Scripture:
John 4:21-24 NKJV
[21] Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. [22] You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. [23] But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. [24] God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Observation:
I love the story about the woman at the well. So many questions are answered in just a short amount of scripture. By what seems to be a chance encounter but turns out to be a divine appointment. When the woman whose name is still unknown comes on the scene, It seems she is honestly trying to avoid people. Finding her way to the well in the midday sun was not common practice for Samaria and women. Most of them would go in the morning when the day was cool and the sun was not hot on their neck. But this woman had a lifestyle that was not exactly something to be proud of. One failed relationship after another brought her to the point of avoiding people. An empty life of chasing love from someone who was incapable of doing it properly. But this day would be different. An encounter with Jesus would leave her realizing she had everything she needed. All she needed to do was allow her attention to be drawn to the one who would die for her. After a short conversation about her life of sin, she came to understand that the man she was standing next to was not just anyone. But the Messiah and the conversation started to take a turn. Jesus wanted her to know that a lifestyle change was about to take place for her. Living the way she was just wasn’t going to work. Proclaiming freedom yet still being in bondage to sin was only going to create confusion. In short, Jesus tells the woman. There is a time coming when it won’t matter where you are because you will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. I see this statement as one meant to define what it means to truly worship GOD. To put HIM first in all things. Whether or not you’re in a building that most of us call a church or not. The Jewish people were GOD’S chosen group of people and salvation at that point had come to them. However, a veil was about to be torn that would allow all to come into the presence of GOD the Father and Jesus knew it. Making the statement you worship what you do not know was HIS way of saying you don’t know my Father, but I can change that, and soon it’s not going to matter whether or not you are in a building or on a hill because you will realize that the Father is a spirit and lives inside of you and that spirit will speak truth into your spirit. That truth will change your lifestyle, and you will worship YAHWAH by the way you live as a result.
Application:
The day I received the Holy Spirit changed my life. The sin I used to live in with comfort was no longer comfortable. In fact, it started to hurt. I would find myself saying something or doing something and thinking… I’m not supposed to be saying or doing this. Slowly and steadily, my life began to change. As the Holy Spirit saw fit, and when HE saw that the timing was perfect, HE would advance my foot to yet another stepping stone in the walk of faith. Always asked me if I was ready to let go of another piece of my sinful lifestyle. HE never forced me. HE would always ask me. HIS spirit lives inside of me. After years of reading the bible and studying what HIS specific plan was for me. I came to the realization that I was supposed to tell others of the same freedom I have experienced and how it can happen to them. It all started with a desperate cry for love. I didn’t realize I already had. Several times in jail cells, homeless camps, and trap houses HE would come to me and say… don’t you know you don’t have to live like this? I just wanted someone to love me and accept me. The day I heard HIM say, “I DO,” I fell to my knees and asked HIM into my life. HIS spirit has continued to mold and shape me from that day forward, and my lifestyle has become an act of worship. I want to feel HIS presence throughout my day. Everywhere I go. HE is with me. The spirit of truth lives inside of me. When my heart hurts, HE comforts me when I get off track. HE guides me when I feel like I am alone. HE tells me that HE will never leave me. HE fills my cup when it seems to be running empty. HIS word has become my guard rails. They keep me heading towards the narrow gate. My life has been made to honor and worship him in all I do and say. My honest desire is that you understand this feeling, and if you don’t, I believe I know how to help. Just surrender, give it all to HIM, and ask HIM to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Ask Jesus to be your LORD and SAVIOR. You can do it right where you are. That moment changed my life, and it can change you as well. I still make mistakes. But when I do, the Holy Spirit helps guide me back to the Father. I believe my lifestyle is that of someone who worships in spirit and in truth, and my hope is that yours is too.
Prayer:
Father, we love you, and we want our cup to be filled with your Holy Spirit. Our desire is to live a life that brings you glory and honor. Your word tells us that the same Spirit the rose Christ from the dead lives inside of us, and we want our lives to reflect that from how we live to how we speak. Help us live and worship the way you would have us do in spirit and in truth. I also want to ask Father that if there are some reading this that don’t know you you would take the time to introduce YOURSELF to them. Whisper in their ear. Show them the better way to fill them with your Spirit. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.