John 4.24
October 27th 2013
Welcome.
Thank you for coming this morning.
Let’s pray before we hear the Word put to music and take a few moments to commune with Father God.
Alright, we are in the midst of reading about Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well.
At verse 24 He repeats something vital to every person who wants to know, and relate to, and experience God – He says:
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Alright, back to verse 24 –
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We pointed out last week that Jesus has given this woman two direct teachings:
First, that God seeks human beings to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. And second, that God is Spirit, and as a result of Him being Spirit, he seeks those to worship Him IN spirit . . . and in truth.
I personally do not think there are two more important verses in all of scripture.
Even verses about “God so loving the world that He sent His only begotton Son;” even verses about “love being this and that,” even verses about “Jesus being in the beginning with God” – which are all great passages of scripture – I maintain there are no more important scriptures in the entire Bible than verses 23-24 where Jesus tells this Samaritan woman:
“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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
We talked about these two passages a bit last week but let me say a few more things.
Everything we do, everything we are, is about being in the heart of God. Father God. God so love the world He gave His only begotton Son . . .!
God has sought to bring every single one of us into full and complete and total fellowship with Him.
His Only Begotten came to accomplish this on our behalf.
Whoa! Wait minute, what?
God SO loved the world He gave His only begotton Son that whosover BELIEVETH on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Believeth on.
Believeth on.
His only begotten, having accomplished complete and total reconciliation of the entire world on the cross, for us and then uttering:
“It is finished! It has been ACCOMPLISHED.
We have been reconciled. The work of reconciliation has been done. Do we believe it and become part of the “whosover believeth on Him” has everlasting life?
Not whomsoever “repents” constantly. Not whomsoever comes to church. Not whomsoever becomes perfected in the flesh – “but whosever believeth on Him.”
For thousands of years God has dealt with people “worshipping Him” NOT in spirit and in truth but in flesh and in error (the opposite of “In Spirit and in truth”).
They have stared at the sun, tried to build towers to reach Him, built images of what they imagined He looked like, thrown virgins into mouths of volcano’s – you name it, we’ve tried it.
He carved out a group of people – the Jews, and gave them commandments that sort of laid out what it would “sort-of” look like if men and woman WERE worshipping Him in spirit and in truth, but it failed! Giving Man God’s perfect law was like giving a lama a math book – couldn’t be understood nor lived. No spirit. No truth.
Even today, since Christ, men and woman have concocted all sorts of “ways and means” for CHRISTIAN MAN to worship even in the presence of now possessing the ability to worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
And we are constantly re-erecting new monuments, new edifices, new systems to stand upon – when all that is required is faith . . . on whom He sent.
In acts of FAITHLESSNESS even believers will create things (of every shape and size) as a means to “really get down to worshipping Him in spirit and truth” but in the end they always end up becoming just another icon of religiosity.
In Colossians 2 (at verse 20 -23) Paul asks the believers at Colosse if they have really died with Christ, why have they reimbraced elements of religiosity, saying:
“Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a “show of wisdom” in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.”
If you really have believed on Christ, and truly are “dead in Him” and therefore from all the stuff by which the world operates by, why do you continue to do and appeal to things (from this fallen world) that have only the appearance of true piety?
Why do we continue to worship in ways that extend beyond what God desires . . . . which is???? That’s right,
“For people to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.”
Notice in particular what verse 23 of Colossians 2 says:
23 Which things have indeed a “show of wisdom” in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.”
It is very easy to let forms of “worship” worm their way into our hearts. I know – I’ve done it.
We start doing things that “indeed have a show of spiritual wisdom” fasting every week, memorizing verse after verse after verse, adopting practices that seem more religious than others, but in reality they are outside the true worship desired by the father.
The question may remain – why does the Father seek for us to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth?
I would suggest that it is because when we do, we either experience, or find ourselves, truly free.
Remember, God is love. And He so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son – why?
To set us free.
This is the beauty of being a TRUE Christian who worships Him in Spirit and in Truth – we are free and free in deed.
What I mean is there are no encumbrances, no influences, no mediations, and infiltrations on our worship when we worship in spirit and in truth.
This is the reason I have such trouble with modern applications of what has come to be called worship.
First of all, worship, from the Greek means one thing – to fawn or crouch (literally or figuratively) before something in homage, reverence, and adoration.
It is almost ALWAYS associated with kneeling or laying flat before something.
To worship God in Spirit and in truth means we kneel and lay flat before our God FROM the heart (listen) and to do this, or perform this, or something like it physically with others automatically reduces the chance that we are doing it from the heart.
Let me explain. I can think of five major things that get in the way of true worship.
In Luke 6 Jesus is speaking with his disciples on the Plain – it’s like a second sermon on the Mount – and He says:
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46 And why call ye me, “Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Let me suggest five things I think are necessary for every Christian to tear themselves from as a means to be free to truly “worshipping God in Spirit AND in truth.”
