‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me,” (Mark 7:6-7). ‘ The re fore, as I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity. Ezek 5:11-12 “Defile” is to “make foul, dirty, pollute” Local churches are filled with comedians, clowns and spectators. I am afraid there are many worship services where the devil entertains the people. False teachers and leaders seek to defile our local sanctuaries. I am referring to the physical sanctuary in the local church.
God indwells the Christian. When we gather together we must fellowship, sing, pray, praise and share His Word in the Holy Spirit. This is worship! It is about our hearts! Today hearts are far from Him and many worship Him in vain.
Let’s look at our local sanctuary, what do we see and hear? The enemy has entered. We must beware of false teachers. Isaiah said: “Your holy people have possessed it but a little while; Our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary. We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, Those who were never called by Your name” (Isa. 63:18-19).
The sanctuary becomes defiled when there is lack of love for God and His Word. Pulpits and pews are at fault. Many are not committed to God! Most may be lost! The world has moved into the sanctuary. It is Idolatry! Judgment will come! It is an abomination!
It happens subtly. God’s power is gone! I believe it begins in the “pulpit” with watered down sermons. Too many show-dogs! The pastor hasn’t worshiped, therefore can’t lead the church to worship. No study of God’s Word! This way the pulpit can entertain rather than preach the Word.
Christian you must dig into God’s Word, open your heart to Him. We must return to worship! You must not settle for “entertainment!” If it continues as is today, what will the next generation have and know of the Living God and His Son Jesus Christ? You and I are accountable to God for the ones we allow to come into our pulpit and other leadership positions. We must know His Word! We must first experience true worship in our hearts.
As we enter, we should be saying: Lord, “So, I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. (Ps. 63:2-3).
As we enter we should pray and desire to see God’s power. We should “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord” (Ps. 134:2). We are to “… Praise God in His sanctuary; (Ps 150:1).
We must not “profane the sanctuary” (Lev. 21:12). God has said: “you shall reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:30).
Most local churches don’t experience worship. The Christians get involved with the world and slowly things change. When this happens and there is no repentance, and you attend church, you help defile the sanctuary and it becomes an “entertainment center.”
I believe it starts when God’s true people set aside the Word of God. No love or commitment to Him. No praying! We compromise in all areas. Sin comes in, takes a seat with the devil in charge. We file in and out of the church out of habit. We don’t experience God! We allow false teaching in the pulpit. The worship services have become a ritual. We allow worshipful hymns to be replaced with worldly music. There is no reverence when the offering is taken. The leaders want to control the church and it becomes an organization with finances the priority.
We are not worshiping God. Prayer is not being made unto God.
“Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary?” (Ezekiel 8:6).
Jesus said: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” (Rev 3:20-21).
Repent, Return and experience true worship.
