“God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being)
and those who worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth (reality).”
– John 4:24 AMP
What does it mean to be “in spirit”? The dictionary tells us that “spirit” means:
The vital force that characterizes
a human being as being alive;, enthusiasm and energy; personality or
temperament; attitude or state of mind; being divine, inspiring, or animating
influence; a dead person’s soul, a supernatural being that does not have a
physical body; an alcoholic drink or any liquid produced by distillation.
Easton’s Bible Dictionary states
it this way:
(Hebrew: ruah; Greek: pneuma), properly wind or
breath. In 2 Thess. 2:8
it means "breath," and in Eccl. 8:8
the vital principle in man. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by
which man is distinguished (Acts 7:59;
1 Cor. 5:5;
6:20;
7:34),
and the soul in its separate state (Heb. 12:23),
and hence also an apparition (Job 4:15;
Luke 24:37,
39),
an angel (Heb. 1:14),
and a demon (Luke 4:36;
10:20).
This word is used also metaphorically as denoting a tendency (Zech. 12:10;
Luke 13:11). In Rom. 1:4,
1 Tim. 3:16,
2 Cor. 3:17,
1 Pet. 3:18,
it designates the divine nature.
What does it mean being “in spirit”? To get a fuller grasp of this, let us look at
what it does not mean:
Being “in the spirit” is not something you can work
up or do yourself (Ezekiel
13:2-3; Proverbs 21:2 AMP)
Being
“in spirit” does not mean you are a ghost of a dead person for John was very
much alive when he wrote the book of Revelation: “I was in
the Spirit on the Lord's day, and
heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” – Revelation 1:10 KJV
I
love how the Amplified Bible expresses this verse: “I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on
the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great
voice like the calling of a war
trumpet”, - Revelation 1:10 AMP
Being “rapt” means to be caught up.
John was so caught up in the power of God, focusing on Jesus, in worship
and awe of Him that he was able to listen and hear the directions of the Lord.
How
could a sinful man hear the will of a most Holy God? We, like John, can be “in the spirit” as we
realize that we do not live to meet our own fleshly desires, but to seek out
the desires and will of God (Romans 8:1; John 3:18). We, again like John, have the hope of glory
in us (Colossians 1:27), the fulfillment of the Promise Jesus gave (John
7:38-39, Ephesians 1:12-14), and the means to be renewed (Titus 3:5). Why is it that we then still try to depend
and put our confidence on outward privileges, circumstances, and
advantages? Why is it we still tend to
depend on the flesh? Why do we strive to
always do the right thing so as if by our own sheer effort be able to resist
sin and our old way of lives?
“Are you so foolish and so senseless
and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit,
are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? “– Galatians 3:3 AMP
So,
being “in the spirit” is not something we can work up, strive for, or reach in
any kind of determination or self-effort.
What is the key or catalyst that releases us from this tendency of
dependence on the flesh?
“For we
[Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the
flesh and on outward privileges
and physical advantages and external appearances—“– Philippians
3:3 AMP
“For we…by the Spirit of God…put no confidence or dependence in the
flesh…” God, Himself, is our catalyst. Just as it was God Who did the saving work in
our lives to redeem us from sin and its eternal consequences, it is He Who
enables us to “worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) by His own
Spirit.
“But I say, walk and live
[habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by
the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of
the flesh (of human nature without God).” – Galatians 5:16 AMP
“But you are not living the life of
the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God
[really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not
possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to
Christ, is not truly a child of God].”
– Romans 8:29; 8:9 AMP
“If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let
us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let
us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]” – Galatians 5:25 AMP
So,
quit striving to be perfect. Stop trying
to be holy. A pastor once told me to
look at a fruit tree we could see outside a window. He asked me, “Does that tree grunt and groan trying
with all its might to grow and produce fruit?
No, it just soaks up the sun, water, and nutrients from the earth. What is the result? Our Heavenly Father’s will and purpose for it
is fulfilled as we see an increase in height, width, and fruit appear.” In the same way I expect to see my Heavenly
Father’s will and purpose fulfilled in my life as I soak up His Word and His
Spirit’s directions for they are my spiritual sun, water and nutrients.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth,
the flesh profiteth nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” – John 6:63 KJV
So
now what are YOU going to do?
“Never lag in zeal and in earnest
endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” – Romans 12:11 AMP
