WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.099 Thank you so much. It's wonderful to be here. I've had a great weekend. I brought my friend 00:00:09.099 --> 00:00:14.919 Kevin with me, and it's just been great being with the church. We have been so encouraged. 00:00:15.019 --> 00:00:19.600 The number of people that came out to our evangelism seminar, which is usually, I've 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:25.960 done these all over the country, and usually when you mention evangelism, that's a great 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:33.240 way to scare people away, to get people to stay home. We've had people leaving the country, 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:38.219 faking diseases, those kind of things. What do I have to do to avoid doing any kind of 00:00:38.219 --> 00:00:45.740 evangelism? But we were so encouraged. Just such a great job to see your eagerness to reach 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:51.600 out, to learn, and then to reach out. It was so encouraging to hear some of the testimonies 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:56.439 coming back. People went to the campus, to Harvard, to MIT, and hearing some of these 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:02.260 great stories of how God met them, and they were able to share the gospel. It's been such 00:01:02.260 --> 00:01:11.219 a joy as well to be with Sean and Hannah. Sean is doing an amazing job serving in this church, 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:17.480 and some of you might not know, but he serves on the Theology Committee in Sovereign Grace, 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:24.540 so God is really using him and his gifts to help shape the theology of sovereign grace, 00:01:24.600 --> 00:01:30.640 which is incredibly important. And God's really gifted him to be able to do this, to think 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.800 that's what I always love to draw him out here about what he's reading and what he's doing. 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:42.080 He is gifted in that way. So we thank God for you, Sean, and for how God is using you. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:56.099 Now turn with me to John chapter 4, and I want to read this story and pray. I know that it is very easy 00:01:56.099 --> 00:02:05.819 to feel guilty when it comes to evangelism, but my prayer is that God would inspire us as we look at 00:02:05.819 --> 00:02:13.620 Christ and see his example. So John chapter 4, this is going to be a longer section, so let's read in 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:20.239 verse 1. It says, Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing 00:02:20.239 --> 00:02:26.519 more disciples than John, although Jesus himself did not baptize but only his disciples, he left Judea 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:34.640 and departed again for Galilee, and he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria 00:02:34.640 --> 00:02:40.660 called Sychar near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, so Jesus, 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:47.240 wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour, that's noon. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:52.640 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, 00:02:52.639 --> 00:03:00.119 Give me a drink, for his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said 00:03:00.119 --> 00:03:05.459 to him, How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria? For Jews have no dealings 00:03:05.459 --> 00:03:13.799 with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, 00:03:13.859 --> 00:03:20.239 Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. The woman said to him, 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:25.060 Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:30.400 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:37.560 and his livestock. Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water, he's probably pointing down 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:43.660 the well at this point, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks 00:03:43.659 --> 00:03:49.219 the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:55.479 will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The woman said to him, Sir, 00:03:55.560 --> 00:04:01.780 give me this water so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water. Jesus said to her, 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:08.939 Go call your husband and come here. The woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus said, You are right in saying 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:12.780 I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:19.360 you have said is true. The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:23.439 worshipped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:29.800 worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:36.480 nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. We worship what we 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:42.319 know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming is now here when the true worshipers 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:47.960 will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 00:04:48.460 --> 00:04:55.420 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman said to him, 00:04:55.420 --> 00:05:00.900 I know the Messiah is coming. He was called Christ. When he comes, he will tell us all things. 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:07.659 Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he. Let's pray. 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:20.799 Lord, we thank you for this amazing story. We thank you for the amazing example of Christ. 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:32.160 we thank you for the way you love those who are lost, the way you care, the way you break through 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:40.939 barriers, the way you exhaust yourself to reach men and women with the gospel. We praise you for this. 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:48.100 We thank you for what you have done in our lives. Lord, I pray for this congregation. Lord, 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:55.820 I pray for those who might feel a sense of guilt or hesitancy when it comes to reaching out. I pray 00:05:55.820 --> 00:06:00.100 that you would meet with each of us, that you would fill us with your spirit, give us courage, 00:06:00.760 --> 00:06:10.740 and use us to reach those who don't know you. In Jesus' name, amen. Several years ago, I took a trip to 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:17.579 a place called Altoona, Pennsylvania. Isn't that a weird name, Altoona? Does anyone ever hear of Altoona, 00:06:17.720 --> 00:06:22.699 Pennsylvania? Oh, a couple. Maybe Kevin, have you heard of it? Right, yeah. So a few people. It's weird, 00:06:22.900 --> 00:06:28.340 strange. It's up in the mountains. And I went there to do a weekend seminar just like this on evangelism. 00:06:28.460 --> 00:06:33.379 And we had this great time. I did all these messages. We did outreaches and preached on Sunday. 