Cain’s Worship
Theme: Doctrine
Scripture: Hebrews 11:4
Background reading: Gen. 4:1-15
Intro: Have you ever noticed how easy for us to convince
ourselves that we are doing the right thing, even when we are told otherwise. We are able to
convince ourselves of just about anything. Well our message tonight deals with
just that very thing. We are going to look at how Cain ignored the obvious
signs God gave about worship, he convinced himself of what he needed to do to
please God, he choose to do things his way. Well that attitude cost Cain
dearly, as well as his brother Abel. When we start looking at ourselves as good
or righteous we begin to place ourselves in the center
of worship, instead of the Lord. If there is anyone here tonight who doesn’t
know the Lord as savior, you need to realize that you are worshiping something,
regardless of whether its yourself, nature, or a set of standards, morals or
ethics it doesnt matter if you dont
know the Lord your worship is a false religion. Christian we need to remember
that God is a jealous God and he will not tolerate anything being placed in
front of Him. Its easy to get tied up in rituals and
practices that are accepted by society as normal but how often do we search out
what God expects and want from our life and our worship. False religion can get
hold of any us. Tonight lets look and see what Cain
had.
Text: There are four characteristics
that made up Cain’s worship. These characteristics are still around
today, people still fall victim to them and will still do anything to defend
them. As we look at Cain’s worship we are going to see, what comprised it, how
it developed, what it turned into and what it cost him; I want us to see
something more, our day and age. We need to understand what developed in Cain’s
life and watch for in our own. Notice with me first that Cain substituted.
I. Reason for Revelation
(A) Revelation
(1) Cain & Abel had access to the
same information; i.e. the word of God and His testimony. (Ill. God replaced
Adam & Eve’s covering of their nakedness with the skins of His sacrifice.)
(2) Adam & Eve had a testimony to
give; i.e. their life before sin, their sin, Gods sacrifice, their expulsion,
the flaming sword that guarded the gate. (Ill. Gods love John 3:16, and God’s justice James 2:13)
(3) We have the word of God given to us
in the form of the Bible. Just as Cain had opportunity to take Gods word, learn
from it and live by it. So, do we; (
(4) Just as Cain had the testimony of
Adam & Eve we have the testimony of the writers of the Bible, along with
the dear saints of God that have made an impact on our personal lives.
(B) Reason.
(1) Cain brought an offering from the
ground the ground had been cursed by God in Gen. 3:17. Cain’s offering was from
his own works.
(2) Well if what Cain was offering is a
reason for a revelation, are our lives any different, aren’t we in the same
category. (
II. Next notice with me Cain
substituted trying for trusting.
(A) Cain’s efforts of trying to work his way
into salvation accomplished only one thing, the world’s first false religion.
False religions have and will manifest themselves in three ways.
(1) A human scheme
Salvation can be earned, merited, or
purchased through effort or toil. The word of God tells us: Eph. 2:8-9, 1 John
1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19 that our salvation is from God and through Christ only.
(2) A human sacrifice
Cain undoubtedly put a lot of time and
effort into his offering. There could have been flower, herbs, fruits and
vegetables. There was one thing missing-BLOOD- there was no sacrifice for sins.
(Ill. God cursed the land after the fall of Adam and Eve, the land was no
longer a blessing it was a labor) Cain’s attitude was one of I can earn it if I
only make it look good enough. Cain didn’t feel he needed a sin sacrifice, we
read nothing in Gen. 4:1-15 that leads us to believe Cain never acknowledged
himself as a sinner in need of a sin sacrifice.
(3) A human Satisfaction
Cain could say; he had a beautiful
offering, one that cost him a great deal, one that shows his efforts one that
was total human satisfaction. Cain could not say he had Gods witness. Cain’s
offering wasn’t what God had ask for, there was no dependence placed on god.
There was no faith. Cain had taken all the work out of salvation for God and
because there was nothing left for God to do there was no
salvation for Cain.
III.
Finally Cain substituted
persecution for persuasion
(1) Cain made his offering God said no. But
God didn’t stop there he told Cain what to change in his life in order to get
right. You see God told Cain sin was in his life and it was up to him to master
it. What God was asking Cain to do was repent and seek
forgiveness.
(2) Cain once again sought his own remedy.
Cain’s philosophy was, if I cant have it my way then I
will eliminate the opposition. By killing Abel Cain set into motion a
philosophy that false religions still use today, Kill
those who don’t agree with me or try to correct me.
Conclusion: Cain’s decisions resulted in being separated from
his family and most importantly his God. Cain’s worship resulted from
self-righteousness and self-centeredness showing what he could do and
accomplish through himself and for himself only. There’s nothing we can do to
merit Gods forgiveness, we cant earn anything anyway,
shape form or fashion. Only through accepting Jesus can we have eternal life.
Christian it’s very easy to fall into Cain’s worship, by forgetting who covered
your sin. No, I’m not preaching that you can loose your salvation, because that
can’t happen, once your saved you’re always saved. But we need to remember were
it not for the grace of God and His mercy we would not have our salvation, it’s
His gift to the world to everyone that is called and who will accept it, also
the responsibilities we have as Christians are entrusted to us by God for his
service and glory, not because we somehow deserve them. But because it’s His
will that these things be laid upon the hearts of
these particular people. Would you stand and bow your head please Is there anyone here tonight that will raise their hand
indicating the lord is dealing with you..... Lets
pray.
Sugar Hill Baptist Church
February 15, 2004