Worship and Work

TEXT: Isaiah 1:11-17

Introduction: WORSHIP And WORK

There is a close relationship between work and worship.
Sometimes worship and work and even translated interchangeablly.

When Richter was conducting a rehearsal, with the composer present and listening intently. at one point he could't read the manuscript and pauses everything and askes "for confirmation of the next key F or F sharp of the composer. He responds, "Anything you like. Anything you like but GO ON!"

In English there are 16 verb tenses. In Hebrew there are only 2 tenses: Perfect(COMPLETED) or IMPERFECT(INCOMPLETE).

Only one life, Twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last.

1. We are the Work of God's Hands

Genesis 2:7 — And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Isa 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

2. Work is a Gift that gives Place and Purpose

Work is not a curse
We must not approach the altar of God without an offering.
through through work we can contribute" Pr 18:16 ¶ A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. LIBERTY and PREFERMENT (negative: bribe; positive: contribute)
The work of an evangelist

3. There is no Sacred and Secular Divide

Os Hillman in his study on work in the Gospels points out “ …that of Jesus’ 132 public appearances in the New Testament, 122 were in the workplace. Of the 52 parables Jesus told, 45 had a workplace context. Jesus never addressed the sacred and secular divide because such a divide never existed in Jewish thinking. The Jews understood that everything they did in work and in the synagogue was to be done to God’s glory. This is why quality is so important to Jewish workers. They are not working solely for themselves, but their work is also a worship to God.

Quality is important
Our Work is Worship = some the almighty dollar and others the almighty God.
Testimony

Hebrews 3:5 — And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

4. When our WORK is disconnected (by sinful living) from our WORSHIP, God rejects our worship.

Isaiah 1:11-17 — 16 ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Whatever we choose to do, we should seek to glorify God in it.

5. Both Work and Worship = Service to God can be difficult (BOWED DOWN)

The O.T. word "shachah" is transalted as "worship" when it is an action toward God, but when it is an action toward another man, the translators translate this word as "obeisance," "bowed" or "bow down".

Genesis 22:5 — And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Isaac's blessing to Jacob:

Genesis 27:29 — Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 — But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Who we are serving makes a difference!

Ex 1:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

6. DO All to the Glory of God

1 Corinthians 10:31 — Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Find JOY in allour work (complaining is not glorying to God)
"I can't do it here." "I cannot afford to keep you here." "chain stops british ships" ... wheeler ...washington. revolutionary war.

Word Studies:

1. Word Study: SHACHAH

shachah to depress, prostrate:--bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

102 Verses, "worship" first time "worship"

Genesis 22:5 — And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

first time "shachah":

Genesis 18:2 — And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

172 times, but is only translated as "worship" 99 times.