Flower Patch
WORD PICTURE: FLOWER PATCH
Scriptural Reference: John 4:23-24
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
1. Have someone(s) read the scripture from various translations.
2. Using some fragrant fresh flowers, explain the following vision: This vision came to a believer during worship when a profound sense of the presence of the Lord descended. The worshipper saw that the others with her were like lilies of the field. Then she saw that their hearts had changed color, that the worshippers were giving off a fragrance, and that they looked to God like a patch of crocuses starting to come up. Therefore, He leaned over to encourage them -- to give them some water, and some warmth, and some light -- and some Miracle Grow!
What I Shared
The word “worship” comes from the word “worthship” meaning worthy of God. This scripture -- plus the vision I shared -- is telling me that true worship is God-centered, not man-centered, that what we are after is worship that is pleasing to God.
Historically, it was not until after the Exodus from Egypt that “public worship” was formalized. After Jesus, the early Christians worshipped mostly in private homes. The New Testament Book of Acts is the handbook for a spirit-filled church, showing house worship that is worthy in God’s eyes (example: Acts 12:12).
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
A footnote in my Full Life Study Bible says: “Just because those who claim to be God’s people have assembled for worship is no guarantee that true worship is taking place or that God is accepting praise and listening to their prayers. If the worship of God is mere form and lip service and the hearts of God’s people are far from Him, then God does not accept their worship. Christ severely castigated the Pharisees for their hypocrisy -- legalistically following God’s law while their hearts were far from Him. Note that similar criticism was leveled against the church in Ephesus, which continued to worship the lord but no longer loved Him supremely (Rev 2:1-5).
"To the angel (or messenger) of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. "
My conclusion: that true worship is a heart thing, not just a head thing -- and that “head knowledge” is dead knowledge.
All Scripture references from the New International Version of the Bible (NIV).
Copyright by Whitney McKendree Moore, February 2007