This is an bit amazing. One of the first issues in the bible is what is right worship. Can you believe it, it is still going on. Actually, this one topic has been one of the few contentious issues in this church since we have been here. Just recently the organ over guitars and piano debate has continued. Last month some issues over different styles of music. February some active debate regarding the raising of hands in church. It’s been going on for 10, 000 years and you expect me to sought it out for you.
Actually, it was soughted out right in this chapter. Yep all those years ago. And their wasn’t a hymn or chorus or spiritual song in sight. Maybe some hand raising but the text doesn’t verify that.
- What is acceptable worship? (v3-5)
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
i. Notice what it says here. Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil. It makes no comment on the quality. Where as Abel brought fat portions. Now unlike today, if an animal was fat, it was good value. So we have an issue of quality here.ii. If that is the case then God’s issue with Cain was an attitude one. Cain didn’t bring the quality needed. We can not assume that plants and farming produce was not acceptable because later in scripture in Exodus and Leviticus we have offerings of grain for specific purposes. iii. The issue was not bringing the quality required and not having the attitude of offering to God the best.
- What is right worship? (V7)
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
So what does this have to do with our passage.
And hang on aren’t those two questions really the same. What is acceptable worship and what is right worship? No they are not. You can do it all right and not mean it.
All of things commented on in the cartoons are not bad in themselves. But with wrong attitude they are not acceptable. I hate to put it this way but if your attitude is not right this morning, God will not accept your worship. Regardless of what you like.
Let me say it this way.
Worship of God has nothing to do with what you like – it is about what He likes.
Our worship is a concert for God.
Let me reiterate that.
Worship of the Almighty God is not about whether we are comfortable, happy, good at it, rocking, hymny, dancey. It is about giving God what He wants.
· What does God want from you today??????
Right worship is: What you offer to God with integrity.
The interesting part is that Cain got upset that what he gave wasn’t good enough. Upset and jealous.
Here is a question:
· Have you ever been jealous of someone else’s worship, or maybe jealous of someone else’s capacity to worship?
I am not asking if you are jealous of another churches worship band or pipe organ. Have you looked at someone who is just into worshipping God and thought “I wish I had that?”
I have. Right here in this church. We had a youth service and it was a bit loud. But I looked side on and saw an older person smiling. Not at the music, he probably had his hearing aid turned off, but you could see the glee in his eyes as he watched the young people getting into the God stuff.
Here is an essence of worship. It is not for us. It is to God but also it is about people drawing closer to God. Individually and corporately when we do our worship together.
The arguments about style of worship grieve me. It is not about style but about what comes from inside, it is not about how but about the quality of our integrity before God.
What I am saying is it is about your heart and how your heart is before God.
I get the feeling that if our hearts are right, we wont have an issue with the style or the how of worship we just will worship.
· Who do we look after? (V9) GE 4:9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The tragedy is the reactions. Wrong worship leads to sin. We see it in Genesis 4. Cain’s worship wasn’t accepted and he killed Abel. Sometimes here in this church people have had attitude issues with the worship style and sinned. Yep, they have hurt others, criticized others, and put some people’s worship to God down as inappropriate. If you have been in that category, as your pastor I rebuke you. I can say that, because I felt the Lord’s rebuke over this issue a number of years ago.
Now, it is our responsibility as a church and as individuals to assist others in worship.
· Am I my brothers keeper? Yes, in worship as well.
Having said that, look what happens. God punishes Cain, yes but look. Even though he was wrong and deserved punishment what does God do?
Looks after him.
· 4. God’s protection is even on the disobedient. (v15) GE 4:15 But the LORD said to him, “Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
Even at this stage, we see God’s amazing compassion and care. God cares for us even when we get it wrong. God cares enough to allow us to worship each week. We can come back to it weekly, daily and in all aspects of life. If our hearts have been wrong in our worship – God forgives, but lets take time to repent. Let’s be real before God and have the integrity to acknowledge our sin of wrong worship.
As we sing this next song, take the time to speak to God about your worship. Worship Him, the Almighty God in song, and body and heart
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