The clearest biblical teaching on how to worship comes directly from the mouth of our Lord as He discusses proper worship with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. In response to her questions about the proper place of worship, Jesus tells her that it is not a matter of place, but rather a matter of the heart. He says in John 4:24, God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
The first heaven-ordained characteristic of worship is that it must be done in spirit. It is in the realm of the spirit that we worship. Never a matter simply of the emotions, or even of the will, worship goes deeper to touch us at the level of the spirit. This means that worship must move beyond the surface things that we do. Acts of worship become a connection between the Spirit of God and our own spirit. This sort of connection is spoken of in Romans 8:16.The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
In worship, we must allow God’s Spirit to touch our spirit. For God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. Acts of worship such as singing, praise, prayer, etc. need to be seen as ways to bring us into His presence to allow Him to have His way with us. Here are some practical examples:
The music that we use in worship should bring us into His presence. Note that I didn’t select a particular style of music but simply music that draws our spirits to a place of worship. The prayers offered in worship are prayers that reach His throne; Prayers that are filled with awareness of the presence and majesty of God. In worship there will be times of meditation for the purpose of seeking the face of God; times of quietly waiting before Him.
Whether we are speaking of the aforementioned acts of worship such as singing, praying, meditation, or of worship that involves giving, service or sacrifice, the focus should not be on what we receive out of it. It is not a matter of how we enjoy it. Worship in spirit should not be self-seeking. Instead, it should be a glorious act of self-abandonment that focuses on God and delights in who He is.
Jesus also told us that true worship must be in truth. The object of our worship must be true. There is a lot of worship that goes on in the world today. From religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, to pseudo-Christian cults like Mormonism or Jehovah’s Witnesses, worship is pervasive. The great lie today is that there are many ways to God and the only thing that matters is one’s sincerity in one’s act of worship. Jesus presents a stark contrast to that prevalent view. He says, I am the way. He states with authority, No one can come to the Father but by me. Worship, to be true worship, must have as its object the One true God the Father, Son, and Spirit.
It is in the area of worship in truth that the Word of God takes precedence. It is in the pages of God’s Word that we see God’s self-revelation. To come to know God in truth we must become a people of the Book. I love to see the Bible as a meeting place with God. It is vital to worship that we come to the Bible, praying as we read, Lord, teach me today more about You. Show me today more of Your love, power, grace and majesty.
God is calling His people to a renewed passion in worship. Today, the call to worship is the same as it was in the Old Testament, as we read in 1 Chronicles 16:29, Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. |
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