Tag: John 4:23-24
Toxic Worship?
Scripture reading for August 4: 1 Chronicles 13:8-11 “And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. . .and David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”
King David had given orders to bring the ark of God back to Jerusalem. The Levites had decided to use oxen and a new cart to carry the ark the last ten miles from Kiriath-jearim, just as the Philistines had done to get the ark out of their country because of tumors breaking out. The Levites had neglected to consult God’s Word about how the ark was to be treated. It was to be carried on the shoulders only by the priests set apart by designation and sacrifice.
King David was leading the procession and Uzzah, a priest, was guiding the ark when the oxen stumbled and the ark rocked. He reached out his hand and touched the ark to steady it and instantly died there before the Lord. Scripture records that the anger of the Lord at their disobedience precipitated this tragic event. King David became angry at what happened and also fearful of the Lord. He asked, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”
The ark of God was the earthly symbol of His presence with His people. God was holy and gave instructions to His people and the Levites on how to handle the ark and how to honor Him as holy. As believers under the new covenant, we also can learn from this story. We are now the dwelling place of God individually and collectively as we gather as the church. We must not dishonor God by our disrespect or casual treatment of His presence. We must worship God in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:23-24) God has provided His Holy Spirit to assist us in our worship, prayer and walk of holiness.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for sanctifying me by Jesus’ sacrifice of body and blood. Empower me to worship in spirit and truth. Amen.
True Worship!
Scripture reading for October 30: John 3-5
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit and His worshipers must worship in Spirit and Truth.” John 4:23-24
What is worship? Is it just singing some songs or hymns to the Lord? Is it gathering to hear a great worship band or leader perform? Is it a feeling in your body that you get when you sense God’s presence near you? Where must you go to worship? These questions are not new with us and our culture. Jesus encountered a woman in Samaria who asked some of the same questions of Him. Jesus answered her with a promise and a command that we will consider this day.
Worship is ascribing worth and honor to someone who is due this honor. God is the only “Worthy” One due our worship. Worship involves us as whole people and is not a spectator sport. It involves individuals as well as more than one person. But all true worship centers on God as the only worthy subject! God is a Spirit. His presence fills the universe. He is Truth and there is no falsehood or lie found in Him. Therefore, those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
We have a body that we use as the tent of our soul and spirit. We are born the first time with our spirit dead to God because of sin. We cannot worship God, because we don’t really know God. God must reveal Himself to us for us to understand who He is. Because of His love for us, He seeks us out. Throughout man’s history, God has sought to reveal Himself to man through conscience and through nature. He has also broken in on man and spoken to him on various occasions. Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David are all examples of God’s revelation to individuals.
Worship is difficult for us because of sin. Sin centers us on ourselves and rather than on God. Sin separates us from God Who is holy. Jesus Christ came to enable true worship by redeeming lost mankind from the sin nature by new birth through the Holy Spirit. This enables us to worship God in Spirit and Truth! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth! He leads us into all truth.
Today invite the Holy Spirit to help you to live a life of true worship! Everything you do can be done in Spirit and Truth as unto the Lord! He is worthy of all our worship each day, everyday, all day and night!