DO YOU TAKE THE ROAD
LESS TRAVELED??
JOHN 4:3-39
The road to Samaria was less traveled!!
But our reading said He must needs go through
Samaria!!
This was both a city and a region in the heart
Of Palestine
It was close to the Jordan River and the
Mediterranean Sea.
The Holy Spirit sent Jesus through this way
For a reason and were gonna find out this reason!
Just as we must be born again just like we
Must appear before the judgment seat of Christ
So He must needs go through Samaria!!
Many times while they traveled, the Jews went
miles out of their way in order not to go through
Samaria!
They had hatred in their hearts for the Samaritans
But HE MUST.
SO YOU see,
Jesus walked the paths ordained by GOD!!
The road less traveled
This is the kind of church we need today
In our falling world
One that’s willing to take the road less traveled!
DO YOU TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED?
Romans Chap 5 says:
And the Gift by Grace which is by one man
JESUS CHRIST hath abounded unto many!
HE OBEYED GOD!!!
How many of us are obeying God Tonight??
Jesus even told his disciples not to go to Samaria
He told them not to preach there
And further told them not to enter into any
City of the Samaritans!
Our scripture tells us Jesus was weary from
His journey!!
He sat on the well in the sixth hour which was
In the heat of the day!!
He was tired, He was Thirsty!
Isaiah 12:3 says:
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out
Of the wells of Salvation!
Our scripture tonight shows us the growth of a
Soul in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Here at the well came a Samaritan woman
Who was in need of the water of Salvation
And what did she call Jesus first in VS 9
JEW She said
If we were there we could probably see
Her sneering at Jesus!!
But with love Jesus offered her up
LIVING WATER didn’t he?
Jesus said in Matthew 7;13
Enter ye in at the strait gate;
For wide is the gate, and broad is the way
That leadeth to destruction, and many
There be which go in thereat
7;14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way
Which leadeth unto life, and few there
Be that find it
BUT DOES ANYONE CARE?
There are so many people in today’s world
That don’t know how to care
They are wandering about searching for
The real meaning in their lives
And what they are really searching for
Is Jesus Christ in their lives!!!
AMEN?
We as Christians are the ones who are
Supposed to get out the good news tonight
We are the ones that have to act on this
But today the Church that shares the good
News about Jesus has become
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED!!!!
I CHALLENGE YOU CHURCH
Are you gonna get the good news out
JESUS IS THE GREAT EXAMPLE FOR US
And this woman He met at Jacob’s well!!
As we read on to VS 11 the woman had
A new respect entering into her dark Heart
As you can plainly see that Jesus with His
Loving way begins to pierce Satan’s armor
Of her soul!!!
She called Jesus Prophet
Aaaahhhhh were doin better now ain’t we?
Then in VS. 25 she calls Him Messiah
Ooooohhhhhhh I can begin to see the light
Breaking through
And finally She Cries Christ in VS29 and
Carries her testimony back to her home town!
This is exactly how the lord operates in us
If we will let him!!
He chose Her!!
Then He Challenged Her!!
Then HE CHANGED HER!!
THANK YOU JESUS FOR CHANGING ME
AND MY FAMILY TOOO!!!!
CAN SOMEONE GIVE GOD PRAISE
IN THIS HOUSE TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!
GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE!!!!
If you have read the book of John
Which I’m sure you have
You’ll find FOUR approaches or suggestions
For us to get the good news out!!!
First we have to be GOING, AND NOT WAITING
AS WE READ Jesus took the road less traveled
He didn’t go the popular way
He didn’t go the easy way
But The Holy Spirit was leading him through
Samaria
There were religious barriers that had been there
For over 400 years and had only got worse
Through the centuries
Jesus is teaching us a lesson here
And that’s WE SHOULD BE ON THE MOVE
WE SHOULDN’T BE STILL
WE HAVE TO BE MOVING FORWARD
AND SURELY BETTER NOT BE MOVING
BACKWARD
To often we become stagnant with our testimony
We get tired and thirsty and we fall behind
In our prayer life!!!!
The Lord will make everything fresh everyday
If only we will just let Him!!!
The Lord wants you to serve him whole heartedly
There ain’t no sign over the door that says
Enter at your own risk
You enter to be wanted and to be loved
And to be taught the ways of God
And taught what to do in order to
Make it to heaven!!!
And not to mention how to take everybody
With you that you can!!!!
We have to GO to Samaria
We have to take the ROAD LESS TRAVELED!!
Second we have to engage but not force
To get out the good news!!!
This Samaritan woman came to draw out water
And Jesus said WILL YOU GIVE ME A DRINK?
