And God said,
Isaiah 1:13, “Bring no more vain oblations = (sacrifices); incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons = (festivals) and Sabbaths = (our Sundays), the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with = (endure); it is iniquity = (unrighteous), even the solemn meeting.”
Isaiah tells the Jews, that even God’s patience can run out. He will not tolerate our continual sin, nor will He accept our shallow prayers and meager offerings. When our works, our prayers and celebrations of holy days, are not from the heart, but from selfish pride, and our services are nothing but empty rituals, He will turn from us.
There are many enemies to the power of Christ and His church. They operate from inside the walls of church buildings, bringing in many forms of external (foreign) worship, these God will not receive.
These same people seem very eager for the show or exhibition of Christian identity. From this exhibition comes false worship. Their words, practices, and exhibitions are morally imperfect, they having only a faint representation and form of true worship.
Like Cain and the Jewish people who followed, they bring to God their sacrifices, peace-offerings and burnt-offerings. They prayed, and prayed often, believing they were being heard. But their hearts were empty of both love and devotion.
Genesis 4:3, As Cain brought the fruit of the ground as an offering to the LORD. Genesis 4:5, we read, God had no respect for Cain’s offering. Thus Cain grew angry.
Abel also brought his offering of the firstlings of his flock to the LORD, and, “the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”
Both Cain and Abel acknowledged the being of God. In their offering, both were giving reverence to, and paying honor to their Creator. Why was one gift received and not the other? Why did God have respect for Abel and not for Cain?
It seems obvious that both Cain and Abel knew what was required of them in their offering. The language of verse 7 implies that previous instructions had been given to both, instructions as to the mode of worship God required. So why did Cain feel that he had been unjustly treated by God?
Because both Cain and Abel were sinners, a sin offering was required. Cain ignored God’s instructions, and brought an offering of his own choosing.
Christians today are following Cain’s pattern of worship. They feel that God will hear them, accept their offering, and the form of worship they feel comfortable with. But Scripture has left us very specific instructions on how God is to be worshiped. If not followed exactly, things being added, or subtracted, it will not be received by God.
As a Christian have you ever wondered why God has not answered your prayers? It is most likely the same reason the Lord gave Cain. He said to Cain, “Why are you wroth? (angry) and why is your countenance (will) fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if not, sin is at the door.”
Isaiah 1:12, God said, “When you (the people) come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread (trample) my courts (place where worshippers gather).”
A very specific form of worship had been given to the Jews. We read about it in,
Exodus 23:15-17. When God’s will is not followed to the letter, He said, “and none shall appear before me empty:” God calls any other form of worship other than what He commands us, as, “empty.”
Micah 6:7. “With-what, shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God?—Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? (material things and money) shall I give my firstborn (even your first-born child) for my transgression, (sins) the fruit of my body = (work of my hands) for the sin of my soul?”
Have you ever asked the question, “What must I do to make God happy?” The answer lies in verse 8 of Micah. “He (God) hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy (loving kindness) and to walk humbly with thy God?” To walk humbly, what a hard thing for American’s to do. We have so much, having become legends in our own minds.
Christ was a fulfillment of that which is good. What is required of us, is to have faith in all that is written. We must do right. We must give all that is owed. We must do good, this to our neighbors physical health and body, their goods, and their name. We must show mercy, have pity, and compassion on the poor, sick, elderly, etc. We must believe all that is written, even if we do not fully understand it.
The law of the Jews was a shadow, a guide, and a teacher for us. The Mosaic temple sacrifices were but the suggestive foreshadowing of Christ superior sacrifice on the cross, and His love for man-kind. His title, “Christ,” speaks of His Eternal Kingship, His office of High Priest and Prophet.
Hebrews 9:23, 10:1, “It was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified” (cleansed) Earthly things, things made by the hands of men, such as the temple, the alter, the utensils, the garments, etc. all needed to be purified by the temple priests, this by the blood of calves and goats. Compare to,
Verse 23, “the heavenly things (things of God), themselves with better sacrifices than these (blood of bulls and goats).”