00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:40.300 And when we got done, I was exhausted and I was really hungry. So I couldn't wait to eat. And I 00:06:40.300 --> 00:06:44.339 love eating. Eating is one of my hobbies. I didn't really forget a meal unless I do it on purpose. I 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:50.100 think about food all the time. And so we were done. I was like, oh, this is going to be great. And so 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:55.180 we stopped at a Chipotle and I thought, okay, this is going to be one of one. As we were going in, 00:06:55.180 --> 00:07:04.939 I saw this amazing car. It was a 458 Italia, a Ferrari Italia, which is this amazing car. I love 00:07:04.939 --> 00:07:10.180 Ferraris. I don't know that much about it, but I knew about this car. And so as we were going to eat, 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:16.420 I spotted this Ferrari and I immediately forgot about eating, which is very hard for me to do. I 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:21.600 forgot about food. I ignored that. And I just went over to this car and, you know, there was another guy 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:25.379 was there and we were just drooling on the car and walking around like, this is really amazing. I can't 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:30.560 believe this. And so we're talking about this. We're taking pictures of the guy's car. And so then I went in 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:36.900 to get in line to eat and everybody else had already gone in. And so then I was in line and then I saw the 00:07:36.900 --> 00:07:45.200 guy that owned the Ferrari get up and go out and get into the car. And then I got out of line because I wanted to 00:07:45.200 --> 00:07:50.720 go outside and hear the Ferrari. And so the other guy that had been watching, he got up and went out too, 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:55.680 because we were both into this. And I actually asked the guys, excuse me, would you mind revving the engine for me 00:07:55.680 --> 00:08:00.240 just so that I could hear it? You know that loud whine of a Ferrari sound? You guys all know that. It's really cool. 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:06.900 So he's like, you know, people that own cars like this love to do things like this. It's short. He drove by, he's like 00:08:06.900 --> 00:08:12.560 revving the engine. We're like, oh my goodness, this is so awesome. And so finally, after I don't know how long that was, 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:19.540 I finally went in to get some lunch. Let me ask you this question. Have you ever been so passionate 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:26.459 about something that you forget about eating? Have you ever been so passionate about something that 00:08:26.459 --> 00:08:36.879 you don't care about eating? In this story, Jesus is so passionate about reaching the lost, 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:45.840 he doesn't care about food or eating. He, he forgets about his physical needs because those 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:55.439 around him have even greater spiritual needs. Now we can learn many things from, from Jesus in this 00:08:55.439 --> 00:09:02.379 passage, but I want to point out eight things. What did Jesus do to reach this woman? There are eight, 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:07.159 sorry about that, eight things that we're going to look at here first, and I'll try to get through 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:13.460 them. Number one, Jesus cares. So what did Jesus do to reach this woman? Number one, Jesus cares. Look 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:22.360 again at verse three. It says he left Judea and departed again for Galilee and he had to pass through 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:27.740 Samaria. Now, actually he didn't have to pass through Samaria. Most Jews, when they were in the 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:33.820 south in Jerusalem heading north toward Galilee would not pass through Samaria, Samaria was on 00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:39.779 the way, it was directly north, but a good Jew would actually go out and around Samaria. They 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:44.220 would take the long word because they didn't want to be with the Samaritans. They hated the Samaritans. 00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:51.680 Samaritans were considered half breeds. They were considered unclean. So they would avoid them 00:09:51.679 --> 00:10:03.479 and travel around Samaria. But not Jesus. It says he had to pass through Samaria. Why did 00:10:03.479 --> 00:10:14.500 he have to pass through Samaria? Why was it necessary? Well, it's because Jesus cares about people 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:31.700 who are far from God. He cares about people who are hurting. He cares about people who are lost. He cares 00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:42.100 about people who are broken and empty and hopeless. He cares about people who are going to hell. He cares 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:49.240 so much that he was willing to risk his reputation. He was talking to a very immoral woman. He was 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:55.580 willing to go tired. He was willing to go hungry and thirsty. He was willing to sacrifice his own 00:10:55.580 --> 00:11:07.000 comfort and ease in order to rescue her. This woman was being deceived and destroyed by sin. She was in 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:13.080 great danger. She had no way of rescuing herself. Jesus had to go through Samaria 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:17.440 because he cares about the lost. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:23.399 Number two, Jesus blows through barriers. Look at verse 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:25.980 seven. It says, 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.899 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:32.980 Give me a drink. For the disciples have gone away to the city to buy food. 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:39.220 The Samaritan woman said to him, How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:43.580 a woman of Samaria? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:55.139 This is absolutely scandalous. Not only does Jesus decide to go to Samaria, but now he sits down and 00:11:55.139 --> 00:12:02.960 talks to a Samaritan. Jews are not supposed to talk to Samaritans. And not only see a Samaritan, 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:14.680 she's a woman, she's a woman. Jewish men are not supposed to talk to women in public. And not only is she a woman, but she's an immoral adulteress. 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:18.759 Rabbis are not supposed to talk to immoral adulteresses. 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:24.480 What Jesus is doing is absolutely unheard of. 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:30.039 This is shocking. He's blowing through social barriers. 00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:35.500 He's running down. He's plowing through social barriers. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:43.919 He's plowing over racial barriers and moral barriers because he has to reach her with the gospel. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:47.959 Don't you love this about Jesus? 00:12:49.339 --> 00:12:54.079 I mean, everyone else is avoiding her and rejecting him and judging this woman. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:57.360 Her life is so messed up and so steeped in sin. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:59.299 She doesn't even want to be seen. 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:04.620 It's like going to the grocery store in the middle of the night so you don't run into someone. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:15.279 This woman might be rejected by the whole world, but she is not rejected by Jesus. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:21.559 His love is unhindered by her sin and her reputation. 00:13:21.959 --> 00:13:24.980 She's not out of the range of his grace. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:30.259 You know, in hunters, when they, I don't hunt, but I have a whole family on my website where hunters, 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:33.139 they, when a shot is out of range, it's too far. 00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:35.620 It's out of range. You can't, you can't get it. 