Worship In Spirit

The apostle Paul in Romans 12:11 urges us to be “fervent in spirit.” This means we are to have an attitude of zeal. To worship God in sprit is to do so with the right attitude or from the heart. The Bible heart is our mind and includes our intellect, volition, conscience and emotions. One’s whole heart must be engaged in worship for it to be acceptable to God. As the Psalmist sweetly sang, “I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation” (Psalms 111:1).

Worship in spirit involves doing those acts which please god with the right attitude. It is possible for one to be physically present at a worship service and not be worshiping God because his attitude toward worship may not be correct. Thus, he is not worshiping God in spirit. So it is vitally important that we understand the characteristics of worship that is truly in spirit.

First, worship in spirit must be with understanding. Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 14:15: “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” To worship with understanding, we must be able to comprehend what is said and done. We must appreciate the significance of each act of worship and think about what we are doing as we worship. For instance, we cannot be talking, daydreaming or sleeping during a prayer, sermon or song and be worshiping with understanding.

Second, worship in spirit is orderly. Some misguided members may like the “spontaneous” approach, which generally leads to confusion, but this is not God’s way! Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “God is not the author of confusion…” and later in the same chapter, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). We should have an expedient order to our worship services, so that all may know what to expect and do at the appropriate times. Order is right. It is commanded of God and therefore it is good.

Third, worship in spirit is reverent or respectful to God. The Psalmist wrote, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psalms 89:7). Our manner of worship should reflect our respect for God and othe5r worshipers. We are gathered to worship and praise Almighty God, therefore, we should act, speak and dress in the very best way of which we are capable. We should bring the best before God and show the highest degree of respect for Him.

Fourth, worship in spirit is sincere and springs from a hold lie. We should assemble out of love for our Heavenly Father and a desire to praise Him and commune with Him. David expressed the right attitude in Psalms 122:1: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” The time of our worship should be an occasion of great happiness and joy. We should look forward to the moment when we can assemble with the saints and worship God. Also, our worship is not done to be seen of men, but is offered to please God (Matthew 6:1, 5, 16). Further, our worship should reflect a life of holiness. One cannot continue to live a sinful life and at the same time offer holy worship to God.

Fifth, worship in spirit must be edifying and without pomp or gimmickry. One major reason we assemble is to “provoke unto love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Paul wrote that in our assemblies, “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26). Every act of worship in the assembly should be for praising and glorifying God, as well as edifying or building up the saints. Worship is not for entertainment, satisfaction of the lust of the flesh or self-glorification. Our efforts in worship should be to glorify God and be built up in the most holy faith. Our worship should be edifying to one another as we assemble to provoke one another unto love and good works. Any act of worship which is not directed to God is miss-directed and is not in spirit. This is one reason we do not have choirs and choruses or entertainment acts in or worship. These would fall into one of two possible categories: Worship or Entertainment. If they are worship, then where are we authorized to worship in this manner? They cannot be found in the New Testament! If they are entertainment, then where is the Lord’s church authorized to provide entertainment? Again, this cannot be found in the New Testament! Therefore, we must reject such attempts of entertainment as being from man, rather than God.

Of course, we recognize that there are some who want worship to be what they want it to be and desire to do as they please in worshipping God. Remarks such as “We like it this way” or “It sounds good to me” indicate the desire to please self more than God. Paul referred to some who were this way in Colossians 2:23, who were engaged in “will worship” or worship according to their own will rather that God’s will.

Ted Thrasher

(This is an excerpt from the tract “Worship – In Spirit and In Truth” published by the 39th Street Church of Christ)