John 4:5-24

Worshipping

Symbolism or realism?

Fearing a violent god of death is far different than talking to and listening to a loving Father and Savior

Missionary Bruce Porterfield contacted remote Amazon River people Missionary Bruce Porterfield contacted remote Amazon River people. “Do you believe in God?” “Yes, but we worship evil spirits because they can hurt us.”

Many idols. Many religions Many idols. Many religions. Only one offers a personal relationship with a resurrected, living Lord John 4:22 You worship what you do not know (Jesus to the woman at the well) 1 Cor. 10:20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship (relationship) with demons.

“These aren’t real, they”re actors” “These aren’t real, they”re actors”. They imitate the style, language, and aura of true believers 2 Cor. 11:13 False apostles (are) deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his (Satan’s) ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Religious teachings that are contrary to God’s holy and true Word are demon promoted (disguised as from God, of course) The nation Israel turned away from God during their Egyptian enslavement. Deut. 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals That your fathers did not fear (worship).

God the Father seeks true worshippers God the Father seeks true worshippers. True worship is on the “spirit” level and in harmony with God’s truth John 4: 23 true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God searches for people who follow His truth and who will commune with Him in the medium of spirit

John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Angels are spirits A person has three components: spirit, soul, and body “spirit” = pneuma Wind, invisible, “soul” = psuxay, breath, breath of life “truth” = alaytheia True teaching of the Gospel and the Bible

Experiencing God in the realm of spirit and in harmony with God’s revealed truth is as close to the reality of God that we can get while living on this earth

If we are to worship “in spirit”, what is “spirit”? God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, OUR likeness” 1:26 One God consisting of three Persons: Father, Son, and Spirit, created one Adam, consisting of three parts: spirit, soul, and body Gen.2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (“breaths”)

Before sinning, Adam and Eve enjoyed regular times of personal fellowship with the holy creator God (Gen. 2:8-25) God created a lush garden with myriads of edibles. He told them not to eat one fruit. To do so meant instant death? They ate and their good relationship with God died instantly! Gen. 3:8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Adam and Eve retained physical life, intelligence, and emotion So what part of them died? That part with which they communicated freely with God, without fear John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Personally communicating with God is evidently in the medium of the spirit

The spirit of the “natural man” is “dead” (it doesn’t function) until God brings it to life. Eph. 2:1-5 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Eph. 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Both the spirit and soul are invisible Both the spirit and soul are invisible. Both are interwoven with the body, intelligence, will, emotion. Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, Apart from the Bible’s definition, there is no way to separate soul from spirit

Jesus said “true” worship only happens in the realm of the “spirit” and according to the truth of Scripture Our minds can be impressed with “religious” teachings Our emotions can be touched by religious experiences

Worship A definition Recognition of God’s Person and works by angels and saints The praise, adoration and reverence of God. It is a celebration of the worthiness of God, by which honor is given to his name. The “quickened” spirit personally connecting with God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit Rev. 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments,

Can we say that true worship is more than emotion, more than impression? Crucifixion triggers emotion His miracles and teaching are impressive

True worship is experienced when impressions and emotions bring the spirit into fellowship with God

SO! Examine yourself Is your religion a performance? Is your praying a performance? If so, get real with God. Talk to Him. His Spirit will bring your dead spirit to life. Turn from your sin and opinions. Cast yourself at the foot of His cross. Trust God’s promise. Be saved right now