Life Quest
“The Journey of the Heart, Part 2”
June 11, 2006
Introduction: Last week we began a series looking at what we are to be about as a church and what it is that Christ has called us to. Last week and this week really focus on the first part of our church mission statement: “To passionately pursue God and express his love to others.” It comes out of Matthew 22 when Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment for us to follow is.
Today we want to look at going deeper in the journey of the heart. We want to see what Jesus meant in our lives for us to pursue God.
We concluded our time together last week in discussing worship. We discussed how worship is intense love or admiration for God. Worship is not music and worship is focusing on the heart of God instead of the wicked heart of man.
Worship is much deeper than simply a religious ritual. It is experience with God that transforms us at a heart level.
This week my family and I spent a few days camping in Disneyworld. We also went to the Magic Kingdom one day. All of this was the pursuit of relaxation. As you go into the Magic Kingdom, you can either take a monorail, a bus or a boat. One day, just for fun we jumped on the monorail and simply rode around the outskirts of the park. On the day we were actually going to the park we took the boat across and went in. As we were approaching the entrance gates, I was thinking to myself how this was very similar to how we worship.
One of the whole deals to getting to the Magic Kingdom is that you have to do something you don’t normally do: and, if you so choose you can actually just ride around the outside of the park without ever going in. You see, you could ride the boat, ride the monorail or ride the bus and never get inside to the action. But then you would never experience the thrill of Space Mountain, the adventure of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or the expression on your children’s faces the first time they ride Splash Mountain.
Worship is the same way. You can observe, participate or even lead without it costing you anything. But true worship, deep, personal and intimate worship has a price to pay.
Today, I want to help you to get off the monorail and into the park when it comes to worship. I want to help you see a little more of what Jesus had in mind when he gave us some guidance on how to worship God. I want to release you on your Life’s Quest so that you can experience the adventure and the ride that is following Jesus.
One day Jesus is traveling with his disciples. He sends them on an errand, and while they are gone, Jesus breaks a ton of religious and social rules. He is in a village of Samaria sitting by the well at about noon. Jesus is tired and thirsty and a Samaritan woman comes to the well to draw water. Jesus asks her for a drink. This is a very common custom in the Middle East and for the most part, there doesn’t seem to be too much here to talk about. But, as is usual, there is more here than meets the eye.
Jesus is talking with a Samaritan woman. Jews hate Samaritans. The Jews view the Samaritans as half breeds and a lesser class of citizen. Jewish people would walk miles out of their way to avoid even going into Samaria.
Plus, this woman, as we find out has a past. She has been married five times and now is living with a man who is not her husband. She is at the well drawing water at noon because she is not welcome there when good and decent women come to the well early in the day. As Jesus talks with her a discussion breaks out about true worship and what that means.
“So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?" Jesus replied, "Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:20-24 (NLT)
What does it mean to worship in “spirit and truth?” Well, it helps us to understand the very basics of what is said.
The opposite of spirit is flesh.
As Jesus is talking is he is pointing out that the outward symbols of worship should not be our focus.
True worship is an offering to God not of outward signs, but of inward devotion.
The opposite of truth is falsehood.
We must not only worship in our spirit but we must worship in truth before God because God is the ultimate truth.
The paths for true worship in our Quest for God are spirit and truth.
Three aspects of worshipping God in Spirit and Truth:
1) Humility
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ’Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ "Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ’God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’ "Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself." Luke 18:10-14 (The Message)
True worship is intensely honest and personal.
When we begin to rely on our righteousness or our outward actions, we begin to miss the point of worshipping God in spirit and truth. We need to understand that worship is focused on the righteousness of Christ and the authority of God, not on anything we have done on our own.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)
Humility is not only recognizing God for who he is, but recognizing who we are not.
2) Flows from within
One of the keys to true worship is that worship is a result of the outpouring of the heart.
“May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
3) Without reservation
True worship is not about holding back from God. It is not about the expectations or the desires of others, but it flows from your heart with a desire to connect with God.
“While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people putting their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies. "I assure you," he said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has." Luke 21:1-4 (NLT)
Like most things in our world today, worship comes with a price tag. To really get into the heart of worship and the connection that God intended for your life, it is going to cost you. You must be willing to give up yourself and your status. You must sacrifice your own will for the will of God. You must be willing to allow God to take his rightful place on the throne of your heart.
If you are not willing to do that, you are simply riding the monorail around the park. It is fun and free, but it doesn’t even compare to the thrills that the park has in store.
Our life quest must begin with a desire to worship spiritually and honestly.
It is time for us to get off the tracks and into the park. We must begin to focus on the internal spiritual connection of our heart and spirit with the heart and spirit of God.
