1. Secret to Soul Winning
One of the most zealous soul-winners of yesteryear was Colonel George Clarke, who established the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, but he wasn't a polished speaker. Dr. R. A. Torrey once wrote, "I used to go and hear Col. Clarke talk and he seemed to me to be one of the dullest talkers I ever heard in my life. He would ramble along and yet these five or six hundred men would lean over and listen spellbound.... I could not understand it."
But Torrey discovered his answer. "I found the secret. It was because they knew Col. Clarke loved them, and nothing conquers like love."
We may not be trained speakers, gifted salesmen, or educated preachers or teachers. But if we're empowered with the Spirit's love, we'll be effective. We can't win others through our personalities, persuasive techniques, or promotional campaigns. The real secret is the Spirit-empowered love and power, and a sound mind that presents a hope-filled Gospel to a downtrodden world.
2. The conversation began with a request for water -- John 4.7
a. Jewish man; Samaritan woman
b. Jesus came to Samaria with a spiritual purpose
3. The Conversation continued with His prophetic Insights
a. Noon -- Lonely woman -- 5 Husbands -- No Husband
b. "Prophet" (v.19) -- Samaritans had the 5 books of Moses; "A prophet like me."
c. Initial understanding of who Jesus is
4. The Conversation Concludes with Worship
a. Worship is not dependent on location -- Gerizim or Zion
b. Worship is not about our thoughts and insights -- (23-24)
* Superstitions in Athens -- Acts 18 -- "unknown god"
* The difference between knowing and not knowing -- Revelation
o Written Word -- Isaiah 55.8-11
o Living Word -- "Salvation" (Yeshua) from Jews, seen in Jesus --John 14.9 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
c. Jesus declares his identity and the woman becomes an evangelist (28-30)
5. Worship is a time we seek the God who has been seeking us (4.23; Ecclesiastes 3.11)
I. Worship Invites the Manifest Presence of God
A. God is Everywhere (Psalm 139); A Special Focus in the Assembly
1. One of the reasons for Hebrews 10.25
2. Tabernacle and Temple -- Most Holy Place
B. Question: "Do we want his presence?"
1. Tabernacle/Temple were nothing without it -- 2 Chronicles 7.1-3
As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."
The Roman general POMPEY noticed how the Jews fought to defend their temple. He was anxious to see what was in their most sacred room, the Holy of Holies. He was surprised to see that it was empty. He wondered why they fought to so hard to defend an empty room! But the Jews understood that the dynamic presence of God is not dependent upon physicality. Psalm 115:1-3 says, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?' Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases."
2. The church is nothing without it!
Psalm 22.3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
II. Worship Introduces Salvation
1 Corinthians 14.24-25 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Demonstration of Worship: In her memoirs, Ilyasah Shabazz, the third daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, talks about the effect of attending church as a little girl. Betty Shabazz took the girls to the mosque every Sunday, but when they were visiting their grandparents in Philadelphia, they went to Friendship Baptist Church. Ilyasah wrote, "I loved the singing that went on. I wanted to feel whatever powerful force was causing all of these people to sing and clap so heartily. I never did catch the spirit, but I always kept the hope."
A. Worship Reveals the Reality of God's Presence: he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
B. Worship Broadens Our Perspective
1. God is the audience; we are the "performers"; Unbelievers are impacted
2. This is more than singing well or pertinent postures; it is the breath/Spirit of God
III. Worship Initiates Victory
A. Victory Begins with "Praise" -- 2 Chronicles 20
1. Nation of Judah -- outnumbered (1-3)
2. Assembled for God's Help (4ff, especially, v. 12)
3. God's Response (v. 15)
4. Actions of the People -- (vv. 20-23)
5. Judah (Praise) First -- Judges 20.18 And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first."
B. Victory Over Our Burdens Begins with Our Praise
1. We Don't Know What to Do -- Finances; Family Issues; Illness; Addictions
2. God Can Provide What We Need -- Begin with Praise -- Micah 4.2
a. Not Healing on Demand
b. Not necessarily Healing We Want
c. Ultimate Healing that Glorifies Him
1. Real Worship -- WILLIAM TEMPLE wrote: "To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God." I repeat: Real worship is for and about and God alone.
2. God Seeks Worshipers
* Jesus and the Woman at the Well -- immoral; messed up life; God didn't give up on her
* He won't on you.
3. Unique Nature of God -- Spirit (not A Spirit)
* God is Light -- 1 John 1.5
* God is Love -- 1 John 4.8, 16
* God is Consuming Fire -- Hebrews 12.29
4. Worship in Spirit and Truth
Spirit Truth
Personal Experience Objective Revelation
Feeling Knowing
Hearts Heads
Emotions Intellect
Heat Light
No Empty Ritual No Empty Speculation
