“In Spirit and in Truth” (John 4:23-24)
Yet a time is coming and has now come
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his
worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
Christ spoke with the woman at the well about true worshipers
worshiping in Spirit and in Truth. What do you suppose he meant by this? What
might this worshiper and way of worship look like?
Worship is spiritual. Worship in
Spirit and in Truth transcends the physical realm, natural man, and involves
God’s Spirit testifying to the spirit of born again believers. The spiritual
man worships God not the natural man. The flesh wars with God but the spirit
within man, the Christ within, submits to God’s glory and holiness with praise
and service.
The woman that Jesus spoke with
associated worship with a particular place, (this mountain) very much in the
same way people today associate worship with just attending church (this
building). But the worship Jesus spoke
of was that which happens continually by the way believers submit to God’s
direction and advice on everything they say and do. This is true worship in
spirit and in truth. It is heartfelt worship, not just lip service or
hypocritical religious ceremony.
Worship in Spirit and in Truth is
worship that is God-centered not self-centered. Self centered worship
constantly expects things from God. Self-centered worship demands attention is
placed upon it rather than upon God. Self-centered worship gathers when it
wants to, where it wants to, and how it wants to.
God-centered worship is continual, without division or
separation and those who worship in this manner are drawn to God the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit once and forever. God-centered worship is timeless; it is
God’s time with the believer not the believer’s time with Him. God-centered
worship doesn’t revolve around schedules, permission, votes, or a majority
approval. God-centered worship promotes obedience to God and is shared
corporately with all those that God has added daily to His church.
One who worships in spirit and truth
adheres to the authority of the Holy Scriptures. The life of one who worships
in this manner is always in obedience and submission to the full council of
Scripture and not just parceled precepts. This believer, washed by the blood of
Christ, holds the Bible gently as if holding the Christ child Himself, kneels
in humbleness and eagerness before it as if prostrating at the alter of Christ,
receives and responds in fear knowing
this divine revelation is God. One who worships in Spirit and in truth has the
Living Word dwelling within.
To worship in spirit and in truth is
to obediently be led by the Spirit of God that dwells within, allowing its
fruit to flow outward to others. This worship Jesus speaks of is a worship that
is produced and shared by the redeemed and restored believer in Jesus Christ. The
true worshiper in spirit and truth has died to themselves and allowed Christ to
live within their heart.
Blessings,
Pastor, James
