WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

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 WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

 Worship is a much-abused word in the church. High octane singing, deafening music, dancing, thrashing on the floor, babbling, and screaming are considered spirit filled worship. Since we cannot find Yeshua or Peter or Paul indulging in this kind of acrobatics, we must draw traction from David who danced (but did not sing) before the Ark of the Covenant. However, David offered an ox and a calf as sacrifice every six paces, before dancing, seven miles from Obededom’s house to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:12-15). In the OT we find worship is nearly always associated with offering blood sacrifices. The first time ‘worship’ is mentioned in the Scriptures is when Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed (Gen. 22:5-13). From Cain and Abel, to Noah, to the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple of Solomon, God was always worshipped by offering sacrifices. (Exo. 29:42)

There are four types of sacrifices mentioned in the Scriptures –

1. Animal sacrifice for atonement of sins in the OT. (2 Chron. 7:12; Lev. 6:7)

2.Yeshua being full and final sacrifice as Lamb of God on the cross. (Heb. 10:10)

3. Offering our bodies as living sacrifice as reasonable worship. (Rom. 12:1)

4. Offering lost souls as living sacrifice – is the new norm of worship in the NT.  (Rom. 15:16; Jam. 5:20; 1Pet. 2:5; Dan. 12:3)

 

“Worship in spirit and truth” takes place by doing the will of the Father, which is, “None should perish but all should come to the knowledge of truth and be saved” (John 4:20-23; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9). Yeshua clearly told, “There is more rejoicing in heaven over one soul that repents than 99 making a joyful noise” (Luke 15:7,10). Worship in “spirit and truth” requires no chapel or priests, as it can take place anywhere, anytime by any believer. (Mal 1:11; Gen. 28:17)

1.     OT worship required offering blood sacrifices for, “Without the shedding of blood there is no redemption” (Heb. 9:22; Lev. 17:11).

2.     NT worship is bloodless living sacrifice, "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Rom. 12:1)

3.     “Abraham told his servants,“The boy and I will go up to worship.”  He took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife. Then Isaac said to his father, “The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide...” (Gen. 22:5-8)

4.     Moses told Pharaoh ten times that Israel must go and worship God by offering sacrifice. Pharaoh asked Moses, “Go, worship the LORD. But your flocks will stay behind.”  Moses said, “Not a hoof will be left behind, for we will need them to worship the LORD our God.” (Exo 10:24-26)

5.     Joshua said, “Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.” Joshua 22:27 

6.     “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.” (Psa. 96:8,9; 100:4; 1Chron. 16:29) 

7.     David brought the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the City of David with rejoicing. “When those carrying the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. And David, danced with all his might before the LORD, while he and Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of the trumpets.” (2Sam. 6:12-15) 

8.     The LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place (Jerusalem Temple) for Myself as a house of sacrifice ‘Beth Zebach’.” And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.  (2Chron. 7:5,12)

9.     “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Gal. 2:20)

10. But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.” (John 4:23) 

11. “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense (intercession) is offered unto my name, and a pure offering (repented Gentiles): for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 1:11)

12. “Yeshua chose me to be a minister of the Gospel to the Gentiles. As his priest, I offer Gentiles sanctified by the Holy Spirit as holy offering, pleasing to him.” (Rom. 15:16)

13. “Know that he who turns back the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

We Praise God with our lips. (Psalm 51:15; Heb. 13:15,16)

We Glorify God by bringing abundant fruit as sacrifice. (John 15:8; Ps. 96:8)

We Worship God in spirit and truth, by offering broken and contrite hearts as living sacrifice. (Psalm 51:17; Jam. 5:20; 1Cor. 9:19-22)

 

Shalom, V.

 

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