Today's Passage - John 4:24-26

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4: 24 -26   "God is a spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth...."   In the original text "truth and spirit" means  worshiping  God both in the Holy Spirit and in truth.  If we do worship Him in spirit and in truth,   and as this is from our hearts,   will God   accept us for sure?  But in reality, this may not be the case.  I recall in one student-parent meeting at school, teacher told the students, "Your parents have been serving you all these days, but today you are going to serve your parents instead!  Go to the table there and serve your parents with some snacks."  The children were delighted and brought their parents red and green cookies.  Then a mother shouted, "Not the cookies, get the fruit!"  But the children could only see what they liked - the cookies, not what the parents desired - the fruit.  Nevertheless, the parents then affectionately laughed and shouted,  "Oh, we appreciate your gesture, but this is not what we want!"   Isn't  this  similar  when we come before the Lord only  according to our own spirit and truth?   Even though it is offered from our inner hearts, would this truly please  God?  Of course, this offering is very good, but what does God really want?  When we come before God and worship Him, we need to re-consider:  what worship can  truly be  attuned with  God's  will?  Acts 15: 16-17 says, "As it is written, 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent.  Its ruin I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name.'"   God has clearly shown to the last generations that He will restore David's tent.  In others words, God will restore the praises and worship of David's era!   If we examine closely  what is  recorded in Chronicles I chapters 15 and 16,  we will find that many instruments, praises  and even lifting of hands and  worshipping on knees,  were   used when  singing and worshipping God!  God is going to restore this kind of worship in the last generations to the point that all the Gentiles will turn toward Him.  May the Lord give us a heart of humility, worshiping this true God according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His own words so that God's heart will be fulfilled through our worship.          Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, we thank You because You have clearly taught us to  worship  You according to Your Holy Spirit and truth, and in our daily living, we may worship You with hearts of praises to glorify your Holy Spirit.  With thanks we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!