Worshipping God "in
spirit" means with reverence, attentiveness, and having the right purpose
of honoring God, while understanding what we are doing. Hebrews
12:28-29 says, "Let us have grace, by which we may
serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
For our God is a consuming fire." Our worship must glorify
God. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "For you were
bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your
spirit, which are God’s."
In order to worship
God in the right spirit, we must take time before worship to make ready
our hearts and emotions so we will be in the proper frame of mind.
We read in Psalms 89:7, "God is greatly to be feared
in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those
around Him." Our worship must show great reverence toward
God. He is our creator and He holds our eternal destiny in His
hands. We must strive to please Him. We should not have to
rush or hurry to worship, arriving late but should always plan to be there
early enough so we can be in a worshipful attitude and spirit.
Our mind must be ready, attentive, and
alert.
Concerning the
Lord’s Supper, we are warned in 1 Corinthians 11:27, "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the
Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of
the Lord." Our worship to God must be done in a worthy
manner. It must be done in a manner that brings glory and honor to
God and Christ. Continuing to read in verse 29, "For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner
eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s
body." We must control our thoughts during periods of
worship and not let them wander to other things. We should never be
wishing the worship service would hurry up and be over so we can get to
the restaurant early and not have to stand in line. In fact we
should be of the frame of mind that we are disappointed to see the worship
service end.
In showing
reverence and respect to God, we will not be indifferent, inattentive, and
taking lightly that which should be considered serious. Worship to
God is holy. Our character in worship must also be holy. In 1
Peter 1:15-16 we read, "But as He who called you is
holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written,
Be holy for I am holy."
Slouching over, sleeping, playing with babies, squirming, unnecessary
talking, and passing notes all show disrespect in worshipping God.
Worship which is insincere, that is not from the heart, is vain, useless,
and unacceptable to God. Jesus says, "This
people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me"
(Mark 7:6). Active participation will tend to get rid of our lack of
interest and inattentiveness.
Reverence is not
having a long face, folded hands, or a put on look of piety. Worship
is a time of joy for us. It is a time of offering thanks, adoration,
love, praying, singing praises to God, feeding on His word, and
proclaiming Christ to the world in partaking of the Lord’s
Supper.
Questions Lesson 2
Worshipping God In Spirit
(click on the button of the answer of your
choice)
1) (Hebrews 12:28-29) How are we to worship
God?
Any way we choose.
With reverence and godly fear.
The way our preacher says.
2)
It doesn’t matter how we worship God.
3) (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) All of our worship to
God including the
Lord’s Supper is to be done.
In a worthy manner.
In an unworthy manner.
Any way we see fit.
4)
We can worship God in what ever way we please.
5) (1 Corinthians 6:20) Since we were bought with
the blood of Christ.
We do not have to glorify God.
We are free to worship as we please.
We must glorify God in all we do.
6)
We are to glorify God because He bought us with a great
price.
7) (Psalms 89:7) Our worship to God.
Can be what we want to give Him.
Doesn't really matter to God.
Must be in reverence and fear.
8)
God is greatly to be feared and held in reverence.
9) (1 Peter 1:16-17) Because God is holy.
We should also be holy in all things, including our worship.
We cannot be holy.
In our worship we should be indifferent and inattentive.