WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH (PART 4)

 A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, 

when the true (genuine) worshippers will worship the Father 

in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking 

just such people as these as His worshippers.

John 4:23 (Amplified)

What kind of worship is God looking for? Our answer is found in John 4:23. Here Jesus speaks specifically of TRUE WORSHIPPERS. Does Jesus' statement implies that there are also false/vain worship? Yes it is possible to be "doing worship" and yet not meeting what God is looking for. So what then is TRUE WORSHIP? 

1) TRUE WORSHIPER WORSHIPS THE FATHER
Jesus did not walk up to the Samaritan woman to ask her to sing two fast songs and three slow songs or clap and raise her hands in worship. TRUE WORSHIP is about having a deep personal relationship with the Father. The Samaritan woman thought she knew about worship when she told Jesus about worshiping on a certain mountain while the Jew must worship in Jerusalem (John 4:20). Similarly today, we may define worship worship as a certain style or platform. But Jesus said, " True worshipers will worship the Father." This is the HEART OF WORSHIP! 
Jesus gives us a warning when He directed Matthew 15:8-9 to religious leaders:
"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, teaching as doctrines the commandment of men."
The Greek word for "vain" means fruitless and egotistic. Worship based on the traditions of men while ignoring the commands of God. Everything may looks good outwardly but they are just performances without HEART!
2) TRUE WORSHIP - WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN THE TRUTH
What does it means to worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth?
a) IN SPIRIT: 
- To worship God from the HEART - Deuteronomy 6:5-6
"Love the LORD your God with all your HEART and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be in your HEARTS."
- To engage our spirit in worship because God is a spirit  - John 4:24
"God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
This means that we can engage worship with our spirit in worshiping God (more that our physical body or dependence of musical instruments or comfortable environment) anywhere and anytime.
"Regardless of how magnificent the musical moment are, unless your HEART is fully engaged in the worship expressed, it is still only music." - Darlene Zschech
b) IN TRUTH: 
- To worship God as He directs in His WORD - Deuteronomy 5:32-33
"So be careful to so what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside the right or to the left. Walk in OBEDIENCE to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land you possess."
God is looking for a people who will live a LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP walking in OBEDIENCE in accordance with His WORD

"If you cannot worship God in the midst of your responsibilities on Monday, then it is very unlikely you were worshiping God on Sunday!" - A.W. Tozer

"A worshiper is one who is intimately acquainted with and have a daily relationship with God exhibited through OBEDIENCE." - John W. Stevenson

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH (PART 3)

God Is Spirit, and those who worship Him 

must worship in spirit and truth

John 4:24 (NKJV)  

What is your worship like? Is it a Sunday ritual or a frenzied emotion that you can put on and take off? Is it limited to one style of music or a particular church? Most important, is it more than skin-deep?
Considering the central role of worship in the life of a human being - it is our entire reason for being, as well as the eternal activity of the saints in heaven, according to the WORD - we might do well to consider what God wants it to be like. Does He prefer informal or formal? Ritualistic or spontaneous? Noisy or quiet? Dignified or recklessly passionate? Nearly everyone has an opinion on these alternatives, but they aren't really the HEART of the issue. What God desires most has less to do with how we express our worship than with the spirit behind it. In our adoration of our Creator, God seeks inspiration and integrity and a spirit of sacrifice. He wants our outward expression to match our inward attitudes. He wants us not to worship ignorantly, but to know Who He is. He wants it to be real.
That's hard for us. We fall into error so easily: We're either too emotional or not emotional enough, too rigid or too unstructured, too self-conscious or not self-aware enough. Most of all, we're apt to turn a worshipful heart into a routine behaviour in the blink of an eye. What was sincere devotion yesterday is a performance for God's approval today. What was once an act of passion is now an act of obligation. Our HEARTS can grow cold faster than we ever thought.
Worship defines the relationship between God and His people and touches every aspect of our existence. 
God seeks those whose worship emanates from deep within. He desires legitimate praise and integrity between the HEART and mouth. He wants to be the One we treasure most. Most of all, He wants you! 
As we step into the New Year, let us consider the priority the Word of God places on TRUE WORSHIP - Jesus' declaration that REAL WORSHIP is what God is after - to WORSHIP HIM In SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
(an extract from Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH (PART 2)

"I Will Bless The LORD At All Times;

His Praise Shall Continually Be In My Mouth"

Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)

What would happen if we decided to let every thought and every breath bless the LORD? Imagine the result if His name were affectionately on our lips as we lay down at night, as we turned over in our sleep, as we awoke in the morning and as we went about our daily business. Would such a perspective radically change our hearts? Probably. Would it change our world? It's likely. Any time in the Bible someone gives himself to worship, God does amazing things through that person. Blessings abound. God's work done. He is glorified.
What prevents us from such a pervasive sense of His worth? Are our schedules just too busy? Or is it deeper than that? Perhaps it's a suspicion that He hasn't been as good to us as Scripture declares that age is. Or maybe it's a subtle resentment that He has not paved our paths with gold and has allowed us to taste the bitter trials of life.

