Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 82)
Introduction:
1. According to James 1:27, "pure and undefiled religion before God" includes "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world." 2. "Worship" is one area in which God's people must remain free from the world's spots. 3. In our last lesson we examined 4 examples of untrue worship. 4. In this lesson we are concentrating on Scriptures that teach us how to keep ourselves unspotted from the world as we worship. Discussion: I. THE BIBLE EXPLAINS THE MEANING OF "WORSHIP"
A. Worship: to prostrate oneself, to bow down before, to pay reverence to, to adore B. This definition of worship is illustrated in Psalm 95:6. II. ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WORSHIP IS ONLY TO BE DIRECTED TO GOD
A. Worship is not to be directed to: 1. Satan (Matthew 4:8-10) 2. man (Acts 10:25-26) 3. idols and images (Acts 17:29) 4. angels (Revelation 22:8-9). B. Worship is only to be directed to the Father (John 4:23-24). III. THE BIBLE REVEALS THE LORD'S REQUIREMENTS FOR WORSHIP
A. God is to be worshipped "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24). 1. "In spirit": to worship from the heart, to be sincere, to have the proper attitude and disposition 2. "In truth": according to God's will as it is revealed in the New Testament. 3. These guidelines are extremely important because it is possible for a person: a. to put his heart into his worship without following God's will b. to participate in the right acts without having his heart in what he does. 4. To illustrate how God can be worshipped incorrectly,: a. Cain did not offer true worship to God (Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4) b. Nadab and Abihu did not offer true worship to God (Leviticus 10:1-3) c. the Jews in Malachi's day did not offer true worship to God through the animals they offered (Deuteronomy 17:1; Malachi 1:12-14) d. some of the Jews who lived during the Lord's ministry did not offer true worship to God (Matthew 15:7-9). 5. Acceptable worship is offered to God "in spirit" and "in truth." B. Concerning the acts of Christian worship, the New Testament Scriptures authorize: 1. "praying" (1 Corinthians 14:15) 2. "giving" (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) 3. "eating the Lord's Supper" (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 20:7) 4. "teaching the Scriptures" (Acts 20:7; 2:42) 5. "singing" (1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). C. Concerning the time for worship, the church is to assemble "on the first day of the week." 1. Christians are to participate in all the acts of worship on the Lord's Day. 2. The Bible specifically teaches Christians to eat the Lord's Supper and give on the Lord's Day. 3. The church may assemble daily to participate in the other acts of worship (Acts 2:46). 4. Worship assemblies are not to be forsaken (Hebrews 10:24-25). Conclusion:
1. Let us follow these instructions so we can keep ourselves unspotted from the world as we worship. 2. Doing so will help us as we endeavor to practice pure and undefiled religion before God.
