John 4:23-24 — But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

When I finished writing about worship yesterday, I discovered there was something else to be said. I realized that I hadn’t said what worship is. So here goes — worship happens when we seek to meet God in His realm, instead of asking Him to join us in ours. Wow! What does that mean?
When I pray, I’m trying to line up my will with God’s (“Thy will be done”). But I’m trying, I suppose, to influence — or at least express how I feel about — events that happen on earth — in what I might describe as “where I live”. Worship is different, and what Jesus is saying to the woman at the well is critical.
God is a Spirit. He is not a physical body, restricted in time and place. Our worship is our Spirit, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, responding to his holiness, love, and wisdom.
Jesus stops to talk to the woman at the well. It seems He saw in this seemingly disreputable lady a spirit ready to worship. Of course there were plenty of “religious” people prepared to worship in elaborate ceremony, but it seems He saw one who might become a genuine faithful believer.
There were many amazing things about the meeting at the well – but perhaps nothing more amazing than the announcement of a new age of worship. “Look”, He said, “now is the time for the focus of worship to change — where you worship will be much less important than Who you worship, and how you worship will be much less important than why you worship!”
“God is Spirit”, Jesus says, “He doesn’t live in the temple, though He has placed His name there — He is everywhere. He is not a thing, not some material idol. He is not some universal energy. He is a spiritual being! God must be worshiped in Spirit and truth!” Of this, Matthew Henry says “The spirit or the soul of man, as influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God, and have communion with him. Spiritual affections, as shown in fervent prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, form the worship of an upright heart, in which God delights and is glorified.”
The great old commentator reached into the heart of worship when he chose the word “fervent”. Worship is spiritual — and passionate. The word most used for worship in the New Testament actually speaks of the idea of a dog licking its masters hand, it carries the oriental idea of bowing, face to the ground, and the Lord’s feet.
Next time you worship, let your Spirit fly … let it go to it’s Master, in His spiritual realm. Let it bow down … and worship.