“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24, NLT).
A. INTRODUCTION
1. What are some reasons we forget/don’t praise God:
a. Selfish.
b. Never taught to praise.
c. Forgetful.
d. Focus on my needs and wants.
2. How do you make a positive/appropriate request to boss/parent/spouse:
a. Thank for past ______________.
b. Respectful.
c. Compliment.
d. Humble yet meaningfully.
3. Picture on Sistine Chapel, Rome. As you reach out to touch God, He reaches to you.
4. How did God direct Israel 40 years in the wilderness? “I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark” (Exodus 25:22). They had to seek God:
a. Personally.
b. Based on blood cleansing.
c. Regularly.
d. Yielded.
5. What is your attitude as you enter God’s Tabernacle? “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4).
6. Thankfulness begins worship:
a. Thank God for access to Him.
b. Thank God for forgiving of sins.
c. Thank God for opportunity.
7. How can you bring God’s presence into your experiences. He comes to receive worship and praise. “You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).
8. What is the main thing God wants from His people? “The Father seeks … worship” (John 4:23). Have you given what God wants? When? How much? Today?
9. Americans seem focus on the place/house of worship. What should be our focus? Spirit and truth. “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way” (John 4:23).
10. Definition: “worship is giving the true worthship that belongs to the Father.”
11. When Israel wanted a king, Samuel interviewed seven sons of Jesse. Why did God choose David? “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4).
12. David was a king, not a priest. David had the heart of a priest.
B. TEN PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES
1. You please God when you worship Him.
2. When you come to give worship to God, He is waiting to give to you Himself in intimate fellowship.
3. You can feel the atmospheric presence of God when you worship Him.
4. I must worship in spirit (with my whole heart), and worship in truth (according to the Word of God).
5. I can never go back to just Bible reading and prayer in my daily time with God, because I touched God in worship and more importantly, He touched me.
6. Since I want to please God the best way possible, then I will worship Him in spirit and in truth.
7. When your daily devotions seem dry and empty, praise God for all He has done for you, then worship Him for all that He is.
8. One of the best ways to worship God so He shows up to receive my worship is to begin with thanksgiving – thanking Him for who He is and for all He has done for me.
9. When the presence of God shows up in your daily devotions remember thanksgiving – thank Him for His presence.
10. Just as people fell on their faces in worship when God manifested Himself in the Scriptures, so we should worship – for that is what God wants and that is what gets God working for you.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
Video presentations of the PBC are available online at trbc.org/pbc
Television Airing Times for the PBC
Go to hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