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:42.399 She's not out of range of the grace of Christ. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:51.879 Don't you love to see how much Jesus loves people and to see how he gives them grace? 00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:57.319 He is so passionate about giving people grace and forgiving their sins. 00:13:57.620 --> 00:14:00.399 He, he, he just, he has to bless through these barriers. 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:09.799 If, if he doesn't take a risk here, if Jesus doesn't cross these massive boundaries and offer her living water, who will? 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:14.959 Who, who's going to save this immoral woman from hell? 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:23.419 When she's all alone, she came at noon in the hot sun to draw water so that the other women wouldn't see her. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:26.539 She's trying to avoid the condemnation and the shame. 00:14:26.819 --> 00:14:28.359 And that's really what sin does, you know. 00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:30.240 It, it drives us away from people. 00:14:30.359 --> 00:14:31.779 Sin isolates us. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:34.799 Imagine what it felt like for this woman. 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:36.799 She's working on her sixth husband. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:40.179 She probably knows this isn't going to work either. 00:14:40.339 --> 00:14:44.059 She, she probably feels trapped and hopeless and broken. 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:49.659 And many people find themselves in the same place. 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:50.979 Sin has isolated them. 00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:54.159 It's trapped them and they have no hope. 00:14:56.059 --> 00:15:01.699 Jesus had to talk to this woman because she could never talk to him. 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:10.120 He didn't assume that he should just kind of sit down by the well and wait till some spiritual seeker comes by and ask him a question. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:10.960 No, he didn't do that. 00:15:11.020 --> 00:15:12.040 He asked her a question. 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:16.200 Jesus is the one that took the initiative. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:24.620 Do you know that most non-Christians will not voluntarily come to us? 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:37.740 Most of them are not going to take the initiative to have a spiritual conversation with us because they don't know that they need to have a spiritual conversation with us. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:43.220 Most of them are not going to take the initiative to build friendships with us. 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:46.060 We have to go to them. 00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:55.639 In verse 40, we learn that Jesus stayed with the Samaritans for another two days. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:16:04.199 Now, what do you think the disciples thought when Jesus said, oh, hey, guys, we're going to be hanging out with the Samaritans for a couple more days? 00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:10.339 I'll tell you, they probably thought things that they would later need forgiveness for. 00:16:11.339 --> 00:16:14.319 They hated these people. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:19.080 They would have had no desire to reach out to Samaritans. 00:16:19.180 --> 00:16:23.300 They were unwilling to cross these kinds of boundaries. 00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:30.960 And I think that sometimes we're unwilling to cross certain boundaries. 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:39.440 It's much easier for us to relate to people who are like us, that aren't as messy and aren't as needy, people that aren't different. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:47.400 You know, it's easy to avoid situations that might make us feel awkward or uncomfortable. 00:16:48.020 --> 00:16:50.680 Jesus smashes through these barriers. 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:53.840 Jesus doesn't care about this. 00:16:54.200 --> 00:17:04.120 No race barrier, no economic barrier, no moral barrier, no social barrier can stop him. 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:10.139 His heart is so filled with love that nothing is going to keep him away. 00:17:11.439 --> 00:17:12.039 That's number two. 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:15.039 Jesus blows through barriers. 00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:17.119 Number three, Jesus shows mercy. 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:18.819 He shows mercy. 00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.479 I love this verse. 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:27.659 Verse 10, where Jesus said, if you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:36.580 give me a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:42.580 None Christians don't know what they're missing. 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.600 They don't know what they're missing. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:50.740 They don't know the gift of God. 00:17:52.560 --> 00:17:53.740 They don't know about that. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:18:02.480 They don't know that they can find forgiveness and satisfaction in Christ. 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:12.240 A satisfaction that is so superior to what the world offers, it's like the superiority of the Grand Canyon compared to a hole in the ground. 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:15.500 People don't know this gift. 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:21.339 They don't know the gift and they don't know where they can get it. 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:25.699 They don't know that Jesus is the one that can give them the gift. 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:30.480 So they look everywhere and never find it. 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:42.439 Jesus is saying to this woman, if you knew, if you only knew what God could do for you, and if you knew who I was, you would ask me for something. 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:51.059 I'm just asking you for a little drink of water, but I have something to give to you that is far greater than this water. 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:53.980 This is amazing. 00:18:54.539 --> 00:19:02.879 Despite her filthy, rebellious lifestyle and her blatant rejection and disregard of God, Jesus wants to give her living water. 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:06.159 He wants to give it to her. 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.859 He's saying to her, just ask me. 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:10.000 Just ask me. 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.159 I want to give it to you. 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:13.039 I want to give you this gift. 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:15.440 I want to give you living water. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:17.960 What an amazing picture of the Savior. 00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:25.460 This is a perfect man looking at a filthy woman and saying to her, if you only knew what I could give you, you would ask. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.799 I want to give it to you. 00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:28.200 I am so willing. 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:30.539 I am so willing. 