INTIMACY THROUGH WORSHIP (2)

“GOD is Spirit, and those who WORSHIP Him must worship in spirit and truth” – John 4:24

God desires that His children experience Divine INTIMACY through WORSHIP: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. GOD is Spirit, and those who WORSHIP Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jh.4: 23-24). Worshipping God is the expression of a life fully surrendered to His Lordship through Jesus Christ. According to Myles Munroe in Purpose and Power of Praise and Worship, “Worship is the acknowledgement of the lordship of God. You can only truly worship God when you know Him. A song is only a means of worship, not the end. Any other worship other than to God is idolatry.”

The Lord seeks True Worshippers. Growing in divine intimacy is critical for enhancing our worship of Him. In this account of the Samaritan woman, the Lord Jesus introduced Worship in Spirit and Truth. The woman was unfamiliar with Him and had experienced numerous failed relationships, leaving her feeling broken. Despite this, He extended His hand to her, and she responsively engaged with Him. She devoted time to listen to Him in intimate discussions; and thereby experienced a profound revelation of Jesus Christ, with deep insights on worship. At the place of intimacy, she had a profound encounter with the Lord, and was deeply moved by the love she received and the revelation of Christ. This experience led her to wholeheartedly surrender her life, resulting in her fervent worship of God.

The woman’s transformation was evident as she traversed Samaria, fervently urging everyone to come and meet the Messiah. Her heartfelt plea resonated with the people she encountered, prompting them to invite Jesus to stay with them. As they also spent time in His Presence, they believed, not because of the woman’s testimony alone but because they spent time in His Presence, heard His Word and acknowledged Him as the Saviour of the world. Her journey from skepticism to unwavering faith serves as a powerful example of the life-changing potential of encountering Jesus. True worship involves recognizing God’s sovereignty and giving Him the deserved Honour and Praise.

God desires to have an intimate relationship with His children. We are called to worship Him, but we cannot truly worship one whom we do not know. God loves to be worshipped in sincerity of heart and not for what He can give. We must make a conscious effort to draw near to God daily, allowing His Holy Spirit to work within and transform us. As we surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, our daily choices, actions and lifestyle begin to mirror His nature, bringing Glory to God in all that we do. As we deepen our knowledge of God through intimacy with Him, our worship is enriched. Let us strive to grow in an intimate relationship with God which enhances our worship.