WEBVTT 00:00:04.386 --> 00:00:12.476 My name is Tyler and I'm the lead pastor here, and I am so thankful that you're all here this morning, and I wanted just to give an early, happy Thanksgiving. 00:00:12.476 --> 00:00:21.033 Right, it feels like I don't know where this year has gone, but regardless of how you feel about all of that, it's here. 00:00:21.033 --> 00:00:22.280 It is here. 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:29.911 This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and I just wanted to first of all just say how thankful I am for my wife of almost 32 years. 00:00:29.911 --> 00:00:32.174 Right, come on now. 00:00:32.174 --> 00:00:49.189 Yeah, you should be thanking the Lord that she has the grace for 32 years marriage with me, but and also my family, all of my family, obviously, and I'm so grateful for each and every one of you and I just saw my granddaughter how sweet. 00:00:49.189 --> 00:00:53.584 So, anyway, I'll try not to get distracted, because we've got to get into the word this morning. 00:00:53.584 --> 00:00:54.667 Are you ready for that? 00:00:54.667 --> 00:00:56.631 All right, let's dive in. 00:00:57.659 --> 00:01:04.947 Today we're finishing up our current sermon series called Encounter, where we've been talking about the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:01:04.947 --> 00:01:06.108 Have you enjoyed it? 00:01:06.108 --> 00:01:07.593 I hope so. 00:01:07.593 --> 00:01:17.224 I hope it's been meaningful and I hope that you will carry the truths that you've learned and that I've learned, that will carry them forward with us and put them into practice in our daily lives. 00:01:17.224 --> 00:01:36.168 Last week, we talked about the fact that Jesus came to set the captives free, and we talked about the fact that you can be free from bondage to sin and bondage to Satan and demonic oppression, and also the fact that God wants us, as believers, to be praying for others to be set free from bondage. 00:01:36.168 --> 00:01:56.109 Right, and then this morning we're going to finish up by kind of shifting gears a little bit and we're going to be talking about what it looks like to use the power of the Holy Spirit as we are witnesses for Jesus Christ, and so the title of today's message is Supernatural Soul Winning, supernatural Soul Winning. 00:01:56.109 --> 00:01:58.281 Would you turn to John, chapter four with me? 00:01:58.281 --> 00:02:05.974 And I want you to really lean into this, because we've got a lot of territory to cover, and so please lean into it. 00:02:05.974 --> 00:02:10.789 Try it, when we're reading through this, to envision what's happening here. 00:02:10.789 --> 00:02:15.586 Put yourself in the story so that you can really understand what's being said. 00:02:15.586 --> 00:02:19.143 All right, so, john, chapter four, verse four through 42,. 00:02:19.704 --> 00:02:21.867 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 00:02:21.867 --> 00:02:28.467 Eventually, he came to the Samaritan village of Saqqar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son, joseph. 00:02:28.467 --> 00:02:43.427 Jacob's well was there and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime Soon, a Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus said to her please give me a drink. 00:02:43.427 --> 00:02:49.185 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 00:02:49.185 --> 00:02:54.082 The woman was surprised, for Jews refused to have anything to do with Samaritans. 00:02:54.082 --> 00:03:00.882 She said to Jesus you are a Jew and I'm a Samaritan woman, why are you asking me for a drink? 00:03:02.223 --> 00:03:12.426 Jesus replied if you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me and I would give you living water. 00:03:12.426 --> 00:03:16.040 But, sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket, she said. 00:03:16.040 --> 00:03:17.905 And this well is very deep. 00:03:17.905 --> 00:03:20.350 Where would you get this living water? 00:03:20.350 --> 00:03:24.365 And, besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this? 00:03:24.365 --> 00:03:24.724 Well? 00:03:24.724 --> 00:03:29.532 How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed? 00:03:30.272 --> 00:03:40.966 And Jesus replied anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. 00:03:40.966 --> 00:03:46.715 It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. 00:03:46.715 --> 00:03:55.931 Please, sir, the woman said, give me this water, Then I'll never be thirsty again and I won't have to come here to get water. 00:03:55.931 --> 00:03:58.526 Go and get your husband. 00:03:58.526 --> 00:04:01.444 Jesus told her I don't have a husband. 00:04:01.444 --> 00:04:05.044 The woman replied and Jesus said you're right. 00:04:05.044 --> 00:04:11.229 You don't have a husband, for you have had five husbands and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. 00:04:11.229 --> 00:04:14.766 You certainly spoke the truth, sir. 00:04:14.907 --> 00:04:28.153 The woman said you must be a prophet, so tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshipped? 00:04:28.153 --> 00:04:38.932 Jesus replied believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it is no longer, when it will no longer matter whether you worship the father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 00:04:38.932 --> 00:04:48.685 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 00:04:48.685 --> 00:04:56.747 But the time is coming, indeed is here now, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. 00:04:56.747 --> 00:05:05.396 The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way, for God is spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. 