6-22-2016 Vol. 13 Part 18 The Gospel of John (John 4:39-54)

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6-22-2016 Vol. 13 Part 18 The Gospel of John 

Proverbs 13:9-14

9  The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10  By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11  Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13  He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14  The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

Father God, open the mind, ears, and eyes of the lost to see the miracles around them that are calling their souls to you. Help the lost to believe with their heart and not their mind.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Gospel of John 4:39-54 NKJV

This week’s lesson starts out with the conclusion of the Samaritan woman’s encounter and her spreading Gospel seeds to her community. There are two forms of conversion in this lesson; one based on believing by hearing the Word of God and the other based on miracles. Thomas is a prime example for us on believing. Let’s see what we can learn.

39  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."

This is a remarkable event for people to be saved. There must have been many in this community that was praying for the Messiah. It is no wonder the Holy Spirit sent Jesus through Samaria instead of around it. For people to believe just from the words of this woman shows the fields were ready for harvest. As a result of this woman’s testimony, many also came to Jesus and believed.

We should never despair of doing good in the most unpromising circumstances, and we should seize every opportunity to converse with sinners on the great subject of their souls’ salvation. If you hear the truth of God’s Word, what do you do with it, live it, or go on living man’s ways?

40  So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

What a joyous time this must have been for Jesus and His disciples to be welcomed here by the Samaritan city after being rejected by the Jews in Jerusalem. If only the Pharisees would have accepted Jesus like these Samaritans, but they didn’t and their animosity toward Jesus started and continued to grow. These two days must have been the greatest two days of this community’s life.

41  And many more believed because of His own word.

This verse is referring to those that heard the words of Jesus and believed during His two day stay there. They heard Jesus and accepted Him as their Saviour. 

So we see here that these Samaritans heard the words of Jesus and repented of their lifestyle. Why is it then that these people heard the words of Jesus and believed, but today people can read the red text in a Bible and not believe? The red text is Jesus speaking to us, isn’t it? Why do people go on living according to men devised doctrine and the ways of the world, instead of heeding the red text of God’s Word or the Spirit inspired words of the Epistles?

42  Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said; This phrase should have been translated, “because of what you said we went and heard the words of Jesus and now we believe”. It was the words of the woman that piqued the interest of people that drove them to seek out Jesus.

For we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world; What a proclamation these people are making! Only one other time is this statement recorded in the Bible and that is in; 1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

43  Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.

Galilee was the site of the majority of His Ministry. He made His Headquarters in Capernaum. Most of His Disciples came from Galilee. Jesus native country was Judaea; He was of the Tribe of Judah; He was born in Bethlehem of Judaea. His adopted country was Galilee, because Judaea rejected Him, while Galilee somewhat received Him.

44  For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

The phrase, “That a Prophet hath no honor in his own country,” speaks of Judaea, as Jesus was the descendant of David. Jesus also states this in Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, and Luke 4:24 Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.

 If this was true of Jesus, and it definitely was, then the same is true of His followers. The hardest people for believers to witness to is family, relatives, and close friends, even though they see and witness a change in the person, they refuse to believe, which is so sad. Matthew 10:34-37 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  35 For I have come to 'SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW';  36 and 'A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.'  37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

45  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

The Galileans received Jesus meaning they accepted Him into their community. It doesn’t mean they believed. They were present at the feast and saw firsthand the miracles He performed and heard His words and received Him as a messenger of God, although some did believe. They accepted Him out of what Jesus did and said and they hungered for more. Out of this hunger many became believers. A person has to have a hunger to know more about Jesus, a seven course meal hunger and not just an appetizer. The Galileans faith was based on outward observations and was weak, but Jesus was soon to rectify this weak faith, whereas the Samaritans only needed Jesus Words. What is your faith based on?

46  So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.

This nobleman was of the royal family and was probably an officer in Herod's service, possibly one of the officers of the court. Capernaum was about a day’s journey from Cana so he had walked approximately 20 miles to see Jesus and addressed him as "Lord," putting himself under Jesus even though he had legal authority over Jesus. 

