| Everyone wants to be accepted by God in worship. | | | | not enough to worship right; we must live right. It's |
| What is acceptable worship? Churchgoers consider | | | | not enough to refrain from doing evil. We must do |
| themselves religious people. There are several | | | | good deeds. |
| instances in Scripture where religious acts of worship | | | | Do we live better because we worship correctly, or |
| were not accepted. | | | | do we worship acceptably because we live right? We |
| Cain's sacrifice was not acceptable to God (GE 4:5). | | | | must do both. Without righteous living, worship is just |
| According to HEB 11:4, Able offered a better sacrifice | | | | a trampling of his courts! |
| than Cain by faith. Apparently Cain's heart was not | | | | Beautiful prayers, perfect pitched songs, and eloquent |
| right. In Old Testament times God made it plain when | | | | sermons, do not make acceptable worship, but less |
| he was not happy with worship. | | | | perfect worship, and a reasonable effort in living right |
| I hate; I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand | | | | do. The Lord knows we are not perfect, and he has |
| your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt | | | | arranged for that. All he is asking for is that we try. |
| offerings, and grain offerings I will not accept them. | | | | Christ told the woman at the well that the true |
| Though you bring choice fellowship offerings I will | | | | worshiper must worship in spirit and truth (JO |
| have no regard for them. Away with the noise of | | | | 4:23-24). This means not only to be guided by the |
| your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harp | | | | Spirit, but to understand the significance of what, we |
| (Amos 5:21-23). | | | | are doing. If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but |
| When you come to meet with me, who has asked | | | | my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray |
| this of you, this trampling of my courts? (ISA 1:12) | | | | with my spirit but I will also pray with my mind; I will |
| What constitutes acceptable worship? The Lord | | | | sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind |
| explained in Isaiah 1:15-17. | | | | (1CO 14:14-15). |
| When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide | | | | Worshiping in spirit also suggests the idea of mind |
| my eyes from you, even if you offer many prayers, | | | | set. We must have our minds set on what the Spirit |
| I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and | | | | desires. (RO 8:5). We must be united with Christ in |
| make yourself clean. Take your evil deeds out of my | | | | spirit (1CO 6:17). We must have the mind of Christ |
| sight! Stop doing wrong. Learn to do right! Seek | | | | (1CO 2:16) If we have sin in our life, it is out of |
| justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause | | | | harmony with this idea, and unacceptable to God. We |
| of the fatherless, plead the cause of the widow | | | | must repent and ask his forgiveness if that is the |
| Acceptable worship begins with righteous living! It's | | | | case. |