00:05:05.396 --> 00:05:13.021 The woman said I know the Messiah is coming, the one who is called Christ, and when he comes he will explain everything to us. 00:05:13.021 --> 00:05:17.951 Then Jesus told her I am the Messiah. 00:05:19.956 --> 00:05:21.718 Just then his disciples came back. 00:05:21.718 --> 00:05:29.005 They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask what do you want with her or why are you talking to her? 00:05:29.005 --> 00:05:38.310 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village telling everyone come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. 00:05:38.310 --> 00:05:41.367 Could he possibly be the Messiah? 00:05:41.367 --> 00:05:45.437 So the people came streaming from the village to see him. 00:05:45.437 --> 00:05:49.208 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Jesus, rabbi, eat something. 00:05:49.208 --> 00:05:53.023 But Jesus replied I have a kind of food you know nothing about. 00:05:53.023 --> 00:05:55.670 Did someone bring him food while we were gone? 00:05:55.670 --> 00:05:56.980 The disciples asked each other. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:06:04.562 Then Jesus explained my nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 00:06:04.562 --> 00:06:07.788 You know the saying four months between planting and harvest. 00:06:07.788 --> 00:06:10.795 But I say wake up and look around. 00:06:10.795 --> 00:06:20.291 The fields are already ripe for harvest, the harvesters are paid good wages and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. 00:06:20.291 --> 00:06:25.649 What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike. 00:06:25.649 --> 00:06:28.862 You know the saying one plants and another harvest. 00:06:28.862 --> 00:06:29.586 And it's true. 00:06:29.586 --> 00:06:32.134 I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant. 00:06:32.134 --> 00:06:36.711 Others had already done the work and now you will get to gather the harvest. 00:06:37.452 --> 00:06:43.329 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said he told me everything I ever did. 00:06:43.329 --> 00:06:46.783 And when they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. 00:06:46.783 --> 00:06:52.607 So he stayed for two days long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 00:06:52.607 --> 00:07:01.045 And then they said to the woman now we believe, not just because what you have told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. 00:07:01.045 --> 00:07:07.494 Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world. 00:07:07.494 --> 00:07:14.531 Let's pray together, father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I thank you for your matchless word, lord. 00:07:14.531 --> 00:07:24.125 We thank you that you are so gracious to give us your word so that we will know how to live our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. 00:07:24.125 --> 00:07:43.810 And so I ask today that, as we open your word, as we discuss this passage, that you would open our eyes to truth, that you would change our hearts, that you would transform our thinking and, father, most of all, would you give us your heart for those who are lost, and I give you glory for it in Jesus' name, amen. 00:07:46.442 --> 00:07:49.783 Jesus' ministry was amazing, as we know. 00:07:49.783 --> 00:07:54.285 He healed the sick, he cast out demons, he raised the dead. 00:07:54.285 --> 00:07:58.730 Jesus was endued and filled with power from on high. 00:07:58.730 --> 00:08:09.091 The Holy Spirit lived in him and it manifests itself and himself through him, and many people's lives were miraculously touched. 00:08:09.091 --> 00:08:21.028 We've talked a lot about that over the last several weeks, but I want you to know that there is a miracle that's even greater than someone's arm growing out or someone being restored to health. 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:27.641 There is a miracle that is the primary purpose for Jesus coming to this earth in the first place. 00:08:27.641 --> 00:08:36.846 Don't mistake it by assuming that Jesus should be categorized or classified only by the powerful works that he does. 00:08:36.846 --> 00:08:39.673 His intention is much more than that. 00:08:39.673 --> 00:08:43.125 His heart goes way deeper than that. 00:08:43.125 --> 00:08:52.873 And we know that this is true because in Luke, chapter 19, verse 10, it says for the son of man came to seek and to save the lost. 00:08:52.873 --> 00:09:05.592 Jesus' purpose for coming to this planet, yes, was to display the works of God and to be used in powerful ways and mighty ways to display the kingdom of God in this earth. 00:09:05.592 --> 00:09:13.835 But don't forget his primary purpose for coming was to seek and to save those who are lost. 00:09:18.280 --> 00:09:31.552 You see, if we attempt to relegate the moving of the spirit of God only to the impact that it has within the four walls of the church, we are missing a huge part of the reason for encounter in the first place. 00:09:31.552 --> 00:09:40.453 Friends, the power of God was never intended to be kept within the four walls of a building. 00:09:40.453 --> 00:09:44.626 We carry the Holy Spirit with us, the dunamis. 00:09:44.626 --> 00:09:52.432 The power of God dwells within us and it is to be carried out with us from this place. 00:09:52.432 --> 00:10:00.392 Jesus made this abundantly clear to his followers as he was getting ready to leave the planet. 00:10:00.392 --> 00:10:04.888 You remember in Acts, chapter 1, verse 8, his powerful words to his disciples. 00:10:04.888 --> 00:10:18.230 But you will receive what power when the Holy spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. 