Half Hearted Worship or Sold Out Worship

When you read the last several epistles of the Bible it seems like the problem of false doctrines getting in the church was becoming worse.  Throughout Paul’s letters you could see that he had to deal with those who wanted to make the works of the Law a means of salvation instead of the power of the cross.
All of Paul’s writings were finished before any of the Gospels were written.  When you get to 1, 2, and 3 John and Jude they are dealing more with doctrines saying that Jesus isn’t God and idolatry.  (1John 5:1, 18-21, 2 John 7-9, Jude 3-4)  Jude told us these false teachers and would try to divide churches. (Jude 18-19)
We know that deception is always out there and Jude tells us what we can do to build our holy faith

Jude 1:20-21 (New King James Version)

  ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

In individuals divisive spirits will try to steal our prayer time and time in the Word.  They will attack our trust and our joy.  One of the first areas where divisiveness tries to work it’s way into a church is in the worship.  Jude pointed to
 three individuals that illustrate this.

Jude 11

Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Cain first was exposed for hiding sin in his heart at the time him and his brother were to be offering thanksgiving sacrifices to God.  His offering was rejected by God.

Balam although he had a relationship with God seemed to like to dabble in super-natural things that were not from God.  Although he did not put a curse on Israel he told the king of Moab how he could bring a curse into Israel by tempting them into sin. (2 Peter 2:14-17, Revelation 2:14)

Korah led a rebellion in the Hebrew camp disputing about the rules God was giving through Moses.  Korah and his followers were destroyed by God in a moment when the earth opened up and swallowed them.  It’s interesting that Korah’s descendents were greatly used by God in the time of Solomon.  They performed the worship music in the temple.  Also in the time when Jehosophat went to battle having the worshippers lead the way. (2 Chronicles 20:19)  They also wrote several of the Psalms. (Psalm 85, 87 and 88)   We don’t know for sure if Korah himself was involved in the music ministry but I think its safe to assume when you consider the structure of the levitical priesthood.

The devil constantly tries to use the worshippers to cause rebellion.  This would make sense if he was the worship leader in heaven before he was filled with pride and iniquity.

They all had victims
    Cain’s victim was Abel
    Korah’s victim was his followers
    Balam’s victims were those who in Israel who gave into temptation.
Bitterness and rebellion will always have victims.

They were half hearted.  
    None of these three were willing to walk in obedience to God.
They were all given a chance to repent.
    God confronted Cain and said, If you do what is right you will be accepted but if not sin lies at the     door.
    With Korah, Moses divided the camp.  He had a chance to come back to Moses side.
    Balam was met by an angel that told him to only obey the Lord’s instructions.

They all felt they had a right to do the wrong things they did.

Your music ministry gives you influence on a lot of people.  All the reason why the devil would want you to feel you had a right to rebel.  Your ministry can be powerful but only when you are loyal to the leadership God has placed you under.  David got into the castle because of his music ministry.  Yet when he may have had the right to lift his hand against the king he refused to.  When the Lord punished Miriam for her rebellion against Moses she found her way back to God in repentance. 

Never give into the temptation to rebel against the leaders God has put over you.  Or to get revenge on one of your brothers or sisters in the Lord.  The devil would love to destroy the power of your worship.  Nothing can tear apart the church faster than when the worship from the leaders is dry.  Remember unity will make the anointing flow.

Psalm 133

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

 ¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
         For brethren to dwell together in unity!
    
 ² It is like the precious oil upon the head,
         Running down on the beard,
         The beard of Aaron,
         Running down on the edge of his garments.
 ³ It is like the dew of Hermon,
         Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
         For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
         Life forevermore.

Keep praising the Lord no matter the situation.

²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 ²⁵To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude

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