by Rehema Jonathan | 13 May 2021 08:46 am05
Many people today associate worship with singing slow, emotional songs during church services. While music is a powerful expression of worship, true worship is far more than just singing it is a lifestyle of honoring, revering, and serving God with our whole being.
The Greek word for worship used in the New Testament is “proskuneō”, which means “to bow down, to show reverence, to pay homage.” Worship involves submission of the heart, soul, and actions to God.
In John 4:23–24 (ESV), Jesus says:
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Here, Jesus was speaking to the Samaritan woman, correcting the idea that worship was confined to a place (Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim). He introduced a new era of worship — not based on location or rituals, but on inward reality.
To worship in spirit means our worship is not just outward or ritualistic, but comes from our innermost being our spirit and is made possible through the Holy Spirit.
Paul explains in Romans 8:9 (NIV):
“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”
True worship is only possible for those who are born again and have the Holy Spirit living in them. The Holy Spirit helps us to:
Understand God’s will (1 Corinthians 2:10–12),
Pray and worship correctly (Romans 8:26),
And walk in holiness (Galatians 5:16–25).
As Jesus said in John 16:13 (NLT):
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth…”
To worship in truth means aligning our worship with the truth of God’s Word. It’s not enough to be sincere our sincerity must be rooted in what God has revealed through Scripture.
In John 17:17 (ESV), Jesus prayed:
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
Therefore, any form of worship that contradicts Scripture whether in lifestyle, doctrine, or practice is false worship. Worship in truth means we:
Acknowledge God as He is revealed in Scripture,
Obey His commands,
And submit to His Word as final authority.
Spirit without truth leads to emotionalism or spiritual error. Truth without spirit leads to dead formalism. But when both are present, worship becomes a powerful, living offering to God.
Paul summarizes this beautifully in Romans 12:1 (NIV):
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship.”
Ask yourself: Am I truly worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth?
You cannot know the truth without the Holy Spirit. And you cannot be led by the Spirit unless you’ve truly received Christ as Lord and Savior.
As Acts 2:38 (NKJV) says:
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Receiving the Holy Spirit is not just about speaking in tongues. It’s about transformation a changed heart, a renewed mind, and a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).
Final Thought:
These are the last days. Christ is knocking on the hearts of many (Revelation 3:20). The trumpet could sound at any moment, and only those who are in Christ filled with His Spirit and walking in His truth will be ready.
Will you be among the true worshipers?
May the Lord bless you and guide you into deeper, Spirit-filled, truth-rooted worship.
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2021/05/13/what-does-it-mean-to-worship-god-in-spirit-and-in-truth/
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