Sermon Nuggets Fri. March 14, 2008
Theme- Harvest
Verses- John 4:36-38 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true.
38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."(NIV)
Willing Workers
To the Jew sowing was a sad and laborious time; it was the harvester that experienced joy. Jesus said this is a joy both share. You not only weed and water, but participate in the joy and gladness by seeing people respond by faith to Christ, even though not everyone is a harvester.
Will you answer the call to be faithful to the task He gives? And then realize He rewards all faithful workers. All get their wages. If we refuse we miss the gladness, we miss the joy of seeing God at work in and through us, we miss the reward. We know that it is not our own wisdom, power and insight, but God in us doing the work. That is fulfilling. It is fulfilling to see the power of the gospel at work. It is fulfilling to see others discover and grow in truth. It is fulfilling to see changed lives. It is fulfilling to realize that in our ordinary and common lives God is building His kingdom and we are part of it.
It was a good experience for me personally to be involved in the earliest stages of the planning of Ralph Bell Crusade to come into our community a number of years ago. He was an associate evangelist with Billy Graham. Joe Gillespie was the front man and organizer for the Ralph Bell team. He spent countless hours writing, riding, delivering seminars, meeting with the people going over agenda items. When the time came for the crusade Joe was not feeling well. He had a backlog of other work. He was preparing two other crusades in the future. He was tired; many nights on the road. Since his work with us was done, I asked if he was actually going to stay for the meetings. He looked at me like I was crazy. “Man, Dale, this is what I’ve been working for, now I want to see the fruit.”
So every night but one Joe was there in the background seeing people come forward and making some significant decisions for Christ in their lives. This is what we are working for. Some are sowers and workers and seldom see the harvest. Others like Bell and Graham are blessed of God to be the harvesters. They reap by preaching the Word and see people respond. They know that it is the work of the Holy spirit using many others years before to do the sowing, watering, weeding and working. It must be the Lord working through willing and obedient followers. Are you ready to let Him use you for the harvest?
None of us feel as if we do it very well. But the only evangelist you’ll ever see is a bad one who didn’t give up. Keep working the field that God gives you. Pray for more workers for the harvest.
Pastor Dale
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Open your eyes John 4:35-38
Sermon nuggets Thur March 13, 2008
Theme- Harvest
Verses- John 4:35-38 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (NIV)
Open your eyes.
How do we see the things God wants us to see? That question is on my mind more.
It is obvious that there are many things right in front of our eyes that we don’t perceive as being from God, God at work, or tasks God wants to do in and through us. Jesus said things like “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Or John 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
The lesson on ripe fields is open your eyes. Do not wait, now is the time to reap. The harvest is all around us. People need the Lord right now and many are ready, if we only would look around us with the eyes that come from the Holy Spirit.
Part of seeing is wanting to. In your reading and in your prayers ask God to show you what He wants you to see. When you casually meet someone, get a magazine, or phone call, ask is this someone or something God wants me to respond to in a special way? If someone is on your mind could it a visit, or email, or encouraging note be something God wants to use? Maybe when you are moved hearing of floods in Ecuador, or Bibles for Egypt, or needs for the Pregnancy center, is God wanting you to send an offering? Pray about that.
Part of spiritual preparation is to be ready each day to ask God for leading in your life. It is asking God to give you courage and wisdom and obedience to obey the things you know He wants you to do. Look at the needs around you and if you do not see them, ask God to show them to you.
It grieves me and challenges me as I go to the conferences. For in the USA, I see very lots of work, but only few people who respond to the gospel. In world mission, I see lots of response but only a few workers. People are turned on, excited and churches growing. Many are being baptized in countries where it is illegal to evangelize. 1,000s are coming to Christ. More Muslims are turning to Christ than at any previous time in history because of radio, magazines, TV, and distribution of Bibles. Yet in some areas there is resistance. Japan and Native American work seems so slow to see response. But as God leads his workers there, the harvest is ripening. Sowing or reaping are both from God.
Some are waiting for the four more months when the harvest normally comes according to Jesus words. It is procrastination. The false belief of many believers; I’ve got plenty of time to witness, to work, to share, later, someday I’m going to speak to my friend about Jesus but not just now. I’ll write them a note sometime but not now.
