Step 5: The local church and the Christian life
The two concepts of worshiping in spirit and in truth means: (1) To be sincere, desirous of genuine submission to the will of God.
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(2) Have a clear understanding of the Truth (without error) responding with joy and obedience Israel showed the opposite of this attitude in Isaiah 29:13. What was their problem? _____________________________________________________________________________________ The local church must teach God’s Word for understanding and for application of the Word, not “precepts of men.” Those who worship come with their spirits conditioned to accept the truth and act accordingly as a part act of worship. These are the worshipers that the Father is seeking.
To see believers praising the Lord for His truth and grace, and singing for His glory, honors God and is beneficial for our growth. Those who only occupy a seat rarely desire to learn from the Word of God and their worship is empty. Those who take advantage of the teaching, applying it to their lives, become equipped to invest their energies in ministry to others.
4. It is necessary to be involved in MINISTRY
God will never ask something of us without providing what is necessary to do it. He has given each believer “gifts” or capacities and the motivation to serve Him in some area of the church. It is His investment in our ministry for His Kingdom. However, we must involve ourselves in a ministry in order to discover the gifts He has given us. God equipped us with a profile of gifts, talents, passion and temperaments together with our experiences for a purpose. Our unique profile will determine where and how we can serve effectively in the church. What is this “profile” called in Eph 2:10? ________________________________________________________________ If our “workmanship” equips us for a work of ministry, how are the ministries divied in 1 Pet 4:10-11? ___________________________________________________________________
Isa 29:13, Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Eph 2:10, For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. 1 Pet 4:10-11, As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.