BE A TRUE WORSHIPER OF GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY OCTOBER 11, 2021.

SUBJECT: BE A TRUE WORSHIPER OF GOD!

Memory verse: "God is a Spirit: and those that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (John 4 vs 24.)

READ: John 4 vs 23 - 24:

4:23: But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father is seeking such to worship him.

4:24: God is a Spirit: and those that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

INTIMATION: 

True worshipers are those that worship God in spirit and in truth. And God seeks such worshipers. “God is Spirit” means He is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere, and He can be worshiped anywhere, at anytime. It is not where we worship that counts, but how we worship. 

In worshiping God in spirit, Jesus is speaking of worship that comes from within the individual as opposed to the ritualistic or ceremonial worship. As the time of this encounter with the Samaritans woman, both the Jews and Samaritans had digressed into a worship that was ceremonial and located. But this would change. Jesus came to reinstitute true worship that did not depend on the location of the worshiper, or the ceremonies through which one went in order to inspire worship. The worship He was bringing would be according to the word of God and from the heart of man.

In truth: The worship would not be the invention of men who created their own worship of a god they had created after their own image. God does not accept worship that is invented after either the traditions of men or the uncontrolled outburst of emotionally hysterical people typical of the sabbatarians. The worship about which Jesus is speaking in this context is the worship that is truth directed. It is directed to the God who has revealed Himself through inspired words of revelation. When one comes to the knowledge of this God and His desires through His revealed will, the worship is directed according to the will of God. 

This worship is opposed to worship that is invented after the emotional desires of men or the ritualistic ceremonies of those who seek a manifestation of worship through performances. What Jesus is saying in the most profound statement is that one must know the word of God in order to worship the God of the word. Ignorance of God’s word leads to one worshiping a god who is the creation of one’s mind. Such is idolatry.

God is spirit: it is not that God is a spirit, He is spirit (Second Corinthians 3 vs 17). He cannot be seen by mortal eyes. Neither can He be conceived to be a physical being after the form of man. Those who would conceive God to be in the form of a man are seeking to make an idolatrous god with whom they can physically identify. Such is the spirit of idolatry. Since God is spirit, then those who worship Him cannot do so after material means. True worshipers approach God on a spiritual basis, realizing that He is everywhere, sees all things, and knows all things. 

Christians are those who worship God in the spirit (Philippians 3 vs 3). This is one of the greatest arguments against worshiping God through mechanical means, performance of ceremonies, or even the outburst of hysterically misguided emotions. Such things may appeal to the carnal desires of men and manifest a presence of worship, but such are useless in communicating the worship of one’s heart to the God who is above the physical environment of man. The more one focuses on performance of worship, the environment of worship, and ceremonies, the more the worshiper focuses on himself. His worship, therefore, becomes inward focused, and often entertainment that is masked as worship.

We must remember that true worship originates first with the heart and is directed according to how God has determined that our worship toward Him should be conducted. We must also remember that the heart is motivated by love. A loving heart worships God because God has stimulated such by His own love. And if you love Him, you should keep His commandments (John 14 vs 15). Anything you do, remind yourself that He is present with you and sees what you are doing. Therefore, your conduct should be truthful, sincere, lovely, and in keeping His commandments. And do all things in true worship to the Lord!

 

Always seek leading of our Helper—the Holy Spirit—in your genuine and true worship. How does the Holy Spirit help us worship? The Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8 vs 26), teaches us the words of Christ (John 14 vs 26), and tells us we are loved (Romans 5 vs 5).

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire to lead a life of true worship to You. Give me the grace to accomplish this in my life; living for You, and engaging the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!