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But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.

Matthew 15:18-20 CEV

When I saw this phrase, highlighted above, I was taken aback. I thought “Wait a minute, that’s not what other translations say!” so I checked and sure enough the word translated “unfit to worship” is normally translated “defiled” - unfit for worship, unclean, contaminated, dirty. So I came to the conclusion that these things make us unfit according to Old Testament standards.

So what are some of the things Jesus the son of God said that make us unfit?

• Words that come out of your mouth which come from your heart.
• Evil thoughts
• murder
• unfaithfulness in marriage (Adultery)
• vulgar deeds (Sexual immorality)
• stealing
• telling lies
• insulting others (Slander, complaining, dishonoring)

There are other lists in other places in the Bible, but I would like to just comment on these. I have seen others, and have been guilty myself of trying to enter into worship to the Lord Almighty with a defiled heart - unfit for worship. How many people sitting in pews, or even standing up in front are guilty of this? Perhaps 100 percent at one time or another. Thank God that He has given us the means by which we can be purified and undefiled, and FIT FOR WORSHIP:

The whole chapter of Hebrews 10 speaks of this. Look at these verses:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV

Praise God it is through the once for all sacrifice of Jesus’ blood that we can be made able to approach the living God in worship. So if any of these issues cause you to feel guilt, please take care of them through Jesus’ help and blood, and go Worship the Lord FIT FOR WORSHIP!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 at 10:00 pm and is filed under Worship Lifestyles, Revival. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.