June 12 2026

Friday June 12

“Who Worship God in the Spirit”

Philippians 3:3

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we come to Philippians 3:3. Yesterday, Paul warned about false teachers. He called them dogs, evil workers, and the mutilation because they were teaching salvation by faith plus works. Now Paul turns from describing these false teachers to describing true believers. Philippians 3:3 says: "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." I believe this verse is the key verse for this entire chapter. As we talk about the spiritual mind, Paul here gives three distinguishing marks of a genuine believer.

How do you know if your faith is real? How do you know the difference between true Christianity and mere religion? Paul answers those questions right here. Today, we want to look at these three marks. First, true believers worship God in the Spirit. Second, true believers rejoice in Christ Jesus. Third, true believers have no confidence in the flesh. Today, specifically, we will be looking at the first one today. True believers worship God in the Spirit.

Paul begins by saying, "For we are the circumcision." Now remember the context. The Judaizers were saying that physical circumcision was necessary for salvation. But Paul says, "No, we are the true circumcision." He is speaking of believers. He is speaking of those who have experienced an inward work of God in the heart. Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly reminded Israel that He wanted more than outward rituals. Remember Deuteronomy 10:16. Moses says: "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart." Jeremiah 4:4 says: "Circumcise yourselves unto the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts."

So even in the Old Testament, God was looking beyond the outward ceremony to the inward condition of the heart. The New Testament makes this very clear in Romans 2:28-29: "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly... but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit." My friend, God has never been impressed by religious rituals alone. A person can be baptized, join a church, attend services every week, and still not know Christ.

You see, salvation is not an outward change first. It is an inward transformation that eventually changes the outward life. The Bible teaches that if we are in Christ, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. The first mark of a true believer is this: we worship God in the Spirit. Jesus spoke about this in John chapter 4 when He met the woman at the well. She wanted to talk about the place of worship. Jesus wanted to talk about the heart. He said: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

You see, the Pharisees were experts at outward worship. They knew the ceremonies. They knew the rituals. They knew the traditions. But their hearts were far from God. They worshiped God with their lips, but their hearts, Jesus said, were far from Him. True worship is not merely going through the motions. It is not merely singing the songs. It is not merely attending church. True worship flows from a heart that has been changed by God's Holy Spirit.

It is possible to sit in church all your life and never truly worship. It is also possible to worship God while driving down the road, sitting on a porch, or walking through a hospital hallway. Worship is the response of a redeemed heart to a wonderful Savior. When God's Holy Spirit lives within us, worship becomes a way of life.

I have met believers all around the world who had very little materially, yet they radiated joy and worshiped. I wish you could go to the slums of Bombay with me and see believers in the midst of unbelievable poverty radiating with joy. Or meet people in my first pastorate in Winchester Virginia, like Mildred Fahnestock, who was an invalid in a wheelchair with very painful crippling rheumatoid arthritis, yet had the glow of God upon her life. I also think of Phyllis Severson in my second pastorate in Holland Michigan, who suffered from MS and spent years in a wheelchair. I knew her for many years, and she glowed with the glory of God and worshiped Him from that wheelchair.

My friend, worship does not depend on circumstances. It depends on a relationship with God. This is what we must understand. We worship God in the Spirit. That is the first mark of a genuine believer. Do you have that mark today?

Let’s pray. Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit who comes to live within us the moment we trust You as our Lord and Savior. Because of Him, we can have a genuine relationship with You and not depend on rituals and outward ceremonies to know You. Today, may we worship You in spirit and in truth. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!