"Hinderances To Worship Series Three."
Rev. Dr. Charles O. Osueke
Impatience:
There are people that do not have the patience to wait upon the Lord. In spite of the fact that the He (God) instructs us "Be still and know that I'm the LORD." It is advisable to always spend time in God's presence each day.
The Psalmist said, "find rest O! My soul in God alone, my hope comes from Him."
Sectarianism:
Another terrible hindrance is that of sectarianism. That is when you begin to segregate in the church. Some churches today have camps, is it not true? Sometimes these camps are formed along ethnic lines, social strata etc. When there is segregation in the church of Jesus Christ, you don't expect worship to flow. Some of our churches today are divided into several camps: and sometimes opposing each other - pastor's camp opposing deacon's camp, etc. Now, tell me, how can such a congregation worship God? How can God be pleased with what ever they are doing?
Some are experts in sowing seeds of discord in the church of Jesus Christ. Elders in the church, I want to ask you when you're mobilising people to send the pastor away from the church, do you think you're doing God's service?
Or maybe you're an influential brother in the church. When you bring together other members of the church to attack the pastor, do you think you're doing God's service?
The pastor, when you're manipulating things in the church to get rid of the vocal members of your church (to have your way). How are you sure you're still doing God's service?
When you play ethnicity, tribalism are you doing God's service? I pray that God would help us not to segregate in the church of Jesus Christ. All these will definitely hinder worship or our relationship with God.
Formalism:
Here we mean structuring every thing in the church. Insisting that that is the way it must be done. Beating people into Pattern without achieving anything better.
Unforgiving Spirit:
How many of you have ever been offended and you got angry with the offender? How did you enjoy that bitterness in your heart? Was it very sweet? I discovered something long ago. Any person you have something against, you become his/her slave. You suffer more than that person. When you bear grudges against others, you put yourself in a very tight corner and suffer more.
When you are eating and you remember that particular person, the food will not be sweet again. The person controls your sleep. And the unfortunate thing is that instead of God allowing him to fall into your trap, God prepares a table for him in your presence.
I know you've been present where your perceived enemy was shouting praises for God. How did you feel? When you hear his voice you're in trouble. If he leads in prayer you're restless. As he is worshipping in the most holy place, you're there descending into hell, just because you're not happy with him. You criticise everything he does!
Some have gone into absolute hatred, that even when the other person is preaching it will be irritating you. Some hate their ministers or leader. Any day that God uses them, some will be their worst day in the church. Sometimes it goes to the ridiculous level of ask or wishing the other person dead.
We must be very careful. There is no way we can worship the Father in spirit and in truth with hatred, bitterness or grudges in our hearts. We could be pretending, but in reality it is impossible. You sometimes you actually pretend and fake spirituality. I pray that God would help us in Jesus name!
What did Jesus say? "When you bring your gift to the alter and suddenly remember that you have an enemy, Drop the gift there and go and make peace with him first. Then you can come back to present your gifts to God.'' Did you get that? God would not accept your gift if you have things against your brother or your sister.
Our problem is just that some of us who claim to be Christians do not actually believe the bible. Otherwise, we would not be harboring things against our brothers and sisters in our hearts.
God bless you.