Lips, Heart and the Word of God

1
Lips, Heart and the Word of God

• Increasing our understanding of sincere worship

2
Introduction

• 1. Is worship a wise investment of your time?
• 2. Is worship a wise investment of your material
  things?
• 3. Is true worship the highest and noblest
  activity of which man is capable?
• 4. Does all worship please God?

3
Isaiah 2913

• Therefore the Lord said
• "Inasmuch as these people draw near with
  their mouths
• And honor Me with their lips,
• But have removed their hearts far from Me,
• And their fear toward Me is taught by the
  commandment of men...."

4
Isaiah 2914

• "Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous
  work
• Among this people,
• A marvelous work and a wonder
• For the wisdom of their wise men shall
  perish,
• And the understanding of their prudent men
  shall be hidden."

5
Matthew 159

• "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying
• 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
• And honor Me with their lips,
• But their heart is far from Me.
• And in vain they worship Me,
• Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

6
Introduction

• 1. Is worship a wise investment of your time?
• 2. Is worship a wise investment of your material
  things?
• 3. Is true worship the highest and noblest
  activity of which man is capable?
• 4. Does all worship please God?
• The people of Isaiahs day were not true
  worshipers.
• The Pharisees of Jesus day were not true
  worshipers.

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Introduction

1. The choice before us is to worship in spirit and
   in truth, to worship in vain or not to worship at
   all.
2. Our worship will either be from the lips alone or
   from the heart also.

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Form vs. Faith

1. The Pharisees were strong advocates of tradition.

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Matthew 151-2

• Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from
  Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your
  disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?
  For they do not wash their hands when they eat
  bread."

10
Form vs. Faith

1. The Pharisees were strong advocates of tradition.
2. Much emphasis was given to externals.

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Mark 73-4, 8

• For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat
  unless they wash their hands in a special way,
  holding the tradition of the elders. When they
  come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless
  they wash. And there are many other things which
  they have received and hold, like the washing of
  cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches....
  "For laying aside the commandment of God, you
  hold the tradition of men--the washing of
  pitchers and cups, and many other such things you
  do."

12
Form vs. Faith

1. The Pharisees were strong advocates of tradition.
2. Much emphasis was given to externals.
3. Worship must be of faith.

13
Romans 1423

• But he who doubts is condemned if he eats,
  because he does not eat from faith for whatever
  is not from faith is sin.

14
Romans 1017

• So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
  the word of God.

15
Form vs. Faith

• The Pharisees were strong advocates of tradition.
• Much emphasis was given to externals.
• Worship must be of faith.
• Therefore we must go to Gods word to know how to
  worship.
• We cannot learn the art of worship by following
  the doctrines of men.
• Instrumental music in worship.
• Eating the Lords Supper monthly, quarterly or
  annually.

16
Show vs. Sincerity

• A. Some wanted to be seen of men.
• 1. Their benevolence was in order to win men's
  applause.

17
Matthew 62-4

• "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not
  sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do
  in the synagogues and in the streets, that they
  may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you,
  they have their reward. But when you do a
  charitable deed, do not let your left hand know
  what your right hand is doing, that your
  charitable deed may be in secret and your Father
  who sees in secret will Himself reward you
  openly."

18
Show vs. Sincerity

• A. Some wanted to be seen of men.
• 1. Their benevolence was in order to win men's
  applause.
• 2. They prayed to be heard of men.

19
Matthew 65-6

• "And when you pray, you shall not be like the
  hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the
  synagogues and on the corners of the streets,
  that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to
  you, they have their reward. But you, when you
  pray, go into your room, and when you have shut
  your door, pray to your Father who is in the
  secret place and your Father who sees in secret
  will reward you openly."

