John 4 (1)
- Read John 4:4-42
Jesus and His disciples were traveling through Samaria. He is tired, so He sits down by a well, while His disciples head into town to get something to eat. After He sits down, a woman from the town comes out to get some water.
When she comes out, she is surprised to find a strange man sitting at the well. She is even more surprised when He asks her for a drink of water. She’s surprised for several reasons.
First, she’s surprised that a man would speak to her. IN those days, men didn’t usually speak to a woman publicly, who wasn’t accompanied by male family members.
Second, she’s surprised, after He speaks, to realize that He is a Jew speaking to her. The area where they were, had been invaded in the past. The conquerors took the upper and middle class folks from the area and left only the poor. Then they moved folks from other countries into the area. Those folks intermarried with the poor jewish folks who remained behind and so the Samaritan people were mixed race; so the jews wanted nothing to do with them.
Third, he asked her for a drink of water. No Jew in the world would drink after a Samaritan person. To do so would make them ceremonially unclean.
So this woman is very surprised that this man would speak to her.
In verse 16, Jesus tells the woman to go get her husband. She answers that she doesn’t have a husband. Jesus says, “You are right when you say you don’t have a husband. You have had 5 husbands and the man you’re living with now isn’t your husband.”
What woman in the world would dream of such a thing? What woman in the world would dream of being married and divorced 5 times, only to end up lying with a man she’s not even married to?
That is not what dreams are made of. You’re young, you dream of finding that one special person, someone you will love and someone who will love you as you grow old together. You dream of home and family.
I wonder how she ended up in this situation. Did she compromise once in her youth and become a marked woman so that no good man wanted to take her home to Mama? Did she keep picking bad men, or settling for men who would not treat her well, only to become dissatisfied with them after a while and moving on down the road?
What did this Elizabeth Taylor of Samaria look like, that after so many failed relationships, and failed marriages, that men would continue to court her?
The original text tells us that she went to get water at the 6th hour. According to the Roman way of telling time, that would be at 6 in the evening, but according to the way the Jews told time that would be at noon.
I tend to understand the traditional way of interpreting this text, that the woman went to the well at around noon to get water to carry back to her house. At noon, the middle of the day. In the heat of the day. There were no other people, there were no other women there trying to get water, and that was her intent in coming at that time in the first place; because she didn’t want to see other people. She didn’t want to hear the whispering of the other women as she got water. She didn’t want to see their condemning and judgmental glances. She just wanted to be left alone in the tatters of her broken life and shattered dreams.
I wonder if her parents were still alive. I wonder when she first went astray and what her parents’ reactions were at the time.
I called an old friend last night, as I was coming back from a late job. It’s a man I worked for at one time; worked with another time, and who’s son once worked for me. I haven’t talked to him in about 6 months and was wondering how he was doing. We caught up and visited for a while. He asked about Gladys and Drew and then told me about his family.
His son, in his mid 30’s, recently got out of prison. 2 days later, he was arrested and is now sitting in jail awaiting trial for threatening his father. Over the years the dad has started and run several successful businesses, hoping to find something his son would be interested in, something he could pass on. To hear the pain and heartache in that dad’s voice.
Oh, the pain of mistakes we have made, and the grief we feel when those we care about are making mistakes and we are unable to fix them.
I don’t want to go back and live life over again. I’m too old and close to heaven for that; but there are things I wish I could go back and undo, things I wish I could go back and do differently.
We only get one shot at life. We only get one chance.
This broken woman, shunned and ostracized by society, finds Someone who knows everything about her and yet is willing, in spite of what the world would think of Him, to talk to her, and she clings to that hope like a drowning person clings to a life raft. The Holy Spirit awakens something she thought was dead.
My friend, I don’t care who you are or what you have done. God loves you. You cannot go back and undo, and you cannot go back and live life over again, but every morning marks a new beginning, a new opportunity.
That son, that daughter; that wayward grandchild, God can still reach them. God can still win his heart and turn him around.
As Fanny Crosby wrote back in 1869,
Down in the human heart crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving hand, awakened by kindness,
Cords that are broken will vibrate once more.
[“Rescue the Perishing,” Fanny J. Crosby, 1869]
The Bible tells us, God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The Lord awakens something in the heart of this woman that others had given up on, in the heart of this woman who had given up on herself and she asks Jesus a question. “Where are we supposed to worship?’
You see, that’s the hub of the problem right there. That’s the core issue right there. It is worship.
The peace she was trying to find in relationships, the joy and happiness she was trying to find in the arms of a man; only to be disappointed again and again; is not found in things. It is not found in relationships. It will never be found in houses, or jobs, or vehicles, or another 50 tv channels, or the right politician, or a new cell phone. That peace can only be found in a relationship with the One we were created to worship.
Sir, I see that You are a prophet. Where are we supposed to worship?
I. What is worship?
Honor paid to a superior being. Honor paid to a superior being. That’s worship. A very simple word to define. It means to give homage, honor, reverence, respect, adoration, praise, glory to a superior being. Frankly, the word in the Scripture is used indiscriminately; it’s used of people who gave that kind of homage to idols. It’s used of people who gave that kind of homage to material things as well as to the true God. So, the word in itself is not a holy word as such. It only describes honor given to a superior being.
In a Christian context we simply apply that to God. We bow before God. We bow in respect and honor before God, paying Him the glory due His superior character.
Essentially then, worship is giving. It is giving honor and respect to God and that is why we gather here. We don’t gather here to give respect to the preacher, or even the people who participate in the music, although it is fine that we should hold one another in respect.
We are here to worship God. And through all that occurs, there is to be the stimulating of that desire in our hearts to honor God. So, if you come for what you can get, or if you come to quote-unquote, “get a blessing,” you’ve missed it. You have come to give, not get. And worship is a consuming desire to give to God.