The time for Harvest is not seen because God needs to do something in our hearts first. "Lord change me". is a prayer that is hard to pray. The Disciples could not imagine the Samaritans could be saved. You might think, "My neighbor is not ready, that person drinks, is on drugs, is living with someone not their mate. They are not ready to respond to Jesus. They have a lot of changing to do before they are ready to come to Jesus. That culture is closed to the Gospel." You might be surprised.
Or some will think they are not properly trained. But to invite someone to join you to watch the Jesus video, come to church, join you at a concert, or have him over for dinner puts people in positions to hear the story and testimony of what Jesus means to you. All people need love and acceptance; all people are looking for hope, and friendship, and belonging.
Pastor Bob Brunko said, “Our Lord is not saying that people are eagerly clamoring to be witnessed to, to be preached at or to become religious or churchy. But our Lord is saying that the needs, hunger, cravings and emptiness are still there. People are not hungering to go to church or be religious but they are hungering for Jesus."
The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will see the things that He wants us to see.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Harvest
Verses- John 4:35-38 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (NIV)
Open your eyes.
How do we see the things God wants us to see? That question is on my mind more.
It is obvious that there are many things right in front of our eyes that we don’t perceive as being from God, God at work, or tasks God wants to do in and through us. Jesus said things like “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Or John 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
The lesson on ripe fields is open your eyes. Do not wait, now is the time to reap. The harvest is all around us. People need the Lord right now and many are ready, if we only would look around us with the eyes that come from the Holy Spirit.
Part of seeing is wanting to. In your reading and in your prayers ask God to show you what He wants you to see. When you casually meet someone, get a magazine, or phone call, ask is this someone or something God wants me to respond to in a special way? If someone is on your mind could it a visit, or email, or encouraging note be something God wants to use? Maybe when you are moved hearing of floods in Ecuador, or Bibles for Egypt, or needs for the Pregnancy center, is God wanting you to send an offering? Pray about that.
Part of spiritual preparation is to be ready each day to ask God for leading in your life. It is asking God to give you courage and wisdom and obedience to obey the things you know He wants you to do. Look at the needs around you and if you do not see them, ask God to show them to you.
It grieves me and challenges me as I go to the conferences. For in the USA, I see very lots of work, but only few people who respond to the gospel. In world mission, I see lots of response but only a few workers. People are turned on, excited and churches growing. Many are being baptized in countries where it is illegal to evangelize. 1,000s are coming to Christ. More Muslims are turning to Christ than at any previous time in history because of radio, magazines, TV, and distribution of Bibles. Yet in some areas there is resistance. Japan and Native American work seems so slow to see response. But as God leads his workers there, the harvest is ripening. Sowing or reaping are both from God.
Some are waiting for the four more months when the harvest normally comes according to Jesus words. It is procrastination. The false belief of many believers; I’ve got plenty of time to witness, to work, to share, later, someday I’m going to speak to my friend about Jesus but not just now. I’ll write them a note sometime but not now.
The time for Harvest is not seen because God needs to do something in our hearts first. "Lord change me". is a prayer that is hard to pray. The Disciples could not imagine the Samaritans could be saved. You might think, "My neighbor is not ready, that person drinks, is on drugs, is living with someone not their mate. They are not ready to respond to Jesus. They have a lot of changing to do before they are ready to come to Jesus. That culture is closed to the Gospel." You might be surprised.
Or some will think they are not properly trained. But to invite someone to join you to watch the Jesus video, come to church, join you at a concert, or have him over for dinner puts people in positions to hear the story and testimony of what Jesus means to you. All people need love and acceptance; all people are looking for hope, and friendship, and belonging.
Pastor Bob Brunko said, “Our Lord is not saying that people are eagerly clamoring to be witnessed to, to be preached at or to become religious or churchy. But our Lord is saying that the needs, hunger, cravings and emptiness are still there. People are not hungering to go to church or be religious but they are hungering for Jesus."
The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will see the things that He wants us to see.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
See the harvest John 4:31-35
Sermon nuggets Weds. March 12, 2008
Theme – Harvest
Verses- John 4:31-35 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.(NIV)
The disciples returned. When they saw Jesus talking to this Samaritan woman they were surprised. She was a woman; she was of a different race and different religion. William Barkley in his commentary said, “Better that the words of the law should be burned than delivered to women.” So when she is out of the way, they get to the business of the day. Here is lunch. Come on Jesus, let’s eat.
