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by Trish Davis

But the hour is coming and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him, must worship in Spirit and Truth. ~ John 4:23-24

Jesus made this statement in His conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well in Sychar.

Her understanding of worship caused her to place importance on the place where it occurred: It was something that happened in the temple.

It is generally understood in Christian circles today that our worship as followers of Jesus, people with transformed natures, needs to permeate every part of our lives and be in accordance with the “full counsel of Scripture”.

The Samaritans had emerged as a cultural and ethnic group, as a result of invasion by, and Jewish intermarriage with, first the Assyrians and then the Babylonians. To the pious Jews, they were known as people with a mongrel faith who picked and chose which parts of the law they were going to follow.

As believers, we worship God as He directs us to worship Him; otherwise it is not the God of the Bible who is being worshipped, but some other entity.

‘And you shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all  your mind and with all your strength… You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. ~ Mark 12:30-31

So to them, my question is, “Can I love and worship God as he commands and endorse the killing of unborn babies (even through silence)?”

And if the action of abortion is not consistent with loving God and my neighbour as God commands, and is therefore not consistent with worshipping God in Spirit and Truth, then does abortion actually constitute worship of another entity? Some examples of that other entity might be the idol of Self: my rights, my career, my choice, my comfort, my convenience, my opinion, etc.

But wait – I may not have had an abortion, but have I worshipped these gods of Western society and modelled that that is all ok, i.e. to pick and choose which parts of God’s counsel to obey… like the Samaritans?

Abortion is primarily a worship issue, not a political issue.

Prayer Points

• That the church in Australia will worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, i.e. according to the whole counsel of Scripture; how God says He wants to be worshipped.
• That the church in Australia will take responsibility and repent of past silence in the midst of this abortion epidemic, and rise up as the voice and hands and feet of Jesus.

Prayer

Dear Father, I want to love the things that You love and hate the things that You hate. Please show me when my actions point to the worship of something other than you.

I am part of a culture that worships many “gods”. Like the Samaritans, I have at times chosen the bits of Your word that I want to take on board and forgotten the rest.

Please help me to worship You in Your entirety; to love You with all of my heart, all of my mind and all of my strength and to love my neighbour (even those unborn), as I love myself.

In Jesus’ Name we Pray, Amen.

Worship

Author: Trish Davis

Trish Davis attends Glory City Church, Darwin. She has been, among other things, a registered nurse and primary school teacher, and now works supporting adult indigenous students at Nungalinya Christian College in Darwin. She believes that part of “being blessed to be a blessing”, is those of us who have a voice using it for those who don’t, e.g. unborn babies.

Further Prayer Points

• Pray that the Spirit of Truth goes forth to persuade and convince people that abortion is unthinkable in Australia.
• That Jesus’s body be in unity as one (John 17:21) and be in prayer and advocate for Life for the Unborn. That Jesus’s disciples be activated in their unique spheres of influence speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
• Pray that in all the upcoming elections that Australians will vote according to Life. That State and Federal political leaders who have stopped their parties from bringing forth any discussion or bills about abortion, repent and that this ban be lifted. That the Babies Born Alive (Human Rights — Children Born Alive Protection Bill 2021) tabled in the Australian Federal Parliament to be passed with no more delay, so that in every state and territory in Australia where babies have been born alive after a failed abortion, that they will receive proper medical care and legal protection.
• That every church be a trusted place of mercy and compassion — to discern and discover those who find themselves in an unplanned/crisis pregnancy. To be an effective House of Refuge for the unborn and their families. For Hubs of Love to be established in every city and town in the nation.
• That women in crisis phone the compassionate and confidential Pregnancy Help Australia or visit a life-affirming pregnancy centre — not go to a pro-abortion doctor or clinic for advice.
• We pray for every state and territory of Australia to arise in the cause of defending life in the womb from the tragedy of abortion and come together to walk for life. A blessing on the “Walk for Life Adelaide” on 8 February 2025 and “March for Life” Brisbane — date TBA, Mackay “March for the Babies” in October, “March for the Babies” Melbourne, Perth’s Rally for Life in May, and for all Territories and States to join in and hold a Walk for Life in their city/region.
• Pray for Love Adelaide’s Walk for Life 2025 on 8^th February from 10am-12pm to grow in momentum and fruitfulness. Pray for effective doors of favour to open, health and strength for the leaders, speakers and volunteers, for finances, safety and perfect weather.