Jump Start # 1134

John 4:23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”

  Something very odd happened to me yesterday. I can’t remember the last time it happened. The way our schedules fell, I was not teaching and I did not preach. There have been occasions when we have invited speakers and I do not preach, but on those days I’m busy making sure everyone is on the same page and everything is ready to go. Not yesterday. Zack was preaching and he knows what to do. I just sat. I felt like I was supposed to do something, but there was nothing to do. Everyone was focused and had things running smoothly. I felt like my shoes were on the wrong feet. Surely they needed my input in the sound booth. No. Maybe the deacon who makes sure everyone scheduled is in their spot. Nope, didn’t need me there. In fact, something very special happened. I really focused upon the songs we sang. They were great. Zack’s lesson was awesome. The thoughts at the Lord’s Supper were great. I realized that I really worshipped and didn’t worry about my sermon, what I was to do, say, be and all those things. Those things can and have gotten in the way.

I found that worship fills the heart unlike any thing else. I had gone to a movie the day before. The crowd, the movie, the atmosphere did not touch me, nor help me like worship did. There is nothing like worship. It’s personal, it’s filling, it’s eye opening and one leaves realizing what an amazing God that loves us. Sitting in that audience was a daughter whose dad will soon pass from this world. Another person is just beginning his journey with cancer. There were two different people with arms in slings. Banged up on the inside and out. Young couples. New mothers. Teenagers. Senior citizens walking with the aid of canes and walkers. All of these people gathered yesterday. They came to be near God. They came to praise God. They know that God is worthy. They realized that God is good. They understand that God is upon the throne. Hurting hearts that gather to bow their heads and their wills to the Almighty. Many have tears and heartache, yet they know God is the one we need to seek.

What a special sight that is, each week. Each of us carrying our own story, our own struggles, our own pain, our own past gather because each of us realize that no one can help us like God can. What a fellowship, not of perfect people living perfect lives, but more like Rudolph’s island of misfit toys. Do you remember that scene from Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer? The choo-choo with square wheels. The squirt gun that shot jelly. The bird that swam instead of flying. All wrong. All “misfits.” All unwanted. Not the dream toys that children wanted. I see that in worship. Family after family has struggles and issues and “misfits”. Yet, we believe in God. We know, misfit as we are, God loves us, wants us and can use us.

Worship has a wonderful way of helping us look past our problems and seeing the God that loves us. Worship has a way of getting our order in order and reminding us that we truly are no different than others. Status means nothing in worship. The guy in a very nice suit, the guy in the fancy shoes and the guy in blue jeans all come to empty their heart before the throne of God. They are the same before that throne. The busy businessman and the guy looking for a job—different needs, different thoughts, yet the same when they bow before God. The young mother with all those kids and the young couple who cannot have children—so different in their needs, yet the same as they bow before God. The polished preacher who knows the Bible so well and the person who knows so little about the Bible—very different, yet the same before God. The elder, who is such a powerful example of what we should be, and the person who battles addiction and is confused and a mess—very different, but the same before God.

Worship has a way of cleansing us on the inside out. It does us good to go and see the Holy God. Worship inspires us and challenges us to fight for the beloved kingdom of God. I’ve seen folks enter worship with a serious look upon their faces and leave with smiles. It’s been good to sit among friends and to know that these people pray for you, love you and support you. It’s good to know that these people want you to do your best with God. They want you to walk with the Lord and to hold His hand. Worship kills competition and rivalry. We are in it together, praying for our dear church family and offering help to one another.

And what I’ve found this morning, is that when worship has been from the heart, it affects your Monday. You do not soon forget what happened on Sunday. It helps getting through this day and looking forward to the next time we can be together.

My thanks to those who put their heart into the leading of worship. My thanks to our Lord who wants us to worship Him. He seeks those who are interested in Him. He wants us to worship Him the way He describes. He is interested in our hearts and not a production. Drop the drama. Kill the bands. Forget the skits. Put away the circus sideshows. Open the Bible. Sing hymns. Bow the head and honor the God that made you, loves you, wants to forgive you and has a place for you in Heaven if you will honor and obey Him. Worship is about giving God praise. It’s not about what I get, but what I give. When folks say ‘I don’t get much out of worship,’ what they are really saying is, ‘ I came empty, I gave nothing, and I leave that way.’ Worship is about thoughts and heart. Worship is about seeing God. Worship is amazing. It is good. It does something to God and it does something to us.

