Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1639
Delivered on Lord’s-Day Morning, January 15, 1882
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have Grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28,29.
As a congregation you have of late been diligently engaged in the service of God by endeavoring to provide a home for fatherless children. I have been astonished and delighted at the liberality which has been shown by all sorts of persons in this good and gracious work. I felt, sometimes, like the king of old, who said, “Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?” I am sure you have well earned all the commendation that your fellow Christians can give to you, for the work has been so well and so heartily done that we all rejoice together! But, now that it is all over, careful thoughts arise in my mind. It is but a small thing that you and I should be accepted of one another—the great matter is that we should be accepted of the Lord. I, who am but as the doorkeeper of my Master’s house, not only approve, but abundantly commend my fellow servants, but what of that? The great point is that the King, Himself, should say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
We do but see the fair externals of things, but the great Father of Spirits searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men—and judges after a higher standard. Therefore, with holy anxiety have I looked at this text and turned it over, hoping that the Holy Spirit may cause each one who has engaged in our benevolent work to examine himself and to judge his part in this labor of love, that he may amend any fault which may hinder his work from being a sacrifice of sweet savor unto the Most High. What if we should bring our sacrifice and the Lord should have no respect to it? That would be a repetition of the sad story of Cain, of whom it is written, “Unto Cain and to his offering the Lord had not respect.” Then, indeed, would our countenances be fallen—but I trust it would be with repentance rather than rebellion!
If unaccepted of the Lord, we would weep bitterly and ask Him that the sin-offering which lies at the door might be available for us. The chief thing is that our labor should be acceptable unto God and upon that subject I shall speak this morning, as the Spirit of God shall enable me. Many things are absolutely necessary for the acceptance of any service rendered unto God—of these, some are not stated in the text, but they are so important that I commence with mentioning them. The first is that the person who attempts to serve God should, himself, be accepted. The offerer must, himself, be accepted in the Beloved or his offering will be tainted by his condition and be inevitably unacceptable. The uncleanness of the person pollutes his sacrifice! He that has an impenitent heart, an unrenewed will, a disobedient mind, an unholy life, may perform outward acts of devotion, but the Lord says, to such—“Who has required this at your hand, to tread My courts? Bring no more vain oblations unto Me.”
The heart, itself, must be given to God, for the offering which comes from a heartless worshipper is a mere pretense of homage to the Most High. See well to that, my dear Hearers. God says “My son, give Me your heart.” Give whatever you please afterwards, but the heart must lead the way—that is essential. Let a traitor in actual rebellion bring tribute to a king—it will be but a mockery! He must first submit himself unto his prince and then he may come with his token of loyalty. The next essential is that the act being performed by a person accepted, should be distinctly done as unto God. Our text speaks of serving God. Alas, much is done which is, in itself, externally commendable, but it is not acceptable to God because it is not rendered unto Him and with a view to His Glory.
Some, like the Pharisees of old, give alms out of ostentation—they sound a trumpet before them that they may have praise of men. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward and a poor reward it is! Some are energetic in holy work out of emulation—that they may surpass others and may have credit for superior ability and goodness. Like Jehu they cry, “Come, see my zeal for the Lord of Hosts!” Now, inasmuch as in this they seek their own honor and not the Glory of
God, they cannot be accepted of Him. Better, far, the two mites dropped into the treasury unobserved of all but the great Master, Himself, than all the wealth that we could possibly bring if we made the offering with divided intent!
If we would serve God, we must forget self. There must be the distinct desire to obey and honor the Lord and we must not act as men-pleasers, or as laboring for our own exaltation, otherwise the Lord will abhor our offering. And we must take care that all this is done with faith in Christ Jesus, for it is a law of universal observation in the Kingdom of Heaven that, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” “Though I give my body to be burned and have not charity,” says Paul, “it profits me nothing.” And the same may be said concerning faith! He who does not believe in God and yet pretends to be religious, is manifestly either a deceiver or deceived! As the unbeliever is condemned already, his service can only be that of a condemned man—how can it give pleasure to the Lord? We must bring our offering to Jesus, our great High Priest, and He must present it for us, for it can only be acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.