So this journey would be quite an undertaking for someone to walk 20 miles to request something of Jesus. This journey speaks volumes of this man believing Jesus could heal his son. A person can walk about 3 miles per hour and if they can maintain that speed it would take approximately 7 hours to walk 20 miles without stopping. So it could very easily take 8-9 hours with eating and resting along the way. By vehicle, from Streator to Huntsville, AL it is 601 miles; 8 hours 50 minutes; or Grand Island, NE which is 564; 8 hours 14 minutes. So here is the question for you. Is your belief such that you would travel all day to see Jesus and ask Him to heal your son or daughter, or would you say to yourself it is too far?

47  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

As stated in the previous verse this man believed that Jesus could heal his son. His son was at the point of death, so this was an urgent matter for this father. Although he was high in office, he did not hesitate to go personally to Jesus to ask His aid. This father believed that Jesus could save his son because of the other miracles Jesus had done.

This man was asking Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son. Evidently he thought Jesus had to be present with his son in order for him to be healed, probably due to other miracles Jesus performed and was present with the recipients. 

48  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."

This verse tells us what Jesus saw in this Nobleman’s heart. He believed that Jesus could heal, but he didn’t really know or understand who Jesus was. This man’s faith was seeing Jesus or hearing about Jesus healing people. His faith was in his mind and not in his heart. 

There are many people with this same frame of mind today. They know Jesus and who He is, but don’t love, honor, and cherish Him. They speak well of Jesus with their lips, but the actions of a deceitful heart speaks volumes of their faith. This person is not a believer and verse 53 tells us that. He was desperate for his son to live and he turned to Jesus as a last resort.

49  The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"

As stated in the previous comment this Nobleman was desperate and this plea to “come down before my child dies” tells us that. As a parent you can sense his anxiety and love for his child. It was a matter of urgency that Jesus started moving His feet toward Capernaum, but Jesus is about to test this man’s faith with the next verse. 

50  Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."; I wonder what this man’s thoughts were when Jesus said this? Did numerous things flow through his mind like, really! You’re not coming. I came all this way for nothing? We don’t know but knowing how the mind works at times like these I’m sure there were some flashes of thoughts, but just as quickly as these thoughts may have come they left and were filled thoughts of belief.

So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way; We know this man was an officer of Herod’s; therefore he respected authority and accepted commands. He viewed Jesus as someone of authority, but not of the magnitude that He was. In view of this man’s respect for authority he believed what Jesus said that his son lives and obeyed by started his journey back to Capernaum. I wonder what type of thoughts this man had during his trip back home?

As Christians we are to ‘believe’ and ‘obey’ the Word of God.

51  And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"

When this man saw his servants at a distance coming toward him, I wonder what he thought. Was the news good or bad about his son. The news was good with the servants using the same words as Jesus, “Your son lives!” What joy must have been in this man’s heart.

52  Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."

Here this man gets assurance and confirmation that his son was healed by the words of Jesus and truly believed. The seventh hour was about one o’clock in the afternoon (if Roman time, 7 p.m.), which was the very time when Jesus spoke “your son lives”, and the fever left him. It appears the fever left him suddenly and entirely; so much so that his friends went to inform the father.

53  So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.

Faith of a person can grow and this official’s life event caused his faith to grow. First, he believed enough to go ask Jesus to heal his son. Second, he believed Jesus' assurance that his son would live, and he acted on it. Third, he and his whole house believed in Jesus. Faith is a gift that grows as we use it.

As stated in other lessons God calls and draws us to Himself in many different ways. Here we have an example of sickness being a calling to God. Sickness or any deep affliction is often the means of great good. Here the sickness of the son resulted in the salvation of the whole family.

54  This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

This again is the second sign Jesus did; This is referring only to Cana of Galilee. The first was the changing of water to wine at the wedding feast. Jesus performed many miracles between these two events. In both instances all Jesus had to do was speak the word and it was done. Jesus is the authority over all of creation.

