John, Part 15
Series: The Truth About Salvation, Part 6
John 4:15-24
- Final msg today; new series begins next week: “The Messiah’s Confirmation”
-- Continue unpacking very familiar story, but (CH) do you know the application?
- RE: The title of this series is called “The Truth about Salvation”
-- Want to challenge us today with the three more truths about Salvation
-- Last week: Jesus is from God; given to redeem us from our sin!
? First truth: Jesus is the Living Water – Living water is a GIFT of God
? Second truth: Only Living Water can Satisfy – It is given to last forever
o We try to create our own way and miss what He provides
o Life comes through Jesus; and from a God who always loved you!
- Read John 4:15-24 / Pray
Point 1 – Third Truth: Living Water produces Clarity
- This is an unknown woman (to us) – but she is known to Jesus; as is her status
-- TRUTH: Her life is known by Jesus … even this moment has been prepared
-- CH: Perhaps we might see how Jesus sees her, and not how we see her?
-- It’s easy to see one another’s faults but can we see her potential through Grace?
v15 – She realizes she wants what Jesus had to offer (vv13-14, living water)
? But recognition was from a selfish view: “I won’t have to come here…”
? Why? She was outcast, made fun of, “talk of the town”, judged for lifestyle
? This is why she is there in the middle of the day (vs. early morning…)
v16 – SEE: Jesus responds to her with by speaking to her heart
? Great insight as to how God wants to deal with you and I now
? He wants us (when we come to Him) to deal with the things we carry!
? This is NOT about our preferences – but knowing what makes us, us!
vv17-18 – Her honesty is a moment to hear a challenge from Jesus
? APP: Our confession brings opportunity for God to speak and to work
? CH: Prayer life feel blah … How truthful are you when God speaks to you?
- DEEPER APP: Do you respond honestly when God speaks to you?
-- Some may be hearing Him calling you to repent of sin – will you? (Clarity)
Point 2 – Fourth Truth: Living Water develops a Desire to Learn
v19 – Don’t miss her understanding: She sees Him as a prophet! Why?
? Caution: She is clouded by her human wisdom – only saw what He can do
? She does not see who He is (Messiah) – but knows He knows things
- She asks a question about worship (GR: proskuneó); Where do I go to church?
? But see, again, how she slants this ask: It comes from “her understanding”
? Which came from her learning, or “what she has been taught by others”
? FACT: Some of us learned bad theology that needs to be changed!
? This is why we must READ what God’s Word says for ourselves!
v20 – Much like the well (gift of Jacob), she is focused on physical things
? SEE: She wants to understand the right place to draw close / worship God
? It is natural to question someone appearing wise (we do this all the time)
- Mount Gerizim: MAP – located in the West Bank, in Samaria
? Jews hold that God chose Mount Zion in Jerusalem as His Holy place
? Samaritans however believe he chose Mount Gerizim as the Holy place
? After the Babylonian Exile, Samaritans built a temple on Mount Gerizim
? And naturally the Jews built a temple on Mount Zion (in Jerusalem)
- If it was today: We’d now have the “1st and 2nd Right Church of God Location”
- Don’t miss: her focus is on her “ancestors” … it’s not on “what God wants”
-- Yes: It shows she has been taught, but obviously something doesn’t sit right
- SEE: In her understanding there is a desire to fulfill a critical need …
? HER ASK: Where is the right place to worship God? (Desire to Learn)
? CHALL: Is she is seeking to know to be able to draw closer? Unknown
? But faced with the wisdom of Jesus, she wants to know what He knows!
Point 3 – Fifth Truth: Living Water must focus only on Jesus
- WISDOM: Discipleship comes at a cost: price paid by losing your preferences!
v21 – SEE: The place of worship is NOT what God is focused on
? Jesus tells her that a time is coming that will CHANGE how we worship!
? What He does, and still does today, is show us WHO to worship: God!
v22 – Jesus teaches that worship and salvation are of (or from) the Jews
? Salvation: GR: “he soteria”; has definitive article before it: “the salvation”
? Subtle: Jesus confirms Himself as being Jewish here: He says “we Jews”
? All other acts of worship are man-made (self-soothing / affirming methods)
? Why? Mankind is ignorant of Godly things because we want to be God!
vv23-24 – Jesus says that true worshippers must worship in Spirit and Truth
? To worship God in Spirit mean to worship with a spiritual drive (gift given)
? To worship God in Truth is to approach God in the right way (via the Spirit)
? IMP: Only one way to truly seek God: Through His Son! “it’s here now”
- APP: THIS is why when you come before Him we must hush and THINK first:
-- Who is He? Who are you talking too? This is not our chance to ramble!
- BIG: Worship is to be done (for us now) in remembrance of what Jesus did!
-- It is not a “feel good” recipe, a quick-fix thing, or even something FOR you
-- It has a purpose: To focus our intentions & heart on who He is for fellowship!
-- See v23 – God is looking for those who worship like this! GR: zéteó; seeks
The Point:
- So, this brings us to today – to where we find yourselves now
-- CHALL: What do YOU think about when you come into His presence?
-- Are you seeking His living water because you’re focused on Him?
- TIE-IN: It’s why we don't do membership at Seasons in the traditional format!
? What we want (called to) is to create an environment where God is honored!
? This allows trust to be built in His presence, as our community grows up!
? Keep coming - keep serving - give - plug-in - be a part of what God is doing!
- What Jesus offered this woman is exactly what we have been offered: TRUTH
-- It was an honest look at who He is so WE could come to Him in the same way!
-- How will YOU seek Him? Do you worship Him in truth? To really know Him?
-- Every head bowed and every eye closed (MUSIC)
- Pray
