Anchor My Faith

The Requirements of Worship

Scripture: John 4:23-26

In the last lesson we learned that the location of worship was not important. We also learned that only believers, through the person of Jesus Christ, can approach God in true worship. The question that begs an answer is, “How is one to worship?” Let us move on to the next two verses and see.

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23 – 34 ESV).

 “The hour is coming” indicates change as the old dispensation is about to be replaced by a new one. Under the old dispensation form was very important. Worship had a rather elaborate procedure to follow, which made worship primarily external. The new dispensation begins with a change in the one who is worshipping. Only those who are born spiritually can truly worship God. This spiritual birth provides what is needed for a person to connect with God in worship. Under the old dispensation people came to worship with certain external things, but now they must come as a new creation in Christ; they must be born spiritually.

These new creatures in Christ are spiritually alive and have the Spirit of God living within them. This condition allows them to worship in spirit. We are now able to do something that is beyond the physical. It is not our physical posture but our heart posture that is important. Our worship is to become more in line with the worship that is going on in heaven.

We are to worship God in truth; truth about who God in and what he does, and truth about our circumstances. Knowing God and his works reveals to us why he is worthy of worship. Our worship of God is to be independent of our circumstances. We can be suffering greatly under persecution or because of some great hurt or loss and we continue to worship. When worshipping in truth, our worship is not to be affected by how we feel, but by who God is. When knowing the truth about us, about God and what is happening in the world, we are able to worship when our attitudes, actions and words declare that God is worthy of our praise.

God is spirit and therefore is without a body. He is not made up of physical parts like we are. He is thus invisible, pure and holy. Most religions of the world connect God with something physical and thus involve the physical in their worship. Since God is spirit, we are to connect with him, spirit to spirit in our worship. Our worship is to be an offering of our soul and not just our body. That is why a true worshipper must be born spiritually, to provide the spirit dimension needed to worship in spirit and in truth.

To this the woman replies with, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things” (John 4:25 ESV). She acknowledges his understanding of things to which Jesus replies, “I who speak to you am he” (John 4:26 ESV). This Messiah who she says is coming, Jesus identifies as himself.

Prayer

Father, until this lesson I have never really thought about true worship, its requirements, and its uniqueness. I can also see that true worship is invisible to the spiritually dead. Spiritual life provides the light that brings true worship into focus and the more holy my life is the stronger is the light and the clearer is my worship. Father, I am overwhelmed by what is available to me from my relationship with Jesus Christ. How thankful I am for these studies in John to learn more about you and your Son and the life you want me to experience.