I don’t typically like to use “laundry lists” or ordered or numbered items as a means to teaching the word – you know, things like these are the six perfect points of profound perseverance –
But in this case these five things are very present in scripture as getting in the way of people truly worshipping God in spirit and in truth. And so therefore, we seek to remove them and all they represent.
What’s really interesting about these five obstacles is we can see in the biblical narrative how Jesus put them right where they belonged therefore showing us how to worship God in spirit and in truth.
Ready?
Obstacle number 1 – Natural Family
We have all been raised by family of some sort. And it goes without saying how profound an impact they can have on our person.
Mom and Dad’s opinions are extremely powerful upon us – even into old age. Our siblings bear weight, so do our children and even in-laws.
I remember when I first became a Christian I had a heart to wear a cross around my neck.
I put one on. I was a personal deal and had nothing to do with what anyone else wanted or desired – I was just drawn.
Within four minutes my still LDS daughters were very critical of it – and I took it off. No big deal, right.
But right in behind came pressures for other things from brothers, and sisters, and Mom, and Dad.
Remember Jesus? Twelve years of age telling his mother that He was about His Father’s business?
Certainly He honored His parents but that would never mean putting them ahead of God.
Remember, what it said at the end of Matthew 12:
“Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
This is why I said we have to remove the obstacle of our “natural family.”
Their will and ways are often counter to the worshipping of God in spirit and in truth.
And it’s the reason Jesus said to his fellows the Jews:
Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
It is NOT that we make our family OUR enemies, it’s that we become their enemies by and through our dedication to truth . . . if we are willing.
Obstacle number 2 – Cultural Tradition
Quite applicable in this state, right? Many of us, coming from Mormonism, understand very well the cultural pressures to conform, obey, and belong.
But cultural weightiness is present everywhere we go and in everything we do. Human beings cannot help but form our own cultures.
So whether it’s kite flying in city parks or belonging to a church – even CAMPUS – cultures develop.
And all of them ought to take a back seat if they ever come between you and your worship of God in spirit and in truth.
The question remains for all of us – all of the time, will we allow family or culture, or even family culture for that matter, interfere with our worshipping God in spirit and truth. In the end culture reigns through fear – as do most of these obstacles.
But remember what David wrote in Psalm 3:6
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”
Maybe at this point we ought to ask, “What does honest worship of God in spirit and truth look like in the first place?”
Maybe our families and culture would never interfere if they witnessed true worship in the first place, right?
Today we often think of worshipping God as lifting up our hands and singing. From a biblical point of view, this is better described as praise Not worship.
From a biblical perspective the word for praise (in Hebrew, at least) means throwing a stone, flipping the hands, and raising them up (as in PRAISE GOD – hands to the air).
Now, admittedly praise can be tied to worshipping God.
But in the end, worship, in the highest form, in the clearest manner, in Spirit and in Truth, and from a biblical perspective is closely tied to the Greek word proskuneo, which means to lay oneself out – that’s the physical description of worship- to lay oneself out on the ground, or to kneel before.
But if we are worshipping God in SPIRIT and in TRUTH what does worship look like? In what way does the Christian lay themselves out?
Ask yourselves – what would be the best way to “lay ourselves out” (in Spirit and Truth) in the worship of God?
Remember what Jesus said in John 10:15?
“As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
What else did Jesus say relative to this?
John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
You wanna worship God? Love Him? You wanna love Him? Love others? How?
Lay your will down.
Lay your ego down.
Lay your life down for your friends.
In the following verse in John 15 Jesus adds:
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
In other words GREATER LOVE has no man than he or she who lays their life down for their friend,” meaning if we are His friend we will lay our lives out by doing what He commands – which is showing and doing . . . love.
Nothing else.
That is the highest form of worship any man or woman can give, show, or do – love.
Not self-love, not by any means, but love for Him and others.
I’m sure God loves the praise of our lips, and the songs from a faith-filled voice, but what does He desire?
People who, like His Son, lay down their lives for the benefit of others.
One of the best definitions of love I have ever heard is when we act for the benefit of the spiritual growth for ourselves or others.
Remember that emphasis because real love always strives to do what will be MOST beneficial to the recipient meaning there can be times when this means not helping at all.
We have come to believe that worshipping God in the modern sense carries weight. I would suggest that it bears no more weight than the COI offering up constant gifts and oblations while being hard in their heart in other areas – and it means nothing to God.
Listen to what Micah asks in Micah 6 beginning at verse 6:
“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
We can dance in the spirit till we are blue in the face. We can speak and sing with the tongue of angels. We can raise hands, shout to the Lord, and weep with tears of devotion, but if we are not willing to worship Him in spirit and truth which is best manifested in loving others . . . all of the former is nothing but religion.
We’re not talking about perfection – far from it. We are talking about a willingness to be compliant in love from the heart in addition to, or well before, we raise hands.
Get it?
Okay, back to the obstacles to true worship.
When it comes to worshipping the Father in spirit and truth cultural appeals, like family attitude, might worm their way in between what is real and honest and forthright (meaning from the heart) and what is expected.
