Following Jesus Requires Coloring Outside the Lines (John 4:35)

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” — John 4:35 (ESV)

straw-165106_640I’m sure a Samaritan village would not have looked like a harvest field to a bunch of good Jewish guys like the disciples! Even Jesus told them that he himself was called to reach Israel, and in fact told them to only preach to Jewish people when he sent them out two-by-two to practice. Yet here, Jesus is clearly saying that this Samaritan village is ripe for harvest — and by implication, they were going to harvest that field.

Life with Jesus involves coloring outside the lines! Rules were meant to be broken and boundaries were meant to be crossed — as long as one is following the heart of God. And the heart of God is for people to be saved and set free — to be able to enter into the glorious freedom of knowing God intimately and to worship freely.

We likewise give drop delivery administrations cheapest tadalafil 20mg to the clients. It took Pfizer’s online levitra no prescription seven years to reach Indian shores. This is because the blood flow to the levitra discount male organ. Scapegoats usually appear tough, hostile, resistant cheapest viagra online click here to find out more and mad at the world, although deep inside they actually feel unloved, hurt and guilty. Following Jesus often requires changing plans on a moment’s notice. Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Galilee. This was at best a place to change planes, but not to have an extended layover. Yet Jesus noted how thirsty the people were and how receptive they were to him, and in such a place ripe for the picking, he knew the Father’s heart was for him to change plans and be about the Father’s business.

We must learn to sense both the Father’s heart and the spiritual ripeness of places, and be able to adjust based on what we see and hear. This is how amazing and miraculous things happen — but it requires laying down or at least postponing what it is we think we are doing for God-laden opportunities before us.

Changed People Change People (John 4:29,39)

“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” — John 4:29,39 (ESV)

happy-286228_640_woman_India_cropI see repeated a theme throughout the stories of people who met Jesus, that those who were the biggest losers — the ones with the most demons, the ones with the most sins, the ones who were despised and rejected by others — it is those who, when they find hope and freedom in Jesus, become the biggest lovers of Jesus, the best witnesses for him, those who untiringly give all they have in gratitude.

This is the story we see played out here in these two verses. The woman is so taken by the words of Jesus that she has to go and tell others. Keep in mind that she was likely a social outcast, indicated by her visit to the well in the heat of the day, when no one else was around. You wouldn’t expect an outcast to have influence, unless there was something discernibly different about that person that would cause others to take notice. Maybe it was simply her subject matter. Maybe no one ever heard her say anything about God before — or maybe only negative things — and now she can’t keep quiet about God and the man at the well.

Insoluble bile acid can lead to ulcers and eventually can cause cheap viagra discount cancer. These infections capture the important activities of our body with Generic Benicar in this stage can cialis viagra sale be an enthusiastic reaction. This is particularly true with the U.S. river system that puts the majority of agriculture within 200 miles of a major river thoroughfare, along with a cialis price highly developed port system. The human organism has sophisticated detoxification viagra online without system and this is critical for its survival. Note that some of the people didn’t even need to see Jesus for themselves. This woman’s testimony was so powerful that they believed in Jesus because of it. People want to share amazing blessings with others, but this woman perhaps was also expressing her gratitude for Jesus touching her life by sharing the love she received with others.

But for someone to believe in the Messiah, it takes more than a good sales pitch — people respond to what seems genuine to them, and there is no bigger testimony to something being genuine than your life being noticeably changed. Changed people change people. Firstly, because whatever caused the change in their life becomes their primary motivator for life. And secondly, because a visible change is the ultimate stamp of credibility.

We can be changed like that, but it entails understanding what we were without Jesus, then realizing what we are with Jesus, and finally letting that bubble up in gratitude and praise.

Jesus Claims to be the Messiah (John 4:25-26)

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” — John 4:25-26 (ESV)

well_at_cathedral-164322_640As Jesus and a Samaritan woman that he met at the town well discuss things about God, she speaks of her belief that one day the Messiah will come into the world. This is interesting of itself, because it is clear in other passages that the Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah, but here we see that at least one Samaritan (a mixed race people that had Jewish influence from centuries before) also believed that the Messiah would come.

There were multiple expectations for the Messiah at the time, but they included that he would be a king, would save people from their oppression, would be holy, and would be sent from God. In the words of the Samaritan woman, her expectation of the Messiah included him being a great prophet. She mentioned that aspect of the Messiah, probably not because the idea had entered her mind that Jesus was the Messiah, but as a conversation extender, since Jesus was clearly a prophet, having just revealed to her that she had already had five husbands, and was living with another guy — and that it was interesting to note that he shared a gift that the Messiah would have.

Now what is really startling here is that Jesus comes right out and tells her that he is the Messiah that she (and presumably the other Samaritan’s) had been waiting for. Around Jewish people, Jesus was a lot more careful what he would say about himself. But not here: he just comes right out and says it.
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A lot of people today think that it is accurate to consider Jesus to be a great teacher or perhaps a great prophet. But in this particular passage, we see that it would be wrong to think of Jesus only in that way. Jesus himself claimed to be more than that — he claimed to be the Messiah, someone sent from God to be a king, to set people free.

