True Worshipers - John 4:4-24

True Worship

February 20, 2011

John 4:4-24

Introduction

• Jesus came to Samaria
• He was listening to thye Father
• The reason he came was a divine appointment with a lady
• This lady had problems
  • She had had poor relationships which had not lasted
  • She had been abused because of her religious beliefs
  • She was being used by a man who did not want to marry her
  • She needed a true relationmship with God
• Jesus came to bring transformation to her life
• "Some go to church to take a walk. Some go to church to laugh and talk. Some go to church to meet a friend. Some go to church, their time to spend. Some go to church to meet a another. Some go to church, a fault to cover. Some go to church for speculation. Some go to church for observation. Some go to church to doze and nod. The wise go there to worship God".- Author Unknown
• Jesus discusses with this Samaritan woman what God looks for in worship

Worship in the Spirit - verse 24

• Phil 3:13
• The Spririt produces life
  • 2 Cor 3:6
  • When we worship in the Spirit there will be life
  • Life in the message
  • Life in our singing
  • We will be alive to what God is doing
  • Samaritan religion was dead - Jesus came to bring life
  • Our services need to be alive and vibrant, just like the early church
• The Spirit provides liberty
  • 2 Cor 3:17
  • Free from the past
  • Free from fear
  • Free from past abuse
  • This woman needed freedom
  • Our church services need to be be places were people are freed from bondages, freed from sin
• The Spirit operates in love
  • 2 Tim 1:7
  • Rom 5:5
  • A love of God's house
  • A love of the body of Christ
  • A love of God's Word
  • A love of the lost

Worship in Truth - verse 24

• Truth here particularly includes sincerity
• God seeks people who are true, through and through
• Being true, sincere, without ulterior motives
• Sincere in motivation
  • Matt 6 - not like the hypocrites
• Sincere in presentation
  • Worshiping as taught and illustrated in Bible
  • Glorifying God, not ourselves
  • Rom 15:5-6
  • Michael W Smith - Coming back to the heart of worship
  • Following the Spirit, or the flesh?
• Sincere in our praise
  • Psa 24:3-4
  • Praise starts in the heart , a pure heart
  • We can praise God loudly in church but forget about him the rest of the week
  • Matt 15:8
  • Our praise needs to well up from the depths of our heart

Conclusion

• God is waiting for us
• Revelation 4
• He is longing for a totally true and sincere relationship with us, in our worship
• He is looking for worshipers who worship both in Spirit and in truth