INTRODUCTION: The Dallas Cowboys are looking for a kicker! Anyone interested? They might even, and probably should be, looking for a quarterback. Anyone interested?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be looking for a quarterback next season, who knows what Tom Brady is going to do. Anyone interested?
The Denver Broncos and a few other teams are looking for a head coach. Anyone interested?
God has a “team” he is enlisting people to be a part of. What’s so unique about God’s team is that it’s for everyone but not everyone chooses to be on the team.
LOOK WHAT JESUS SAYS WHILE SPEAKING WITH A WOMAN AT A WELL TO DRAW WATER.
John 4:23-24– “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
God is looking for “true worshipers!” Worshipers that will worship Him, HIS WAY!
What’s God’s way? In spirit and in truth!
WHY DID JESUS SAY THIS? WHAT PROVOKED JESUS TO MAKE THIS COMMENT?
John 4:19-24– “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
WHAT DOES A TRUE WORSHIPPER LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS IT TO WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH?
Of course we can look in the Bible to discover what a “true worshipper” looks like. But today we’ll first look in place maybe you’ve never looked before.
Revelation 4:1-11– “Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Revelation 5:1-14– “Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and it’s seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9-17-“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water, And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
The Book of Revelation does not simply describe how the world in its current form will end, but even more importantly it reveals, as we see here, what will continue after these events are complete!
TRUE WORSHIPPERS!
Here’s the Good News, we don’t have to wait until the day we can kneel before Him in eternity, we can join with those in heaven right now with worship in spirit and truth.
Only as we join with these Heavenly Beings in their God exalting example, can we b e part of something that is truly eternal!
Jesus said, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now!”
What matters is not where one worships, But the attitude of our heart and mind when we worship.
True worship is not mere form and ceremony but a spiritual reality, which is in harmony with the very nature of God, who is a Spirit!
WHAT DOES TRUE WORSHIP LOOK LIKE?
- True Worship is Undivided!
Our Heavenly Father is the one and only true God! There are no other God’s beside Him!
John 17:3– “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”
Exodus 34:14– “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.”
Father all my worship is to you, there is no other!
“O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Psalm 95:3-5– “For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.”
True worship ascribes to God the ownership of everything that is good and lasting!
1 Chronicles 29:11-12– “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.”
- True Worship is a Lifestyle
“the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever).”
“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever!”
Psalm 34:1– “I will bless the Lord at all times;….”
Psalm 103:1– “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.”
It’s not just on Sunday I worship God. Worship is a lifestyle!
Romans 12:1– “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
- True Worship is with Words.
“Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
“And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
“And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
Psalm 34:1– “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Psalm 100:1,3– “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalm 92:2– “It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,”
- True Worship has an Expression
“And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
“And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.”
Psalm 95:6– “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,”
Psalm 47:1– “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!”
Psalm 63:4– “I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.”
Psalm 134:2– “Lift your hands toward the sanctuary, and praise the Lord.”
We’ll get all crazy about a sports team, but when it comes to God!
Not one of those players knows your name or ever thinks about you!
But God’s thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand on the earth!
2 Samuel 6:22-23– “Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.”
- True Worship has a Song
And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation….”
“They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Psalm 95:1– “Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.”
Psalm 96:1– “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!”
Psalm 98:1– “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds, His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!”
Psalm 100:2– “Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.”
A True Worshipper! An undivided heart that has a lifestyle of praise and song!
Ephesians 5:18-19– “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- True Worship is with a Thankful Heart
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever),”
“They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 100:4– “Enter his gates with thanksgiving: go into his courts with praise.mGive thanks to him and praise his name.”
Psalm 95:2– “Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.”
Colossians 2:7– “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Colossians 3:16– “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”
CONCLUSION: Our Heavenly Father is seeking true worshippers! Those that will worship Him in spirit and in truth.
With an undivided heart. A lifestyle. With Words. With an Expression. With a Song in our heart. With thankfulness in our heart.
You don’t have to wait for Heaven, You can join Heaven now!
Worship Changes things because it takes your focus off your struggles and problems and puts your focus on God!
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?