I needed that worship. I expect you do to.

Roger

Jump Start # 790

John 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 worshippers.”

Our passage says, “…for such people the Father seeks…” God is looking. God is looking for “such people,” a certain kind of people. He is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

We continue a look in our Jump Starts at the things that God expects from His people. It shouldn’t strike us as something strange to think that God has expectations for us. We do for each other. Parents have expectations for their children. They expect them to learn and graduate from school. They expect them to grow into responsible and godly people. Bosses have expectations of workers. They expect them to accomplish the work assigned to them. Workers expect a paycheck for what they do. We expect those in positions of honor to be honorable people. And thus, God has expectations for His people. God has expectations for us. So far in this little journey we have see that God expects us to be strong. God expects us to be faithful. God expects us to be obedient. Now we consider the thought that God expects us to worship Him. And it’s not just any worship that He expects, but worship in spirit and in truth.

Worship is such a powerful and incredible blessing that we have. Worship changes us, reminds us, helps us, and connects us with God. Our English word ‘worship’ comes to us from the Latin expression, ‘worth-ship.’ Worship is recognizing the “worth” or value of something. From the Greek language, the word literally means to “kiss forward.” It’s the idea of bowing before a king and kissing his hand. It carries the image of reverence, loyalty and devotion.

Through the years we’ve sort of lost that idea of worship. Many equate “going to church” as the same as worship. They are not the same. A person can sit in a church building and sleep, play games on their phone, text a friend, day dream and do about anything but think about God. They may have “gone to church,” but they didn’t worship God. It seems the modern church has turned worship into a spectator event where people come and “watch” worship.

Worship is participation. Most times in the New Testament, the word worship is in the verb form. It is an action word. Worship involves me doing. Worship is not watching, but me giving. Worship is my heart telling the God of Heaven how incredible, awesome and amazing He is. Worship is thanking God. Worship involves emotion, energy and effort. All the stuff that bothers and clutters my mind and heart will affect my worship. Worry, fear, being tired, stressed, all those things affect me and thereby they affect my worship. When I’m off, my worship is off.

Understand our worship is not confined to the church building. There is a worship that we do when the church gathers. But I can worship God every day, any where. Praying, thanking, praising God ought to be an everyday part of my life. When I open my eyes in the morning, and realize that I’m still here, I can thank God for another day and then get about that day.

Our passage unites two concepts that God is looking for. He seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Spirit may well be attitude. Attitude can make worship right or wrong. “In truth” represents according to His word. God defines how He wants to be worshipped. Some have gotten the idea somewhere that anything you do is ok with God. IN TRUTH. According to His way. The story of Cain and Able reminds us that God doesn’t accept every worship. He rejected Cain’s. The story of Aaron’s sons offering God a strange fire is another example. God not only rejected that, He consumed those two in the very fire they offered.

God has defined the way He wants to be worshipped. He is seeking those who will worship Him that way.  He is wanting those who have the right attitude and are willing to follow His way. That’s what He is seeking. Worship is not about us. It’s not what I get out of it. It’s not about being excited or fun or thrilling. Worship does not compete with movies or TV. It is not a comedy show. It is not a talent show. It is not a time to say, “Look at me and how great I am.” Worship is about honoring God. It is about showing love, respect and devotion to God. It is about you and I telling God how much He means to us.

When we worship the way God wants, it has a way of getting our order in order. It reminds us of what is important in life. It humbles us as it exalts God. The Psalmist said, “Come let us magnify the name of the Lord together.” That’s what worship is. It’s being with God. It’s remembering God. It’s honoring God. It’s learning from God.

Worship is incredible. It’s good for the heart and the soul.

God expects us to worship Him. He is looking for that. He is wanting that. He is expecting you to worship Him in spirit and truth. How are you doing with that? Do you find long periods of time rushing by without any thoughts about the spiritual, the eternal, the God of Heaven and earth? Do you fight getting to the church building to worship with others? Has your church left the “truth” part out of worship and turned the time into a show for the audience?