00:10:18.230 --> 00:10:26.448 The purpose of power, ultimately, is to bring about people's salvation. 00:10:30.374 --> 00:10:38.322 In our passage today, we see Jesus modeling for his disciples what it looks like to be motivated to reach the lost, no matter what it costs. 00:10:38.322 --> 00:10:55.028 That's his motivation, that's his heart and that's my prayer for each and every one of us that we will of us, that we will catch that, that we will walk out of this place changed and that our discussions around the Thanksgiving meal this holiday will be different than they would have been in past years. 00:10:55.028 --> 00:10:59.485 My hope is that you will not hold fast to the rule. 00:10:59.485 --> 00:11:05.529 Well, there's a rule that says you should never talk about politics or religion when you're with a group of people who have differing opinions. 00:11:05.529 --> 00:11:08.356 And maybe that's true, but we're not talking about religion. 00:11:08.356 --> 00:11:13.707 We're talking about a relationship with a living Savior who is Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:11:13.707 --> 00:11:21.405 Please, my friends, don't be afraid to bring up the name of Jesus. 00:11:24.370 --> 00:11:26.774 So let's put on our ESI hats today. 00:11:26.774 --> 00:11:29.663 Evangelism Scene Investigation. 00:11:29.663 --> 00:11:36.501 Sorry, it just came to me and I had to throw it in here. 00:11:36.501 --> 00:11:39.342 I almost did a hat up and put it on, but I decided not to do that. 00:11:39.342 --> 00:11:43.921 I'm thankful, because I didn't know Neil was going to be here today and I would have just felt very strange. 00:11:43.921 --> 00:11:46.687 So glad to have you back, neil. 00:11:46.687 --> 00:11:49.894 So ESI evangelism scene investigation. 00:11:49.894 --> 00:11:56.871 So let's glean some lessons that Jesus teaches us about how to embrace his ongoing supernatural mission in the earth. 00:11:56.871 --> 00:12:08.765 So we're going to break this passage down and talk about different sections within it, and out of each one of those sections we'll have a lesson that Jesus teaches us about how to supernaturally soul win. 00:12:08.765 --> 00:12:09.226 All right. 00:12:09.226 --> 00:12:10.789 So there are seven lessons. 00:12:10.789 --> 00:12:12.153 So let's get moving. 00:12:12.153 --> 00:12:12.620 Are you ready? 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.842 Here we go. 00:12:13.884 --> 00:12:17.049 The first part is he had to go through Samaria on the way. 00:12:17.049 --> 00:12:20.764 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 00:12:20.764 --> 00:12:25.272 I don't know if you know this or not, but no Jew had to go through Samaria. 00:12:25.272 --> 00:12:35.390 In fact, if they had to travel from Jerusalem to Judea, they would go out of their way and cross the Jordan River twice in order to avoid going through Samaria. 00:12:35.390 --> 00:12:36.955 Why was that? 00:12:36.955 --> 00:12:40.243 Because they had a problem with Samaritans. 00:12:40.243 --> 00:12:42.466 Samaritans were people. 00:12:42.466 --> 00:12:53.666 When the Assyrians came in and conquered that area of Israel, they took back with them people that they put into captivity, and they also sent their people to live in this region. 00:12:53.666 --> 00:13:07.643 They intermarried with the Jewish people who were still remaining there, and they had offspring, and then the religions began to become mixed to a certain degree, and so, because of that, the Jews and the Gentiles both hated the Samaritans. 00:13:07.643 --> 00:13:13.301 They hated them and they would do everything within their power to try to avoid them. 00:13:14.283 --> 00:13:15.745 So what is lesson number one here? 00:13:15.745 --> 00:13:19.173 Jesus chose to go where the need was. 00:13:19.173 --> 00:13:24.381 Jesus chose to go where the need was. 00:13:24.381 --> 00:13:27.205 Where is the need in our lives? 00:13:27.205 --> 00:13:29.346 Where is the need that's around us? 00:13:29.346 --> 00:13:35.510 Where is the need in a place that we're traveling through and maybe we would like to avoid, if at all possible. 00:13:35.510 --> 00:13:39.354 Where is the need that God is calling us to? 00:13:39.354 --> 00:13:43.576 Jesus chose to go where the need was. 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:51.966 Now the disciples at each one of these lessons, we're going to look at the juxtaposition of the disciples reaction and how they were looking at things right. 00:13:51.966 --> 00:13:56.908 So the disciples, on the other hand, hated the fact that Jesus chose this route. 00:13:56.908 --> 00:13:59.890 They hated this. 00:13:59.890 --> 00:14:05.432 They hated this fact that Jesus took them to this Samaritan place. 00:14:05.432 --> 00:14:06.485 And then what did he do? 00:14:06.485 --> 00:14:11.412 He sent them into the village to buy food from these unclean people. 00:14:11.412 --> 00:14:18.753 Can you imagine what kind of attitude Peter must have had on his trip into the local village? 00:14:18.753 --> 00:14:31.505 I'm just throwing Peter out there, because we see in the gospels how Peter was alive with thought and opinion Right, and he wasn't afraid to share it. 00:14:31.505 --> 00:14:43.956 So here we have this example of the difference between Jesus choosing to go where the need was and the disciples hating the fact that, even though the need was here that Jesus had chose for them to go here. 00:14:45.205 --> 00:14:55.368 So, moving on, jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime and soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus said to her please give me a drink. 00:14:55.368 --> 00:15:01.546 She said to Jesus you are a Jew and I'm a Samaritan woman, why are you asking me for a drink? 