John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. True worship is a way of life that requires humility and surrender. At some point in life, each of us must decide in our heart that He actually is God and we are not. We were created for Him, and not the other way around. How many say Jesus is their Lord, but their actions prove otherwise. While everyone is “entitled” to their opinion, His is the only one that matters. Any opinion that differs from His is wrong, and there are a lot of opinions out there. If you desire to know the truth, it would be a very good idea to ask God for it. Do you actually take His thoughts on matters into account?
Part of submission is agreement, and that includes agreeing with what He says about you. It means conforming to His desires for you out of love, and yes, out of the fear of the Lord as well. It means being yourself instead of trying to be someone else. An act of worship would be not comparing yourselves to others. On one side of the coin, if you esteem someone as being “superior” to you, you will find yourself doubting who are, your God-given talents, abilities and so on. On the other side of it, if you see yourself as “the superior,” arrogance is already knocking at your door. Going farther, you might be insulting God without realizing it. He is our Maker, and He does not make things with design-flaws. He makes each of us unique to have a unique relationship with Him, and that includes the unique way each of us are designed. Some may have heard this example before, so bear with me. There was a moment I was comparing my singing voice with that of another person’s. I wanted to be able to sing the way he sang. Father (Abba –Daddy) stopped me right there and asked, “What, don’t you like the voice I gave you?” Talk about a time of repentance (thinking differently). Your voice and my voice are meant to give unique sounds that please Him. Since He gave you your voice, He is pleased with your voice when you sing to Him. “Yeah, but I sing out of key!” Perhaps, on the natural level; but, not on the spiritual. You see, if you sing praises that are truly meant to edify God, you’re in tune! When people “measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding” (2 Corinthians 10:12). The King James Version says “are not wise.”
Worship means walking in love and walking in unity with the Spirit. Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Bickering over doctrine in the name of truth is not an act of worship. How can it be, it is totally carnal! If your opinion about the Word sounds right, but doesn’t line up with what God actually meant, you’re still wrong. An act of corporate worship would be seeking the truth as one Body, while allowing Holy Spirit to reveal the truth. Jesus said He would guide us in all truth. Seeking to agree with each other in itself is not necessarily the answer. What if we agree on a teaching, but it is out of sync with God’s intent, does that make us one and the precept true? Of course not, we must agree with God in order for us to truly be in agreement.
James 3:13-18 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
