“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
– John 4:23-24 NIV
This scripture tells us that God seeks for us to worship Him in “Spirit and Truth.” What does that mean?
In Spirit: Is our spirit is completely submitted and surrendered to the Holy Spirit?
To worship in spirit, we must surrender our thoughts/knowledge, feelings/emotions, and desires/will to the Holy Spirit.
“Spiritual affections, as shown in fervent prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, form the worship of an upright heart, in which God delights and is glorified.” (Matthew Henry)
In Truth: How do we worship in truth? We must come to God just as we are. We must come without false pretensions. We don’t have to present ourselves as more than we really are. God sees us as we are. We must focus our attention on Him.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
-Luke 18:10-14 NIV
