BE A TRUE WORSHIPPER OF GOD

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

JUNE 19, 2022

TOPIC: BE A TRUE WORSHIPPER OF GOD

BY T.O. BANSO

“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 New King James Version).

In John 4, the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at Jacob’s well asked Him a religious question. She said, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” (John 4:19-20 New King James Version).

This could have been a question bothering her mind or she could have asked the question to avoid any discussion about her personal life, especially her marital status! Just before the woman asked this question, Jesus had asked her to go and call her husband. She replied that she had no husband. Jesus, who had never met her before, told her, “You have well said,  ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly” (John 4:17-18 New King James Version).

This accurate information about her from a stranger shocked this woman. She said she perceived that Jesus was a prophet. Then she immediately asked her the question about the controversy between the Jews and the Samaritans on where to worship God, which was a digression from her marital issue.

Jesus told her that the hour was coming when people would neither worship the Father (God) on the mountain (Mount Gerizim) where the Samaritans were worshipping God, nor in Jerusalem, where the Jews were worshipping Him. He said the Samaritans worshipped what they didn’t know while the Jews knew what they worshipped, for salvation was of the Jews. “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 New King James Version).

The Greek word translated as worshippers is proskunetes, which means an adorer (Strong’s Concordance). Also, the Greek word translated as worship, proskuneo, means “to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)” (Strong’s Concordance). Psalm 96:9 says, “Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth” (New King James Version).

To worship God is to reverence, adore, or honour Him. But it goes beyond the physical actions such as bowing down or prostrating before Him. It is more a thing of the heart. Quoting the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 29:13, Jesus said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9 New King James Version).

The hour Jesus spoke about has since come. What is important now is not the physical location of worship. We could worship God anywhere and everywhere. God is everywhere, not in one place. He is a spiritual being, not a physical being. What is important is how we worship Him, not where we worship Him. “‘For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:11 New King James Version). The Apostle Paul said he desired that the men prayed everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8). We can worship God anywhere and everywhere.

The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. This is what He seeks. True worship is with the heart, not just in form. “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3 New King James Version). Be a true worshipper. Worship the Father in spirit and truth. Worship Him sincerely and worship Him in spirit.

The Apostle Paul says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1 New King James Version). Some Bible translations render the word “service” as “worship.”

God is more concerned about the state of the heart of the worshipper than whatever gift he is coming to offer to Him. “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17 New King James Version).

God created us for Himself; He created us for His pleasure. We should worship Him. He does not exist just to meet our needs; He created us to worship Him. Psalm 100:3 says, “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (New King James Version). He also saved us to worship Him. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 New King James Version).

Give God the worship that He deserves. “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11 New King James Version). Don’t worship God with your lips while your heart is far from Him. Don’t worship Him in hypocrisy but in sincerity. Don’t worship foreign gods or idols. Worship the living God. Worship Him in spirit and truth. Be a true worshipper of God.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to worship the Father in spirit and truth. I shall worship the Father with the heart, not just in form. In the name of Jesus, I shall proclaim the praises of Him who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. I shall not worship any idol but the living God. I pray that those who draw near to God with their mouth and honour Him with their lips, but their heart is far from Him, will repent and worship Him in spirit and truth.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org