True Worship: Honoring God Through Christ's Sacrifice

 

Summary

In our journey through the book of Leviticus, we have encountered a sobering narrative that demands our attention and introspection. The account of Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of worship and the consequences of deviating from God's explicit commands. These two priests, despite their privileged positions and previous encounters with the divine, offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, an act that cost them their lives. This incident underscores a truth that cannot be overstated: God does not play when it comes to His holiness.

As we reflect on this passage, we must confront the reality that our worship can sometimes be marred by questionable motives and comforts that cater to our preferences rather than God's prescriptions. It is imperative to recognize that when our worship is governed solely by our comforts, they inadvertently become the object of our worship, a form of strange fire that is unacceptable to the Lord.

The way we worship must be governed by God's commands, and our approach to worship generates a response from Him. Worship that is self-directed, self-willed, or rooted in vanity and pride cannot invoke God's pleasure or presence. Instead, it risks invoking His displeasure and, in some cases, His wrath. The question we must ask ourselves is whether our worship originates from a heart longing for a transformative encounter with Almighty God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The proper way to approach a holy God is not through our own merit or works, which are tainted by sin, but through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Lamb of God, offered His blood on the cross, providing the coals from which we can draw our worship. It is through Jesus that our worship becomes acceptable to God.

As we gather in our beautiful sanctuary, let us not be distracted by the conveniences and comforts but focus on the cross of Christ, the foundation of our worship. We come not to be entertained or to spectate but to worship a God who has accepted us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Key Takeaways:

- Worship that aligns with God's commands is the only form that He accepts. When we deviate from His instructions, we risk offering strange fire, which is an affront to His holiness. Our worship must be a reflection of our obedience and reverence for God, not a product of our own desires or innovations. [49:33]

- God's response to our worship is personal and direct. He longs to manifest His presence among us, but when we substitute His supernatural presence with superficial acts, He withdraws. True worship invites God's activity in our lives, while vain worship leaves us to our own devices. [01:06:46]

- The consequences of vain worship are severe. God may withhold His manifest presence, His blessings, and His rewards when we approach Him with hearts full of pride or hypocrisy. Our worship must be sincere, reflecting a heart that seeks to honor God above all else. [01:08:54]

- Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of acceptable worship. As the perfect sacrifice, He bridges the gap between our sinfulness and God's holiness. Our worship must always be drawn from the cross, recognizing Christ's atoning work as the basis for our communion with God. [01:14:21]

- Worship is not about our comfort or entertainment; it is about encountering the living God. When we gather, let the cross be at the forefront of our minds, and let our worship be a response to the sacrifice of Jesus, who makes our worship acceptable and pleasing to God. [01:17:17]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Leviticus 10:1-3 (NIV)
> "Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, 'This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: "Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored."' Aaron remained silent."

#### Observation Questions
1. What specific act did Nadab and Abihu commit that led to their death? ([40:34])
2. How did Moses explain the Lord's reaction to Nadab and Abihu's actions to Aaron? ([41:05])
3. What was the significance of the fire that Nadab and Abihu used in their censers? ([52:03])
4. According to the sermon, what is the primary purpose of worship? ([49:38])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for worship to be governed by God's commands rather than our own preferences? ([48:02])
2. How does the story of Nadab and Abihu illustrate the consequences of vain worship? ([59:02])
3. What does it mean for God to withdraw His manifest presence, and how does this affect our worship? ([01:07:06])
4. How does Jesus' sacrifice on the cross change the way we approach worship compared to the Old Testament practices? ([01:14:21])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own worship practices. Are there any ways in which your worship might be more about your comfort than about honoring God? How can you change this? ([57:17])
2. Have you ever experienced a time when you felt God's manifest presence during worship? What was different about that experience compared to other times? ([01:06:46])
3. How can you ensure that your worship is sincere and not just a routine or ritual? What steps can you take to prepare your heart before coming to worship? ([01:09:01])
4. In what ways can you focus more on the cross of Christ during your worship? Are there specific practices or reminders that can help you keep the sacrifice of Jesus at the forefront of your mind? ([01:17:17])
5. Think about a time when you might have approached worship with a self-directed or prideful attitude. How did that affect your experience and relationship with God? What can you do to cultivate a humble and reverent heart in worship? ([01:08:54])
6. How can you help others in your small group or church community to focus on true worship that honors God? Are there ways you can encourage or support each other in this journey? ([01:23:37])
7. Identify one specific change you can make in your daily life to ensure that your worship is a reflection of your obedience and reverence for God. How will you implement this change starting this week? ([49:33])

