Worship Now John 4:19-26
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: From our earliest days we are goal-oriented. An early refrain of children on a trip is, “Are we there yet?” As children age, the question moves to, “Where are we going?” Clearly, the end matters! Those who are called by Jesus claim that the end to where they are heading is worship. The book of Revelation chapter 4 showcases heaven’s throne room and how Twenty-four elders give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne. This is worship, this is what will happen in heaven. So, do you call yourself a christian and claim your final destination as heaven. Then get ready to worship.
Who here knows what the Westminster shorter catechism is? Well it is a list of questions and answers for the Catholic faith to present their doctrine and theology. Anyway: Question number one states - What is the chief end of man? Or in other words what is the one main reason for man to exist? Is it to obtain great wealth, do a lot of good things or spread the good news of Christ Jesus? I’ll let that question sit in your mind as we go through this morning message.
This is a part of the dialogue between a Samaritan woman and Jesus that John recorded in His gospel.
John 4:19–26 (NASB95)
19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
20 “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
22 “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
So this morning we are going to look at:
What is Worship?
What is True Worship?
Why Do We Worship?
Transitional sentence: We must worship in Spirit and Truth because God wants people who will truly worship Him and not just put on a show.
What is Worship?
a. Worship is: “The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. In other words worship is the expression of love from within our hearts to our God and Father.
If you don’t really feel any love for God you wont express any love for God through what you do.
b. Worship is: “To show reverence and adoration for a deity through religious rites.” Some examples: A worship Service - Just like this!!
Communion, Baptism, Giving tithes and offerings, Circumcision, Ceremonial washing, Prayers, Sacrifice, Funerals, Weddings, Burning Incense or Candles, Anointing with oil, Confession… Anyone think of something else?
c. Seven ways to worship through praise from the book Holy Roar:
The hands of praise - Yadah - to worship with extended hands (Psalm 67:3)
The fools of praise - Halal - to rave, celebrate foolishly (Psalm 149:3)
The music of praise - Zamar - to celebrate in song and music (Psalm 149:9)
The expectation of praise - Towdah - thanksgiving for things not yet received (Psalm 56:11-12)
The posture of praise - Barak - to kneel, to bless God (Psalm 134)
The songs of praise - Tehillah - a spontaneous new song (Psalm 22:3)
The shout of praise - Shabach - to shout glory and triumph (Psalm 145:4)
2. What is true worship?
a. Not place or person oriented: John 4:20-21
John 4:20–21 (NASB95)
20 “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
When Jesus was beginning to spread the good news of the kingdom of God He spoke to a Samaritan woman beside a well near the town of Sychar in Samaria. At that time the primary place for Jews to worship was in Jerusalem at the Temple. That was the only place for them, but the Samaritans worshiped God on Mount Garizim there in Samaria. Worship at that time was only proper when it was performed at the appropriate location.
The proper sacrifices and rituals could only be performed by a priest. they were there to intercede on behalf of the people. Worship was both place and people oriented. However, Jesus changed all of that. He proclaim God’s desire that we worship Him through Christ Jesus. Not by way of rituals but in spirit and truth.
So, what does it mean for us to worship Him -
b. In Spirit and Truth: John 4:23
John 4:23 (NASB95)
23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
In other words, God wants us to worship Him in our hearts. We aren’t required to worship Him in a temple or on a certain mountain. We should worship Him every where and at all times. Our worship should be one of reverence and adoration springing up from the well of love that we have because of what He did for us and what He does for us each and every day.
Our worship should also be in truth. We shouldn’t be going through the motions of worship and not have the reverence and adoration for Him in our hearts. Remember that list of rituals I gave you? Well we can do those things and not even care about who or why we are doing them. Communion can just be a thing to do once a month. No meaning, no emotion, just stick the wafer in your mouth and slurp down the little bit of juice and call it good. We should do these things because we love the Father and want to draw closer to Him through these things.
c. Christ Centered: Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1–2 (NASB95)
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Your spiritual service of worship. This is a living sacrifice. Before Christ Jesus the sacrifice had to die. Now it can live and breath and worship God. Not just once in a while but all the time. If this is a living sacrifice than everything it does should be done for the glory of God. If it is doing something that might displease the Lord - well stop.
And then there is the renewing of the mind. Change it. Change the way you think, change the things you think about. Let the Holy Spirit living in you destroy all the thoughts that could lead you into sin. It takes time and sometimes it can create pain because of the things we have in our heads. But the old sinful you has to be swept away so that the new Jesus suit will fit properly.
3. Why do we worship?
a. Gratitude: Psalm 50:23
23 “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Gratitude and thanksgiving are one in the same: they are a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
These two verses show that gratitude or thanksgiving is the sacrifice that God is really looking for in those who call upon His name. He doesn’t want animal sacrifices or ritualistic actions. He wants true and heart felt gratitude from us letting Him know that we understand exactly what He has done for us and how much we appreciate what He has done.
The great thing about having that gratitude for what He has done is shown in these two verses: in one, the Psalm we will see the salvation of the Lord. If you have seen that you will worship Him all the more. And the other bringing our thanksgiving to God through prayer will relieve us of our anxiousness in all things. We will know that God has worked in our lives before and He will again.
b. Love: Matthew 22:37-39
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
“This is the great and foremost commandment.
“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
You shall love the Lord your God. He poured out His love upon you and you should with everything that is in you love Him. You can show that love in many ways but the best way is to love your neighbor as yourself. Its hard enough to love God with all that we have in us, let alone our neighbor. But the love that He provides to us never runs out. When we give it away He simply gives us more - that’s the mixed up economy of the kingdom of God.
c. To Prepare for Heaven:
Here is a quote the book Worship: The Reason We Were Created. by A.W. Tozer an Alliance Pastor from the mid 1900’s - “I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for Heaven.”
So, what does worship have to do with preparing for heaven? Do you remember what I said was happening in heaven in chapter four of the book of Revelation? The twenty-four elders were sitting before the throne worshipping the one who sits on the throne. This is the point of heaven - those whose name is in the book of life will be with God in heaven for eternity after this time we spend here on earth.
So, let’s go back to that question I left pinned in the air. The Westminster shorter catechism question number one states - What is the chief end of man? The answer is: The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. To glorify God is to Praise and Worship Him. According to this answer those who call themselves Christians are going to do it forever.
Exit: So, the Lord desires hearts that authentically worship Him. Whether it be in song, conversation, prayer, art or our day to day work; worship is an expression of gratitude, thankfulness, and love towards God our Father. He is seeking people who worship Him with sincerity and authenticity, and in order to do so, our hearts must be surrendered completely to Him. We are called to fear the Lord, serve Him and hold fast to His promises and truth. Everything we do should flow out of an abundance of praise and worship to the Lord. Let us surrender together, in humble submission to the Lord Jesus and worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Are you bored and turned off by worship? If you know where you are going and you are, you might want to work on your worship skills. Surrender your heart to Him, let Him fill you with love and gratitude that you give back to Him. Practice your worship skills everyday this week and come back next week ready to get your worship on. Because who are we to not worship Him.
Pray!!!