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In Spirit and TruthTrue Worship
by J. Ross Greer of The Place of Grace Ministries (about the ministry)
[Note: If you'd like to read more from J. Ross Greer, be sure to subscribe to his daily e-mail list A Word For The Church.]
19The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20"Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." 21Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
What kind of worship does God require? Are we the kind of worshipers that the Father is seeking?
After the woman of Samaria had her sins exposed, her first reaction was to determine where she was to worship God. Jesus opened her eyes to the fact that worship does not necessarily occur at or in a place. For us, then, we need to recognize that church buildings or events are not to be our central focus when it comes to worship.
The concept of worship in this text is that of bowing down or prostrating oneself. Therefore, we are addressing the attitude of the heart being submitted to the Father. We may, or may not physically bow down. The issue is the source of our worship.
Therefore, Jesus says true worship must be "in spirit". This, again, is not referring to a physical outworking. Literally, it means, in the realm of our spirit or inner man. True worship comes from our spirit and is expressed to God in the spirit realm. We may speak or sing it outwardly. Nevertheless, we are to address God from our souls. Our minds and hearts are to be focused upon Him, and not on our outward actions. Just singing words is not worship.
True worship must also be in the realm of that which is true about God. Is what we are thinking, saying, and singing true about God? Are the words more focused upon ourselves and our experience, than the character and works of our Heavenly Father? It matters little how the music affects our flesh, if the words do not agree with the truth of Scripture.
Copyright 2002, The Place of Grace Ministries. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About The Place of Grace Ministries: In 1992, God interrupted the well-organized life of J. Ross Greer through a study called "Experiencing God". This encounter birthed a passionate vision for local churches that has become The Place of Grace Ministries. Through teaching, music, and writing, we call believers to return to the basic principles of God's Word and participate in the work of God. For questions or scheduling information, please contact us at: theplaceofgrace@att.net Or visit our web site at: http://home.att.net/~theplaceofgrace/theplaceofgrace.html |
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