Title: Lively Worship! / John 4:20-24
Contents
Title: "Worship full of vitality!" (John 4:20-24)
The spring of March has come, when everything comes to life. Just as the lives that were withdrawn during the winter are revived with the new spring, our faith must be revived. To do this, our worship must first be restored. Worship becomes the most important element of our faith and life.
There is a saying that if you succeed in worship, you become a success in life, and if you fail in worship, you become a failure in your life. It emphasizes how important worship is in our human life.
God created man in God's image. There is a special reason that God created man in His image. This is because humans created in God's image wanted to live for God's glory and worship and praise God's name.
That's right. Since God gave the image of God, especially to humans, among all creation, He made Him a special being who can come to know Him, worship His name, and have fellowship with Him. God is looking for worshipers. Therefore, worship by the saints is pleasing to God, and is the secret to receiving blessings in spirit and body.
If a believer avoids or neglects worship while living in faith, not only will their faith fall, but they will also be unable to receive God's grace and blessings. We are blessed to have our worship life right. Today, as we ponder the word about the lively worship service, we want to receive grace together.
1. Worship that pleases God is worship in spirit and truth.
In today's text, a woman from Suga City said that if Jews want to offer true worship, they must go to the temple in Jerusalem to worship and not go anywhere else. The hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem." The content of worship is truly more important than any place or form of worship.
"The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers of the Father will worship in spirit and truth, and the Father is looking for such worshipers of Him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (24). I did. Worship that pleases God is worship offered to the living heavenly Father in spirit and truth.
Worship in spirit and in truth is a lively worship. So, how can we do this kind of worship?
First, it must be worship to meet God.
When there is a meeting, there are tears, joy, and emotion. There is neither emotion nor emotion in formal and ceremonial worship. For a lively worship service, there must be an encounter with God.
When we open our hearts honestly, we can meet God. When we sincerely open our hearts and repent, we can meet God. Therefore, confession is necessary in our worship. While feeling close to God, there must be an honest confession and conversation with God.
Second, rather than preaching-oriented worship, we should strive to create a worship where praise, prayer, and the Word are in harmony. The Word is important, but we need to make sure that praise is an important part of worship. Because it is said, “Serve the Lord and come before him with singing” (Psalm 100:2) and “Lord who dwells in the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). The apostle Paul said, “Let us always offer sacrifices of praise to God.”
Third, we must strive to become a community worship service in which both pastors and saints actively participate.
The worship of the early church was a communal worship. He said, “We made every effort to fellowship and pray, and all who believed were together, praising God” (Acts 2:42,47).
Fourth, we must make every effort to put the attention and focus of worship only on God.
The focus should be on exalting God and glorifying God. Although many of us come to worship, there are times when we get caught up in our thoughts about ourselves. Worship in spirit and in truth must place the purpose and focus of worship on God alone.
2. The true worship of God must be worship in the life of the saints.
Romans 12:1 says, “Let your bodies become living sacrifices acceptable to God.” The good will of God, the pleasing will, the perfect will, and living according to that will. The worship of life consists in realizing the grace of God. Realizing that I am living now and that everything is the grace of God, I give thanks, serve, and devote myself. Faith is always present. Today, we are living according to the will of God that pleases and wants us.
In order for our worship to become a lively worship, it must be a practical worship that promises to love the world and take responsibility for service. Worship that is evidenced by works is perfect worship. Consolation We must be those who love God and also love our neighbors.
Worship separated from reality becomes empty worship and abstract worship. Worship that promises to give love to one of the least is a lively worship. A worship that promises to do good and to share is a lively worship. Worship that resolves to care for orphans and widows becomes the true worship that God accepts.
Now we close the word. The purpose for which we were created and the purpose for which we were saved is to worship God. The first purpose of Sungcheon Church's existence here is to worship God in spirit and truth. That is what God is most pleased with. Through worship, we become healthy and beautiful. Now, let's do our best to have a lively worship together. The church exists for worship, and before doing anything else, worship must be the basic, center, and revitalize our souls through this worship.
If you fail in worship, you fail in life. If you succeed in worship, you will be successful in life. Let us all restore true worship and become successful in worship.