True Worship: Connecting with God in Spirit

 

Summary

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman about the living water that quenches all thirst, symbolizing the fullness of life in Christ. This conversation highlights the essence of true Christian worship, which is to worship God in spirit and truth. The challenge for many believers is overcoming the hindrances that prevent them from fully receiving this spiritual fullness. These hindrances often stem from false ideas about worship and God, which can lead to a superficial understanding of faith.

True worship requires a deep, spiritual connection with God, facilitated by the Holy Spirit. This connection is not about external rituals but about an internal transformation that allows believers to experience God's presence genuinely. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers in prayer, helping them to pray in the spirit, which is essential for a vibrant spiritual life. This kind of prayer is not about reciting words but about being led by the Spirit to pray with sincerity and faith.

The Spirit also helps believers understand their access to God through Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of being justified by faith. This understanding allows believers to approach God with confidence, knowing that their sins are forgiven and they are accepted in His presence. The Spirit of adoption enables believers to cry out to God as their Father, fostering a personal and intimate relationship with Him.

In practical terms, praying in the spirit involves a conscious awareness of God's presence, a sense of privilege in approaching Him, and a living, vibrant communion with Him. It is not about mechanical recitations but about a heartfelt connection that is alive and dynamic. This kind of prayer is essential for the church and the world today, as it is through such prayer that the Spirit moves and brings about transformation and revival.

Key Takeaways:

- True worship is about worshiping God in spirit and truth, moving beyond external rituals to a genuine spiritual connection facilitated by the Holy Spirit. This connection allows believers to experience the fullness of life in Christ. [02:34]

- The Holy Spirit guides believers in prayer, helping them to pray in the spirit. This involves a deep awareness of God's presence and a sincere, faith-filled approach to prayer, rather than mere recitation of words. [05:38]

- Understanding our access to God through Jesus Christ is crucial. The Spirit enlightens us about being justified by faith, allowing us to approach God with confidence, knowing our sins are forgiven. [26:45]

- The Spirit of adoption enables believers to cry out to God as their Father, fostering a personal and intimate relationship with Him. This is the essence of praying in the spirit, where the believer feels a deep connection with God. [30:13]

- Praying in the spirit is a living, vibrant act of communion with God. It is characterized by a sense of privilege, awareness of God's presence, and a dynamic interaction that goes beyond mechanical recitations. [38:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Living Water
- [00:29] - The Christian Message
- [01:05] - Hindrances to Spiritual Fullness
- [01:25] - The Samaritan Woman's Encounter
- [01:54] - False Ideas of Worship
- [02:34] - True Worship in Spirit and Truth
- [03:12] - Revelation of God Through Christ
- [04:07] - Hypocrisy in Worship
- [05:19] - Praying in the Spirit
- [06:43] - Sensitivity to the Spirit's Leading
- [09:11] - The Prayer of Faith
- [12:51] - Spirit-Prepared Prayer
- [15:49] - The Spirit's Role in Prayer
- [18:43] - Historical Examples of Spirit-Led Prayer
- [21:23] - Active Participation in Prayer
- [23:24] - The Presence of God in Prayer
- [26:45] - Justification by Faith
- [30:13] - Spirit of Adoption
- [32:36] - Regular and Exceptional Prayer
- [34:14] - Realization of God's Presence
- [38:26] - Sense of Privilege in Prayer
- [42:06] - Living Act of Prayer
- [46:18] - The Need for Spirit-Led Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 4:13-14
2. John 4:23-24
3. Romans 5:1-2

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Observation Questions:

1. In John 4:13-14, what does Jesus promise to those who drink the water He gives? How does this relate to the concept of "living water"? [00:11]

2. According to John 4:23-24, what are the characteristics of true worshipers, and how are they expected to worship God? [02:34]

3. How does Romans 5:1-2 describe the believer's access to God, and what role does faith play in this access? [26:45]

4. In the sermon, what are some hindrances mentioned that prevent believers from experiencing the fullness of life in Christ? [01:05]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to worship God "in spirit and truth," and how does this differ from merely following religious rituals? [02:34]

2. How does the Holy Spirit assist believers in overcoming false ideas about worship and God, as mentioned in the sermon? [01:54]

3. In what ways does the understanding of being justified by faith, as described in Romans 5:1-2, impact a believer's confidence in approaching God? [26:45]

4. How does the Spirit of adoption, as discussed in the sermon, change the way believers relate to God as their Father? [30:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal prayer life. How often do you find yourself reciting prayers mechanically rather than engaging in a heartfelt connection with God? What steps can you take to pray more in the spirit? [05:38]

2. Consider the concept of "living water" that Jesus offers. How can you seek to experience this fullness of life in Christ more deeply in your daily walk? [00:11]

3. Identify any false ideas about worship or God that you might hold. How can you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to correct these misconceptions? [01:54]

4. Think about a time when you felt distant from God. How did understanding your justification by faith help you regain confidence in approaching Him? [26:45]

5. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in your life, especially during prayer? What practical steps can you take to foster this awareness? [34:14]

6. Reflect on your relationship with God as your Father. How does the Spirit of adoption influence your prayers and your understanding of God's love for you? [30:13]

7. In what ways can you encourage others in your small group or community to move beyond external rituals and engage in true worship in spirit and truth? [02:34]

Devotional

Day 1: Worship Beyond Rituals
True worship is about worshiping God in spirit and truth, moving beyond external rituals to a genuine spiritual connection facilitated by the Holy Spirit. This connection allows believers to experience the fullness of life in Christ. [02:34]

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on rituals rather than seeking a genuine connection with God? How can you begin to shift your focus towards worshiping in spirit and truth today?


