Text – John 4:20-24

Boronia Baptist Church

22/9/02 AM Service

Pastor Lyndon Beasy

We’ve been invited to ‘Come & Worship”, which is something we easily take for granted. IF you think about it – worship is one of the few or maybe even the only certain thing we do on earth that we’ll continue to do in heaven..

The BORONIA Vision that we have now have an share for our church is all about us becoming a healthy & growing community of believers in Jesus Christ. But as we have communicated through our BORONIA Vision Statement, our success isn’t going to be driven be any one thing.there are a number of key characteristics of our church’s life that we must continue to strengthen & develop in order to fulfil our calling and potential. These include the areas of Teaching, Outreach, Prayer, Fellowship, Ministry and Cultural Relevance. All equally important contributors to our BORONIA Vision.

But the one aspect I want to focus on this morning, which I haven’t yet mentioned, is really the Foundation and the Motivator to progression in all the other key characteristics of a healthy, growing church.WORSHIP!

The specific description of our vision for worship is – “Inspirational in Worship” whereby ..We long to worship in a way that inspires us toward God and impacts us for life.

Notice the two sides of worship – INSPIRATION & IMPACTING – GOD & OUR LIFE.

Worship can so easily become an imbalanced, one sided activity. But in John 4:20-24, Jesus revealed that true worship cannot be expressed without the two sides of worship working together in harmony.

Here we find Jesus in the midst of a deep discussion with a Samaritan woman, the famed “woman at the well.” After speaking of water, both physical and spiritual, after Jesus tells her of her own private life, she changes the subject to religion and says in verse 20, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain but you Jews claim that the place we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

Jesus then skillfully side stepped the question of location and drove to the subject of motivation (vv.21-22).

“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 worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth”

It was not an issue of location, of Mt Gerazim or Jerusalem. Worship was and is an issue of the heart. True worship is about worshipping God in spirit and in truth – it’s not about tradition, location, time, form…it’s about “in spirit and truth.” It’s about Awe for God and Action for Life, it’s about experience and obedience, it’s about emotion and the mind, it’s about passion and practice. It’s about, as our worship vision puts it, being “inspired to God and impacted for life.”

It seems to me though that many churches, and we’re not blameless, worship in spirit or truth rather than in spirit and truth. But Jesus said it’s not an either/or but a both/and. Yet not enough, do we as the church get the balance right.

On one hand you have those who emphasize the “spirit” to the point of extreme. Jump up and down, fall over, pass out, shout, bark, do whatever you feel like, seek whatever spiritual experience you like. The objective truth of God’s Word about His character, His will and ways for us to worship are largely neglected. All boundaries for truthful worship are torn down.

Then on the other side, we more conservative evangelical churches, tend to emphasise the truth, tradition and the mind but we too often neglect the ‘spirit’ side of worship – whereby the Holy Spirit directs our hearts, emotions and expressions of worship. We say things like “we’ve never done it like that before”, “It’s not the way we are”, “People won’t like that” – This leads to us resisting and blocking any change that the Holy Spirit wants to bring about in our worship and church.

So that’s why our worship must be based on both “spirit” and the “truth.” We need to worship in a way that takes us beyond ourselves toward experiencing God – We also need to worship in a way that is grounded on God’s truth leading to obedience and our lives making a difference for Him.

Together therefore, let’s embrace and pursue with commitment our vision to “worship in a way that inspires us toward God and impacts us for life”.

But to be able to progress such a worship vision effectively and gain that right balance between ‘spirit and truth’, we must firstly and clearly understand what true worship is not.

SO here’s a few things that true worship is NOT.

1. Worship is not just about Church.

When you hear the words “worship service,” what picture comes to mind? My guess is that you thought of a room with pews, instruments, songs and hymns and preaching. But do you know that much of what happens in a Service is not necessarily worship and that much real worship never happens in a Service?

Not everything we do in our services is directly related to worship whereby our hearts and minds engage with God’s presence. That’s OK, because we also gather for other important biblical reasons such as fellowship, ministry, encouragement, support etc.

So worship is not just “Church Service” related. Furthermore – what would happen if our church burnt down? Could we still, would we still be able to worship? Yes because worship, as Jesus explained is not about a place.

