John 4:24 - TRUE WORSHIP

John 4:24 - TRUE WORSHIP.

John 4:24 (KJV)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must 
worship him in spirit and in truth.  

OVERVIEW

Jesus Talks To The Samaritan Woman At The Well:
Jesus exposed the woman's life in order to bring her to the 
point of receiving the living water (4:13-18). Due to Jesus' insight 
into her private life the woman thought that he had the divinely 
given insight characteristic of a prophet (4:19-20). But Jesus raised 
the issue, not of his identity, but of the location and nature of 
true worship. Jesus only identified himself as the Messiah (4:26) 
after the woman herself raised the issue of the coming Messiah (4:25). 
The Samaritans believed God had designated Mount Gerizim ("this 
mountain," 4:20) as the proper place for worship. They had built a temple 
there to rival the worship center in Jerusalem. The Samaritans 
believed in a coming Messiah who was to be primarily a teacher, a priest, 
and a restorer of true worship on Mount Gerizim. Jesus articulated 
the difference between worship that was expressed in external 
rituals alone and true worship in spirit (4:23). The term "spirit" 
refers to the sphere of worship. True worship happens when a believer's 
spirit is connected with God's Spirit, not when a believer is in any 
particular physical place like Jerusalem or Samaria. God's Spirit is 
everywhere, therefore worship can happen anywhere. The term "truth" implies 
that the human worshiper is open and conforming to God's revealed 
ways of worship and life, specifically Jesus' call to repentance and 
honest, spiritual worship. [New Bible Companion] 

APPLICATION COMMENTARY

True worship of God must be in a personal relationship. 
[Disciple SB] 

The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will 
lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the 
divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us 
a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a 
willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. It is 
the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit every 
sincere prayer is indited, and such prayer is acceptable to God. 
Wherever a soul reaches out after God, there the Spirit's working is 
manifest, and God will reveal Himself to that soul. For such worshipers He 
is seeking. He waits to receive them, and to make them His sons and 
daughters.  DA189 

"God is spirit" means he is not a physical being limited to one 
place. He is present everywhere, and he can be worshiped anywhere, at 
any time. It is not where we worship that counts, but how we 
worship. Is your worship genuine and true? Do you have the Holy Spirit's 
help? How does the Holy Spirit help us worship? The Holy Spirit prays 
for us (Romans 8:26), teaches us the words of Christ (14:26), and 
tells us we are loved (Romans 5:5). [Life Application SB] 

Our praise should come from the Holy Spirit within (Eph. 
5:18-20) and be based on Scripture (Col. 3:16). In this way, we worship 
Him "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). [Chapter by Chapter Bible 
Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Exo. 15] 

Prayer pervades true worship seeking fellowship with God 
(Mat.21:13). [Disciple SB] 

It is working together with Christ that is true worship..... 
manifested in good works, in caring for the needy, the fatherless, and 
widows.  2T24 

Worship is direct communication with God. It includes adoration, 
meditation, exercise of faith, praying and praising God, and hearing the 
teaching of His Word. It is absolutely amazing that man can speak with 
God, and still live. But what is even more wonderful, is that when 
man does worship his Creator, he is made more alive than he was 
before the communication. Are you experiencing this aliveness from your 
times of worship? Meditate on God's glory and greatness, His creation, 
His goodness to you and others. Listen for His Spirit's instruction 
as you hear His Word. You don't have to wait for victory and power. 
You don't have to die and go to heaven before you realize blessings. 
They are here for you now. Worship God in Spirit and truth, and you 
will sense the wonder and power of life in you. [In His Time; Walk 
With Wisdom re Deu.5:24]