“IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME” (Matthew 15:8-9)
A. Worship: Act of showing reverence and awe Not enough to be “religious” or “superstitious” (Acts 17:22-23) “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things year are too superstitious. ['very religious' EDR] For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” Acceptable worship must be “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24) “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 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. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
A. Worship of CREATED things (Revelation 22:8-9) “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not; for I am thy fellowservant, and of they brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” (Romans 1:20-25) [READ]
B. ASSEMBLY can be vain
1. Possible to assemble for wrong reason ` `(1 Corinthians 11:17) “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church [Assembly EDR], I hear there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” --Dividing into “parties” or “groups” within a congregation --Pretended piety and devotion --Building an image in the community --Show off riches --Opportunity for gossip
C. SINGING can be vain
1. Singing praises to God MUST come from the heart (Psalms 137:1-4) [READ] (1 Corinthians 14:15) “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also, I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
D. PRAYING can be vain
1. If we REFUSE to do God's will, we will NOT be heard (Proverbs 28:9) “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. (Isaiah 59:1-2) “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But you iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
2. Prayer must be sincere and in faith (James 1:5-7) “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
E. LORD's SUPPER can be vain
1. This can endanger our souls (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily [irreverantly – EDR], shall be quilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.”
2. Does NOT imply we must be “worthy”, but rather the “manner” of our observance Supper vain if we believe we can “eat and drink” our way into heaven, making points with God.
F. PREACHING can be vain
1. If we don't PRACTICE what we preach (Romans 2:21-22) “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thyself? Thou that sayest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?” We MUST be transformed into Christ's image (Romans 12:2) “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” --Edgar A. Guest...”I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day.”
A. Our worship CAN be vain
1. Not enough to be “religous”
2. The Pretense of Piety will NOT fool God