From Gary V. Womack... BOWING OUR HEARTS TO GOD

BOWING OUR HEARTS TO GOD

Introduction

Israel is at Mt. Sinai. God had already given them the 10 commandments (Ex. 20). Then on Moses' fourth trip to the top of the mountain, (Ex. 24:18- 31:18) God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle, its furnishings, the priestly garments,

duties of the priests, and the order of worship.

On this occasion, God had called Moses up to the mountain:

Ex. 24:18 "So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights."

While God was giving Moses instructions for the things of worship - Israel was already breaking the first 2 commandments:

Ex. 20:2-5a "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (3) You shall have not other gods before Me. (4) You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; (5) you shall not bow

down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,....."

God spoke these laws to Israel with His own voice & they feared.

Ex. 20:18-23 "You shall not make anything to be (comparable) with Me..."

Notice how completely they broke God's law & how angry God became:

Ex. 32:1-10 "...when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down.."

LESSONS WE MUST LEARN:

1. God is not comparable to any other:

Isa. 40:12-28 "To whom will you liken Me?"

2. God is sovereign - Exalted, all seeing, all knowing, all powerful: Rev. 4:2-ff "You are worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honor and power"

3. God expects His word to be honored in obedience: The example of Saul - Worship is not excluded - But it must be preceded by obedience - Worship is secondary to obedience.

1 Sam. 15:3, 17-23 "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?"

4. God is serious about obedience:

Nadab & Abihu stand as examples of God's wrath in disobedience.

Lev. 10:1-3 "I must be regarded as holy...I must be glorified..."

Conclusion: God is serious about what we do in this place. He has given us a pattern for our work & worship. Our obedience is essential to His acceptance. This all rests on the submission of our heart to His will.

Psm. 119:1-8 "Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!"

INVITATION:

ARE WE BOWING OUR HEARTS TO GOD?

Saying we have done His will does not mean we have been obedient to

His will. The proof of a surrendered heart is loving obedience.

Mt. 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"