Worship Exhortations

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering (Genesis 4:3-4). 

ay the Word of the Lord prepare us to worship Him in Truth and Spirit, if you have not come prepared this morning. We find the word “offering” for the first time in the Bible in Genesis 4:3. The Lord God had respect unto Abel and his offering.  But for Cain and to his offering the Lord God had no respect. The truth is that the Lord is not a respecter of a person, in other words the Lord has no partiality at all(Romans 2:11). But why the Lord respected the offering of Abel?  Actually, God respected Abel before accepting his offering. We should understand that the Lord is not pleased with the offering as much as He is delighted with the offerer (i.e person who is offering). Hebrews 11:3 tells us that God testified by the gifts of Abel that he offered a more excellent offering. Two words describe the offering of Abel,  firstling and fat. 1) The first word “firstling” tells us that Abel had given preeminence to the Lord. This fact of offering the firstling of flock has became more vivid (or became the standard in sacrificial offerings) in the books of Leviticus and Numbers. In worship,  the first place belongs to God only – He is the preeminent One in everything. The second word “fat” speaks of what the Lord is worthy of. In burnt offerings (Leviticus 3) everything must be offered (or burnt) to the Lord. Is not our Lord worthy of the best portion in our lives? Importantly,  the offering of the firstling of the flock by Abel points the greatest sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. As Abel and his offering was respected by God, we also are accepted by God through the blood of Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4).  And therefore our worship can be accepted by God in Christ. However, the acceptable sacrifices (or worship) to our Lord are broken spirit and broken-contrite heart.

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:16-17.

Abel possessed both of them (broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart) and therefore his offering was accepted. We worship and thank the Lord for He has accepted us in Christ without any respect of person. Let us give the place of God to the Lord and take our humble place before Him in worship. He is worthy of all glory and we are unworthy.

Table Exhortations

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. Act 5:19-20

any people do not understand clearly the nature of God.

Let us ponder on two thoughts before taking part in the Table.

1) Our God is not only Loving and Kind but importantly He is Holy and Righteous. These two natures can be found in our Lord only. Such nature of God should make us to fear Him. All the people of God can be divided in to two groups: people those who have the fear of God and those who do not have the fear of God. We observe such nature of God manifested in the incident recorded in Acts 5 (see our previous meditation). It was the time that the early Church was being formed or its foundations are being laid. At that time, Satan’s hands can not be allowed to have any part in the bride of Christ.

2) The second aspect is that when we are being used by the Lord, though we are insignificant and without strength, the Lord fights our battles. The apostles were imprisoned (Acts  5:18). As soon as our faith in Christ has started, the Devil begins to fights against us. Did you ever notice, only after you have taken a decision to follow the Lord faithfully, or to read the Bible and to pray more, or to worship the Lord or to witness the Lord, the Devil’s attack on you becoming intense? The first church was also under constant attack of the Devil.   Satan attacks the family too when a husband and wife or the entire family follows Lord. But, the weapons of the Devil and the gates of iron can not bind the church or a family from progressing in the Lord. The Lord has brought the apostles out of the prison and made them to preach in the temple (Acts 5:20). It is the Lord who delivers us and gives us victory. He makes us to stand for Him.

Isaiah 54 records great and precious promises to the church – the early church experienced the fulfillment of those great promises. We can claim them as a family and for our individual lives. These great promises are the direct result of the great sacrifice of the Lord which is prophetically recorded in Isaiah 53.

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. Isaiah 54:4. 

The promise of the Lord, “Fear not” is the chiefest of all promises to everyone that fear the Lord and live for Him. The Bride (the Church) is being prepared (Isaiah 54:5) by taking away every form of fear, shame and things that make her confounded.

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. Isaiah 54:10. 

Whatever may happen, but the kindness and mercy of the Heavenly Bridegroom will ever be with His Bride. He will lay the stones, foundation and build His church with fair colours,  sapphires and pleasant stones –

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.  And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. Isaiah 54:11-12

The early Church was in the hands of such a Master Builder.  Many people were saved and added to the church (Acts 5: 11-14). Great fear came upon all the people. Likewise,  the Lord will do great things in our lives, in our families and in our church if we fear the Lord and live for Him.

As we approach  the Table of the Lord,  let us examine ourselves  in the light of these aspects. Let us set right ourselves and take part in the Lord’s Table gratefully.