Introduction: Throughout time man has known of God (Psm. 19:1). Yet, it is regrettable that the majority of worship to God is conducted in an unacceptable manner in His eyes. Notice Neh. 9:18. When the children of Israel worshipped the golden calf, they said they were worshipping God who brought them out of Egypt. Though we can observe their worship to the calf might be characterized as enthusiastic, it was an abomination to the Lord (Ex. 32:8-10).

This shows that acceptable worship to God must not only be conducted in the right way but must be directed to the one true God. These Israelites might have claimed to worship God though they called Him by other names. It is obvious that they did not consider a representation of God as an unacceptable manner in which to worship God (Ex. 32:4-6). Worship, no matter how sincerely performed, is not acceptable unless it is directed to Him and done according to His divine instructions.

I. In Spirit and Truth.

    A. John 4:23-24, Not only must we sincerely worship God, but we must do it in Spirit and Truth. John 17:17 tells us the meaning of truth. In order to worship God in truth, we must worship him according to His word! In other words, by his instructions that he has left for us which is contained in the Bible.

    B. It has been reasoned by those who consider themselves to be Christians that as long as they sincerely worship God (though it might differ from those instructions laid out in the New Testament) that the actual form of worship is unimportant.

II. Sincerity is not enough.

    A. Although sincerity is vital to acceptable worship, this does not justify rebellion against God’s instructions. Paul was sincere in persecuting the Christians thinking he was carrying out the will of God only to realize later he was wrong (Acts 22:3-8; 23:1). Therefore, acceptable worship must not be according to our desires or the way we would like to do it. It must be according to God’s instructions.

    B. For example, it could be reasoned that an acceptable alternative to the Lord’s emblems in the Lord’s supper could be cake and soda. It could be claimed that such use could be carried out sincerely. After all, the Bible doesn’t say we can't use such emblems. Would we violate the Lord’s Supper thinking this would actually be acceptable to Him?

    C. We need to remember that our ways are not His ways (Isa. 55:6-9). Who should decide what is acceptable worship, the Creator or the creature (Rom. 1:25)?

III. In vain they worship God (Matthew 15:9).

    A. The tendency to improve or enhance God’s word is not a new idea. It has been practiced and condemned though out the scriptures.

    B. King Saul thought he could improve upon God’s commands concerning the Amelikites in 1 Sam. 15:10-26. Saul thought it would be a wonderful alternative to bring back animals to use in the worship of God (vs. 15). Yet, he was utterly wrong (vs.26).

    C. Nadab and Abihu thought they could enhance the worship to God by introducing another source of fire (Lev. 10:1-2). After all, the Lord didn’t say they couldn’t use it (vs. 1). They were utterly wrong.

IV. Silence of the Scriptures.

    A. When God tells us how to worship him, it automatically excludes everything else! This statement holds true in all acts of worship as well as in all acts of obedience.

    B. When man prays to Mary or certain "saints," does God think of this as an acceptable alternative in prayer? Yet, man reasons, God never said we couldn’t pray to Mary. See Acts 12:5, 12; 16:25; 1 Tim. 2:1; Matt. 12:46-50.

    C. When man allows women to preach, is this improving on God’s commands (1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:12)?

    D. When man allows giving to the church other than on the first day of the week or pressuring for pledges is this an improvement to God’s instructions (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7)?

    E. When man excludes the partaking of the Lord’s supper from each Lord’s day, is the some kind of expedience (Acts 20:7)? Man reasons, the scripture didn’t say each first day. Remember the Sabbath day command in Ex. 20:8 didn’t say each Sabbath either. Yet, in Num. 15:32-36 a man who took the Sabbath day off was killed for not observing each Sabbath day.

    F. When man adds instrumental music to singing, is this a enhancement as well (Col. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:19)? Man reasons, the Bible doesn’t say we can't use instruments. The Bible didn’t say that Noah couldn’t use pine to build the ark either. If he did, do you think it would have floated?

Conclusion: Many things seem as wonderful alternatives in our worship to God. Yet, do any of the innovations of man actually result in acceptable worship to God? The truth is, our ways are not God’s ways and we can not think God would find any of our ways acceptable to Him (Isa. 55:8). Let all of us worship God in the acceptable manner in which God has instructed us to worship Him, that is in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).

Last modified: 05/02/08