WORTHLESS
WORSHIPJeremiah 7:1-15 (NIV)
This is the most important Sermon that Jeremiah Preached. It is called the Temple Sermon. Many Scholars date it around 609 BC possibly after King Josiah had fallen in battle. It was preached during the Fall Festival of Tabernacles - when there would have been thousands of people coming from all over the country to the city of Jerusalem.
God tells Jeremiah to stand in the Gate of the Temple and give the people this Word from God.
I. WORSHIP IS WORTHLESS WHEN YOU MISPLACE YOUR TRUST
Jeremiah 7:4 (NIV) "Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!"
Jeremiah 7:8 (NIV) "But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless."
KJV "...ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit."
They believed in Temple Theology. It was popular. They believed that the Temple could not be destroyed. The Temple was where God chose to reside. As long as God resided in the Temple, Jerusalem would not have to worry about being destroyed. The people then thought that God would never let Jerusalem be destroyed because of the Temple.
The Temple had become a good luck charm. The people could do whatever they wanted, the Temple's presence would insure God's Blessing. God reminded them that He once had dedicated Shiloh as the place where God was Worshiped. It was evidently a fact well known to Jeremiah's people that the town of Shiloh once housed the Ark of the Covenant. This is where the Sanctuary was.
Jeremiah 7:12 "But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel."
God had judged wickedness in Shiloh and God would judge wickedness in Jerusalem. Today we have a "Revised Temple Theology." We come to Church, we bring the Children to Bible Study, we sing the Songs, We even give money to the Church. We think that this will insure the Blessings of God. We feel if we come to Church and while there do the right things, say the right words and sing the right Songs that everything will be all right with God.
On Sunday, we can come and "Worship Him". In reality all we are doing is going through the motions of a Worship Service. John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."
Worship that puts its Trust in being at the right place, doing the right things, saying the right words, and singing the right songs, is Worthless Worship. It is nothing more than a revised Temple Theology and it is detestable to God.
II WORSHIP IS WORTHLESS IF IT DOES NOT CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Jeremiah 7:9-11 (NIV) "'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, {10} and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"--safe to do all these detestable things? {11} Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD."
These people were coming to Church on the Sabbath. During the week they were stealing, murdering, committing adultery, lying, committing idolatry. What they were doing on Sunday had not effect on their lives throughout the week.
If your Theology doesn't change you, then change your Theology. If all you are doing is going through the motions on Sunday, then it is doubtful if it will change your life. Notice Vs 11 - God Watches Our Worship!
III WORTHLESS WORSHIP CAUSES YOU TO MISS HEARING FROM GOD
Jeremiah 7:13 (NIV) "While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer."
When you have Worthless Worship, you will not hear from
God. How many people simply go through the motions of a Worship Service,
but never hear from God?
Could it be that God is wanting to speak to you, but you can't hear? Could
He be calling to you, but you can't answer? Why? - because you are not
Worshiping the True and the Living God.
I. WORSHIP IS WORTHLESS WHEN YOU MISPLACE YOUR TRUST
II. WORSHIP IS WORTHLESS IF IT DOES NOT CHANGE YOUR LIFE
III. WORTHLESS WORSHIP CAUSES YOU TO MISS HEARING FROM GOD
Worship is Meaningful when we place our Trust in God. True Worship will Change a Person's Life. In True Worship, you will hear from God