Honest Worship

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jhn. 4:23-24).

• worship [proskyneõ; G4352] –
  • to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence; to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; In the NT, by kneeling or prostration, to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication; do reverence to, adore.
    • from the root words pros [G4314] and kyõn [G2965]
      • pros [G4314] – to the advantage of; at, near, by; to, looking towards, with, with regard to; properly after verbs of going, departing, running, coming.
      • kyõn [G2965] – ‘as a dog;’ a metaphor for a man of impure mind, an imprudent man.
• worshipper [proskynētēs; G4353] –
  • a derivative word defining one who acts in a manner of worship [G4352].
• spirit [pneuma; G4151] –
  • the Holy Spirit (e.g., the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ), coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son; referred to in a way which emphasizes His personality, character, work, and power (e.g., divine, holy, truth).
• truth [alētheia; G225] –
  • objectively, (a) what is true in any matter under consideration; (b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth; (c) the truth as taught in the Christian faith, respecting God and the execution of His purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians.
  • subjectively, (a) truth as a personal excellence; (b) that candor of mind which is free from affection, presence, simulation, falsehood, deceit.

. . . with these definitions in mind, let’s begin.

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WHAT IS HONEST WORSHIP

“. . . honest worship is a matter of remaining unhidden in the presence of God, living without pretenses before a watching world, and being ruthlessly committed to truthful self-examination . . . it is awfully difficult to achieve [but,] by God’s grace, it is achievable” and deeply pleasing to God.
— W. David O. Taylor, Fuller Theological Seminary

“Honest Worship shows us how to really align our souls with the One who made us so that we can experience the fullness of worshiping ‘in spirit and truth.'”
— J. Scott McElroy, author Creative Church Handbook and Finding Divine Inspiration

“Dallas Willard was fond of saying that [honest] worship should be understood as properly ascribing worth to God.”
— Gary Black Jr., Azusa Pacific University

The student of honest worship seeks to “worship our God with honesty, obedience, devotion, and passion . . . [thus,] guiding others into God’s presence.”
— Nancy Beach, leadership coach with Slingshot Group, author of An Hour on Sunday

Those who worship Christ honestly “examine [their] heart to identify where [a] false self might be hiding behind a spark of defensiveness, . . . struggle to yield to the Spirit’s deep, interior, and sometimes painful work of authentic formation, . . [and become] the product of God’s Spirit doing genuine soul work in [someone] willing to cooperate, stretch, and grow.”
— Mike Lueken, senior pastor of Oak Hills Church in Folsom, CA, coauthor of Renovation of the Church

. . . now, the explanation.

In the Spirit of Christ, God the Father has provided believers an inexhaustible, free, readily available source of power to live a righteous life before Him. This gift of grace (e.g., God’s favor upon us) imparts upon believers the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16b)––that is, the ability to hear and follow Christ as Immanuel (e.g., ‘God with us’)––and, the ability to “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:6). Christ has also given believers His Spirit to live a life of belief and truth and love apart from the impact of the flesh (e.g., temptation, sin), with fruit that resembles the indwelling and impact of the Spirit of Christ personally and relationally (1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 1:27; Gal. 5:22-24; et al.).

“But as it is written:
‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard.
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him’
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God . . . which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual
. . . for ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’
But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:9-13, 16).

The life of honest worship recognizes and accepts the grace of God presented to us in the Spirit of Christ, and uses it to His glory. This Spirit breathes into us a state of truth that acknowledges ‘it is absolutely impossible, apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, to do anything that is pleasing to God’ (“. . . apart from Me, you can do nothing;” Jhn. 16:15b), but ‘with the divine Helper, the Holy Spirit, which has been sent by Christ, you can have a life of righteousness apart from sin (Jhn. 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:13). And so, the life of a believer in Christ must enjoin a Spirit-filled life to walk wisely, to redeem the time in these evil days, to understand the will of the Lord, and to live a life of righteousness before men (Eph. 2:18, 22; 3:5; 6:18).

It is the Spirit who empowers and works in and through us, provided we have trust in Him to work His will within us (Phil. 2:12-13). No man can glorify God apart from an honest, sincere belief in Jesus Christ (‘the Word’; Jhn. 1:1-2) and the Spirit of Christ.

WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A LIFE OF HONEST WORSHIP

A. It means you are committed to a conscious effort to yield your heart, mind, soul, and spirit––and, for that matter, every area of your life––to the will of the Spirit of Christ.

In Eph. 2:18, 22, 3:5, and 6:18, Paul asks believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Here, Paul is not talking about a momentary experience likened to the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13), but a condition of increasing in spiritual maturity that results from a life committed to, and submitted under, the Spirit of Christ in permanence. Further, the command is not passive, but something that we must obey in the present tense to such a degree that we can be characterized as being full of the Holy Spirit in the same manner as Jesus epitomized on earth (Luk. 4:1; Acts 6:3; Acts 11:24).