Whatever reasons we can come up with, we should ask ourselves if a worship-filled heart is worth sacrificing to the gods of busyness, apathy, and disappointment. If we really got a glimpse of God, we would never be too busy; we would never be too apathetic; and we would never be disappointed with His will for us. We would understand that underlying everything we go through and every responsibility we're given is the loving hand of a God who is leading us closer to Him. The end result is a greater blessing than and earthbound human can possibly imagine.
The angels surrounding God's throne cry put day an night, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His Glory" (Isaiah 6:3). Perhaps we were not created with exactly the same role as those angels were; but then again, perhaps they are pictures of the praise all creatures - including us - owe Him. We at least have a similar purpose: to honour God and ascribe glory to Him. What prevents us? Nothing should. What would result? Everything our heart truly desires.
(An extract from: Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH (PART 1)

"The true worshipers will worship

the Father in spirit and truth;

for the Father is seeking such to worship"

John 4:23 (NKJV)

The greatest pleasure of the Christian life is WORSHIP, though we scarcely realize it until we've dive in WHOLEHEARTEDLY. We often approach it at first as an obligation. We're fairly self-focused, and it's hard to turn our HEARTS toward God. But if we do, IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH (i.e., with zealous inspiration and according to who God really is), we find in expressible delights. Jesus seeks to turn us, like the woman at the well, into WORSHIPERS with substance rather than WORSHIPERS of ritual. How do we make that change?

Many of us ask God this question: "What is my responsibility toward You?" While not a bad question, there is a better, more HEARTWARMING question: "What can I offer You to show my devotion?"

Do you see the difference? The first question presupposes a requirement we must meet. It almost assumes that there will be a minimum standard, and after having met it, we will cease our "God-ward" activity and resume our "self-ward" obsession. The second question presupposes a desire to express LOVE and DEVOTION. It assumes that there can never be enough we can offer Him, but whatsoever we can find to offer, we will. There is no "self-focus" in it at all; it is entirely enamored with God.
Jesus would have us not ask which requirement we are to fulfill, but what more of ourselves we can offer Him. When we look for our required obligation, we do not WORSHIP IN SPIRIT, because the Spirit of God would not inspire us to fulfill quotas of devotion. And we do not WORSHIP IN TRUTH, because we understand God's worth. He is worth all we are, and more!

Blessed is the WORSHIPER who can truthfully - and with pleasure - say to the LORD: "What can I do for You? You name it, it's Yours. Whatever I can offer You, please let me." This is the kind of WORSHIPER the Father seeks.
(an extract from: At His Feet Devotion by Chris Tiegreen)

THE UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPER (PART 2)

Unstoppable worshipers will never quit when it comes to adoring God. Faced with opposition, danger or even death they just keep going. We're told of worshipers in the early church who, more than simply enduring, actually rejoiced "because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41).We continue to share more "UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPERS" from the Bible:

1) THE THREE HEBREW CHILDREN (Daniel 3) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were sentenced to the fiery furnace when they refused to bow down the the golden image erected by King Nebuchadnezzar. In fact they were given a second chance to consider the king's command. They made it absolutely clear that they would not compromise and maintained their covenant relationship with the God of Israel and refused to bow down and worship anyone other than YAWEH. As unquenchable worshipers, their response to the king were consistent even to the point facing death
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abenego replied, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if He doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.' " (Daniel 3:16-18)
2) DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN (Daniel 6) 
Daniel was thrown into the lions' den by jealous people who trapped him by making it illegal for him to worship God. They convinced king Darius to make it mandatory for all his subjects to worship him for the next 30 days and anyone caught worshiping anyone else must be thrown into a den of hungry lions (Daniel 6:6-9)Daniel of course remained true to his God and since he made no attempt to hide this, he was caught praying and worshiping God and was thrown into the lions'den.

We read in Daniel 6:23, "And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him because he had trusted in his God." The word "trusted" was translated that the UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPER "trust continually". The fact that the lions immediately devoured Daniel's accusers in the morning proves they had been hungry all night long.

