[This post is in a weekly devotional series called Everything New. Sign up here if you’re interested.]
Jesus said, “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.” This is one of the core attributes of God.
But what does “Spirit” mean? Both the Hebrew word for spirit (ruach) and the Greek word (pneuma) can mean breath, wind, or spirit. Like the invisible wind that comes from one direction, then another, and can assert itself with mighty power, so does God come as Spirit. Breath, too, is invisible, yet with breath, you are a living being; without it, you are dead. So “Spirit” is a wonderfully precise description of who God is–“the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God…” (1 Timothy 1:17).
We all know that there are two fundamentally different ways of looking at reality. One assumes that only what can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or heard is real. This is the materialist position. The other view allows that there are realities beyond our senses, the metaphysical beyond the physical. It assumes that there is a divine Spirit who is not limited by the material world as we are. He moves as he wishes; he is actively present in all places at once. He comes to us as pleasantly as a breeze, but also comes as a mighty cyclone.
If you put a negative spin on it, God’s spirituality may seem like an inferior trait, as if he is less than the creatures and things we all daily see, touch, and smell. It may seem easier to ignore God because he is invisible, and to go on with occasional debates about whether God exists or not-which is like talking about someone who is, in fact, still in the room with us. If there were a lion in the room, we wouldn’t ignore it, but it’s not hard to disregard an invisible God.
But God’s invisibility is not some lack on his part. It is what you would expect of a God who presides over a universe in which there are not just three dimensions, but at least eleven at last count, according to some physicists. And if someone says, “Why doesn’t God just show himself?” the answer has to be, “He did!” “The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us.”
Excerpt from Putting the Pieces Back Together: How Real Life and Real Faith Connect. Click for more.
What do you think?
I like that He can’t be seen, His omnipresence is comforting. I know He has my back even when I don’t have my back.
Thank you for clearly explaining the spirit of God. It gives me chills to know his awesomeness.
I ve been a christian along time and this is the most simpliest way i have heard the truth . Can you send more on the Spirit .
When you think of it, what if God had come in another way other than in human form what would that have been like? What if He came in His majesty do you think it might have the tendency to take away man’s choice? According to most accounts whenever God has revealed Himself to people in the Old Testament their first response was to worship. Do you think that would be different than a plan of righteousness by faith? I think that the way He came had something to do with His approach to man. I also think that His approach to man is tied into giving man a choice.
Think of another example if you will. Let us suppose that the New Jerusalem as John saw it in the book of Revelation were to ascend out of heaven. And suppose that it were possible to have it set up on a stationary basics say in between the earth and the moon ( I don’t know if it would fit in such a small distance or not) but just suppose it would. Do you think there would be a difference in how man would act? I think that it might make a difference. Now would that be different than God’s plan of faith through Jesus Christ? I think it would be. His purpose for us is tied to His approach to man. He wants mankind to know His purpose for us, but He will not go outside of His approach by faith to allow us to know His purpose.
Send me some more information on spirit. I would like also a simple explanation on how to be baptised by the spirit as John said “I baptise with water but there comes one after me who baptises with the spirit”
I do not think God is invisible. His creation is clearly visible from a newborn baby to gargantian stars and heavenly bodies. I also believe when a person is saved they are given “spiritual eyes” and although our Father is invisible we see Him. I do!
Thank you. I was wondering that for a long time..What is spirit?
I think that all people wonder and search for something more.Hollywood makes billions on this “beyond the 5 sences” topic..
For me this is impossible to ignore..I had a darkness invade my world when I was very young.I was diagnossed with mentle illness..I know \i am not ill.. found Christ!! People want to believe in something beyond and all of us search..Untill we come to Christ..Then we seek to know HIM..
I still battle every day..The Meds..have done a number on me and Istill wonder if I need to be on them..Is it pride that keeps us away from our maker..Well thats a sin and not from God..Its Satans work to keep us from God..We need to depend on something,, Its a daily battle to depend on Jesus and not on our own understanding..
The Spirit gives us power to live; A life that ‘s pleasing to the Lord, He also guides us and provides. Direction in God’s Holy Word; The power that drives us comes from the Spirit inside us. Amen.
Jesus came in the flesh and His own didn’t recognize Him. What does that say?? The Spirit world is more real and tangible than what we see in the natural and it’s the Holy Spirit who gives us the faith to believe that Truth. That’s so cool!!! I just know that I love Jesus so much, even though I can’t see Him, that it makes me want to weep because I can’t fall into His arms right at this very moment. Thinking about Him literally takes my breath away. I long for Him, to be in His presence, to fall at His feet and worship Him eternally. It’s the Holy Spirit inside me who confirms that these are “Truths” the world doesn’t know or understand and gives me the hope and strength I require daily to keep on keeping on till He returns for His own.
The word of God,the Bible says in Psalm 19:1,”the heavens declare the Glory of God,and the firmament His handiwork…”God is Spirit and we need to allow His spirit to indwell us before we can comprehend the things of the Spirit.Wisdom in the knowledge of God is revealed spiritually,not through philosophical pontifications.God’s invisibility is made visible in what He created.”The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him:nor can he indeed know them,for they are spiritually discerned”(1.Chor.2:14) That we can’t see God now with our natural eye,does not mean we shall never see Him.The dazzling light of God’s Glory the human eye cannot withstand!But a day is coming for the reedeemed of the Lord to behold their God face to face.Here we are ok feasting our eyes on the ever changing scenes of man-polluted, yet beautiful world HE created. The spiritual eye still sees Him!