In considering the character of our worship we want to take notice of the manner in which we are to employ words in worship.
There are two qualifying terms given to us in John 4:24 that will govern the words that we employ in worship. They are 'spirit' and 'truth'.
Our worship must be in 'spirit'. It is not sufficient just to utter words in God's presence and for these words to be acceptable.
The Saviour said to the Pharisees of His day, in Matt 15:7-9: Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
It is therefore simply not sufficient to draw near with our words, described here as 'mouth' & 'lips', while the heart or the spirit is not in the right state. God is not content with any old form of words. These words must be expressed in a certain way.
It is the first of these two qualifying terms that we want to dwell upon today. |
