ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP Man is a worshipful creature. He has an innate desire to pay homage to a higher power. Yet, without knowledge of the ONE TRUE GOD and the worship He desires, his worship will not be accepted.

UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP There are several kinds of unacceptable worship: One is ignorant worship. Acts17: ¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 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. They could not please God, for they didn’t know Him.

UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP There are several kinds of unacceptable worship: One is ignorant worship. Acts17:22-23 Another is Vain worship. Mt. 15:7-9 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. Worshipped traditions as equal to God’s commands. Vs. 6 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.

UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP There are several kinds of unacceptable worship: One is ignorant worship. Acts17:22-23 Another is Vain worship. Mt. 15:7-9 –Traditions and customs are not wrong within themselves, but when man makes law out of them, they become sin and make void the worship which he offers to his Creator. Another is Will worship. Col. 2:23 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Will worship is that which is self-imposed as distiquished from that which is given by God. If a man says, “I know what the Scriptures teach, but I prefer it this way, and I will have it the way I want it,” he is guilty of placing his will above that of God. Same as King Saul, 1 Sam. 15:22

UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP There are several kinds of unacceptable worship: One is ignorant worship. Acts17:22-23 Another is Vain worship. Mt. 15:7-9 –Traditions and customs are not wrong within themselves, but when man makes law out of them, they become sin and make void the worship which he offers to his Creator. Another is Will worship. Col. 2:23 Will worship is that which is self-imposed as distiquished from that which is given by God. If a man says, “I know what the Scriptures teach, but I prefer it this way, and I will have it the way I want it,” he is guilty of placing his will above that of God. Same as King Saul, 1 Sam. 15:22 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

What is TRUE Worship? There was a time when worship consisted in a particular place. Jn. 4:19,20 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. To both Jew and Samaritan, place of worship was important, but they could not agree on the place. This would change! Jn. 4:21-24

What is TRUE Worship? There was a time when worship consisted in a particular place. Jn. 4:19,20 To both Jew and Samaritan, place of worship was important, but they could not agree on the place. This would change! Jn. 4:21-24 Now it is the manner. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 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.

TRUE WORSHIP- 2 fold Must be in SPIRIT and in TRUTH! Spirit may be there and not according to truth, thus not acceptable, and vice-versa. Spirit involves the proper condition of the heart. Truth involves HIS way. Our worship involves our action! We must get involved from the heart and study to worship Him in His way. Our heart must be prepared also.

Worshipping in Spirit Numerous obstacles confront our worship. One is to allow worship to degenerate into a mechanical rite. Ie. Lord’s supper while the mind is on other things. Worship from the spirit involves separating our minds from other things. Another obstacle is self-righteousness. Lk. 18: ¶ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Worshipping in Spirit Numerous obstacles confront our worship. One is to allow worship to degenerate into a mechanical rite. Ie. Lord’s supper while the mind is on other things. Worship from the spirit involves separating our minds from other things. Another obstacle is self-righteousness. Lk. 18:9-14 Another is the heart filled with iniquity. We must remove the sin, forgive and be forgiven. Mt. 6:12 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Some fail to worship God in spirit because they mistake esthetic enjoyment for worship. Human emotions love beautiful music, but this doesn’t constitute worship. Heart must be in tune to God. Another obstacle is lack of reverence. Heb. 12:28 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Reverence- a condition of the heart which expresses itself in our outward demeanor.

Worshipping in Truth If one could transplant themselves into an assembling of the early Christians, they would be struck by the utter simplicity of their worship, without all the frills of many today. Acts 2:42 describes their worship. 42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE is the same as our N.T. Form of teaching varied: preaching, exhortation, reading of the scriptures, joint study of scripture. Christians were edified by the teaching. 1 Cor. 14:26 26 ¶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. LORD’S SUPPER was practiced, remembering the sacrifice Christ paid for our sin. Acts 20:7

Worshipping in Truth If one could transplant themselves into an assembling of the early Christians, they would be struck by the utter simplicity of their worship, without all the frills of many today. Acts 2:42 describes their worship. APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE is the same as our N.T. Form of teaching varied: preaching, exhortation, reading of the scriptures, joint study of scripture. Christians were edified by the teaching. 1 Cor. 14:26 LORD’S SUPPER was practiced, remembering the sacrifice Christ paid for our sin. Acts 20:7 7 ¶ And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. PRAYER was a part of worship also. 1 Thess. 5:17 Both public and individual. 17 Pray without ceasing.

Worshipping in Truth If one could transplant themselves into an assembling of the early Christians, they would be struck by the utter simplicity of their worship, without all the frills of many today. Acts 2:42 describes their worship. APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE is the same as our N.T. Form of teaching varied: preaching, exhortation, reading of the scriptures, joint study of scripture. Christians were edified by the teaching. 1 Cor. 14:26 LORD’S SUPPER was practiced, remembering the sacrifice Christ paid for our sin. Acts 20:7 PRAYER was a part of worship also. 1 Thess. 5:17 Both public and individual. SINGING was practiced, and without instruments. A specified type of music. Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:19

Worshipping in Truth APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE is the same as our N.T. Form of teaching varied: preaching, exhortation, reading of the scriptures, joint study of scripture. Christians were edified by the teaching. 1 Cor. 14:26 LORD’S SUPPER was practiced, remembering the sacrifice Christ paid for our sin. Acts 20:7 PRAYER was a part of worship also. 1 Thess. 5:17 Both public and individual. SINGING was practiced, and without instruments. A specified type of music. Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:19 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Music comes from the Heart!

Worshipping in Truth APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE is the same as our N.T. Form of teaching varied: preaching, exhortation, reading of the scriptures, joint study of scripture. Christians were edified by the teaching. 1 Cor. 14:26 LORD’S SUPPER was practiced, remembering the sacrifice Christ paid for our sin. Acts 20:7 PRAYER was a part of worship also. 1 Thess. 5:17 Both public and individual. SINGING was practiced, and without instruments. A specified type of music. Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:19 –Music comes from the Heart! COLLECTION OF THE SAINTS, another act of worship. The means of financing the work of the local church. 1 Cor. 16:1-2 1 ¶ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

The DAY of Worship Early Chirstians gathered for worship as opportunity and need afforded itself, but the was one special day of worship, the 1 st day of the week, called the Lord’s day in Rev. 1:10 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Disciples met to remember the Lord’s death then. Acts 20:7 They gave as they were prospered on that day. 1 Cor. 16:3 They were taught not to forsake the assembly on that day. Heb. 10:25 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

CONCLUSION Man is a worshipful being, and God is a being deserving of our worship. Worship does not require a particular place, but does involve proper manner and action, Spirit and Truth. Worship is expected on the Lord’s Day, but should be practiced every day, excluding Lord’s supper & Giving. We should not sit back but enjoy such actively. Put our heart into our worship.