TRUE WORSHIP (1)

“...TRUE WORSHIPERS will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is SEEKING such to worship Him.” – John 4: 23b

God is seeking True Worshipers and TRUE 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). Some have suggested three dimensions or progressive perspectives to True Worship.

First, is Worship as a Life of Service; the overall sense in which every area of our lives is to be lived in “worship” of God. We want to glorify Him in all we do, living for Him rather than for ourselves: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Another translation says, “this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom.12:1). The word translated “worship” here means to worship by serving. In offering God our bodies, we offer Him our hearts, souls, and every aspect of our being. If we have truly given the Lord our hearts, then we have also offered Him our bodies, for a heart without a body cannot love, serve, bless, or give. The body expresses all that’s in the heart.

All true worship will be set within the context of a life that is lived to please God. It’s hypocrisy to worship God with our mouths, if we live contrary to what we say. Such ‘worship’ is utterly vain and offensive: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they WORSHIP Me…” (Mt.15: 8-9a). The truth is that when He died for us on the cross, Jesus bought us for God with His own blood. Therefore, we’re to honour God with our body (1 Cor.6:20). Our body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives in us to express the life of Jesus in us and to cause His life to flow to others, that we might be a blessing to them. To co-operate with the Lord is to worship Him with our body and our life!

Second is Worship as devotions of thanksgiving, praise, or prayer, personally or corporately. Such “worship” experience may take diverse forms and involve varied activities. It could be in a formal service or an informal meeting with more spontaneous "worship." Some may be led by a priest or minister, with the congregation's part reduced to singing a few hymns or choruses, and making few responses. In other church meetings, the gifts of the Spirit may operate more freely, and congregational participation in the exercise of these gifts encouraged. Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5: 19-20, and 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 describe this dimension. Yet, it is possible to do all these things without our hearts being engaged with God and His Spirit impacting on us gloriously.

Third is True Worship. The most common word for "worship" in both the Old and New Testaments means to "bow" or "stoop down" before the One being worshipped. God gives us insight into the worship in heaven where those around His throne offer True Worship (Isa.6: 1-4; Rev.4:11). Jesus has made it possible to approach the very Throne of Grace, to join with the heavenly host in meeting with the Lord in His majestic holiness and glory (Heb.4:16). This need not be an occasional experience when a meeting seems particularly anointed, but should be our experience whenever we choose to worship the Lord in spirit and truth. Worship is not simply an activity that precedes the preaching of the Word or singing in a slow tempo. It’s having encounter with God’s Glory!

The three realms of “worship” portray the three main areas of the temple: The outer court with the altar of sacrifice, the place of “living sacrifices”; the middle court, the Holy Place, where the priests carried the offerings; and the Inner Court – Holy of holies, God’s dwelling place among His people, where we encounter His Glory!