PRAISE AND WORSHIP (b)

IV. THE MEANING OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP

A. What is worship?

To praise is to speak well of, to express admiration for, to compliment, to commend, to congratulate, to applaud, to eulogize and to extol.

To worship is to express reverence, to have a sense of awe, to bow low before the object of worship and to make obeisance.

Worship is the highest form or praise. We generally commence with praise and then move on to worship.

The word “worship” derives from the old English word “WORTHSHIP

”- to esteem the worth of and too make a suitable response to, that worthiness.

1.    An attitude

            Worship is first an attitude of heart. It is the reverent occupation of the human heart with   its Creator. It begins with an inner mussing of the heart, a depth of meditation upon the   greatness and worthiness of God. It is the savoring of admiration about God. It is an      inner sense of awe and respect for the Almighty.

2.    An overflow

Overflow of those thoughts and emotions. They flow forth spontaneously. They should not have to be pumped up of forced out. Our cup like David’s should “run over joyfully”

Psalm 23:5

 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.

3.    An outpouring

            Outpouring of the soul in deep expressions of reverence, awe, wonder and adoration.

B. the first Biblical Reference to Worship

The first occurrence of the word worship is in Genesis 22; 5. Abraham is speaking to the young men who accompanied him and Isaac to Moriah.

Genesis 22:5

⁵ Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy^[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

The word used here is SHACHAC (shawkaw) meaning to “prostrate in homage to royalty or God.” to bow down, crouch or fall down in worship. The first mention of worship teaches us many lessons.

·         God commanded Abraham to go and worship

Praise and worship is not an option which we may decide to do or not to do according to our whim. It is a commandment of God. When the Bible says “PRAISE YE THE LORD!” that is not a suggestion or a request it is a commandment. There are no exceptions made. Every child of God is to be praisers and worshippers of God.

·         Abraham’s response was one of obedience

This obedience was essential to his covenant relationship to God. God and he have entered into a covenant which demanded Abraham’s absolute obedience and total commitment to God. God was about to test the sincerity and integrity of Abraham’s commitment, He was demanding the sacrifice of the very thing that Abraham holds to the most precious: Isaac the son of promise.

·         The act of worship is a costly one

This act of worship would cost Abraham his very best and highest offering. It was to truly be a “sacrifice of praise.”

Hebrews 13:15

¹⁵ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

A life of worship demands everything we are and have.

Romans 12:1, 2

 ¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers,^[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.^[b]

² Do not be conformed to this world,^[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[b]

There has to be a complete surrender to our whole self to God, in order to become a true worshipper. David also understood this principle when he said

2 Samuel 24:24

²⁴ But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.”

·         The act of worship is an act of faith

Every step that Abraham took that day was a step of faith. As he walked up Mt. Moriah, kneeing that God has demanded the offering of his well-beloved son, he knew, by faith that somehow he and Isaac would restore together.

Genesis 22:5

⁵ Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy^[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

·         The surrender of self

Not only was Abraham prepared to offer Isaac, he was also able to offer to God his own plans, desires, ambitions, and wishes for the future. His future was tied inevitably to this boy. This was the son that God had promised him through whom all the promises of the covenant would be fulfilled. To surrender him on obedience was to surrender the prospect of all he longed to see fulfilled. He surrendered himself.

We can never into true worship until there has been a complete surrender of our “self” to God, the self or ego will always get in the way of worship. So, we must give it to God in surrender.

·         Praise glorifies God

Abraham’s costly act of worship glorified God. How great and glorious must be the One for whom Abraham would be willing to sacrifice his well-beloved son, in order to render the worship of obedience and faith,. God says,

Psalm 50:23

²³ The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
   to one who orders his way rightly
   I will show the salvation of God!”

Every true act of worship glorifies God.

·         The worshipper is also blessed

God’s response to Abraham’s act of worship indicates His great pleasure an also His design to bless every worshipper.