00:15:01.546 --> 00:15:08.296 So the sixth hour, which is when they arrived in Samaria, was about noontime. 00:15:08.296 --> 00:15:11.524 Jesus was tired, jesus was weary. 00:15:11.524 --> 00:15:15.273 I love that the gospel writer chose to put that in this story. 00:15:15.273 --> 00:15:18.446 He didn't have to say that, isn't it interesting. 00:15:18.446 --> 00:15:27.441 The gospel writers could have made Jesus out to be floating on a cloud all the time and eternally, just so nothing phases him, you know. 00:15:27.441 --> 00:15:29.426 But it says here that he was weary. 00:15:29.426 --> 00:15:31.350 He was weary from traveling. 00:15:31.350 --> 00:15:40.101 You realize that they didn't have, you know, shuttles, or they didn't use airplanes, or they're on their feet, walking, walking, walking. 00:15:40.101 --> 00:15:46.433 And at noontime, in the middle of the day, in this place of Israel, this part of Israel, would have been very, very hot. 00:15:46.433 --> 00:15:52.273 And so Jesus sits down, and he sits down and he's weary and he's thirsty. 00:15:52.273 --> 00:15:57.410 I love, again, how this passage shows the humanity of Jesus. 00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.927 And then here comes a Samaritan woman. 00:15:59.927 --> 00:16:02.248 She's introduced quickly on the scene. 00:16:02.248 --> 00:16:09.152 It's important to note that normally women would come early in the morning or late in the evening to gather water. 00:16:09.152 --> 00:16:10.214 And why is that? 00:16:10.214 --> 00:16:12.466 Because women are smart. 00:16:12.466 --> 00:16:14.982 And what would they realize? 00:16:14.982 --> 00:16:17.948 That the morning and the evening would provide for them. 00:16:17.948 --> 00:16:31.725 Coolness, yes, so they, and unfortunately, in that time and in that era, women were the ones who had to do this, and so they were sent out and they would go out in the morning, the evening they would gather water and bring it back for their family. 00:16:31.725 --> 00:16:38.222 Okay, but this woman came at noon, by herself, isolated. 00:16:38.222 --> 00:16:49.441 Does that tell you anything about the condition of this woman, possibly ostracized, possibly living a life of shame, possibly really in a desperate place? 00:16:49.441 --> 00:16:59.917 Let's don't miss that as we talk about her, jesus doesn't shy away from engaging in conversation with this woman. 00:17:00.404 --> 00:17:11.855 In that day, it was not considered proper for any man, especially a Jewish rabbi, to speak to a woman, a strange woman and especially, if you want to add another layer onto it, a Samaritan woman. 00:17:11.855 --> 00:17:20.294 This was breaking all of the protocol that man set up, not that God set up, but that man set up. 00:17:20.294 --> 00:17:29.836 But our Lord set social customs aside because a soul's eternal salvation was at stake, and that was what Jesus was about on this day. 00:17:29.836 --> 00:17:40.971 As weary as he was, the woman's initial reply to Jesus was sort of sarcastic she's like well, you don't want anything to do with me until you need something, and's like well, you don't want anything to do with me until you need something. 00:17:40.971 --> 00:17:47.928 And now you're thirsty and you don't have a way to get any water, so you're asking for me to get your water for you. 00:17:47.928 --> 00:17:50.011 Isn't that typical of men? 00:17:50.011 --> 00:17:53.679 I added that part for emphasis. 00:17:58.246 --> 00:18:00.775 So what is the second lesson here that Jesus teaches us? 00:18:00.775 --> 00:18:05.957 Jesus did not allow his circumstance to rob him of his opportunity. 00:18:05.957 --> 00:18:21.335 How many of us, if we were weary or tired or exhausted or exasperated or or put any kind of word in there that you want to put, would simply just keep our mouth shut? 00:18:21.335 --> 00:18:28.596 But Jesus didn't look at his circumstance of weariness as a negative thing. 00:18:28.596 --> 00:18:34.719 He looked at this as an opportunity for him to be used supernaturally by God to reach this woman. 00:18:34.719 --> 00:18:39.009 The disciples, seemingly, were only interested in one thing. 00:18:39.009 --> 00:18:39.690 What was that? 00:18:39.690 --> 00:18:43.498 Getting in and out as quickly as they possibly could. 00:18:43.498 --> 00:18:47.893 Put on your gloves, wear your mask. 00:18:47.893 --> 00:18:53.636 Whatever you got to do, let's make sure that we are avoiding the Samaritans at any cost possible. 00:18:56.526 --> 00:19:10.395 So, moving on, jesus replied if you only knew the gift God has for you, aren't you glad that Jesus didn't get upset with the woman because she was sarcastic with him? 00:19:10.395 --> 00:19:18.239 How many of us, if somebody breathes any kind of resistance to us when we're trying to say something about Jesus, do we? 00:19:18.239 --> 00:19:24.948 It's great, that's fine, whatever you want to. 00:19:24.948 --> 00:19:25.950 Jesus didn't do that. 00:19:25.950 --> 00:19:37.653 He understood that the Holy Spirit had led him to this place in this time and that this woman had come for this specific reason. 00:19:37.653 --> 00:19:43.101 God had an agenda and he was using Jesus to fulfill that agenda. 00:19:43.101 --> 00:19:55.034 He appealed to her curiosity by the phrase if you only knew, if you only knew my friends, isn't that the cry of your heart to the world around us? 00:19:55.034 --> 00:20:07.194 If you only knew, if you only knew my savior, if you only knew my Jesus, if you only knew the hope that is found in him, if you only knew. 00:20:14.846 --> 00:20:23.545 Jesus wanted to give her a gift that was so much better than just ordinary water, wanted to give her a gift that was so much better than just ordinary water. 