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience in Worship Reflects Holiness
True worship aligns with God's explicit commands, reflecting a heart of obedience and reverence. When individuals offer worship according to their own desires or innovations, they risk presenting what the Bible terms "strange fire," which is an affront to God's holiness. This concept is vividly illustrated in the account of Nadab and Abihu, who suffered the ultimate consequence for their unauthorized act of worship. The gravity of this event serves as a sobering reminder that worship is not about personal preference or comfort but about honoring God's specific instructions and His sacred character.

"Which one of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" (Luke 17:7-10 ESV)

Reflection: How does your current approach to worship reflect a heart of obedience to God's commands, and in what ways might it need to be realigned?

Day 2: God's Presence Over Personal Preference
God's response to worship is deeply personal and direct, desiring to manifest His presence among those who worship in spirit and truth. When worship becomes superficial, focused on self-willed acts rather than seeking God's presence, it loses its power and purpose. Worship should invite God's activity in our lives, drawing us closer to Him and transforming us by His Spirit. It is a time to set aside personal preferences and comforts to truly seek and experience the divine.

"And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you allowed personal preferences to influence your worship, and how can you shift your focus to seeking God's presence instead?

Day 3: The High Cost of Vain Worship
The consequences of approaching God with vain worship—rooted in pride, hypocrisy, or self-indulgence—are severe. God may withhold His manifest presence and blessings when worship is insincere. Worship must emanate from a heart that seeks to honor God above all else, reflecting a genuine longing for His approval rather than human recognition or personal gain.

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b ESV)

Reflection: What are the areas in your worship that may be more about self than God, and how can you cultivate a heart that truly seeks to honor Him?

Day 4: Christ-Centered Worship
Jesus Christ, as the perfect sacrifice, is the cornerstone of acceptable worship. It is only through His atoning work on the cross that our worship can bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God's holiness. Recognizing and relying on Christ's sacrifice is essential for worship that pleases God, as it aligns our hearts with the truth of the Gospel and the reality of our redemption.

"But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God." (Hebrews 10:12 ESV)

Reflection: How does your worship reflect an understanding and appreciation of Christ's sacrifice, and how can you more fully center your worship on Him?

Day 5: Worship as Encounter, Not Entertainment
Worship is not about our comfort or entertainment; it is about encountering the living God. When gathering for worship, the focus should be on the cross of Christ, the foundation of our faith. Worship should be a response to the sacrifice of Jesus, who makes our worship acceptable and pleasing to God, rather than a pursuit of personal enjoyment or spectacle.

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15 ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that your worship is a genuine encounter with God rather than a search for personal comfort or entertainment?

Quotes

"When it comes to worship, God's not playing games and no amount of vanity nor pride and no approach to worship that is self-directed or self-willed can ever invoke his pleasure nor his presence." [48:09](Download | )

"The way we worship must be governed by God's commands, his instructions." [48:09](Download | )

"When my worship only caters to my comforts, then my comforts become the object of my worship. And that, at the end of the day, my friends, is a strange fire before the Lord." [57:46](Download | )

"God watches our worship closely so as to respond to our worship personally. He responds to our worship personally." [01:02:49](Download | )

"Every time we gather for worship and we lift high the name of Jesus, the Bible says that he actually inhabits the praises of his people, meaning God makes himself at home wherever he feels welcome with true worship." [01:06:46](Download | )

"May the coals of our worship always come from the cross of Jesus Christ. Because through Jesus, therefore, let us offer continually the sacrifices of praise, the fruit of lips that openly confess his name." [01:17:17](Download | )

"God longs to show off his manifest presence. He loves to make himself known in our midst. He loves to perform on your behalf." [01:05:16](Download | )

"Be careful not to let how you go about worshiping God become a compromise by fleshly ambitions." [54:31](Download | )

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Transcript
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