Go Tell Your World Series

Go Tell Your World

The Gospel of John

John 4:24-42 (Reading vs. 24-30)

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - October 26, 2014

(Revised July 20, 2019)

BACKGROUND:

*Last week we looked at this great story of a Samaritan woman whose life had been wrecked by sin. Her own sin and the sin of those around her had led to a string of failed relationships. She had been through five failed marriages, and was then living with a man outside of marriage.

*This woman was scorned by her neighbors, and broken by her sin. But then one day she went to the well and met Jesus Christ! She found out that Jesus knew all about her troubled past, but He still cared for her. Jesus talked with her and showed concern for her. He treated her with compassion and respect. Jesus cared so much for this woman that He was even willing to give her the living water of everlasting life.

*Her life was changed forever when she met the Lord. She was saved by trusting in Jesus, and she rushed back to town to tell everyone how the Messiah had changed her life.

*Let me ask you: Has Jesus changed your life? Most of us can say, "Yes! Praise the Lord, He has!" And if Jesus has changed your life, then just like this Samaritan woman, you have a story to tell.

*Let's get started by reading vs. 24-30. There Jesus said:

24. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

25. The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."

26. Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

27. And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why are You talking with her?"

28. The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,

29. "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

30. Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

MESSAGE:

*Christians, we need to be like this woman. We all need to be more faithful to witness for Jesus. Howard Hendricks once said, "In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering."

*Bill Bright was the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. He was also responsible for the "Jesus" film, which has been seen by over a billion people around the world. Bright's organization once helped to survey millions of believers. Sadly, they found out that ninety-eight percent of us do not regularly introduce others to our Savior. (1)

*Ninety-eight percent of Christians don't witness for the Lord?!? We have got to help turn that number around. We all need to be more faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ. And the Lord will help us do it, just as He helped the woman at the well.

1. FIRST, JESUS WILL HELP US OVERCOME OUR INADEQUACY.

*Many times we feel inadequate to serve Jesus, because of our past failures. This poor Samaritan woman knew all about failure. She had a long history of broken relationships: Five failed marriages followed by a relationship too weak for commitment. Again, her life had been broken by her own sin, and by the sin of people she trusted.

*Her background was troubled, but then she met Jesus and He changed her life forever! Jesus Christ has the power to change our lives, because He is the Lord God Almighty who died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead!

*That's why Romans 5:6 says: "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." And Romans 5:8 says: "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus can wash us clean! He can overcome our shortcomings and past failures.

*Anne Lamott told about some friends who adopted their son through an organization called "A.S.K." -- That's short for "Adopt Special Kids." Part of the process was filling out a questionnaire where you checked "yes" or "no" on whether you were willing to adopt babies that had been born addicted, terminally ill, having physical "defects," or having mental disabilities.

*Their pastor was helping them work through the process. And he told their church that God is also like an adoptive parent who says: "Sure, I'll take the kids who are addicted, or terminal. I pick all the handicapped kids, and of course the sadists, too. The selfish ones, the liars, I choose them.

*I choose the disobedient ones and the terrified ones, the self-indulged ones and the trouble-makers, the damaged ones and the unlovable ones. In love, I choose them all. I will be a parent to them all. I will end their separation and bring them home to Me." (2)