The Essence of Worship: Understanding the Spiritual Connection

Introduction

This morning, we continue our exploration of Christ’s interaction with the woman at Jacob’s well. In our previous discussion, we left off with Christ prompting the woman to bring her husband, despite knowing that she was not currently married but living with a man. He was aware that she had been married and remarried five times. His intention was not to condemn her, but to stir within her the thirst that only He could satisfy through His offer of “living water.” As expected, she admitted to not having a husband. Christ then revealed his knowledge of her past marriages and relationships, to which she responded by acknowledging Him as a prophet.‌

Last week, we learned from our conversation that the Lord Jesus Christ offers something that no other person can: living water. The water He provides is unlike anything people have ever experienced. It provides complete spiritual nourishment and refreshment, bringing satisfaction that never quits and never dries up. His living water will take away any need or desire to thirst again. It is the only unfailing source that brims with everlasting life.‌

It is here that we resume the conversation, as she tries to shift the focus from her spiritual state to a debate about worship.‌

Let’s read the text and we will get right into the message for today.

John 4:20–30 KJV 1900

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 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. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

Here is what God wants us to know and understand this morning!

Many people have a misconception of worship, believing that it involves strict rules and rituals in specific places. However, the truth is that God's idea of worship is focused on the spiritual connection with Him. This means that we can worship God anywhere, not just in a church building. The key is to worship Him in spirit and truth, with a genuine heart.‌

Let's start by examining man's concepts of worship, as observed by the Samaritan woman.‌

Man’s Misconstrued Idea of Worship

John 4:20 KJV 1900

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

In order to understand her views on worship, we need to delve into a bit of history. The Samaritans were a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles who lived in Samaria. After the Assyrians invaded the Northern tribes of Israel and took them captive, people from many different nations and backgrounds resettled in Samaria. The remaining remnant of Jews intermarried with these Gentiles, leading to the formation of Samaria and the Samaritans. This mingling of religions caused them to believe that Joshua built a sanctuary on Mount Gerizim, which was once the center of early Israelite worship, and that during the days of Eli, the High Priest, there were two sanctuaries and two priesthoods. This belief conflicted with the history of Israel found in the Old Testament, where the Philistines destroyed the Shiloh sanctuary, and Zerubbabel built a new temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans also built their own temple on Mount Gerizim, while Zerubbabel had already built the true Temple in Jerusalem. This is why the woman accurately says that her "fathers worshiped in this mountain," but God states that "Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."‌

Let me say that since the time of Adam's sin, people have sought to define their own ideas of worship. This quest began immediately after the great sin in the garden of Eden.‌

Genesis 3:6–7 KJV 1900

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Note man’s remedy to his own sin and shame was to take his own actions. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves to cover their nakedness.

Later, God did the following in contrast to their attempts.

Genesis 3:21 KJV 1900

21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Now, let's move ahead one generation. Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Abel. Most of you already know the story. God required a sacrifice as a means of worshiping Him.‌

Genesis 4:2–5 KJV 1900

2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Why did God not have respect for Cain’s offering? He did not have respect because Cain decided to worship Him in the way Cain thought He should be worshipped, and not according to God’s instructions. Thus, in his anger and selfish pride, Cain murdered his brother. The main issue here is that Cain wanted to worship God in the manner he thought was best, rather than the way in which God expected. As a result, God refused Cain’s sacrifice.‌

The entire Word of God is filled with accounts of those who chose to worship God in their own way instead of His way. From the tower of Babel to the nation of Israel and into the New Testament, people's ideas of how they think God should be worshipped have progressed and evolved. At the time of Christ, this evolution led to people worshipping a place, such as Jerusalem or Mt. Gerizim, instead of worshipping the God of that place. In addition, people replaced God's Word with their own set of rituals and regulations. The entire sect of the Pharisees was a manifestation of this. It was their own understanding of how they thought God should be worshipped.

What was Christ’s opinion of their form of worship?

Matthew 15:1–9 KJV 1900

1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 23:13–16 KJV 1900

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

You see man’s form of worship is described this way in 2 Timothy 3:5

2 Timothy 3:5 KJV 1900

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The form of worship practiced by man often imposes unnecessary restrictions.

‌This is still true today. Many people believe that to truly worship God, one must join a specific church, undergo a particular type of baptism, or perform rituals such as climbing 1000 steps to a church on their knees. However, none of these requirements are found in the Scriptures.

‌The legalistic rituals and regulations imposed by man's ideas of worship are in direct contrast to what God defines as true worship. This leads us to our next point.

‌Consider Christ's response to the woman as they sat by the well of Jacob.

God’s Clear Instruction for Worship

John 4:21–24 KJV 1900

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 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. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Christ graciously responds to her distraction and redirects everything back to Him. The primary point to note is that genuine worship always revolves around God and His character.

Worship Centered on God’s Nature

I call your attention to verses 23 and 24.

John 4:23–24 KJV 1900

23 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. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Everything about God and everything related to God is spiritual. God is a Spirit, and therefore, we must worship in spirit and truth. We will come back to the last part of that statement in a few moments. However, for now, what I want you to see is this simple fact: You must worship God on His terms. Worship of God is from God, of God, and for God. You cannot get away from this thought as you study Scripture. The more you learn about God, the more you realize that God is so much greater than us. We cannot on our own understand or know God or His nature.