Day 2: Spirit-Led Prayer
The Holy Spirit guides believers in prayer, helping them to pray in the spirit. This involves a deep awareness of God's presence and a sincere, faith-filled approach to prayer, rather than mere recitation of words. [05:38]

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Romans 8:26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers today, moving beyond recitation to a heartfelt conversation with God?


Day 3: Confidence Through Justification
Understanding our access to God through Jesus Christ is crucial. The Spirit enlightens us about being justified by faith, allowing us to approach God with confidence, knowing our sins are forgiven. [26:45]

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What doubts or fears hold you back from approaching God with confidence? How can the truth of justification by faith transform your relationship with Him today?


Day 4: Intimacy with the Father
The Spirit of adoption enables believers to cry out to God as their Father, fostering a personal and intimate relationship with Him. This is the essence of praying in the spirit, where the believer feels a deep connection with God. [30:13]

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy with God as your Father today? What steps can you take to embrace your identity as His child?


Day 5: Dynamic Communion with God
Praying in the spirit is a living, vibrant act of communion with God. It is characterized by a sense of privilege, awareness of God's presence, and a dynamic interaction that goes beyond mechanical recitations. [38:26]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you make your prayer life more dynamic and alive? How can you remain watchful and thankful in your communion with God today?

Quotes


jesus answered and said unto her whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life that is one of these great statements of what it is to be a Christian what it is the Christian message offers to us that is the position into which it would bring us and the great question before resolved is we enjoying this great and glorious blessing have we received from the Lord Jesus Christ of his fullness and grace upon grace [00:11]

the hour cometh and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth for the father seeketh such to worshipping God is spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth now this is what we are dealing with at the moment are we true worshipers how are we worshiping God in spirit and in truth we've seen already that that implies a true ideas to what worship is true again also of God and we know nothing of God apart from this revelation [02:19]

we must worship Him in spirit which some would translate worship him by is the spirit comes to the same thing exactly this is the thing that's emphasized in the whole of the New Testament it is speaking generally the great difference between Old Testament and New Testament worship the prophets look forward to this to the worship under the spirit and now we just come so the Apostle Paul is able to say in Philippians 3:3 we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit of by the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh [04:24]

the Holy Spirit is to lead us to instruct us to guide us and indeed to prompt us in this very matter of prayer and there is nothing more important than our realization of this you see our Lord is drawing a contrast here between a mechanical formal cold external type of worship he says that isn't it it must be in the spirit and the spirit alone can produce this and he does so by working upon us and working in our minds were in our desires working in the whole of our being [07:48]

the prayer is created in us by the Spirit Himself there is a certainty about it now people have often taken those texts and they've tried to work themselves up into a kind of certainty when you pray believe that you've already received it and so on and so they've tried to persuade themselves that this is true but then the prayer isn't answered at any rate not answered in the way that they expected in the way in which they asked and they're cast down and they begin to doubt God and his promises no that is due to a misunderstanding of the meaning of this prayer of faith [11:27]

he prepares our heart to pray gives us the petition if you like and then he hears the petition that he himself has placed in our heart but the first move is to prepare our hearts the prayer then comes out of our hearts he hears it and he answers it there are many examples of this in the scriptures and kamila their most important and most fascinating people often get into trouble as I say that's why I'm calling attention to this state for instance that good story to which James refers there in his fifth chapter of his epistle [12:52]

the Spirit has enlightened us he gives us this assurance and we need it every time we attempt to pray you've got to answer in accusing conscience before you can pray with any boldness and with any assurance so the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews he puts it in his own striking manner like this having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest of all how by the blood of hazel by a new and living way which he had consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh and having a high priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water [28:12]

ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but he have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father oh that's real proud you see you don't bow down before whatever God's maybe you don't burn down the fossum God with distant or you don't bow down in easy familiarity with the God whom you think is much nearer than he really is no no you know what you're doing because the Spirit has created within us this spirit of abduction he's revealed God to us as the father the very thing our Lord is telling this woman of Samaria shall worship the father in spirit and in truth [30:13]

the realization of God's presence if you realize God's presence you needn't have any dough you won't have any doubt you are praying in the spirit you can get on your knees and utter words but you're not conscious of the presence of God you may be talking to yourself your mind may be elsewhere and your imagination but this is absolute to know the presence of God to realize the presence is an absolute proof that you are praying in the spirit because as I just been saying it is the spirit that gives us this blessed assurance [34:03]

sense of privilege being in the holiest of all being in the presence of God Christian friends how much do we know about this there are people you know who give strange expressions with regard to prayer they talked liberty of having their cutie they mean quiet time but refer to going into the presence of an ADD my cutie do we realize what we are saying isn't this the explanation of the poverty of our lives and the poverty of the world condition and state of the church why she so ineffective and why things are as they are [38:26]

prayer in the spirit is always something that realizes the presence of God and there is on all that is a humility that is a humbling reverence and godly fear but you say there so just what it doesn't I'm good in the New Testament to you that's exactly where people misunderstand these distinctions Darb is still the same God what the Spirit does is to give me assurance as to my acceptance but that doesn't change my idea of God it should deepen it it should enhance it and it is always done so in the case of God's true people [41:06]

living act now we all know what it is to feel deadness in prayer difficulty in prayer tongue-tied nothing to say is it well and you have to force yourself and compel yourself and try we all are familiar with this well to the extent that that is true of us we are not praying in the spirit the Spirit is a spirit of life as well as of truth and the first thing that he always does is to make everything living and vital and of course there is all the difference in the world between the life and the liveliness that is produced by the spirit and that kind of artifact the kind of attempt and endeavor of people to do it in a bright and breezy way [42:06]

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Transcript
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