Worship God, led by the Holy Spirit, living holy according to His Word, the truth. That is the type of worship that pleases Him!

Worship God In Spirit And Truth, That Pleases Him

STM Bible Lesson

God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth. John 4:24 (CEV)

Key points about worship

God is Spirit, and we must have the Spirit’s help to worship Him so that our worship pleases Him. That help comes from the Holy Spirit [2 Timothy 1:14].
Three key points to consider:

1. We needed help

a. We must have the Holy Spirit to understand spiritual things, including how to worship and serve God.

When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 (NLT)

b. “When the Spirit of truth [the Helper/Holy Spirit] comes, he will lead [guide] you into all truth“.

When the Holy Spirit, who is truth, comes, he shall guide you into all truth, for he will not be presenting his own ideas, but will be passing on to you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. John 16:13 (TLB)

c. The Spirit teaches us everything we need to know.

But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name. John 14:26 (ERV)

And this is important to you: The “special gift,” which you received from God [See verse 20], continues to live in your hearts, [so that] you do not need anyone to teach you [anything different]. But, since this same “special gift” teaches you concerning everything that is true, and [what it teaches] is not false, you should continue to live in [fellowship with] Christ. 1 John 2:27 (AUV)

d. Let the Holy Spirit guide and help you when you pray.

Dear friends, use your most holy faith to grow. Pray with the Holy Spirit’s help. Jude 1:20 (GW)

2. Worship at any time or place

It is not about when (which day or what time) or where we worship [John 4:20-21 and 23-24]. In fact, it is more than using our words of praise and giving thanks. Actually, it is about the way we live. “Be holy in all that you do, just as God is holy” [from 1 Peter 1:15 (ICB)].

a. The Children of Israel were given very detailed instructions on where, when, and how to worship [Leviticus 1:1-7]. For example, Solomon (and no one else) was chosen by God to build the temple in Jerusalem [1 Chronicles 28:6].

Out of the territory of all your tribes the Lord will choose the one place where the people are to come into his presence and worship him. 6 There you are to offer your sacrifices that are to be burned and your other sacrifices, your tithes and your offerings, the gifts that you promise to the Lord, your freewill offerings, and the first-born of your cattle and sheep. 7 There, in the presence of the Lord your God, who has blessed you, you and your families will eat and enjoy the good things that you have worked for. Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (GNT)

b. You/we are God’s temple. He is ALWAYS with you. That means you do not have to go to a building or place to meet Him. So, you can worship Him anywhere.

Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 (CEB)

c. He does not require that we [born-again believers] observe Jewish holy days, including the Sabbath [Colossians 2:16]. Paul was concerned that saints in Galatia were still observing Jewish laws and traditions [Galatians 4:8-20] and not accepting their freedom in Christ.

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink [Romans 14:1-4; 1 Timothy 4:3] or for not celebrating certain [Jewish] holy days [festivals] or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. Colossians 2:16 (NLT)

3. Help the Needy

Important: Failure to help people in need was one of the reasons God destroyed Sodom.

As surely as I live, says the Lord God, this is true. Your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.
49 “‘This was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were proud. They had plenty of food. They lived in great comfort. But she did not help the poor and needy. 50 So Sodom and her daughters were proud. And they did things I hate in front of me. So I got rid of them when I saw what they did. Ezekiel 16:48-50 (ICB)

a. Jesus said, in Luke 6:30, “Give to any person who asks you for something“.

b. John, in 1 John 3:17, lets us know that helping needy believers is a way of showing the love of God.

When another believer has trouble, we need to be kind to him. Maybe you have all the things that you need to live. If you see another believer who needs things like that, you should help him. If you refuse to be kind to him, it shows that you do not belong to God. You do not love people in the way that God loves them. 1 John 3:17 (EASY)

c. Hebrews 13:1-17 gives us tips on how to perform service/worship that pleases God.

Worship That Pleases Him

Remember to Worship God in Spirit and in truth, that pleases Him! I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible lesson. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies/lessons/snacks for further spiritual growth:

True Worship Is Not Tradition, But What Pleases God! – an estimated 25-minute read.

Respect God; It is Absolutely Good Advice For Life – an estimated 13-minute read.

Truth, True Knowledge About Salvation Will Make You Free! – an estimated 7-minute read.

Fear God; Know What Happens If God’s Not Pleased? – an estimated 5-minute read.

One With God; The Bliss of Harmony In Spirit – an estimated 8-minute read.

See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

Reference Scriptures

Note: parenthesis (#) encloses the key verse(s).

John 4:1-26 (20-21 and 23-24); 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (13-14), 6:12-20 (17); and 2 Timothy 1:13-18 (14). John 14:25-31 (26), 16:5-15 (13); 1 John 2:24-27 (27); and Jude 1:20-23 (20).
1 Peter 1:13-21 (15); Leviticus 1:1-7; and 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:20 (28:6). Deuteronomy 12:1-28 (5-7); 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 (16); Galatians 4:8-20 (10); and Colossians 2:11-22 (16).
Romans 14:1-13 (1-4); 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (3); Ezekiel 16:44-59 (48-50); and 1 John 3:13-18 (17). Hebrews 13:1-17 (16); James 1:19-27 (26-27) [references: James 2:1-26 (2-7 and 15-17), 3:1–12 (8-10); Exodus 22:16-31 (22-24); Deuteronomy 14:22-29 (28-29); and Matthew 25:31-46 (34-36). James 4:1–10 (4–10); 2 Peter 3:10-18; and 1 John 2:15-17.

I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing tim@stministry.com. Have a fantabulous day!