Maybe it’s time you’ve taken a serious look at worship in your Bible. Maybe it’s time you spent some time alone with God in prayer. Maybe it’s time you really worshipped. He wants that and you can do that. It is good when you do!

Roger

Jump Start # 383

John 4:23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”

  Our verse today comes from a conversation that Jesus had with a Samaritan woman. It all started with Jesus asking her for a drink of water. So easily and so naturally, Jesus could turn everyday things into a spiritual conversation. The woman was a mess. She had already been married five times and currently she was living with someone. She was Samaritan and Jesus was Jewish. There were layers and layers of differences between these two at the well. Yet the conversation turned to worshipping God.

  Jesus used the occasion to reveal what would take place once His work was finished. He said, “…an hour is coming when neither in his mountain, nor in Jerusalem shall you worship the Father.” The hour is now, our verse tells us, that true worshippers shall worship in spirit and truth. This is often taught as attitude (spirit) and accurately (truth). There may be a greater contrast between the Old Testament worship that Israel offered God, as described in the Law of Moses, and the New worship that the followers of Christ would offer.

  One thought that I want to look at this morning, is the expression, “for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” God seeks. God is looking. God wants. And what He wants are people that will worship Him in spirit and truth. Not Israel or Samaritans, but true worshipers. God is seeking those who are seeking Him. God wants us to want Him!

  Worship is more than going to church on Sunday. That worship is valuable and important. But that is not all there is. It is easy to view worship as one of those things we must do, so we go and when we are done, we have checked worship off of our list of things to do. I’m not certain that worship ever gets checked off. Some of our worship must be together with the church, the Bible says that. In 1 Corinthians as Paul defines the Lord’s Supper, he uses the expression, “when you come together as a church” and “when you come together.”  There is a coming together with the church to worship God. We need that. We need to remember that we are not alone and we need to remember that we are connected and part of God’s family. We are not it by ourselves. We are part of something larger than just us. Together with others, we encourage, remind, warn and remember.

  But that is not the extent of worship. Another aspect of worship is my private, individual worship. Praying to God, reading His word, devoting myself to His way and considering God are all aspects of worship that can take place while I’m cutting the yard, driving my car, sitting in a chair or taking a walk. God wants me to want Him. God wants me to seek Him. Not just on Sunday but every day. Pray without ceasing, mediating day and night are expressions the Bible gives us of hearts that longed and sought God.

  Some of our problems come about from failing to grasp this. If we disconnect from God as we leave the church building, much like unplugging something, than we are on our own the whole week. The world fills our hearts with stuff and worry and fear and we feel distant from God. Sunday worship is not a multi-vitamin that we take once a week that gives us 100% of our daily requirements to make us whole until the next Sunday. It doesn’t work that way. Have you noticed that? Sunday has a way of making us feel close to God. The songs, the people, the prayers, the lesson—all fill a huge need in our hearts. By Monday, reality hits us again. Work, family, schedules, things to do, things you don’t want to do but should, things to fix, things here and things there. God is forgotten. Busy takes over. Tired, cranky and worn out our thoughts are about money, buying things, going places and doing things. God is forgotten until next Sunday.

  You don’t have to be a preacher to look at the scene and realize this isn’t working. God is far too important to be given only one day out of seven. What God wants is a relationship—and that means time. Everyday. Everyday thanking God for a new day. Everyday reading from His word. Everyday remembering that He is still on the throne, even today. Everyday realizing that God loves me. Every day. Every day worship. Try turning off the car radio and sing some hymns on the ride to work or home. That’ll be different. Try reading a few verses while you eat lunch. That’ll be different. Try thinking, “I wonder what God wants me to do today?” That’ll be different. Seek Him—that’s what God wants.

  And when we do that, we find it has a positive effect upon us. No, all our problems will not go away magically, nor will the bills automatically get paid, nor will the kids like each other. But what it does is invite God into my world and my life. We need that. It opens our eyes to see that God’s way works, every day. It helps me to be pure and righteous. It’s harder to do wrong when you are thinking right. It turns negative thinking into seeing blessings and goodness. Mostly, it praises God. God wants us to want Him. God wants us to worship Him.

  Can you imagine a man coming home from work and his wife asking, “Honey, how was work today?’ His reply, “ Work was ok, but the worship on the way home was awesome.” You can do that. Do you want to? God wants you to.

Roger