Genesis 22:16-18

¹⁶ and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his^[a] enemies, ¹⁸ and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

The story of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with precious ointment,

John 12:3

³ Mary therefore took a pound^[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Is a beautiful type of worship. John tells us that afterwards she “wiped his feet with her hair…”

Imagine the sweet fragrance she would have carried away in her hair. Every where she went, people would be aware of the sweet aroma.

So it is with worshipers their lives carry a sweet fragrance wherever they go. It is the fragrance of the presence of the Lord.!

V. MUSIC IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP

A. Music is important in Worship

Music has always played and important role in the worship of God. Way back in the dawn of creation

Job 38:7

⁷ when the morning stars sang together
   and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

            Hebrew music was predominantly vocal. There were very few instruments in the earliest days of the history. The human voice was the most accessible and popular instrument with which to make music.

            The first biblical mention of music and song is in-

Genesis 31:27

²⁷ Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I

 might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre?

And is associated with the expression of mirth .

Worship in song is first mentioned in -

Exodus 15:1

 ¹ Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying,

   “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
   the horse and his rider^[a] he has thrown into the sea.

            In verse 1. Moses and the children of Israel say unto the Lord. In verses 20-21, Miriam     and all the women, with tambourine and dances, responded to the song of Moses.

 Exodus 15:20, 21

²⁰ Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand,

and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing.

            The digging of the well at Beer was celebrated with singing…

Numbers 21:17-18

¹⁷ Then Israel sang this song:

   “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
¹⁸ the well that the princes made,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with the scepter and with their staffs.”

Deborah and Barak celebrated their victory in this song…

Judges 5:1-31

The Song of Deborah and Barak

 ¹ Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:

 ² “That the leaders took the lead in Israel,
   that the people offered themselves willingly,
   bless the LORD!

 ³ “Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes;
   to the LORD I will sing;
   I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.

 ⁴ “LORD, when you went out from Seir,
   when you marched from the region of Edom,
the earth trembled
   and the heavens dropped,
   yes, the clouds dropped water.
⁵ The mountains quaked before the LORD,
   even Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel.

 ⁶ “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
   in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned,
   and travelers kept to the byways.
⁷ The villagers ceased in Israel;
   they ceased to be until I arose;
   I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.
⁸ When new gods were chosen,
   then war was in the gates.
Was shield or spear to be seen
   among forty thousand in Israel?
⁹ My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel
   who offered themselves willingly among the people.
   Bless the LORD.

 ¹⁰ “Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys,
   you who sit on rich carpets^[a]
   and you who walk by the way.
¹¹ To the sound of musicians^[b] at the watering places,
   there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD,
   the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel.

   “Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD.

 ¹² “Awake, awake, Deborah!
   Awake, awake, break out in a song!
Arise, Barak, lead away your captives,
   O son of Abinoam.
¹³ Then down marched the remnant of the noble;
   the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty.
¹⁴ From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,^[c]
   following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen;
from Machir marched down the commanders,
   and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant's^[d] staff;
¹⁵ the princes of Issachar came with Deborah,
   and Issachar faithful to Barak;
   into the valley they rushed at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben
   there were great searchings of heart.
¹⁶ Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds,
   to hear the whistling for the flocks?
Among the clans of Reuben
   there were great searchings of heart.
¹⁷ Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan;
   and Dan, why did he stay with the ships?
Asher sat still at the coast of the sea,
   staying by his landings.
¹⁸ Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death;
   Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.

 ¹⁹ “The kings came, they fought;
   then fought the kings of Canaan,
at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo;
   they got no spoils of silver.
²⁰ From heaven the stars fought,
   from their courses they fought against Sisera.
²¹ The torrent Kishon swept them away,
   the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
   March on, my soul, with might!

 ²² “Then loud beat the horses' hoofs
   with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.

 ²³ “Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD,
   curse its inhabitants thoroughly,
because they did not come to the help of the LORD,
   to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

 ²⁴ “Most blessed of women be Jael,
   the wife of Heber the Kenite,
   of tent-dwelling women most blessed.
²⁵ He asked for water and she gave him milk;
   she brought him curds in a noble's bowl.
²⁶ She sent her hand to the tent peg
   and her right hand to the workmen's mallet;
she struck Sisera;
   she crushed his head;
   she shattered and pierced his temple.
²⁷ Between her feet
   he sank, he fell, he lay still;
between her feet
   he sank, he fell;
where he sank,
   there he fell—dead.

