"Worship (in) Spirit and Truth."--John 4:24.
Where two or three, in Jesus' name,
To worship, they do gather,
He says, 'I am there, in your midst.'
(There's nothing that we'd rather.)
It is his Father, Yah, to whom
Our worship is to flow.
In 'spirit and truth,' --
That is how our worship is to go.
Our 'spirit,' and our 'truth,'
Is what we bring unto the table.
God's spirit and the Bible's truth, --
Our worship, render stable.
Our honest heart; our sincere motive, --
These things, to God, are pleasing.
His Word and spirit complement,
So, ourselves, we're not teasing.
When what is partial is complete,
When truth is then made whole,
Then we can 'see' it, 'face to face.'
Yes! That's our joyful goal!
Draw close to God; bring Him our burdens;
These are our invitations.
Soon, now, 'pure language,' we will speak.
He'll teach it to 'all nations.'
But, while we wait for God to come,
With Jesus by His side,
There is much good that we can do,
To bring us healthy pride.
We can Make God's Heart Rejoice!
By our own rightful choosing.
And, thus, we benefit ourselves.
(Bad habits we'll be losing.)
It brings us joy. It cultivates
The Christ-like 'inner person.'
We learn God's Ways. We come to know them.
(Through 'book, chapter, and versin'.')
'To the mountain of Yahweh, our God,
All peoples, they will stream.'
Why not get a 'head start,' right now?
No. It's not just a dream.
The Father Is Looking Fur Suchlike Ones To Worship Him. (John, chapter 4.)
'Not in this mountain,' Jesus said, 'nor that one over there.'
Location doesn't matter; just worship with a prayer.
Institutions, temples, buildings, ... all these things will pass away.
True Worship will remain forever, as we all walk in The Way.
Religion, -- that's another thing, that some have hoped would help.
But, they were burned so badly that they couldn't help but yelp.
The biggest lie "Religion" sells is that it is an aid
To help one try to worship God; when it is a barricade.
It shuts up the doors of God's kingdom; and lets no one go in;
It's tells all that they are just no good; and, simply full of sin.
Strain out the gnat, while swallowing the camel, is their way.
But, what's been done in darkness soon will see the light of day.
They worship what they do not know; a filthy, dungy idol.
They think they worship God, of course; their tongues they should just bridle.
We, on the other hand, worship what we do know, and know quite well.
We have no hierarchy; and no agenda we must sell.
Our Lord and Master said his yoke is kindly; load is light.
His Father tells us, "Listen to him." It will be all right.
Our human nature being what it is, we complicate;
If we could let it be as simple as it is, ... how truly great!
"God is a Spirit, and those worshiping Him must worship with (or, "in") spirit and truth."--John 4:24.
These words of Jesus, spoken to a Samaritan woman near Jacob's well at Sy'char, are often invoked in conjunction with our directives as to "how" to worship Jehovah. Isn't is often presented that ...
[1] the "spirit" is the holy spirit, which IS so essential for our worship to be effective and accepted; and
[2] the "truth" is the doctrinal truth of Christianity as contained in the Bible.
This is the "conventional," or accepted explanation of the verse. Correct?
As we look at all things anew, you may wish to consider:
[1] the "spirit" is OUR dominant mental inclination; the inner person which impels us to think, speak, and act in a particular way; and
[2] the "truth" is the honest, sincere, non-devious manner in which we offer our worship.
Let's look at each of these premises more closely.
First, in connection with "spirit," Insight On The Scriptures, Volume II, page 1026, under the heading, "SPIRIT," says the following:
Impelling Mental Inclination. Ru'ach and pneu'ma both are used to designate the force that causes a person to display a certain attitude, disposition, or emotion or to take a certain action or course. ... [The following several sentences and paragraphs provide interesting supportive reasoning.]
Heart and spirit. The heart is frequently tied in with the spirit, indicating a definite relationship. Since the figurative heart is shown to have the capacity for thinking and motivation, and to be intimately related with emotions and affection, it undoubtedly has a major share in the development of the spirit (the dominant mental inclination) that one shows. [Again, the following material provides additional supportive Scriptural reasoning.]
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So, if we are to view Jesus' statement from this perspective, he was saying that we worship with "spirit" (Heb., ru'ach; Greek, pneu'ma), in the sense that OUR spirit ... is PURE! Our motive in worshiping is pure. We do not worship with a "double-heart" or with a "hidden agenda." There is nothing devious or disingenuous about our worship, if it measures up to the standard here outlined by Jesus.
What about "truth"?
___________________________________________________________________________
So, now, we come to the second aspect of Jesus' statement, concerning our need to worship with "truth."
Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate and boldly declared:
"I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice."--John 18:37.
He also emphatically stated:
"I am the way and the truth and the life."--John 14:6.
Jesus was ALL ABOUT TRUTH!!! He lived it. He spoke it. He WAS ... "truth"!
So we must look long and hard at the question, ... "What -- EXACTLY -- was the 'truth' Jesus had in mind, when he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well?"
We receive a significant clue in the verse just above his statement quoted earlier.
"Nevertheless, the hour is coming, AND IT IS NOW, (!!!) when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship Him."--John 4:23.
Did the Samaritan woman, -- or, her "people," -- have full doctrinal truth with which to worship? Obviously, the answer is, "No."
