- Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth are the two main criteria of worship that is pleasing to God
Worship In Spirit
- "the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord" - Proverbs 20:27, KJV. This picture gives us a good starting point. Our innermost being is like a candle's wick. As we fellowship with God, our human spirit is set aflame with God's spirit
- With that picture in mind, consider 3 characteristics of worship in spirit:
1. Worship in spirit centers on Jesus Christ
-> If we allow ourselves to be filled with the Spirit, we will become saturated with the holy Spirit's desire to glorify Jesus. Emphasizing the centrality of Christ in worship will become increasingly important as other forms of spirituality and worship rise in popularity.
2. Worship in spirit is born out of the dependency on God and stands in contrast with confidence in the flesh
-> Confidence in our own strength or wisdom apart from God is called the "flesh," and it is our biggest hindrance to life in the Spirit.
-> Without a vital relationship with Him, we simply will not accomplish what we were designed to do.
-> Fulfilling our calling requires that we be continually connected to Him in abiding fellowship
-> Philippians 3:3
-> The contrast between the Spirit and the flesh is huge. One is about life empowered by God's energy, the other is about life powered by human effort; One is about following godly desires, the other is about following self-centered desires.
-> "Those controlled by sinful nature cannot please God." - Romans 8:8
3. Worship in spirit is always somewhat unpredictable
-> John 3:8 (in describing the way of the Spirit)
-> When it comes to worshipping in spirit, we must learn that the Spirit is like the wind. He has a mind of His own, and it is wise to cooperate with Him.
Worship in Truth
- In the New Testament word for truth, aletheia, there are two dimensions: one has to do with content, the other with manner
1. Worship in Truth means that the content is biblically accurate
2. Worship in Truth means that it has spiritual reality
-> External expression without internal reality is unacceptable worship
-> Jesus referred to "words-only worship" as "vain worship" in Matthew 15:8-9
-> If we take Jesus' specifications for worship seriously, we must take up the discipline of excising (removing) everything that is not genuine, authentic and honest.
-> To underscore the importance of spiritual reality, consider how Scripture treats its opposite: pretense or pretending.
-> 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
-> Along with the challenge to become truthful is an encouraging promise. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of truth...will guide you into all truth" in John 16:13
Spirit and Truth
- When we talk about spirit and truth, we cannot disconnect them and choose one or the other.
- There is a tension that exists between the two. Spirit is like the wind, dynamic and unpredictable; truth is like the rock, fixed and immutable. From God's perspective, however, spirit and truth are in complete harmony.
- Acceptable worship springs out of life in the Spirit and love for truth and reality
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