II. IS ALL WORSHIP ACCEPTABLE?
Is all worship acceptable? No. The Father is seeking true worshippers.
THE WORSHIP GOD ACCEPTS
> Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain [did]. By this he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through this.
The story is told about a man who lay on his death bed with his family and friends gathered around him. As he lay there he asked a friend to check and see if there was anything in his pockets. The friend checked and found the man had a dime in one pocket. The dying man asked him to place it in his mouth. He swallowed the dime and said, I came into the world with nothing and I don’t want to leave anything behind.
Foolish man. We all leave things behind. According to this verse, Abel leaves behind, even though he is dead many centuries now, a testimony. I believe it is a testimony of what true worship looks like.
Abel still speaks to us today. He still gives testimony. He still tells us about the worship God accepts.
- Genesis 4:1-12
In this passage we have an account of 2 men. Let’s think for a moment about the things they had in common.
1. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE MEN
1). They had the same parents. Their upbringing was the same. They had the same experiences as children.
* Picnics to the Gate to the Garden of Eden where they saw the seraphim with its flaming sword.
* Pets – Puppies in the back yard.
* Chores - A bit of ground to tend. Some chores.
2). They had the same work ethic. – They both had jobs. Picture Cain working hard. Coming home at the end of the day, telling his parents about the events of the day.
Abel worked hard. He would come home with a healthy
glow and pungent aroma at the end of the day as well. …
3). They had the same God – Both of them knew there was a God. Both of them knew God. Neither of them were atheists. Their parents had told them about their time in the Garden. They had told them about the mistakes they had made. I’m sure Adam told his boys about the time their mother ate them out of house and home.
When God spoke to Cain and told him He was not pleased, Cain didn’t at all surprised by God’s visit, His voice, nor the conversation. Evidently this had happened before.
They had the same God.
4). They both offered sacrifices - - vvs. 4-5
They didn’t know God just from a distance. They knew Him and closely. They both came and offered sacrifices. They both offered something that cost them. It cost them the work of the sweat of their brow to bring the offerings they brought to God. As a matter of fact, if the order of the account is any indication, it appears that Cain, perhaps, took the lead in bringing a sacrifice.
They were similar in a number of different ways, but they and their offerings were received by God differently.
- vvs 4-5
II. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP
1. Unacceptable worship approaches God on the wrong path
- Hebrews 11:4 – By faith, Abel offered a better sacrifice.
> Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We don’t know when or how, but at some time in the past, God had made known to Cain and Abel what was acceptable in the way of sacrifices, in the way of offerings. There was nothing wrong with bringing an offering of the produce Cain had grown, to God. We often see that in the Old Testament. Men often brought gifts of oil, and meal, and grain, and fruit to God as first-fruit offerings and thanksgiving offerings. Nothing wrong with that. But, they came after blood sacrifices.
> 1 John 1:7 … the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
> Exodus 12:13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you.
- 1 Peter 1:18-19
> Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Folks try many different things to get to God. They try many different paths. Some try sacrifice. Some try hard work. Some try the way of the hermit or the monk. Some try good works, trying to earn their way to heaven.
Professor Monier Williams once said: In the discharge of my duties as Professor of Sanskrit, I have devoted as much time as any man living to the study of the Sacred books of the East and I have found one key, … of all these books- the one refrain through all is salvation by works. They all say that salvation must be purchased, must be bought with a price, and that the sole price, the sole purchase money, must be our own work and deservings (Quoted by John Phillips, in Exploring Genesis, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1992, p.66).
The Bible says:
> Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Elisha & the prophets of Bale on Mt. Carmel. They were sincere, but they were on the wrong path.
People trying to get to God through good works, obeying the 10 Commandments, following the Golden Rule.
> Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God …
- Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it..
2. Unacceptable worship approaches God with the wrong attitude
- Genesis 4:3-4
Cain brought some of the produce of the land. Able brought the first of his flocks, the first fruits.
Cain – God can have the leftovers. He should be pleased with what I bring.
Abel – I will God the first of what I have.
Cain – Anything is good enough.
Abel – Nothing is good enough.
I have had people tell me that they can worship God just as well fishing, alone with nature as they can in church, in a worship service. To that I say, “Hogwash.” When you go fishing, you are not going to worship God. You may talk to him while you are there. You may talk with God when you are hiking or riding a horse, or whatever. I hope you do. I often did growing up, but, you cannot tell me that is the intention or goal of you doing those different activities.
Cain’s heart says, “God can have the leftovers.”
Abel’s attitude, the accepted attitude for worship is that I will give God my best. He is important enough that I will set aside time for Him, and His word. He is important to me and I will make Him and His worship a priority in my life.
> Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
3. Unacceptable worship leaves you unchanged
- v5
He wasn’t changed for the better. He wasn’t closer to God. He was just going through the motions, putting in his time, hoping to appease God and get some blessings coming his way. Perhaps he was just trying to get his parents off his back. Anyway, he left angry. When God pointed out the error or his way, he didn’t try to change. He didn’t even want to change. He just Got mad. How dare you tell me my way isn’t good enough. How dare you tell me my form of religion isn’t as good as yours. How dare you tell me what I am doing is wrong. How dare you try to lay your rules and regulations on me.
He got mad, and did nothing to change what God had pointed out in his life.
> John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples.
It isn’t enough to merely give head assent that you believe in God, or that you believe in Jesus. You cannot have Him as your Lord and Savior and it leave you unchanged.
Obedience does not bring faith, but faith will always bring obedience and the desire to live righteously.
> Matthew 7:“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [n]miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Let me ask you, was God pleased with your worship this morning?