I believe 1 Corinthians 2 sums this up pretty well.

1 Corinthians 2:11 KJV 1900

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV 1900

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The significance of true worship lies in knowing the God of the Universe, which begins with accepting His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Once this acceptance occurs, God imparts His Spirit, allowing understanding of His ways. I encountered this idea while studying commentaries for my message. Chapters 3 and 4 of the Bible depict personal encounters between Christ and two very different individuals. Chapter 3 details Christ's conversation with Nicodemus, a prominent teacher of Israel, while chapter 4 presents Christ's discussion with a humble Samaritan woman. Throughout these chapters, Christ emphasizes the necessity of certain actions by using the word "must" three times, right from His conversation with Nicodemus.

John 3:7 (KJV 1900)

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Later, in that same conversation, Christ said...

John 3:14 (KJV 1900)

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

And now, in His conversation with the woman, Christ says...

John 4:24 (KJV 1900)

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

If you think about these three “musts,” we see a pattern that emerges. A pattern the Holy Spirit gives us emphasizing the fact that God can only be worshipped in the manner He has prescribed. "Ye must be born again" references the work of the Holy Spirit. It is His work that brings about the act of spiritual resurrection within a person as they choose to believe in Christ. The second “must” speaks to God the Son. It is Christ, God’s Son, who came and died being lifted up between Heaven and earth. His death provided the atonement necessary for us to have a relationship with God. Then, the third “must” is directed towards God the Father. He is the object of our worship. It is God the Father who seeks those who will worship Him. Now, note again the order. Only those who are regenerated (made spiritually alive) by the Holy Spirit and have received justification through Christ’s atonement can worship God the Father.

There is no other way! Any attempts to worship God without taking these necessary and required steps laid out by God is false worship.

Here is another thought about true worship as God instructs.

Worship that is Not Confined

John 4:21 KJV 1900

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Christ established a new order of worship through his statement and actions at Calvary. It was no longer a question of where to worship Him. In the Old Testament, the Temple was the focal point of worship, but with Christ, everything changed. His death and resurrection also brought about something important that is often overlooked.

Matthew 27:50–51 KJV 1900

50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Did you see it? At the moment of Christ’s death, the temple veil was torn into two pieces from the top to the bottom. Why is this important? At that moment, a new order of worship was instituted by God. Worship at the Temple was no longer required. There was no longer a need for a human high priest. Instead, Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice and atoned for man’s sin. In that same moment, Christ became the only High Priest needed for all, both Jew and Gentile.

Hebrews 2:9 KJV 1900

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For this reason...

Hebrews 4:14–15 KJV 1900

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Consequently, the question of worshipping God is not about where, but how. A worshipper at the Temple of Jerusalem who worships there today is not a true worshipper simply because he is at the Temple. In the same vein, a worshipper at Gerizim is not a true worshipper either. They are only true worshippers if they worship God in truth and in spirit.

Folks, may I say to you this morning that you can attend this church and say you worship God; however, if you do not worship Him as He has instructed (in spirit and in truth), you are not a true worshipper of God. It matters not how beautifully you might sing the hymns while here, how much you place in the offering plate, or even how eloquently you pray when called upon. None of those things are worth a penny before God if you do not worship Him in spirit and in truth.

So what then does it mean to worship God in spirit and truth? God’s form of worship is...

Worship that Requires...

Spiritual Rebirth

John 4:22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is...

John 4:25–26 KJV 1900

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

To Nicodemus, Christ said...

John 3:14–16 KJV 1900

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Worshiping God means you worship Him in Spirit, for He is a Spirit. Thus, only those who are spiritually resurrected are able to worship God. Spiritual life comes only through Jesus Christ. You must believe in Him. That is the first requirement of a true worshipper.

Spiritual Truth

Secondly, you must worship God not only in spirit, but also in truth. This doesn't mean there are two different ways of worshiping Him. They are simply two sides of the same coin. Worshiping God spiritually means you are not worshiping Him according to the flesh, which is always related to man's way of doing things. On the other hand, worshiping God in truth means you are worshiping Him according to the Truth of His Word. Ultimately, worshiping according to the truth of God's Word means abandoning worship on your own terms or any ideas that men might have.

The sad reality is that what most churches preach and teach as worship is nothing like what we find in God's Word. Much of today's contemporary worship in churches as well as believers' personal lives is fleshly rather than spiritual. It's external rather than internal, and it's for show rather than for God.

It's important to remember that God is not looking for a show; He's looking for genuineness. He desires worshippers who worship from their hearts, with lives that reflect their redemption.

Conclusion

What was the end result of all this talk about worship with this woman by Jacob’s well?

John 4:25 KJV 1900

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Finally, after much patience and endurance, the work of salvation was realized. Everything was finished, and she was now ready to open her heart to Him. There were no more doubts, distractions, or procrastination. She had asked "How?," "Where?," and "From where?", and with each question, Christ graciously offered His answers.

John 4:26 KJV 1900

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

In that moment, a sinner and the Savior came face to face. Everything was settled. Everything was forgiven. She received the “living water,” and her life was transformed. How do we know?

John 4:28–29 KJV 1900

28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

When someone's heart is changed by their faith in God's Son, they are compelled to share His saving grace with others.