Jesus looks at them and said, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” In this statement there is, I believe, a two pronged message. Part of the message was a rebuke concerning their ignorance and short-sightedness. Jesus was informing them there are more important things than food.
Things of God are more important than eating. People will say they have no time in their busy schedules for devotions or private times with God, but they will always work in time for food. I will forget to spend time with God, but I have never forgotten to eat breakfast. That wasn’t Jesus’ way. Times with God were more important than times with physical food.
Here the time spent with this woman was more fulfilling than time than eating. Jesus was giving an invitation to discover something far more rewarding in their lives and ours. They are missing out on something greater. Food literally gives strength and nourishment and enjoyment to the body. It is satisfying and brings fellowship.
His word strengthens, sustains, and satisfies and brings fellowship of greater importance. “My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” That is fulfilling; to be obedient to the call of God in my life. His food was obedience. That is what he craved.
Closing our world to those who are just like us is also failing to see the world as God sees it. He calls us to go to be witnesses to the world. Obedience is something that is often thought of as an obligation. Jesus saw obedience to the Father as a joy. There is ultimate joy in obeying the father because in it is our blessing. In not obeying, people don’t realize what they are missing.
Having ripened fruit is the purpose of the harvest. People are joyful when the produce comes after all that hard work and waiting. Jesus said, Look the ripened fruit is all around you. Open your eyes and look at the fields.
The disciples thought Jesus was for Israelites not Samaritans. Jesus was for the men not women. Jesus was for the Jews not the half breeds.
Jesus is indicating, look around you these people are ready now to respond to God. Sharing will increase your joy as you see eternal benefits.
Pastor Dale
Theme – Harvest
Verses- John 4:31-35 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.(NIV)
The disciples returned. When they saw Jesus talking to this Samaritan woman they were surprised. She was a woman; she was of a different race and different religion. William Barkley in his commentary said, “Better that the words of the law should be burned than delivered to women.” So when she is out of the way, they get to the business of the day. Here is lunch. Come on Jesus, let’s eat.
Jesus looks at them and said, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” In this statement there is, I believe, a two pronged message. Part of the message was a rebuke concerning their ignorance and short-sightedness. Jesus was informing them there are more important things than food.
Things of God are more important than eating. People will say they have no time in their busy schedules for devotions or private times with God, but they will always work in time for food. I will forget to spend time with God, but I have never forgotten to eat breakfast. That wasn’t Jesus’ way. Times with God were more important than times with physical food.
Here the time spent with this woman was more fulfilling than time than eating. Jesus was giving an invitation to discover something far more rewarding in their lives and ours. They are missing out on something greater. Food literally gives strength and nourishment and enjoyment to the body. It is satisfying and brings fellowship.
His word strengthens, sustains, and satisfies and brings fellowship of greater importance. “My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” That is fulfilling; to be obedient to the call of God in my life. His food was obedience. That is what he craved.
Closing our world to those who are just like us is also failing to see the world as God sees it. He calls us to go to be witnesses to the world. Obedience is something that is often thought of as an obligation. Jesus saw obedience to the Father as a joy. There is ultimate joy in obeying the father because in it is our blessing. In not obeying, people don’t realize what they are missing.
Having ripened fruit is the purpose of the harvest. People are joyful when the produce comes after all that hard work and waiting. Jesus said, Look the ripened fruit is all around you. Open your eyes and look at the fields.
The disciples thought Jesus was for Israelites not Samaritans. Jesus was for the men not women. Jesus was for the Jews not the half breeds.
Jesus is indicating, look around you these people are ready now to respond to God. Sharing will increase your joy as you see eternal benefits.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Testimony John 4:25-42
Sermon nuggets Tues, March 11,2008
Theme Harvest
Verses- John 4:25-30 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26 Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"
30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.(NIV)
Testimony
Last week we looked at some elements of witnessing. But when you meet Christ one of the most effective means of being a witness is sharing your story. This woman at the well told others what happened. It was natural, normal, and exciting.
A testimony is one’s own story of a Christ encounter. It is significant because it is your story. People can either investigate for themselves or ignore or reject it. But they cannot deny it didn't happen to you.
What makes up a testimony? Typically your God story tells what life was like before Christ. It also includes your encounter with Christ. It reveals your response to Christ. And lastly, what happened in your life after Christ.
