Hebrews 12:25-29

The One We Worship

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.  If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”  The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

od is looking for worshipers, not just worship.  This singular truth, once grasped, will transform our efforts to worship.  Churchgoers today seem to have misplaced the true meaning of worship.  God is looking for people whose minds and hearts are bent toward him.  Jesus, confronting the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar, said,

a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth [John 4:23, 24].

When we worship in spirit, we worship in sincerity and from the heart.  Many miss the act of worship by about eighteen inches.  Their worship is all in their minds.  There are four requirements to worshipping in spirit.  Those who worship are to be born again; they must give adoration and praise to God; they must maintain a repentant and contrite heart toward God; and they must focus on God.

To worship in truth means people are willing to confront, confess and abandon their sins.  Worshipping in truth also means that during the service more time will be spent reading and examining God's Word than giving announcements or singing.  Compare the time spent making announcements and greeting guests to the amount of time reading Scripture and praying.  Announcements and greetings routinely require ten or so minutes, whereas prayer and Scripture reading can be counted in seconds.

In many churches the minds of our people are focused such different things as where are they going to eat lunch, who's going to win the football game, problems in their marriages, illness or lost jobs.  As we worship, we are to discipline ourselves so that we exclude such intrusions, permitting us to focus on the One we seek to worship.

We are not to focus on the pastor, the worship team leader, the musicians, the soloist, or even on each other.  We are to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ.  The pastor is to so preach that the people hear not a man, but the voice of Christ speaking through His Word.  The worship team is to so sing that the people hear not a song or a chorus or a hymn, but so that they discover the Spirit urging them to lift their voices in praise to God.

And we wonder why we are not experiencing the power of God in our worship services.  Many of our worship services are little more than concerts or performances.  God is not just seeking worship; he's seeking worshipers.  Otherwise we could insert a CD of praise music and be done with it.  Do not misunderstand.  I am convinced that we are responsible to ensure that those who lead our services must work to present their leadership with confidence and to the best of their abilities.  We are not to be content with slipshod efforts at leading the people in worship.

One reason I think we Baptists have trouble worshipping is because we are afraid of what somebody else is going to think about us.  Real worship means I'm focused on Jesus.  I've come into complete God consciousness and I'm praising him, not worrying what somebody else is thinking.  In order to do this, we must know intimately the One we worship.  The text for the message today points to the Living God, whom we worship.  Join me in discovering in a fresh manner the Lord God whom we worship.

Precursors to Worship — Whenever we endeavour to worship we must prepare, just as we have seen in previous messages.  The passage preceding our text speaks pointedly to the issues which must be addressed before we seek to enter into worship.  In effect, they are a specific application of Romans 12:1, 2.  I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Now, focus on the passage preceding, beginning with the 14th verse.

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.  See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.  Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected.  He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”  The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel [Hebrews 12:14-24].

God is not seeking worship; He is seeking worshipers.  Satan is pretty good at distorting the true meaning of worship, and consequently we ceased to be worshippers.  Some of the ways Satan distorts worship are through the traditions, words, persuasions and pleadings of men.  What I mean is that we convince ourselves that worship consists of certain acts or certain rituals or a particular style of music, and thus we cannot worship unless all is done according to our plan.  Satan uses the perpetuated fads and the allure of popularity to distort true worship.

Most services of worship begin at eleven o’clock sharp and end at twelve o’clock dull.  We know what is coming and thus we are comfortable.  Each church develops its own liturgy as surely as though the “worship” was scripted.  We cannot “worship” unless an organ is played… if drums are beaten… if choruses are sung… unless the pastor wears a three-piece suit.  We assure ourselves that our rituals are the only way to please God, forgetting that we are to live in peace with all men and to be holy.  We need to remember that without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Worship is misplaced when people venerate the auditorium.  How can you tell when this is happening?  You can tell when people fight over pews, get upset over the P.A. system or argue over material things at the church.  I remember an incident in a church when I was but a new member.  I arrived early for the service and selected a seat.  After a few minutes an elderly woman approached me and began to berate me.