As the High Priest had to enter into the Holy of Holies in the earthy tabernacle, once each year, so also Christ, for He as our High Priest enters into the throne of His Father every moment of every day, with the blood of His sacrifice, this for the forgiveness of sins, to those who believe. This was the perfect sacrifice for you and me.
Hebrews 10:1, and not the very image of the things (heavenly things), can never with those sacrifices (blood of animals) which they offered year by year continually make the comers = (those who approach God’s throne) thereunto perfect.”
A shadow is the shade cast from a body of any thing, this between the place or ground, and on the place or ground on which the shadow is projected. Because the light does not penetrate the object on which it shines, the object is not clearly seen, but only the shadow which it projects. This was the truth of the shadowy sacrificial system of the Jews. Compare this with the true object, which is Christ Jesus which was clearly seen.
Do you believe you are doing God some great service by attending Sunday services, singing in the choir, tithing, attending functions, etc. We are required to gather together, Hebrews 10:25, “Forsaking not the assembling of ourselves together,” but not in a spirit of hypocrisy and pride.
Do your prayers and proposals betray your ignorance of what the Lord desires from you? You may show great zeal in your giving and prayer life, but like Cain, God will not accept this offering. Why? Cain’s offering was not what God required of him.
Has the Christian community become so vain in their imagination, that they believe God can be bought off? Are we so diluted to thing attending church, tithing, speaking in tongues; healing; praying; and attending Bible studies, all done in a selfish spirit, has satisfied your sins before God?
Job 35:7, we read, “If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him (God), or what receiveth He (God) of your hand?” Some believe that what they do for God will be of some great advantage to Him. We act as if God does not have an opinion concerning the facts or arguments that would be necessary to come to a just and impartial determination on any matter dealing with our lives.
We impose our own solutions on certain problems, and pray this solution up to God. This may shock you, but God is not dependent on you, me, or any one else. We as the children of God, are not blessed or punished for our faith, or our sins. God’s blessings and punishments are meeded out by God for the good of that person.
God’s demands upon us are reasonable, for He said, “Hear the word of the Lord,” and “give ear to the law of our God;” “attend to that which God has to say to you,” and “let his word be a law unto you.” “take my yoke upon you, — For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Cain the first born of Adam had the privilege of birth right. What privileges came with being the first born? The birth-right of the first-born is as follows.
Genesis 27:29, “Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord (master) over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he the blesseth thee.” This was the blessing given to all that are the first born of a family.
Our new birth is also a gift. This gift originated from the Father, was given to the Son, and then came to us. This gift is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,
1. John 14:16, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, (helper) that He may abide with you for ever;”
2. Verse 17, “For He (Holy Spirit) dwells with you, and shall be in you.”
3. Verse 26, “He (the Holy Spirit) shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Christians must always regard every personal expression given and applied to the Holy Spirit.
A. He is to be our “teacher.”
B. He will “remind” us of the Lord’s work.
C. He will “testify” to us.
D. He will “come” to us.
E. He will “convince” us.
F. He will “guide” us.
G. He will “speak” of Christ to us.
H. He will speak only that which He hears from heaven.
I. He will also “prophesy” this to the apostles.
This is our gift. Jesus said,
John 5:20, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater = (more) works than these shall he do.” John 14:13, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my (Jesus) name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Let us not be as Cain and others that attempt to come to the Father by their own works or offering.
God said hear my words.
God left the Jews a tablet of stone. But he has also written in on hearts His law.
He sent His Son to testify of Himself.
He appointed the apostles first, establishing the church upon this foundation, Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone.
We are to continue the good works of Christ Jesus. We are commanded to spread the Good News of the gospel. Our hearts, minds, and bodies, are to be filled with charity, justice, and good works, and we are to be humble before God, lest we fall.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com