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.799 I'm not rejecting you. 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:35.140 I'm inviting you to have, to come get what I have. 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:36.680 I want to share it with you. 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:49.120 He wants to give this immoral woman eternal life because he is infinitely willing to show mercy to sinners. 00:19:50.320 --> 00:19:58.580 J.C. Ryle says, all day long, Christ stretches out his hands to the disobedient and the gainsaying. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:00.140 The gainsaying means those who oppose. 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:07.380 He has thoughts of pity and compassion towards the vilest of sinners, even when they have no thoughts of him. 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:14.840 He stands waiting to bestow mercy and grace on the worst and most unworthy if they will only cry to him. 00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:24.620 And then he says, the lost will discover at the last day that they had not because they asked not. 00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:28.660 They had not because they asked not. 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:32.000 Jesus shows mercy. 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:36.460 Number four, Jesus connects relationally. 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:42.140 Now, relationships are critical when it comes to reaching out to people. 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:47.779 And friendship is actually the most effective way of reaching people with the gospel. 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:50.220 That's what Jesus did everywhere he went. 00:20:50.300 --> 00:20:54.080 He built friendships with people who were far from God. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:21:01.879 So think about Zacchaeus or Matthew and his tax collector friends or the woman caught in adultery or Mary Magdalene or blind Bartimaeus. 00:21:03.179 --> 00:21:06.579 Jesus was a friend of sinners. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.319 That's my favorite title for Jesus. 00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:12.059 He was a friend of sinners. 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:15.859 Aren't you glad that he was a friend of sinners? 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:21.659 We see him here building a friendship with this woman by initiating a conversation. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.700 Then he's asking her for help. 00:21:23.899 --> 00:21:25.559 He offers to help her. 00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:28.539 He's honest with her about her sins and problems. 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:31.579 And then he spends two more days with her village. 00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:33.639 Now, there's a lot we can learn from this. 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:35.200 But let me just mention one thing. 00:21:36.040 --> 00:21:41.900 When Jesus says, give me a drink, this is an act of kindness. 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:49.640 He was reaching out to her as a real person with his own real need. 00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:51.580 He was showing weakness. 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:56.000 Others in the village just avoided her and condemned her. 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:58.800 Jesus believed she was made in the image of God. 00:21:58.900 --> 00:22:02.400 He valued her, which is why he asked her for a drink. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:04.560 And we should do the same thing. 00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:09.560 We should value people and we should be willing to let them help us. 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.540 It promotes friendship. 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:14.040 We shouldn't be like, okay, well, non-Christians need us. 00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:15.460 We don't need you. 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.200 We're fine. 00:22:16.280 --> 00:22:16.940 We don't need anything. 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.200 Only you need us. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:20.140 No, that doesn't promote friendship. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:22.300 We don't want to communicate that. 00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:28.600 And listen, we shouldn't be afraid to be real and vulnerable with non-Christians. 00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:32.320 We don't have to pretend that we have it all together, that our life is perfect. 00:22:33.280 --> 00:22:34.080 It should be real. 00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:39.820 We should let them see where we struggle and let them help us where they can. 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:43.560 This is one of the ways we connect relationally. 00:22:44.320 --> 00:22:49.620 Number five, Jesus says some uncomfortable things. 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:51.960 He says some uncomfortable things. 00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:52.840 Look at verse 16. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:55.480 Jesus said, go, call your husband and come here. 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.940 The woman answered, I have no husband. 00:22:58.460 --> 00:23:04.200 Jesus said to her, you are right in saying I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.420 and the one you now have is not your husband. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:08.120 What you have said is true. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.620 Can you say uncomfortable? 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:11.620 Like, hello? 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:11.779 Hello? 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:14.319 Can you imagine this? 00:23:15.179 --> 00:23:20.539 Can you imagine talking with a stranger, and all of a sudden, they bring out, like, your deepest, darkest secrets? 00:23:21.459 --> 00:23:27.519 I mean, doesn't this kind of cut across the idea of building relationships? 00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:29.959 Didn't we just talk about how important it is to build relationships? 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:32.259 Isn't that like on the top of the list of building relationships? 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:35.899 Hey, don't bring out deepest, darkest secrets and kind of throw it in their face. 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.220 Right? 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:39.720 Well, why is Jesus doing this? 00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:42.800 He's not trying to needlessly offend her. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.380 He's trying to help her. 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:48.019 He wants to give her living water. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:53.300 And the only way that can happen is if she sees her sin. 00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:58.040 She's an immoral woman who's lived for pleasure apart from God. 00:23:58.440 --> 00:24:00.360 So Jesus says, go call your husband. 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:06.779 By saying this, he is putting his finger on the problem of her immorality. 00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:09.000 Her main problem is not a replication. 00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:13.639 Her main problem is not that she has to come and draw water in the middle of the day. 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.699 Her main problem is her sin. 