In Spirit And In Truth

In 2007 I initiated a Youth Band program in a Church where I was on staff as the Worship/Music Director.

One of the most important parts of the Youth Band's training was the time they spent discussing and learning about what it means to live a life of worship. They learned that worship is more than just practicing ones instrument or vocal part in order to play music for God on Sundays. They discovered that worship and praise to God is to meant to be lived out each and every day. In other words, we are to spend time in relationship with God, daily expressing our gratitude, love and devotion to Him in response for His love, grace, mercy and compassion for us as we remember the price Jesus paid for us on the cross. Along with that heart of gratitude that reflects who we are in Christ, we also begin to express authentic worship to God in the way that is pleasing to God: in spirit and in truth. Jesus puts His stamp on this kind of Worship. 

John 4:23-24 New International Version 1984

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 in truth.”

Worshiping in spirit: 

showing reverence and respect to God. Offerings of thanks, adoration, prayer and song.

Worshiping in truth:

in accordance to God’s word, His precepts, desire and will.

Through God’s Word and by the acts of the Holy Spirit working through us, we can reflect Christ’s love whenever and wherever we are for the benefit of His kingdom. Our authentic worship to God is beneficial to us because through a deep and intimate relationship with Him, we receive all we need to live an abundant life in a fallen world. These benefits include receiving His wisdom, discernment, comfort, and love. With that close connection with God our lives then become God-centered, filled with a growing faith and trust in His calling and purpose. another benefit of a God centered life is that we get the privilege to bless to others as our desire becomes helping those in need and in doing many good works on His behalf. In essence we have become Christ's Ambassadors.  

So as followers of Jesus we have the privilege to reflect God’s love in many different ways. Music ministry for example, is a great way to draw a persons attention to the Creator and Author of our faith. The Youth Band I spoke about earlier became a great way for the youth in our Church to effectively display their faith in action. 

Also, living a Spirit filled life will motivate us toward heartfelt acts of kindness and compassion to those people God puts in our path. So even beyond what we are called to do in ministry at Church, our love for God and others should extend out into the community and the world. Even our personal God story can open the door to great conversation about God and His story. Motivated by our love for God, our demonstration of faith and love for others can greatly impact the truth about who God really is to people who not know Him yet. We must remember that Jesus commanded us to be His hands and feet and share the good news of Christ.

Acts 1:8 New International Version 1984

 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 28:18-20 New International Version 1984

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So, here are things we need to consider:

The Bible tells us that we should live for God maintaining a worship mind set:

Colossians 3:16 TNIV 
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

The Bible tells us that we should live a God centered life even to the point sacrificing our agenda for His:

Mark 8:34 TNIV 
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

The Bible tells us that a deep love for God should be the desire of our heart:

Mark 12:30 TNIV 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

As followers of Jesus we have been given the gift of faith. We have been given the gift of eternal life. We have been adopted in to God’s family. We have been given the Holy Spirit. Yet many times us we fall short  in giving God the praise and adoration He alone deserves. Why is this? Well if we look in the mirror we’ll have our answer. As people who still have a sin nature, we sometimes allow our egos, our pride and our desire for self pleasure to show up.  Even with opportunity to be Christ-like in our behavior, we still have the potential to mess that up and become a stumbling block for others. That is why it is important for us to be keenly aware of our behavior and the way we treat others. In Luke 10 we see that in addition to loving God, we are to love others as well:

Luke 10:27 TNIV 
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 

These are the two greatest commandments. Let’s remind each other that we should not only live our lives

with daily acts of worship and gratitude to God, but to also to love others with a Christ-like heart.

An important part of our daily Worship to God is the way we love and serve others.

The fruit of those days where I got to work with some great youth in music ministry, is that many of them have gone on to live out their faith, effectively serving God using the gifts and talents they have been given by Him, all for His glory. I am so grateful to God for the opportunity I had to serve with them. 

Here is a good question to ponder:

What are the things in your life that you thankful for? 

Let God know what you are thankful for through your daily acts of worship to Him. 

Worship Him in spirit and in truth!

Just Sayin…………………..Dave