3 Attributes of True Worshippers
One of our goals is to raise up true worshipers and to foster an environment where people can meet with God and have encounters with Him on Tuesday nights. This month we’ve been talking about being true worshipers and what they look like. What does it mean to be a true worshiper? Last Tuesday, Brea taught on three aspects of true worshipers. True worshipers worship inspirit and in truth. True worshipers offer a sacrifice of worship. True worshipers fear the Lord.
True worshipers worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:20 – 24, “Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
In verse 22 the Greek word used for “know” is “eidō.” This means to “perceive with the eyes.” This kind of “know” that Jesus is referring to is a flesh-level know. We can know a lot of things but that doesn’t mean that we necessarily know them in our hearts. Jesus is saying that neither the Jews or Samaritans worship from a point of relationship. Even though the Jews know who they’re worshiping, there still isn’t intimacy. That’s why Jesus needed to come to pay the sacrifice for us - to give us access and intimacy with the Father.
At this time, God’s people didn’t have the Holy Spirit. Our access to God’s presence was limited. We were separated because God couldn’t be around sin. The only person who had full access to God was the high priest, however, if he walked into the Holy of Holies unclean, he would die. When Jesus died, He became the high priest because He had lived a blameless life on earth. He gave us access to the Father. Therefore, today, we no longer have to give burnt offerings or animal sacrifices to atone for our sins. Jesus paid the price in full for all of our sin. So now we can come to God at any time, anyplace and encounter His presence!
So, what is God looking for in a worshiper? John 4:24 says “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Emmanuel has taught us that we are a spirit, we have a soul and we live in a physical body. God is looking for our spirit to be engaged in worship. If we just worship in this physical realm, we are just singing. To truly worship, we must enter into the spirit realm and get our spirit engaged. A practical way we can do this is through thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” When we begin thanking Him, even if it’s simple things, our spirit gets postured to praise and worship him. If you have a hard time entering into worship, start by giving God thanks. You will see how easy it is to enter in when your heart is full of thanksgiving.
We worship God inspirit and we can also worship God in truth. The word “true” means “the opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended.” Worship is a lot about motives. Someone can look like a great worshiper but only God knows the heart that they’re bringing Him. Especially in modern day worship, there’s so much emphasis on feeling. We don’t worship God because we don’t feel like it. Is God’s word true? Yes! Well, God commands us to worship: “his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” We worship God not only because he commands it, but also he deserves it. He is truth and His word is true, so we can come before Him and know that He is faithful to meet us with His presence. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Every Christian has the capability to worship God in Spirit and in truth!
True worshipers offer him a sacrifice of worship.
If we look at Genesis 22, we see the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, had Isaac when she was very old. Isaac was a fulfillment of a covenant God had promised him. The very thing that God blessed Abraham with was a son and He was asking him to sacrifice him. What did he do? He obeyed. He got up early the next morning and went to do what God had told him.
What are we willing to sacrifice to God in worship? What are we willing to give the God who has given us everything? If you read the passage, you’ll see that God provided a sacrifice for Abraham instead of Isaac. Genesis 22:12 says “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” A lot of times, God’s just looking for the act of sacrifice. He wants to know that we’re willing to give him something that’s costly.
Are you withholding something from Him in your worship? I know for some people it’s hard to be expressive in worship. It’s hard to lay it all down before Jesus because it’s uncomfortable or awkward. For some, it’s hard to commit time to spend with him because of busyness. Whatever he is asking from you, let Revive be a place where you come and offer those things before him.
True worshipers fear God.
Fear of God is respect and reverence for Him. We must have reverence for the Lord. When we respect and fear the Lord, when we revere Him, He wants to come to us. He wants to come with his power and reveal Himself. Perhaps the most famous worshiper in the Bible is David. He wrote some of the Psalms and is known for his worship. Psalm 86:8 - 12: “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, Lord that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my god, with all my heart; I will glory your name forever.”
Why should we fear God? Because there is no one like him. He deserves all the glory. He does marvelous deeds. He is faithful. He is God alone! I love when David says “give me an undivided heart.” The fear of God is a heart posture. It really comes back to the heart because what you value is what you fear. What we value in our hearts will come out in our actions.
What happens when we worship with the fear of God? Psalm85:9 says “Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.” The fear of God makes place for his glory to dwell. What happens when we worship with the fear of God? We in turn get the reward of his presence and the reward of his glory. The word “dwell” means to inhabit or abide. Do you think God is going to come dwell somewhere He is not revered - where he’s not respected and honored?
Revive is a fun place. We love creating a place for community and fun. However, when we come in on Tuesday nights and enter into worship, there is a shift. We are shifting our attention solely on God and saying “God, come and let your glory dwell here.” Be willing and open to becoming a true worshiper because the reward of God’s glory is going to bring life transformation. It’s going to bring revival to the young adults in our city and we believe He’s going to start it at Revive!