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.799 And Jesus just goes right after her. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:20.459 You've had five husbands, and you're sleeping with number six. 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:35.340 J.C. Ryle says, till men and women are brought to feel their sinfulness and need, no real good is ever done for their soul. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.519 That's not. 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:46.880 Unless someone sees their sin, unless they see their need, you can't do any good for their soul. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:54.060 So Jesus was willing to confront her sin to do good for her soul. 00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:55.860 He has a lot of courage. 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:59.340 Now, I want to confess, I don't have a lot of courage. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:08.360 When I was in Altoona, when we were doing that outreach, I made the mistake of confessing a fear, kind of an irrational fear I have of librarians. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:13.960 And so I just, I apologize to any librarians who are here with us. 00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:16.740 I have an irrational fear of librarians, okay? 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:19.080 I had never shared a gospel with a librarian. 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.480 I'm just afraid of them. 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:22.140 And again, please forgive me. 00:25:22.260 --> 00:25:23.560 I've done this message before. 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.620 I've had librarians come up to you. 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:26.660 If you're a librarian, please come up to me after the service. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.540 I will confess to you as well. 00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:29.560 But I'm just scared. 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:34.280 I feel like they have that glasses deal with the little rope thing, and their hair is really tight. 00:25:34.280 --> 00:25:38.620 And that if I were to ever share the gospel with them, it would go really bad. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:41.760 That they would take me in the back, put me in stops, and throw rotten tomatoes at me. 00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.620 I just, I don't know. 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.720 It's just an irrational fear. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:46.960 And so we were there in Altoona doing this evangelism seminar. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:54.860 And one of the young guys, who was like 14 years old, said to his dad, dad, can I take Mr. Donahue to the library so we can try to share with the librarian? 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.720 And I'm like, I seriously was scared. 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.980 And so he came up to me. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.799 I was like, yeah. 00:25:58.860 --> 00:25:59.480 I'm like, yeah, sure. 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.480 I'm going to be the library. 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:02.339 And so we were walking to the library. 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.440 And I'm not joking. 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:06.519 So the Altoona library was like this. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:10.720 It was a poor concrete, just square-hued buck. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.400 It looked like a fortress. 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.799 I am not joking. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:17.980 It looked like a bunker that it could survive a nuclear holocaust. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.400 And so we're going in. 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.880 And I love this kid that I was with. 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:23.380 I'm trying to teach the evangelism seminar. 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:25.259 It's like, yeah, you know, it's not really that big of a deal. 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:27.120 I'll just kind of go up and talk to people. 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:29.740 And if they want to talk to them, I was like, yeah, OK, thank you. 00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:31.980 I'm like, I try to get the faith from him along to me. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:34.220 And so we go into this library. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.360 And so I'm there. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.900 And I see a librarian. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.079 He was kind of a younger guy. 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.920 And I go, OK, maybe I could talk to him. 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:44.099 And there was another guy that was talking to the librarian that seemed very talkative. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.940 So I go, well, maybe I'll talk to him first. 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.799 And so that guy kind of went over to another area. 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:49.799 So I went over and I began to talk to him. 00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:51.580 Well, the guy, I am not kidding. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.460 He was crazy. 00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.880 He had lost his mind. 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:56.380 And he was talking 100 miles an hour. 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.600 He said, you're not going to believe this, but the Russian mafia is really strong. 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.920 And I do know they're tracking me right now. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.200 And he just starts going on these conspiracy theories. 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.820 And I'm like, oh, my goodness. 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:08.539 So I tried to, like, extricate myself from this, you know, situation. 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.259 I kept 10 minutes. 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.100 I kind of get away from him. 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.259 And there's the librarian. 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:11.820 OK. 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:12.860 Now I'm going to chance. 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.600 My heart is beating. 00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:14.559 I'm sweating a little bit. 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.279 I'm like, I can do this. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.500 And so I go up to the library. 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:18.680 And I just started this conversation. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.259 And I asked him a couple questions. 00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:22.899 And we went to this, oh, how good are you going to? 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:25.259 And it was going, actually, really well. 00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.460 And I thought, this is great. 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.420 I was about halfway through. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:30.059 I'm like, I'm sharing the gospel with the library. 00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:31.700 I'm overcoming my fears. 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.539 This is great. 