Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
August 19th 2009
Wednesday August 19th is the day Becky is to be induced at the University of Washington Medical Center. Ben is expectant and Becky seems realistic. Friday August 21 - today is the day that charity will be brought into the world. She will be waited upon by aunts, grandparents and a great grandparents.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ben and Becky Update
It has been now 14 months since our grandson Caleb Joseph Fleming passed away on June 9th. Ben and Becky just went to his grave site for the first time to see the marker.
Ps 126:5 "Those who sow in tears will reap shouts of joy." We have been expecting those shouts of joy all year long. We expected them in January when Becky said she was with child again.
On May 19,2009 Ben and Becky were told their child had a severe birth defect. Instead of aborting. Becky has continued to carry her child. Charity is due October 8th. Because she is a special case, she most likely will be delieverd early. If she lives, she may be severely challenged. Please pray for Ben and Becky and especially for Charity - we are asking God for shouts of joy.
John #10
“What Do You Believe?”
August 2, 2009
John 3:16-21
Pastor Ben Fleming
Turn to the Gospel of John chapter 3. At this point in John’s letter we find Jesus is still talking to the religious leader Nicodemus who came to Him at night with questions. Jesus told him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. Nicodemus was confused and did not understand when Jesus said, -- “Flesh give birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit”. It is God who causes someone to be born again and it is God who gives a person spiritual understanding. Today we are going to read and study perhaps what is the most famous verse in the church and outside of the church. Few people are unfamiliar with this verse in the bible – we are going to read it in context starting from verse 14 -21. Please stand with me: ………
John 3:14 - 22 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.£ 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,£ that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.£ 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Please be seated.
Did you notice that John used the word believe 5 times in this section? You ought to circle the word in your bible. We said at the beginning of John the reason he wrote this gospel account was found in 20:31 “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” That is the reason I have kept the theme of this SERIES “What Do You Believe”. It matters what you believe. It matters what you believe about God and your relationship with Him. Romans 10:9 says “if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts” we shall be saved.” Doubting Thomas said to Jesus – “Lord – I believe – help me in my unbelief”. Believing does not mean that you understand it all but it is a starting point. You have to begin to believe – to have a mustard seed of faith. Believing begins to change your life – it gives you new birth. In 1 John 5:14 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Now in our key verse 16 – this is the first time John uses the word eternal life – he is going to use it 14 more times in this letter. Look with me at eternal life. What Is Eternal Life?-----
Eternal life = it is the believers participation in the blessed, ever lasting life of Christ because of his or her new birth with Him. It is not something that you get when you die. If you are born again…. you participate with God on this earth and you continue that participation in heaven. Jesus put it this way in John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” When you are born again – you begin the journey of knowing God. You begin the journey of participating with Him – in His kingdom on this earth as it is now and as it will become. You do not have eternal life if you are not born again. You do not have eternal life without coming to Jesus Christ and asking Him to save you………… and you believe that He died for your sins – that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day……………….
Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life – their lives are miserable with pain – hunger – poverty – disappointment after disappointment – they say to themselves “why would any one want to live forever?” Eternal life is God’s life given to a born again human found in the life of Christ. Without Christ – you make choices as if this is all there is to life --- nothing else matters – but when you are born again --- choices in life do matter – your choices matter for eternity. ---- OUTLINE
2 Corinthians 5:10 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
The non believer will be judged and sent to hell – the believer will be judged by how they participated with God while on this earth. Choices do matter. Look with me at our text today………..
THE LOVE OF GOD (vs.16-17) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him”
The entire gospel or good news comes together in these two verses. Everybody believes that God is love and that God for some reason is obligated to love everybody. That is false. Man never obligates God. These verses tell us that God does not just love one group of people or one nation of people. He offers His love to the entire world. He does not just love those who are easy to love and those who are good people – He loves the evil sinful people. He sent Christ not to condemn man but to save man. Think with me about The Love of God. I’ll give you 4 points….
* God’s love is not static or self centered; it reaches out and draws others in. John wrote, “for God so loved the world that He gave”. God’s love is giving. God’s love is other centered. Man’s love watches out for and thinks about self. It is only possible for a man or woman to love with the love of God when they are born again, filled with the Holy Spirit and reflecting the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 2nd point
* There was nothing in man or about man that attracted God’s love. God loved because He sovereignly determined to do so. 1 John 4:7 says “God is love.” Man cannot do anything to deserve the love of God – man cannot get more of the love of God or loose the love of God. Man does nothing or is nothing to even deserve the love of God.
Titus 3:4 - 5 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” “The mercy of God flowed out of the love of God.“
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us.” ----- for many in the church today this really does not have that much of an impact upon them. J.I Packer in his book Penal Substitution Revisited, puts it this way, “It was with Christ’s own will and His own love mirroring the Father’s will and love,…. therefore, that He took the place of human sinners – exposed Himself to the divine judgment of God and laid down His life as a sacrifice for them – entering fully into the state and experience of death that was due to them.” 4th point on God’s love
* God loves and expects that there will be nothing given back to Him in return. The love of God means that a sacrifice is made for the object of His love. The sacrifice costs Him – His only Son. God paid the highest price that He could pay and He expected nothing back from man. However, if you are born again – If you have believed – you can demonstrate and live out this love of God in and through your own life. You can do it in your home – you can do it in your church and in your community. David – you can love your mom with the love of God. The love of God requires sacrifice. It requires giving up your rights --- it requires giving up your time. It requires giving up your gifts --- it requires reaching out to others.