3)JOB (Job 1) When tripped of everything, the first thing he did was to fall down to the ground and worshiped. In Job case it was more unreasonable than the three Hebrew children and Daniel, he did nothing wrong; in fact God consider him righteous!
"Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and fell to the ground and worshiped."(Job 1:20) 

Be a Worshiper!
TPWC

THE UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPPERS - PART 1

Charles Wesley 
The year was 1744, and hymn writer Charles Wesley was in Leeds, holding a prayer meeting in an upstairs room. Suddenly there's a creak in the floorboards, followed by a massive crack, and the whole floor collapses. All 100 people crashed right through the ceiling into the room below. The place was in chaos - some were screaming, some were crying, some just sat in shock. But as the dust settled, Wesley, wounded and lying in a heap, cried out, "Fear not! The Lord is with us; our lives are all safe." And then he broke out into the Doxology, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." Perhaps a bizarre choice of song, considering what's just happened. But there's the point - while everyone else was still licking their wounds, the heart of this unstoppable worshiper was responding with an unshakeable praise.

Unstoppable worshipers will never quit when it comes to adoring God. Faced with opposition, danger or even death they just keep going. We're told of worshipers in the early church who, more than simply enduring, actually rejoiced "because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41). 

King David
True worship often meets with opposition. Take the life of king David. His first triumph was a powerful public act of unstoppable worship. The giant Goliath had put fear into all Israel, and the whole nation was afraid to stand up against him for the honour of God's name. Then in came David - too small for a suit of armour, and as Saul told him, still only a boy. Yet this passionate lover of God can't stand to see the armies of the Living God made a fool of, and he walked out onto the battlefield so that "the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46).Goliath despised him (verse 42), but, anointed by God and driven by passion for the Lord, king David overcame. The worship of God wins the day!

Rachel ScottThe story of Rachel Scott, a teenage victim of Columbine High School (USA) tragedy. It's another powerful tale of unstoppable worship. On 20 April 1999, two bitter twisted students entered the grounds of the school with guns and explosives, planning to wreak havoc. One of the grudges they were bearing was against Christians, and when they found Rachel Scott that grudge was made very clear. The killers shot her twice in the legs and once in the upper body. As she struggled to crawl away to safety, they pulled her up by the hair, and asked, "Do you believe in God?" They thought they'd won the battle; expecting her to back down from her faith with whimpering "no". But this bleeding, unstoppable bravely affirmed, "You know I do." Furious with that answer they yelled, "Then go be with Him" and shot her right through the head." 

Imagine the heart of God in that moment, as one of His precious worshipers threw her life on the line for His glory. In a gruesome moment of decision, she chose His honour over her survival. And if it affects us so much, imagine what effect it must have on the heart of Jesus.

Stephen of ActsThe story of Stephen's stoning in Acts 7 sheds some more light on this. He puts his life on the line, proclaiming Jesus to cold hearts that don't want to hear, and rebuked them for their religious pride. But just before they stone him to death, God allows Stephen an amazing depth of revelation - perhaps to help this first Christian martyr stay strong to the end. Stephen was allowed a glimpse of heaven's throne room, and saw Jesus 'standing' at the right hand of God. The odd thing here is that Jesus was standing. every other time in the New Testament we read of Jesus at the right hand of God, He's sitting down. So why is He standing now? Smith Wigglesworth's explanation: though usually seated at the right hand of God, this time Jesus gets to His feet to honour and spur Stephen on in his courageous act of worship!

The unstoppable worshipper lets nothing hinder them in their quest to glorify God. Whatever "goliaths" come their way, they walk out onto that worship battlefield and take their chances. They do not shrink back in times of trouble, but instead raise a spirited psalm of trust, obedient and praise!
(an extract from: The Unquencable Worshiper by Matt Redman)

THE PRAISE SERIES (PART 20) - Praise Him For Those "Black Dots!"

"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp" Psalm 92:1-3

No matter what the source of the evil, if you are in God and surrounded by Him as by an atmosphere, all evil has to pass through Him before it comes to you. Therefore you can thank and praise God for everything that comes, not for the sin of it, but for what God will bring out of it and through it. May God make our lives thanksgiving and perpetual praise, then He will make everything a blessing. We once saw a man draw some black dots. We looked and could make nothing of them but an irregular assemblage of black dots. Then he drew a few lines, put in a few rests, then a clef at the beginning, and we saw these black dots were musical notes. On sounding them we were singing: 

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"

There are many black dots and black spots in our lives, and we cannot understand why they are there or why God permitted them to come. But if we let God come into our lives, and adjust the dots in the proper way, and draw the lines He wants, and separate this from that, and put in the rests at the proper places; out of the black dots and spots in our lives He will make a glorious harmony. Let us not hinder Him in this glorious work! - C. H. P. 