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Show vs. Sincerity

• A. Some wanted to be seen of men.
• 1. Their benevolence was in order to win men's
  applause.
• 2. They prayed to be heard of men.
• B. Beware of worship that emphasizes
• 1. The emotions to the neglect, or rejection, of
  the mind.
• 2. Aesthetics to the minimizing of the truth.
• C. We must come to worship with sincere hearts.

21
Psalm 5116-17

• For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would
  give it
• You do not delight in burnt offering.
• The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
• A broken and a contrite heart--
• These, O God, You will not despise.

22
Show vs. Sincerity

• D. We must enter into all phases of worship with
  our hearts.
• 1. To Pharisees worship was ritual, ceremony.
• 2. To Jesus worship was the action of a clean
  heart and a loving life.

23
Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• A. Jesus called worshippers "hypocrites."
• "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you,
  saying" (Matt. 157).

24
Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• A. Jesus called worshippers "hypocrites."
• 1. The word "hypocrite" originally meant a play
  actor.
• 2. God wants worshippers who will show reverence
  for Him in life.
• B. Pharisees could carry out the ritual, but
  their hearts were full of greed, pride.
• C. God has never accepted the sacrifices of those
  who were living in rebellion of his law.

25
Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• A. Jesus called worshippers "hypocrites."
• 1. The word "hypocrite" originally meant a play
  actor.
• 2. God wants worshippers who will show reverence
  for Him in life.
• B. Pharisees could carry out the ritual, but
  their hearts were full of greed, pride.
• C. God has never accepted the sacrifices of those
  who were living in rebellion of his law.
• The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to
  the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His
  delight. (Proverbs 158)

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Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• A. Jesus called worshippers "hypocrites."
• 1. The word "hypocrite" originally meant a play
  actor.
• 2. God wants worshippers who will show reverence
  for Him in life.
• B. Pharisees could carry out the ritual, but
  their hearts were full of greed, pride.
• C. God has never accepted the sacrifices of those
  who were living in rebellion of his law.
• 1. Who shall come into the Lord's holy place?

27
Psalm 243-5

• Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who
  may stand in His holy place? He who has clean
  hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his
  soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall
  receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness
  from the God of his salvation.

28
Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• A. Jesus called worshippers "hypocrites".
• 1. The word "hypocrite" originally meant a play
  actor.
• 2. God wants worshippers who will show reverence
  for Him in life.
• B. Pharisees could carry out the ritual, but
  their hearts were full of greed, pride.
• C. God has never accepted the sacrifices of those
  who were living in rebellion of his law.
• 1. Who shall come into Lord's holy place?
• 2. Amos called for holiness.

29
Amos 521-24

• "I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not
  savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me
  burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will
  not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened
  peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of
  your songs, For I will not hear the melody of
  your stringed instruments. But let justice run
  down like water, And righteousness like a mighty
  stream."

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Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• D. Human relationships are very important to true
  worship.
• 1. How children care for parents.

31
Matthew 151-6

• Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from
  Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your
  disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?
  For they do not wash their hands when they eat
  bread." He answered and said to them, "Why do you
  also transgress the commandment of God because of
  your tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Honor
  your father and your mother' and, 'He who curses
  father or mother, let him be put to death.'

32
Matthew 157-9

• But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or
  mother, "Whatever profit you might have received
  from me is a gift to God"-- then he need not
  honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made
  the commandment of God of no effect by your
  tradition."

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Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• D. Human relationships are very important to true
  worship.
• 1. How children care for parents.
• 2. How a husband treats his wife.

34
1 Peter 37

• Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with
  understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to
  the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of
  the grace of life, that your prayers may not be
  hindered.

35
Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

• D. Human relationships are very important to true
  worship.
• 1. How children care for parents.
• 2. How a husband treats his wife.
• E. Edwin Markham's statement about poetry would
  apply to worship poetry (songs) --"Come, Let Us
  Live the Poetry We Sing!"
• 1. Can we honestly sing - "Take My Life and Let
  It Be."?
• 2. Or, "I Want To Be A Worker For the Lord"?