Think about it – because you are a Christian, you want to talk about Jesus or love people in His name from the heart but culture and family just might say no. Do you listen?
You want to live like Jesus lived? Culture and family will often say no. You want to have the boldness, the attitudes, the temerity that Jesus had – culture and family might says no.
Worshipping the Father in Spirit and in truth ultimately means letting nothing get in between Him and His will . . . and us.
This being said the cultural pressures can be simply ENORMOUS . . . and they are often present without our even realizing it.
Jesus faced an extremely powerful and historically based culture in His day – and He had no problem complying with much of it.
But He refused to comply if it meant failing to WORSHIP the father in spirit and truth.
Let me give you an example. In Matthew 9:9 we read:
“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, “Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?”
Yes, this was part of their interpretation of the Law, so it sprung from their religious tradition, but it was cultural, but He – “laying His life down for His friends” would have no part of it.
In fact His sitting and talking with this Samaritan woman is another perfect evidence of His refusal to let culture get in between Him and the will of God.
The 3rd obstacle to worshipping in Spirit and in Truth is economic.
Jesus made it clear in Matthew 6:24 saying:
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
This is NOT an indictment on the affluent as many very poor people serve mammon with much more devotion than the rich. They just aren’t as good at managing or multiplying it.
But the term mammon in the Greek is “avarice” or “the love and worship of getting or accumulating money.”
Serve the one . . . and it is impossible to serve the other.
Better put, serve mammon, and it is impossible to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth – because He cannot be worshipped (from the heart) right along with the love of money.
The Father seeks those who will say, I am not going to let money – the gathering, making, or acquisition of – undermine my devotion to God.
When Jesus went to the wilderness and was tempted of the Devil Satan showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and said:
“All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”
“FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME,” Satan says.
Lay down your life and will and purposes for the Father and hand them over to me – and these things will be your reward.
Of course Jesus said:
“Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
Again, the heart of worship is serving God and His will, laying our will and lives down for His causes, and not anything else.
This principle is probably more applicable to those of us in ministry than to anyone else.
The world spins and we need Christian industrialists, and financiers, and innovators who earn well and use it to worship God in how He has established them.
But in order to really be in the will of God in ministry, in “doing church,” overcoming these obstacles are an imperative – so much of what I am saying is first and foremost pointed at myself.
The fourth obstacle – Political ways and means.
What is interesting about these five obstacles is they are absolutely inter-related.
Family has elements of culture, economics, and politics. Economics has a culture and a politic. Politics can invade family and govern culture. The Kingdom Satan offered Jesus roils in these principalities.
I think it’s one reason Jesus said to Pilate, “My Kingdom is NOT of this world.”
I think you know I can go on and on and on in my distain for politics – ESPECIALLY in religious matters.
It was by and through religious political machinations that Jesus was killed. The point (here) is if a person is consumed with being politically correct in whatever venue they are operating it will hinder worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
The fifth and final obstacle to true worship?
Religion
Notice that all of these obstacles
Family
Culture
Economics
Politics, and
Religion
. . . have a tendency, if not initially then as they mature, to want to dominate, and in their domination, seek to CONTROL.
Control what?
Each other!
They are each seeking the seat of power in our lives. To truly worship God in spirit and truth we have to get to the point where none of them dominate or control – only God.
Religion is one of the tougher ones because when it is on the seat of power, when it is dominating, it does so in the name and place of God – so it can be a very good counterfeit to real worship.
As a result people often serve – sometimes
relinquishing “their all” to the church (its culture, its demands on family, it’s control of economics, and directives regarding politics) assuming it to be God’s will AND that this is worshipping in spirit and in truth.
Not so.
Remember, Christ came to set the captives free, not put them back in chains. So when religion makes plays for control in areas it has no business entering, it’s time to let that religion go – no matter how effective or capable the religion is at managing cultural, economic, family, and/or political affairs.
Of everything Jesus did seem to resist in His life, it was the controls of religion.
Remember the things He said and did in this area?
He broke down religious piety when he said this:
Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
He redirected the chains connected to the Sabbath day teaching that the “Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath.”
He pointed out the hypocrisy present in the fact that a poor widow gave far, far more with the donation of a mite than all the religionists in Jerusalem –and this was NOT an endorsement of the widow giving, just commentary on the fact that in her heart she had done so much more.
He rebuked worshippers of flesh and lies, telling them they were like whited tombs – glistening and glowing on the outside but internally full of dead dried bones.
And He assassinated religious offices and priesthood with his story of the Good Samaritan.
There He had both a Priest and Levite pass-by on the other side of a man beaten by thieves and then had a dirty rotten Samaritan – like the woman at this well whom He was talking to, stop and do all he could to care for him.
In every single solitary act of His life He rejected anything that would or could come between Him and the Father and then laid His life down prostrate before Him, doing His will alone, worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth.
And here He has told us to do the same.
Questions?
Comments?
Let’s pray.
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