"Would we know that the major chords were sweet,

If there were no minor key?

Would the painter's work be fair to our eyes,

Without shade on land or sea?"

"Would we know the meaning of happiness,

Would we feel that the day was bright,

If we'd never known what it was to grieve,

Nor gazed on the dark of night?"

Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.- C.H. Spurgeon When the musician presses the black keys on the great organ, the music is as sweet as when he touches the white ones, but to get the capacity of the instrument he must touch them all.- Selected
(An extract from - Streams In The Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowan)

THE PRAISE SERIES (PART 19) - MOST WORTHY OF PRAISE

GREAT IS THE LORD

AND MOST WORTHY OF PRAISE
1 Chronicles 16:25

 

God is not just WORTHY of praise, He is MOST WORTHY of praise. In other words, whatever praise we can give Him, He deserves it. We cannot overestimate His worth because He is worth more than anything.

Think of how that applies to our lives. We might wonder if it's worth giving up possession or a habit for Him, but if He's worth more than anything, the answer is clear. We might consider giving up our career or our ambitions for Him, and we wonder if it will be a worthwhile gift. But if He's worth more than we can imagine, it is. We may wonder if our praise, worship, and sacrifice will be worth the payoff to us, but we're asking the wrong question. Whether it's worth it to us is not the point; He's worthy of it. That's all that matters.

There is no greater investment than God. Whatever we can give to Him, pour out of our hearts to Him, lay down before Him, and do for Him, it's a profoundly worthwhile offering because it is directed toward a profoundly WORTHY GOD. No gift is lost on Him. No sacrifice for Him is ever considered unimportant in His eyes.

Consider what you have to offer Him. Your obedience? It is never about earning His favour; it's about offering your best. Your purity? It isn't because He's a Joy-Giver but because He wants you for Himself - and He deserves you. Your possessions? They are meaningless trinkets in His eyes, and He wishes you could loose your grip on them. Your time? You have an eternity before you; there's no need to spend time on yourself. Your talents? He gave them to you so that you could worship Him in ways no one else can. Your relationships? The God of relationships wants to demonstrate His peace and His love in them.

What are you holding on to? Lay it down. Give it to Him. It's right to do so. He's worthy of whatever you have.
(Extract from - Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

 "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" - Revelation 5:12

THE PRAISE SERIES (PART 18) - Praise Him For His Royal Throne

"But You Are Holy,

Enthroned In The Praises Of Israel"

Psalm 22:3

Another important principle in praise is the enthroning principle. The Lord inhabits, or dwells in; or is enthroned upon our praise.

In other words, our praises become a throne for our King. All the authority and majesty of the King is present in our most humble offerings. When we stop to think about that, it is awesome! He could choose to sit on some glorious planet somewhere that He created just for Himself - with sights and sounds that far exceed aything we could ever imagine. Instead, He is seated with us as we minister praises before Him. He has chosen us. We are the objects of His longing. We are His preferred dwelling place. When we praise Him, we become the sweetest and most desirable place for the Lord to dwell.

As we worship, we can sing praises over nations, cities and governments. We have the royal authority to proclaim God's dominion and kingdom in places far and near simply by lifting our voice and giving glory and honor to our King. He Who is enthroned in our praise will make Himself known through us. His glory will fill the earth as His glory fills and flows through the praises of His people.

 



God Inhabits In The Praises of His People



PRAISE HIM FOR HIS ROYAL THRONE

Psalm 93:2 - Praise Him for His throne is established from time immemorial

Psalm 22:3 - Praise Him for He is enthroned in the praises of His people

Revelation 5:13 - Praise Him for He is enthroned in heaven (Psalm 11:4)

Psalm 9:4 & 7 - Praise Him for He judges from His throne

Isaiah 6:1 - Praise Him for His throne is high and lifted up

Matthew 25:31 - Praise Him for His throne is filled with glory

Hebrews 1:8 - Praise Him for His throne is forever and ever

Psalm 89:14 - Praise Him for His throne is founded on righteousness and justice (Psalm 97:2)

Isaiah 16:5 - Praise Him for His throne is established on mercy

Daniel 7:9 - Praise Him for His throne is a fiery flame

Revelation 4:3 - Praise Him for His throne is surrounded by rainbow

Revelation 4:5 - Praise Him for His throne is surrounded by lightning, thunder and voices