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:35.920 And about halfway through, the crazy guy comes back up. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.839 Excuse me. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.220 I forgot to say something about the Russian mafia. 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:41.480 They don't like send money back to Rome because they get the money from the church. 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:43.460 And they want to keep the money from the family. 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:46.319 And he just, I'm like, get behind Satan. 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:49.000 I'm trying to retell this library. 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:53.140 So we finally, the library knew the guy, kind of, you know, got him away. 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:56.360 And I was able to finish the conversation with the library. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.579 And so afterwards, I was like, oh, this is so great. 00:27:58.860 --> 00:28:00.099 And the other guys were with me. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:01.480 It's like, nah, that doesn't count. 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.839 Pass me the old woman with the glasses. 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.400 And she went back and tried again. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.779 So it was terrible. 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:08.420 But it's just being realized, I'm afraid. 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:08.920 Like, why? 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.680 I'm afraid. 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:14.680 Whenever I was sharing yesterday, whenever I go to share the gospel, I'm fearful. 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:17.200 Even just inviting someone up, there's fear. 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:20.660 There's a hesitation that I have. 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:24.779 Jesus was full of courage. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:29.000 He loved people enough to risk what they thought of. 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.980 Might be too worried about what somebody's going to think about. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.139 Jesus didn't care about that. 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:36.259 He was willing to say things that might be uncomfortable. 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:39.880 And God can give us courage to love people in the same way. 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:43.600 Number six, Jesus gets to the gospel. 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.140 He gets to the gospel. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:49.440 Did you notice how Jesus progressed in his conversation with the woman? 00:28:49.560 --> 00:28:54.380 So he moved from the natural to the spiritual and then to the gospel. 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:58.560 And that's a good model for us when we're engaging folks. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:04.700 Jesus started this conversation out by talking about water and asking her for a drink. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:08.220 So it was just a very natural thing to do. 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.579 And that's something that we can do. 00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:13.619 Just talk to people about natural things or about normal things. 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:17.419 For some, it can be hard to initiate conversations, especially with a stranger. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:21.419 But people are usually happy to reciprocate friendliness. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:26.899 We just need to take the first step, open our mouths, and say something natural and talk to people. 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:30.120 Talk to people shows that we care for them. 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:32.320 It shows that we're interested in them. 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:39.240 And one of the best ways to do this is just to ask people questions and then listen to them. 00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:45.480 Last night when we were out at a restaurant, we just were talking to our waitress. 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:47.700 We just got talking to her about different things. 00:29:47.780 --> 00:29:49.600 And I noticed a tattoo on her arm. 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.940 I was trying to read it. 00:29:51.120 --> 00:29:52.519 It was kind of on the outside of her arm. 00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:54.080 I said, oh, what's that tattoo? 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:56.160 People usually like to talk about their tattoos. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:59.560 That's why they're getting something publicly printed on their body. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.420 And so you can ask somebody about that. 00:30:01.560 --> 00:30:05.000 And so this was a song when her daughter was born. 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:08.019 And so she just talked to us about that, how her daughter's initial. 00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:15.420 And it just became a way to get into a conversation, to take interest in what was happening in her life. 00:30:16.840 --> 00:30:18.540 So that was just a natural conversation. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:20.000 But that's what Jesus did with this woman. 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:20.820 He just talked about water. 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:23.460 And then he noticed how he switched to spiritual. 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.939 He didn't go right to the gospel. 00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:26.139 He went to more of a spiritual. 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.439 He talked about living water. 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:33.980 This idea, I don't know, it's kind of a weird concept, like spiritual living water that he talked about. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:34.759 Okay? 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:37.559 So he made that jump with the woman. 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:42.019 And last night, we were able to do that with this waitress. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:46.940 And I just said to her, hey, is there anything, we were just going to pray for our food. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.359 Is there anything we can pray for you? 00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:48.839 Okay, prayer. 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.720 Prayer is spiritual. 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.779 It's not the gospel. 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.500 It's spiritual. 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:53.819 So we just introduced this idea of prayer. 00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:55.679 And she said, oh, yeah, I'm pregnant. 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:57.339 And we said, oh, great. 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.559 We would love to be able to pray. 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:00.960 And it just enabled us to talk. 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:03.539 And that led to a conversation about church. 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:05.500 And, again, another spiritual idea. