%20(1).png)
Right in the middle of John 4, Jesus has is this conversation about worship, that changes everything!
What would you say worship is?
In the Bible, we see a LOT! first mention, Psalms, tabernacle, tent, temple, Jesus, Paul. Obedience. Sacrifice. It’s NOT slow songs, a song list or Sunday service (those can be expressions of worship). You can worship with music, actually!
“Worship is a constant consciousness of God, and a continuous response to that” Tom Inglis
“It is an attitude of heart, a reaching toward God, a pouring out of our total self in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, and love to God.” Judson Cornwall
You are Created to Worship! The world is full of worshippers and we are good at it. The question is not "Do you worship?" but "Who (or what) and how will you worship?"
Worth-ship = value. What you give worth to. Worship is about value, you will invest, honour, and adore. i.e. where we are not stingy. Follow the trail of money time energy and activities and they will lead to your thrones of worship and who sits on them…
It’s easy to misdirect worship. Hobbies and interests are fine, just don’t let them be lifted higher than Jesus. Your behavior reveals the focus of your worship
Worship has a great influence on who you become - Who and what we worship shapes us. You become like what you adore.
What would God think of your worship? Do you want to become a better worshipper? I do!
Jesus changed everything about worship!
John 4
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water. Then I will never be thirsty. And I won’t have to keep coming here to get water.”
16 He told her, “Go. Get your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands. And the man you live with now is not your husband. What you have just said is very true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our people have always worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 Jesus said, “Woman, believe me. A time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know. Salvation comes from the Jews. 23 But a new time is coming. In fact, it is already here. True worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth. They are the kind of worshipers the Father is looking for. 24 God is spirit. His worshipers must worship him in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah is coming.” Messiah means Christ. “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus said, “The one you’re talking about is the one speaking to you. I am he.”
I. JESUS REVEALS THE FATHER:
The revelation of God is the fuel for the fire of our worship. —Matt Redman
To see the Father, look at Jesus. Holy, compassionate. All-knowing. Wise. Just. Merciful. Good. His Attributes inspire worship. Your worship is tied to his revelation of how well you know God.
What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us…Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. AW Tozer
READ the stories about Jesus. Thinking about these attributes causes worship in hearts. The antidote for idolatry is to see the greatness of God.
II. JESUS RELOCATES THE SPIRIT
OT worship was at a distance in a location, a place. Solomon’s temple, David’s tent, or Moses’ tabernacle. Jesus changed everything on the cross. NT worship is about proximity. Relationship. Intimate. Person. Life. You are the temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Worship is always a NOW activity Judson Cornwall
Worship is in the temple, you are the temple, so you can worship anywhere, anytime.
In Jesus - you don’t need a worship leader or a worship team. The Spirit lives in you! In your own authentic, organic, spontaneous way, worship Him!
Worship flows from your Monday through Saturday into a Sunday. The power of the church is not what happens on a Sunday, but what happens in the week in the hearts and in the homes.
If you’re not worshiping God on Monday the way you did the day before, perhaps you’re not worshiping him at all. AW Tozer
RECOGNIZE you are the temple!
III. THE FATHER LOOKS FOR WORSHIPPERS
God is looking for worshippers, not worship.
Spirit: Worship is an attitude before it’s an action. Is there a heart under the hands? Is there spirit in your song? Is there prayer in your praise? (Jesus said some worship with lips but hearts are far from him!)
Truth: Real - authentic. Not pretense, not performance. Be yourself
Worship without heart is hollow
-Be REAL
Jesus reveals the Father (fuels worship) - READ
Jesus relocates the Spirit (freedom to worship) RECOGNISE
The Father looks for worshippers (attitude, authentic) REAL
Why is God looking for true worshippers …? Because where worshippers are is where heaven comes – that’s where God is enthroned!
Help us become better worshippers!
"He is our Creator, and the author of our being; we must kneel before the Lord our Maker. Idolaters kneel before gods which they themselves made; we kneel before a God who made us and all the world and who is therefore our rightful proprietor; for His we are, and not our own.” Mathew Henry
