Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16-19

C.I.: When “Worship” Fails

Jeremiah... – Its not unusual for preachers (or even Xns for that matter) to encourage people to come to worship.

Yet for worship to be beneficial – it needs to be accompanied by several things.
Sadly, the people in Jeremiah's day – were unwilling to make these a part of their worship! (Today?)

•  God's Three Indictments Against False Devotion, (Chapter 7)

•  “Their Worship Does Them No Good!” (vs. 1-15)

•  The nation of Israel had believed the lies of their religious leaders. – The people were told they could continue to live a sinful lifestyle –because they were God's people & had His temple!

•  ( Jer. 6:14-15 ), “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially”

•  Would we go to a cardiologist who put a band-aid over our chest when we had an M.I.?

•  “…saying ‘Peace, peace,' but there is no peace.”

•  “Peace” is not the absence of conflict – it is the presence of God.

•  But notice that God is NOT present in their lives!

•  “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? – They were not ashamed at all; - they did not even know how to blush!”

•  There are two dangerous styles of preaching:

•  Those who refuse to speak of sin & God's judgment (ILLUST.: Olsteen & Schuller).

•  Those who refuse to speak of God's grace & mercy (Baptist group at military funerals).

•  Jeremiah warns the people against believing the lies of the false prophets!

•  ( Jer. 7:4-7 ), “Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.' – For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, - if you do not oppress the alien, orphan or the widow, - do not shed innocent blood in this place or walk after other gods to your own ruin, - then I will let you dwell in this place I gave to your fathers..”

•  Today, the Lord's people are His temple ( I Cor. 3:16 ), “Do you not know you are a temple…

•  God still desires for His “temple” to be holy, ( I Pt. 1:16 ), “ As it is written, “You shall….”

•  So any theology which minimizes God's holiness & tolerates our sinfulness = false theology.

•  When it comes to worship – some things will never be true -&- some things will always be true:

•  ( vs. 9-11 ), “Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer sacrifices to Baal, and walk after other gods…, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered! - that you may do these abominations? – Has this house which is called by My name become a den of robbers in your sight? – Behold, I, even I, have seen it.'”

•  Jesus said v. 11 in Mt. 21:13 (after cleansing temple) = a place to go after committing crimes

•  It will always be true - if our worship does not change our lives – then our worship is useless!

•  Things always true: 1) Love God & His people more, 2) More determined to tell others about Jesus, 3) More determined to purge self of sin, 4) eagerly looking forward to our next assembly

•  “Your Prayers will Do Them No Good,” (vs. 16-20)

•  ( v. 16 ), “As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you.”

•  This is a terrible indictment against the spiritual condition of this people.

•  God listened as Moses interceded for rebellious Israel, ( Num. 14:11-20 ).

•  God had allowed Abraham to intercede for the people of Sodom, ( cf. Gen. 18:23-33 ).

•  Israel in Jeremiah's day must have been even worse than the people in these situations!

•  ( vs. 17-18 ), “Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and on the streets of Jerusalem? – The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, - and the women kneed dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven.”

•  The Apostle John in the N.T. - also tells us not to pray for a certain group of people.

•  ( I Jn. 5:16 ), “In anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God shall give him the life to those who commit sin not leading to death. – There is a sin leading to death; - I do not say he should make request for this.”

•  All sin leads to death, ( Rom. 6:23 ). – Many have wondered, “So what then is THE sin leading to death?!” – The answer is, it is not one particular sin, but any sin that the person involved in it – will not confess to God & repent of doing, ( I Jn. 1:8-10 )!

•  The nation of Israel then – was unwilling to repent of their sin – and turn back to God (us?!).

•  Their sacrifices will Do Them No Good,” (vs. 21-26)

•  Religious ritual that is not accompanied with obedience is worthless!!!

•  ( vs. 22-23 ), “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. – But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; - and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.'”

•  When God brought the people to Mt Sinai – He did not, in the 10 Commandments, give them commands regarding the kind of worship He desire, (cf. Ex. 20:1-17).

•  His covenant at Sinai was to demonstrate His grace to Israel – and the importance of their desire to follow Him according to His will (God was marrying a bride not buying a slave!).

•  This reality (obedience versus sacrifice) has always been true of God & His people

•  ( I Sam. 15:22 ), “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings & sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? – Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”

•  ( Hos. 6:6 ), “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, - and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

•  ( Matt. 23:23 ), “Woe… - For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness; but these are things you should have done without neglecting the others.”

•  ( Jn. 4:23 ), “An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship….”

•  To substitute external ritual for internal devotion makes our sacrifices to God meaningless!!!

CONCLUSIONS: (Reiterate the 3 main points)

1. Sadly, for far too many today, the exercise of the Christianity is only seen in their “coming to church”!
2. Even amongst the people of God, we say we are “the Lord's church” – and glory in us and not in Jesus!

3. In Rom. 12:1-2 , God says to Xns, “I urge you therefore….” – To “would-be” disciples… Acts 22:16.