Jesus teaches such a wonderful lesson here
If we’ll just listen
He just leads her right to the truth
He just so gently leads her with every word
CLOSER TO FAITH
He moves right with HER NEEDS
Everybody here has needs WE ALL DO
But way to often we lack the patience
To follow through with the process
Her need is to be cleansed from sin
COULD YOU AND I BE SO PATIENT AND GENTLE WITH THIS SINNER SAMARITAN WOMAN?
I SURELY HOPE SO!!!!!
There was a car parked illegally next to the curb
And an officer did his duty and wrote out a ticket
The officer completely ignored the man seated behind the wheel of the car and placed the ticket
On the dashboard of the car
The man behind the wheel didn’t make any excuse
Or try to argue or anything and it was for good reason
You see the driver of the car was dead.
He had been shot in the head several hours earlier but was sitting up stiff as a board with some blood on his face..
And the officer moved on to the next vehicle
Because he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary
Peoples needs today folks should catch our
Attention instead of their offenses
They don’t need our comments or us putting
Them down all the time
What they need most of all is JESUS CHRIST
AMEN??
We have to find common stuff with the people
That God puts in our paths
It’s how Jesus did it
He began on something common (Water)
This is how we should do it
Engage people with conversation
And lead them to the truth
We don’t need to force the issue
Or bang them over the head
LIKE I USED TO DO
Be patient and let your relationship develop
I USED TO TELL EVERY SINNER I SEEN
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HELL
But I have found out – that’s not the way to do it!
THIRD WE NEED TO LOVE AND NOT
PRE-JUDGE
His disciples came back and were surprised
When they found out He was talking to
This samaritan woman!!
Cant you imagine this scene???
They WENT TO GET LUNCH AND CAME
BACK AND FOUND JESUS BREAKING ALL
THE RULES!!!!
They’re shocked
The strictest Rabbi’s forbade other Rabbi’s to
Greet women in public
But this was more than that
She was IMMORAL as well
She had three strikes against her already
SHE WAS A SAMARITAN
SHE WAS SEXUALLY IMMORAL
AND (NO OFFENSE) BUT
SHE WAS A WOMAN
For Jesus to even talk to her wasn’t normal
For anyone else
But look at what we learn!!
We need to see people like God does!!
We need to love them in to the Kingdom of God
We need to make them feel wanted
I wonder if this woman was wishing at the well
Wishing that everything would be all right
Her life was full of heartache
She had never been satisfied
And she was still searching
But hadn’t found what her life really needed!
This is just a perfect example of our LIFE
our thirst for something more fulfilling in life
And look how close Jesus is all the time!!
We are needy
Especially those without Jesus in their lives
But God has a passion for us
He loves us
And by The Blood We are Saved!!!
The Precious Blood of Jesus Christ!!
AND FOURTH AND I’LL SHUT UP REAL SOON
We have to service and I don’t mean SELF
JESUS SAID
My Meat is to do the will of him that sent me
And to finish his work!!
I think He said this because his disciples were preoccupied with lunch
They Went and Got Lunch
And returned to find him talking to a woman!
Their solution was simple
Walk away Jesus and lets eat
But Jesus was busy catching a fish!!!
We need to take advantage of opportunities
That God gives us!!!
Jesus was taking advantage of his God given
Opportunity
He was refusing to eat
We are most of the time to interested
In meeting our own needs instead of
Thinking about someone else’s needs
We need to put self interests away
Jesus came to Serve
And so are WE TO SERVE!!
Jesus calls us to serve others with the truth
We are preachers pastors evangelists
Sunday school teachers
Bible study leaders
Deacons
Why would we hold back the TRUTH
Jesus didn’t come for the religious
Or white people or black people
Or Spanish people or Korean people and etc.
He is the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
HE CAME FOR US ALL!!!
Spreading the good news isn’t a one time thing
We have to be witnessing 24/7
My wife says I don’t have to preach all the time
But I’m not in this thing part time
When my feet hit the floor in the morning
I’m a preacher
When I go to bed at night I’m still a preacher
All of you have ministries of your own
If you’ll just realize it!!!
If you’ll notice God will put non believers
Right under your noses all day long!!!
When it happens do God’s will
Get out the good news WILL YOU??
I CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU TO WITNESS
TO AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE A DAY FOR THE
NEXT 3 DAYS AND JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS
LET SHINING YOUR LIGHT FOR JESUS
BE A LIFESTYLE
BE STRONG IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE
BE A WITNESS FOR GOD
COMMIT TO SHARING THE GOOD NEWS
DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE GOD HAS GIVEN
PRAY FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS TO YOUR
SINNER FRIENDS FAMILY AND LOVED ONES
AND WHEN YOU PRAY FOR YOUR SINNERS
CALL THEIR NAMES OUT TO GOD!
PRAY HE’LL LEAD THEM FROM THE DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT
