Deep Purpose

Dec. 9

The Transformed Life; Lesson 7

Read: John 4:1-45

Deep Purpose

“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

Our spirit is most fulfilled in worship. In other words, our spirits deepest meaning and purpose comes to life in worship. Worship is like exercise for our spirits. They are strengthened. They are energized. They feel most “alive” when they are worshipping. God is SEEKING… looking for … those who will actually worship in SPIRIT and in TRUTH. God doesn’t need people who worship in body only. God doesn’t want people who worship purely in the mind… or even in emotions. God is seeking those who worship IN SPIRIT along with truth. The mind and emotions are involved, no doubt. This is worshiping in “truth”: thinking correctly, knowing the Lord, an experiencing emotion … love. But this is not enough. As crazy as this sounds, God is seeking worshippers who are spiritually alive, whose spirits commune with His Spirit.

"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (4:24) Christian faith is not just a mental exercise, it is a supernatural… metaphysical… immaterial mater as well; it is “spiritual”. God is not just asking our bodies to show up. God is not just about believing the right ideas. God is not even that impressed by our fleeting emotional “events” and “feel good” parties. God is MOST pleased and our spirits most deeply seated in their purpose when we are worshipping “in spirit” and in truth.

We focus A LOT on the “in truth” part. Long messages about the scriptures and teaching ideas about God. This is NOT bad… we do need truth after all. But I am afraid not much effort is given to making room for response to the word in the Holy Spirit or in our spirits. Some of this goes back to the previous message… we are showing up with weak spirits who have not been fed. People are unaware that there is anything more available to them. When we move beyond worship as a matter of just showing up (body), or simply a mental exercise (soul / mind+emotion) we begin to participate in worship that also includes the S/spirit. THIS SORT OF WORSHIP IS WHAT GOD WANTS MOST.

Our spirits need food (the word of God), exercise (worship / ministry), and relationship (with the Holy Spirit and with the spirits of other believers) to live full and vibrant lives. WE need this… our souls and our bodies NEED a spirit functioning as it should be. I don’t want to “divide” us too much here, but I want us to understand how these dynamics work together. Have you felt “pointless” or that you lack purpose or meaning? This is your spirits rep hunger for worship. Have you felt weak and empty? This is your spirits hunger and need for exercise… feed your spirit with the word and exercise with worship. Take some time to worship in “spirit and n truth” today. Read the truth of God’s word for yourself today and then spend some time singing or praying… worshipping in light of that truth. Your spirit has been made ALIVE in Christ… let it LIVE fully. Love you guys. - JDP