Some of my most worshipful times have been with only two people around – me & God! I have worshipped in ways where I’ve been inspired toward God and impacted for life – while lying on my bed, sitting in my recliner, looking up at the stars, in my office, when out walking – we can worship God anywhere, anytime, not just in church.

In fact if we aren’t worshipping God throughout our daily lives, when we come here on Sundays, all we’re really doing is ‘playing church’ instead of ‘being’ church.

2. Worship is not dependant on our preferences.

If it were, how could Paul & Silas in Acts 16:25, have passionately sung praises to God in a Philippian jail after being stripped, flogged nearly to death and clamped in stocks? I would hazard a guess that it wasn’t one of the most pleasant or preferential circumstances to worship.

But why were they still able to worship despite things not being the way they would prefer? Because their worship wasn’t based upon a time slot, place, style or tradition. It was based upon One Whom they loved and adored!

How about you – what influences your worship? What prerequisites do you need to worship? The truth is, we can all become so selfish and precious about our forms and traditions that we end up worshipping worship instead of God!

3. Worship is not something we get but give to God

Do you sometimes leave church, hop in the car and think or say – “I didn’t get anything out of that service today”? I’m sure we all have! But isn’t that so wrong when we really think about it? Worship is not about what we get out of it – it’s about what we give to God!

But still without thinking we critique the order, songs, musicians, sound, the preacher, attendances and giving averages in order to determine whether we’ve got value for our money and time.

a.. George Barna – the highly respected Church researcher, offers this from his findings on highly effective churches.. (excerpt from Habits of Highly Effective Churches)

b.. If such event oriented indicators dominate our minds, we are not worshipping – again we’re playing church! God often challenges me about playing church, maybe he’s challenging you today about playing church? This doesn’t mean that our corporate worship times shouldn’t be enjoyable and impressive to us. I believe strongly in our need to strive for excellence in worship services – that is to do our very best in all that we prepare and do. This helps us to keep fresh and creative in worship. But our driving force for excellence must be to please God – 1 Cor 10:31 – Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!

So take a moment for serious reflection – who is it you really desire to entertain when you come to worship with your fellow believers – Is it God or yourself? Today and from this moment forward, instead of critiquing the performance of the upfront ministries and leaders, let’s practice being a little more self critical by questioning ourselves – “How did I worship God today in spirit and in truth”?

4. Worship is not just about the outward expression.

People express worship to God in different ways. Some like to sit quietly with bowed heads. Some like to be noisy and active. Some lift their hands and clap. Some sing strongly. Some like to have their eyes open, other close them to help them focus on God. The Bible commends all these expressions and more.

But as Darlene Zschech recently wrote, “True worship is not about the songs, the vocals, the band or the choir. All of those things contribute toward a great expression of worship but the essence of worship is when your heart and soul, the core of your being connects with the Spirit of God.”

You know, it’s more than possible that we could do and say all the right ‘worship’ things yet still not worship God. The outward expressions mean nothing if our heart is not right and head not focused toward God. In Amos 5:21 we’re given an insight into God’s hatred of the external activities of worship when the heart of worship is missing..

Speaking to the nation of Israel God says – “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them: and I will not even look at your peace offerings. Take away from me the noise of your songs. I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.”

A strong rebuke – but what was the problem – all their worship activities were good.why wasn’t God impressed?

a.. Israel’s worship was empty – they were impressive and clean on outside but inside they were filthy – They were devoted to worship.but not to God – their heart, mind and motives were ‘event’ self centred. b.. This is why we must be careful about judging preferences and styles of worship because most of the time worship expressions are biblical free issues and are not God’s primary concern – He is mostly interested in what is going on underneath the surface, the hidden internals – our mind, heart, attitudes and motives. We only see the surface expressions of worship and we all know how well these can mask what’s really going on. What about you today?

a.. What’s really going on in your heart while you sing the songs, listen, pray, share.? b.. Are you masking a heart that is really self centred and not God focused? c.. Have you, are you judging other’s external worship expressions in which God has given them freedom and flexibility? Remember the essence of true worship is not about the external activities.nor is about ‘what we get’, or our ‘preferences’ or about just the ‘church service’ . In wonder in response, whether your reaction to all this is like mine.OUCH!

In contrast in a short while, we’re going to consider what true worship really is! IN meantime, let’s spend some time refocusing on the heart of worship and where necessary humbling ourselves and changing our attitude.

Part 2 – What True Worship Is!

