John 4:23-24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Pop Quiz: What is worship? In today’s modern church landscape there are many different ideas of what it is and how it is supposed to look.
When Jesus spoke with the woman in Samaria, she asked about worship. Who was getting it right? Did the Jews have a corner on it in Jerusalem, or should she follow the traditions of her people? We tend to ask similar questions. Do we worship when we sing? When we hear God’s Word? When we pray? When we serve in different ministries? Should worship move us emotionally? Physically?
Jesus’ answer helps us understand what true worship looks like. He said it is not relegated to a specific time or place. We do not have to travel to the temple, nor up to the mountains! Jesus tells us that if we are to worship God, there are two characteristics we must focus on – Spirit and Truth. Today we are going to look at what it means to worship God in Spirit.
A true worshipper is first and foremost a Scripturally saved worshipper. Dead things do not worship! Before salvation we are spiritually dead, but when we place our faith in Christ our spirit is made alive! (Ephesians 2:1) Once we are alive in Christ, our sins forgiven, our souls redeemed, and our relationship with God secure, we can worship!
A true worshipper is secondly Spirit filled worshipper. In Ephesians 5:18 Paul gives us a very sobering example of what it means to be spirit filled. (Pun intended!). Just as a drunk person is controlled by alcohol, we must yield our mind, wills, emotions, actions to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to have the leadership of our lives. we worship when we yield!
A true worshipper is thirdly Spiritually moved worshipper. I think of David as he led the procession into Jerusalem with the Ark of God in 2 Samuel 6. He danced, they were glad and rejoiced, they played their instruments. This was an outpouring of worship to God! Worship can and should move us!
Today as we ReFocus our hearts and minds on Christ let us worship Him in Spirit. Saved, Yielded, Moved. You don’t have to wait for Sunday! We can pour out our worship on Him right now as we focus on His mercy, goodness and grace at work in our lives!