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.799 What was her background? 00:31:06.919 --> 00:31:08.259 Did she go to church at all? 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.240 Did she grow up in a church? 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.940 She was Catholic, but she doesn't go. 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:12.519 But she's really interested in these things. 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:15.559 And it just led to a spiritual conversation. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.500 So there's ways to do that. 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:24.359 My favorite way to jump into the spiritual was just to ask somebody, hey, did you grow up with any spiritual beliefs? 00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:27.639 We did that yesterday when we were on campuses in the mall. 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:30.180 We were just asking, hey, do you have a spiritual background? 00:31:30.340 --> 00:31:31.120 Do you ever go to church? 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:37.120 That just takes the conversation from something that's natural into something that's more spiritual. 00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:41.200 And then I don't know if you noticed how Jesus went from the spiritual to the gospel. 00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:45.200 He told the woman that he could give her eternal life. 00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:47.320 And he jumped to the gospel. 00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:54.480 Now, we didn't get to share the gospel last night, but we got to talk about spiritual things and even invite this woman to the church. 00:31:54.480 --> 00:32:01.019 I know that it can be scary and that it's a lot easier to keep things to ourselves. 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:11.339 But God can help each of us to take even to small steps of boldness by opening our mouths and telling people about Christ. 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:17.579 Number seven, Jesus exhausts himself to reach this woman. 00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:20.059 He exhausts himself to reach this woman. 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:23.559 So let's look at verse 31. 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:25.299 So his disciples went into town. 00:32:25.679 --> 00:32:26.539 They were getting food. 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:29.659 And then verse 31, it says, meanwhile, the disciples came back. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:32.899 Verse 31, meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, saying, Rabbi, eat. 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:38.839 But he said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know about. 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:43.339 So the disciples said to one another, has anyone brought him something to eat? 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:50.419 Jesus said, my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:54.319 Jesus was tired. 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.179 All right. 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:57.639 When he gets to this well, he is tired. 00:32:58.399 --> 00:33:03.179 He was constantly ministering to people and caring for people. 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:08.319 He was constantly preaching the gospel and healing the sick and delivering people from demons. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:12.179 He was constantly instructing his disciples and debating the Pharisees. 00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:16.960 He had just finished a late night with Nicodemus the night before. 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:22.880 He probably rose early to commune with God and walked over 20 miles to get here. 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:25.640 Verse 6 says, he was weary from the journey. 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:30.799 He crashed down with his back to the well while the disciples went into town to find food. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:36.180 I just imagine him sitting in the dust, leaning up against that well. 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:43.400 Maybe his head is back against the well in the hot sun, his feet aching when this woman approaches. 00:33:45.060 --> 00:33:50.160 You know, Hebrews 4 says that Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are. 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:52.240 I'll tell you how I would have been tempted in this situation. 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:57.140 I would not be thinking, how can I have a natural conversation and then transition over to the spiritual and then try to get to the gospel. 00:33:57.400 --> 00:33:58.759 No, I would be thinking about me. 00:33:58.820 --> 00:34:00.920 How can I get water, food, and rest immediately? 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:06.640 Thank God Jesus doesn't give in to those temptations. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:10.420 What love the Savior has for the lost. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:15.180 What incredible compassion and care. 00:34:16.240 --> 00:34:23.920 He's so filled with love as he lays there with his head against the well, aching and tired, that he has to say something. 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:27.980 He has to talk to this woman. 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.139 So he asks for a drink. 00:34:29.740 --> 00:34:31.000 And he gets it all started. 00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:33.700 When Jesus confronts her sin, she backpedals. 00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.740 She offers excuses. 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:38.099 Then he reveals that he is the Christ. 00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:41.860 She goes into town and tells everyone. 00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:45.619 Jesus is dog tired. 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.960 His disciples come back. 00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:49.280 They're urging him to eat. 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:51.860 They're probably afraid he's going to be passed out. 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:54.340 And then this woman brings the whole village. 00:34:55.220 --> 00:35:00.960 Which means he is going to be up late, caring for and praying for as many as he can. 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:03.840 But listen, he doesn't care about eating. 00:35:05.160 --> 00:35:10.000 Because he says to his disciples, I have food that you don't know about. 00:35:10.120 --> 00:35:12.780 And he's not talking about physical food. 00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:17.200 He's saying there's something else that sustains me. 00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:20.039 Something else that gives me energy. 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:23.719 There's something more important than food and drink and rest. 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:28.079 It is reaching lost men and women with the gospel. 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:30.279 His food is the mission. 00:35:31.259 --> 00:35:35.039 He says to do the will of the one who sent him. 00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:42.539 Now in the book of John, John often refers to Jesus or Jesus refers to himself as the sent one. 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:45.239 As the one who is sent by God. 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:47.259 We see that here in verse 34. 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:49.239 Jesus is the sent one. 