Authentic Worship: Lips vs Heart Worship [podcast]

“I read a story about Richard Burton the actor. It seems to fit what was spoken in this podcast. Richard Burton was asked in his church to stand up and recite the 23rd Psalm. He was impressive with how he spoke and left the people ‘spellbound.’ When he finished the crowd broke out in huge applause. He then asked his retired Pastor to do the same. So this old retired Pastor rose from his wheelchair and with a feeble voice and much shivering he began to speak. When he was done there was not a dry eye in the place. The actor rose and his voice quivered as he said, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears, but my old pastor has reached your hearts. The difference is just this: I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.’ Just as we see in the modern day churches. They do not know the Shepherd! Only know of Him! They don’t know Him in their hearts. So it’s all fake. Our relationship with God should not be based on what we know of Him, but based on knowing Him!” Karen Cochran

Lips and Hearts

Are we worshiping God with our lips or our hearts?

“He answered and said unto them … This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment (Word) of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment (Word) of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-9

God’s people are to learn and obey the truth of God out of love for God…..

God created us to know Him—for relationship, not religion.

Jesus says “they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24

The Word of God is the truth of God.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”  John 17:17

The very reason God sent His only begotten Son—is for relationship, not religion.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

You can even be a Bible hound and not render, surrender your life, your heart to Jesus:

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

They thought knowing His Word was enough and yet they refused to surrender their hearts to the LORD who is the central theme of all of Scripture. They refused to know the LORD of whom the Scriptures testify. Jesus is the central theme of all of Holy Scripture. He is the sacred substance of the Word of God. If we miss Jesus in our Bible reading, we miss all.

Making Sure our Worship is Pure and Authentic

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue (merely with our lips); but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:16-19

We are not to follow tradition, but truth. We are blessed to have a relationship with King Jesus and to follow Him.

They have no good works, no good fruit because their “heart is far from” God.

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”  Titus 1:16

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:23-27

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove (test) your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:” Joel 2:12-15

“The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Proverbs 12:19

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. …23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:16, 23

The LORD has no interest in the empty worship of men or religion which is vastly prevalent today as it was in Christ’s day—where men elevate traditions above truth, the Word.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

No other sin so grieved the Savior as did un-engaged, lukewarm religious pride and worship which actually insulates men from Him. No other group received more harsh and dooming words from Jesus Christ as those who were the very leaders of the religion (Matthew 23).

Prayer: Father, I come to You through Jesus Christ, my only hope. I repent. Here and now I lay my life, my being, in Your holy hands. Please make me a person of Your truth and purge this vessel of all idolatry and religiosity. Make me Your authentic disciple. I love You Jesus, amen.

Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at and amazon. English and Spanish.

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