John 4:1-38

Last week we were challenged to begin asking God to call ministers and missionaries from within our church. We want to empower them to spread the gospel around the world. We also need to help expand the Evangelical Association by helping to plant churches.

            This week we are looking at ways to effectively minister in our own neighborhoods. We will do this by looking at how Jesus cast the net. Surely He should be our role model. He told the disciples that He would make them fishers of men – and it’s a good bet that He can do the same for us as well. Let’s look at how He approached the task.

            Jesus and the disciples had been preaching in Judea when He was told that the Pharisees were making an issue over the fact that He and the disciples were baptizing more people than John. Since He was not in competition with John, He made the decision to return to Galilee.

The easy way to Galilee from Judea is through Samaria. Through Samaria was a 70 mile walk; around Samaria was about twice that far. Many Jews thought that it was worth the effort.  The Samaritans were not good people; the argument went, because they had intermarried with the Gentiles, so they were not pure Jews. Primarily the Jews were the snobs, but some Samaritans felt the same way.

 

Jesus, on the other hand loved everyone, just as He expects us to do.

 

HIS APPROACH

          As they traveled through Samaria they came to Sychar. For obvious reasons they were tired. Since it was noon Jesus sat by the well to rest, sending the rest of the men to town to buy food. Please understand that Jesus was not slack or lazy, but carrying the spiritual load for a church and ministering in opposition to Satan and his imps is hard word. Besides, Jesus had a plan!

 

A woman of that town had a date with destiny. Jesus knew that the women commonly came to the well during the heat of the day because of social tradition. We also are often guided by the Holy Spirit. We may not understand why He wants us to do something. We just know that we are supposed to do something. We have to act in faith as the Holy guides us.

 

One writer suggested that going through Samaria pictures going to a place of temptation. If God has a job for us to do we need to get in and out as soon as possible. I do not totally agree, but he raises a good point. We should not go where we know that the temptations could overtake us. However, life does have its dangerous moments. We enjoy watching the dramatic rescues on TV, but nothing is as dramatic and powerful as winning someone to Christ.

 

One of the ways that we can know Jesus was truly human was His fatigue. He did not get upset about it; it became an opportunity for ministry. He was there when a woman in need came. Let’s watch His approach.

 

Much to her amazement, Jesus asked her for water. This was not a normal attitude for a Jewish man. He was kind and gentle, not angry toward her as a woman and as a Samaritan. 

 

For Him, every moment was a teachable moment. He did not set up a pulpit, He simply asked for a favor. The lady was stunned by the request and amazed at His promise of giving her living water so that she would never thirst again.

 

Like a hungry fish after an earth worm, she took the bait. “Please give me this living water so that I will never get thirsty again!” Of course, by this living water Jesus means the Holy Spirit. He was talking about her inner person, not her physical body.

 

Jesus spoke figuratively, she understood it literally. The water from Jacob's well gave temporary satisfaction. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, that empty feeling goes away.

 

We know, of course, that a new thirst comes in its place. We “hunger and thirst after righteousness.”

 

 Now He had her attention… Jesus did not have an agenda; He just wanted to get acquainted. He wanted to discover her need, and then minister to it. The woman recognized that Jesus was a prophet. His anointed words brought eager anticipation to her. God was drawing her to Himself.

 

No one gets saved unless God Himself draws them. We are merely the messenger. We should feel no stress!

 

She did not understand her need, so she wanted to discuss worship and where to worship. Jesus wanted to discuss relationship. The real issue was her salvation. To get at the heart of the matter, Jesus asked her to go get her husband.

 

If people really feel your love they will tell you about anything. She simply said, “I’m not married.” “I know,” Jesus said, “You have had five husbands, and you are not married to the man you live with now.” That was shocking back then… Although society would condemn her, Jesus did not.

            She was not the only surprised person; the disciples were a little startled when they returned. When you truly represent Christ, plan on some people not understanding what you are doing.

Three things affected the woman.

