A Deeper Well

A Deeper Well

Prairie Baptist Church – 10/25/09

A.M. Service

Text: John 4:1-29

Key verse: John 4:23 - But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Premise: When the woman of Samaria met Jesus she received something deeper than water from Jacob’s well; she received a deeper relationship with God.

The Introduction

Consider the story of Hans the tailor. Because of his reputation, an influential entrepreneur visiting the city ordered a tailor-made suit. But when he came to pick up his suit, the customer found that one sleeve twisted that way and the other this way; one shoulder bulged out and the caved in. He pulled and managed to make his body fit. As he returned home on the bus, another passenger noticed his odd appearance and asked if Hans the tailor had made the suit. Receiving an affirmative reply, the man remarked, “Amazing! I knew that Hans was a good tailor, but I had no idea he could make a suit fit so perfectly for someone as deformed as you.” (Richard J. Foster.)

In this portion of Scripture, Jesus deals with a deformed, depraved and dehydrated life; the Woman at the Well.

(Explain the woman of Samaria’s background)

Pagan – Samaritan (mixed race, did not accept much of the OT except for the Pentateuch)

Immoral – had gone through 5 husbands and was currently living with someone, unmarried

We spend a lot of time focusing in on how sinful people are, but we already know that. We need to zero in on their spiritual need, just like Jesus did.

For the woman we find acceptance

Not acceptance of her lifestyle

Not acceptance of her spiritual deviation

Acceptance of her because she is a living soul Jesus loves.

There is a deeper well that Jesus wanted to take her to that would change her life as well as ours.

Body

1. A Deeper Refreshment – 7-14

A. Nancy Spiegelberg, in an issue of Decision magazine, wrote these words: Lord, I crawled across the barrenness to You with my empty cup, uncertain but asking any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known You better I would have come running with a bucket.

B. It is free (10a – gift of God)

i. A gift is not a gift if it isn’t free

ii. It is a priceless gift, there is no way you could afford this living water

C. It is Spirit life (10c – living water)

i. Living water is literally “running water.”

ii. The word “living” signifies life that can only come through the Holy Spirit

iii. John 7:37-39 - 37On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

D. It is limitless (14a - will never thirst)

i. Continual satisfaction

ii. Earthly water has limited benefits but this living water has recurring benefits

iii. When one is saved, it is satisfying in every area of life.

E. It is eternal (14b – everlasting life)

i. Everlasting is everlasting. God is no cheat.

ii. We cannot be separated by human means - John 10:28-29 – 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

iii. We are sealed (guaranteed) by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)

iv. Nothing on earth or in this universe can take it away – Romans 8:38-39 - 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. A Deeper Recognition – 16-18

A. This woman was living immorally

i. She had gone through five husbands already

ii. She was living with another man, unmarried

B. Jesus knows us deeply – Psalm 17:3 - You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

i. Our lives are an open book to Him

ii. There is nothing we can hide from Him (Ps. 13)