What does it mean to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth? Jesus answered this question in John 4: 6-30 in His conversation with the woman at the well. In verses 23-24 we read: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.” During the past month God has been bringing this scripture to mind as He led me back in my own personal faith journey and to those of well-known men of faith from the past. This statement is the profound realization that I read recently that best explains my conclusion: “Unless there is a real passion for God, there is no worship in Spirit. At the same time, worship must be “in truth,” that is, properly informed. Unless we have knowledge of the God we worship, there is no worship in truth. Both are necessary for God-honoring worship. Spirit without truth leads to a shallow, overly emotional experience that could be compared to a high. As soon as the emotion is over, when the fervor cools, the worship ends. Truth without Spirit can result in a dry, passionless encounter that can easily lead to a form of joyless legalism. The more we know about God, the more we appreciate Him. The more we appreciate Him, the deeper our worship. The deeper our worship, the more God is glorified.”
Because I was raised in the Methodist Church I was familiar with the experiences of John and Charles Wesley who met up with a group of Moravian Christians on their voyage as missionaries to Georgia. The Wesley brothers envied their assurance of faith and peace in a storm at sea and during trying times on land. Upon their return to England, they sought out the Moravians, hoping to discover the secret to their faith. They taught them about Moravian spirituality, which included the belief that Christians have an assurance of faith experienced as love, peace, joy and the gifts of the Spirit. Those emotions were in short supply for each of the Wesley brothers at the time as ministers in the Church of England. Both were lead to a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit and were dispelled from the Anglican Church steeped in their religious tradition. John Wesley was forced to preach outdoors and his anointed life produced an open-air revival affecting thousands.
On New Year’s day in 1739, 60 Moravians, several Oxford ministers including John and Charles Wesley, the great revivalist George Whitfield, and some ministers of the Church of England gathered together at “Fetter Lane” for an event called “The Moravian Love Feast.” That night the power of God fell! As they prayed in the New Year, John Wesley wrote, “About three in the morning, as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe and amazement at the presence of His Majesty, we broke out with one voice, “We praise Thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord!”
The melding of Spirit and Truth in worship is summed up well by Jonathan Edwards, the 18th century American pastor and theologian. He said, “I should think myself in the way of my duty to raise the affections (emotions) of my hearers as high as possible I can, provided that they are affected with nothing but truth.” Edwards recognized that truth and only truth can properly influence the emotions in a way that brings honor to God. The truth of God, being of infinite value, is worthy of infinite passion!
In the late 1800’s, an awakening in South Africa led by Andrew Murray was a powerful move of God. Studying that revival yields essential insights concerning the events occurring now throughout the United States and in other places in the world. As the Spirit of God began to move in Cape Town, Murray compared the revival with past experiences of revival in Europe. He decided that the intense “emotionalism” was a false experience of God and charged in to break up the meeting. Stepping out of the church, he encountered his father standing and weeping. His father rebuked Andrew, “How dare you stop something that I have prayed to happen for 30 years!”
Looking back over my own spiritual journey, I can so identify with Murray’s reaction as I had some negative thoughts to some of the experiences in the Charismatic movement of the 70’s and 80’s that caused me to deny many of the gifts of the Spirit. I had been taught that there were four gifts that were temporary and were limited to the early church and until the canon of Scripture was complete—a span of 40 years. They were apostleship, prophecy, tongues and healing and that it is not imparted to a person today as to the apostles. I have come to see the error of this teaching as God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God brought me to key verses that address spiritual gifts. In Ephesians 4: 7-16 we learn that everyone is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ—some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers for the perfection of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ until we all come in the unity of the faith, speaking the truth in love. Verse 30 commands us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God—whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption. And in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-28 the enduing of the Holy Spirit is given to the members of the body of Christ with spiritual gifts which are enablements for service. The gifts are not left to human judgment or self-choosing but bestowed by God for the equipping of the saints. Romans 11: 29-30 AMP says: “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] Just as you were once disobedient and rebellious toward God but now have obtained His mercy, through their disobedience.” Satan’s lie to Christians today is—God can’t do anything if it is not what we have been taught by religion.
Through it all, God has revealed to me that there is a balance between order and freedom that is easily upset. What we know is that humans tend toward taking a level of control, which eventually inhibits the work of the Spirit of God. God never intended for the Church to be a religious organization but a Living Organism with Christ as its Head. I read where someone said: “God’s work can look “messy” when He is upsetting the status quo in order to get our attention and draw us to Himself during these Divine interruptions we call “revival” and “awakenings.” He knows how to build His church, and we don’t. He told us to make disciples, not build His church.” Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His final instructions to His followers in Acts 1:4 as they were assembled together to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father to send the Holy Spirit. He expounded upon the enduement and commission in verse 8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This was in fulfilment of the prophecy He spoke to them in John 14: 12-13: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” He gave us His Spirit and is praying for us!
God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. God is real, God has a plan, and God is in control even if it does not fit into our traditions and comfort zone. God is getting His Bride ready for the return of His Son and we still have many spots and wrinkles. “Evidence of Messiah was confirmed among you, so you are not lacking in any spiritual gift—as you eagerly wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. He will also strengthen you until the end—blameless in the Day of our Lord Jesus the Messiah—God is faithful.” (I Cor. 1: 4-9) God, let us see Your glory as we worship You in Spirit and Truth!