00:20:23.545 --> 00:20:26.855 His illusion was intended to lift her level of thinking from that of material need to spiritual realities. 00:20:26.855 --> 00:20:31.984 The woman struggled initially to make the communication or the connection with what Jesus was saying. 00:20:31.984 --> 00:20:36.717 She continued to go back to natural water, natural water, natural water. 00:20:36.717 --> 00:20:40.794 Jesus was speaking to her about living water, living water, natural water. 00:20:40.794 --> 00:20:42.739 Jesus was speaking to her about living water. 00:20:42.739 --> 00:20:44.644 Living water, living water. 00:20:44.644 --> 00:20:53.392 What was he offering her? 00:20:53.392 --> 00:20:56.433 Get this water that gives eternal life. 00:20:56.433 --> 00:20:59.477 What greater gift is there? 00:20:59.477 --> 00:21:06.501 And ultimately, what is he actually saying? 00:21:06.501 --> 00:21:14.739 He's offering her himself, in the form of salvation, a free gift from God. 00:21:14.739 --> 00:21:25.614 And we know Ephesians 2, a powerful verse that says for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. 00:21:25.614 --> 00:21:27.631 Are you thankful for the gift of God? 00:21:27.631 --> 00:21:28.934 Amen. 00:21:28.934 --> 00:21:34.013 Here's the reality we need to take with us. 00:21:34.013 --> 00:21:40.571 The Holy Spirit dwells within the life of a believer, filling us up to overflowing. 00:21:40.571 --> 00:21:43.685 What is the reason for the overflowing? 00:21:43.685 --> 00:21:53.977 So that we can grab more containers and try to contain it within ourselves, or so that we can just let it spill over within the confines of our home or within the confines of our church? 00:21:53.977 --> 00:22:04.329 The rivers of living water that God puts in our hearts by the Holy Spirit are intended to be poured out for the nations, for the world. 00:22:04.329 --> 00:22:17.868 As good as Jesus's illustration was about living water, the woman continues to talk about indoor plumbing. 00:22:17.868 --> 00:22:22.199 What is this magical thing you're talking about? 00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:23.932 I won't have to come here to get water anymore. 00:22:23.932 --> 00:22:26.573 Are you going to put a well in my living room? 00:22:26.573 --> 00:22:35.698 How patient our Savior was and is when it comes to reaching those who are lost. 00:22:35.698 --> 00:22:44.740 You remember your stubborn self before Jesus, your resistance that you put up and my resistance. 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:52.557 Lesson number three Jesus used a natural point of reference to introduce spiritual truth. 00:22:52.557 --> 00:22:56.836 When you are witnessing to people, it doesn't have to be rocket science. 00:22:56.836 --> 00:22:59.588 Jesus was there. 00:22:59.588 --> 00:23:02.950 The lady came to draw water, so what did he talk about? 00:23:02.950 --> 00:23:14.000 He talked about water, and I'm going to prove to you right now that you have the ability to change any conversation that you want to in one direction Weather. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:30.290 How many of you, starting out in a conversation with a complete stranger at Walmart or anywhere else, will eventually say something about oh, it's a beautiful day, man, you look, you look wet. 00:23:30.290 --> 00:23:31.192 Did it start raining? 00:23:31.192 --> 00:23:33.057 Did it snow at your house? 00:23:33.057 --> 00:23:38.240 We have the ability to turn any moment into a conversation. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:42.048 We can steer the conversation, and that's exactly what Jesus did here. 00:23:42.048 --> 00:23:47.226 He used something natural, a natural point of reference, to introduce spiritual truth. 00:23:47.226 --> 00:24:02.726 Now the disciples, on the other hand, talked among themselves about natural things like crops growing and when harvest time would be, but they were spiritually unaware, were spiritually unaware. 00:24:02.726 --> 00:24:03.888 They were talking about the weather, and that was it right. 00:24:03.888 --> 00:24:04.430 Going on. 00:24:04.430 --> 00:24:19.666 Jesus changes the tone of the conversation completely when he says go and get your husband. 00:24:19.666 --> 00:24:20.548 You think Jesus made a mistake? 00:24:20.548 --> 00:24:24.546 Did he misread the scenario or did the Holy Spirit of God give him something to say in this moment? 00:24:24.546 --> 00:24:27.853 We know the answer, don't we? 00:24:27.853 --> 00:24:31.101 Jesus told her I don't have a husband. 00:24:31.101 --> 00:24:39.756 Jesus said you're right, you don't have a husband, for you've had five husbands and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. 00:24:39.756 --> 00:24:46.750 You better be right. 00:24:46.750 --> 00:24:47.992 You better be right. 00:24:47.992 --> 00:24:56.028 I'd start out something like this so tell me about your home life Married, unmarried. 00:24:56.028 --> 00:25:02.973 Jesus just laid it out there and then listen to the woman's response. 00:25:02.973 --> 00:25:05.338 You certainly spoke the truth, sir. 00:25:05.338 --> 00:25:11.342 I perceive that you're a prophet. 00:25:11.342 --> 00:25:15.759 And then she gets very religious. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:23.087 She turns the conversation, tries to steer it away from the conviction that's coming her way. 00:25:23.087 --> 00:25:24.690 Why did Jesus bring this up at all? 00:25:24.690 --> 00:25:26.351 Was he trying to embarrass her? 00:25:26.351 --> 00:25:28.032 Was he trying to shame her even further? 