John 4:23(NLT) But the time is coming – indeed it’s here now – when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.
3 Things are associated with Worship
- By thanksgiving we acknowledge God’s goodness
- By praise we acknowledge God’s greatness
- By worship we acknowledge God’s holiness
Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship
Psalm 95:1-6(AMPC) O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights and strength of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker [in reverent praise and supplication].
Worshiping God in spirit and truth doesn’t necessarily mean getting all worked up emotionally. It’s not about what’s going on around you or with your body. It’s not just about your actions and words. It is about what’s going on spiritually in your heart. It’s how you acknowledge God.
Worshiping God in spirit and truth
You are glorifying God, worshiping God, by reflecting His nature, by being like God in your daily life. Worshiping God in spirit is not just what you do in church, but how you live your life. Worshiping God in truth is knowing and acknowledging who God is.
In Christ, you are a true worshipper by default. You do not need to do something to begin worshipping in spirit and truth.
You are already worshipping in spirit and truth. Your life, body, worship, praise, thanksgiving, are all worship activities that are a sweet aroma to God: because you have a new spirit, filled with the Holy Spirit and able to give to God what He is looking for!
In Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:16-17(NIV) Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her body? For it is said, ‘the two will become one flesh.’ But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit [or more literally, ‘one spirit’].
1 Corinthians 2:14-16(MSG) The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit – God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit.