We’re taught by the words of Jesus that Father God is seeking men who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. For quite some time I’ve wondered what that means exactly. And lately I’ve been led to take a deeper look into what the word of God says about it.
I was drawn today to Psalms 4 and noted verses 7-8 especially. The Psalmist talks about a favor that rested on him “More than in the time when their corn and wine increased. ” I thought that over. That’s a harvest time! I wondered at that. He is comparing his harvest to the harvest of others. Isn’t it very good to be grateful for the abundant harvest of what we’ve labored for? I thought it was but I saw a deeper truth. The Psalmist is thinking and thanking God that he is blessed differently than some others. The verse speaks of some whose testimony was “Who will show us any good?”… Hmmm. they sounded to me like some of Job’s friends. Negative. it was made clear that the favored one stood in awe of God. He had realized that his source of joy and peace was the Lord, who alone made him dwell in safety. His contentment was in his comfort from and intimacy with His God.
Psalms 4:
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Then I was led to the Isaiah 9 word below that confirms those thoughts. It began to make sense. Many worship in spirit, but it seems that some are only able to rejoice and celebrate when they see the results of their labor. The harvest and the spoils.
Isaiah 9:3
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Soon the Lord took me to the beautiful passage of scripture we love in Habukkuk. This describes the worship God is looking for. To know that God is our source and is our strength even in a dry season, when there is nothing to show for our faith except our joy and peace in Him. We are in a right position in Him when we realize that He Himself is our great reward.
Habakkuk 3:
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
Worship in truth is the place where the apostle Paul dwelt when he talked about when he said …
Philippians 4:12
I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am initiated both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer privation.
This has all led me back to a truth I had thought on for years. Godliness with contentment is great gain. I wondered “What is godliness in God’s eyes?” I saw that Abraham’s life and the life of many others in scripture were models of godliness.
Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
All of this seems to answer these questions I asked myself. I had thought so much and heard so much about the slumbering church, and I knew I had to set out to find out how I could find my way to the personal walk of worship in spirit and in truth. That is my quest. My soul finds rest in God alone. In any circumstance I am safe, joyful and content in my Father’s presence. From this position I believe we can learn how to sow healthy productive gardens for his glory. He is the husbandman and only he knows the right way.
God is great and merciful to all who call upon him. But he calls to us to rise up into a right relationship of consecrated love in Him. A going where he leads in a walk with him in times when we can’t see a thing but Him. A trust in his guidance in times of lack or whatever we’re walking through. To set our whole hearts to pleasing him above all.
We all start out as learners and seekers but we have to rise up and become true worshippers and doers of the word. The bottom line truth is that we are deceiving men when we promise them peace and safety when their focus is still set what they want and what they need. He is our greatest need and hearts that are hardened against the purity of worship will suffer. As leaders of others, it is only when we walk by faith and not by sight that we are safe and protected from influences of the dark kingdom. As consecrated and mature saints we can walk with God in an unfeigned faith, in spirit and in truth.. be a rich blessing wherever Father God wants to place us.
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned
Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, Oh God, forever..Amen..
Treasures Of Secret Places 