Earlier we looked at what true worship is not! Let’s now turn our attention to what true worship is?

Firstly, true worship is as we have just been singing.

1. Declaring God’s Worth-ship.for He is above all!

The Old and New Testaments have a number of words that we translate as ‘worship’. Combined they convey the idea of bowing down, showing reverence. The actual translated word ‘worship’ is drawn from an old English word containing the ideas of honour and worth.

So when we worship God we honour Him and elevate His Name for His Who He is and What He’s done. We also recognise that God alone is worthy of such worship – Jesus, in rebuke to Satan in Matt 4:10 said – “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve”

God alone has the right to be the object of our worship because He alone is worthy. In Rev 4:11 we read of the angels in heaven who worship God saying “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power”.

So, true worship is declaring God’s worth-ship, celebrating it and rejoicing in it! What this all means is that if we aren’t intentionally or deliberately in our hearts and minds, placing Him above all other things – this world, other people, our time, our problems, our interests, our finances, our possessions, our importance.

a.. .If He isn’t elevated above all this in our attitudes, actions and responses – then He isn’t receiving our worship. He’s just observing our token efforts. But God deserves and demands more than token efforts or half-hearted attempts – true worship is declaring and responding to His worth-ship! 2. A Way of Life

Because of the significance God places upon every individual being responsible before Him as to the reality of their worship, true worship cannot be reserved for or rely upon the Corporate Sunday Service. True worship is not just a Sunday thing – it’s a Way of Life for every believer and is therefore always personal before its public!

We come together on Sundays not to give or experience our weekly duty or dose of worship. We don’t come here on Sundays to worship ‘worship’ or our favourite songs, our preferred style, the order of service. No, our corporate gatherings should be just an extension of our personal daily relationship with our God and Saviour. We should be here on Sundays to worship corporately the God we worship every day personally.

We have an amazing privilege that we so easily take for granted – of worshipping God as a way of life.. And it’s only because Jesus Christ sacrificed His life so that the way to God may be permanently and freely open to us. In the OT system of entering into the presence of God, only the High Priest as a representative of the people could enter into the Temples ‘Holy of Holies” – the specific place in the Temple where God’s presence dwelt.

But now because of Jesus 1 Cor 6:19 declares that every believer is a ‘Holy Temple’ of God’s Spirit – you are living breathing temples in which God almighty dwells. We can therefore be in His presence & worship Him at any time and any place.

Our lives therefore should be characterised by worship – honouring and elevating God whether it’s Sunday or Monday, sitting, standing, jogging, driving, working, playing, whether we’re listening to George Beverly Shae or Jays of Clay!! (if you don’t know one of these artists, it’s got a lot to do with you age and style)

Heb 10:19 describes our permanently open access to God as a ‘new & living way’ in which we can ‘confidently come before God and draw near with sincere heart’. Worship is no longer a geographical or time related issue. So does this mean that our corporate worship gatherings aren’t necessary? Not at all! B/C Heb 10, after telling us about our new and living way to worship God, commands in v 25 – Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.

We need to meet together corporately to encourage and build one another up in our faith, knowledge and worship of God so that we can be refreshed, refocused, re-strengthened, re-impacted for our daily lives. That’s why our vision says that “we want to worship in a way that inspires us toward God and impacts us for life.”

What John MacArthur says is true – “If the corporate worship in the church leaves people unchanged, the church is not really worshipping. If what goes on in the church service does not spur the saints to greater obedience, call it what you will, it isn’t worship. Worship always results in transformation and the church is edified by it.”

a.. In other words, I know – when I really worship God, God works in me! Why do you come to our Sunday Services?

a.. Because your forced?, Out of duty?, Because of expectations placed upon you?, To be entertained? b.. To give God an hour of your time each week? If it is, then you’ve missed the point of worship. But the good news is – you can change it all around today and start afresh .

a.. Focus today and commit from here on to make God the main event of worship and not worship itself or your personal satisfaction. a.. Give Him the best of your attention. b.. Forget about what others are thinking or doing, Be concerned about what God thinks and wants to do in your life. If individually we are committed and obedient to ‘worshipping as a way of life’, God will impact and transform not only our individual lives but our corporate worship life.

Finally, if we understand that true worship is declaring God’s Worth-ship and is a Way of life, then the third characteristic of what worship really is will be empowered.