When He had come out of Judea into Galilee; Everywhere Jesus went, miracles followed, plus the changing of individual lives and entire communities.

Jesus changes everything, and all for the better! He never leaves a place worse than He found it, but rather takes the person and the place to sublime heights of joy and peace. Jesus did this when He walk this earth in the flesh and still does it today!

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, 

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. 

All things were created through Him and for Him.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, 

unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/ 

Bill Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn 

The Lighthouse Full Gospel Church

Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!

“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner.  I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness.  I believe that only you can forgive sin.  I commit my life to you and ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life.  I believe that you died to set me free from my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.”  I believe this and have faith you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”  

(John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)

6-15-2016 Vol. 13 Part 17 The Gospel of John (John 4:27-38)

To Print Out The Lesson Click On The Title Below.

6-15-2016Vol. 13 Part 17 The Gospel of John 

Proverbs 13:1-8

1  A wise son heeds his father's instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2  A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

3  He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

4  The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

5  A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

6  Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7  There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

8  The ransom of a man's life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke.

Father God, give us the words and boldness we need to sow Gospel seeds, so souls will be harvested by you.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Gospel of John 4:27-38 NKJV

As the Disciples return, the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman ends and she heads into the city to tell others about what had just happened. Then a conversation begins with the disciples and them urging Jesus to eat, but He begins to speak spiritually trying to get the disciples to understand the importance of spiritual life and what a believer is commissioned to do.

27  And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why are You talking with her?"

And at this point His disciples came; The disciples return from their mission of securing food from the village as Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman who He was.

And they marveled that He talked with a woman; This statement may seem odd to us, but in Jesus time there were strict laws that forbid the Rabbis to converse with women in public or instruct them in the law. In fact a Rabbi couldn’t converse with his own wife, sister, or daughter in public. So it wasn’t just the fact that Jesus was talking to a Samaritan, but she was also a woman that the Apostles marveled at.

So where did this law come from that they couldn’t speak to a woman? There is nothing in the OT that stated such a law. It was devised by man thinking this was a good thing. Just look at the Middle East and some of their customs toward woman especially in the way they are to dress. So yes the Apostles were astonished that Jesus was speaking to a Samaritan woman, but Jesus practiced His Fathers will and not the will of man and this is one reason why the Pharisees hated Jesus, because He defied there man made doctrine of religion.

Manmade religious doctrine still exists today in Religious denominations. If Jesus were here today and paid no attention to some of the ritualistic doctrine that is practiced in some denominations, it would anger the leaders of that denomination and as a result would not believe in Jesus and who He is. In fact the leaders of that religion would probably put on a crusade to turn their congregation against Jesus just like the Jews did.

Yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why are You talking with her?; This phrase tells us that the Apostles had great respect for Jesus even in the early part of His ministry. They saw the miracles that Jesus had performed already and also heard His teachings and realize He had great authority, therefore out of respect, no one would question Jesus actions here of speaking to a Samaritan woman in public.

28  The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,

The woman then left her waterpot; I thought the woman came to the well to fill her water pot, so why would she just up and leave it? Was she saved at that time and that fountain of living water was starting to bubble up insider her that she had to go share her experience with others? I think so! I think she left the water pot there because she was so excited she forgot why she was at the well and had to go tell others about Jesus. Anyone that gets saved has this same excitement and great desire to go share Jesus with others because they want other to share in the gift of Grace.

Went her way into the city, and said to the men; It states here that she went into the city and to the men. Why would she go to the men of the city or what does this mean? At that time the men of the city were men of religion; religious leaders. This may not have been the case in all villages or cities, but it was the case here in this religious community. In other words she went to the religious leaders of the Samaritans; the pharisees of Samaritans.

29  "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did; Whether Jesus told her other things or not, we do not know. However, He told her enough, that she was thoroughly convinced as to Who and What He actually was. This is what makes Christianity so different than the religions of the world. Religions have to do with the externals only, because it is impossible for them to do otherwise, but Jesus changes and mends the heart of a person for a permanent cure.

