Bringing the Wayward Person to Christ

John 4:1-30

John 4:1–30 NLT

1 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. ,m 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 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.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15 “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.” 16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 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 worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!” 27 Just then his disciples came back. 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?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

INTRODUCTION:

In the last few weeks, we have seen the importance of seeking to bring people in all walks of life to Jesus. The last two weeks, we have looked at reaching the materialistic person and the religious person. The fact is that people in all walks of Christ need the Lord.

Today, we are looking at “Bringing the Wayward person to Jesus.” This type of person is one who is searching in relationships. Many times they can’t seem to find a relationship that will bring satisfaction to the deep craving of an empty spirit.

In our text is a woman who had, like some of you, experienced some of the harsh, hard circumstances of life. She was a person whom life had used and abused. There are people all around us that are a lot like her.

How do we relate to them and bring them to the Savior?

I. RECOGNIZE THEIR FEELINGS OF ALIENATION (John 4:7-9).

John 4:7–9 NLT

7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

A. Alienated from people (John 4:6-9).

John 4:6–9 NLT

6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

1. Alienated because of fear.

a. Hurt by people.

2. Alienated because of shame.

a. Ashamed of the past.

B. Alienated from God (John 4:19-20).

John 4:19–20 NLT

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 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 worshiped?”

1. Alienated because of sin.

(James 4:4)

James 4:4 NLT

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

II. RECOGNIZE THEIR FOCUS ON THINGS THAT DO NOT SATISFY. (John 4:10-20).

A. Focused on fulfilling the physical appetites (John 4:10-14).

John 4:10–14 NLT

10 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.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

1. The pursuit of these is empty.

(Ecclesiastes 2:1)

Ecclesiastes 2:1 NLT

1 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless.

B. Focused on fitting into the worldly crowd.

(Romans 12:2)

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1. Acceptance by the worldly crowd is only on the surface.

· The Prodigal Son was accepted until he was destitute. (Luke 15:11-32)

Luke 15:11–32 NLT

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’ ”

2. Acceptance here only leads to compromise and guilt.

C. Focused on Mental Pursuits.

1. The knowledge of this world does not satisfy, but leads to cynicism.

(Ecclesiastes 1:16-17)

Ecclesiastes 1:16–17 NLT

16 I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.” 17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

D. Focused on human relationships. (John 4:16-18)

John 4:16–18 NLT

16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

1. No human being can meet your deepest needs.

* Solomon found this out (1 Kings 11:3)

1 Kings 11:3 NLT

3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

E. Focused on material things. (John 4:15)

1. Material possessions will never satisfy the heart.

(Eccl. 2:11)

Ecclesiastes 2:11 NLT

11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

(Eccl. 5:10)

Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT

10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

III. HELP THEM FACE LIFE’S GREATEST DECISION (John 4:19-30).

A. Introduce them to the one who is the answer to life’s deepest issues and needs. (John 4: 25-26).

John 4:25–26 NLT

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

1. The woman in the text came face to face with the Messiah, the Savior, God in the flesh!

2. Today I introduce you to the Lord Jesus Christ.

(John 1:1-3)

John 1:1–3 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

(2 Corinthians 5:21)

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

(1 Timothy 1:15)

1 Timothy 1:15 NLT

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

B. Invite them to enter a relationship with Jesus Christ.

1. Help them admit who He is (John 4: 19, 25).

John 4:19 NLT

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.

John 4:25 NLT

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

a) He is the only Savior for their soul.

(Acts 4:12)

Acts 4:12 NLT

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

b) He is the rightful Lord of their life.

(Luke 6:46)

Luke 6:46 NLT

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

2. Help them receive Him and worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

John 4:24 NLT

24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

3. Urge them to forsake what ever is stopping them from completely surrendering to Christ. (John 4:28-30).

John 4:28–30 NLT

28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

a) encourage them to make an open break with your old life.

* Zachaeus (Luke 19:8)

Luke 19:8 NLT

8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

b) encourage them to to bring others to Jesus

(John 4:29-30).

John 4:29–30 NLT

29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

CONCLUSION:

A- Invitation

1- To receive Christ

2- To pray to ask God’s help to reach the wayward person in your life.