So, we are going somewhere that I never knew we would be going this week but God apparently thought this was very important for us right now. God wants to be glorified, he wants to be worshiped. God expresses the importance of praise and worship throughout his word. The question God wants us to ask ourselves today is, how important is it that we please Him through our worship? Imagine what would happen if we ALL worshiped like he tells us to, in Spirit and Truth. Your worship WILL reflect your love for God. Let me rephrase that for those of you who just skimmed over it, I want to make sure you catch this completely. Your love for God is expressed through your worship. When God brought that to my heart, my heart sank because my mouth says so much more than my worship is revealing. He must get tired of the luke warmness, of the games, of his children going through the motions, of the fact that we're more concerned with what the people around us may think rather than worshiping the One true God. I know that I don't always worship the Lord at church like I do at home. At home, I can turn my worship music up really loud, dance, shout, weep, melt in his presence without a care around me. I'm comfortable there. There's no one but me and God and I can just be me. However, when I'm at church, I have people around me and they may not agree with how I worship, or I may look stupid, or I might be rebuked for such radical worship so I try to worship in Spirit and in Truth but I can't ever really just be me and pour my heart out to him like I want to. You know why, because I am more concerned about what others think of me than about worshiping and pleasing God. Can anyone identify with me?
I know that's rough but please stay with me. My words are only words but the word of God is everlasting and it will not return void, so please if you do nothing else read the scripture.
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Now, real quickly I want to go through some quick points to a very familiar story to us. I know that most people use this story to share about the forgiveness we have through Christ but I really want us to see the Worship in this story.
1. She recognized who Jesus was. She recognized the one person who could cleanse her from all her sins regardless of what she had done in her past and she worshiped him.
2. Because she recognized who he was, she didn't care what others thought. She didn't care that others were talking about her and speaking of her sinfulness. She didn't care that she had mockers and was being ridiculed for her act of worship. In fact out of everyone that was there, she was the ONLY one worshiping the Lord.
3. She gave ALL that she had out of love and Jesus forever changed who she was. A great exchange took place. She worshiped with complete sacrificial love and He received her worship and forgave all her many sins.
This story was so important that God said whereever the gospel is preached this story will be remembered. Do you worship God with all you have not caring what anyone else thinks or says? This lady reminds me so much of me. A woman immersed in filth from the sins of her past. The only difference is, she didn't care what others thought of her like I do. I'm not saying I don't worship, I do worship, just as you do. What I am saying is how would you worship if you were face to face with the King of Kings? I venture to guess that our worship would be so much more than what it is. So this week, let's really pray to worship in Spirit and Truth, with love giving all that we have. If we will allow God to transform our hearts in this area, I honestly believe it will change everything.
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. John 4:23
Prayer List
1. Divine Protection for Pastor and Family
2. Holiness
3. Heart like Hur to pray through the battle/strength when weary
4. Revival
5. Steadfastness
6. Surrender/Church about our Fathers business
7. Discernment
8. Worship in Spirit and Truth
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