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INTRODUCTION
Read of a woman buying an ice cream cone at a Haagen-Dazs store in Kansas City. After she made
her selection, she turned and found herself face to face with actor Paul Newman. He smiled and
said hello. His blue eyes caused her knees to shake a bit. She managed to pay for her cone,
then left the shop, heart pounding. When she gained her composure, she realized she
didn’t have her snack. She started back into the store to get it and met Paul Newman at
the door. “Are you looking for your ice cream cone,” he asked. She nodded, unable
to speak. “You put it in your purse with your change.” (Humor for Preaching, 186)
Do we ever find our heart pounding, our knees shaking when we come face with face with God in
worship?
We are in the definitive passage on worship in the N.T. From the intriguing conservation
between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. We are learning about worship, and today how and why to
experience God. TITLE.
- What is Worship?
“An active response to God whereby we declare His worth to us.”
- Where to Worship?
- Who to Worship?
God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Son, by the power of Holy Spirit.
- When to Worship?
Now is the time for worship. Worship is a daily exercise.
5. How to Worship? 4:23,24
- Here heart of passage-how “spirit and truth” Almost mysterious
words.
- “spirit” - our human spirit, our inner man, our heart.
- Worship is to flow from our innermost being, not mechanical, rote.
- Worship is first from our heart then to the rest of our being.
- Our spirit communing with God’s Spirit.
- Our mind and heart need to be in worship. Worship requires focus. We
may do the right actions, but if in a completely wrong spirit the
actions are meaningless and a mockery of God. Malachi 1:10
- So, How do we worship in the spirit?
a. Must have H.S. in us - need to be saved, born again -
John 14:17
b. Must be filled with the Spirit - Eph. 5:18b
c. Must not quench the Spirit - 1 Thess. 5:19 - where He
leads, follow
d. Must have humble spirit - Isaiah 66:2 “But to
this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of
spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
- You can’t worship by just showing up, sleeping, day dreaming,
thinking about dinner, check what others are wearing, roasting Pastor.
You can smile and do the right actions, but if not in the spirit - you
fail.
- To worship in spirit means = desire God above all, thirst after God,
focus on God, put aside your agenda and what you want out of worship
and humbly give God your worship from a whole heart.
- “truth” - in sincerity on Who He is, revealed truly in
His Word.
- John 17:17 “Your Word is truth”
- Worship according to and in the Holy Bible, worship the God revealed
to us, according to the commands of the Word of God.
- Bible is the textbook on worship. NT and OT filled with references on
worship. Worshiper needs to be a student of Word. Biblical.
- Through Jesus, Truth of who Jesus is. Trintarian.
- Both spirit/truth essential: Holy Spirit & Holy Bible. One is not
enough.
- In our text the Jews and Samaritans. Both had one. Samaritans had
spirit, came from their heart, but no truth. They had enthusiastic
heresy. The Jews had truth, law of God, but no spirit. They had dead
orthodoxy. True worshippers “MUST worship in spirit and
truth”.
- We evangelicals should be concerned. We stress truth, but we often
lack spirit. Worship is dull, ritualistic. To watch us is like
watching grass grow. We need evangelical truth, but also enthusiastic
excitement - it will be show up in our emotions, in our actions, in
our will, in our obedience, and in our Christian commitments. We need
to be moved!!!
- Warren Wiersbe: “I have a suspicion that many of the Bible
saints would die of boredom if they attended the average worship
service today.” (Moody, Feb. 87). When was the last time like
Jacob we said: “Surely the Lord is in this place.”
(Gen. 28:16-17) Should have full range of emotions, actions.
- A creative God should be given creative worship. For us to make
worship boring is offensive. God is awesome. Though we do not
experience Him by senses, yet as we worship Him from our spirit to His
Spirit, in truth - there He is! The word reveals Him, and our spirit
communes with Him - a supernatural experience. A sense of wonder, it
will make our heart pound, worship should quicken our pulse.
“Wow.”
6. Why Worship? vs. 23, 25, 26
- Final question in this series on worship
- We worship first because God seeks worshipers v. 23
- God asks us to worship, Jesus affirms. “must.”
The divine imperative. Our Father seeks us out, wants a relationship,
desires our fellowship, is honored by our honoring of Him. We
creatures acknowledge Creator, we saved sinners acknowledge the
Savior, we weak mortals acknowledge the Strong Sovereign of the
universe. Imagine - God wants our company.
- Worship is our recognition of who God is, who we are, and by
God’s grace who we are becoming. It is praise, obedience,
witness.
- We worship second because Jesus the Messiah has come vs. 25-26
- We are not waiting anymore. Jesus has come. We live in the “now
is” the time for worship. We celebrate life in Christ. DAILY.
- Remember the Ketchup song? Heinz Ketchup “Anticipation” by
Carle Simon. For us in worship, there is no more anticipation. NOW is
the time for worship!
- Through Jesus we have a new and personal relationship with God - we
can know God, no longer enemies but children. God stepped into history
for our benefit, and we are able to step into eternity and enjoy His
glory. Worship at the very least is an expression of gratitude.
- Psalm 92:1-4 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.”
CONCLUSION
“What, then is the essence of worship. It is the celebration of God. When we worship
God, we celebrate Him, we extol Him, we sound His praises, we boast in Him…As a thoughtful
gift is a celebration of a birthday, as a special evening out is a celebration of an
anniversary, as a warm eulogy is a celebration of a life, as an intimate embrace is a
celebration of a marriage, so a worship service is a celebration of God.”
(Worship, by Ronald Allen and Gordon Borror. Multonomah Press, 1982, pages 18-19)
- How can you improve your worship?
- How were you blessed this week because you worshipped?
- What did you give to God today?
- How can you worship Him each day this week?
- What will bring you here next week?
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