In what ways can we ensure our worship aligns with God's instructions today? Setting the Scene—Leviticus 17:9 “and does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the LORD, that man shall be cut off from his people.” Leviticus 17:9 anchors the truth that worship must happen in the way and the place God designates. Anything else—even if sincere—provokes divine disapproval. The verse trains us to ask, “Am I worshiping on God’s terms or my own?” Principle 1: Come to the Place God Chooses • Israel could not pick a random hilltop; they had to come to the Tabernacle. • Today the meeting‐place God has chosen is Christ Himself and the gathered church (Hebrews 10:19–25). • Application: prioritize corporate worship; avoid “lone-ranger” Christianity. Principle 2: Approach through the Sacrifice God Provides • Old-covenant worshipers brought a literal animal; we come through the finished work of Jesus. • “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…” (Hebrews 10:19). • Any worship that minimizes the cross or presents alternative mediators violates God’s pattern. Principle 3: Obedience Overrides Preference • Preferences must bow to explicit commands (John 14:15; 1 Samuel 15:22). • Evaluate music, rituals, and technology: Are they obedient tools or self-styled innovations? Principle 4: Gather with God’s People • “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) • Worship is covenantal and communal; neglecting fellowship fractures God’s design (Acts 2:42). Principle 5: Offer the Whole Life as Worship • “Therefore I urge you… to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1) • Sunday praise must flow into Monday obedience: integrity at work, purity online, generosity with resources. Principle 6: Saturate Worship with the Word • “Let the word of Christ richly dwell among you… singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs…” (Colossians 3:16) • Scripture read, preached, prayed, and sung guards worship from error and feeds faith (2 Timothy 4:2). Living It Out Today • Commit to a Bible-faithful local church that keeps Christ central. • Examine every element of the service—lyrics, liturgy, symbolism—by Scripture. • Prepare your heart before gathering: confess sin, meditate on the cross, expect God to speak. • Participate actively: sing, listen, pray, give, serve. • Carry the fragrance of Sunday worship into everyday decisions, conversations, and relationships. Worship that aligns with God’s instructions still begins at His appointed place, rests on His appointed sacrifice, and continues in obedient, Word-saturated lives together. |
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