Worshiping in Spirit & In Truth

Text: John 4:23-24 ---- Original Idea - David J. Riggs

Intro:

1. To better understand the importance of our text, we would do well to consider the occasion which prompted the Lord to make this declaration.
1. As Jesus was traveling to Galilee, He stopped on His way at the well of Jacob in Samaria to rest and quench His thirst.
2. There He met the Samaritan woman, and in the conversation that followed, Christ made this comprehensive statement as to what constitutes acceptable worship.
2. According to Christ, Acceptable Worship requires:

Body:

1. THE RIGHT OBJECT ---- GOD
1. The ONLY object of acceptable worship is and always has been ---- GOD.
1. God commanded the Jews to worship Him and Him alone and told them the reason why ---- Exodus 20:3-5
2. Jesus taught this identical principle ---- Matthew 4:10
3. Not even the angels of heaven are to be worshiped -- Revelation 19:10
4. Men are not to be worshiped -- Acts 10:25-26



2. But men, in ignorance and ingratitude, have made unto themselves other objects of worship.
1. Consider the case of the Gentiles of old. ---- Romans 1:21-25
1. They changed the glory of God into an image.
2. They were even foolish enough to worship an UNKNOWN God -- Acts 17:22-31
2. The Jews adopted the idolatrous practices of the heathens -- i.e. Golden Calf {Ex. 32:4}
3. During and before Paul's time, men worshiped mythological beings -- Acts 19:24-28.
4. Some wanted to direct their worship to other mortals.
1. Nations worshiped Kings and Leaders as gods -- i.e. Domitian etc.
2. The people of Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas ---- Acts 14:8-18.
3. Cornelius fell at the feet of Peter ---- Acts 10:25-26
3. Misdirected worship is still prevalent in the world today.
1. Many still worship beasts and idols -- Eastern Religions and "Disney's Mulan"
2. Millions worship mortals ---- Catholic's Mary and Saints etc ---- Kings, Pope.
1. All the titles of the Pope rightfully belong to God alone -- 2 Thess. 2:3-4.
3. Many worship other things, such as:
1. Money -- Col. 3:5
2. Sun, Moon, Stars.
3. Angels -- Revelation. 19:10.
4. God will punish those men who refuse to worship Him and Him alone.
1. He placed the penalty of death upon the Jews if they worshiped other gods -- Deut. 17:2-5
2. Death is the only fate of those today who refuse to have God in their knowledge and turn and serve other gods ---- Romans 1:32; 2 Thess. 1:7-8; Rev. 21:8

1. THE RIGHT DISPOSITION ---- "In Spirit"

1. The phrase "in Spirit" means that worship to God must come from the heart.
1. Throughout the N.T. , we find that emphasis is placed on the "heart" in religion -- 2 Cor. 3;3
1. We are to believe from the heart that Jesus is Lord and that He was raised from the dead -- Rom. 10:10
2. We are to obey the gospel from the heart in baptism -- Romans 6:17
3. Religion is vain if it is not from the heart -- Matthew 15:8
2. Worship, that does not originate from the heart, becomes a "tool" by which the hypocrite exalts himself.
1. He gives only to have glory of men -- Matthew 6:2
2. He prays to be seen of men -- Matthew 6:5; Matthew 23:5
3. The lack of the proper spirit in the Corinthians caused Paul to condemn their actions -- 1 Cor. 11;20-34
4. There is the present danger of ritualism and formality in our worship to God today.
1. We must maintain proper reverence, proper attitude, and a proper state of mind when we worship.
2. Many times we may emphasize an elaborate act rather than the proper attitude.
1. Example: Maybe we have a professional in the congregation and we think that he should be the one participating in the service.
2. Denominations have included a choir to sing, a priest to pray and have hired a pastor to preach and do the visiting.
3. We need to learn from the prophet Amos. ---- Amos 5:21-24.