00:25:28.032 --> 00:25:35.760 Was he trying to reinforce the fact that she needed to come get water at noon Because none of the women back in her village wanted anything to do with her? 00:25:35.760 --> 00:25:45.621 And all of the men seem to want to have something to do with her, and all of the men seem to have want to have something to do with her. 00:25:45.621 --> 00:25:48.655 Why did Jesus do this? 00:25:48.655 --> 00:25:57.049 Before this woman could be saved, she needed to acknowledge her need of a savior. 00:25:57.049 --> 00:25:59.473 She must come to Christ in true repentance. 00:25:59.473 --> 00:26:09.105 She must understand the condition of her life, the condition of her soul. 00:26:09.105 --> 00:26:10.308 She must be willing to confess her guilt and her shame. 00:26:10.308 --> 00:26:11.751 The Lord Jesus knew all about her secret life. 00:26:11.751 --> 00:26:26.467 He knew all about it, how she had lived, and he was going to lead her step by step to see it for herself, not as a cruelty, but as a part of the process of bringing her to a place of repentance and salvation. 00:26:26.467 --> 00:26:30.477 My friends, we've become weak when it comes to sin. 00:26:30.477 --> 00:26:35.615 We've become weak when it comes to sin. 00:26:35.615 --> 00:26:40.256 You see, only those who know themselves to be lost can be saved. 00:26:40.256 --> 00:26:44.832 Nobody is going to accidentally get saved because you trick them into it. 00:26:44.832 --> 00:26:52.834 They must feel, they must know, they must understand the condition of their heart, the condition of their soul. 00:26:52.834 --> 00:26:57.686 Without Jesus Christ, all are lost. 00:26:57.686 --> 00:27:00.030 But not all are willing to admit it. 00:27:00.030 --> 00:27:04.939 In seeking to win people for Christ, we must never avoid the sin question. 00:27:04.939 --> 00:27:14.636 They must be brought face to face with the fact that they are dead in trespasses and sins and they need a savior and they cannot save themselves. 00:27:14.636 --> 00:27:26.940 That Jesus is the only savior that can save them and that they need, and that he will save them if they repent of their sin and put their hope and trust in Jesus Christ. 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:35.519 That is a huge part of the gospel that is missing from many of American discussions about Jesus. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:45.138 Lesson number four Jesus used the supernatural to help open the heart to truth. 00:27:45.138 --> 00:27:52.699 He used a word of knowledge about this woman's husbands to open the door to truth for her. 00:27:52.699 --> 00:28:00.432 Now, the disciples, on the other hand, were solely focused on the natural and they missed completely their supernatural opportunity. 00:28:00.432 --> 00:28:02.171 Completely missed it. 00:28:02.171 --> 00:28:20.744 If we go on in the story, looking to deflect from the conversation, the difficult conversation, the woman has this aha moment, stating that Jesus was a prophet, and all of a sudden, the conversation became very religious. 00:28:20.744 --> 00:28:26.385 Like I said, she's bringing the debate up between Jews and Samaritans about where we're supposed to worship. 00:28:26.385 --> 00:28:30.476 Where is the proper place to worship, in Jerusalem or on this mountain? 00:28:30.476 --> 00:28:33.067 There's a debate, there's confusion about this. 00:28:33.067 --> 00:28:50.727 We believe one way and you believe another way, but Jesus, in his kindness, introduces a new age, an idea of a new time, a new government, a new kingdom which is coming, in which God's people everywhere will be the new temple where he dwells. 00:28:50.727 --> 00:29:01.538 No longer will they need to approach a mountain, no longer will they need to arrive at a building, for God himself will dwell with them and he will live in them. 00:29:01.538 --> 00:29:03.605 Did you know? 00:29:03.605 --> 00:29:04.769 That's where we're living? 00:29:04.769 --> 00:29:15.318 We're living in that, in that time, in the new covenant, in this new kingdom, true worship, according to Jesus, is not limited to a particular place. 00:29:15.318 --> 00:29:27.919 Worship that pleases God can only be offered by those who've experienced true spiritual rebirth and who worship him in a manner consistent with him making himself known in spirit and in truth. 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:30.410 How are we to worship him in spirit and in truth? 00:29:30.410 --> 00:29:33.478 Only when the Holy Spirit reveals him to us. 00:29:33.478 --> 00:29:41.855 Then we worship him out of a place of true spirit and true truth, him out of a place of true spirit and true truth. 00:29:41.855 --> 00:29:52.147 And as the woman of Samaria listens to Jesus, something begins to change in her mind. 00:29:52.147 --> 00:29:53.192 Her thought process begins to unwind. 00:29:53.192 --> 00:30:05.138 She stops thinking about herself and her past, she stops thinking about the water scenario, she stops thinking about everything else and all of a sudden she's thinking about the fact that there is a Messiah who is promised to come. 00:30:05.138 --> 00:30:07.808 How does that happen? 00:30:07.808 --> 00:30:11.258 It's the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. 00:30:11.258 --> 00:30:17.050 She's having an encounter with the living God on the side of a well. 00:30:17.050 --> 00:30:34.848 Jesus looked at her and said I am, I am. 00:30:34.848 --> 00:30:39.141 What would her mind immediately have rushed to? 00:30:39.141 --> 00:30:41.638 What would she have thought about in that very moment? 00:30:41.638 --> 00:30:47.282 Where would she have found herself in the annals of history of Jewish people, samaritan people? 