“Young man,” she began, “I have been a member of this church for over fifty years.  When I was saved, I sat in that seat you are sitting in.  I have sat in that seat ever since.  I cannot worship unless I can sit in that seat.  Now, let me have my seat.”

To say I was astonished is putting the issue mildly.  I arose, bowed deeply and said, “I always defer to history, madam.”

I doubt that that woman had worshipped since she was saved.  I suggest that she had missed the grace of God and could exhibit only a bitter root which would always cause trouble and defile others.

Worship is also misplaced if people adore a person, such as a pastor, music leader or other type of minister instead of God.  When people find out their pastor or music leader is not perfect and they leave the church, then where was their focus?  We need our people to understand they are not to place their focus on a person—pastor, minister of music or church leader.  We're not worthy of worship.

Worship is misplaced if people clamour for power on committees, value absolute perfection in administration or care more about church programs than giving reverence to God.  Such individuals have sold their inheritance rights for a mess of pottage.  Some among us think that power comes from holding a position, not realising that power comes from a humble walk with the Master and through serving others in a spirit of humility.  Such people struggle, but seldom worship.

When people are focused on things rather than the Lord Jesus Christ, it is our responsibility to teach them what it means to truly worship the Lord.  The devil is working overtime in getting our people to misplace their worship.  If we will worship, we must invest our days preceding the act with making every effort to live in peace with one another and in making every effort to be holy.  If we will worship, we must seek the grace of God in every aspect of life and shun bitterness.  If we will worship, we must seek to enter into the realm of the spiritual where the True and Living God reigns.

I invite the people of God to cease focusing on coming to a church building in order to worship, seeking instead to enter into the presence of the Risen Son of God.  He walks in and out before His new creation—the church, which is His Body.  When we unite in assembly, we are the Body of Christ visible.  We are no less the Body of Christ (and He is no less present) when we go our separate ways.  Nevertheless, we should anticipate that when we come together, exhibiting the peace of Christ and seeking to be His holy people, seeking His grace and refusing to surrender to bitterness, we will then enter into worship, for we will have become worshippers.

God of Compassion — Now we shall begin to explore Who it is that we worship as we focus on the text.  The author warns, see to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks [verse 25].  God speaks, and man is responsible to listen.  By His voice, God calls and warns mankind.  This is a mark of His compassion, rather than a sign of His pettiness.  In this particular instance, His words constitute a warning.  He warned in the distant past and He now warns us from Heaven.

We are worshippers, united in spirit with all who now worship the Living God.  Though we see four walls in a small building—windows and doors, musical instruments, pulpit, chairs, the normal accoutrements of worship—we have actually at this moment come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel [Hebrews 12:22-24].

God spoke at Sinai, warning the people.  At the transfiguration of our Lord, the command was given that we were to Listen to Him [cf. Matthew 17:5].  God has spoken through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but now He speaks by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe [see Hebrews 1:1, 2].  Though we are responsible to hear the voice of God, we must realise that His speaking constitutes a warning delivered in compassion on fallen mankind.  The warning to which the author alludes, however, was that given when the Law was delivered.

Then, the people saw a thick cloud over Mount Sinai and heard a very loud trumpet blast [Exodus 19:16].  The people were led to the foot of the mountain as God descended in fire [Exodus 19:18].  The Word notes that when the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear [Exodus 20:18].  As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered [Exodus 19:19].

When God had the attention of the Israelites, He commanded them, You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle.  Wherever I cause my name to be honoured, I will come to you and bless you.  If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.  And do not go up to my altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it [Exodus 20:22-26].

Though God warned the people, they ignored His warning and broke every command He issued.  They made other gods to be alongside the Living God.  They exalted the altar, instead of God who is forever glorified.  They demonstrated they own spiritual nakedness through exalting their buildings and codes and rites.  The result was that God judged them.