 ²⁸ “Out of the window she peered,
   the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice:
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
   Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’
²⁹ Her wisest princesses answer,
   indeed, she answers herself,
³⁰ ‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?—
   A womb or two for every man;
spoil of dyed materials for Sisera,
   spoil of dyed materials embroidered,
   two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’

 ³¹ “So may all your enemies perish, O LORD!
   But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”

   And the land had rest for forty years.

The women of Israel celebrated David’s victory over where Solomon was made King over Goliath in Song.

1 Samuel 18:6,7

 ⁶ As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.^[a]

⁷ And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

   “Saul has struck down his thousands,
   and David his ten thousands.”

4000 Levites praised the Lord with instruments

1 Chronicles 23:5

⁵ 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments

 that I have made for praise.”

when Solomon was made king over Israel

1 Chronicles 15:16

 ¹⁶ David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.

2 Chronicles 30:21

²¹ And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with all their might^[a] to the LORD.

              It is clear that music and singing are vitally integrated part to the praise and worship of the  Lord. This is portrayed all through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation and so it is        today. It is a vital, glorious, positive, expression of praise to God.

B. Satan Uses Music

It is also true that Satan uses music most efficiently to achieve his purpose. Before his fall, Lucifer was a chief musician.

Ezekiel 28:13

¹³ You were in Eden, the garden of God;
   every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
   beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire,^[a] emerald, and carbuncle;
   and crafted in gold were your settings
   and your engravings.^[b]
On the day that you were created
   they were prepared.

            Lucifer was a master musician. He was meant to use His gift for the glory of God. But      when he rebelled against Jehovah and had to be cast out of heaven, he prostituted his          gift and began to use it for evil instead of good. He has done so very effectively to this            day.

            It was the descendant of Cain who inserted both instrument of music and instrument of    war.

Genesis 4:21-22

²¹ His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.²² Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

When Moses returned form meeting God in the mountain, he discovered that the children of Israel has backslidden and returned to the worship of idols. they were dancing and singing around the golden calf. The sound of music was so confusing to the ear of Moses that he could not immediately discern the significance of the sound.

Exodus 32: 17-20

¹⁷ When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.”

 ¹⁸ Moses replied:

   “It is not the sound of victory,
   it is not the sound of defeat;
   it is the sound of singing that I hear.”

 ¹⁹ When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. ²⁰ And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.

This confusion filled type of music has the hallmark of Satan. He is a confuser. So much modern music is filled with confusion. It disturbs and deranges people. Godly music has just the opposite effect. It is calming rather than confusing. David’ anointed music restores Saul’ sanity.

1 Samuel 16:23

 ²³ Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Godly music may stir us, but it will never cause us to lose control of our emotions. It will strengthen us, not deplete us. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, used musical instruments of various kinds to induce worship of golden image he had erected.

Daniel 3:5-7

⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

 ⁷ Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Herod succumbed to the seductive music and dialog of Salome and foolishly ordered the death of John the Baptist.

Matthew 14:6-10

 ⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison.

The satanically inspired music of Babylon will finally be destroyed when the city of Babylon is cast down.

Revelation 18:22

²² The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
   will never be heard in you again.
No worker of any trade
   will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
   will never be heard in you again.

C. The music can inspire worship of God

The Holy Spirit can also use music for the glory of God and edification of people. We noted above the powerful therapeutic effect that anointed music had on Saul

 ( 1 Sam 16:23) David had been anointed by God. He was  a skillful musician, a gifted composer and a sweet singer. When he played and sang under the anointing of the Spirit, the evil spirit departed from Saul he was restored. He was well.

When Jehoshaphat needed a prophet in a time of national crises, he called for Elisha. The prophet called for musician.