For some --- it is has required giving up their very lives. Christopher Legget - a missionary teacher was murdered last month – he had led several Muslims to faith in Jesus Christ and he had talked many times with his wife and 4 kids that staying in the country where they lived might cost him his life. They stayed because of their love for the people of the country where they lived. Love cost them Chris’s life. I thought about that when I read the intro to John Piper’s new book “Filling up the Afflictions of Christ” – “More and more I am persuaded from Scripture and from the history of missions that God’s design for the evangelization of the world and the consummation of his purposes includes the suffering of his ministers and missionaries.” As a born again believer – you are a minister and you are included in that statement……… Example: Because believers in the past loved and gave like God gave in John 3:16 – you and I have the Word of God in our hands that we can read because of love that sacrificed….
In 1526 William Tyndale translated the New Testament from the Greek to common English. This was the first time in history that the English speaking world could have the bible to read. For a thousands years the world only had the New and Old Testament in the Latin Vulgate. He did this knowing that the Catholic church would brand him as a heretic – have him arrested – strangled and burned at the stake which they ended up doing in 1536. God used his translation as God had already raised up Johanne Gutenburg to invent the printing press – thousands of English bibles were printed and spread across Europe. Martin Luther had already written his 95 thesis – which Guttenberg printed as well and the Protestant Reformation spread like wildfire across Europe. In the face of death and because of the love God – Tyndale wrote. “I defy the Pope and all his laws…. If God spare my life for many years, I will cause a boy that drives a plow, he shall know more of the Scriptures than do most.”
Application: You most likely will never be called upon by God to give your own life – but if you are born again you can give and sacrifice your rights – your can give up your comfort – your time – and your talents. You can love your wife or husband with the love of the Lord. You can love your children with the love of the Lord – you can love others in your church family who are excruciating difficult to love with the love of the Lord. Because God gave His only Son – as a born again believing follower of Christ – you can give and love with His love. Think of one person in your life right now that you could love with the love of Christ this week………………………..………………………………
THE RESPONSE OF MAN --- not all people will believe. The bible clearly says “whoever believes”. Not all people will believe and not all people who think they believe are born again.
(Vs.18 – 21) “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that what may be send plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Look at these verses with me – they tell us how a person responds to God’s offer.
1. Whoever believes is not condemned and he who does not believe is already condemned. (vs.18) Romans 8:1 “There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” If you are not in Christ Jesus you are condemned. Those who believe are not condemned – those who do not are already condemned. To be condemned means to be judged or punished for what you have done. It means to be declared incurable or to pronounce unfit for service but “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He or she who does not believe is judged – condemned and declared unfit. William Barclay put it this way……
“If when people are confronted with Jesus and their souls respond to that wonder and beauty – they are on the way to salvation. But if when they are confronted with Jesus they see nothing lovely, they do not respond, they stand condemned.” -- William Barclay
That is the first response to God’s offer: You believe…….. 2nd response…………
2. He who does not believe hates the light and runs from it. (vs.19 – 20) “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” The New Testament uses the word light many times to refer to Christ. Jesus said of himself “I am the light of the World”. Light means that Jesus is the absolute source of truth. Men and women run from absolute truth – they construct their own truth according to how it suits them. Jesus Christ condemns sin – no one wants sin condemned – you have to be tolerant of sin today.
Jesus Christ gives light for daily life and He gives light so that we may learn more of God. But John says that men loved darkness instead of light because they fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Who wants to walk down a dark alley – what do you fear? Evil. We do not want light around when we are doing evil --- we want it to be dark. Most people do not want their lives exposed to God’s light because they are afraid of what will be revealed or because of the demands the light places on them. They really do not want God to change them or convict them. Even in the church you should not be surprised when people are threatened by the desire of others or the rebuke of others to obey God and His Word – they are afraid the light will expose the darkness in their lives – they run. I have seen this year after year. People come and sit and think they are apart of a church family – they play music – they go on a missions trip - but when there is the light of God’s Word spoken to them either publically or privately they run. I used to think that it was something that only happened here at Silver Hills but I hear the same thing from pastors all over. It is maturity that allows one to receive the light of the Word of God. It is a born again believer who is honestly pursuing holiness who can receive a rebuke from a fellow believer. When we come into the light our tendancy is to go back towards the darkness but if we are a genuine believer Proverbs tell us “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” COMMENTS 3rd response to God’s offer
3. He who believes lives by the truth and comes to the light. (vs.21) “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John writes what happens to someone who believes – they come into the light so that what has been done in them can be seen to be done by God. When you believe you come to the truth – you are drawn to the truth – you pursue the truth. That is one of the main ways you know that you have believed – you have a hunger and desire for God and the things of God and to live a holy life. He who believes does not run to the darkness although we can drift to the darkness but if we live by the truth and have come into the light --- he who believes confesses their sin and does not hid sin.
TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS --- LED FLASHLIGHT – NORMAL ONE – FLORESENT TALK ABOUT
John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So – the question is who are you following? When you follow Christ you walk in light. If you are following Christ and you find darkness coming into your life – it is not because of Christ it is because of you. You take your eyes off of Christ. You are not following Him. Hebrews tells us to fix our eyes on Christ the author and perfecter of our faith.
2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
When you see me – you should see a reflection of Jesus Christ. When I see another born again believer who has believed - there has to be some reflection of Christ. My life – your life has to bring glory to God. It is Christ in you the hope of glory. TURN OUT OTHER FLASH LIGHTS -- PUT ONE ON THE STAGE -------- TURN AROUND AND READ THE SLIDE
SLIDE ONLY Matthew 5:14 Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Let us pray………….
August 2, 2009
John 3:16-21
Pastor Ben Fleming
Turn to the Gospel of John chapter 3. At this point in John’s letter we find Jesus is still talking to the religious leader Nicodemus who came to Him at night with questions. Jesus told him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. Nicodemus was confused and did not understand when Jesus said, -- “Flesh give birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit”. It is God who causes someone to be born again and it is God who gives a person spiritual understanding. Today we are going to read and study perhaps what is the most famous verse in the church and outside of the church. Few people are unfamiliar with this verse in the bible – we are going to read it in context starting from verse 14 -21. Please stand with me: ………
John 3:14 - 22 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.£ 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,£ that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.£ 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Please be seated.
