The Holy Spirit in Worship
The Holy Spirit Indwells
The Holy Spirit is vital to true worship. Without the Holy Spirit, true worship cannot exist. The true worship I am referring to is defined by Jesus in the Gospel of John 4:23-24 when He said to the Samaritan woman, “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. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The question often arises whether Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit or our spirit. Looking at the whole of scripture and the broader context of the Gospel of John, it is clear that Jesus was speaking of the person of the Holy Spirit that dwells within believers. True worshipers are those who have been born again and possess the Holy Spirit. In the previous chapter, verses five and six, Jesus is answering the questions of Nicodemus concerning being born again. John writes, “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ ” When the Holy Spirit indwells the believer, he or she has new life and a promised future in the Kingdom of God. He makes Himself known to believers. He equips and enables them to worship. True worship is worship which comes from the grateful and pure heart of one who possesses the Spirit of the living God.
“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13
The Holy Spirit Purifies and Prepares
God’s word is clear that the Holy Spirit renews, and by grace gives eternal life to believers who deserve the penalty of death because of their sin. Titus 3:5 says, “he saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” As God’s children, the Holy Spirit sets us apart. He purifies and prepares the believer for His purpose, to live a life that glorifies and honors Him with our worship. I Corinthians 6:11 says, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1
The Holy Spirit Unifies
When a body of believers gathers to worship, the Holy Spirit within them is their common bond. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:16, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” The Holy Spirit recognizes the members of the body of Christ as children of God. He empowers each with spiritual gifts (2 Corinthians 12:4–11) so they may love and serve one another. Ephesians 2:18–19 says, “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” Through this family bond we are made one in Christ. As members of God’s household we have access to the Father through Jesus Christ the Son, and are unified by the Holy Spirit to worship in spirit and in truth.
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:12–13
