Worship is a spiritual exercise that involves both spirit and truth according to Jesus, and you need both for acceptable worship to the Father. The word ‘truth’ in the Greek is ‘ALETHEIA’ and is from the same root as the word ‘true’ in the same verse, and means not hidden or concealed.
True Worshipers
“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.” (John 4:23)
The Message translation makes it very clear:
”But the time is coming — it has, in fact, come — when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.” (John 4:23 The Message)
God wants our worship to be sincere, based on a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and His word. Worship is the result of the Holy Spirit quickening God’s word in your spirit and mind. This is what Jesus was alluding to above. The Holy Spirit connects with your spirit and brings God’s word alive in you so you can respond with worship. For this reason, worship cannot be manufactured, it has to be a response based on a genuine relationship with God and His word. Worship is such a personal thing between you and God, removing all comparison and competition with others or judgment by them, for no man knows the condition of your heart. You should never feel any condemnation when you worship, even though you might not be in a good place at the time.
God loves it when you put Him first, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, and the Holy Spirit is always ready to help you. He will bring to remembrance God’s promises and His faithfulness as a loving Father toward you.
Taken from my book, THE MINISTRY OF THE PSALMIST.
