Spirit and Truth | Ponderings of a Pastor
Key Thought | A healthy church is not built on preference or personality, but on the powerful union of Spirit and Truth.
Key Scripture | “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. – John 4:23–24 (NIV)
“Too much Word, you puff up. Too much Spirit, you blow up. With the mixture of Word and Spirit, you grow up.” – Tommy Tyson
I can’t tell you how much I heard this in my formative years. My dad didn’t share with me the quote above, but he ingrained in me the importance of being deep in the Word and the importance of the Spirit of God.
In many ways, we’ve lived in the modern church caught between two extremes. Some may not immediately know what I mean, but others will. On one side, there are churches that strongly emphasize the movement of the Spirit, such as charismatics and Pentecostals. On the other, there are those that prioritize structure, tradition, and doctrinal precision, such as Baptist, Presbyterians, and a few others. I could list them all out, but the point isn’t labels. It’s the tension that often exists between them.
One side would say they are strong in Word the other would say they are strong in Spirit. The problem is that to be weak in either is a problem.
The Holy Spirit is drawn to the faithful and unashamed preaching of God’s Word. If we long for a genuine move of God, it will always be anchored in His Word. At the same time, we must be careful not to become so settled in our comfort and personal preferences that we slowly crowd out His presence.
Church is never meant to be comfortable. For a sinner to walk into a church and not feel conviction is a sure sign the Holy Spirit is absent. The presence of conviction is not the absence of love. It's actually a sure sign that the love of God is present.
““Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”” – John 4:21-24 NIV
Jesus makes it unmistakably clear: He is seeking people who worship in both Spirit and truth. He is building a church marked by both.
As someone who feels deeply called to build that kind of church, I can tell you—it is not for the faint of heart. Of all the things I’ve ever attempted, this has been the most challenging. And yet, whether they recognize it or not, it is the calling of every pastor.
We have become very skilled at giving people what they want, but too often we have failed to pause and ask what God wants. And the truth is, what God desires is not always what is most popular. Faithfulness rarely competes well with applause.
If Jesus is truly seeking worshipers who live in Spirit and truth, then we must be willing to examine our own hearts. Are we pursuing what feels good, or what is faithful? Are we protecting comfort, or cultivating His presence?
May we be people who care more about God’s approval than public opinion. May we have the humility to ask not, “What works?” but “What honors Him?” And may we courageously build lives, and churches, where both His Spirit and His truth are fully welcome.
Prayer | Father, We don’t want to build something You are not in. Forgive us for the times we have chased what is comfortable, popular, or familiar instead of what You are asking for. Give us the courage to value Your presence over applause and Your truth over preference. Teach us to worship You in Spirit and in truth — not leaning to one extreme or the other, but holding both with humility and boldness. Shape our hearts first, and then shape our churches. May we care more about obedience than outcome, and more about faithfulness than fame. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection
Key Scripture | “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. – John 4:23–24 (NIV)
“Too much Word, you puff up. Too much Spirit, you blow up. With the mixture of Word and Spirit, you grow up.” – Tommy Tyson
I can’t tell you how much I heard this in my formative years. My dad didn’t share with me the quote above, but he ingrained in me the importance of being deep in the Word and the importance of the Spirit of God.
In many ways, we’ve lived in the modern church caught between two extremes. Some may not immediately know what I mean, but others will. On one side, there are churches that strongly emphasize the movement of the Spirit, such as charismatics and Pentecostals. On the other, there are those that prioritize structure, tradition, and doctrinal precision, such as Baptist, Presbyterians, and a few others. I could list them all out, but the point isn’t labels. It’s the tension that often exists between them.
One side would say they are strong in Word the other would say they are strong in Spirit. The problem is that to be weak in either is a problem.
The Holy Spirit is drawn to the faithful and unashamed preaching of God’s Word. If we long for a genuine move of God, it will always be anchored in His Word. At the same time, we must be careful not to become so settled in our comfort and personal preferences that we slowly crowd out His presence.
Church is never meant to be comfortable. For a sinner to walk into a church and not feel conviction is a sure sign the Holy Spirit is absent. The presence of conviction is not the absence of love. It's actually a sure sign that the love of God is present.
““Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”” – John 4:21-24 NIV
Jesus makes it unmistakably clear: He is seeking people who worship in both Spirit and truth. He is building a church marked by both.
As someone who feels deeply called to build that kind of church, I can tell you—it is not for the faint of heart. Of all the things I’ve ever attempted, this has been the most challenging. And yet, whether they recognize it or not, it is the calling of every pastor.
We have become very skilled at giving people what they want, but too often we have failed to pause and ask what God wants. And the truth is, what God desires is not always what is most popular. Faithfulness rarely competes well with applause.
If Jesus is truly seeking worshipers who live in Spirit and truth, then we must be willing to examine our own hearts. Are we pursuing what feels good, or what is faithful? Are we protecting comfort, or cultivating His presence?
May we be people who care more about God’s approval than public opinion. May we have the humility to ask not, “What works?” but “What honors Him?” And may we courageously build lives, and churches, where both His Spirit and His truth are fully welcome.
Prayer | Father, We don’t want to build something You are not in. Forgive us for the times we have chased what is comfortable, popular, or familiar instead of what You are asking for. Give us the courage to value Your presence over applause and Your truth over preference. Teach us to worship You in Spirit and in truth — not leaning to one extreme or the other, but holding both with humility and boldness. Shape our hearts first, and then shape our churches. May we care more about obedience than outcome, and more about faithfulness than fame. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection
- In my own life, do I lean more toward truth without dependence on the Spirit, or toward experience without deep rooting in God’s Word? What might God be inviting me to strengthen?
- Where might I be prioritizing comfort or approval over obedience? What would it look like to ask, “God, what do You want?” before asking, “What will people think?”
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!
No Comments