Did you notice that John used the word believe 5 times in this section? You ought to circle the word in your bible. We said at the beginning of John the reason he wrote this gospel account was found in 20:31 “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” That is the reason I have kept the theme of this SERIES “What Do You Believe”. It matters what you believe. It matters what you believe about God and your relationship with Him. Romans 10:9 says “if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts” we shall be saved.” Doubting Thomas said to Jesus – “Lord – I believe – help me in my unbelief”. Believing does not mean that you understand it all but it is a starting point. You have to begin to believe – to have a mustard seed of faith. Believing begins to change your life – it gives you new birth. In 1 John 5:14 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Now in our key verse 16 – this is the first time John uses the word eternal life – he is going to use it 14 more times in this letter. Look with me at eternal life. What Is Eternal Life?-----
Eternal life = it is the believers participation in the blessed, ever lasting life of Christ because of his or her new birth with Him. It is not something that you get when you die. If you are born again…. you participate with God on this earth and you continue that participation in heaven. Jesus put it this way in John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” When you are born again – you begin the journey of knowing God. You begin the journey of participating with Him – in His kingdom on this earth as it is now and as it will become. You do not have eternal life if you are not born again. You do not have eternal life without coming to Jesus Christ and asking Him to save you………… and you believe that He died for your sins – that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day……………….
Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life – their lives are miserable with pain – hunger – poverty – disappointment after disappointment – they say to themselves “why would any one want to live forever?” Eternal life is God’s life given to a born again human found in the life of Christ. Without Christ – you make choices as if this is all there is to life --- nothing else matters – but when you are born again --- choices in life do matter – your choices matter for eternity. ---- OUTLINE
2 Corinthians 5:10 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
The non believer will be judged and sent to hell – the believer will be judged by how they participated with God while on this earth. Choices do matter. Look with me at our text today………..
THE LOVE OF GOD (vs.16-17) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him”
The entire gospel or good news comes together in these two verses. Everybody believes that God is love and that God for some reason is obligated to love everybody. That is false. Man never obligates God. These verses tell us that God does not just love one group of people or one nation of people. He offers His love to the entire world. He does not just love those who are easy to love and those who are good people – He loves the evil sinful people. He sent Christ not to condemn man but to save man. Think with me about The Love of God. I’ll give you 4 points….
* God’s love is not static or self centered; it reaches out and draws others in. John wrote, “for God so loved the world that He gave”. God’s love is giving. God’s love is other centered. Man’s love watches out for and thinks about self. It is only possible for a man or woman to love with the love of God when they are born again, filled with the Holy Spirit and reflecting the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 2nd point
* There was nothing in man or about man that attracted God’s love. God loved because He sovereignly determined to do so. 1 John 4:7 says “God is love.” Man cannot do anything to deserve the love of God – man cannot get more of the love of God or loose the love of God. Man does nothing or is nothing to even deserve the love of God.
Titus 3:4 - 5 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” “The mercy of God flowed out of the love of God.“
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us.” ----- for many in the church today this really does not have that much of an impact upon them. J.I Packer in his book Penal Substitution Revisited, puts it this way, “It was with Christ’s own will and His own love mirroring the Father’s will and love,…. therefore, that He took the place of human sinners – exposed Himself to the divine judgment of God and laid down His life as a sacrifice for them – entering fully into the state and experience of death that was due to them.” 4th point on God’s love
* God loves and expects that there will be nothing given back to Him in return. The love of God means that a sacrifice is made for the object of His love. The sacrifice costs Him – His only Son. God paid the highest price that He could pay and He expected nothing back from man. However, if you are born again – If you have believed – you can demonstrate and live out this love of God in and through your own life. You can do it in your home – you can do it in your church and in your community. David – you can love your mom with the love of God. The love of God requires sacrifice. It requires giving up your rights --- it requires giving up your time. It requires giving up your gifts --- it requires reaching out to others.
For some --- it is has required giving up their very lives. Christopher Legget - a missionary teacher was murdered last month – he had led several Muslims to faith in Jesus Christ and he had talked many times with his wife and 4 kids that staying in the country where they lived might cost him his life. They stayed because of their love for the people of the country where they lived. Love cost them Chris’s life. I thought about that when I read the intro to John Piper’s new book “Filling up the Afflictions of Christ” – “More and more I am persuaded from Scripture and from the history of missions that God’s design for the evangelization of the world and the consummation of his purposes includes the suffering of his ministers and missionaries.” As a born again believer – you are a minister and you are included in that statement……… Example: Because believers in the past loved and gave like God gave in John 3:16 – you and I have the Word of God in our hands that we can read because of love that sacrificed….
In 1526 William Tyndale translated the New Testament from the Greek to common English. This was the first time in history that the English speaking world could have the bible to read. For a thousands years the world only had the New and Old Testament in the Latin Vulgate. He did this knowing that the Catholic church would brand him as a heretic – have him arrested – strangled and burned at the stake which they ended up doing in 1536. God used his translation as God had already raised up Johanne Gutenburg to invent the printing press – thousands of English bibles were printed and spread across Europe. Martin Luther had already written his 95 thesis – which Guttenberg printed as well and the Protestant Reformation spread like wildfire across Europe. In the face of death and because of the love God – Tyndale wrote. “I defy the Pope and all his laws…. If God spare my life for many years, I will cause a boy that drives a plow, he shall know more of the Scriptures than do most.”
