It Begins At The Altar

Text: Ezra 3:1-7

Thesis: our sincere and dedicated worship to God must always precede out intended work for God

I. Worship in the Face of Fear

-verse 3...they set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening

-fear of man should never restrict us from worshipping the Lord

a. contentious worship - verse 3...the fact that they decided to worship before they went to work angered the inhabitants of the land

b. continuous worship - verse 3...burnt offerings morning and evening

II. Worship That is Synchronized with Scritpture

-verse 4...and they kept the Feast of the Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule as each day required

-every aspect of our worship must walk in line with the Word of God

a. Instinctive Worship - verse 4...and they kept the Feast of the Booths as it is written
-they kept the feasts that had been passed down from generation to generation...there are some aspects of our worship that we perform by instinct

b. Intended Worship - verse 5...and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offerings to the Lord
-instinctive worship is not enough...we must be willing to go the extra mile and give more in our worship

III. Worship That Makes Preparation for Production

-verses 6 & 7...states that work did not begin until the worship ended