WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

JOHN 4:19-24

John 4:19-24• God is looking for true worshipers (and we should

look for God—Acts 17:27).• Worship must be in spirit and in truth. • Our attitude and understanding is important. • God is looking for our hearts (Matt. 3:2,9-10;

15:8-9)• Our spirit is to be in communion with God who is

spirit. • The form of worship according to truth (God’s

Word John 17:17) is important.

WORSHIP DEFINED• English “worthship” (expression of worth and

value, like praise)• Hebrew words usage• Deut. 10:12-13 "And now, Israel, what does the

Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”

WORSHIP DEFINED• Exodus 23:24 “if you walk after other gods, and

serve them, and worship them…you will perish”• 2 Chronicles 29:30 “And they sang praises with

gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.”

• Devotion to God includes attitude and actions.• Devotion to God includes daily obedience and

special rituals as expressions of worship.

WORSHIP DEFINED• PROSKUNEO “to kiss” always to a divine object in

New Testament (even Matt. 18:26 application)• Conspicuously absent in the epistles (only in 1 Cor.

14:25 and Heb. 1:6 and 11:21)• Peter refused it Acts 10:25-26• Angel refused it Revelation 22:8-9• Jesus received it from angels Heb. 1:6 (after He

was made lower than angels) from men Jn 9:35-38 • Jesus’ honor was the same as for God the Father

John 5:23, Rev. 5:8-14

WORSHIP IN TWO SENSES• God’s rules important for both kinds of service.• Let us not confuse the two.• Daily, ordinary obedience in all of life Rom. 12:1-2• Special place, special purpose John 4:19-24 • Special place 1 Cor. 11:20 when you come together• Special time 1 Cor. 11:20, Acts 20:7 in one place• Special purpose 1 Cor. 11:20 to eat the Lord’s

Supper• Special actions 1 Cor. 11:23-26• Special rules for special worship 1 Cor. 14

Worship must reflect spiritual reality • Why following the pattern is necessary Heb. 8:5 a

copy and shadow of the heavenly things• Why location was important Deut. 12• Many idols—many places• One God—one place• The Jews were right about Jerusalem John 4:20-22• Special physical location replaced by special

spiritual location John 4:23-24• Daily service must also reflect spiritual reality

Romans 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 5

Worship must reflect spiritual reality • Old Testament illustration of error in ritual:

Leviticus 10:1-3 • Nadab and Abihu’s action denied God’s holiness

(exclusivity)• Denied God is exclusive author of worship • God did not authorize any other fire• Holy fire was to be used Leviticus 9:23,24• Worship must be acceptable in order for the

worshipper to be acceptable to God• Worship justifies the worshiper; the worshiper

does not justify the worship

Worship must reflect spiritual reality • Old Testament illustration of error in daily living:

Numbers 20:1-13• Moses and Aaron had an “excuse” for

disobedience v.1• Hateful speech by the Israelites v.3-5• God’s glory appeared to Moses and Aaron v.6• Commanded to take the rod v.8• Commanded to speak to the rock “before their

eyes” v.8• Moses obeyed God by taking the rod (v.9). It was a

special rod (Exodus 4:17).

Worship must reflect spiritual reality • Moses and Aaron said, “Must WE bring water for

you out of this rock?” v.10• Moses struck the rock v.11 • Nothing happened (Moses couldn’t do it) • Moses struck it again then water came out. • God still showed His holiness in His mercy v.13• Consequence for unauthorized activity: Moses and

Aaron were not allowed to enter the promised land v.12

Worship must reflect spiritual reality • What was commanded the first time is not

authorized the second time Exodus 17:5-6• And there is no statement specifying that the first

method is forbidden this time.• The problem was that Moses and Aaron distorted

God’s picture of spiritual reality.• Christ is the Rock 1 Corinthians 10:3• He was to give living water after He died John

7:37-39• He was to die only once Hebrews 9:23-28

Application to Music in Worship• What was commanded in the old covenant (2

Chronicles 29:25) is not authorized in the new• even without a specific prohibition• There is a general prohibition Matthew 15:13• The authorized music is singing Ephesians 5:19• The instrument to be used is the heart• This is the instrument God made Ephesians 2:10,

Psalm 51:10 • Psalm 51:17: What instrument could be more

beautiful for God who is Spirit?

God’s order: Natural and Spiritualfirst the natural then the spiritual 1 Cor. 15:46

• Kingdom Ex. 19:6• Birth into the Kingdom• Warfare Ex. 17• Temple Deut. 12• Blood of Animals Lev. 16• Incense Lev. 10• Priestly Garments Ex. 28• Instrumental Music 2

Chron. 29:25

• Church Mt 16:18-19• Birth into Kingdom Jn 3:5• Warfare 2 Cor 10:3-5• Church 1 Pt 2:5• Blood of Christ Hb 9:14• Prayers Rv 5:8• Christ Gal. 3:27• Heart Eph. 5:19

Our Service to God• When God specifies a form of worship, we have

no authority to change it.• The correct form of worship accurately reflects

spiritual reality.• Another form of worship distorts our view of the

spiritual realm.• Such worship dishonors God.• We will be punished for such worship.• Our daily service of obedience must be pure.• It is unacceptable if defiled by sin.

Is your service to God acceptable to Him?• We have sinned Rom. 3:23 We’re in trouble• To be useful in God’s service, we must first cleanse

ourselves 2 Timothy 2:21• We purify our souls by obeying the truth 1 Peter

1:22• The truth must pierce our hearts Acts 2:36-37• We must obey the truth by repenting and being

baptized Acts 2:38, 41• As a Christian, you must repent and pray Acts 8:22