SCRIPTURE READING: John 4:24

Problem: Losing heart and interest in worship services.

It seems to be an unfortunate human characteristic that in times of ease and prosperity we tend to lose sight of the more important things; this clearly translates over to our worship—we Christians can so easily fall into worshipping without reverence. We acknowledge that worship to God is a command, but we fail to recognize that the regularity of our worship is a blessing and a privilege.

Instead, we sing familiar songs and pray familiar prayers and hear familiar lessons—our repetitive practices become mechanical.

So how do we avoid that? As a repetitive practice, how do we remain sincere in worship? Does our worship need to be improved for our hearts to stay in it? There are some who have sought to solve the problem with spontaneous singing and chain prayers. This is where a song leader will just begin singing a song, no numbers, no books, while still seated, and as the congregation slowly catches on the song flourishes, he goes to the front and begins leading, alternating between calling out songs and moving into others unannounced. With chain prayers, one man of the congregation will begin the prayer, say his peace, and it will move to another man, and another, until someone finally concludes with an "Amen." And there are some who see this "mixing it up" as a way to have a closer, more intimate worship experience.

While this might be no less scriptural than "led" worship services, to suppose that it is the solution to the problem is incorrect; and to consider "led" worship an inferior form of worship compared to "spontaneous" worship is outright dangerous. The fact is, that’s just another way of doing it—and it’s just a matter of time before you get "used" to the spontaneity, you anticipate what you will do, and fall into the same rut.

The fact is, you don’t improve worship by changing the format of worship—but by changing the hearts involved. It’s a matter of attitude.

We need to recognize what we have in our worship to God.

In regards to worship—specifically, attendance—we’re all familiar with what the Hebrew writer has written in Hebrews 10:25. Today let’s pull back and take a look at a bigger portion of the picture from which that statement in v.25 is taken—from this passage, we can find the answer to our question: how to keep our hearts involved in repetitive worship.

When Christ sacrificed Himself for the sins of man and took His seat at the right hand of God, He perfected worship. We have something the Jews never did in the earthly priesthood.

Hebrews 10:8-31

Because Jesus Christ gave Himself once for all, we are all purified through the covenant He sealed. In the confidence of that sacrifice and our salvation, we draw near to him. Furthermore, it is important that we continue to do so, lest we shrink back into sin.

Under the Old Law, none put the high priest could enter the Holiest of the Holies, an area of the temple divided from the rest by a veil.

Hebrews 9:7-10

That all changed upon Christ’s death; that truth was symbolized when the veil was rent in two upon His soul’s departure from this Earth (Mark 15:38).

The days of the ignorance of man is over.

Acts 17:30: Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent.

With our newly gained privileges comes responsibility.

Now, in our worship, every Christian enters into the Holiest of Holies, into the very presence of God. Hebrews 9 emphasizes this privilege by telling us that the Old Law was not to this effect.

Our access to God is not limited to a literal holy temple, as theirs was—there is nothing sacred about this building. But when we address the Almighty together . . . that is holy, no matter where we assemble. Some of our brethren in China, for example, who do NOT have the privilege of regularity, meet in different hotel rooms every Lord’s Day . . . they risk their freedom to do it. Why? Because Christ died once for all, and it is a Christian’s privilege to worship in the Holy of Holies—wherever those Christians might be.

The impulse to worship God is inherent in human beings—this is evidenced in every culture that has ever developed. We have the impulse to recognize God. GOD has provided us the means by which we are to express it—we should follow the command to worship, and with boldness. And when we do, we should treat that place and occasion as HOLY—it is our purpose, not our location. Our hearts, not what order we worship in.

Having looked at the necessity and importance of worship, notice v.22, some things we must do to prepare to enter the Holiest of Holies:

1.) We must have a true heart, as John 4:24 instructs us to worship in spirit and in truth. We cannot enter the holy place of worship while going through the motions. To do so makes a mockery of the gift that it is—Christ died once for all.

2.) We must have obeyed God in baptism. It is the soul purified with the water of baptism.

I Peter 3:21: And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

One can not enter the holy place with the burden of guilt.

There’s another difference between our worship and entering the holy place in the Old Testament temple—the high priest only did it once a year. Verse 23 tells us we must hold fast to our confession without wavering (READ). In other words, we must worship with consistency. Attendance is a matter of heart.

The Hebrew writer knew how easy it is to drift away from constant conviction, and warning is given earlier in the book.
 

Hebrews 6:11-12

One sad and terrible side effect of a Christian lacking reverence in worship is that the problem in contagious. Someone sees hypocrisy in worship, is discouraged, and perhaps uses that individual as an excuse to stop attending. We see the Hebrew writer’s admonition working backwards. We are here for one another to strengthen the hope within us; we reinforce one another.

We do this in worship by stirring one another up to love and good works (v.24-READ). The word "stimulate" in this verse is actually a very weak translation of the Greek word. The Greek word’s literal meaning is much more passionate; it’s basic meaning is "to incite to a frenzy." In order to understand more fully why such a passionate word would be used, all we need do is look back at the attitudes taken by righteous individuals in regards to worshipping God.

Psalm 122:1: I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord."

Jeremiah 20:9: But if I say, "I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name," then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it.

Consistency of worship is important to God because He is recognized in it . . . and it also serves as a tool of preservation for US. Worship is an antidote to apostasy (v.25). If we reject what we have been given, what hope do we have? (v.26)

It is easy to fall away from God if you forsake the assembly. Think about it—you choose to isolate yourself from worship to God. Our solution, our preservation and encouragement, is to enter the holy place, to draw near to God, with sincerity, with consistency.

If we do that, it won’t matter if a song is "led" or spontaneous. If our hearts are in the right place, when we sing words of praise, we will feel them, and when we pray, we will join in with our thoughts, speaking to God. If our hearts are in the right place, making it to worship services—every worship service—will not be a decision . . . it will be a necessity. Christ DIED once for all so that we could do this . . . will we receive that gift and then cast it aside like a cheap trinket right before Him? May it never be so!