John 4:23-25
23 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.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Praise and worship have seemed to catch fire amongst the many Religious denominations of today. It seems that these terms have become catch phrases for what happens when someone puts some words to music. No doubt, glory is given to God through these songs, but often it seems that there is no accountability or responsibility given to the worshipper to remain true. Is it important that our lives be wholly committed to God before we begin offering our praise to Him? The answer may be in the fact that even today God is still seeking true worshippers. Sinners everywhere may have the some of the abilities that we do to offer praise to him, yet, when a true worshipper connects with a seeking God, there is a difference present.
John 4:23 depicts the almighty God actually seeking out those that are worshipping him the right way. The right way being one of which someone is worshipping in spirit and truth. The truth part of that equation can be as encompassing as the spirit side; meaning it could have multiple definitions. For example, it is important to worship in truth by knowing who He is. But it also means that there is no guile or falseness in the praise. There is no lack of complete commitment.
Often the lack of the commitment in our lives is joined with a lack of repentance, the process of completely turning or dieing away to former things, and choosing to embrace this new path. Many may indeed possess the form, but they are also, however, denying the power.
Many scriptures indicate that repentance and true praise and worship are indeed connected. Some of these would include Paul stating that men should lift up Holy hands, or even Peter stating that we should show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Repentance in its basest form is a form of praise. Turning from heading your own direction of destruction and instead turning toward God is praise in its purest form. Its saying, God you are the greatest, and I choose to abandon my own way to follow after yours. No wonder God listens to the contrite and repentant. But like the man who had been blind said, “If a man is a worshipper of God, and does his will, God heareth him.” Doing the will of God is eternally connected to being a true worshipper by repentance.
If sin is in the life of an individual, repentance must be introduced for that worshipper to become the example of worship that God is searching for. Luke 15:10 speaks of joy being in the presence of the angels over one sinner repenting. Could this be because now there is a new worshipper being focused on in God’s searching patterns?
If you desire that connection in praise and worship that God wants you to have, the key is to start worshipping in spirit and in truth. A good start in that direction is repentance.
23 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.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Praise and worship have seemed to catch fire amongst the many Religious denominations of today. It seems that these terms have become catch phrases for what happens when someone puts some words to music. No doubt, glory is given to God through these songs, but often it seems that there is no accountability or responsibility given to the worshipper to remain true. Is it important that our lives be wholly committed to God before we begin offering our praise to Him? The answer may be in the fact that even today God is still seeking true worshippers. Sinners everywhere may have the some of the abilities that we do to offer praise to him, yet, when a true worshipper connects with a seeking God, there is a difference present.
John 4:23 depicts the almighty God actually seeking out those that are worshipping him the right way. The right way being one of which someone is worshipping in spirit and truth. The truth part of that equation can be as encompassing as the spirit side; meaning it could have multiple definitions. For example, it is important to worship in truth by knowing who He is. But it also means that there is no guile or falseness in the praise. There is no lack of complete commitment.
Often the lack of the commitment in our lives is joined with a lack of repentance, the process of completely turning or dieing away to former things, and choosing to embrace this new path. Many may indeed possess the form, but they are also, however, denying the power.
Many scriptures indicate that repentance and true praise and worship are indeed connected. Some of these would include Paul stating that men should lift up Holy hands, or even Peter stating that we should show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Repentance in its basest form is a form of praise. Turning from heading your own direction of destruction and instead turning toward God is praise in its purest form. Its saying, God you are the greatest, and I choose to abandon my own way to follow after yours. No wonder God listens to the contrite and repentant. But like the man who had been blind said, “If a man is a worshipper of God, and does his will, God heareth him.” Doing the will of God is eternally connected to being a true worshipper by repentance.
If sin is in the life of an individual, repentance must be introduced for that worshipper to become the example of worship that God is searching for. Luke 15:10 speaks of joy being in the presence of the angels over one sinner repenting. Could this be because now there is a new worshipper being focused on in God’s searching patterns?
If you desire that connection in praise and worship that God wants you to have, the key is to start worshipping in spirit and in truth. A good start in that direction is repentance.
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