Jesus states that “true worshipers worship God in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24). Thus only the spiritual man who lives by the Spirit knows how to worship God according to God’s spiritual requirement.
Jesus also states that the Spirit alone gives eternal life, Human effort accomplishes nothing. His words are spirit and life. The Holy Spirit reveals God to us in God’s words (truth). Thus only the spiritual man who discerns and understands the truth in the Word of God know how to worship God according to the plumb line standard of God.
Someone may feel unfairly left behind. How can such a rule be set? But Jesus says, God is Spirit. God is the Word (John 1:1). This is the reason. How else do you think you can reach Him or His wave length unless you become like Him? if you believe in God you just have to follow His standard (plumb line). Otherwise you need not attempt to reach Him as He does not know you.
The watchman too had once been worshipping in his soul (mind and emotion) for a long time, until one day when his spirit man was waken as he submitted to the Holy Spirit. God does not want anyone left behind. He has given every believer of Jesus the Holy Spirit and a measure of faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 “We live by faith, not by sight.” Indeed, by faith, you too can receive the benefits of the Holy Spirit just as any other believers who submit themselves to God. Many have lived by faith and worshipped God in the way He wants.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:27 By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Who would in his sane mind would leave his long established successful and prosperous home ground and want to go to a place which location he does not even know? Who would in his sane mind forego all the palace prestige and comfort as a prince and go into the desert as a fugitive? Who would in his sane mind would want to carry out the cumbersome rituals involving the passover lamb-sprinkling of blood? Who would in their sane mind would want to walk on the sudden appearance of land in the midst of roaring deep blue sea to the shore beyond? Who in their sane mind would want to march in silence seven times round a strong fortified city for seven days expecting the walls to fall by themselves amidst trumpet sound and people shouting?
No one with ‘sane’ mind (according to the natural standard of this world) would do any of the above acts. But they are all acts of faith by people of faith. They believe in a supernatural God wholeheartedly. They cannot see the Holy Spirit but they believe. They follow obediently and faithfully.
When acts of faith take shape in the physical realm, they in fact mirror supernatural actions in the spiritual realm.
God has given every believer of Jesus the same capacity to receive good gifts by faith. Galatians 3:14 He (Jesus) redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Yes, you can be the true worshipper God is looking for. Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. There may not be another opportunity. Open your heart and receive. Submit and let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God raise you to the faith level He has already given you.
There is no option but to worship the true God Almighty, because you need protection from all evil (more so in this end time). Ezra 8:22 “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship Him.” The priest teacher so declared to the alien king (who believed too). 8:23 “So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and He heard our prayer.” Thus, Ezra and company traveled for four months on foot and arrived safely with their children, their goods and above all the treasures that the priests were entrusted to carry to the temple of God in Jerusalem.
“And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way.” (Ezra 8:31)
In spirit means in spirit, not in mind, not in emotion. Worship in spirit today! In truth means in the Word of God, not in your words, not in man’s words, not in words from your own mind. Worship in truth today! Otherwise, You have no effective protection.
No comments:
Post a Comment