JOHN 4:1-4 | THE WORK OF CHRIST
Notes
Transcript
JOHN 4:1-4 | THE WORK OF CHRIST
JOHN 4:1-4 | THE WORK OF CHRIST
ILLUSTRATION: Last Monday night was an exciting night for me!
My Indiana Hoosiers played in the National Championship!
For the first time in our history, we won the Championship in Football.
It is a celebration that will continue for months to come.
We’ve probably all been excited for our favorite sports team, or maybe when we shot that big elk or deer, or maybe when our kids accomplished something for the first time.
And there’s nothing wrong with getting excited about things.
In fact, God created us with emotion… I know that’s something that we are taught as Montana that we are supposed to bury deep and supress.
But God created us that way, and so it’s ok to get excited about things!
Sometimes I see someone of you get excited when I say things in my message like “Finally” or “In conclusion”
It’s good to get excited!
EXPLANATION: It was back in Novembers the last time we were in the Gospel of John
We wrapped up chapter 3 listening to the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus Christ.
And now as we find our way into the 4th chapter, we come back to the ministry of Jesus.
In just a few verses we are going to make our way into one of the most familiar stories in the book of John.
It’s a story that is only found in the Gospel of John.
It’s the story of the woman at the well.
Next time we come together we are going to meet this woman be introduced to this incredible story.
But before we race over to this powerful account, we can’t skip over the verses that are before us this morning.
God was clearly beginning to work and the fame of Christ was beginning to increase.
Jesus was adding more and more followers, so much so that the Bible tells us that it was more than John!
Just a few verses prior we saw this was exactly the heart and desire of John the Baptist.
Over in John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John wasn’t worried about people remembering his name, his goal was to point everyone to Christ!
And that was exactly what was happening.
The crowds listening to Jesus’s teachings were growing and multiplying.
People were trusting in Jesus as the promised Messiah
They were committing to follow Christ!
APPLICATION: It’s an exciting things when the work of Christ is going forward!
While we cheer for our team or our kids, the greatest work we should be excited for is the work of Christ!
In a world of stale religion that leaves people as empty as when they came.
May we let people see the living Word of God at work in our lives because of the change from the living Son of God!
When God works, it’s something to get excited about.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
You know, heaven isn’t a quite place.
It’s a place of joy over the workings of Christ.
It’s a place of praise because Jesus is worthy to be praised
And friend, it wouldn’t be so bad to have a little heaven on earth when it comes to the working of Christ.
If we can get excited over a touchdown, a wall mount, or a big sale at a store, we should definitely be able to get excited about when Christ is at work around us and through us!
EXPLANATION: God was at work here in John 4, and there are some lessons we can take away from these few verses at the start of this chapter that should encourage and challenge us today.
Lessons that come along with the working of Christ!
V.1, THE OPPOSITION TO THE WORK OF CHRIST
V.1, THE OPPOSITION TO THE WORK OF CHRIST
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
EXPLANATION: People were following Jesus by the droves.
The multitudes following Jesus and John must have been incredible.
We find later when Jesus fed the multitudes that there was upwards of 20 thousand people in the crowd, so we can imagine that these multitudes were beginning to grow as Jesus was teaching and preaching.
And you can mark it down, anytime God’s work is going forward, opposition is sure to follow.
That’s exactly what was happening as we come into chapter 4.
The Pharisees where jealous of Jesus and John and the crowds who were following them!
While John was concerned with making Christ big and him small, the pharisees were all about their personal recognition.
They prided themselves in how spiritual they were and loved to receive the praise.
So when someone came along that was stealing from their crowds, they were quick to take notice.
In fact, it is at this point that John was put in prison because his preaching contradicted the lifestyle of Herod
And we can imagine how Herod heard about John’s teachings.
You see anytime the work of Christ is going forward, there will always be opposition!
ILLUSTRATION: In the OT, a man by the name of Nehemiah became burdened that the city of Jerusalem was in destruction.
The walls of the city were broken down allowing the enemies of God’s people to have free reign to seek to enslave and destroy them.
God works in the heart of Nehemiah with a plan to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.
He shared his vision from the Lord with those willing to come alongside him.
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
This wasn’t some selfish dream from the mind of Nehemiah, this was God’s hand at work through Nehemiah!
But as soon as he shared his burden and the others agreed to join in the work, opposition was quick to show up.
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
The opposition would continue as the work of God continued.
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
When their mockings still didn’t stop the work for God, the became violent against God’s people
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
But even in the midst of violent opposition, Nehemiah and the people of God continued to push forward with the work of God!
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
Even as the building of the wall neared completion, the opposition tried one final attempt to get Nehemiah to leave the work of God
Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
No matter what the enemy threw their way, Nehemiah and the people of God continued to stay faithful to the work of God!
And after 52 days, the impossible task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was completed!
APPLICATION: Friend, when you try to serve God, you can mark it down, opposition will come!
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
When you try to lead your family to follow God, you can know, opposition will come!
When you try to stay faithful to reading your Bible, you can know, distractions and opposition will come
When you try to serve God with your life, you can mark it down, opposition will come.
Anytime the work of God is going forward, you can mark it down, opposition will come!
Because the world, the flesh, and the devil is Anti-Christ
And that means when you are going the same direction as Christ, you will be walking against the world.
And when you go against something, sometimes it creates friction…resistance
And as one preacher said, “Every morning when my feet hit the floor, I want to be going the opposite direction of the devil.”