00:30:47.282 --> 00:30:57.743 Where would she have raced to A man named Moses and a God who presented himself as Jehovah? 00:30:57.743 --> 00:31:02.895 Jehovah is the one who is speaking to you, is what Jesus was saying. 00:31:02.895 --> 00:31:12.156 He was announcing to her the startling truth that the one who was speaking to her was the Messiah, for whom she had been looking, and that he was also God himself. 00:31:12.156 --> 00:31:17.618 You see, my friends, the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament. 00:31:17.618 --> 00:31:22.075 Jesus is God. 00:31:22.075 --> 00:31:30.914 Lesson number five Jesus steered the conversation away from the distractions to the truth. 00:31:30.914 --> 00:31:35.893 And isn't it interesting that distraction was wrapped in a nice package of religion. 00:31:35.893 --> 00:31:37.957 Where are we supposed to worship? 00:31:37.957 --> 00:31:42.230 Jesus didn't allow himself to be distracted by that. 00:31:42.230 --> 00:31:45.638 He kept bringing the conversation back to the priority. 00:31:45.638 --> 00:31:51.854 The disciples themselves were distracted and need to be redirected. 00:31:51.854 --> 00:31:55.063 They found themselves in the same boat as the Samaritan woman. 00:31:55.063 --> 00:31:57.253 They were distracted by their circumstance. 00:31:57.253 --> 00:31:59.518 They were distracted by everything that they saw around them. 00:31:59.518 --> 00:32:03.164 They were distracted by their prejudice and their weariness. 00:32:03.164 --> 00:32:17.280 Moving on, the woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village Telling everyone come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. 00:32:17.280 --> 00:32:19.717 Could he possibly be the Messiah? 00:32:19.717 --> 00:32:24.192 So the people came streaming from the village to see him. 00:32:24.192 --> 00:32:38.683 The work of the word of God, as spoken through Jesus, and the spirit of God which was working through him, came to fruition as this woman, this sinful woman. 00:32:38.683 --> 00:32:49.029 Fruition as this woman, this sinful woman, this Samaritan woman, did what Left her water pot. 00:32:49.029 --> 00:32:51.832 What does the water pot represent for us? 00:32:51.832 --> 00:33:08.955 It symbolizes the various things in life that we have used in an effort to satisfy our deepest longings longings to fill our place of need, to fill our place of desire, to try to fill every empty void within our lives. 00:33:08.955 --> 00:33:12.743 There is nothing that will fill the void in our lives other than Jesus Christ. 00:33:12.743 --> 00:33:18.298 And in this moment, she could care less about the water pot. 00:33:18.298 --> 00:33:22.085 She left it behind and she ran back to her village. 00:33:22.085 --> 00:33:25.236 Why does she do that? 00:33:25.236 --> 00:33:30.557 Because she realized, if this could be true for me, a sinner, the woman that I am. 00:33:30.557 --> 00:33:34.376 If it could be true for me, could it be true for all of those around me? 00:33:34.376 --> 00:33:44.883 Is it possible that this Messiah who has come would not just be here to save me, but would be concerned about the lives of my loved ones and those even who are my enemies? 00:33:44.883 --> 00:33:54.943 This woman, who had just barely been evangelized herself, couldn't wait to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. 00:33:54.943 --> 00:34:00.497 Her witness was simple, simple but effective. 00:34:00.497 --> 00:34:05.957 She invited all the townspeople come out and hear this man who told me everything I ever did. 00:34:05.957 --> 00:34:11.938 This piqued the interest of a lot of people in the community, because I'm sure that her reputation preceded her. 00:34:11.938 --> 00:34:21.324 She was looked down upon, and so if this, this person, this messiah figure, had spoken these things to her, what else does he know? 00:34:21.324 --> 00:34:28.731 What does he know about me and my life and my hidden secrets and the things that nobody else knows about this woman? 00:34:28.731 --> 00:34:36.938 Everybody knows about her because it's out in the open, it's out in the public, but my life is secret. 00:34:36.938 --> 00:34:38.228 I've hidden it away. 00:34:38.228 --> 00:34:42.481 And if this man knows all of her secrets, what about mine? 00:34:42.481 --> 00:34:49.340 Their hearts began to burn within them. 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:53.797 I need to know, I need to know. 00:34:53.797 --> 00:34:54.619 I need to know. 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.936 Who is this man? 00:34:55.936 --> 00:34:58.333 Who is this man? 00:34:58.333 --> 00:35:04.119 So what did they do? 00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:22.289 They immediately left their village, left their homes, left their work and followed this woman back to Jesus, lesson six. 00:35:22.289 --> 00:35:23.873 Jesus relied on the word and the spirit to bring about transformation. 00:35:23.873 --> 00:35:29.364 The two of those things combine the word of God, the gospel, and the spirit of God, the power of God. 00:35:29.364 --> 00:35:34.802 Those two things working together is what brought about transformation in this woman's life. 00:35:34.802 --> 00:35:48.025 And it is the very two things, those are the very two things in our lives in 2024 and soon to be 2025 that will be used by God to effectively reach the lost with the gospel message. 00:35:48.025 --> 00:36:04.646 Unfortunately, the disciples were too busy serving Jesus, getting his food, preparing his meal, making sure he was taken care of, hoping that he didn't hear them grumbling and complaining. 