The Character of True Worship
by Sammy Tippit

True Christian worship doesn't originate from the outside. It originates from the innermost part of our being. True worship springs forth from the heart that has been graced by God. For there to be true worship, there must be a spiritual rebirth in the innermost part of our lives. Jesus said, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

A very religious man came to Jesus one night. His name was Nicodemus, and he was a ruler among the Jewish people. Outwardly, he was very religious. He knew that there was something unique about Jesus, and he came with questions about the true nature of Jesus. Nicodemus was shocked, however, when Jesus told him he had to have a new birth in order to enter the kingdom of God.

God's kingdom is spiritual, and worship in His kingdom must be spiritual worship. True worship in the kingdom of God can't be accomplished by the outward keeping of the religious law. True worship must come from within. For that reason, Jesus told Nicodemus, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again'" (John 3:6-7).

A person can be born of the Spirit only by the grace of God. We can't physically, psychologically, or emotionally work our way into a spiritual birth. We must be born from above. Spiritual birth takes place in our hearts the moment the Spirit of God opens our hearts to the truth of the Son of God. The Spirit will bring events and people into our lives to show us the loveliness of the Lord Jesus. As we respond in faith, we are born from above; we are born of the Spirit of God.

Immediately, we have the ability for true worship, because we have the capacity to worship in spirit. Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:38). John continued to explain the words of Jesus by writing, "But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:39).

After Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the tomb on the third day, He ascended to the right hand of the Father. It was then that He was glorified. Every corner of the universe cried out with the glory of Jesus. It was then that Jesus poured out His Spirit upon those who believed in Him. The Spirit of God came to dwell in the innermost part of the believers. And worship of Jesus flowed out of their lives as rivers of living water. They had received the capacity for true worship. They could worship in spirit because they had been born of the Spirit of God.