WORSHIP in SPIRIT and in TRUTH

“And what greater calamity can fall upon a nation than the loss of true worship.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (Italicized word added)
  
“Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped.” 
- Jack Hayford

“Thirsty hearts are those who’s longings have been awakened by the touch of God within them.”- A.W. Tozer

 
Humankind was created and designed in such a way that we would find our greatest joy, purpose, and fulfillment in the worship of the God who created us - and who is Lord of all. In light of our design, men and women of all generations end up worshiping someone or something.  The strategy of the god of this world, Satan, is to blind people to the One True God and deceive them into worshiping that which is false and illusory (2 Corinthians 4:4).

WORSHIP in the NEW TESTAMENT

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. - John 4:23-24 NKJV

“Worship” in Strongs Concordance is the Greek word #4352 = προσκυνεω proskuneo. It is used 4 times in John 4:23-24 and 60 times in the NT. The Online Bible Greek Lexicon defines proskuneo as:

(1) to kiss the hand of someone as a token of reverence.

(2) Among Orientals to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence. 

(3) In the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage or make obeisance whether to express respect or to make supplication.

THE GODS of OUR WORLD

The common idols worshiped in this generation are:

·      Wealth and materialism  

·      Fame

·      To be happy

·      To find true love

·      Sexual gratification

·      To be popular

·      To be successful

·      To be thin and in shape

·      Security

WORSHIP and LISTENING to GOD

God is often pleased to use listening and inner-healing prayer to enhance our worship of the Lord God Almighty as He truly is and to move us away from all that is false, impure, and debilitating to our faith. The enemy wants to rob us of the wonder of intimate connection with our Creator. As God speaks to us, He exposes hidden lies we're believing, faulty inner strategies, and inferior gods we're unwittingly serving. As we listen to Him as a lifestyle, He ministers deeply to the very core of our being.  His goals are to fully free us from conformity to the gods of our present media infected world culture, and supernaturally bring about a profound metamorphosis of the mind and heart. He wants to set us free to begin to share in the glorious liberty of the sons and daughters of God.

REFLECTION for GROWTH

“It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.”

- Calvin Coolidge

Listen to God over the following questions:

1.    How would you describe where you’re at in the purity, quality, sincerity, and experience of the worship of God?

2.    What is your greatest worship strength?

3.    What elements of inferior worship would you like to see God help you reduce and eliminate?

Would love to know your response to this post ... drop a comment below or by emailing L2G.Forum@gmail.com

You were created to worship!!!!

“It’s in the process of being worshiped that God communicates His presence to men.” C.S. Lewis

Examples of other New Testament verses using "worship" #4352 = προσκυνεω proskuneo:

• Matthew 2:2  saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship <4352> Him."
• Luke 4:8  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship <4352> the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’"
• Hebrews 1:6  But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let <4352> all the angels of God worship <4352> Him."
• The book of Revelation uses “worship” 27 times differentiating between the worship of the One True God on His throne in heaven and those who will be deceived into worshiping the antichrist beast (Rev 13:4, 12, 14:9, 11, 16:2, 19:20, 20:4).