In Spirit

Worshipping God "in spirit" means with reverence, attentiveness, and having the right purpose of honoring God, while understanding what we are doing.  Hebrews 12:28-29 says, "Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire."  Our worship must glorify God.  1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

     In order to worship God in the right spirit, we must take time before worship to make ready our hearts and emotions so we will be in the proper frame of mind.  We read in Psalms 89:7, "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him."  Our worship must show great reverence toward God.  He is our creator and He holds our eternal destiny in His hands.  We must strive to please Him.  We should not have to rush or hurry to worship, arriving late but should always plan to be there early enough so we can be in a worshipful attitude and spirit.  Our mind must be ready, attentive, and alert.

In showing reverence and respect to God, we will not be indifferent, inattentive, and taking lightly that which should be considered serious.  Worship to God is holy.  Our character in worship must also be holy.  In 1 Peter 1:15-16 we read, "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written, Be holy for I am holy."  Slouching over, sleeping, playing with babies, squirming, unnecessary talking, and passing notes all show disrespect in worshipping God.  Worship which is insincere, that is not from the heart, is vain, useless, and unacceptable to God.  Jesus says, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" (Mark 7:6).  Active participation will tend to get rid of our lack of interest and inattentiveness.

Reverence is not having a long face, folded hands, or a put on look of piety.  Worship is a time of joy for us.  It is a time of offering thanks, adoration, love, praying, singing praises to God, feeding on His word, and proclaiming Christ to the world in partaking of the Lord’s Supper.