Worshiping in Spirit and Truth
The Power of praise
John 4:20-24
I. Worship is an issue of the heart.
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
II. Common Misconceptions of Worship.
A. Worship Always Takes Place in Church.
"Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments." Psalm 119:164
B. Worship is an Outward Expression.
The essence of worship is when your heart and soul, the core of your being connects with the Spirit of God."
C. The People on the Platform are the Focus.
"Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!" Psa.47:1
D. The People in the Pews are the Audience.
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Ezra 3:11
III. Liberating Lessons of Worship.
11And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), 12and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets—13indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying:“For He is good,For His mercy endures forever,”that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. 2 Chron 5:11-14
B. Worship is an important activity of the Church.
"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:46-47
"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph.5:19).
The ministry of the church is fourfold. WORSHIP, the WORD, WITNESS & WORK.
41And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. Matt 10:41
C. Worship is the Source of Spiritual Renewal.
And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God. Ro 12:2 (BBE)
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."
Acts 4:13
D. Worship is the Greatest Investment We can make.
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." Heb.13: 15
E. Worship Brings Healing to the Soul.
"He restores my soul." Ps. 23:3
