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Weekly Reflections 02: Pouring Out

This is part 2 of a 3 part reflection that looks into the deepening levels of John 4. Today we tackle worship.

FOCUS: Worship

Introduction

I love burgers. I remember back in college when I first had Zarks, because it was located in Taft most of the people there were from La Salle and CSB. But just because I was from UST that did not mean I was not allowed to like their burgers. Just because Mang Tootz is near UST, that doesn’t mean only people from UST are allowed to eat there. The same goes for worship.

Main Text: John 4:20-39

There are three (3) levels to this text:

  1. Personal level: The thirst for something
  2. Political level: The true worshippers (Focus for this message)
  3. Spiritual level: The identity of Jesus

Observations

  1. Jesus reveals the place of worship (Where)

John 4:21 ESV
Woman believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

In these times, there were appointed places to worship God. Typically within temples or altars built by the Jews, usually found in Jerusalem. What mountain was Jesus referring to? The people of Samaria built a temple on the mountain in order to worship God.

Question: What is their dilemma?

Jesus reveals that worship is not limited to any physical location, but our spiritual frame of mind. When you are not in a place or a situation that inspires worship, but you are in a spiritual frame of mind to worship, worship can happen.

Recall: When I was at Vertis, because it is a shared workspace, I was with managers who also owned a laptop. I remember I was listening to this message by TD Jakes called “Chain Breaker” and he was so on fire, I was losing my mind, and because everyone else was working, I was quietly going wild.

  1. Jesus reveals the reason of worship (What)

John 4:22 MSG
You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews.

Question: you are coming to church, singing worship songs, but do you understand who you are worshipping?

While the people of Samaria kept worshipping out of what they received, the Jews worshipped for what was to come, because the Savior will be born in a Jewish nation.

He reveals that worship is not about what God has given us, but about what God is at work doing. Anticipation for what is to come, a celebration of a promise. Back then it was about how the promised Messiah would bring the salvation that we have always longed for, now it is a celebration of that salvation, an anticipation for Jesus’ return, and something that rightly belongs to God.

Be very careful about who and what you worship.

  1. Jesus reveals the manner of worship (How)

John 4:23 ESV:
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

John 4:23 MSG:
But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It is who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: _those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration._

Jesus reveals the manner we must worship. He tells us to worship in spirit and truth. The honest desire to reveal ourselves and truthfully acknowledge him.

Questions: Have you ever cried while you worshipped?

I have, plenty of times, Shine has too and this is what we had in common. It was because we completely exposed our spirit to the presence of God. We allowed our burdens to be cast on the feet of Jesus, we allowed ourselves to be vulnerable in His presence.

Recall: I remember when we were unlocking the gift of tongues during Victory Weekend, Pastor Christian said we just had to close our eyes and continually thank and praise God, to pour out our hearts, and when we no longer have the words, continue to praise Him with words you cannot find.

Truths

There are three (3) truths in this text:

  1. Sometimes we think there is only a particular place you have to worship
  2. We often think worship is a sign of gratitude for what we have been given
  3. We think worship is an act not an attitude

Application

There is this saying “Men fall on the weight of worship” Why is that? Because worship is not a form, but a substance. We fall on the weight of worship because we are not fit to be worshipped. We can be praised, we can be thanked, but we cannot last long under worship. Notice how you feel weak and physically tired after worshipping God? Worship is not a form, it is a substance, it has weight. Two things that have weight in the bible: worship and glory.

Question: How can we worship?

  1. Position your heart

Isaiah 29:13 ESV
And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, _while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,”_

Worship is not about what we say or do, but about our heart.

Are you worshipping from a position of pride demanding for what you think is rightfully yours? Are you worshipping because everyone else around is worshipping? Are you worshipping because that’s what you were taught while growing up? Or are you worshipping because of who He is.

Worship is not about words, but about heart.

  1. Overlook your situation

Acts 16:25 ESV
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them.

There is no direct relationship between worship and situation. You do not worship God because you are in a favorable position, you worship God regardless of your position.

I am sure we all have comfort food. This snack or meal that makes us feel a little more comfortable regardless of what we are going through. Or some of us have a tendency to stress eat whenever we find ourselves in high pressure situations.

We fill our bodies with food to make us feel a little better and fuel ourselves to keep going, and that’s what worship is—food for our soul. When you stress eat or indulge in comfort food, does that take you out of your situation? No, but it helps you go through it. That’s what worship does, it does not take us away from our situation, but helps us go through our situation. It gives us the spiritual strength to go through it.

  1. Understand His character

Psalm 103:8 ESV
The LORD Is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

I actually love Psalm 103 because it shows the need for us to revisit, review, and recalibrate our own understanding of God. It is a man commanding his soul to never grow tired or weary of worshipping God.

Question: Do we stir ourselves up when we worship God or do we only worship when we feel like it?

Command your soul to worship.

  1. Jehovah Jireh—the LORD will provide (Genesis 22)
  2. Jehovah Rapha—the LORD that heals (Exodus 15:22-27)
  3. Jehovah Nissi—the LORD is my banner (Exodus 17:8-16)
  4. Jehovah Shalom—the LORD our peace (Judges 6:11-27)
  5. Jehovah Raah—the LORD my shepherd (Psalm 23)
  6. Jehovah Tsidkenu—the LORD our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:1-8)
  7. Jehovah Shammah—the LORD is there (Ezekiel 48)

God has so many different names, He is whoever you need at whatever time you need Him. He is both the source and the resource.

  1. Rest in His presence

Psalm 144:2 ESV
he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

You know how music affects our mood? Back when I was still competing as an athlete, I would always listen to heavy metal to hype myself up for either my performance or my fight.

You know how music brings back certain memories or transports us to certain places in our imagination? That’s what worship does.

Worship is the quickest way from the cares of this world to the presence of God. We often use this expression “buti nalang nandito ka” because it is being in the presence of someone that we are able to find rest and security. What more if we were in the presence of God?

Reflection Questions

  1. Where is your heart when you worship God?
  2. What difficult situations are you facing right now? How can you worship God despite what you are facing?
  3. What identity of God do you need the most in this season of your life?
  4. How can you find rest and comfort in His identity?