"THE WOMAN SAITH UNTO HIM, SIR, I PERCEIVE THAT THOU ART A PROPHET. OUR FATHERS WORSHIPPED IN THIS MOUNTAIN; AND YE SAY, THAT IN JERUSALEM IS THE PLACE WHERE MEN OUGHT TO WORSHIP. JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, WOMAN, BELIEVE ME, THE HOUR COMETH, WHEN YE SHALL NEITHER IN THIS MOUNTAIN, NOR YET AT JERUSALEM, WORSHIP THE FATHER. YE WORSHIP YE KNOW NOT WHAT: WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP: FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS. BUT THE HOUR COMETH, AND NOW IS, WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS SHALL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: FOR THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM. GOD IS A SPIRIT: AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH." John 4:19-24

      The word "worship" means to pay reverence to, to kiss, to honor, to render service. Nowhere in scripture is it defined exactly how we are to worship God. The above passage tells us we are to worship in Spirit and in Truth. There are examples in the bible of what is acceptable worship and what is not. The idea of worship to God is our submitting ourselves to Him and rendering Him service in a manner that pleases Him, in such a way it will bring honor and glory to God and not reproach. There is an acceptable way in which we are to worship God.

      "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." Heb 11:4

      One of the earliest examples of worship in the bible is that of Cain and Able. Scripture reveals the sacrifice of Abel was honored by God and Cain's was not. Further evidence indicates his sacrifice was acceptable to God because Abel offered it through faith. Each individual gave a portion, gave of the fruit of their labors, they both sacrificed but only one was acceptable.

      "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." Lev 10:1-3.

      In this passage we see the sons of Aaron offered profane fire before the Lord, they did not perform the service correctly and thus they reaped the wrath of God. The Lord was very plain in saying; "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me..."In both of these passages we have common ground, the Lord must be sanctified, set aside, regarded as holy in our hearts when approaching in worship. This must be done first, otherwise we will never worship in Spirit and Truth. It is from this point we will first begin to look at worship, sanctifying God in our hearts that we may approach Him.
      The word "sanctify" comes from the Greek word, "hagiasmos," it means to separate from that which is common or a common use. We must understand that as a people of God we are set aside, in Christ for His pleasure, His purpose, 1 Pet 1:2; 2:5, 9.
      As God has set us aside we must set Him aside in our hearts and separate ourselves from the world and its lusts for His purpose only.

      "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Pet 3:12-15.

      Worship must come from the heart as we have set aside God in our hearts. The Greek word for "heart" is "kardia." As we know the heart is the chief organ for physical life, without it functioning we simply die. So very easily we make a transition so the heart also stands for the very center of our moral and spiritual life as well. Scripture reveals that human depravity is in the heart because sin is a principle which has its seat in the center of man's inward life (Matt 15:19-20). The heart can also be the center of divine influence (Acts 15:9). The hidden mans lies within the heart (1 Pet 3:1-4). It is the heart of a man that is exposed to God (1 Sam 16:7).

      Since the heart is the very center of our fiber and being, then should not God be at the center of our lives? Should He not be set aside in our heart and be our hearts desire? Our service and worship to God must then be from the heart, it must be Genuine.

"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." Matt 15:8-9.

      We must love God from the heart.

      "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matt 22:7.

      As a child of God our service and love towards God can be in vain if it is not out of the pure desire of our heart to worship Him. God will not honor it if it is simply lip service, an outward show for others to see. So often we do things so that others will think we are a Christian, but forget our service to God must be from the heart, seeking His praise rather than man's. (Matt 6:1-8; 16-18).
      Worshipping in singleness of heart and purpose:

      "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:46-47

      This is the account of the early church at Jerusalem after the day of Pentecost. There were approximately 3,000 plus members of this local body. They being led by the Spirit had a unique singleness and simplicity about how they worshipped God in their daily lives. They led a simple life in which they communed with their brethren, praising God, continuing in the apostles doctrine. All this was done in one accord. To be in one accord simply means that a group of individuals are one minded in purpose and one minded in action.

       "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom 15:5-6. (see also 2 Cor 13:11; Philp 1:27; 2:2, 3:16)

      We are to be united with the mind of Christ.

      "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Cor 2;14-16

      "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."1 Pet 4:1-2

      United in the mind of Christ we are to set this mind on the things above, heavenly things and not on the things of earth.

      "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Col 3:1-3

      "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24 (Context: John 4:5-26)

      Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan woman at Jacob_s well, concerning spiritual things, i.e the everlasting life in which Christ has to offer. Jesus tells her that "...true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? Perhaps the first thing we should look at is if we are to worship in spirit, then we are to be led by the Spirit. We will break this down into two parts, worshipping in the spirit and worshipping in the truth.

      "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom 8:4-9

      We have discussed about how our mind should be united with the mind of Christ, and as such set upon the things of Christ. This requires a renewing of our mind - Rom 12:1-2. In our text verse Jesus spoke to the woman about living water, unless we have received this living water our mind remains in the flesh. If we have received Christ it is only then our minds can be renewed by the Spirit. In Rom.8, Paul is writing to saved, baptized believers, and reminds them not to be led by our flesh, our old nature and the lusts thereof. We must understand the Holy Spirit has been sent to the church to teach and lead the people of God - John 14:16-17, 26. We as the church of God, need to be spiritually minded in order to receive the things of the spirit. If we continue in the flesh we cannot discern spiritual things (1Cor 2:14; 3:1-4). Spiritually mature people are able to handle the things of God (Heb 5:12; 6:3). If we are truly spiritual people our fruit will be evident.

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Gal 5:16-25