WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

John 4: 23-24

INTRODUCTION

John 4:20-24

LEGITIMACY

• John 4:20 “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

• Q : Where is the Legitimate place of worship ?

• Our Focus

WE EQUATE LEGITIMACY OF WORSHIP TO

PLACE/STYLE. WE REMAIN AT THIS LEVEL.

UNIVERSAL ACCESS

• John 4:21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you (Samaritans) will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. “

• LOCATION DOES NOT DETERMINE THE LEGITIMACY OF WORSHIP

• ACCESS TO WORSHIP is not determine by PEDIGREE/CREED/RACE

UNIVERSAL ACCESS • EVERYONE CAN and WILL HAVE ACCESS TO

WORSHIP GOD the Father. This is OUR PRIVILEGE AND RIGHT.

• CLEANSING OF THE

TEMPLE (Luke 19)

UNIVERSAL ACCESS

• Isa 56:7 My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

THE HEART AND DESIRE OF GOD, THE FATHER

IS FOR ALL TO COME TO WORSHIP HIM

“ Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is

ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity.

But worship abides forever. “

John Piper

Let the nations be glad

RELATIONSHIP

• John 4:22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews

• Eph 2: 18 For through Christ, we have access to

the Father by one Spirit. • THEREFORE, WORSHIP IS A RESPONSE FROM

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. It is PERSONAL. We cannot worship and we do not know how to worship when we do not know Him.

THE RIGHT WORSHIP • John 4:23 and 24 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.

• Define : WORSHIP , SPIRIT, TRUTH

THE RIGHT WORSHIP

• WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH - to adore, to honour, to demonstrate love (by obedience and submission), to surrender and offer our best/highest to GOD, the Father with our whole being (completeness – body, soul and spirit), without any deceit or pretension. In other words, as it really is.

THE RIGHT WORSHIP

1. OUR LIFE IS A WORSHIP OFFERED TO GOD. LIFE IS WORSHIP AND WORSHIP IS LIFE.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12: 1

THE RIGHT WORSHIP

2. “WORSHIP” IS NO EXCUSE FOR OBEDIENCE.

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your

assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. “ Amos 5:21-23 (Isa 1 : 10 – 17)

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. John 14: 21

CONCLUSION

• LEGITIMACY

• UNIVERSAL ACCESS

• RELATIONSHIP

• THE RIGHT WORSHIP