A WOEFUL CONDITION MET BY THE WONDERFUL CHRIST
JOHN 4:1-30
EVANGELISM IS TALKING TO OTHERS ABOUT THE GOSPEL WITH AN AIM TO PERSUADE.
JOHN 3, JESUS TALKED WITH A RELIGIOUS, MORAL AND INTELLIGENT MAN ABOUT THE NEED OF BEING BORN AGAIN.
IF HE CAN’T BE SAVED WHO CAN?
JOHN 4, JESUS TALKED WITH AN IMMORAL, UNLEARNED, GENTILE WOMAN ABOUT LIVING WATER.
IF SHE CAN BE SAVED WHO CAN’T?
VS.1-3, BACKSTORY
EVANGELISM IS INTENTIONAL, VS.4-6
“EVANGELISM IS DOING EVERYDAY LIFE WITH GOSPEL INTENTIONALITY.” JD GREAR
INSPITE OF RACIAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL OR THEOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES …
INSPITE OF RACIAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL OR THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES …
EVANGELISM IS RELATIONAL
“PEOPLE WILL NEVER BELIEVE YOU LOVE THEM IF THEY DON’T BELIEVE YOU LIKE THEM.” REGGIE JOYNER
JESUS INITIATES CONVERSATION, “GIVE ME TO DRINK”, VS.7-9
“HE WHO PROLONGS CONVERSATION WITH A WOMAN BRINGS EVIL UPON HIMSELF, HE CEASES AT THE WORDS OF THE LAW AND AT THE LAST SHALL INHERIT GEHENNA.”
“SOME JEWISH THOUGHT HELD THAT FOR A RABBI TO TALK MUCH WITH A WOMAN, EVEN HIS OWN WIFE, WAS AT BEST A WASTE OF TIME AND AT WORST A DIVERSION FROM THE STUDY OF TORAH, AND THEREFORE POTENTIALLY A GREAT EVIL THAT COULD LEAD TO HELL.”
JESUS CREATES CUROSITY, VS.10-11
“A JEW” VS.9, “SIR” VS.15, “PROPHET” VS.19, “CHRIST” VS.29
JESUS STAYS ON TRACK, VS.12-15
JESUS POINTS TO HER SIN, VS.16-20
“NO WOMAN GOES THROUGH SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH SIX MEN WITHOUT EITHER STARTING DESPERATELY THIRSTY OR ENDING DESPERATELY THIRSTY … EITHER SHE CAN’T FIND IN A MAN WHAT SHE CRAVES, AND SO MOVES FROM ONE TO THE OTHER, DESPERATELY BELIEVING MEN ARE THE WATER SHE THIRST FOR OR THEY CAN’T FIND WHAT THEY ARE CRAVING FOR IN HER, AND ONE AFTER ANOTHER DROPS HER, OR BOTH. IN EITHER CASE, SHE IS LEFT WITH A DEEP, DEEP EMPTINESS AND SINFULNESS THAT IS SO PAINFUL AND SO REBELLIOUS THAT SHE SEALS IT UP, AND THERE IS NO ENTRANCE TO HER HEART AT ALL – IT IS LOCKED IN DARKNESS. THAT’S WHAT JESUS KNOWS AND SO HE MOVES INTO THAT INNER DARKNESS …”
JOHN PIPER,
JESUS EXTENDS GRACE, VS.21-30
APPLICATION:
BILL HYBELS: JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM
TO THOSE FILLED WITH SHAME, “GRACE AND FORGIVENESS CAN COME YOUR WAY.”
TO THOSE BOUND UP IN DESTRUCTIVE HABITS, “WHEN THE SON SETS YOU FREE YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.”
TO THE WEAK, “STRENGTH FROM GOD – THE STRENGTH GIVE – CAN BE YOURS FOR THE ASKING.”
TO THE WEARY, “JESUS PROMISES REST FOR YOUR SOUL.”
TO THE POOR, RICHNESS OF SPIRIT.
TO THE LACKING, PROVISION IN DUE TIME.
TO THE GRIEVING, CONSOLATION AND COMFORT.
TO THE SICK AND DYING, ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BODIES IN THE LIFE HEREAFTER.
“IF SINNER BE DAMNED, AT LEAST LET THEM LEAP TO HELL OVER OUR DEAD BODIES, AND IF THEY PERISH, LET THEM PERISH WITH OUR ARMS WRAPPED AROUND THEIR KNEES. IF HELL MUST BE FILLED IN THE TEETH OF EXERTIONS, AND LET NO ONE GO UNWARNED OR UNPRAYED FOR.’
CHARLES SPURGEON
