Worship in Spirit and Truth

As we all attend worship services around the world today, almost all of them will be different. Some services will feature a very traditional arrangement of hymns, readings, message, and invitation. Others will include contemporary music, various media, and topical messages. Possibly in Africa, the worship service may include dancing, Drums? Maybe. Organ? Maybe one of those as well.

The style, though, does not rank as the most important part of the service. In fact, if you attend a place simply for the style, then you choose the wrong emphasis. Instead, the heart of worship goes back to the words of Jesus. He said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

The Samaritan Woman Worshiped

The Samaritan woman worshiped. So also did the Jews. However, Jesus explained to her that neither of them had it right. He said to the woman,

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 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. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24)

The Samaritans were from Samaria and had chosen Mount Gerizim upon which to worship. Since they only accepted the Pentateuch as God’s Word, they chose the mountain that was closest to where Abraham built an alter to God at Shechem (Gen 12:6-7). In other words, the Samarians were almost charismatic in their worship; yet, they worshiped what they did not understand. They did not know God truly.

Whereas, the Jews did understand God. They accepted and learned from the entire Old Testament. As such, they knew what the Bible taught, or truth. Yet, they were not passionate about God. Their worship even in Jerusalem was subpar at best.

Worship in spirit and truth

Jesus emphasized to the Samaritan woman that the hour was coming when all worshipers would worship in spirit and truth. What does that mean? Jesus explained that after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, all those who were truly worshiping Him would do so in spirit and truth. Spirit in this sense refers to their heart or passion, Truth refers to the revelation of truth in the entire Bible.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that those who truly worship would do so with a heart full of passion which was directed by truth.

The biggest issue in your worship today does not relate to a particular style, type of song, or arrangement of the order of service.

What about you today?

How will you worship today? Will you go to church with a passionate heart driven by love for Jesus Christ? Will the love of Jesus Christ motivate you to worship and serve Jesus today? If so, your awareness of Jesus’ love for you in your worship will help drive your passion. You will worship in spirit.

What about in truth? As you go today, it is essential that you worship in full awareness of the truth of God’s Word. The Bible provides you all the truth you need for true worship. Read God’s Word. Listen to His Word exposited. Meditate on what you hear as it relates to the truth of the Bible. As you do these things, you will worship in truth.

Upon Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, the location of the worship no longer mattered (Mt Gerizim or Jerusalem). Instead, true worship flowed out of one’s spirit as it was influenced by truth. Today, we all have the same opportunity when you gather with your church family to worship in whatever location in which you meet to worship in spirit and truth.