Following The Word 7

An Unexpected Witness

Text: John 4:27-42

Introduction

We have been in a historical account of what we call the “woman at the well.” Jesus has been on mission by taking the journey through Samaria in order to bring about a divine appointment with a woman who was depleted of hope, love, peace, joy, and purpose.

Jesus, finding common ground with her, proceeds to explain that the greatest thirst she is experiencing can only be satisfied by asking for the “living water” He alone can provide. He revealed to her just how well He knew her. If some people new everything about you, they may very well not be very accepting of you, BUT NOT JESUS!!!

She show great interest in this living water and proceeds to gain clarity where the place of true worship is. Jesus explains that the time has come that it is not important to find the right temple, but for God to find a true worshiper. Those who practice true worship will be worshiping God in spirit and truth. To worship in spirit without truth is idolatry. To worship in truth and not spirit is just a charade. Does God find any amount of true worship here today?

We come to the point when Jesus reveals Himself to her and EVERYTHING CHANGES!!! The area I want us all to learn that we might apply and grow in is the area of evangelism. What will help you be better engaged, confident, and mindful when it comes to sharing your faith?

1) Disconnect From The Weight

A. Her physical need did not distract her

a) She came as she always had to draw water

Up to this point her life had only been centered on the physical things of life.

Now, they had some scriptures available to them. But primarily held to the Pentatuch.

Just having scripture does not place within you a new direction for living.

Illustration: I could have a plate full of food or a glass full of water, yet if it don’t find it’s way inside me, nothing is going to change.

b) There came a point where her priorities changed

Why did she leave her water pot?

No doubt that if she carried her water pot back with her, it would have just slowed her down.

The most urgent thing for this woman now was to tell others go and see Jesus.

Now, was water an essential for physical well being? Yes! Would she later go back and fill her water pot up and take it home? Yes! However, just because something is essential, doesn’t mean we can’t set it aside temporarily in order to further the kingdom.

B. Her past did not weigh her down any longer

a) When you receive the “Living Water” you have been freed!

The past rejection from her former marriages.

The possible rejection and label that came from the community.

She was freed to live in happiness, joy, and confidence.

The culture may have left her behind, but at this moment, only her guilt was left behind.

2) Determine To Tell What You Know

A. Notice her education

a) She had no former spiritual education.

Did she know everything about Jesus?

b) Her education came from the Living Word.

What she needed to know at that particular time was what Jesus shared with her.

Listen, as you continue in God’s Word, His church, prayer, and devotion, you will know what you need to know for those God desires you to share the gospel with.

c) Everyone has a part in bringing people to Jesus

Your part might be saying, “Come and be my guest this Sunday and learn about Jesus.”

B. Notice her determination

a) What she knew (or the lack thereof) did not fluctuate her mission to tell others about Jesus.

Illustration: A missionary to Africa told the story of an elderly woman who was reached with the gospel. Though she was blind and could neither read nor write, she wanted to share her new found faith with others. She went to the missionary and asked for a copy of the Bible in French. When she got it, she asked the missionary to underline John 3:16 in red and mark the page it was on so she could find it. The missionary wanted to see what she would do, so one day he followed her.

In the afternoon, just before school let out, she made her way to the front door. As the boys came out when school was dismissed, she would stop one and ask if he knew how to read French. When he said “Yes” she would ask him to read the verse that was marked in red. Then she would ask, “Do you know what this means?” and tell him about Christ.

The missionary said that twenty-four of the school boys that lady led to the Lord became pastors.

b) Whom she would talk to would not intimidate her.

She would come to the gate of the city.

The men would gather there and rule on legal matters.

She didn’t say, “I saw the Messiah.” She simply explained her experience with Jesus; “He told me everything about my life.”

3) Direct Your Awareness Toward Others

A. Trust Jesus’ methods

a) They returned with their groceries and was amazed at what they saw Jesus doing!

Remember, what we learned about the culture regarding the relationship between Jew and Samaritan.

Jesus broke through the cultural and religious mold.

God loves leading you in ways that don’t make sense.

David used a sling and rock.

Jesus put mud on the eyes of a blind man.

Feeding of the 5,000 & 4,000.

God can take what won’t work and make it work beautifully.

God can take what isn’t enough and make it last as long as He needs it too.

What Jesus was doing was as much for the future ministry of these men and it was for the eternity and ministry of the woman.

b) They refrained from questioning Jesus.

Here we witness the student submitting to the authority of their Master.

Sometimes we get the teacher/student role reversed.

If anyone doesn’t know what they are doing or has made a mistake, it is you and me.

God’s plans and methods are perfectly crafted and executed.

B. Desire fulfillment from spiritual obedience

a) Jesus speaks of food that leaves them confused

Uhm, did anyone see someone drop off any groceries to Him?

What is food? A source of nourishment.

We often catagorize food as something you eat.

In Jesus’ case, that moment of obedience to His Father removed his desire for physical food.

Psalm 40:8 “8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: Yea, thy law is within my heart.”

DON’T MISS THIS...A Disciple’s journey is largely about transitioning one’s heart to that of spiritual importance.

b) Nourishment’s work is to push you toward the finish line

Every time I live obediently toward God, it nourishes me on to the next act of obedience.

Every time I put a gospel track in someone’s had, I am nourished.

Every time I am obedient to gathering with my church family, I am nourished.

Every time I open my Bible, read, and meditate on it, I am nourished.

Every time I pray privately and with my family, I am nourished.

Every time I am stewarding my family toward eternal truth, I am nourished.

When you place yourself away from those means of nourishment, you can’t be nourished!

C. Direct your eyes to God’s harvest

a) Up to this point, the eyes of the Disciples were fixed upon Jesus’ every move.

Notice how Jesus tells them to direct their eyes to the people around them.

Read the Word and follow the Word

4) Delight Yourself In Harvest Promises

A. You must first reckon God’s harvest is around you

Jesus said, “Don’t just stare at my face and hear my voice, ‘LOOK UP’ and see the harvest.

What harvest? The people from the city were coming in response to the woman’s witness.

B. Working in God’s harvest promises eternal reward

1 Corinthians 9:17–18 “17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”

Everyone’s work in the harvest may look a little bit different as to how they get the message of the gospel to them.

C. Working in God’s harvest is not a solo mission

Every one of us are either sowing, watering, tiling the ground, cutting out the weeds, in order to bring about fruit from the harvest.

God is always sending you into the labours of others.

This is why every one of you must be labouring together!

NOTICE…and many more believed!

Conclusion

Our purpose is to labour with God in effort to witness God’s Spirit impart eternal life into more and more people.

Illustration: In the 1840s, John Geddie left the pastorate of a church in Canada to take his wife and two small children to the South Sea Islands to begin a mission work there. After a voyage of more than 20,000 miles, they arrived in the New Hebrides Islands at Aneityum. The island chain was filled with cannibals, and more than twenty crew members of a British ship had been killed and eaten just months before the Geddies arrived on the mission field.

They faced the difficulty of learning a language that had no written form and the constant threat of being killed. Slowly at first, a few converts came, and then soon many more received the Gospel. Geddie continued his ministry faithfully, including translating the entire Bible into the native language and planting twenty-five churches. For many of those years, Geddie labored with little help and little word from home, but God was faithful to His servant. In the pulpit of the church Geddie pastored for so many years stands a plaque in his honor which says: “When he landed in 1848, there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen.”

When you die, how many fewer people in Russell County will be in hell in part to do with your gospel witness?