At no time throughout scripture is this expectation removed.

We who claim to believe in Christ must therefore live perpetually with His Spirit in every area of our lives. Such a life is not self-willed, but Spirit-willed, producing an array of spiritual fruit that characterizes Christ in all we do and say and act (Gal. 5:22-24).

B. It means you are committed to allowing the Truth of God displayed in Christ to permeate every area (e.g., heart, mind, soul, and spirit) and activity of your life.

There is a common mathematical law that says ‘things equal to the same thing are equal to one another.’ A parallel argument is discussed in the book of Amos: “can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (3:3; see also Ecc. 4:9-12). The precept can be put forth to understand the relational worship God seeks of Spirit and Truth (see Jhn. 4:23-24), and of a life that is led by the Spirit in a manner equal to Christ. So, if we claim we believe in Christ, and we truly desire to follow Him (see Mat. 16:24), our existence must exemplify the life of Christ, Who was filled with the Word (Jhn. 1:1-2) and the Spirit (Jhn. 4:24).

Some other scriptural examples of the relation between Spirit and Truth include:

• for “the sword of the Spirit . . . is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17),
• the Word is revealed to us by way of the Spirit (1 Ch 2:13-14),
• it is the Spirit who gives life, and the Word that IS both Spirit and life (Jhn. 6:63), and
• the Spirit and the Word (e.g., Christ) bear witness we are children of God (Rom. 8:16; 1 Jn. 5:7).

C. It means you are committed to allow the Spirit of Christ to cultivate an ever-present relationship with God the Father in YOU through Christ Jesus.

. . . and, the path requires you allow the Spirit of Christ to search your heart and your thoughts for any wickedness, before leading you in the ‘way’ everlasting (Psa. 139:23-24).

This relationship MUST lead us toward the spiritual maturity seen in Christ (e.g., the Way, the Truth, and the Life; Jhn. 14:6), or it is in err. Yes, there will be degrees of spiritual growth, understanding, and personal surrender and submission along the journey. Yet, the goal is Christ in us to such a degree that we become “crucified with Christ, and I [we] no longer live, but Christ lives in me [us]––[that] the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20).

D. It means a persistent walk with Christ through His Spirit at all times, and during all seasons.

Our service to Christ requires a steady, quiet flow of His Spirit for our daily needs to rigorously search our heart and mind, overcome temptation and sin, and live in a godly manner. The norm of a life honestly worshiping Christ demands every conscious area of your life in submission (e.g., yielded) to the leading of the Spirit, and knowledge that He will provide the grace, the boldness, the strength, and the special filling of His Spirit to meet every need. It is in this, we can say with confidence––

• The Lord “is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Heb. 13:6)
• The Lord is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at swelling” (Psa. 46:1)
• The Lord “will strengthen you, [and] help you. [He} will uphold you with [His] righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10)
• “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you” (Isa. 41:13)
• “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psa. 23:1-6)
• “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm. 18:2)

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

WHAT MUST I DO TO HONESTLY WORSHIP GOD THE FATHER THRU JESUS CHRIST

A. You MUST be committed to learning, knowing, believing, and trusting in the Truth found in His Word.

B. You MUST recognize and acknowledge that you are empty, inadequate, and in need of assistance from the Spirit of Christ to know and understand His will, His desires for your life, overcome temptations and sinfulness, and to align with Christ in obedience and righteousness.

C. You MUST confess and forsake all known and revealed sin, and yield every area of your mind, heart, soul, and spirit to God through Jesus Christ (Deut. 6:5; Luk. 10:27).

D. You MUST walk by faith in God through Jesus Christ (e.g., the Word) and His Spirit (Heb. 12:2)––which are One––not feelings (Pro. 3:5-6), not eyesight (Jhn. 20:29; 1 Pe. 1:8), and not the thoughts of others (2 Cor. 5:7). Your faith––which requires sustained obedience––must have absolute assurance in God through Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:17).

For “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God MUST believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

Walking, therefore, implies a moment-by-moment reliance upon the Spirit of Christ (Gal. 5:16), even when there are battles between the flesh and the Spirit (Gal. 5:17-18).

E. You MUST renew your mind, which is sinful, through persistent study and dwelling in God’s Word. As you walk in this manner, the work of your faith becomes reliant on the indwelling Spirit for His power, being obedient to His leading and work, and developing a habit of holiness in your daily life. As you mature, you will experience the Spirit’s fullness in an ever-expanding capacity. He will influence your thoughts, your emotions, your attitudes, your schedule, your relationships, your finances, et al. and give you a life that resembles Christ, directing you in His paths of righteousness and joy.