Friend, until we get to heaven, we will be the minority, not the majority on this earth as a Christian.
Which means there are going to be many times you are going to face opposition.
When you do, stand firm in the work that Christ has called us to do!
THE OPPOSITION TO THE WORK OF CHRIST
V.2, THE DISCIPLES OF THE WORK OF CHRIST
V.2, THE DISCIPLES OF THE WORK OF CHRIST
(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
EXPLANATION: As John the disciple is writing this account, it’s almost like he circles back to this sentence
Like it’s something important for us to know even though we so easily just read past it.
John let’s us know it wasn’t actually Jesus that was baptizing everyone… it was actually his disciples.
Why would John write it this way.
Why wouldn’t he have just said, “Jesus’s disciples made and baptized more than John”
While we can’t know with absolute certainty… I kind of think it was because while the Pharisees were so concerned about recognition, the disciples were only concerned with one person getting all the praise
JESUS!
Because a true disciple is consumed with pointing the praise to the one they are following!
ILLUSTRATION: The kids riding in the tractor with grandpa
“I drove the tractor”
Who actually drove the tractor?
But who wants all the praise?
APPLICATION: Friend, you aren’t driving the tractor.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
God has blessed you and gifted you with the abilities that you have!
A regular phrase that should be spoken from the mouth of the Christian is “Praise God”
When God uses your life in some way, it should be our natural response to point the praise to God!
David knew who deserved the praise as he ran toward Goliath and said, “The battle is the Lords.”
Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego knew who deserved the praise when they told king Nebudchadnezzar “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us our of thy hand O king!”
Paul and Barnabas knew who deserved the praise when the people crowded them and wanted to worship them as God’s and they said, “We are men just like you. You should turn to the living God that made heaven and earth and sea and everything!”
Friend, don’t get confused about who deserves the praise for the good things and works of God flowing out of your life!
Choose to be a real disciple of Christ who deflect all praise to Jesus!
THE OPPOSITION TO THE WORK OF CHRIST, THE DISCIPLES OF THE WORK OF CHRIST
V.3-4, THE SPREADING OF THE WORK OF CHRIST
V.3-4, THE SPREADING OF THE WORK OF CHRIST
He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
And he must needs go through Samaria.
EXPLANATION: While God was working where they were at, that wasn’t the only place that God wanted to work!
He wanted to work in Galilee… and he also wanted to work in Samaria.
Why is that important?
Because Samaria wasn’t the place that a Jew wanted to pass through.
The Samaritans had intermarried with other races and cultures.
Because of that, the Jews viewed the Samaritans as unworthy and were disgusted to even be in their presence.
They avoided any contact with them whenever possible
And yet, here is Christ intentionally going to this nation of people to do his work.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Jesus wanted all men to be saved… whether Jewish or Samaritan!
Friend or foe!
And He was willing to go to them so that they might see Him.
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Jesus went out of His way to put himself in your way that you could see Him!
APPLICATION: Now friend, when was the last time, you went out of your way, to put yourself in someone else’s way, that they could see Christ?
APPLICATION: Now friend, when was the last time, you went out of your way, to put yourself in someone else’s way, that they could see Christ?
One of the great wonders of the Gospel is that it has no bounds in who it can save, and it has no limit to whose lives can be transformed!
To think that Paul entered into heaven and was greeted by Stephen who he had condemned to death!
To know that Christ hung on the cross and cried out, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Jesus wanted the mobs that cursed Him and cried out “crucify Him” to come to Christ!
Jesus wanted the soldier who punched him and beat him, to turn to Him!
Jesus wanted the person driving the nails through His hands and feet to come to Him as Savior.
Jesus wants everyone to come to Him as Savior!
That’s why He gave the command we talked about a couple weeks ago in Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
And Jesus wants you to spread the good knew of the Gospel!
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Friend, you are the light of Christ, so keep your bulb clean and don’t stop shinning the light of the Gospel!
ILLUSTRATION: The other night I was grilling outside and it was hard to see, so I put on one of my headlamps and headed outside.
I got to the grill and turned the light on and a couple seconds later the light went out.
So I pressed the button again and 5 seconds later, it was off again.
I repeated this process about another 5 times, until finally I came to terms that the battery was dead and needed to be recharged.
When I needed to use the limit, it was powerless and useless.
APPLICATION: Christian, when God wants to use your life to spread His light what does He find?
For so many Christians, they haven’t recharged their battery through spending time in His Word
They’ve been flippant about attending church
The Christian life is more of a duty than an act of service.
And when God reaches into your life to use you, He finds a powerless, useless light.
Friend, this world needs Christ, and you are the light God desires to use!
ILLUSTRATION: Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongues but our tongues
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s Gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message,
Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
What if our hands are busy
With work other than His?
What if our feet are walking
Where sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
And hasten His return?
APPLICATION: God desires to use your life to spread the Gospel to your friend.
God desires to use your life to spread the Gospel to some of Christ’s enemies
God desires to use your life to shine into all the world.
Let’s make sure our light is ready to shine bright for Christ!
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
The work of Christ…
It will face opposition… Let’s purpose to spend each day meeting the devil head on for Christ
It requires us to live as disciples… deflecting the praise to Christ
It is meant to be dispersed into all of the world… are you ready to be used!
Let’s be a church passionate about doing the work of Christ!
