Worshipping like a Dog.

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  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.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The Greek word used throughout scripture proskunw which is translated as worship is an interesting word. Pros means to, or towards, while kunw which comes from the old Greek for dog means to act in the manner of a dog, dog fashion. The Hebrew word, which was translated into this Greek, was a word meaning to exhibit submission, reverence and obedience towards someone. Greek is a language of sometimes vivid and colourful constructs like this word for worship or exhibition of submission.
To me it evokes the image of a faithful hound when it’s master returns home. The dog spontaneously, passionately and enthusiastically exhibits it’s joy at seeing it’s master and performs joyful ritual like behaviour to demonstrate it’s subordinate and obedient stance.

Jesus makes it clear that the time of ritual acting out of worship via special routines at special times in special places is over. The Father is now seeking out those who will instead worship (like the submissive dog) their Master in the power and life of the Holy Spirit and reality.
How is this  possible? By recognizing that Jesus is the one who immerses us in the Holy Spirit and fire. By therefore asking Him to give us of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we spontaneously, wholeheartedly, enthusiastically worship (like a dog) with all we’ve got.
I’ve witnessed this experience in others and in myself.
It is nothing like what is called worship in religious meetings.
The fact that the Father is actively seeking those who will do this should encourage us to believe that this promise of the Father is to us;
Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

We make a huge mistake if we think we can learn to worship in the Spirit and in truth. This worship is initiated by God, not us. It is by the Spirit, not by might, not by strength. Not of the flesh.
Like everything that is of the Kingdom of Heaven, it is not of the old letter of the Law, nor of human zeal, but by the Holy Spirit.
This is why Jesus came to save us from the death that is in our old self, the flesh. He has come that we might have life, more abundantly. This life is via abiding in Christ Jesus, a choice we can make daily.

Colin Thompson. Gateshead. England. (Nobody important.)

Comments welcome by email to colin@followingjesuschrist.co.uk

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