Application: You most likely will never be called upon by God to give your own life – but if you are born again you can give and sacrifice your rights – your can give up your comfort – your time – and your talents. You can love your wife or husband with the love of the Lord. You can love your children with the love of the Lord – you can love others in your church family who are excruciating difficult to love with the love of the Lord. Because God gave His only Son – as a born again believing follower of Christ – you can give and love with His love. Think of one person in your life right now that you could love with the love of Christ this week………………………..………………………………
THE RESPONSE OF MAN --- not all people will believe. The bible clearly says “whoever believes”. Not all people will believe and not all people who think they believe are born again.
(Vs.18 – 21) “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that what may be send plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Look at these verses with me – they tell us how a person responds to God’s offer.
1. Whoever believes is not condemned and he who does not believe is already condemned. (vs.18) Romans 8:1 “There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” If you are not in Christ Jesus you are condemned. Those who believe are not condemned – those who do not are already condemned. To be condemned means to be judged or punished for what you have done. It means to be declared incurable or to pronounce unfit for service but “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He or she who does not believe is judged – condemned and declared unfit. William Barclay put it this way……
“If when people are confronted with Jesus and their souls respond to that wonder and beauty – they are on the way to salvation. But if when they are confronted with Jesus they see nothing lovely, they do not respond, they stand condemned.” -- William Barclay
That is the first response to God’s offer: You believe…….. 2nd response…………
2. He who does not believe hates the light and runs from it. (vs.19 – 20) “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” The New Testament uses the word light many times to refer to Christ. Jesus said of himself “I am the light of the World”. Light means that Jesus is the absolute source of truth. Men and women run from absolute truth – they construct their own truth according to how it suits them. Jesus Christ condemns sin – no one wants sin condemned – you have to be tolerant of sin today.
Jesus Christ gives light for daily life and He gives light so that we may learn more of God. But John says that men loved darkness instead of light because they fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Who wants to walk down a dark alley – what do you fear? Evil. We do not want light around when we are doing evil --- we want it to be dark. Most people do not want their lives exposed to God’s light because they are afraid of what will be revealed or because of the demands the light places on them. They really do not want God to change them or convict them. Even in the church you should not be surprised when people are threatened by the desire of others or the rebuke of others to obey God and His Word – they are afraid the light will expose the darkness in their lives – they run. I have seen this year after year. People come and sit and think they are apart of a church family – they play music – they go on a missions trip - but when there is the light of God’s Word spoken to them either publically or privately they run. I used to think that it was something that only happened here at Silver Hills but I hear the same thing from pastors all over. It is maturity that allows one to receive the light of the Word of God. It is a born again believer who is honestly pursuing holiness who can receive a rebuke from a fellow believer. When we come into the light our tendancy is to go back towards the darkness but if we are a genuine believer Proverbs tell us “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” COMMENTS 3rd response to God’s offer
3. He who believes lives by the truth and comes to the light. (vs.21) “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John writes what happens to someone who believes – they come into the light so that what has been done in them can be seen to be done by God. When you believe you come to the truth – you are drawn to the truth – you pursue the truth. That is one of the main ways you know that you have believed – you have a hunger and desire for God and the things of God and to live a holy life. He who believes does not run to the darkness although we can drift to the darkness but if we live by the truth and have come into the light --- he who believes confesses their sin and does not hid sin.
TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS --- LED FLASHLIGHT – NORMAL ONE – FLORESENT TALK ABOUT
John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So – the question is who are you following? When you follow Christ you walk in light. If you are following Christ and you find darkness coming into your life – it is not because of Christ it is because of you. You take your eyes off of Christ. You are not following Him. Hebrews tells us to fix our eyes on Christ the author and perfecter of our faith.
2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
When you see me – you should see a reflection of Jesus Christ. When I see another born again believer who has believed - there has to be some reflection of Christ. My life – your life has to bring glory to God. It is Christ in you the hope of glory. TURN OUT OTHER FLASH LIGHTS -- PUT ONE ON THE STAGE -------- TURN AROUND AND READ THE SLIDE
SLIDE ONLY Matthew 5:14 Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Let us pray………….
John #11
“What Do You Believe?”
John 4:1 -26
Pastor Ben Fleming
August 9, 2009
Turn in your bible to Jn 4. Evangelism in America is difficult. It is hard to talk to people about having a saving faith in Jesus Christ. It is difficult because we are afraid – we fear being rejected --- we do not know what to say – we have a hard time defending our faith. We run into people who are good people and spiritual people and we conclude that they are Christians and have saving faith. We see no reason to explain the gospel to them. We have heard for years – “I am a Catholic, I am a Methodists, I am a Presbyterian and so on, and when one tells us that - we assume they of course are saved. Today – we hear some conservative Christians saying that we are quickly becoming a secular nation. Al Mohler, in his book Culture Shift, would disagree, he says, “for when you say something or someone is secular they or it has to deny the existence of God. One cannot be genuinely secular and be indifferent to the existence of God.” We are a God focused nation – If you remember after 9/11 secularism began to raise its head in our nation by saying that one could reconcile the claims of Christianity and Islam. President Bush and P Oboma have both said that the God of the Christian and Islam are the same. We are no longer a Christian nation but a spiritual nation. Spirituality is what matters. What makes you think that your truth claims about Jesus Christ are any truer than my spiritual beliefs? How dare you. How intolerant. What makes you think that Mormans are not Christians – they even put on a seminar making the claim that they are --- many immature Christians cannot believe that Mormans are not Christians. We are quickly becoming a nation where spiritual thinking is common,, but dogmatic and absolute thinking spiritually is intolerant – offensive and one stands being accused of being a hate monger. Surprisingly, the author Salam Rushdie – who wrote the novel Satanic Verses said, “You only believe in free speech as long as it does not get up your nose”. 95% of all Americans believe in God – so why are we called to evangelize? When you speak to someone about God they most likely are going to tell you they believe. We evangelize because the gospel or spiritual thinking of America is not the gospel of the bible. Al Mohler makes this clear, “spirituality is what is left when authentic Christianity is evacuated from the churches and the public square. It is a refuge for the faithless seeking the trappings of faith without the demands of revealed truth. Spirituality affirms us in our self-centeredness and tells us that all is well. Authentic Christianity pulls us out of ourselves – points us to the cross of Christ and calls us to follow Christ.”
