son of God. This
is the ambition of my heart - I want to know him, my God and my Savior, my
Redeemer and my Lord!
1. I want to know him who is the great Benefactor of my
soul.
·
The Mysteries And Glories Of His Person
·
The Riches Of His Grace
·
The Greatness Of His Salvation
·
The Benefits Of His Mercies
·
The Depth Of His Love
May
God give us grace never to take our eyes off of Christ! My soul, let Christ be
the all-consuming Object of your being! “That I may know him!”
2. I want to “know
him in the power of his resurrection.”
·
The power of his resurrection declares that I am justified (Rom. 4:25).
·
The power of his resurrection gave me spiritual life (Eph. 1:19).
·
The power of his resurrection guarantees my resurrection (1 Cor.
15:47-49).
·
But I want to live everyday, experimentally, walking in the knowledge
of the power of his resurrection.
Walking
with Christ in the newness of life, I want the power of his resurrection to
dominate, control, and direct my life in all things. I want to be continually
made new by him.
3. I want “to
know him in the fellowship of his sufferings.”
·
To Know My Personal Interest In His Sufferings
·
To Know What He Accomplished In His Sufferings
As
his sufferings are his glory, I want his sufferings to be my glory (Gal. 6:14).
Galatians
6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory,
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto
me, and I unto the world."
4. I want to know Christ and the fellowship of his
sufferings to such an extent that I am ever “being
made conformable unto his death.”
This
is what that means - I want to be conformed to Christ in his death.
·
Entirely Consecrated To The Glory Of God.
·
Perfectly Submissive To The Will Of God.
·
Motivated By Nothing But Love For My God And His People.
D. “IF BY ANY MEANS I MIGHT ATTAIN UNTO THE
RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.” (vv. 11-14) – To worship God in the Spirit is to
seek life in, by, and with Christ.
Philippians
3:11-14 "If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead. (12) Not as
though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after,
if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to
have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Certainly,
this includes a great desire for the resurrection of my body at the last day.
But primarily, the yearning spoken of here is a yearning for that moral,
spiritual resurrection of grace that lifts us out of the death and darkness of
sin. The world, the flesh, and all human life is death. In Christ there is
life, real life, eternal life, a life of righteousness, peace and joy in
communion with God! This is what I want. I have not yet attained it; but I am
reaching for it.
I
want what God purposed for me in eternity and Christ purchased for me at
Calvary (Eph. 1:3-6). I want to be like Christ!
Application:
These
are the ambitions of my heart, the goals I seek, the things for which I live. I
pray that God will make them more and more real to me. And I pray that he will
make them your hearts’ ambitions as well.
1. “That I may win him.”
2. “And be found in him.”
3. “That I may know him.”
4. “If by any means I might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
Children
of God, set your hearts upon these things, and by the grace of God you shall
have them (vv. 20-21).
Philippians
3:20-21 "For our conversation is in heaven; from
whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like
unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to
subdue all things unto himself."
Worship,
true worship is not an act, or event, or ceremony. To worship God in spirit and
in truth is to worship God in the totality of our lives. It is to live by faith
in Christ, for the glory of God.
AMEN.
[1] San Jose, CA – Tuesday, January 25, 2000
[2] Note: “Corban” - means a gift dedicated to God that cannot be used for any other purpose - Yet, they did! They used traditions, their pretentious religious taboos as an excuse for their hardness, but never fulfilled their claims. They would never give “Corban” (their vowed gift) to their needy parents. But they never gave it to God either!