2. There is the ever present danger of ritualism. Our society today emphasizes the act rather than the attitude.
1. Worship has been reduced to mere form and ritualism
1. Men have placed on themselves - elegant robes and jewelry and put on a big show.
2. The individual becomes nothing more than a spectator.
3. The preacher is called to refute the error rather than the member doing the work himself etc.
1. The problem becomes "sitting on the promises rather than standing on the promises."
3. Christians we need to become more aware of the danger of just becoming mere machines/mechanical -- just going thru the motives.
4. All the truth in the world would not justify us if our hearts are not right with God ---- 1 John 3:20-21
1. This is illustrated in 1 Cor. 11:27ff. As we partake of the Lord's Supper.



1. THE RIGHT AUTHORITY ---- "In Truth"
1. The truth is the ONLY authority by which we can worship God acceptably.
1. The truth is the Word of God -- John 17:17
2. Our authority today is the N.T. rather than the O.T. -- Col. 2;14 ; 1 Tim 2:15
3. Christ has been given "all authority" ---- Matthew 28:18 and He has revealed all truth to regulate our worship and service to God -- John 16:13; 2 Peter 1;3.
1. There are all types of false worship mentioned in the Scriptures:
1. Vain worship -- Matthew 15:7-9
2. Ignorant worship -- Acts 17:22-27
3. Self Imposed worship -- Col. 2:23
2. The word of truth as set forth in the N.T. authorizes four items of worship, {five if we include teaching as worship. Maybe we should classify this as a work.} -- Acts 20:7
1. The Lord's Supper -- is to be observed every first day of the week in memory of the Lord's death -- Matthew 26 ; 1 Cor. 1123-27 ; Acts 20;7
2. We are to give of our means as we have materially prospered -- 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ; 2 Cor. 9:7-14 ; Matthew 6:2-4
3. Prayers are to be offered in praise and thanksgiving to God -- Phil. 4:6; Acts 2:42 ---- In the church 1 Cor. 14:15
4. We are to glorify God in singing -- Col. 3:16; Eph. 5;19 ; James 5:3 ; Hebrews 2;12.

1. Today many sincere people try to worship God without the right authority.
1. Instrumental music is common in the religions of men, but where is it taught in the N.T.?
2. Begging, gambling /Bingo etc, and selling are common means of churches raising funds for the church ---- Once again where is the authority for this?
3. Counting beads or praying to or through saints are not authorized in the scriptures, yet millions of people do this everyday.
2. All the sincerity in the world will not justify one act in religion unless truth is present.
1. Notice the captive conjunction in this verse "and". When a certain thing is stated for a condition and joined to another by the conjunction, it makes both of the things equally necessary for the condition to be met -- cf. Acts 2;38; Mark 16:16.
2. Sincerity did not justify misguided Jews in the O.T. nor in the N.T.

1. Note Paul -- Acts 23:1 ; 24;16 ; 26:9
2. Unbelieving Jews -- Romans 10:1-3
1. It did not justify the heathens either!
1. Cornelius ---- Acts 10
2. Athenians -- Acts 17:24-31
3. Ignorance did not justify.
2. Sincerity will not justify those without the truth today.
1. If so, the biggest favor we can do the ignorant is to leave them alone.
2. But we are commanded to deliver the truth to them -- Matthew 28:19-20.

Conclusion:

1. Men have many different ideas about what constitutes acceptable worship.
1. But in this lesson we have seen what God requires.
2. Worship must be directed to God
3. Worship must be in Spirit.
4. And worship must be in truth.
2. If we worship God without either of these then our worship is in vain.
3. However if we worship without the proper attitude we still miss the boat.
4. Let us strive to be true worshipers of God.

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING

JOHN 4:23-24

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

KEY NUMBER ONE ---- THE RIGHT OBJECT

"GOD"

KEY NUMBER TWO ---- THE RIGHT DISPOSITION

"IN SPIRIT"

KEY NUMBER THREE ---- THE RIGHT AUTHORITY

"IN TRUTH"