Well, then, what about one or all of the various sects of Judaism from whom Jesus' early disciples were drawn? Again, we readily conclude the answer is, still, "No."
But, surely, the hand-picked disciples of Jesus Christ, -- the very first Christians, -- must have had full doctrinal truth, mustn't they have??? Well, if that were the case, then why would Jesus have found it necessary to say this to them? ...
"I have many things yet to say to you, but YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO BEAR THEM AT PRESENT."--John 16:12.
Why did the apostle Paul, more than two decades after Jesus' death and resurrection, STILL find it necessary to say to the Corinthian congregation:
"We have partial knowledge."--1 Corinthians 13:9.
"At present we see in hazy outline."--1 Corinthians 13:12.
"At present I [the apostle Paul, himself!!!] know partially."--1 Corinthians 13:12.
Jesus was well aware that his early disciples clung to many misimpressions and many "old ways" (such as their preoccupation as to who was to be the "greatest" among them). They believed Jesus would restore the physical kingdom of Israel with a physical kingship at earthly Jerusalem. They refused to hear or believe that he had to die and/or "go away."
Their "doctrinal truth" was a "work in progress." Even, as ours is today.
So, if Jesus did NOT have in mind "full doctrinal truth" by his statement at John 4:23, 24, ... what DID he mean?
"You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind."--Matthew 22:37.
"Love free from hypocrisy."--2 Corinthians 6:6.
"Let your love be without hypocrisy."--Romans 12:9.
"Love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy."--1 Timothy 1:5.
"Faith...without any hypocrisy."--2 Timothy 1:5.
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So, it becomes clear that Jesus statement that "true worshipers will worship the Father (in) spirit and truth" ... was as much a matter of "repetition for emphasis" as anything else. Our "spirit" -- our dominant mental/emotional inclination -- must be pure, unified, singular in focus on our desire to reverence, honor, praise and WORSHIP our Grand Creator. Because we have come to know Him and to LOVE Him. We bring our "truth" -- our honesty, our openness, our forthrightness, our earnestness -- as we come to worship Jehovah. Our worshiping in "truth" would preclude any deviousness, sinister motives, personal agendas, or the like.
Is the holy spirit important in our worship? ABSOLUTELY! We must earnestly pray for it, cooperate with it in our efforts to cultivate its fruitage and put on the new Christian personality. It MUST be part and parcel of all we do in connection with our worship.
Is doctrinal truth important in our worship? ABSOLUTELY! We now anticipate the most exciting time in human history when our Grand Creator, -- our Grand Instructor, -- will soon FULLY reveal Himself to us and shower upon us light of understanding which, up until now, has simply not been available. Until that day, we will continue to pursue as much understanding of the truth of God's Word as He sees fit to make available to us, right now.
As essential as holy spirit and doctrinal truth are to our worship, I am simply suggesting that Jesus was referring to something else in John 4:23, 24.
Thank you ISOMAM.
Re: "Until that day, we will continue to pursue as much understanding of the truth of God's Word as He sees fit to make available to us, right now."
(MSG) 1 Peter 1:13... ...
"So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
Much Christian love and appreciation,
gogh
Good morning brothers and sisters:
:redface: Even tho i didn't ask for brother Iso's permission, just want to bring this up for any who may have missed it, seeing that it's over 2 years old. Enjoy everybody!
Thank you for sharing!!! :giverose:
Much Christian Love and Prayers for You, your family and ALL:grouphug::heartbeat:
sis
WOW!:love:
A very nice visit after painting for decoration on a trailer.
Just needed to take a load off my feet, a beautiful place to rest.:grouphug:
Thanks Isomam, Gogh and Sis Llee:giverose:
With Sis Love, Debbie
:thumbsup:Yes, sis, it's a keeper!:thumbsup:
We bring our "truth" -- our honesty, our openness, our forthrightness, our earnestness -- as we come to worship Jehovah. Our worshiping in "truth" would preclude any deviousness, sinister motives, personal agendas, or the like.
I've long agreed with that statement - it's our truth - sincerity and honesty that He wants. :pray: Confession is good for the soul and spirit! :pray:
"Have I covered my transgressions like Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,(?) -Job 31:33
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long. -Psalm 32:3
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. -Psalm 32:5
For I confess my iniquity;
I am full of anxiety because of my sin. -Psalm 38:18
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
-Proverbs 28:13
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9
Worship is a spiritual communication with our God, who is Spirit, so naturally it's our spirit that communes with His ---
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, -Romans 8:16
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. -Romans 8:26, 27
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. -2 Corinthians 7:1
2 more :2cents: :peace:
:clap: Look at this! :)
John 4 - The Message Bible -
19-20 "Oh, so you're a prophet! Well, tell me this: Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?"
21-23 "Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God's way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
23-24 "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."
25 The woman said, "I don't know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we'll get the whole story."
26 "I am he", said Jesus. "You don't have to wait any longer or look any further." [emphasis mine]
AMEN! :yes:
altogether up to :2cents::2cents: :giggle: :happyheart:
Why is this page so wide? Or is it just me? :dontknow:
Nice find Willa:thumbsup: Makes so much sense put like that.:read::drinking:
Grateful :giverose:
Nice find Willa:thumbsup: Makes so much sense put like that.:read::drinking:
Grateful :giverose:
Two snaps for Sis Willa from me, too!
:cool::peace:, Debbie