Could this be the Christ?; She based this question to the men on what Jesus told her about her life. She believed Him to be the Messiah, but was posing the question in such a way as to arouse their curiosity. Jesus gave her the Living Water, which healed the malignancy of her actions. Out of Grace, love takes over and produces actions for Jesus, or it’s not love. It is because of this woman’s belief that she goes to share the Gospel.

30  Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

This verse tells us there were many hungry hearts in this city; that were yearning for something, but they didn’t know what. This explains why Jesus was lead to go through Samaria by the Holy Spirit in verse 4.

31  In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

The disciples were bewildered when they returned and found Jesus conversing with a Samaritan women, but evidently Jesus was not eating any of the food that His disciples had brought back with them. They urged Him to eat, out of concern for His health. They had come a ways, and had a ways to go, and they knew that Jesus needed strength for the journey.

32  But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."

Here Jesus confounds the disciples again by His statement. He is speaking spiritually and the disciples are thinking carnally. This statement given by Christ, has relationship to His answer to Satan in Matthew 4:4  But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' " Jesus food was the salvation of the woman and also of those on their way to Him.

33  Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?"

Again the disciples are thinking carnally. They were probably thinking at that time that maybe this Samaritan woman or perhaps someone else came by while they were gone and gave Jesus something to eat.

This one question by the Disciples, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”, presents the separating line for most Believers. Do we think carnally or spiritually? Are we looking to the Lord to supply our needs, or to men? If we’re looking to men, our frame of mind will be as the Disciples. If we’re looking to God, it will be as that of Jesus.

34  Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Jesus said to them, “My food; Here Jesus explains what he said in John 4:32. His food was to do the will of His Father. He came to the well weary and thirsty, and the time of day when meals are eaten, so He was no doubt hungry, yet an opportunity of doing good presented itself, and he forgot his fatigue and hunger, and found comfort and joy in doing good; in seeking to save a soul. To do the work of the Father in saving this soul, He forgot his hunger and thirst. Job once said this; Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food, and this is how Jesus felt.

Is to do the will of Him who sent Me; Referring to the will of God in regard to the salvation of men. John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

And to finish his work; To “finish” the work which he was commissioned to do, in regard to the salvation of men.

35  Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'?; This verse comes about after the disciples urge Jesus to eat and He replied that He had eaten. Jesus is speaking about spiritual life and not physical life. He refers to fields ready for harvest and the priority of them getting harvested. In the natural world seed is sown and then a waiting period takes place for the seed to grow, mature, and then be harvested.

In the spiritual sense Jesus planted that seed of salvation with the woman and she went and spread that seed to others. As a result others were coming to Jesus that were ripe for harvest (saving of souls). What Jesus is saying then is that doing the work of God and saving souls is a priority over eating. If we do the work of God He will sustain our physical life.

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest; As a disciple of God we don’t know the effect of our words on an individual, sometimes the soul is ready to be harvested immediately, with others a span of time takes place, and with some, never to be harvested. This lady went and planted salvation seeds and the response was immediate, requiring a priority of saving souls which edifies a believer above all physical things. A field of souls were coming that were ready to be harvested, there was no time for eating or anything else. All diligence was necessary to harvest this crop of souls that was about to surround Jesus and His disciples.

Jesus likens the people coming to Him being ripe, like that of a ripe field of barley that goes from green to almost white in color.

      36  And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

And he who reaps receives wages; This refers to a believer; all believers that sow and reap. It is our mission out of Love for Jesus and what He did on the Cross for us. One day we will receive wages for what we do for God’s Kingdom in leading people to Jesus. What type of “wages” does Jesus speak of? He speaks of lost souls being brought to Him and the joy one receives when they accept Jesus as their Saviour, we will receive a reward in Heaven for doing this work. 1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

The Samaritan woman immediately went and told what happened to her, sowing seeds of salvation which in turn sent others to Jesus. Jesus saved many of this community because she went and told others. Jesus reaped the harvest that she had sown. So, the obligation of the Believer is to sow the seed of the Gospel, and to reap its harvest respecting souls.

