Worship in Spirit and in Truth

What is worship in spirit and in truth? The answer to this question perplexes me! I know that it must be deeper than most people assume, just as worship itself has glorious depths that have yet to be discovered, and invaluable treasures yet to be had. Do we honestly believe the adoration of the Lamb of God is a superficial truth? This is the very reason for our existence (Isa 43:21)! Surely then such a truth must be dug and re-dug until we pass from this worshipful life into eternity. Real and true worship is so very substantial and the numerous truths thereof cannot be adequately realized in one short paragraph! Thank God! "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known" (Ps 77:19)! Nevertheless, the love we have for Jesus propels us to know Him to the fullest extent possible... we will search Him out! "Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled" (Lk 6:21). Such hunger is a divine escort to the deeper things of God!

From my humble perspective, so far this verse of Scripture has taught me a few things about worship, of which I am happy to share... Here are the verses in question:

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (Jn 4:23-24).

First of all, we should realize the distinction Jesus makes between worship and true worship. There are those who worship with the heart of Saul, and then there are those whose worship is elevated, such as possess a heart like David. Did you know that Saul worshipped God? It's true (1 Sam 15:31). Yet, he was rejected, and the divine record tells us "the Lord hath sought Him a man after His own heart" (1 Sam 13:14). Clearly we can see the distinction then: Saul and David; worship and "true" worship. The Greek word for worship means, "to kiss like a dog licking its master's hand". Such words definitely define the worship of David, while horribly exposing the pseudo-worship of Saul!

Even the natural context of this story in John 4 displays this truth. Jesus clearly distinguished between the worship of the Samaritans and the worship of the Jews. The worship of the Samaritans was an ill-informed and defective worship, in that they did not receive the prophetical writings, only the books of Moses. Therefore, they knew nothing of the coming Messiah - they could not possibly know WHO to worship! The worship of God Almighty can never be right if it isn't centered on His precious Son (Col 1:18)! The worship of the Jews may have been informed, but it was a carnal worship, dealing only in the letter of the Law. The Gospel of Christ showed the meaning of all these carnal ordinances, and the legal sacrifices, which had all their consummation in His offering of Himself, yet most Jews did not receive it. Jesus was saying that a spiritual dispensation was to soon take the place of the carnal one which prefigured it.

Even though Jesus apparently had preferred the Jewish worship before the Samaritan, He yet intimates the imperfection of that too. Jewish worship was ceremonial (Heb 9:1, 10). The worshippers were generally carnal, and strangers to the inward part of divine worship. It is indeed possible that we may be better than our ill-informed neighbours, and yet not so good as we should be. It concerns us to be right, not only in the object of our worship, but in the manner of it; and it is this which Jesus here instructs us in...

"God is a Spirit", and therefore demands "spiritual worship". By this is meant that God is without a body; that he is not mere material or composed of earthly parts; He is invisible, in every place, pure and holy. The Bible declares that He is a pure spirit (1 Pet 1:22). As He is such a spirit, He dwells not in temples made with hands (Act 7:48), neither is worshipped with men’s hands as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things (Act 17:25). Our worship, therefore, should be appropriate.

So how ought we to worship? What sort of worship is appopriate for God, who is a Spirit? What makes our worship spiritual and truthful?

To worship in spirit is, first of all, to worship with the spirit. Man is a tripartite being, composed of spirit, soul and body. Because God is a Spirit, our worship, therefore, is to be the offering of the spirit of man rather than the formal offering of the body - the true and honest homage of the heart rather than that of only the mere lips. The body may be an extension of worship, but the spirit of man is to be source. The only acceptable worship is that which is born in the spirit of man. Carnal and soulish worship is not pleasing, and is not sought after by God. Contrary to popular opinion, our soulish talents and preferences must be put under while we seek to adore the King! So many today mislabel talent with anointing; a pretty voice is automatically an anointed one. But this is not so. This is soulish worship. Talent is not necessarily anointing, and anointing is not necessarily talent. We should worship God from the spirit; Only from that pure and perfect place is it acceptable and sought after (Song 2:14).

Secondly, to worship in spirit is to worship via the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is the means toward true intimacy with God: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom 8:15). "Abba" literally means "Daddy". It's only by the indwelling spirit that we are able to be intimate with the Father! Thus the dire need for the Holy Spirit in greater measure. Can we worship in spirit if we are not baptized ("immersed") in His Holy Spirit? It is doubtful. How can we plunge to the deepest depths if our earthly lungs have not been trained to sink? We would die!

Spiritual worship is the opposite of mere ceremonial worship. Paul said, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil 3:3). He was contrasting old worship with "new" worship; legal vs. spiritual. Legal worship was outward, and consisted in outward acts, restricted to certain times and places. Christian worship is to be spiritual, flowing from the inworkings of the Holy Spirit, not relating to certain isolated acts, but embracing the whole life. Isolated formality and momentary ceremonialism cannot be substituted for worship in spirit. Spiritual worship is perpetual communion! Worship becomes a lifestyle... It is WHO we are, rather than WHAT we do.

To worship in truth is to, firstly, worship unfeignedly (Jer 3:10; Ps32:2). "True" worship is to be a conscious thought process; a result of deep and loving meditation of the heart. We must worship Him with fixedness of thought and a flame of genuine affection. True worship is worship which enthrones Him and Him alone - all idles and distractions are left to die, and Jesus alone possesses your reigns (Josh 24:14). Let worship never be from a place of mere pomp or outward display. God sees upon the hearts of men, and it is there where He desires truth (Ps 51:6). Jesus said of the scribes and Pharisees, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me..." (Matt 15:8-9). To worship in truth is to mind the power more than the form; it is to aim at God's glory, not the opinions of men.

Secondly, to worship in truth is to worship according to Scripture. Jesus defined "truth" for us when He said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (Jn 17:17; Ps 119:142). What does the Bible instruct about worship? How are we encouraged to pay adoration to King Jesus? Dancing, shouting, tongues, singing, etc. are all forms of expression that the Bible accredits and encourages. Paul gave an illustrated aspect of worship when he said to "be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Thus, we see that true worship is to involve God's glory, His weightiness, and our subsequent responses, even psalms, hymns and spiritual songs from grateful and adoring hearts!

Reader, you can be be assured that any and all acceptable forms of worship are found in Scripture. Let's not tread on dangerous ground by adding to what is found therein. No matter what may be "trendy", any and all forms of worship must be divinely accredited by their mention in God's Holy Book. This is worship "in truth".

Today some teach that any act which they feel sincere about is acceptable to God. Let me remind you that this passage teaches us that such a position is error. One must not only be sincere, but his worship must also be directed by the word of God. To do something in worship which is not taught in the Word of God is to make the same mistake that the Samaritans made in Jesus’ day: they counted entire portions of Scripture as inapplicable and unnecessary! What a disaster!

Friend, God is seeking to be longed for with such violent affections as these! Deep is calling unto deep; His deep vastness is calling out to that deepest place in you - He wants to commune! When God comes to enquire for worshippers, the question will not be, “Who played their instrument the best, or sang the best? Who had the most charisma? ... Who shouted the loudest?" Rather, it will be, “Who worshipped in spirit? Who worshipped in truth?” That will be the touchstone. That alone will be significant.