One of the saddest statements of the entire Old Testament is that which is found in Jeremiah 52:27.  So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.  Later, Jeremiah writes: Woe to us, for we have sinned [Lamentations 5:16]!  God’s chosen people did not escape when they refused Him who spoke, how much less shall we escape when we refuse His warning?  When God warns that He shall discipline His own when they refuse to honour Him [see Hebrews 12:1-13], do we believe Him?

We who are called by the Name of the Risen Son of God are to unite to worship.  Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

We are called to worship as the people of God.  Beyond this, we are to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  We are to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Finally, we have received the command: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching [Hebrews 10:19-25].

To fail to hear the voice of God calling us to worship is to invite His discipline.  For those who have yet to hear the call to faith in the Risen Son of God, rejection leads to condemnation.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

…Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him [John 3:18-21, 36].

Sinner friend, it is not meanness which compels me to warn you to flee the wrath to come, but it is rather compassion.  The God of compassion in mercy warns you that He shall judge the earth and all that dwell therein.  Nevertheless, today is a day of mercy

Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  For he says,

“In the time of my favour I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.

[2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2]

God of Creation — Looking back, the author states of God that His voice shook the earth.  The reference is to the time that God spoke at Sinai when Moses had been called up into the mount.  Looking forward and citing the prophet Haggai, the author reminds us that God has said, Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens [see Haggai 2:6].  His voice shakes all creation, both that which is seen and that which is unseen [verse 26].  That the voice of God is able to shake all creation should not surprise any Christian, for our God is Creator of all that exists—both that which is seen and that which is unseen.  This issue of God as Creator is more important than we might imagine, for our worship is dependent upon God as Creator.

It is significant that when the redeemed church worships God in Heaven, He is glorified and worshipped on the basis of His position as Creator.  The scene before us speaks of cherubs worshipping the Living God as He is seated on His throne, and as they worship, they stimulate the church to likewise worship.  The veil separating time and eternity has been drawn back, permitting us this glimpse of the eternal occupation of the redeemed.  The living creatures are cherubs and the twenty-four elders represent the church.  I am very bold to state that if you do not enjoy worshipping, you will not enjoy Heaven.  If church is boring, you will not find Heaven stimulating.

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever.  They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honour and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.”

[Revelation 4:9-11]

What I would have you see through this reference is that the saints in eternity worship God on the basis of His creative activity.  He who created is alone able to recreate.  He who gives temporal life is alone able to give eternal life.  Thus, the church shall worship God as Creator throughout eternity.

If God is merely an observer and the forces of time and chance determine what life exists and even whether life exists, then God is not omnipotent.  He is in that case submitted to the power of nature.  If He is not omnipotent, how may I be certain that He is able to set me free from condemnation and give me life?  What does the concept of salvation mean, if God is not Creator?  If I am the product of time and chance, then it is certain I have not committed an offence through sinning since there exists the possibility that the race shall reach the apex of perfection as it progresses toward faultlessness.

If God is Creator, on the other hand, then through the Fall of my first parents I have sinned against Him.  My very existence constitutes an offence against Him and demands that propitiation be made before any hope of reconciliation may be realised.  Since He made me, He alone is able to redeem me from my fallen condition.  This is the message we bring.  Christ redeemed us [Galatians 3:13, 14].  God states the situation thusly.  When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir [Galatians 4:4-7].

We Christians thus confidently assert to any who will receive this message that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good [Titus 2:11-14].

God of Certainty — God alone is capable of ensuring that there is certainty in life.  Since He is Creator, God alone is uncreated.  We are confident that the Lord God created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them [see Exodus 20:11].  It was on this basis that the Hebrew people were commanded to observe the Sabbath, keeping the day holy.  Similarly, we must recognise God as Creator of all that is, Himself excepted.  His throne is an eternal throne [cf. Psalm 45:6], the Lord Himself having neither beginning nor end [Psalm 90:2].  Because our God is eternal, His Word is eternal, standing firm in Heaven [Psalm 119:89], and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom [Psalm 145:13].

He holds the present and controls the future—He cannot be shaken [see verse 27].  Therefore, we may be confident that our God will do all that He has promised.  The Psalmist asserts:

I will bow down toward your holy temple

and will praise your name

for your love and your faithfulness,

for you have exalted above all things

your name and your word.