And gathers fruit for eternal life; Meaning converting souls, who shall inherit eternal life. The harvest is not temporary, like gathering grain, but shall result in eternal life. This harvesting of souls is something that will last for eternity. The harvesting and selling of grain is only temporary. The money obtained from the sale of grain goes toward sustaining life here on earth, while the harvest of a soul last forever.

That both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together; This sowing and reaping is a united work. It matters little whether we sow the seed or whether we reap the harvest. It is part of the same work, and whatever part we may do, we should rejoice. The person that sows may not know the effect of what they may have said or done, but the joy is knowing they are doing God’s will. Just like these studies, they are read all around the globe and I rejoice knowing they are being read.

37  For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' God has a special ministry for each individual; the “sowers” are those who make it possible for the “reapers” to reap. One man may preach the gospel, and with little apparent effect, but another succeeding him may be crowned with success. The seed, long buried, may spring up in an abundant harvest.

38  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."

In this verse, Jesus is explaining to His Disciples, and us also, that whatever is done for the Cause of Christ, is brought to completion as a result of much labor on the part of many different people; many unaware of the input of others; like the prophets, who long labored to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah; or the teachers among the Jews, who have read and explained the law and taught the people; or John the Baptist, who came to prepare the way; and, Jesus himself, who by his personal ministry taught the people, and prepared them for the Apostles success of preaching the Gospel and being reapers.

And so it is today many may serve as sowers like Sunday School Teachers, pastors, authors of sound Gospel writings, etc., but both rejoice with the reaper when a soul is saved.

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,

unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn

The Lighthouse Full Gospel Church

Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!

“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner.  I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness.  I believe that only you can forgive sin.  I commit my life to you and ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life.  I believe that you died to set me free from my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.”  I believe this and have faith you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.” 

(John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)

6-8-2016 Vol. 13 Part 16 The Gospel of John (John 4:13-26)

To Print Out The Lesson Click On The Title Below.

6-8-2016Vol. 13 Part 16 The Gospel of John 

Proverbs 12:19-28

19  The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20  Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.

21  No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

22  Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

23  A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

24  The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

25  Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

26  The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27  The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man's precious possession.

28  In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.

Father God, open the ears of the lost when your children speak. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Gospel of John 4:13-26 NKJV

If you remember we left off a couple weeks ago with Jesus telling the Samaritan woman about living water and she wanted to know where to get this living water. She also asks if Jesus is greater that Jacob. (John 4:11  The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? John 4:12  Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?") Jesus doesn’t answer her second question right away but continues with the living water. So let’s see how this conversation goes and what we can learn from it. Also keep in mind the steps Jesus is using here in leading her to that precious gift of Grace; previous lesson was the introduction and interest. (These steps were: Contact (vs. 7); Interest (vs. 10); Conscience (vs. 16); Holiness (vs. 24); Revelation (vs. 26).

13  Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,

Do you think Jesus reply to the woman was perplexing to her? I think Jesus just caught her off guard just like He did with Nicodemus telling him he had to be Born Again to enter into Heaven. He just piqued her curiosity to keep the conversation going. This woman and Nicodemus were both living in sin, Nicodemus being a prideful arrogant Pharisee and the woman living with a man that she wasn’t married to. Sin is sin and anyone living in sin, needs to be Born Again, after all it only took one sin for Adam and Eve to be cast out of Paradise.

Jesus answers in this verse and the next one, are pertaining to human life and spiritual life. He is setting the stage here for the woman to realize there are two types of thirsts.