00:36:04.646 --> 00:36:11.460 Too busy serving Jesus to see the need for transformation around them. 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:14.097 They were surrounded by need. 00:36:14.097 --> 00:36:16.242 Jesus had one woman. 00:36:16.242 --> 00:36:17.028 They were surrounded. 00:36:17.028 --> 00:36:23.583 They couldn't find one reason to speak the truth in love. 00:36:23.583 --> 00:36:32.657 We tried to get him to eat something and he says I've already had food to eat that you know not of. 00:36:32.657 --> 00:36:36.655 That didn't go over. 00:36:36.655 --> 00:36:39.596 Well, they're talking amongst themselves. 00:36:39.596 --> 00:36:40.358 Who brought him food? 00:36:40.358 --> 00:36:46.481 We had to go into that place get food and he doesn't even need it. 00:36:46.481 --> 00:37:14.983 And Jesus talks to them in a lot of detailed terms about seed time and harvest, seed time and harvest, sowing seed and reaping the harvest and the process of that and how we can be involved in all different steps of that and all different stages of that Sowing the seed, and the Holy Spirit's the one who waters it and the Lord's the one who brings the increase right. 00:37:14.983 --> 00:37:29.130 Jesus said I sent you to harvest where others have already sown seed and he missed it, guarantee. 00:37:29.130 --> 00:37:37.661 The disciples were looking around at the crops around them and talking about oh, this is looking good, the grain's coming out, but we still have about four months until harvest time. 00:37:37.661 --> 00:37:39.356 Lots of weeds around. 00:37:39.356 --> 00:37:40.576 I hope they take care of the weeds. 00:37:40.576 --> 00:37:42.894 They were instant farmers. 00:37:42.894 --> 00:37:47.599 You know Back roads farmers instead of backseat drivers. 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:51.679 They felt like they knew their way around a field. 00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:53.695 So they're talking about it. 00:37:53.695 --> 00:38:03.260 And Jesus was not talking about the wheat in the field, the wheat in the field. 00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:07.746 Jesus was saying to them you guys, can you understand this? 00:38:07.746 --> 00:38:21.322 You cannot afford to spend your lives searching for food and clothing alone with the thought that God's work could be done later on by somebody else. 00:38:21.322 --> 00:38:26.518 Friends, could we hear that this morning from the Lord Jesus. 00:38:26.518 --> 00:38:30.561 We cannot wait for the next generation to be the ones to do it. 00:38:30.561 --> 00:38:36.289 Let's do it together, let's do it as families. 00:38:36.289 --> 00:38:43.838 Let's do it as families. 00:38:43.838 --> 00:38:44.940 And I believe that Jesus. 00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:47.563 I just have a feeling he had a long pointer finger. 00:38:47.563 --> 00:38:49.505 I don't know if he did or not, but I just picture that. 00:38:49.505 --> 00:39:04.550 I think he took his robe up and he pointed down that road and he said look, the fields are white, ready for harvest. 00:39:04.550 --> 00:39:09.934 Interesting fun fact you know, the Samaritan's clothing is typically white. 00:39:09.934 --> 00:39:25.141 Jesus points back to the road filled with Samaritans coming out of the village to Jesus and he's saying to his disciples you missed the harvest that's ready right now. 00:39:25.141 --> 00:39:39.030 Right now. 00:39:39.030 --> 00:39:44.623 Lesson seven Jesus was sustained by doing his father's will. 00:39:44.623 --> 00:39:51.478 That's what he did. 00:39:51.478 --> 00:39:56.905 He did his father's will and that's what gave him food. 00:39:56.905 --> 00:40:00.045 That's what gave him nourishment, that's what caused his thirst to be qu, what gave him nourishment. 00:40:00.045 --> 00:40:01.612 That's what caused his thirst to be quenched. 00:40:01.612 --> 00:40:03.860 Doing his father's will. 00:40:03.860 --> 00:40:08.193 How many of you know, if you're carrying a Bible with you today, you have the will of the father. 00:40:08.193 --> 00:40:10.318 You have it with you. 00:40:10.318 --> 00:40:11.762 You carry it with you. 00:40:11.762 --> 00:40:15.835 We carry it in our hearts and in our minds and in our mouths. 00:40:15.835 --> 00:40:25.253 The word of God is powerful and the will of the father is for us to carry on the work that Jesus started here on this earth. 00:40:25.253 --> 00:40:29.596 Do we want to see miracles, absolutely Healings, all of those things? 00:40:29.596 --> 00:40:45.487 Let's see them, but let's not forget about the greatest miracle of all, which is a lost person coming to know Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord, person coming to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. 00:40:45.487 --> 00:41:07.324 Let's not give up on the disciples either, because we know, don't we, that when they were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they were sustained by the Father's will to spread the gospel to the known world, in spite of hardships and most of them being killed for what they believed. 00:41:07.324 --> 00:41:12.338 Did they learn the lessons that Jesus was teaching? 00:41:12.338 --> 00:41:15.097 Did they become evangelists themselves? 00:41:15.097 --> 00:41:18.891 You better believe it, friends. 00:41:18.891 --> 00:41:22.782 I don't care if it feels like it's been 40 years since you talked to anybody about Jesus. 00:41:22.782 --> 00:41:24.956 You can begin again. 00:41:24.956 --> 00:41:29.436 Today is a day to choose. 00:41:29.436 --> 00:41:32.902 By God's grace, to step back into the ring. 00:41:32.902 --> 00:41:42.521 Let's just finish with this last passage and I'm done. 00:41:42.521 --> 00:41:51.561