2 Kings 3:11, 15-16

 ¹¹ But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?”

   An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.^[a]”

¹⁵ But now bring me a harpist.”

   While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha ¹⁶ and he said, “This is what the LORD says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.

It was only when Israel was in captivity in Babylon that they ceased to sing and play. Their anointed music ceased and they hung heir harps on the willow trees.

Psalm 137

How Shall We Sing the LORD's Song?

 ¹ By the waters of Babylon,
   there we sat down and wept,
   when we remembered Zion.
² On the willows^[a] there
   we hung up our lyres.
³ For there our captors
   required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
   “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

 ⁴ How shall we sing the LORD's song
   in a foreign land?
⁵ If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
   let my right hand forget its skill!
⁶ Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
   if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
   above my highest joy!

 ⁷ Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites
   the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
   down to its foundations!”
⁸ O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
   blessed shall he be who repays you
   with what you have done to us!
⁹ Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
   and dashes them against the rock!

When their Babylonian captors goaded them to sing, they replied, “how can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”. When their captivity ceased after 70 years they returned home with joyful singing and laughter, There was praise on their lips.

Psalm 126

Restore Our Fortunes, O LORD

    A Song of Ascents.

 ¹ When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
   we were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
   and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
   “The LORD has done great things for them.”
³ The LORD has done great things for us;
   we are glad.

 ⁴ Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
   like streams in the Negeb!
⁵ Those that sow in tears
   shall reap with shouts of joy!
⁶ He who goes out weeping,
   bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
   bringing his sheaves with him.

It is only when the church is in spiritual captivity that her anointed music ceases. When the captivity is broken and the people come into liberty once more, music, singing, dancing ang laugher are all restored to her.

D. Music and Song in the New Testament

1. The disciples sang hymns together

Matthew 26:30

 ³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

            2. Paul and Silas sang praises to God in prison.

Acts 16:25

 ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

3. The apostle Paul instructs the church in anointed singing.

Ephesians 5:19

¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

They should sing:

·         psalms – the psalms set to music

·         hymns – songs of praise to God

·         spiritual songs – spontaneous songs given by the Spirit

the songs of the primitive Church were praises to the Lord. Their primary objective in singing was to PRAISE AND MAGNIFY GOD. They did not sing for effect or to entertain. Their singing was non man-centered. It was directed to God for His pleasure alone.

E. How to have  ministry of anointed music:

1. Commence wash service with thanksgiving and praise in song

Psalm 100:4

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
   and his courts with praise!
   Give thanks to him; bless his name!

2. prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit for the right sing or hymn. God has a theme and a message for every service. Often the right songs will set the tone for the theme.

3. Do not be afraid tossing the song more than once – or even a particular portion of it which seems especially anointed and blessed.

4. Exhort the people to really “Sing unto the Lord.” Hymns are often sung because it is our tradition and custom tossing. We have much a worthier purpose than this. It is to sing unto the Lord, to direct our focused heavenward in song.

5. Commence with sing of praise and thanksgiving

Allow the people to genuinely express their praises through them songs are not praises in themselves. They are merely vehicles through which we many express our praise. It is highly possible to sing many hymns and songs without expressing  any true praise.

6.  we often begin with praise, and then the people move progressively through various levels of praise until they move right into worship, which is the highest level of praise.

7. Do not “rush through” the song service. Take time to sing, praise and worship. This is the most important function of our gathering.

8. Allow opportunity for congregational participation

9. the manifestations of the Spirit.

10. all things should be done to mutual edification.

1 Corinthians 14:26

 ²⁶ What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

11. discourage those who engender confusion.

1 Corinthians 14:33

³³ For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

   As in all the churches of the saints,

12. let everything be done as unto the Lord, and unto the glory of God. Remember, that the aim of every gathering is to glorify God and edifying the believers.

13. use a song book or over head projector – so that the people can participate. Do not be afraid, cut  a certain point, to put down the song, book or words and just worship form the heart.