I would be stretching it to make this woman’s own story fit that common formula, but those elements are there for us to see. We are told her past. We learn the details of her encounter with Jesus. She was becoming convinced that because of his knowing all about her He must be the prophet promised by God. Then we see she was a believer. (John 4:39-40 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did.") She was excited and wanted others to know about Him.
God used this rejected, sinful woman to share her story and it resulted in many others getting saved. The woman at the well was the first evangelist to tell the good news of Jesus Christ in Samaria. Once she got the water of the Lord, she forgot all about the water of this world. She left her jar behind and ran back to town to tell her story.
41 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."(NIV)
They went to see for themselves and believed in Him for themselves. But some believed just based on the woman’s testimony.
Your testimony is a powerful tool to share with other people. It may not be dramatic. You may not have had a life full of dramatic sins. But facing the past, meeting the Lord and responding to him resulting in a changed life and future helps others accept, reject, or investigate for themselves. The Holy Spirit does the rest.
What is your story? A skeptic may deny your doctrine or attack your church, but he cannot honestly ignore the fact that you found hope in personally putting your faith in Jesus. He may never listen to a sermon or read a Bible, but there is attraction to stories that are true with people who are also in need of “living water”.
If you haven’t done it before, why not write out your salvation story? Include your life before you came to faith in Christ. Write how you were introduced to Jesus as Savior. You may have been a church goers all your life and known about Jesus, but what was it that made you take seriously that you were a sinner in need of savation? What happened that moved you to respond to believe and accept Him? What is your walk with Christ like since then? It is your unique experience that God can use in someone’s life.
In your worship today, thank the Lord for your story and how He saved you.
Pastor Dale
Theme Harvest
Verses- John 4:25-30 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26 Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"
30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.(NIV)
Testimony
Last week we looked at some elements of witnessing. But when you meet Christ one of the most effective means of being a witness is sharing your story. This woman at the well told others what happened. It was natural, normal, and exciting.
A testimony is one’s own story of a Christ encounter. It is significant because it is your story. People can either investigate for themselves or ignore or reject it. But they cannot deny it didn't happen to you.
What makes up a testimony? Typically your God story tells what life was like before Christ. It also includes your encounter with Christ. It reveals your response to Christ. And lastly, what happened in your life after Christ.
I would be stretching it to make this woman’s own story fit that common formula, but those elements are there for us to see. We are told her past. We learn the details of her encounter with Jesus. She was becoming convinced that because of his knowing all about her He must be the prophet promised by God. Then we see she was a believer. (John 4:39-40 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did.") She was excited and wanted others to know about Him.
God used this rejected, sinful woman to share her story and it resulted in many others getting saved. The woman at the well was the first evangelist to tell the good news of Jesus Christ in Samaria. Once she got the water of the Lord, she forgot all about the water of this world. She left her jar behind and ran back to town to tell her story.
41 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."(NIV)
They went to see for themselves and believed in Him for themselves. But some believed just based on the woman’s testimony.
Your testimony is a powerful tool to share with other people. It may not be dramatic. You may not have had a life full of dramatic sins. But facing the past, meeting the Lord and responding to him resulting in a changed life and future helps others accept, reject, or investigate for themselves. The Holy Spirit does the rest.
What is your story? A skeptic may deny your doctrine or attack your church, but he cannot honestly ignore the fact that you found hope in personally putting your faith in Jesus. He may never listen to a sermon or read a Bible, but there is attraction to stories that are true with people who are also in need of “living water”.
If you haven’t done it before, why not write out your salvation story? Include your life before you came to faith in Christ. Write how you were introduced to Jesus as Savior. You may have been a church goers all your life and known about Jesus, but what was it that made you take seriously that you were a sinner in need of savation? What happened that moved you to respond to believe and accept Him? What is your walk with Christ like since then? It is your unique experience that God can use in someone’s life.
In your worship today, thank the Lord for your story and how He saved you.
Pastor Dale
Monday, March 10, 2008
Harvesting John 4:20-26
Sermon Nuggets Monday March 10
Theme- Harvest
Verses John 4:20-26 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seek.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." (NIV)
Spirit and Truth
Last week we centered out attention on how Jesus encountered the woman at the well with the need of her heart. She was looking for love in the wrong places. She had many husbands and lovers but was “thirsty” for something that would satisfy.
The discussion of how to do worship now was narrowed to the ultimate question. What are you going to do with Jesus Christ?