In the gospel of John today - we have come to the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. There are a few key ideas that we could take off on from this text – one major one is in verse 24 “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” ---- this is at the end of Christ encounter with the woman. In light of my introduction and what I believe is the struggle of every believer in this room --- me included --is to evangelize and to be evangelistic – today I want us to view Christ encounter with this woman as our model for evangelism --- you want to know how to bring glory to God in evangelism --- examine how Jesus did it.
Please stand as we read: John 4:1 – 26 ----- PHIL BRADY
Background: Jesus has left Nicodemus. (MAP) This is map of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus. Remember Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover – he had his encounter with Nicodemus and then verse 22 of chapter 3 says he went into the Judean countryside – he spent sometime with his disciples – which would have included more than the 12 men – up to 70. He most likely spoke to the masses, and his disciples baptized the new believers and the religious leaders began to hear about how his following was growing. Jesus heard about their worries and decides to head north back to Galilee. The Jews had such a dislike and disgust for the Samaritans that any good Jew would cross the Jordan river and head north on the road on the east side – making certain that they would not go through Samaria and encounter a Samaritan and esp a woman. – (BLANK) Jesus of course refused to act the way of regular Jews and heads directly north into Samaria and comes to a city named Sychar. He sits down at a well named Jacob’s well outside of the city at high noon. His disciples leave and go on into the city to get some food and Jesus encounters a woman who comes to the well to get water. He begins to evangelize her.
How Did Jesus Evangelize? 5 points
1. He encountered people. (Vs. 6 -7) “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan women came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” Jesus encountered people – he spoke to them. He did not ignore the people who came into His life. Think about it: Jesus had been walking perhaps for two days – he was beat, but so were his disciples and yet they went into town and Jesus sat down by the well. Even though he was tired and hungry – food was not #1 on his mind. This woman shows up at the well – she comes at high noon – no women would go to a well at high noon the hottest part of the day and they would never go alone. Going to fetch water was a high point of the day for they would get to socialize with other women. Jesus knew something was up with this lady – he knew she was avoiding social contact. Jesus just simply asks her a question. Will you give me a drink? Jacob’s well was a deep well so you had to have a bucket which Jesus did not. Jesus was wise – he made the most of the opportunity ( no one else was around). Look at this example Jesus gives for us---- Christ perfectly displayed the commands of the apostle Paul. ---- on your outline………..
Colossians 4:5 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” I think we see Jesus giving us a clear example of this scripture in action.
Ephesians 5:15 -17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
I am firmly convinced……..If you and I are going to evangelize like Christ then we have to be intentional. Talking to people just does not happen in our society. You get in a line at the store you keep your mouth shut ---- when someone starts talking to you its odd. It is hard to be wise and make the most of every opportunity that God gives us ---- most of the time your conversation with people is not going to be spiritual. Examples: I went to Keva juice. I met a young man who smiled at me. I opened my mouth and introduced myself and shook his hand and he told me he was Miguel and he was going to the HS to practice football – he played wide receiver – I told him I might see him there some day….. I have wonderful neighbors who do a fantastic job of taking care of the outside of their house --- three kids and yet it is so so hard to see them and talk with them ---- I have a branch I need to cut off our cottonwood – so I went over and made a point of seeing Danny and talking with him about it and he readily agreed to help me cut the branch so that it does not fall on his backyard storage shed. Paul is the manger of a store near hear – he is friendly – which makes for a good manger and I have gotten to know him some – I invited him to the movie Fireproof – he did not come. In a recent conversation I found out he had a grass fungus in his yard and last Sat I walked down the street to his house and put some fungicide on his yard for him from some leftover that I had. If we are going to evangelize we have to encounter people and in our society most of the time we are going to have to go out of our way. Make the most of the opportunities God gives to you – ask Him to make you bold and make your conversation be seasoned with grace……….
2. He turned the conversation to God (vs. 9 -10) “The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would gave given you living water.” This woman knew that Jews did not talk with Samaritans let alone a man talking to a woman especially in public. Not only did Jesus talk to her but he was willing to use the same drinking cup that she used. He was not interested in tradition – legalism or even sanitation – Jesus turned the conversation to God. “if you knew the gift of God and who it is who asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” If we are going to evangelize like Jesus we have got to learn to talk about God. We have got to learn to get our foot in the door verbally – back then I believe it was much easier since everyone was spiritual and had a public god sense about them – today – it most likely will take time – building conversations again and again with people. I find it difficult – I find it a challenge – I need the power and wisdom of God.
Story: I have a new relationship I am building upon as a result of a conversation. I found a wonderful employee at Lowes to help when we were building Marcellas room. She was so friendly – so kind and a blessing to be waited on – she gave me all the time I needed. When a pause came – I asked her, “why do you have such a joyful attitude?” - she said she did not know and I said – is it because you are a woman of faith? From that question: She then began to open up and talk and talk and tell me about herself and her spiritual feelings. I have since given her Pipers book – Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ and I gave her an invitation to National Back to Church Sunday this week.
When people are gently confronted – not judged or rejected – I believe they will open up and you will be able to turn the conversation to things about God. You most likely will not get to tell them a gospel presentation right away but over a period of time with conversations about God you will. Giving people written material is an excellent way to get the conversation turned to God. Jesus did it – you and I can too – Jesus said this about you…. outline……John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”------------ Jesus turned the conversation to God.