3. Worship is a Witness

When unbelievers or seekers observe believers corporately worshipping God in a real and transforming way, that’s a powerful witness to them. Yet if we merely gather week after week for our own satisfaction and purposes, we’ll miss the potential and responsibility we have to influence through worship, those who need to meet & worship God for the first time.

In 1 Cor 14 Paul commanded the Corinthian church to look out for the needs of the seeker by avoiding those unnecessary expressions and activities of worship that will confuse and discourage them. Instead, the goal of worship being a witness is, that the seeker’s spiritual eyes will be opened and exclaim – “God is really among you”!

If we want this to be a reality in our services, it means that we have to pay attention to the way we communicate our message and express our worship. For instance:

a.. Seekers should be able to understand the words of songs we sing b.. To not feel as though they haven’t stepped through a time warp because of our surroundings and facilities, language we use, the songs we sing, the equipment we use etc. I strongly believe in our need to do everything within our means and faith to keep up to date with those methods and means that will not only support and assist our worship but significantly, will communicate to the those we’ re trying to reach that we are real worshippers in the real world!

We must endeavour sacrificially to do whatever we have the biblical freedom to do, to try and limit the cultural revolution outsiders are often forced to undergo before they really hear and accept our message. The Apostle Paul had this perspective and set the example in 1 Cor 9 – “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

a.. Let’s embrace the eg of Paul here at Boronia and be willing, flexible and gracious, as opportunities arise, to adapt and change those things that will enhance the communication of our message and ministry to today’s generation and to those who need it most. b.. Our worship can and should be a powerful witness of the difference the One we worship can make to life! Conclusion

Although we’ve covered a lot of ground about worship today, our understanding of worship will never be complete because worship is not a static, black and white activity that is merely earth bound. Instead it is a living, active, changing, growing expression of our present & eternal relationship with a God who is above all and alone worthy to be worshipped.

Maybe you’re here this morning and you don’t personally know this One true God and how to worship Him.

a.. Let me simply say that He’s worth knowing and worshipping because He offers to you the only answer to the greatest question we all have in life – life after death. He does more than offer you the answer – he offers you the gift of eternal life. b.. Because it’s a gift God says that you can’t earn it, work for it, you can’t try to be a better person in order to be worthy to receive it. Why? Because God’s Son Jesus Christ has done all the work for you by bridging the eternal gap between you and God caused by your sin and unbelief. Jesus did this by personally paying on a cross, the penalty for your sin – death and separation from God. c.. SO, although the gift to you is free, it cost God a lot! d.. God says that if you confess your sin and need of a Saviour and place your faith in Jesus alone as that Saviour, then the gift of eternal life with God is yours! Do you believe it? If you do, turn your life to Jesus today and begin a new life of meaning, hope and joy that God has promised will never end.

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Response

1. Do you need and want to believe in Jesus today so that you can honour God and receive His gift of eternal life? If you do – pray this simple prayer now to God and He will hear you

a.. God in heaven, today I want to believe in Jesus as your Son and my Saviour who died in my place for my sin & wrongdoing against you. Forgive me for my sin, wipe my slate clean and grant me your gift of eternal life. Help me to follow you and worship you as you alone deserve from this day forward. a.. If you prayed this prayer please do this for me – there’s a yellow card in the seat in front of you – put your name down and write on the back that you prayed to believe in Jesus as your Saviour. Then place it in the offering bag when it comes around soon. 2. Others of you here already believe in Jesus Christ – some of you for a long time, others for a short time. Today though you may have realised that you aren’t worshipping God in the way He desires and deserves and you need to respond and change your ways. If you do follow me in this prayer:

a.. Almighty God, I believe that you alone are worthy to be worshipped. You are above all, including my life. b.. Forgive me for placing myself above you in the way I sometimes worship & live. c.. Help me to humble myself and sacrifice what I want to give you what you want. Lord in doing this I believe also that you will bless me and strengthen me in my faith and understanding of you. d.. Help me to be pleasing to you in my worship and that I would set an example for others to follow which will influence them to glorify you. e.. I Praise & Thank you for all that you are, all that you have done for me and all that you mean to me. True Worship is NOT.

.just about church!

.dependant upon our preferences!

.something we get but give to God!

.just about outward expressions!

True Worship IS.

.declaring God’s Worth-ship!

.a way of life!

.a witness!