Post by Cindy on Apr 25, 2016 9:20:47 GMT -5
I've been focusing on what it means to worship "In spirit and in truth" and am finally beginning to feel that I understand it. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”” (John 4:23–24)
We worship Him in Spirit, because for one thing, He is Spirit and dwells within us, instead of limiting His presence to a building like He used to in the Temple in Jerusalem. Secondly, worshiping in spirit has to do with our hearts attitude, rather then with ritual and tradition. God has always been more interested in what's in our hearts than in our rituals, because ultimately what's in our hearts determines our words and actions. He tells us that we're to seek Him with all our hearts, and when we do that, we're worshiping Him in spirit. We worship Him in Truth, because He is The Truth; as His Word is the Truth and we are sanctified by His Word. In order to worship Him in Truth, we need to know His Word, and be in His Word daily, for His Word that not only sanctifies us, it also sets us free from the bondage of sin, guilt, and shame so we can worship Him in Truth. I like the way the ESV translates these verses: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:31–32) We must be in His Word daily and apply it to our lives in order to be set free. Abiding in it means constant or continuous use of His Word, which is what we do when we take our thoughts captive and replace them with the Truth from His Word; when we reflect on His Word, and spend time talking with Him about His Word., and of course, just talking with Him in general too. When we do that, we worship Him in Truth.
I was also reminded of the story of Cain and Abel when they both went to worship God. Abel worshiped Him in Truth, for he worshiped God by bringing the sacrifices God had told them to bring and worshiping Him the way He said He wanted to be worshiped. Cain did not, instead he brought a different sacrifice trying to be better then his brother most likely, but also thinking that he could enter God's presence in any way he wanted to, or that he could earn his way into God's presence. We have to remember that we should never approach God with the wrong heart attitude like Cain did, but should worship Him only in the Truth He has revealed to us, and with truth in our hearts. Not trying to earn our way or worship Him in some way other then what He has shown us in His Word. Cain's heart was full of pride, while Abel's was humble, admitting his need and God's goodness to him. Well, we know how that all turned out, so we know that we need to be humble and submit to God at all times, knowing we deserve nothing, but that in His amazing love for us, God gives us His forgiveness, salvation, grace, mercy, and blessings continually. That is worshiping Him in Truth.
We worship Him in Spirit, because for one thing, He is Spirit and dwells within us, instead of limiting His presence to a building like He used to in the Temple in Jerusalem. Secondly, worshiping in spirit has to do with our hearts attitude, rather then with ritual and tradition. God has always been more interested in what's in our hearts than in our rituals, because ultimately what's in our hearts determines our words and actions. He tells us that we're to seek Him with all our hearts, and when we do that, we're worshiping Him in spirit. We worship Him in Truth, because He is The Truth; as His Word is the Truth and we are sanctified by His Word. In order to worship Him in Truth, we need to know His Word, and be in His Word daily, for His Word that not only sanctifies us, it also sets us free from the bondage of sin, guilt, and shame so we can worship Him in Truth. I like the way the ESV translates these verses: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:31–32) We must be in His Word daily and apply it to our lives in order to be set free. Abiding in it means constant or continuous use of His Word, which is what we do when we take our thoughts captive and replace them with the Truth from His Word; when we reflect on His Word, and spend time talking with Him about His Word., and of course, just talking with Him in general too. When we do that, we worship Him in Truth.
I was also reminded of the story of Cain and Abel when they both went to worship God. Abel worshiped Him in Truth, for he worshiped God by bringing the sacrifices God had told them to bring and worshiping Him the way He said He wanted to be worshiped. Cain did not, instead he brought a different sacrifice trying to be better then his brother most likely, but also thinking that he could enter God's presence in any way he wanted to, or that he could earn his way into God's presence. We have to remember that we should never approach God with the wrong heart attitude like Cain did, but should worship Him only in the Truth He has revealed to us, and with truth in our hearts. Not trying to earn our way or worship Him in some way other then what He has shown us in His Word. Cain's heart was full of pride, while Abel's was humble, admitting his need and God's goodness to him. Well, we know how that all turned out, so we know that we need to be humble and submit to God at all times, knowing we deserve nothing, but that in His amazing love for us, God gives us His forgiveness, salvation, grace, mercy, and blessings continually. That is worshiping Him in Truth.
I kept looking to see where the "nugget" was, and then finally got that it was about worshiping in spirit and truth! 
Thank you for such a huge encouragement. It's things like that that show me that I understood the Lord's Word correctly. 
!!
