Jesus Satisfies
Notes
Transcript
ILLUST: Would you rather? (Questions)
Would you rather hang out and spend time with lost people or with people who say they love Jesus and behave as though they do not?
READ: John 4:31-43
1) Perplexing Perspective
1) Perplexing Perspective
Disciples’ perspective comes from the world
What they know, are comfortable with, understand
Mindset of felt needs
Their need seems immediate
Jesus’s need (the need for Him) is also immediate
But ‘feeling’ is one of satisfaction
Might still be physically hungry, thirsty
Disciples search for food
Jesus searched for people
Disciples want to be fed, and feed, physically
Jesus wants to feed spiritually, see John 6:48
“I am the bread of life.
ASIDE - Wednesday topic, discussed bread
The food Jesus brings - doing the Father’s will
We can feast on this - see Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Transformed, not conformed, that’s the will of the Father
2) Harvest Time
2) Harvest Time
The harvest is here
NOW - Already - Open your eyes
Jesus sees the harvest coming, literally, people needing to be saved
Disciples, others, miss it
Typically, months before harvest
Look at the corn here - ready for harvest?
Nope, so what if I say it’s harvest time??
The fields are white
A field of ripe grain - white
A white field of grain, just waiting to be harvested
God is patient - see 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
And while His patience endures…we must URGENTLY respond
See the harvest coming, the fields are white - NOW
But these are SAMARITANS coming walking, having decided to meet Jesus in person
US:
But, these are addicts who need Jesus
But, these are immoral people
But, these are politicians
But......these are sinners!
POPULATION STATS
TRUTH
The ONLY people who CAN get saved - sinners
TRUTH
The ONLY people who can GROW - surrendered
Simply put - “Give up and then Grow!
3) The Power of HIS Word
3) The Power of HIS Word
First, this idea of separation between the Jews and Samaritans...
Jesus stayed two days! (remain, abide)
This is Jesus who came and “tabernacled” or “tented” with humanity (1:14) - DWELLED
The world became different when Jesus, God incarnate, came in person
(Spoiler - when He comes again, it will change again)
Jesus’ biggest demand - LISTEN
To Him
To His Word
Belief, faith is based on His Word - see Rom 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
The men, the Samaritans, declared Jesus was the Savior of the World
Only used once in this Gospel and in John’s first epistle
“Savior” could mean “lord” - as in master, teacher, important person
There were lots of “lords” to choose from, Samaritan gods, or local rulers, for instance
Many lords - ONE SAVIOR
The men saw this woman, this immoral woman, change
(BUT she’s a woman, not usually believed)
This woman had a need, an eternal spiritual need, and Jesus met that need - He was the answer to her need
BUT she’s immoral - yep, and she had a need
The men she told - had a need, an eternal spiritual need, and Jesus met that need - He was the answer to their need
We, you and me, have a need - an eternal spiritual need, and ONLY Jesus meets that need - He IS the answer to our need
Closing Thoughts
Closing Thoughts
The greatest need ANYone has, is Jesus
Look around, and then get your perspective correct, the Biblical perspective
Someone getting saved, only takes one witness
You are a witness - see Acts 1:8 - what kind of witness is up to you, good or bad, silent or vocal, Jesus-loving or avoiding
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
TRUTH - affects haters and enemies - The Samaritans come, hear, and believe)
Did this settle every earthly difference? No
But it settled every eternal, spiritual need
THE (not plural) NEED is JESUS
The harvest is already happening - people are ready to get saved
Go, see the fields, the white fields John 4:42 -
Speak the name of Jesus into lives
“Don’t listen to me, listen to HIM!” - his Word
The Samaritan men did not believe in the woman, they believed in Jesus, the WORD
and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Let’s bet busy working in the harvest
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
You all have potentially beautiful feet - carrying you, with the Good News of Jesus!
Be amazed at the power of God’s Word to change people
You mean, He saved YOU????
But I know you, He saved you??
That’s a miracle
Yes, new creation is indeed miraculous
So…would you rather…?
Let’s go hang out with some sinners, some lost
It will be tough, seemingly unproductive work
Let’s go hang out with some sinners, some lost, then come Wednesday night and be refreshed, recharged by truth
Go, find the sinners who need Jesus - they are easy to find
Tell them about the Savior of the World, who knows everything about you, and saved you
Pray for clear opportunities to work at the harvest
Then, get ready, here they come!