John 4:24
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
What is the point of regularly attending church, singing in the choir, spending nights in prayer and performing all sorts of sacred duties–but all in vain? Yet that possibility is not as remote as many of us would like to think! For the Lord Jesus says, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). It’s not your portion to worship in vain!
In the text above, Jesus explains that the only kind of worship the Father seeks is that which is done in spirit and truth. But what is “spirit” in the first place? For this and other definitions of biblical terms, we must consult the Bible itself. Firstly, observe that Jesus clarifies that a spirit does not have flesh and bones as the disciples could see in our incarnate Redeemer (Luke 24:39). So “God is Spirit” means God is not physical matter and God does not depend on matter.
God is above sensuous perception and is not a material being. Therefore, to worship God in spirit requires the engagement of our reborn spirits with God, who is Spirit–eternal, immortal, invisible and wise (1 Tim 1:17). So our worship is only valid when it is spirit-to-Spirit, not merely physical, emotional, visible or intellectual.
Understanding that God is Spirit rather than matter is a wonderful boost for our faith. It is so because walking by faith then makes sense. We know that even when there’s no shred of physical evidence, God is at work. We also worship by faith not by sight. By faith we enjoy the presence of the One we cannot see with our naked eyes but is more real than all that we see. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29b).
Don’t let materialism affect your walk with Christ and your worship. Don’t be obsessed with what you can see. That’s why many Christian folks have been deceived! Don’t rely on your senses to believe that God is real and is at work in your life. His goodness, power and presence have nothing to do with your feelings, sight or tangibility. In spite of the absence of physical or visible evidence, there is a hive of angelic activity in your favour. All things are still working together for your good. Don’t lose heart; your worship, prayers and faith are not in vain.
Pastor Josh