[Psalm 138:2]

The things which cannot be shaken are God Himself—His Word and His Kingdom.  When Jesus prepared Himself for His passion, He prayed to the Father.  As He prayed He spoke of the rich gifts He gave to us.

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified [John 17:14-19].

The only certainty we have in this fallen world is the Good News of Christ.  Paul reminds us of that Gospel as He writes the Corinthian believers.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.  Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles [1 Corinthians 15:1-7].

Only as we rest in the Lord God, resorting to His strength, can we dare stand against the schemes of the evil one.  Only as we rely upon the strength of the Living God and look to Him shall we endure.

When it seems that the inmates are running the asylum, when it seems that chaos reigns, when it seems that all around gives way and there is no place left to stand, we who are children of the Living God still enjoy a secure foundation and we can stand.  Because we occupy solid ground, we are at peace.  We are unafraid and we are secure.  Listen to the Word of God as we exult in our certainty which comes from our eternal God.

The LORD is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

When evil men advance against me

to devour my flesh,

when my enemies and my foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident. 

[Psalm 27:1-3]

When I am afraid,

I will trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can mortal man do to me?

…

Then my enemies will turn back

when I call for help.

By this I will know that God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise,

in the LORD, whose word I praise—

in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me? 

[Psalm 56:3, 4, 9-11]

In my anguish I cried to the LORD,

and he answered by setting me free.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

The LORD is with me; he is my helper.

I will look in triumph on my enemies. 

[Psalm 118:5-7]

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water

from the wells of salvation.

[Isaiah 12:2, 3]

Worshipping God — Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” [Hebrews 12:28, 29].  Worship will be motivated by a grateful heart, but it will lead us to approach God with reverence and with awe.  We can be thankful that God is a God of compassion.  He saved us, and through us He reaches out to all who will receive that Word even to this day.  We can be thankful that our God is the Creator of all things.  Because we know Him as Creator we can worship Him as Saviour.  We can be thankful that our God is the God of certainty.  He cannot be shaken and His Word stands forever.  Only the child of God lives with no fear.

Dare we enter into worship casually?  Dare we come before this God with an attitude of nonchalance?  When we recognise Him as God we will tremble at His might and power.  When we recognise Him as merciful we will marvel at His grace and goodness.  When we recognise Him as Creator we will bow before Him in awe.  When we recognise Him as eternal we will admire Him for the certainty which He alone gives.  This is worship!  To hold God in reverence and awe.  To marvel at His grace and mercy.  To adore Him and admire His perfections.  To stand in awe of Him.  This is worship.

You who have never submitted to His reign cannot worship.  You need first to recognise that no one comes to the Father but through the Son [see John 14:6].  Hear the Word of God.  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.  This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.  This is love for God: to obey his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [1 John 5:1-5].

Our message to you is to realise that you are under sentence of death until you have been made new through faith in the Son of God.  Until you are born from above, you are under sentence of death.  We invite you to consider the call of the Gospel.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].

Some have come into this house today more because it is Sunday than because you seek to meet with the Living God.  You must humble yourself and confess your sin if you hope to worship.  I care not whether you are a member of this church or a member of another congregation, until you seek God as God you shall never worship.  Until you recognise Him as compassionate, Creator and eternal, you shall not worship.  Until you confess your own wickedness, you shall not worship.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time [1 Peter 5:5, 6].

Amen.

God alone is capable of ensuring that there is certainty in life.  Since He is Creator, God alone is uncreated.  We are confident that the Lord God created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them [see Exodus 20:11].  It was on this basis that the Hebrew people were commanded to observe the Sabbath, keeping the day holy.  Similarly, we must recognise God as Creator of all that is, Himself excepted.  His throne is an eternal throne [cf. Psalm 45:6], the Lord Himself having neither beginning nor end [Psalm 90:2].  Because our God is eternal, His Word is eternal, standing firm in Heaven [Psalm 119:89], and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom [Psalm 145:13].