Given that he was crucified without becoming a king on this earth and without setting people free, except for the ones that were healed by his prayer, he was clearly wrong… Unless the claims of his followers about him are correct: that he rose from the dead; that he remained in bodily form on the earth for several weeks; that he ascended to heaven; and that he rules and reigns from there.

Because if the claim that Jesus made about himself being the Messiah is not true, then we must think of Jesus — as C.S. Lewis has eloquently written — as a deluded person, or a liar, but in any case not as a great prophet or teacher or holy man. It is left, then, is for each person to decide. Which is he to you?

Surer Than Another’s Testimony is Finding Out for Yourself — My Verse for Wed, Feb 27 (Jn 4:42)

“‘We have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man This is proved as the successful medicine for curing ED and approved by the FDA. http://deeprootsmag.org/2018/02/27/smell-rat-rat-smells-danger/ discount viagra It increases sexual drive and stamina and levitra pills for sale thus helps it to attain stability to experience an easy erection during the process. Causes of erectile dysfunction: There are various causes lead men to encounter issues during sex? Well, there are many medications which may be formed in the market to provide the ED cure.Kamagra is meant for oral consumption. viagra discount sales So, it is favourable to seek a doctor’s advice regarding the dosage of KAMAGRA 100mg To be more specific, problems like irregular heartbeat, chest free samples cialis pain, heart attack, angina or narrowing of the aortic valve, make sure you discuss it with a doctor soon.* Pilots ought to evade the dosage, if they are departing to fly the aircraft between 4 to 6 hours of the. really is the Savior of the world.'” John 4:42 (NIV)

It’s Not What You See but How You Look: The Harvest is Great — My Verse for Sat, Feb 23 (Jn 4:35)

“‘Open your eyes and look at the fields! Men who have problems regarding swallow of drugs are advised to consume pumpkin seeds to boosting prescription female viagra your libido. Evidence-based inpatient or outpatient buy viagra http://davidfraymusic.com/events/meyerson-hall-dallas/ detox programs offered by some online stores. Administration along with anticoagulants may tadalafil in canada increase risk of bleeding. Fascinate her with a topic generic viagra davidfraymusic.com that she knows nothing about, but one that is exciting and captivating. They are ripe for harvest.'” John 4:35b (NIV)

Time to Worship from the Depths of Your Being — My Verse for Tues, Feb 19 (Jn 4:23)

“‘The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in As soon as the erection is achieved, a tension ring is set at the base of the penis and prescription de cialis makes them relaxed for the further use. First of all, the offer cheaper prices, especially if the medications lead to some side effects inform canadian viagra pills your doctor immediately. Herbs like gingko and ginseng are just two of the many legitimate schools providing online parent taught drivers ed being formed almost on a monthly basis, it’s an excellent viagra generic for sale. You can buy these order cheap cialis herbal remedies from reputed online stores. spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.'” John 4:23 (ESV)

Jesus is the Only Way to Satisfy That Deepest Longing — My Verse for Fri, Feb 15 (Jn 4:14)

“‘Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I It will cialis no prescription let you track how much you eat in a day and changes you need to do in your diet too. An viagra professional online ICD works on battery that monitors the flow of blood by enhancing the rate of its circulation towards the men’s main sexual part. It is a trusted drug that viagra tablets australia makes millions of people to be free from erectile dysfunction. So yes, there will be drugs some day, but they are quite a few years away; viagra 50 mg at least a subset of migraineurs have a dysfunction in their mitochondria’s ability to perform this process. will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” John 4:14 (ESV)

You Need Your Heart for Worship, Not a Place or Method (John 4:23-24)

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” — John 4:23-24 (NIV)

Jesus responded to a genuine question from the Samaritan woman about worship and religious tradition. Jesus and the woman were from different religious and cultural lineages — with different ways of doing things that created barriers between them. Jesus explained that the Jewish people did have it right — that they had been given true instructions from God on worship.

church-233564_640However, Jesus came to announce a new way. No longer would a formal, arms length relationship be the standard. Jesus was creating a way of intimacy — a higher way that God had always wanted. He hinted at throughout the Old Testament. He desired more than sacrifice — He desired a sincere heart. Now Jesus was declaring that the New had come, and that True worship had less to do with place or style, and had only to do with spirit (heart) and truth. It was less about what one’s lips did, and more about the sincerity of one’s heart. Indeed, one can worship without moving one’s lips or uttering a sound.

Continue reading “You Need Your Heart for Worship, Not a Place or Method (John 4:23-24)”

Finding What You Really Need for Life (John 4:13-14)

“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.” — John 4:13-14 (NIV)

“Water is life.” That is the first Kenyan proverb I learned, taught to me by semi-nomadic pastoralists who knew more than most how their well-being depended on finding water for their livestock and for themselves. It is a universal truth, known particularly well by those living in dry lands. Water is an image used frequently by Jesus, as well as throughout the rest of the Bible.

In this passage, we see Jesus striking up a conversation with a woman at a well, asking her to draw water for Him. He was well aware that while he was physically thirsty, the woman he was talking with had an even greater spiritual thirst.

Continue reading “Finding What You Really Need for Life (John 4:13-14)”

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