3. He gave real answers (Vs.13) “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Christ gave answers to peoples real needs. This lady was not satisfied with life. She was only really thinking about drinking water and Jesus was talking about living water. All around us people are crying for help deep inside and they do not even know it and most are ignoring it --- some of you are like that. People are searching for answers about their spiritual conditions. Our fall Wed night study – “defending your faith” is our attempt as a church to help you and equip you to be like Jesus and be able to give real answers to people in your life that you encounter. We have got to learn to listen to people’s cry for help and be equipped to give them real answers – when you are equipped and available you will never know what can happen.
PHOTO OF BELL In 1876, three days after he received his first patent, Bell and Watson, located in different rooms, were about to test the new transmitter described in the patent. Watson heard Bell's voice saying, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you." Bell had upset a battery, spilling acid on his clothing. He soon forgot the accident in his excitement over the success of the telephone transmitter. The first telephone company, Bell Telephone Company, was founded on July 9, 1877.
Bell continued his experiments in communication. He invented the photophone-transmission of sound on a beam of light, which was a precursor of fiber-optics. He also invented techniques for teaching speech to the deaf. Bell was granted 18 patents in his name, and 12 he shared with collaborators. He also founded the National Geographic Society in 1888. Alexander Graham Bell died in Baddek, Nova Scotia, on August 2, 1922. Bell was a man who listened to the physical hearing needs that people had and he gave real answers in his inventions. You and I can be just like Bell but we do not have to invent any answers --- the bible has given us all that we need.
4. He made the conversation personal . (vs.17-18)) “I have no husband, she replied. Jesus told her, You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.” Jesus made the conversation personal with this woman. Since he was Christ he knew the woman’s heart and past --- some believers today have a prophetic insight or the gift of discernment --- but not all of us do. Getting personal with someone like Jesus did – for most of us is going to take time – but if they open up to you and you depend upon the Holy Spirit – He will give you insight and understanding to the persons needs --- go ahead and speak to them and make the conversation personal. Be bold. This woman was interested in Jesus message because she thought it could make her life easier – she thought he had some kind of a water and she would not have to go back to the well again. What Jesus will do for me if I accept him is not why a person needs the gospel – most of the time the gospel makes your life more difficult. Notice in the response of Jesus – he did not accuse the woman --- condemn her or call her names or offend her at all --- he simply described her life back to her. Jesus was sensitive but blunt………
When we talk to people - we draw conclusions about people very quickly without knowing all the facts and many times we ending up in error. We accuse the person and raise their defenses and loose further conversation opportunities with them or we excuse them and enable them in their denial. There is a time for boldness and there is a time for tenderness in our speech.
Story: I have a relationship with a man who I have been ministering to for two years. He is spiritual and thinks that his spiritual beliefs are okay. Talking with him is difficult because he brings us excuses very quickly and gives answers the spiritual cult he follows gives him. I asked him if we could spend some time together so that I could explain to him my belief in a spiritual relationship with God was all about. He said – sure – I will take you to dinner. We did that and for 1 hour he listened to me explain the gospel to him and I tried to be sensitive but blunt. We still talk and he recently said to me, “I can see that our beliefs about Jesus are not that far apart – I think that is okay.” As if he were questioning his statement. Jesus made the conversation personal……..
5. He let her direct the discussion. (vs.19 -20) “Sir, the woman said, I can see you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus declared, Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” Notice that Jesus did not turn the conversation back to her immorality. He let it drop. She started talking about worship – Jesus kept the woman’s interest by allowing her to direct the discussion. Evangelizing someone is not going from step to step to step. You will not keep the conversation spiritual when you turn a person off and not allow them to talk in any direction they want. Jesus did not get offended or defensive – he simply took the woman’s words and addressed them. “believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” And then in verse 24 – 26 he closed the conversation with a clincher. “God is spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. The woman said, I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared, I who speak to you am He.”
Jesus left this woman with blunt truth – “God is spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.” She was concerned about where to worship. Jesus tells her – God is not concerned about where but about the condition of a person’s heart when they do worship. You do not have to be on a mountain or in a city – you just have to worship God in spirit and in truth. And then for the first time – he bluntly tells her that he is the Messiah that the Jews and the Samartians were expecting. He did not baptize the woman – He did not have her pray a prayer – John does not even tell us if the woman believed. We have written for us only what Jesus told John when he returned……. What are the salvation truths that we must pay attention to as a result of this encounter that Jesus had with the woman?
Salvation Truths
1. Salvation only comes to those who recognize their desperate need for spiritual life they do not have. Living water will only be received by those who recognize they are spiritually hungry. Someone here today is spiritually dead and spiritually thirsty – you have to respond. Call Dan and Stacie at the end.
2. Salvation comes only to those who confess and repent of their sin. John does not tell us the woman in the story confessed and repented of her sin.
3. Salvation only comes to those who embrace Jesus Christ as their Messiah and sin bearer. Salvation is found in no one else.
