Worship In Spirit

Sermon Notes: Worship In Spirit Marion, OR 11/28/2018 Introduction: • Ever hear of Worship wars? What a ridiculous and tragic concept! ◦ Changing styles of worship—what was controversial is now traditional • Jesus was asked about worship by an unlikely inquisitor Joh 4:19  The woman *said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.  Joh 4:20  "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."  • What is the right manner of worship? Here or there, this way or that way? Joh 4:23  "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.  Joh 4:24  "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  • Lots of discussion about what is meant by spirit and truth in CG7 circles • Note that Jesus does not take a side in the worship war between Jews and Samaritans ◦ His point is that worship is not about external forms ▪ Here, or there ◦ but something inward that can find expression in a great number of ways ▪ Its about the Spirit of worship. • Just what is that Spirit? Prayer Body: • What is worship, and what is its spirit? ◦ There is a chorus that says, “I bring the sacrifice of praise” ▪ Praise is talking about what God has done—testimony, thanksgiving etc. • Worship is about loving God for who He is Deu 6:4  "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  Deu 6:5  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  ◦ Galen preached on this a while back ▪ Root words in Hebrew translated worship connect to bowing down or serving, offering a sacrifice ▪ Root words in Greek similarly mean to kiss and to serve or offer sacrifice Psa 95:6  Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.  • Does that mean that to worship we should be kneeling all the time? ◦ No, Jesus was not concerned about external forms, but the heart • Real worship isn’t bringing an offering, its becoming the offering ◦ Look at a story in the gospel of Luke for insight into worshipping in Spirit Luk 7:36  Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.  Luk 7:37  And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,  Luk 7:38  and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.  • Describe what reclined meant— ◦ on left side, using right hand to eat, feat extended behind away from the table ▪ Feet were readily accessible ▪ Open toed sandals on dusty roads meant washing feat was customary • Woman was a sinner— ◦ unnamed, not Mary Magdalene from whom Jesus cast demons ▪ Probably not Mary sister of Lazarus who anointed Jesus’ head ◦ Reputation was notorious; possibly a gentile and possibly a prostitute ▪ Kisses—expression of gratitude and love; reverence (heart) ▪ Tears—humble, sincere, repentance (soul) • An honest, candid sorrow for offending God and hurting others • Joy in being reconciled to Him in a new and living relationship ◦ How powerful is sincere repentance! Act 3:19  "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;  1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Jas 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. .. ▪ Hair—giving of her physical self (strength); • literal service to the body of Christ in spirit of humility ◦ The need to wash feet was real and customary ▪ Perfume—most precious possessions and substance (unlike rich man) • All that she is—heart, soul, strength, substance—nothing held back ◦ true worship is to make yourself the offering, the living sacrifice • Contrast this with the worship of the self-righteous: Luk 7:39  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."  Luk 7:40  And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."  Luk 7:41  "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Luk 7:42  "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?"  Luk 7:43  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."  Luk 7:44  Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  Luk 7:45  "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.  Luk 7:46  "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.  Luk 7:47  "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much [has demonstrated much love for me]; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."  Luk 7:48  Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven."  • Notice that this woman had anointed his feet with tears and perfume before Jesus pronounced her forgiveness specifically ◦ before His death on the cross • She is demonstrating great love for who He is—Son of God, Messiah, Savior ◦ And offering herself to Him as the sacrifice of worship from the heart • Imagine how churches would be transformed if we performed all of our acts of service as worship! ◦ Worship wars can only exist in cultures that are thinking about what I got out of the service today ▪ Instead of seeing their very life as the sacrifice offered in worship Conclusion: Joh 4:23  "… for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  • In which spirit do you worship? The spirit of the prostitute, or the pharisee? ◦ The Pharisee wanted to be in the vicinity of Jesus, but not call Him Lord ▪ He wanted to hear what Jesus had to say, but not give himself to Him ◦ Why? The Pharisee thought himself a good man— ▪ far too good to weep tears of sorrow at the feet of Jesus • The Spirit of worship God seeks is from the heart, in sincerity and humility ◦ Not just because He died to pay for your sins, ▪ but because in dying for your sins He demonstrated a heart of love, ▪ because you have come to love Him for who He is, • you worship whether or not He ever does another thing for you • How do you begin to worship? ◦ Confessing honestly, humbly that you are not worthy to be His child ▪ But sincerely, forever thanking Him for adopting you anyway ▪ You enter His courts with praise—thinking, speaking of what He has done ◦ Then you offer yourself to Him ▪ Serving Him with all that you are – heart, soul, strength, substance • College Roommate—Little Drummer boy; now designs sets, runs projection teams • Worship is first and foremost internal, but can take many external forms—no wars! ◦ What does it mean to worship God in Spirit and Truth? Deu 6:4  "Hear, O Israel! [hear Marion Church of God!] The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  Deu 6:5  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  Psa 95:6  Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.  Little Drummer Boy I am a poor boy too, I have no gift to bring, That's fit to give the King, Shall I play for you, On my drum?  I played my drum for Him, I played my best for Him, Then He smiled at me, Me and my drum.