14. there are certain “mechanic” to the leading of a song service or a worship device- let there be an underlying freedom. Be flexible. Be constantly sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit and be willing to follow them.

15. seek to be hidden- that the people may

Matthew 17:8

^… they saw no one but Jesus only.

We ought always to bear in this mind. The people have not come to see or hear you. They have come to see and hear Jesus. Out task, with the help of the Spirit, is to draw aside the veil, that every eye may see the Lord and worship before Him. This should be the ultimate aim of every servant of Christ who leads a worship service.

VI. WORSHIP

A. Blessing God

Psalm 103:1

 ¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name!

It is awesome to consider that the we have the ability to  bless our Creator, but time after time In the Scripture, we are exhorted to do just that. We bless Him through our praise and worship of Him.

Psalm 34:1-3

 ¹ I will bless the LORD at all times;
   his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
   let the humble hear and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
   and let us exalt his name together!

B. Praise

Praise is an expression of admiration of appreciation. When we praise someone, we tell them who wonderful we think they are or how great their accomplishments are. It is the same with the Lord. Praise has to do with acknowledging God’s character and power.

Psalm 63:3-4

³ Because your steadfast love is better than life,
   my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live;
   in your name I will lift up my hands.

C. Worship

Whereas praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation, worship is an expression of love and adoration. It is possible to admire someone and appreciate what they do without being in love with them. In the same way, worship has to do with our love of the Lord. It can be expressed only with the giving our whole heart and life to Him.

Mark 12:33

³³ And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

The religious rituals and ceremonies of Israel in the Old Testament became detestable to God because their heart was from Him.

Isaiah 1:10-15

 ¹⁰ Hear the word of the LORD,
   you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching^[a] of our God,
   you people of Gomorrah!
¹¹ “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
   says the LORD;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
   and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
   or of lambs, or of goats.

 ¹² “When you come to appear before me,
   who has required of you
   this trampling of my courts?
¹³ Bring no more vain offerings;
   incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
   I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
¹⁴ Your new moons and your appointed feasts
   my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
   I am weary of bearing them.
¹⁵ When you spread out your hands,
   I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
   I will not listen;
   your hands are full of blood.

Isaiah 29:13

 ¹³ And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
   and honor me with their lips,
   while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

Today, also, God is only interest, in the genuine and sincere worship that comes from the heart.

John 4:23-24

²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

            1. In Spirit

            Our spirit is called the “inner man”

Ephesians 3:16

¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be

 strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

true worship takes place when the inner man, in response to the promptings  of God’s Spirit, expresses love and adoration to God. This can take the form  of  spoken words, a love-song to the Lord or silent adoration. True worship requires the action of the Holy Spirit on our spirit. So, only those who have been  “born again of the Spirit” through faith in Jesus Christ can truly worship God.

John 3:5-6

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.^[a]

            Jesus is also saying that only God’s Spirit within us can enable us to

worship righteously. Only He, working faith in our hearts, can make a genuine

worshipers,   those   who praise God in spirit. God looks for those who thus praise Him, 

not with outward expression only, but form a heart filled with faith and love.

            2. In Truth

            To worship God in truth is to worship Him as the Bible says we should. To know 

God and praise Him as He ‘has made Himself known”. True worship is

Always  based on Hid Word, His self-disclosure. Supremely, to worship the Father “in 

truth” is to worship Him as He has made Himself known in Christ. Jesus not only    said

that He came to bear witness to the truth and that His words were the truth.  He also

affirmed “I AM THE TRUTH.” Jesus is God’s last word, His full self- disclosure- all we

know of God and all we need to know.

            To worship in truth then is to worship God as our Father, coming to Him

with  confidence, reverence affection and joy, because we have seen His wonderful   

Fatherly love and goodness to us in Jesus Christ.

            If we are to worship in Spirit and in truth, we must believe in Jesus and be 

listeners of His Word. We must be filled by and yielded to the Holy Spirit within  

 us. We must shape all our responses to Him by His revealed character and   

especially by the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Christ.