Revelation 5:11 & 12 - Praise Him for His throne is surrounded by a hundred million worshiping angels - plus thousands upon thousands

Isaiah 40:22 - Praise Him for He sits enthroned on the circle of the earth

(an extract from: Praise Him by Vivien Hibbert)

THE PRAISE SERIES (PART 17) - PRAISE THE VICTORY YOU HAVE IN GOD OVER YOUR ENEMIES

\0/\0/\0/ PRAISING GOD IN VICTORY! \0/\0/\0/

Psalm 27:3 - Praise Him when an army comes against you
2Samuel 22:30 - Praise Him when you can overtake an entire troop
2 Chronicles 20:17 - Praise Him when He fights on your behalf2 Chronicles 20:21 - Praise Him when you can defeat an overwhelming
Romans 8:31 - Praise Him when God is for you and no one can stand against you
Psalm 7:6 - Praise Him when your enemies rage against you
Psalm 27:2-5 - Praise Him when your enemies come against you
Psalm 25:19 - when your enemies are many and are very cruel
Psalm 38: 19 - Praise Him when your enemies are multiplied and very strong
Psalm69:4 - Praise Him when your enemies hate you without cause ...
Psalm 102:8 - Praise Him when your enemies speak against your all day long

Lamentation 3:52 -Praise Him when your enemies hunt you down without cause1 Samuel 2:1 - Praise Him when you can smile at your enemies because of His salvation
Psalm 18:1-3 - Praise Him when you are delivered from your enemies
Psalm 9:3 - Praise Him when your enemies fall and perish at His presence
Psalm 18:3, 48 - Praise Him when you call on the Lord and are saved from your enemies
Psalm 23:5 - Praise Him when He prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies
Psalm 25:2 - Praise Him when He will not allow your enemies to triumph over you
Psalm 27:6 - Praise Him when He lifts your head above your enemies

Psalm 27:11 - Praise Him when He leads you on a smooth path in the face of your enemiesPsalm 41:2 - Praise Him when He stands against the will of your enemies
Psalm 119:98 - Praise Him when He makes you wiser than your enemies through His Word
Psalm 143:9 - Praise Him when He is a shelter from your enemies
Micah 7:8 - Praise Him when He lifts you and gives you light in the face of your enemies
2 Kings 17:39 - Praise Him when He delivers your from the hand of all your enemies
Zephaniah 3:14-15 - Praise Him when He turns back your enemies
Psalm 66:3 - Praise Him when His great power cause your enemies to cringe
(An extract from Praise Him by Vivien Hibbert)

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE PRAISE SERIES (PART 16) - PRAISE HIM ALL HEAVENS AND EARTH

Praise Him All Heavens And Earth

 

 

Praise Him sun, moon and stars (Psalm 148:3)

Praise Him heaven of heavens and waters

above the heavens (Psalm 148:4)

Praise Him heavens (Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 44:23)

Praise Him heaven and earth (Psalm 69:34)

Praise Him sea creatures (Psalm 148: 7)
Praise Him seas and waves (1Chron 16:32;Isaiah 42:10)

Praise Him coastlands (Isaiah 24:15)

Praise Him Islands (Psalm 97:1; Isaiah 42:10,12)

Praise Him fire, hail, snow, clouds and stormy winds
Psalm 148:8)

 

 

Praise Him fruitful trees and all cedars (Psalm 148:9)

Praise Him Beasts and all cattle;

Creeping things and flying fowl (Psalm 148:10)

Praise Him birds (Psalm 84:3; Psalm 104:12)

 Praise Him under the earth (Philippians 2:10)
Praise Him to the ends of the earth (Psalm 48:10)
Praise Him Mountains (Isaiah 49:13; Psalm 148:9)
Praise Him hills and rivers (Psalm 98:8)
Praise Him waste places (Isaiah 52:9)
Praise Him trees and forests (Isaiah 55:12; Isaiah 44:23)
 

 



Father with every thought and every breath I give you praise today! I will not let these beautiful places and creatures praise you more than me. “I joinwith all nature in manifold witness – to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love!”

An extract from: The Heart of The Worshipper by Vivien Hibbert.
(http://www.theheartoftheworshiper.blogspot.com)

No wonder Jesus rebuked the Pharisees when they asked Him to stop the
multitude from rejoicing and praising God: "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the
stones would immediately cry out."

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!"

(Psalm 150:6)