Worship in Spirit and in Truth
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [c]corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:4
I believe to worship God in Spirit and in Truth is to abide in the Living Waters of Shalom as I share in His divinity. His will is being done on earth as it is in Heaven through the transformation of my mind and heart so that I may fully enter the Shalom—where the optimum condition for life to unfold is found and where all things become new through partnering with the Prince of Shalom.
God is a God of action. I recognized this with the study Hebrew. Almost every Hebrew word is derived from a “root” word. The Hebrew root words are verbs–action words. For example the Hebrew root word to write (verb) is “kotev” and “miktav” means letter. Partnering with God in the actions of His will means sharing in His divinity to move the Kingdom of Heaven to the earth. I am complete in Jesus because Holy Spirit lives in me. My worship in Spirit and Truth is an ongoing perpetual action of the creative power of God in signs, wonders, and mighty deeds.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [a]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all [b]principality and power. (Colossians 2:9-10)
Worship is not meant to be a religious act—it is how I live in the mind and heart of Christ while doing His will. In other words, the act of worship is more than my songs in church. There is a place in Worship that ushers me into His presence. God calls me to worship in Spirit and in Truth by living His will and purpose for my life. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). As a new creation baptized in the Holy Spirit, I am a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven. When I enter into a place of intimacy with God, I enter into His courts. How to I enter His courts? With Thanksgiving and praise.
I live in Jesus, Jesus lives in me. My dwelling place is in Heaven. I bring Heaven to earth through worship. It is a fact that as a new creation, I am no longer dictated by the world, the flesh, or the devil. That means, I have full access to The Holy of Holies as part of the package Jesus paid in full for me to receive; He paid a high price on the cross for my abundant life in His majesty. Worship is my celebration of His irrevocable love moving in the direction of transforming grace.
How to I enter a place of transformation in His grace? How are the scriptures illuminated in my spirit? How to I navigate The Way, The Truth, and The Life? I accept the fact that all of His nature, ways, power, and authority are mine to receive, to believe, to own. Transformation begins and is propelled into existence, through worship. Keeping in mind that worship is unique to each person, there are different manifestations in worship when I have entered into the Heavenly realms that the Hebrew language has words for. Worship is unique to each person–there is no formula for worship. However, these terms expand something that happens in my heart through many levels and dynamics of praise.
Zamar, is a Hebrew word for worship meaning to make music and song to express my thanksgiving and give glory to God. God inhabits the praises of His people. I also find fellowship with the believers in this action of worship. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25). Attending church, small groups, or Bible Study does not open the gates of Heaven for signs, wonders, and mighty deeds. The Thrown Room of Heaven is profoundly tangible in my personal relationship with the God head. Given the time to touch heaven while communing with others in corporate worship opens up a different space for me in worship.
Todah, means thanksgiving, confession (repentance), sacrifice of praise. The living sacrifice of our bodies is to act upon the will of God. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship”(Romans 12:1). Gifted with a life in Jesus Christ, I am no longer our own. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The way in which I desire to move my body through life is to offer it in service to The King. When I “keep house” in my internal world, I remain in Thanksgiving and praise. When I confess my shortcomings or acts in reaction to the negativity of the world, the flesh, or the Devil, I repent and thank God for removing any consequences of my actions including the reactions of others who have imposed themselves on my life without permission.
Barak, meaning to give reverence to God as an action of adoration. Our act of adoration to God through gratitude is far more powerful to God than religious ceremony. Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world (James 1:27). Jesus teaches me how to live in this world and remain uncorrupted. I partner with Jesus in all the fruits of the spirit and remain in His LOVE. By asking for the will of God in my worship, I align myself to act on the will of God in a selfless capacity. This looks like adoration to God. To illustrate gratitude is to include actions of love and kindness to others. I believe the highest gratitude is to lay down my life for a friend (John 15:13).
Hallal, is the worship word meaning to Praise God—to make a show and boast about Him. I worship God in Spirit and in Truth by the word of my testimony regarding how God answered my prayers and manifested His presence in my life. It’s a time to boast about and praise the Lord all at once. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11) The Word of Their Testimony. David made a show of his praise to God by dancing before the Lord. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14). I believe this illustrates the action of worship as a whole hearted passion and celebration of who He is. May I diminish in His shadow; I believe Hallal embraces a life of transparent honesty in all my dealings with people. May The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit be illuminated in others. In all things I will Hallal to my King.
Shachah, meaning to lay down prostrate to God. It is the greatest submission to live in Christ who is our head. There is a place I enter in worship where I cannot help but lay down prostrate before my King. I cannot help but now before the Living God in the Holy of Holies. I do this in submitting in obedience to God’s Rhema Word and applying it to my life by doing His Will. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God (1 Corinthians 11:3). This is the spiritual order God has ordained for a life in the Shalom–a life of peace for the optimum condition for life to unfold. This is the secret to an abundant life. When I allow rest to be my starting place, yielding to God, I hear His voice on what to do next. I will shachah until I hear His voice.
Tahilla, meaning to sing a new song. I sing a new song as I see the power of God transform my life when he makes all things new. The new song springs from a heart of gratitude for the blessings and grace of God. I honor my new creation life and salvation—He is our Salvation is the meaning of His name. Singing new song after new song for eternity. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice. the earth is full of his unfailing love (Psalm 33:3-5). I sing a new song because all of who Jesus is abides within mes; all of heaven is attracted to Jesus in me. That means, Abba God will and is unfolding all His plans, favor, blessing, abundant life, promises, and eternal possibilities into my life. That is something to sing about.
Yadah, meaning to throw a stone away—thanksgiving for forgiveness. During the Hebrew feast of Rosh haShanah (Head of the Year) a stone representing a sin or transgression is thrown into the water in an act of repentance. The repentant act of worship is beautiful—replacing one way of thinking with another way—a more excellent way. Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. Love is indispensable And yet I will show you the most excellent way ( 1Corinthians 12:31). The more excellent way is settled. My old man is dead. I am a new man with a new beginning as I press into who God says that I am. Since Jesus took my sin on the cross, I no longer deal with the past. My new placement in the Kingdom allows me a new dawn with a new soul. Rosh haShanah is the New Year. It means a new beginning. Repentance is the action in replacing one way of thinking with a more excellent way. Every time we do so—it is a new year. We start over with a clean heart. I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins no more (Isaiah 43:25).
When I worship in Spirit and in Truth, I worship my God to bring Him Praise at the same time He inhabits my praise. The act of worship brings me into the Holy of Holies of Heaven where I find God’s Will and direction for my life. Corporate worship is uniting in one mind and one accord to witness the gates of Heaven opening in signs, wonders, and mighty deeds. Worship is my ongoing prayer in His presence where I abide in the vine of all the Fruit of the Spirit, rest, jubilee, grace, gratitude, and love. Worship is my celebration of His goodness and faithfulness as I cling to Jesus in all things. May my actions be from a position of worship and praise with all glory given to the King. May I abide in His glorious, majestic, and brilliant Presence, in the House of the Lord forever.