You Can Worship
If worship were common and understood among believers, God would not have to spend His time seeking for true worshippers. I wonder if the Samaritan woman understood the valuable knowledge in Jesus’ words to her as they stood at the well conversing. Jesus told her, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). The fact that Jesus was explaining worship to a woman that was a sinner, outcast, and who wanted no dealings with Him, tells us that anyone can worship. Being that we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we have the ability to worship; the question is do we have the knowledge to worship? Jesus made it clear to us that if we understand who God is (God is Spirit), then those who choose to worship Him must do it in two parts: in spirit and truth.
Spirit
Worshiping in the spirit is not physical but is an internal awakening by the Holy Spirit to help us understand and know the things of God, “No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11b). Sensing the presence of God all around you, not only at church but even at the grocery store. Knowing that you can have an entire internal conversation with the Holy Spirit right in your living room because you have learned to approach God in the spirit. His magnificent power and holiness are ever before you, leading you into a relationship with Him, a closeness that only He can provide. No one can tell you that He is not real, because you feel Him in your spirit. He meets you in your mind and in your heart. Your spirit reverences Him and rejoices over Him.
Truth
The second part of worship is truth. Worship is a reaction to truth, and that truth is found in the Word of God. God has revealed Himself in scripture, and studying His Word brings about truth. This truth is arrived at without His supernatural intervention because God wants us to know Him through our own observations. This truth is intellectual and rational; it is understood through reality. God gave humans free will to make choices based on logic, facts, and evidence set before them. When we use our intellectual abilities to study the scriptures, review the evidence of nature, and come to the understanding that God exists and is holy, then worship towards God is genuine and true.
What Happened to Worship?
“Worship” is proskuneó in the Greek, and its meaning is straightforward: to do reverence to. God is seeking worshippers that reverence Him, but it has become scarce among believers. Something evil is taking place; Satan wants our worship for himself. Let’s revisit Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by Satan.
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matt 4:8-10).
Distractions, doubt, and lack of knowledge have corrupted what is rightfully God’s: true worship. There is an attack on worship today, just as it was when Jesus was worshipping in the wilderness. The enemy has twisted our knowledge of worship. Some believe music, singing, and lifting of hands is worship, but those are beautiful expressions of your internal worship. Let’s have the same response as Jesus, “Away from me, Satan! I will worship the Lord my God and serve Him only.
You Can Worship
Once again, Jesus was right! Combining these two powerful elements of worship, spirit and truth, together leaves no room for doubt. A believer who knows God in the spirit and logically in truth is sought after by God Himself. You can worship! You have everything in you to achieve real worship because God made you in His image and likeness. Put all of your God-given faculties towards knowing Him in spirit and truth. Present your body as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). God is looking for you. Let Him find you worshipping.