14  but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; Here Jesus refers, without doubt, to his own teaching, his “grace,” his “spirit,” and to the benefits which come into the soul that embraces his gospel. It is a striking image, and especially in Eastern countries, where there are vast deserts, and often a great want of water. The soul by nature is like such a desert, or like a traveler wandering through such a desert. It is thirsting for happiness, and seeking it everywhere, and does not find it. It looks in all directions and tries all objects, but in vain. Nothing meets its desires. Though a sinner seeks joy in wealth and pleasures, but is not satisfied. They still thirsts for more, and seeks still for happiness in some new enjoyment. To such a weary and unsatisfied sinner the grace of Christ is “as cold waters to a thirsty soul.”

The soul has a vast emptiness and we look in all things and direction to fill that emptiness, but the truth of the matter is that only Jesus can fill it with that gift of grace. A soul filled with Jesus will not seek the pleasures and amusements of this world. This will be forever, in this world and the world to come. “Whosoever” drinks of the gospel, shall be “forever” satisfied with its pure and rich joys.

But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life; This phrase refers to the water that Jesus gives us will never run out. It will fill our soul forever and the grace of God will be in the heart of the true believer. There shall be a constant supply, an unfailing fountain within. What a beautiful comparison, it shall bubble or spring up like a fountain. It is not like a stagnant pool, or like a deep well, but like an ever-living fountain, that flows at all seasons of the year, in heat and cold, and in all external circumstances of weather, whether foul or fair, wet or dry. Faith in Jesus lives amid all changes of external circumstances; hunger and thirst, prosperity and adversity, life, persecution, contempt, or death; it still lives on, and refreshes and cheers the soul. This fountain is not temporary, but eternal.

15  The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."

This woman still doesn’t understand what Jesus is saying. She is still thinking in the physical realm and not spiritual. She is thinking that if she had this water Jesus is speaking about, her life would be easier because she wouldn’t have to come to the well twice a day and haul water.

16  Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."

So far Jesus has done the introduction and interest and now He is going to introduce her sinful state of sin by working on her conscience. She did not understand about the living water but when Jesus gets done with her, she will. We have to admire the manner which our Lord has taken so far to lead this lost person to salvation. He therefore proceeded to show her that he was acquainted with her life and with her sins. His object here was to expose her sinful lifestyle.

17  The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,'

The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."; Do you think the woman gave this response to avoid the subject that she was living with a man that she was not married to? Was she living with this man in secrecy and didn’t want it to be exposed? She knew she was living in sin and would be stoned to death if exposed, but Jesus is about to reveal to her that he knew her current state of affairs, even though she thought it was a secret. Jesus knows everything! Leviticus 20:10  'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.

Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,; Here Jesus acknowledges her honesty.

18  for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."

For you have had five husbands; We don’t know about her five husbands, some possibilities are these; they may have died, or the woman was divorce from them because of her improper conduct, or she left them without a legal divorce. Whatever the situation, she was living in sin by living with a man that she wasn’t married to.

Today’s society doesn’t consider this to be sin. People of all ages do this today, but Jesus recognized this as sin and will condemn people of this lifestyle unless they repent and start living according to God’s precepts. Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

And the one whom you now have is not your husband; Jesus comes right out and tells this woman that the man she is living with is not her husband that she wasn’t lawfully married to him. I wonder what the woman felt right then when Jesus exposed her sin. Was there fear, anxiety, awe that He knew and perceived Him at that point a prophet? When a person is caught in a lie, a great feeling of guilt sets in and that is what this woman was experiencing right at that moment.

In that you spoke truly.; Here again Jesus acknowledged her truth that she had no husband, but it was only a partial truth. Everyone has done this manipulation of the truth in justification of actions!

19  The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

Here we have the woman realizing this person was someone special; sent from God, but not thinking Jesus was the long awaited Messiah because He was a Jew. The Samaritans were looking for a prophet who would be a mere man, while the Jewish people believed the Messiah would be a King. The woman is about to change the subject as we will see in the next verse, perhaps because she wished to divert the conversation from the unpleasant topic respecting her husband’s.

