The Bible tells us in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” How does one worship in Spirit? Understand that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are One. Those baptized into the Holy Spirit through spiritual birth worship God to declare His greatness. Worship involves the giving up of self and bowing or kneeling down in homage to lift up our Lord; sometimes worship includes giving up something you care about to honor God (Gen. 18:1-5). When you truly and wholly seek God’s face, you can feel His Spirit. God gives different spiritual gifts to His children. Read 1Corinthians 12-14 for further explanation.
In Acts Chapter 2, the Apostles receive the gift of tongues and begin to speak and preach in different languages to all the different nations that were present and as a result, the Church grew by three thousand people! Glorifying God is the real purpose of speaking in tongues/other languages. The gift of interpretation is given in order to translate a known language to one that is understood. It’s important to note that speaking in an unknown tongue is for God, not man (1Cor. 14:2); and the new, incoherent tongue is often found in satanic cults. Paul says in 1Cor.14:4, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” Just as everyone is not given the spiritual gift of healing, or prophecy, or interpretation, etc., not everyone is given the spiritual gift of tongues. We exist and our gifts are given in order to work together as one Body to glorify our Maker.
God’s ways are higher than ours. We must study to understand and rightly divide His Word. But when you worship in spirit and meet with the God of the Universe, you know it! There is absolutely nothing that compares!
Artist: Mandisa Writer: R.C. Freeman
