GET TOGETHER- Be The Kind That He Is Looking For

Joh 4:20 -24″Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is 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.”

Since stepping aside as Pastor this past January, the Lord has given me the opportunity to either preach in, or to attend several different services in different congregations within the Body of Christ. During this time and actually throughout twenty three years of ministry the Lord has blessed me by seeing how that God shows up no matter what the particular brand of, or style of music is being used in a service. Or in the various ways that the order of the service was carried out.

I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence in services where Southern Gospel music was sung. I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence when contemporary music was being sung in the service. I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence in Liturgical services. I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence where the worship was more what some would term prophetic. And many times, where there was a combination of it all. If I left out some form out that you may enjoy, I most likely do too if Jesus is being exalted and the Holy Spirit’s presence is welcome.

You may be asking what I am getting at. Let’s look at what Jesus is saying to the woman that He met at Jacob’s well in the Samaritan city of Sychar. The Samaritans did not go to Jerusalem to worship anymore. Their worship had been polluted at one time when they were conquered by the Assyrians. The Assyrians brought in people that worshipped false gods and the Samaritans in the North had allowed this to pollute their worship. The Samaritans built a temple for themselves on “Mount Gerizim,” which the Samaritans insisted was designated by Moses as the place where the nation should worship.

We see that this woman is asking Jesus to settle a religious argument. Should we worship on this mountain, or are the Jews correct in saying that we should worship on this mountain? We might say should we have this kind of music? Should our services be without any planning? Should our services have everything planned out to every single detail? Should we have contemporary music? Should we sing only from a hymnal? Should we have the lights turned down? Should the lights be turned up?

I believe that Jesus has the correct answer. Worship the Father in spirit and in truth. I think the big key will be how that we are worshipping Him during the week. When we go to a service are, we going inspecting, or expecting?

I pray for all of us that we are worshipping Him daily in every way. When we are doing that then when we all come together no matter what style, or format that we may prefer we will experience the Holy Spirit’s presence.

To be honest I probably enjoy most a worship service that has some planning, but also leaves some room for spontaneity. Again, the key here is to be worshipping in spirit and in truth. So, this week be sure that you spend time with the Lord in prayer. Worship Him in song in your vehicle, at home, or anywhere that you may be. When that happens, I believe that you will be ready when you meet with your fellow believers to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I remember one time in particular something that happened at a service that I was attending. I had actually gone to the service hoping that it would be different in some way than the way that the service was going to be. Well when it came time for all of us to go forward and to be prayed over. The woman in front of me got so filled with the Holy Spirit that she hit the floor. By the way this was in a liturgical setting. I learned something that day. I went inspecting rather than expecting. I didn’t go worshipping in spirit and in truth. So, the next time that you attend a service go expecting. And be sure that you are worshipping in spirit and in truth. Be the kind that He is looking for!

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus what an awesome blessing that Your children can worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit not only when we come together, but we can worship You anytime and all of the time. Help us to be focused on You and not so much on ourselves. Because we know that when we worship in spirit and in truth we are positioned to be blessed as partakers in all of the blessings that the Father bestows on us.

In Jesus Name

Amen

We are looking forward to visiting and preaching at Aldersgate UMC in Dora this Sunday morning. We praise God that we met Jesus there and got rooted and grounded in the faith. We love you all.

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston