True Worship: Honoring God in Spirit and Truth

Most Important Questions

True worship is more than singing or praying—it’s a way of life. In this post, we’ll explore what it means to worship God in spirit and truth, why He alone is worthy, and how worship transforms us. Why do we worship God? Who is this God we worship? Aren't these two of the most important questions we will ever ask? Today we often hear people talk about what God can do for us. He can give us peace, love, and joy, for example. But is that God's only purpose, to give us emotional stability?

Let's look first at who God is. God is first and foremost a creator. All of the universe, all we can see and even that which we cannot see, was created by His Word. Who is His Word? Jesus (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:1-2).

If you had been a first-century Jew, reading that God created even things not seen, certainly you would have thought of the spiritual realm, like angels. But think of it: we are made of things that we cannot see—atoms, which in turn are made of even smaller electrons and quarks. Things unknown at the time, but now we can understand that even on a physical level creation is made of things we cannot see.

God’s Infinite Power and Presence

We know from Scripture that God is omnipresent - everywhere at one time; omniscient - all knowing and omnipotent - having all power. God is in the highest Heaven and God is in the deepest sea (Psalm 139:8). I cannot escape the presence of God. 1 John 3:20 explains that God knows everything. He knows our most secret thoughts, He knows our heart, and He knows our plans. God knows us completely. God is almighty. His purposes can't be thwarted (Job 42:2). All things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:27).

God’s Moral Perfection: Love, Justice, and Holiness

God's characteristics are perfect. He is not just a loving God, the Bible tells us that He IS love (1 John 4:8, 16). He is righteous and just, holy, and truthful. He is the judge of sin but also graciously offers us forgiveness. Towards us He shows mercy, grace, and compassion.

God’s Mercy and Grace in Our Lives

In Exodus 34:6-7 God speaks to Moses and reveals that He is:

“‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.'”

Is this the God you worship? Do you believe that He is all of these things?

True Worship: Honoring God in Spirit and Truth

If God is all of these things, and we believe He is, then why do we worship Him? Let's define worship first. Worship is when we show God reverence and adoration. We revere and adore Him. True worship is honoring God in spirit and in truth, as Jesus said in John 4:24. This is not lip service that we are giving. This worship comes from our heart. This is not just following some ritual, this is meaningful, thoughtful, and obedient reverence. We should be in awe of God's holiness.

We worship God because we were literally created for this purpose (Ephesians 1:3-6; Philippians 2:9-11). God desires our worship and because we know who God is we understand He is the only one worthy of it. As a popular hymn says, "You are worthy,

worthy and wonderful, worthy of worship and praise," emphasizing God's unmatched worthiness.

The Transformative Power of Worship

Worship is how we fellowship with God. Worship builds relationship with Him. He speaks to our hearts in our worship and we become transformed by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit changes us to become more like Him. In this way, His will becomes our will. We can truly pray as Christ taught us, "They will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven."

This transformation begins when we immerse ourselves in God's word and prayer throughout our week. Then, when we come to church and raise our worship and praise with others, we are ready to receive what the Holy Spirit wants to show us about God and ourselves. We are not going to church to be entertained, but to praise God for the transformation that we are undergoing. We praise His holiness and understand that sin blocks us from being more like Him. As worship transforms us individually, it also shapes the way we gather as a church, influencing how we approach prayer, praise, and our connection with God in the body of believers.

Worship and the Church

The Lord says, "My house will be a house of prayer" Isaiah 56:7. Is our church a house of prayer? Do we worry more about entertaining our congregations with funny stories, loud music, and exciting videos than we do prayer? And what would be a good way to begin our prayer? With praise.

Jesus, in the Lord's prayer, models praise by beginning with, "Hallowed by thy name," meaning holy is the name of God. The Psalms are full of praise and thanksgiving to God (Psalm 100:4). When we truly grasp the power of worship, it becomes clear that it's not just an act of praise, but a transformative experience that shapes us into God's image.

Worship That Changes Lives

Contemplating the glory of God is what transforms our lives more and more into His image through the Holy Spirit, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18. Our worship isn't so much about feelings as it is change. The purpose of God's creation worshipping Him is to become like Him. True worship convicts us of our sin. We are reminded "to be holy as I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16). God wants worship to make us become people that can show the world God's love.

Our gratitude for His mercy and forgiveness, our thankfulness for His miracles and His salvation shows others how they can find meaning and purpose for their lives. We see this so well in the story of Paul and Silas in jail in Acts 16: 16-34. As Paul and Silas began praying and singing hymns of praise at midnight, an earthquake occurred, allowing them to escape. The poor jailer, fearing he would be blamed for their escape, was ready to kill himself but Paul reassured him they were still there. Convicted by the Holy Spirit, the jailer and his entire family were baptized and "he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household." If only our worship and praise could have such a wonderful effect on others.

A Life of Worship

Worship isn't just limited to the words we speak to God in prayer. It isn't limited to the songs of praise we sing in church. It isn't limited to the awe we feel in His creation. No worship is, according to Paul, how we live our entire lives. Our true and proper worship Paul says is to, "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). But what happens if we aren't worshipping God?

The Dangers of Idolatry

As humans, if we are not worshipping God, we will be worshipping something else. Will it be money, power, fame, or pleasure as Thomas Aquinas discusses in Summa Theologica? Something will be on our heart's throne instead of God. Ask yourself which of these things are the least important to you. Whatever is left is your idol. It is the thing you feel that is worthy of worship. But it cannot ever lead to fulfillment because it is counterfeit—a false god we put in place of the one true God.

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?” (Ezekiel 14:3 NIV).

Our idols, whatever they are, God says, makes Him wonder if He should hear our prayers when we ask things of Him. At the very least, when we aren't worshipping as we should be, we are hindering our prayers.

The Ultimate Reason to Worship

We thank God for the peace, love, and joy He always gives us, but we praise Him first and foremost for who He is and who we are in Him. In Psalm 100:1-5, in part, we read, "Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture." What greater reason do we have to worship our Father than knowing that we are His! Who is God? He is our great Redeemer, Master and King, Creator of all that is and will be, and the only One worthy of praise!

What does true worship mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments!

All Glory to God

People Also Ask:

What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth? Worship is from the heart, not just ceremonies. The more we love God the more our worship is truly heartfelt. This is worshipping in spirit. The only way to worship in truth is to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit that we would grow in knowledge of who God is. Prayer, Bible study, and obedience are the keys to worshipping in spirit and truth.