EVIDENCES OF HONEST WORSHIP

A life of HONEST WORSHIP produces an ever-deepened Christlikeness in thoughts of the mind, words of the mouth, love and conduct toward others, motives for service, a consistent victory over the deeds (e.g., sins) of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21), and a infectious habit of holiness (Gal. 5:21-24). These evidences lead to (a) heartfelt worship and thankfulness to God through Spirit-filled singing, and (b) an embodiment of the fruits of the Spirit of Christ in our moment-by-moment walk with Him toward others (e.g., godly relationships; Eph. 5:19-6:9).

Let’s focus on the evidence of heartfelt worship and thankfulness to God through Spirit-filled singing––

A. SPIRITUAL SINGING MUST BE INDIVIDUAL

Paul says the first consequence of the Spirit-filled life is not mountain-moving faith, an ecstatic spiritual experience, dynamic speaking ability, or any other such thing. It is simply a heart that sings. Joyful, exuberant, heart-felt singing is one evidence that an individual is Spirit-filled. Lifeless, listless, apathetic worship is not worship at all. It is a sinful disregard of the majesty and grace of our great God, and shows that we are not under submission to His Spirit, Who produces overflowing joy in disciples of Christ (Rom. 14:17; 15:13; Gal. 5:16, 22). Further, it reveals that we are not captured by God’s abundant grace, and we are not thankful for His many blessings to us.

Genuine, honest worship stems from our hearts being overwhelmed by the majesty and greatness of God the Father, as seen in the earthy ministry of Jesus Christ AND upon the Cross.

Paul says that “singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” must begin in your heart, and this teaching presents as a command throughout scripture:

• “Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy” (Psa. 33:1-3).
• “O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm. 95:1).
• “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His Name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day” (Psalm. 96:1-2).
• “O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him” (Psa. 98:1).
• “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing” (Psalm. 100:1-2).
• “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and praise is becoming” (Psalm. 147:1).
• “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones” (Psalm. 149:1).

B. SPIRITUAL SINGING MUST BE CORPORATE

“. . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord . . .with great joy and thankfulness” (Eph. 5:18, 20).

“. . . let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).

Throughout the history documented in the Bible, God’s people have been characterized by corporate spiritual singing. In fact, whenever the Spirit of God is manifested and God is working in an obvious way, His people express themselves in joyful singing. Here are some examples––

• SONGS CELEBRATING GOD’S DELIVERANCE AND SALVATION (Exo. 15:1-18, 20-21; Jdg. 5:1-31)
• SONGS CELEBRATING GOD’S BLESSINGS (Psa. 18; 103; 1 Sa. 22). “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits” (Psa. 103:1-2), and naming all of those benefits.
• SONGS ANTICIPATING VICTORIES BY FAITH (2 Ch. 20; et al.). Notice that Jehoshaphat called for a national prayer and fasting. But, when the Lord promised victory through one of the prophets in the assembly, the king sent his singers before the army to “give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (2 Ch. 20:21). Many of the Psalms have a similar theme. Such praises of the Lord must occur even if the outward circumstances have not changed in the slightest. These are the songs of faith that the Lord will give the victory.
• SONGS CELEBRATING GOD’S SUFFICIENCY IN OUR SUFFERING (Acts 16:25). When Paul and Silas were falsely accused, and then wrongly beaten, thrown into prison, and put into stocks, their response was to sing praises to God. His response was to send an earthquake, leading to the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his family. The lesson––our songs must recognize His sufficiency during any time of suffering and tribulation––an essential prior to His moving on our behalf.
• SONGS CELEBRATING GOD’S GLORIOUS ATTRIBUTES AND HIS MIGHTY DEEDS. The Psalms often rehearse God’s righteousness, faithfulness, power, lovingkindness, and His tender care to remind us of how faithful He has been in spite of a long history of rebellion and stubbornness (see also 2 Ti. 13).

If you are not convinced singing is evidence of Spirit-filled life of honest worship, just look closely at the end of time, where scripture speaks of heaven as a place full of singing (Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3-4):

• “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God Almighty, righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed” (Rev. 15: 3-4).

FINAL THOUGHTS

It is a sin to be apathetic in our praise and worship of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Our love for Him must be expressed often and intentionally with profound faith in Who He is and has been toward all generations. Such thoughts ensure we do not mumble through the words of praise––whether sung or spoken––and, fail to think about the significance of the words we use, ‘honoring God with our lips, while our heart is far from Him‘ (Mark 7:6). It is these individuals that Paul commands we turn away from relationally––

“. . . lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof . . . ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Ti. 3:2-11 et al.)