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 4:23-24 (NKJV)
In this verse, Jesus reveals the kinds of worshipers God was seeking nearly two thousand years ago; true worshipers who worshiped Him in spirit and truth. God was seeking such people to worship then and He is still seeking them today.
Right now, as a 21st Century Christian, you too should be worshiping God in spirit and truth. But before you can do that, you will need to understand what it means to worship God in this way.
What It Means to Worship in Spirit and Truth
Worshiping God doesn’t just mean singing songs to God or about God. It means living a life that glorifies God, in everything, from looking after your children to leading your employees at work. Whether it is grand or small, mundane or spectacular, you can glorify and worship God, in everything.
Worshiping in Spirit
Worshiping God in spirit means living a life led by His Holy Spirit. It also means reading God’s Word, where that Spirit is alive. As you read the Bible, God’s Spirit will speak to your heart and begin guiding your life.
Worshiping in Truth
In Psalm 51:6 it says:
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts…
Where does God desire truth? In the inward part. That is in the inner man, in the heart. This is the place that God wants us to be honest and truthful. This is also the place that God desires us to worship Him from. Therefore, worshiping God in truth means that you worship Him from your heart. Not just your actions.
Worshiping God in truth also means that you do so honestly. Not pretending to worship Him in one room and then practicing wickedness in the other or leading a dishonest life.
So, overall, what does it mean to worship God in spirit and truth? It means serving God from your heart and living a truthful, Spirit-led life that glorifies God. These are the true worshipers that God is seeking. But the question is are you doing that?
Are You Worshiping God in Spirit and Truth?
Are you worshiping God in spirit and truth? Deeply, honestly and from the heart? Or is your worship shallow and based more on what you do? Do you focus on worshiping God by attending numerous church services? Or by donating to charities?
None of these things are bad things to do. But if you are relying on these actions to act as worship you have missed something. Your worship of God must be genuine and it must come from the heart. Not from your actions alone. Your worship must also be done in every area of your life.
You can’t just focus on worshiping God by going to church and doing “good” things. You also have to glorify Him in your home and in your work place. Worship God in what you say and do every single day. This is how you worship in spirit and truth.
It is so important to do this because God recognises those who worship Him in this way.
God Recognises Those Who Worship in Spirit and Truth
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV)
It’s interesting to note that the people rejected by Jesus in this verse had been doing godly things. They were casting out demons and prophesying, yet Jesus rejected them as people He did not know. In fact, He accused them of practicing lawlessness.
This shows that it doesn’t matter whether you’ve been helping at every church event or even leading worship band for years. For as long as you are not doing the will of God in your heart, it counts for nothing. If your acts of worship are not done in spirit and truth, you are wasting your time in false worship.
But now is not the time to dally in falsehood. Now is the time to be serious and truthful in your worship because Jesus is coming.
Will Jesus Recognise You When He Returns?
From the time that Jesus left the earth, the day of His return has only drawn closer. Right now, we are years, days, months and hours closer to the day He comes back. But are you prepared?
When He returns will He recognise you as a true worshiper and faithful servant? Or will you be exposed as a fraud? Will you be accused of being someone who did not worship Him in spirit and truth but practiced lawlessness?
If these questions are striking a chord then, now is the time to change whilst there is still time.
You Still Have Time to Change
Whilst there is still breath in your lungs, you still have time to change. But you don’t have time to delay. Starting today you can make the decision to start worshiping God in the right way.
God is looking for the true worshipers. You can become that kind of worshiper now.
This hour, you can choose to stop with the lies, the pretending and the charades. This minute, you can decide to stop with your false and shallow worship. Right now, you can start worshiping God in a deeper and more honest way. You can start worshiping God from your heart, in spirit and in truth as He desires.
It’s as simple as deciding to take His word seriously, being truthful about seeking Him and being led by His Spirit. But it’s up to you to take that step. Will you?
The choice is yours.
