Sunday, May 9, 2010

Let the Worshipers Arise

1^st in a Series

Offering

Two elements used in early (patriarchal) worship to God…

…an offering and an altar.

What made gifts offered acceptable and pleasing to God was…

Gen 4:2(b) – 7

1) the condition of the heart of the worshiper reflected through obedience, (Heb 11:4)(Matt 5:23-24)

Gen 12:7,8; 22:1-14 (1^st use of word “worship” in scripture)

2) the worshipers reliance on God’s promises, direction, and provision, (Lk 21:1-4)

3) and the cost of the gift to the worshiper.

(Cheap (costless) gifts demonstrate self-reliance and lack of faith in God.) (2 Sam 24:24)

1 Peter 2:5 (4-10)

What are pleasing gifts (sacrificial offerings) to God now?

Heb 13:15-16 –

1) Lips that openly acknowledge his name

2) Sharing resources with others as they have need

3) Financial support for the ministry of God’s word

4) Our lives

WHY IS GOD PLEASED BY OUR GIFTS? They (our offerings) demonstrate our love for him. They (our offerings) are our loving him.

Isn’t God giving gifts to us his demonstration of love for us. Isn’t the gift of Jesus Christ the act of God loving us? (John 3:16; James 1:17; Matt 7:11; 2 Cor 9:13-15; Eph 2:8)

So doesn’t it follow that the loved by God love him back by the same means he has loved us?

We are made in his image, he gives to what he loves, and we are made to give to what we love. (The best of all we have…that’s all we are capable of, we can never give to God something that he needs or that sustains him) The act of giving to what we love is “worship”.

WHY IS GOD PLEASED BY OUR GIFTS? They (our offerings) demonstrate our love for him. They (our offerings) are our loving him.