Section 6: Will you go back to the Bible so that God will accept your worship?

    I.      What must a man do in order for his worship to be accepted by God?

    John 4:24 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.    
    II.      The Bible teaches only those who were baptized for the remission of their sins based on their 
              confession and belief in Christ have the privilege to worship.

           ·       The Old Law, also known as the Old Testament, was a shadow which resembled the 
                   things that were to come in the New Testament.

    Romans 15:4 4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning (…)

    Hebrews 10:1 1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things,

           ·       An example of the Old Law being a shadow is the command given by Moses for the 
                   priests to first wash clean in the laver so that they could offer acceptable sacrifices unto 
                   God.

    Exodus 30:18 18Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal (…) and thou shalt put water therein.

           ·       The image of this Old Law shadow is the New Law command given by Christ for penitent 
                   believers to wash their sins away so that they are made priests who are able to offer up 
                   acceptable sacrifices to God.

    Acts 8:36-39 36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

    Acts 22:16 16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

    1 Peter 2:5 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

           ·       Only priests can offer worship that will be accepted by God and all Christians are priests 
                   who make up the royal priesthood.

    1 Peter 2:9 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (…) 
    III.      The Bible teaches that acceptable worship is the act of formally revering God.

           ·       In the Old Testament, one’s life was not worship, but worship was an act.

    Genesis 22:5 5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

           ·       In the New Testament, worship is also an act and does not consist of one’s life.

    Acts 24:11 11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.    
    IV.      Partaking of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week is an act of worship.

           ·       Christ commanded that the Lord’s Supper be taken in remembrance of Him before He 
                   died and then commanded the apostles to teach whatsoever things He had commanded 
                   them which would have included the Lord’s Supper.

    Luke 22:19-20 19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

    Matthew 28:20 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you

           ·       We know that the day to partake of the Lord’s supper is the first day of the week because 
                   after Paul arrived in Troas on Monday, he waited seven days until the first day of the 
                   week came, which was Sunday, so that he could worship with the brethren and partake of 
                   the Lord’s Supper.

    Acts 20:6-7 6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.  7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread    
    V.      We know that praying and hearing God’s word preached are acts of worship because they 
              were done on the first day of the week along with the Lord’s Supper.

    Acts 2:42 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

    Acts 20:7 7And 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.    
    VI.      Giving is an act of worship that was done on the first day of the week.

    1 Corinthians 16:2 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. (NASB)    
    VII.      The Bible teaches that God’s silence does not authorize anything.

           ·       God commanded that the Levites be priests in the Old Testament Law.

    Numbers 3:6-7 6Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 7And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

    Joshua 18:7 7But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance (…)

           ·       In the New Testament, God makes it clear that since He never spoke of the tribe of Judah 
                   as being priests in the Old Testament that Christ could not have been a priest on earth 
                   because Christ was from the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi; therefore, just because 
                   God never said Judah could not be priests, His silence on Judah and His specific mention 
                   of the Levites as priests meant He had not authorized anyone to be priests on earth except    
                   for that which He specified, which was Levi.

    Hebrews 7:14 14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

           ·       Nadab and Abihu died because they sinned by offering sacrifices to God that He had 
                   never authorized.

    Leviticus 10:1-2 1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them. 2And there came forth fire from before Jehovah (...) and they died (...) (ASV)       
    VIII.      Singing is an act of worship and God specifically commands how he wants singing to take 
                  place: using the heart as the instrument while singing with the lips.

    Ephesians 5:19 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and     making melody in your heart to the Lord;

    Colossians 3:16 16Let 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.

    Hebrews 13:15 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.    
    IX.      To mimic or use mechanical instruments of music is sinful just as it is sinful to add 
               mayonnaise, BBQ or Mountain Dew to the Lord’s Supper.

           ·       The elements of the Lord Supper are commanded by God as unleavened bread and fruit 
                   of the vine.

    1 Corinthians 11:26 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

           ·       The elements of our singing and praise are also specifically commanded by God as our 
                   lips and our heart.

    Ephesians 5:19 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

    Colossians 3:16 16Let 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.

    Hebrews 13:15 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

           ·       We are commanded not to add to or take away from the commandments of God.

    Revelation 22:18-19 18 (…) If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life (…)    
    X.      What about David, he used mechanical instruments of music didn’t he?

           ·       David did use mechanical instruments of music, but he also sacrificed burnt animal 
                   offerings and incense to the Lord.

    Psalm 66:15 15I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.

           ·       Today, we are under the New Testament and the Old Testament Law is no longer in effect 
                   which is why we do not sacrifice burnt animal offerings, incense or play mechanical 
                   instruments of music in our worship.

    Romans 3:20 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight    
    XI.      What must a man do in order for his worship to be accepted by God?

           ·       John 4:24 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.