A.    The extent of His knowledge; Christ knows all the thoughts, words, and actions, of all the children of men.

B.    The power of His word; He told her secret sins with power.

C.    His love.

As you work with and for God you will gain insight into people’s needs and situations. People have often asked a pastor, “How did you know what I was worried about all week?” The pastor did not know; God just spoke to the person in need through the pastor. He will do the same in you. People will tell you some amazing things. Learn to keep your mouth shut; be a worthy servant of God.

The military has a saying that “Loose lips sink ships.” If you are not trustworthy God will not share His innermost secrets. Please understand that God is not a gossip!

1 John 3:16-18 – “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

A story titled, “More than Skin Deep” illustrates the power of loving people where they are and not trying to change them. The story is by Michelle Attaway as told to Karen Strand. It was printed in the Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine. Copyright © 2008

The story starts, “I stared at my boyfriend Jay through a chemically-induced fog. Both rebellious teenagers, we'd left our homes and families to live on our own. We thumbed our noses at our parents' rules by the way we dressed, by using drugs, and by moving in together without being married. So Jay's bit of news had me scowling in disbelief.

         “‘What do you mean; your mom has invited us to dinner?’  I was incredulous because I knew that Jay's parents were ‘normal’ people.”

[I suspect that our congregation is made up of “Normal People.” We dress like everyone else, avoid druggies and homeless people, and are religious.]

Yet Jay’s parents had invited them to eat dinner – and since they were broke and hungry they went. They assumed that they would have to put up with a lot of lectures, but none of that took place.

 

In fact, after the meal, they invited them to play a game of Scrabble. “As we sat down to eat, I was painfully aware that my appearance—torn clothing, tattoos, and a dozen body piercings—clashed with the elegantly decorated table. Yet his folks treated us with friendly respect—even asking whether we wanted to play Scrabble afterward! I was bewildered by their kindness.”

Crazy love

This was weird. Her boyfriend’s mom continued to contact them… sometimes bringing them groceries, sometimes writing nice letters with Bible verses in them…stating that Jay’s folks were praying for them.

 

They enjoyed sharing the letters and stories with their friends… but “the laughter couldn't mask the emptiness I felt inside, and our lifestyle of partying and drug use only got worse.”

 

Finally their spiritual emptiness caused the kids to call his folks for help. “We fully expected to receive criticism and disapproval. However the ‘church people’ simply stepped over the trash on the floor, looked past the ugly death and skull posters on the wall, shoved aside drug paraphernalia, and began counseling us and praying for us.”

 

Michelle and Jay were touched with the love that his parents showed… they gave their lives to Christ and began the maturing process. Being convicted by the Holy Spirit about living together without marriage, Jay proposed that very day.

Coming full circle

They had a “hippie”-style wedding—outdoors and barefooted—and then got involved in church – where the members accepted them as lovingly as his parents had. Michelle joined the church's women's group, even though she had trouble relating to the women and their excitement over getting out the hot glue gun and making dried flower arrangements. “Nevertheless, they didn't give up on me. They invited me to weekly Bible studies and fun times at the park.”

 

Several times a week someone dropped by with some form of love and acceptance. Although they struggled financially the burden was made lighter because they would receive anonymous checks in the mail and people dropped sacks of groceries on their doorstep. They were especially thrilled when someone gave them some nice flannel sheets.

 

Through personal and group Bible studies they began to mature in Christ. Then God began to burden them with the desire to share his love with other kids their same age… they did this by volunteering with the youth ministry and working with homeless teens. Because they had received unconditional love they were able to give unconditional love.

 

She writes, “Today, if a homeless person visits our church, or someone comes in the door with purple hair and a nose ring, I walk right up and say, ‘Hi! I'm Michelle.’ Then I tell them I'm glad they came and invite them to an activity or church function.”

 

Now that she is a mature Christian – and mother – she can take care of her husband and kids, and she has learned to get out the hot glue gun and make dried flower arrangements.

 

Karen Strand's articles have appeared in Today's Christian Woman, Guideposts, and many other publications. She currently writes health-related articles for Hope for Women.  Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine.  May/June 2008, Vol. 46, No. 3, Page 34

God is not interested in our judging others… He is interested in our loving them and pointing them to Jesus Christ.