In Spirit & In Truth
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
What a powerful statement: The Father is seeking for worshippers, but worship must be according to His terms, in spirit and truth. The Bible teaches that we are three-part beings: spirit, soul and body. (1 Thess. 5:23)
We live in a body, our earthly suit. Our soul is where our will and emotions take place, and often is full of thanksgiving when we have intimacy with God. Though, it is the spirit the one that relates to the Spirit of God in worship, allowing us to have direct communion with Him, since God is Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot truly worship Him; for it changes everything, it gives us a new dimension and appreciation of what worship ought to be.
In truth, requires sincere hearts. It means that worship happens in surrender, for we do not offer worship to any human being, at any time; only to the Lord.
In the Old Testament, in connection to the sacrifices, the book of Leviticus illustrates what can be offer and what cannot be offer.
He demands that incense must always be offered in every sacrifice. “‘When anyone brings a grain offering to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour. They are to pour olive oil on it, put incense on it and take it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” (Lev. 2:1-2)
Incense in the Old Testament is a type of worship. It is an aromatic gum that comes from a tree and has no beauty in itself, but once it burns, it gives a great fragrance – that’s what our worship becomes to Him.
On the other hand, there’s another thing that must not be given as an offering: honey. “Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord.” (Lev. 2:11)
Now honey, before it’s in the fire is sweet and tasty, but when it’s burned it becomes a black, bitter, sticky mess. And what the Lord is saying is “Don’t you offer to Me any worship that won’t stand the fire. Offer to me incense, because the more the fire, the sweeter it becomes. But don’t offer to me worship that when you’re tested and tried, becomes a black, bitter, sticky mess.” Think of that.
Ask yourself, ‘Am I putting honey on my prayers, or are they with filled with incense? Am I telling God sweet things that I won’t live out, or am I praying to him in spirit and in truth?’