In Spirit And In Truth

 

'For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.' John 4:24 (NLT)

In the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, the woman commented on the various forms and places of worship practiced by the Jews and the Samaritans, each claiming to be more superior than the other. The Jews worship at the their temple at Jerusalem and insisted that Jerusalem is the only place of worship. The Samaritans worship at their temple on Mount Gerizim which they regard as the holiest place on earth.

However, Jesus dismissed the comparison of forms, rituals, places and styles of worship by simply stating,

'Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.' John 4:21 (NLT)

He then went on to say,

'The time is coming - indeed it is here now - when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.' John 4:22

If we are to worship God we need to understand what it means to worship in spirit and in truth. 

• Worship in Spirit. Worship is an experience of the heart, it must originate from within, from our spirit. Worship must be sincere, motivated by our love for God and gratitude for all He is and has done. Jesus said 

 'These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me;in vain do they worship me.' Matthew 15:8-9a

Worship is not a mechanical ritual or a formality that takes place for an hour at the end of a hectic week - but an experience from deep within the spirit; deep within the heart.

• Worship in Truth. Worship must be based on the truth of all that we know of our Triune God. Jesus was quick to direct the Samaritan woman's attention from the 'where' and 'how' to worship to the 'whom' to worship. It must never be thoughtless but grounded on knowledge of who God is and what He has done for us.

Worship is facilitated by God's Word, in that we can meditate on God's Word when we worship. We allow the truth of God's Word to influence, fill us during worship.

• Worship in Spirit and Truth Simultaneously. Worship must have heart and worship must have head - that is to say, worship must engage your spirit and your thoughts at the same time. We do not worship in spirit as one setting and in truth in another setting, we engage the both simultaneously. Our minds and will as well as our emotions have to be moved. 

Psalms 95 aptly describes what it means to worship in spirit and in truth; worshipping with our spirit and vitality:-

'Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our Salvation. Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.' Psalms 95:1-2 (NLT)  

and with our minds and wills:-

'Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care. Psalm 95:6-7 (NLT)

The word 'worship' is derived from an old English word weorþscipe, which means 'worth-ship' or 'worthiness.' 

Thus, worship is giving value to something, to honour someone or something. Real worship of God means we ascribe to Him ultimate value, holding our God in the highest regard.

'For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in His hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.' Psalm 95:3-4 (NLT)

The hymn 'O Worship The King' clearly and rightfully points to God's greatness and majesty, leading us to worship God and give him ultimate glory.

O worship the King all glorious above,
and gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.

O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
his chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

The earth, with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, your power has founded of old;
established it fast, by a changeless decree,
and round it has cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

We children of dust are feeble and frail -
in you do we trust, for you never fail;
your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end!
our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend.

O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to worship above!
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,

In true adoration shall sing to your praise!

Lionel