It is always unpleasant for sinners to talk about their lives of sin and the necessity of salvation, therefore she was glad to turn the conversation to something else. It is a common thing for sinners to change the conversation when the Holy Spirit begins to bear guilt upon the heart of a sinner. Sinners do not like someone pointing out they are living in sin, but may not oppose to converse about some other religious topic. So sinners attempt to draw the conversation to something other than themselves like a preacher, or about some doctrine, or about a building or repairing a place of worship, or about a Sunday school, to evade guilt of their own conscience.

20  Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

This is a smoke screen to divert the topic away from herself. There was a great controversy at that time as to the proper place to worship. The Jews believed it should be in Jerusalem because that is where David and Solomon were under the divine direction to build a temple, 2 Samuel 7:2-3, 2 Samuel 7:13; 1 Kings 5:5, 1 Kings 5:12; 1 Kings 8:15-22. It was built in accordance with the promise and command of God, Deuteronomy 12:5, Deuteronomy 12:11. According to the Law of Moses there should be but one place to offer sacrifice and to hold the great feasts.

The Samaritans believed the proper place of worship was Mt. Gerizim which was only a little ways from Sychar. They base their belief on the old Samaritan Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, that had the word “Gerizim” instead of “Ebal” in Deuteronomy 27:4. Also, because the patriarchs are mentioned as having worshipped in Shechem, they supposed that that was the proper place on which to erect a temple and worship there.

21  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

What Jesus is telling this woman probably really perplexed her. He isn’t saying there will be no worship, but the old way is soon to pass away; the special rites of the Jews are to cease; the worship of God being confined to a single place is soon to be celebrated everywhere and acceptance in all places. The hour is at hand when Jesus would die on the Cross and rip the veil of the temple wide open for all to come to Him with all their needs and not have to go through a priest.

22  You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

You worship what you do not know; This refers to the ignorance and corruption of the Samaritan worship. Although they received the five books of Moses, they rejected the prophets, and of course all that the prophets had said respecting the true God. Originally they had joined the worship of idols to that of the true God. See 2 Kings 17:26-34. They had no authority for building their temple and conducting public worship by sacrifices there. On all these accounts they were acting in an unauthorized manner. They were not obeying the true God, nor offering the worship which He had commanded or approved. Therefore Jesus indirectly settled the question which she had proposed to him, but in such a way as to show her that it would soon be unimportant.

We know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews; Jesus is stating that the Jews knew what they worshipped and why. It was through the Jews that the Word of God came from. It was the true religion.

23  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

But the hour is coming, and now is; With this phrase Jesus is stating that an hour is coming when all will know the truth, but also that some already knew the truth, those that were with Him.

When the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; True worshippers know the truth and placed their faith in God the Father and worship Him only.

For the Father is seeking such to worship Him; Means that by the word “seeking” many are not easily found.

24  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

This is a strong statement by Jesus that should shake the inner being of those that worship manmade objects, man dictated people, and man directed places. "God is Spirit" means he is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere, and he can be worshiped anywhere, at any time. It is not where we worship that counts, but how we worship. A pure, holy, spiritual worship is what he seeks; the offering of the soul rather than the formal offering of the body; the homage of the heart rather than that of the lips. Is your worship genuine to God and God only?

25  The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."

This woman knew about the Messiah coming based on the Pentateuch (First 5 books of the Bible.), but discredits Jesus answer about where to worship. What she is saying is that she will wait and get the truth to her question from the Messiah.

26  Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

This was the first time Jesus openly professed He was the Messiah. He hadn’t revealed this to the Jews, for it would cause an uproar. As the woman seemed reluctant to listen to him as a prophet, and professed her willingness to listen to the Messiah, he openly declared that he was the Christ. What would you do if you were in this woman’s shoes? Believe or blow Jesus off as some weirdo?

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,

unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn

The Lighthouse Full Gospel Church

Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!

“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner.  I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness.  I believe that only you can forgive sin.  I commit my life to you and ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life.  I believe that you died to set me free from my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.”  I believe this and have faith you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.” 

(John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)