THEME: WE ARE GOING HIGHER: WORSHIP.
MEMORISE:
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. John 4:23
READ: John 4:19-24
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 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.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
MESSAGE
Worship draws God’s attention. In fact, today’s memory verse says that God is actively searching for true worshipers.
When Bartimaeus wanted to get the Lord’s attention, he called Him “Jesus, the son of David.” In Yoruba land where I come from, when you really want to get something from a man, you start by recounting his antecedents and achievements. We have never needed God’s attention more than now, so this is the time to increase our worship of Him.
When you worship Him, He shows up in a great and unique way. In Acts 16:26, Paul and Silas worshipped Him and He showed up in an earthquake. In 2 Chronicles 20:22, Jehoshaphat and his people worshipped the Most High God and He made their enemies destroy one another. When you are faced with a battle, deploy the weapon of worship and watch the mighty power of God make you victorious.
At a wedding in a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the groom fell and died just as he was about to sign the marriage register. The pastor began to cry to God in prayers for the young man’s life to be restored, but instead of coming alive, he got colder. Someone then remembered what I had always taught about praises, so he told everyone to switch to praising God. They had only been doing so for a few minutes when God showed up; the groom came back to life and the wedding ceremony continued. God always shows up when we worship Him in Spirit and in truth. John 4:24 says:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
God loves to be worshipped. He wants to be called the Holy One of Israel, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Rock of Ages, The Mighty Man of war, the Lord of lords, the Lord Strong and Mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the King of kings, the Almighty God. Go ahead, take some time now to worship Him from the depth of your heart.
ACTION POINT:
Commit to a lifestyle of worship- in spirit and in truth.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 15
2 Chronicles 26
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 14: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE.
1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love
3 To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.
4 Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see:
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
5 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.