We also know that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. God is Spirit, and Jesus is truth. John 16 also tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Now that we have access to the Father we must come and worship as He is.
Jesus said that the Father is looking for those that would truly worship. We no longer have to bring an offering or sacrifice, because that was the prescribed type of worship under the Old Covenant. Paul, however, said in Romans chapter 12 than we now have to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. In other words we must come to God in complete humility and lay aside our will so that God can have his perfect will.
Humility has everything to do with the breaking down of our will. The will is the hardest thing to break, but David said "...the sacrifices You desire are broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart." (Psalm 51:17) The word there for heart is literally translated the will. God is looking for a will that is completely broken and destroyed, because He cannot have His will when ours is in the way. Even Jesus said, "not my will, but Yours be done".
So, because of the cross we now have direct access to the Father. The veil has been torn, and the separation has been removed. There are still requirements, however, to come to the Father. If one has not received the forgiveness and the Spirit of God, that separation still exists. But once one comes to a place of receiving the final work of Jesus Christ there is complete access.
To truly worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth one must learn the act of humility. One must learn from Jesus, the ultimate worshipper, who "humbled himself and became obedient unto death....even death on the cross" Philippians 2:8).
|
Experiencing Worship, The Study