Responding to God involves spirit and truth. Much could be said about that. But one thing Jesus is making clear is that a time is coming when the places of worship aren’t what matters.
I believe Jesus was pointing to the work he was about to do on the cross. Because Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for sin, there was no longer any need for the temple sacrifices of bulls and goats. Because Jesus is the ultimate priest, the great intercessor between God and man, there was no longer any need for the ministry of temple priests. At the death of Christ, the veil of the temple, Matthew 27:51, which had always separated God’s people from God’s glorious presence, was torn in half from top to bottom. The temple or the mountain no longer has significance.
To embrace Jesus by faith is to have God in you by the work of the Holy Spirit. God is still very much present among His people, only now His presence is mediated directly to each believer by the Holy Spirit. That is essential to real worship, but the word "spirit" here does not have the definite article in the original language, so I think it refers to our own inner life, emotions, will, our heart that is yielded to the Spirit of God.
One who worships the Lord fully loves the Lord God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength.
But sincerity alone is does not make for acceptable worship. Jesus also said that those who worship Him must worship Him in truth. Time and time again, throughout the Old Covenant record, men drew near to God to worship Him, and God was not pleased with their worship, because rather than following the commandments of God, rather than regarding Him as holy, rather than worshiping Him in truth, they had devised in their own hearts how they preferred to worship Him.
The truth of God is revealed for us in the Bible. We cannot just spout off what we think and what revelations come to our minds as if they are from God. It must be Scriptural. It must be in keeping with obedience. It must be centered on the apostles teaching. It must move us from our desires to Him as He is revealed in His word.
When the woman said The Messiah will explain everything to us, Jesus forced her to make a response when he revealed Himself. "I who speak to you am he."
There it is. God was revealed in the person of Jesus and she had to decide what to do with Him. Truth was revealed, now will she worship and give herself to Him in her spirit?
Some are full of spirit but wander from the truth. Others adhere to the truth, but are missing spirit. True worship involves both. Its focus is on HIM, not us.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Harvest
Verses John 4:20-26 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seek.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." (NIV)
Spirit and Truth
Last week we centered out attention on how Jesus encountered the woman at the well with the need of her heart. She was looking for love in the wrong places. She had many husbands and lovers but was “thirsty” for something that would satisfy.
The discussion of how to do worship now was narrowed to the ultimate question. What are you going to do with Jesus Christ?
Responding to God involves spirit and truth. Much could be said about that. But one thing Jesus is making clear is that a time is coming when the places of worship aren’t what matters.
I believe Jesus was pointing to the work he was about to do on the cross. Because Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for sin, there was no longer any need for the temple sacrifices of bulls and goats. Because Jesus is the ultimate priest, the great intercessor between God and man, there was no longer any need for the ministry of temple priests. At the death of Christ, the veil of the temple, Matthew 27:51, which had always separated God’s people from God’s glorious presence, was torn in half from top to bottom. The temple or the mountain no longer has significance.
To embrace Jesus by faith is to have God in you by the work of the Holy Spirit. God is still very much present among His people, only now His presence is mediated directly to each believer by the Holy Spirit. That is essential to real worship, but the word "spirit" here does not have the definite article in the original language, so I think it refers to our own inner life, emotions, will, our heart that is yielded to the Spirit of God.
One who worships the Lord fully loves the Lord God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength.
But sincerity alone is does not make for acceptable worship. Jesus also said that those who worship Him must worship Him in truth. Time and time again, throughout the Old Covenant record, men drew near to God to worship Him, and God was not pleased with their worship, because rather than following the commandments of God, rather than regarding Him as holy, rather than worshiping Him in truth, they had devised in their own hearts how they preferred to worship Him.
The truth of God is revealed for us in the Bible. We cannot just spout off what we think and what revelations come to our minds as if they are from God. It must be Scriptural. It must be in keeping with obedience. It must be centered on the apostles teaching. It must move us from our desires to Him as He is revealed in His word.
When the woman said The Messiah will explain everything to us, Jesus forced her to make a response when he revealed Himself. "I who speak to you am he."
There it is. God was revealed in the person of Jesus and she had to decide what to do with Him. Truth was revealed, now will she worship and give herself to Him in her spirit?
Some are full of spirit but wander from the truth. Others adhere to the truth, but are missing spirit. True worship involves both. Its focus is on HIM, not us.
Pastor Dale
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