In Spirit and Truth
4/24/16
Intro:
I.THE SAMARITANS HAD BUILT THEIR OWN TEMPLE
A.They offered to help with the Jerusalem temple in 538 BC, but Zerrubbabel rejected them (Ezra 4:1-3).
B.They resisted the Jewish building from then on (Ezra 4:4-23).
C.(332 BC) In exchange for help against Egypt, Alexander let them build a temple on Mt. Gerizim, in opposition to the temple in Jersusalem.
D.They sided with the Selucids and renamed their temple Zeus Hellenios (175 BC).
E.Hasmonean King John Hyrcanus destroyed Shechem and their temple (128 BC).
II.John 4:19-24
III.Grk (proskunéo) from Persian custom of bowing down in homage, used of temple worship, but (prosunkunetaì) “worshippers,” is used only here in the NT, and not found anywhere in Greek literature.
IV.MOLLY WORSHIPPING THE KITTIES
Body:
I.Worshipping in Unity
“A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.”
A.Before true worship can happen we must lay down all hostility.
1)1 Timothy 2:8
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
2)The novel concept was not the lifting of hands, it was the laying down of anger and dispute
3)DR. BLANCHARD EXPLAINING WHY WE DON’T LIFT HANDS
B.There is power when believers gather together and worship.
1)Romans 15:6-7
So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.
2)GLORY—“OH MY LORD”
II.Worshipping in the Spirit
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in [spirit and truth].”
A.Worship sets our spirits free to commune with His Spirit.
1)1 Corinthians 14:14-15
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray [in the] spirit, but I will also pray [in the] understanding; I will sing [in the] spirit, but I will also sing [in the] understanding.
2)THE TEMPLE WORSHIP WAS BEING DONE IN THE FLESH
B.There is no freedom like when we open up our hearts to worship.
1)2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2)DECIDING TO LIFT MY HANDS—BEING TALL AND SELF-CONCIOUS
III.Worshipping in Genuineness
“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 seeks.”
A.The truth that God is seeking is the genuineness of our hearts.
1)Grk (aleythinós) genuine, real, not phony
2)John 4:17-18
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
3)DON’T BRING SUPERCHRISTIAN TO CHURCH
B.For worship to be in truth the worshipers must be genuine.
1)That phrase has more to do with us than with God
2)1 John 2:27
But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
3)MOLLY KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE VERSE MEANT
Other Scriptures:
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:1-2
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
1 John 5:20
So that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.
Ephesians 2:22
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.