Prayer
John 4:1 -26
Pastor Ben Fleming
August 9, 2009
Turn in your bible to Jn 4. Evangelism in America is difficult. It is hard to talk to people about having a saving faith in Jesus Christ. It is difficult because we are afraid – we fear being rejected --- we do not know what to say – we have a hard time defending our faith. We run into people who are good people and spiritual people and we conclude that they are Christians and have saving faith. We see no reason to explain the gospel to them. We have heard for years – “I am a Catholic, I am a Methodists, I am a Presbyterian and so on, and when one tells us that - we assume they of course are saved. Today – we hear some conservative Christians saying that we are quickly becoming a secular nation. Al Mohler, in his book Culture Shift, would disagree, he says, “for when you say something or someone is secular they or it has to deny the existence of God. One cannot be genuinely secular and be indifferent to the existence of God.” We are a God focused nation – If you remember after 9/11 secularism began to raise its head in our nation by saying that one could reconcile the claims of Christianity and Islam. President Bush and P Oboma have both said that the God of the Christian and Islam are the same. We are no longer a Christian nation but a spiritual nation. Spirituality is what matters. What makes you think that your truth claims about Jesus Christ are any truer than my spiritual beliefs? How dare you. How intolerant. What makes you think that Mormans are not Christians – they even put on a seminar making the claim that they are --- many immature Christians cannot believe that Mormans are not Christians. We are quickly becoming a nation where spiritual thinking is common,, but dogmatic and absolute thinking spiritually is intolerant – offensive and one stands being accused of being a hate monger. Surprisingly, the author Salam Rushdie – who wrote the novel Satanic Verses said, “You only believe in free speech as long as it does not get up your nose”. 95% of all Americans believe in God – so why are we called to evangelize? When you speak to someone about God they most likely are going to tell you they believe. We evangelize because the gospel or spiritual thinking of America is not the gospel of the bible. Al Mohler makes this clear, “spirituality is what is left when authentic Christianity is evacuated from the churches and the public square. It is a refuge for the faithless seeking the trappings of faith without the demands of revealed truth. Spirituality affirms us in our self-centeredness and tells us that all is well. Authentic Christianity pulls us out of ourselves – points us to the cross of Christ and calls us to follow Christ.”
In the gospel of John today - we have come to the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. There are a few key ideas that we could take off on from this text – one major one is in verse 24 “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” ---- this is at the end of Christ encounter with the woman. In light of my introduction and what I believe is the struggle of every believer in this room --- me included --is to evangelize and to be evangelistic – today I want us to view Christ encounter with this woman as our model for evangelism --- you want to know how to bring glory to God in evangelism --- examine how Jesus did it.
Please stand as we read: John 4:1 – 26 ----- PHIL BRADY
Background: Jesus has left Nicodemus. (MAP) This is map of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus. Remember Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover – he had his encounter with Nicodemus and then verse 22 of chapter 3 says he went into the Judean countryside – he spent sometime with his disciples – which would have included more than the 12 men – up to 70. He most likely spoke to the masses, and his disciples baptized the new believers and the religious leaders began to hear about how his following was growing. Jesus heard about their worries and decides to head north back to Galilee. The Jews had such a dislike and disgust for the Samaritans that any good Jew would cross the Jordan river and head north on the road on the east side – making certain that they would not go through Samaria and encounter a Samaritan and esp a woman. – (BLANK) Jesus of course refused to act the way of regular Jews and heads directly north into Samaria and comes to a city named Sychar. He sits down at a well named Jacob’s well outside of the city at high noon. His disciples leave and go on into the city to get some food and Jesus encounters a woman who comes to the well to get water. He begins to evangelize her.
How Did Jesus Evangelize? 5 points
1. He encountered people. (Vs. 6 -7) “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan women came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” Jesus encountered people – he spoke to them. He did not ignore the people who came into His life. Think about it: Jesus had been walking perhaps for two days – he was beat, but so were his disciples and yet they went into town and Jesus sat down by the well. Even though he was tired and hungry – food was not #1 on his mind. This woman shows up at the well – she comes at high noon – no women would go to a well at high noon the hottest part of the day and they would never go alone. Going to fetch water was a high point of the day for they would get to socialize with other women. Jesus knew something was up with this lady – he knew she was avoiding social contact. Jesus just simply asks her a question. Will you give me a drink? Jacob’s well was a deep well so you had to have a bucket which Jesus did not. Jesus was wise – he made the most of the opportunity ( no one else was around). Look at this example Jesus gives for us---- Christ perfectly displayed the commands of the apostle Paul. ---- on your outline………..
Colossians 4:5 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” I think we see Jesus giving us a clear example of this scripture in action.
Ephesians 5:15 -17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
I am firmly convinced……..If you and I are going to evangelize like Christ then we have to be intentional. Talking to people just does not happen in our society. You get in a line at the store you keep your mouth shut ---- when someone starts talking to you its odd. It is hard to be wise and make the most of every opportunity that God gives us ---- most of the time your conversation with people is not going to be spiritual. Examples: I went to Keva juice. I met a young man who smiled at me. I opened my mouth and introduced myself and shook his hand and he told me he was Miguel and he was going to the HS to practice football – he played wide receiver – I told him I might see him there some day….. I have wonderful neighbors who do a fantastic job of taking care of the outside of their house --- three kids and yet it is so so hard to see them and talk with them ---- I have a branch I need to cut off our cottonwood – so I went over and made a point of seeing Danny and talking with him about it and he readily agreed to help me cut the branch so that it does not fall on his backyard storage shed. Paul is the manger of a store near hear – he is friendly – which makes for a good manger and I have gotten to know him some – I invited him to the movie Fireproof – he did not come. In a recent conversation I found out he had a grass fungus in his yard and last Sat I walked down the street to his house and put some fungicide on his yard for him from some leftover that I had. If we are going to evangelize we have to encounter people and in our society most of the time we are going to have to go out of our way. Make the most of the opportunities God gives to you – ask Him to make you bold and make your conversation be seasoned with grace……….
2. He turned the conversation to God (vs. 9 -10) “The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would gave given you living water.” This woman knew that Jews did not talk with Samaritans let alone a man talking to a woman especially in public. Not only did Jesus talk to her but he was willing to use the same drinking cup that she used. He was not interested in tradition – legalism or even sanitation – Jesus turned the conversation to God. “if you knew the gift of God and who it is who asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” If we are going to evangelize like Jesus we have got to learn to talk about God. We have got to learn to get our foot in the door verbally – back then I believe it was much easier since everyone was spiritual and had a public god sense about them – today – it most likely will take time – building conversations again and again with people. I find it difficult – I find it a challenge – I need the power and wisdom of God.
