What steps can we take to ensure our worship aligns with God's commands? Setting the Scene 2 Chronicles 33:4: “He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, ‘My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.’” Manasseh’s choice to install unauthorized altars right inside God’s temple shows how quickly worship can drift when God’s clear instructions are ignored. Lessons Drawn from Manasseh’s Misstep • God had already spoken: only one sanctuary, one Name, one way (Deuteronomy 12:4-5). • Adding or modifying worship on our own terms is rebellion, not creativity (Exodus 20:3-5). • Even sincere intentions cannot sanctify disobedience; the place God chose was defiled because the pattern God gave was forsaken. Return to the Blueprint: Scripture First • Regularly read and teach the whole counsel of God so every element of worship is measured against His Word (Psalm 119:105). • Test every song, ritual, and tradition by clear commands and principles found in Scripture (Acts 17:11). • Submit personal preferences to biblical priorities; feelings follow truth, not the other way around (John 17:17). Remove Competing Altars • Identify practices that dilute or distract from Christ’s central place—traditions, trends, or personalities that steal attention (Colossians 2:8). • Repent and eliminate what God never authorized, just as Hezekiah destroyed the bronze serpent when it became an idol (2 Kings 18:4). • Guard the Lord’s Table, baptism, and preaching so they remain pure signs of the gospel (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Rebuild on the Only Foundation • “No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). • Center gatherings on Christ’s finished work—Scripture reading, expositional preaching, prayer, singing truth-filled hymns and songs that exalt Him (Ephesians 5:19-20). • Foster expectancy for God’s presence, not entertainment (Matthew 18:20). Align Heart and Actions • Worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)—both inner devotion and outward obedience matter. • Offer bodies as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1-2), letting daily life mirror Sunday praise. • Cultivate humility, confession, and gratitude; God esteems the contrite heart (Isaiah 57:15). Guard Against Drift • Appoint biblically qualified leaders who will shepherd according to God’s pattern, not cultural pressure (1 Timothy 3:1-7). • Practice church discipline to preserve purity of doctrine and life (Matthew 18:15-17). • Keep celebrating the Lord’s faithfulness so each generation remembers His works (Psalm 78:4-7). Live in Reverent Awe • “Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakeable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). Awe-filled, Scripture-anchored, Christ-exalting worship is the safeguard against building our own altars and the sure path to please the Lord whose Name remains forever. |
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