God has promised us in Scripture that when we draw near to Him then He will draw near to us. Worship is the way for us to draw near to God and enter into His presence.
John 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.”
Jesus told this woman that a new day would dawn where everyone would be able to worship God regardless of locations. The hour would come and for us the hour has already arrived because we live in a time where all the sacrificial system has been done away and the ultimate sacrifice is found in Jesus Christ who has paid the price once and for all. The blood of Jesus Christ has satisfied the wrath of God! We are able to freely run into the throne of grace to worship, find help and mercy in time of need.
God is seeking worshipers who worship Him in spirit and truth.
True worship is about God. We revere and honor and adore Him, not simply because of what He does for us but for who He is. A biblical theology of worship will result in worship that produces a change of heart. The worshiper will have a greater desire to love and obey the Lord. Worship and service go hand in hand; worship of God should propel us into greater obedience. Jesus said those who love Him will keep His commandments. If we say we love and worship Him, but do not obey Him, our worship is worthless.
We are always in such a rush during our weekly worship because we are so easily distracted, especially our present generation. Therefore, we drag our feet to come early to church to participate in the worship segment. It is wrong for people to skip the praise and worship segment and to be late, because that’s not honoring God. The worship service is ALL about God. Worship is connecting God with our spirit/heart. It is a heart to Spirit connection. We need to praise until the spirit of worship comes upon us and we worship until the glory falls thereafter we stand in His glory.
Sermon Series: CG Campaign – Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow (Part 7)
以心灵和诚实敬拜
神在圣经中应允我们，当我们亲近祂，祂就会亲近我们。敬拜是我们亲近并进入祂的同在的方式。
约翰福音4：20-24我们的祖宗在这山上礼拜．你们倒说、应当礼拜的地方是在耶路撒冷。耶稣说、妇人、你当信我、时候将到、你们拜父、也不在这山上、也不在耶路撒冷。你们所拜的、你们不知道．我们所拜的、我们知道．因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。时候将到、如今就是了、那真正拜父的、要用心灵和诚实拜他、因为父要这样的人拜他。神是个灵．〔或无个字〕所以拜他的、必须用心灵和诚实拜他。
耶稣告诉这个妇人，新的一天将会来临，每个人无论身在何处都可以敬拜神。对我们来说，这个时刻已经到了，我们就生活在一个所有的传统献祭都已除去的时代，因为耶稣基督已为我们一劳永逸地付出了代价，成了最终的祭物。耶稣基督用祂的宝血平复了神的愤怒！我们可以在有需要的时候，自由地进入神恩典的宝座去敬拜，寻求帮助与怜悯。
神在寻找以心灵和诚实敬拜祂的信徒。
真正的敬拜是关于神的。我们崇拜，尊荣和喜爱祂，这不仅是因为祂为我们所做的，而更是因为祂是谁。圣经中的敬拜神学是让敬拜产生心灵的改变。敬拜者将有更大的渴望去爱并服从主。敬拜与服事是相辅相成的。敬拜神应当促使我们更加顺服。耶稣说，爱祂的人会遵守祂的诫命。如果我们说我们爱和敬拜祂，却不听从祂，那么我们的敬拜是毫无价值的。
在每周的礼拜中，我们总是显得如此仓促，因为我们很容易分心，尤其是我们这一代人。因此，我们对早早来到教堂参加敬拜的部分总是拖拖拉拉。人们在敬拜活动中避开赞美和崇拜的部分，并且迟到是不对的，因为那是不尊重神。敬拜服事全乎于神。敬拜使神与我们的心灵相连。这是心与灵的联系。我们需要赞美，直到敬拜的属灵降临在我们身上，我们敬拜，直到荣耀降临，然后我们站在祂的荣耀中。
讲道系列：细胞小组活动 – 教会通过属灵恩赐得以成长 (7)