Story: I have a new relationship I am building upon as a result of a conversation. I found a wonderful employee at Lowes to help when we were building Marcellas room. She was so friendly – so kind and a blessing to be waited on – she gave me all the time I needed. When a pause came – I asked her, “why do you have such a joyful attitude?” - she said she did not know and I said – is it because you are a woman of faith? From that question: She then began to open up and talk and talk and tell me about herself and her spiritual feelings. I have since given her Pipers book – Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ and I gave her an invitation to National Back to Church Sunday this week.
When people are gently confronted – not judged or rejected – I believe they will open up and you will be able to turn the conversation to things about God. You most likely will not get to tell them a gospel presentation right away but over a period of time with conversations about God you will. Giving people written material is an excellent way to get the conversation turned to God. Jesus did it – you and I can too – Jesus said this about you…. outline……John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”------------ Jesus turned the conversation to God.
3. He gave real answers (Vs.13) “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Christ gave answers to peoples real needs. This lady was not satisfied with life. She was only really thinking about drinking water and Jesus was talking about living water. All around us people are crying for help deep inside and they do not even know it and most are ignoring it --- some of you are like that. People are searching for answers about their spiritual conditions. Our fall Wed night study – “defending your faith” is our attempt as a church to help you and equip you to be like Jesus and be able to give real answers to people in your life that you encounter. We have got to learn to listen to people’s cry for help and be equipped to give them real answers – when you are equipped and available you will never know what can happen.
PHOTO OF BELL In 1876, three days after he received his first patent, Bell and Watson, located in different rooms, were about to test the new transmitter described in the patent. Watson heard Bell's voice saying, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you." Bell had upset a battery, spilling acid on his clothing. He soon forgot the accident in his excitement over the success of the telephone transmitter. The first telephone company, Bell Telephone Company, was founded on July 9, 1877.
Bell continued his experiments in communication. He invented the photophone-transmission of sound on a beam of light, which was a precursor of fiber-optics. He also invented techniques for teaching speech to the deaf. Bell was granted 18 patents in his name, and 12 he shared with collaborators. He also founded the National Geographic Society in 1888. Alexander Graham Bell died in Baddek, Nova Scotia, on August 2, 1922. Bell was a man who listened to the physical hearing needs that people had and he gave real answers in his inventions. You and I can be just like Bell but we do not have to invent any answers --- the bible has given us all that we need.
4. He made the conversation personal . (vs.17-18)) “I have no husband, she replied. Jesus told her, You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.” Jesus made the conversation personal with this woman. Since he was Christ he knew the woman’s heart and past --- some believers today have a prophetic insight or the gift of discernment --- but not all of us do. Getting personal with someone like Jesus did – for most of us is going to take time – but if they open up to you and you depend upon the Holy Spirit – He will give you insight and understanding to the persons needs --- go ahead and speak to them and make the conversation personal. Be bold. This woman was interested in Jesus message because she thought it could make her life easier – she thought he had some kind of a water and she would not have to go back to the well again. What Jesus will do for me if I accept him is not why a person needs the gospel – most of the time the gospel makes your life more difficult. Notice in the response of Jesus – he did not accuse the woman --- condemn her or call her names or offend her at all --- he simply described her life back to her. Jesus was sensitive but blunt………
When we talk to people - we draw conclusions about people very quickly without knowing all the facts and many times we ending up in error. We accuse the person and raise their defenses and loose further conversation opportunities with them or we excuse them and enable them in their denial. There is a time for boldness and there is a time for tenderness in our speech.
Story: I have a relationship with a man who I have been ministering to for two years. He is spiritual and thinks that his spiritual beliefs are okay. Talking with him is difficult because he brings us excuses very quickly and gives answers the spiritual cult he follows gives him. I asked him if we could spend some time together so that I could explain to him my belief in a spiritual relationship with God was all about. He said – sure – I will take you to dinner. We did that and for 1 hour he listened to me explain the gospel to him and I tried to be sensitive but blunt. We still talk and he recently said to me, “I can see that our beliefs about Jesus are not that far apart – I think that is okay.” As if he were questioning his statement. Jesus made the conversation personal……..
5. He let her direct the discussion. (vs.19 -20) “Sir, the woman said, I can see you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus declared, Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” Notice that Jesus did not turn the conversation back to her immorality. He let it drop. She started talking about worship – Jesus kept the woman’s interest by allowing her to direct the discussion. Evangelizing someone is not going from step to step to step. You will not keep the conversation spiritual when you turn a person off and not allow them to talk in any direction they want. Jesus did not get offended or defensive – he simply took the woman’s words and addressed them. “believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” And then in verse 24 – 26 he closed the conversation with a clincher. “God is spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. The woman said, I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared, I who speak to you am He.”
Jesus left this woman with blunt truth – “God is spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.” She was concerned about where to worship. Jesus tells her – God is not concerned about where but about the condition of a person’s heart when they do worship. You do not have to be on a mountain or in a city – you just have to worship God in spirit and in truth. And then for the first time – he bluntly tells her that he is the Messiah that the Jews and the Samartians were expecting. He did not baptize the woman – He did not have her pray a prayer – John does not even tell us if the woman believed. We have written for us only what Jesus told John when he returned……. What are the salvation truths that we must pay attention to as a result of this encounter that Jesus had with the woman?
Salvation Truths
1. Salvation only comes to those who recognize their desperate need for spiritual life they do not have. Living water will only be received by those who recognize they are spiritually hungry. Someone here today is spiritually dead and spiritually thirsty – you have to respond. Call Dan and Stacie at the end.
2. Salvation comes only to those who confess and repent of their sin. John does not tell us the woman in the story confessed and repented of her sin.
3. Salvation only comes to those who embrace Jesus Christ as their Messiah and sin bearer. Salvation is found in no one else.
Prayer
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