Worship in Spirit & in

Truth1

All people worship something

• Cornelius tried to worship Peter (Acts 10:26)• John tried to worship an angel

(Rev. 22:8)

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Worship can be:

• Vain (Mt. 15:9)• Ignorant (Acts 17:23)• Will worship (Col. 2:23)• True worship (Jn. 4:24)

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Jn. 4:23-24

• [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.

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•I. God is the object of worship

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• God has no physical qualities – except in a figurative sense (eyes, hands, arms)• Man is made in the image of God• Gen. 1:26• [26] And God said, Let us make man

in our image, after our likeness:

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• There is a point of contact between God – who is a Spirit – and man who spiritually is made in the image of God

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• “In worship the heart of God’s people is attuned to him, seeks after him, feels after God (Acts 17:27).” (William Woodson)

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Acts 17:27

• [27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

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Mt. 4:10

• [10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

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We do not worship:

• Angels• Man• Departed loved

ones• Money

• Family• Pope• Job or

Profession, etc.

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• REMEMBER – In Christian worship God is the audience

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•II. In Spirit --- the attitude of

worship

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We are to offer up spiritual sacrifices – 1 Pet. 2:5

• [5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

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We are to draw near to God – Heb. 10:22

• [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

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We are to worship with grace in our hearts

• Col. 3:16• [16] Let the word of Christ dwell

in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

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N.T. worship must come from the heart - Eph. 5:19

• [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

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Worship with reverence & godly fear – Heb. 12:28

• [28] Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

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A warning – Mt. 15:7-9

• [7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,[8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

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• [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

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How do we worship in spirit?

• Prepare your heart by:• prayer –proper frame of mind –

rest – meditation• Maintain a worshipful

atmosphere

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Ps. 89:7

• [7] God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

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Hab. 2:20

• [20] But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

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How do we worship in spirit?

• Cultivate a deep awareness of God• Don’t let things become

commonplace• Put your heart into it• Study Bible examples of worship

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•III. In Truth – The authority of

Christian worship

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• Don’t be deceived – God has given us a pattern for worship!• Jn. 4:24 teaches that worship

must be “in truth”•What is truth?

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The answer is found in Jn. 17:17

• [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

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Col. 3:17

• [17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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God authorizes 5 items of worship:

• 1. Singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)• 2. Prayer (Eph. 6:18; Js. 5:16)• 3. Preaching/teaching – study of

God’s word (2 Tim. 2:15)• 4. Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:26)• 5. Giving (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6,7)

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• All acts of worship must be carried out as God has commanded!

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Conclusion

• Worship should be the highlight of each week’s activity for the Christian• Coming to worship should be a

top priority • Nothing should prevent us from

worshiping acceptably

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