True Worship

Jack Davis

“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” – John 4:23-24.

John here speaks of reality, worship that is genuine. This is not a form nor just going through the motions, nor putting on an act; but rather it is meaningful adoration of our God and Father. This is more then praise and thanks giving, which are included. This involves the out going of the heart also, in deeds done according to God’s will and Word. All true spiritual worship  is the expression of acknowledgment directly to God of His excellence – in ways, nature, attributes, and claims.

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” – Philippians 3:3. The circumcision are those who are crucified with Christ and separated from the world, by faith in Him – Galatians 2:20 & 6:14.

 

Oh, what marvelous provisions have been made available to faith’s appropriation at the Cross, for those of us who truly sense that a real separation has been made by God’s powerful operation – Colossians 2:10-13.

Abraham: being circumcised, he acknowledged that he had no strength to be useful or fruitful; but that God had to intervene for him in a supernatural way. And God did! Isaac’s birth pictures for us the New Creation which is wholly supernatural and spiritual.

We worship God: This is the believer’s highest or chief occupation, now and forever more. Our lives are meant to be that of worship. Therefore, a Christian trying to live after the flesh and in fellowship with the world has much difficulty in his life. For he is out of place, out of harmony with God, like a fish out of water. His life cannot be a peaceful, happy, harmonious existence, for his life is not one of worship. God is the supreme Object of our worship. We gladly give Him all the glory for the things He has done.

In I Corinthians 1:26-31 we can see this is the way He has planned it. Whatever we do to the glory of the flesh is not true worship, and will receive no reward. Worship centered upon God and His glory will be rewarded here and in the hereafter.

In the spirit: The Holy Spirit prompts true spiritual worship. He is indeed a Holy Fire that excites, initiates, and indices real worship, for He makes our little hearts so glad and thankful. In John 16:14-15 Jesus said: “He shall glorify Me.”

In Ephesians 5:18-20 Paul tells us: “Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In I Thessalonians 5:18-19 we read: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.” Often more enthusiasm needs to be shown in our worship, but it need never be worked up by the efforts of the flesh.

We rejoice in Christ: The word “rejoice” expresses the thought to boast, glory, exalt, or take pride in. What or who else can make us so happy? Jesus is the One who has made it possible that we worship God. It is otherwise impossible. He is the Truth. All true worship ascends up to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We “Have no confidence in the flesh” – Philippians 3:3. Our confidence is in the One who has “begun a good work” in us. “We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” – II Corinthians 1:9.

In Psalm 146:3-5 we read – “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Isaiah 2:22 – “Cease ye from men, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”

Jeremiah 17:5 – “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.”

We do not glory in ourselves, our righteous walk, nor our achievements. We have lost all confidence in the wisdom and power of the natural man. We cease to trust in natural gifts, attainments, or qualifications. All manmade programs, plans, formulas, or steps deciphered from the Scriptures, concocted by religious reason, fail to produce true spiritual worship or the Spirit-filled life from which true worship will flow. These things can never make one mighty in spirit.