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:51.820 He was sent to this broken, fallen world with a mission. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.960 He was sent to die. 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:58.659 Now in this story, Jesus was thirsty. 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:03.099 And there's only one other time in the Bible when Jesus is thirsty. 00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:03.960 Do you remember this? 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:07.940 It's in John 19 when Jesus is hanging on the cross. 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:11.039 And he says, I thirst. 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:19.740 Jesus was willing to go thirsty so that others could drink living water. 00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:25.780 Jesus was willing to exhaust his life to save men and women from death. 00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:30.059 He gave everything that he had to rescue us. 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:33.460 And now he is sending us. 00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:36.400 Did you know that Jesus isn't the only sent one? 00:36:36.779 --> 00:36:38.860 We have been sent as well. 00:36:39.320 --> 00:36:47.099 In John chapter 20 verse 21, Jesus says, as the father has sent me, so I am sending you. 00:36:48.179 --> 00:36:54.059 When we become followers of Christ, we're called to certain things like fellowship and prayer. 00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:55.940 Listening to the preaching of God's word. 00:36:56.239 --> 00:36:57.440 Giving, reading God's word. 00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:59.059 These are wonderful things. 00:36:59.059 --> 00:37:00.460 But there's more. 00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:10.119 We are also sent out into a world that desperately needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:15.400 We're sent to help others become followers of Christ. 00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:16.380 Did you know that? 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:25.539 And when we reach out to people, there is a spiritual nourishment that we receive. 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:28.299 Do you feel spiritually weak? 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:32.739 Do you feel spiritually sluggish? 00:37:33.279 --> 00:37:37.420 Do you feel spiritually undernourished? 00:37:38.619 --> 00:37:40.380 Try reaching out. 00:37:41.259 --> 00:37:44.299 Try befriending someone who doesn't know the Lord. 00:37:45.299 --> 00:37:49.940 Try sharing the gospel with someone who needs to be forgiven. 00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:56.480 And you will find spiritual food that you knew nothing about. 00:37:56.480 --> 00:38:03.920 I love this picture of Jesus leaning against the well, talking to this sinful Samaritan woman. 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:08.840 And then struggling to his feet as the entire village surrounds him. 00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:15.019 I love how he overcame his weariness and tired himself out to reach the lost. 00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:21.539 God wants us to tire ourselves out to reach the lost. 00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:24.199 Number eight, last one. 00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:28.460 Jesus urgently reached out. 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.659 He urgently reached out. 00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:31.960 Look at verse 35. 00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.980 It says, 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:36.740 Do you not say there yet four months? 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:38.900 Then comes the harvest. 00:38:39.539 --> 00:38:46.360 Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest. 00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:52.119 My mother-in-law grew up on a small farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:53.300 You never hear of Lancaster. 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:54.400 It's where the Amish live. 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:57.720 And so a real small farm in a town called Five Pointville. 00:38:57.820 --> 00:38:58.960 A very tiny little town. 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.760 And she grew up on a small farm. 00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:05.400 And in Lancaster, a lot of the farmers didn't have all their own equipment and combines. 00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:09.940 So when it came time for harvest, the harvesters would come. 00:39:10.139 --> 00:39:11.039 Men would come. 00:39:11.559 --> 00:39:16.099 And my mother-in-law remembers when she was a little girl and the harvesters would come. 00:39:16.180 --> 00:39:22.000 And it would be such an anticipation because she said her mom would cook a big breakfast, a special breakfast. 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:26.360 And all these strange men would be eating breakfast at their table, the harvesters. 00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:28.219 And they would harvest. 00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:29.519 It was such hard work. 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:31.639 They had to really hustle and get this done. 00:39:31.739 --> 00:39:35.300 She remembers her mom making lemonade, which was a real treat. 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:41.099 And her running across the stubbly field to the men, to the harvesters, and giving them this lemonade. 00:39:41.219 --> 00:39:45.139 And they were covered with all that, whatever, the hay and the sweat and the dirt. 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:45.980 They were covered. 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:47.179 And they worked so hard. 00:39:47.179 --> 00:39:54.739 They would work until late at night because it was not an option for them to not get the job done. 00:39:55.699 --> 00:40:04.579 When there is a harvest, when the harvest is ready, there is a small window to harvest where that crop will be ruined. 00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:05.639 A harvest can't wait. 00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:08.619 You can't hang back. 00:40:08.699 --> 00:40:10.539 When the field is ripe, you have to hustle. 00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:13.319 And Jesus is saying, the harvest is ripe. 00:40:14.519 --> 00:40:16.579 The harvest is ready right now. 00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:18.759 The time to harvest is now. 00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:20.460 And Jesus challenges his disciples. 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:22.779 He says, don't you save four months and then the harvest. 00:40:23.039 --> 00:40:24.840 That was a saying that just meant don't rush. 00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:26.159 We can wait. 00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:29.500 We got time when you've sown, when you've planted something. 00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:31.799 And you have to sit around and wait for months. 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:32.319 No. 00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:33.940 Jesus is saying, we don't have to wait. 00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:36.199 It's time to reap. 00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:38.500 He's exhorting his disciples. 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:41.739 He's basically saying, don't say you can do this later. 00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:45.319 Don't say we'll get to this in a couple months. 00:40:46.579 --> 00:40:59.099 Don't say I don't have time or I don't have the gifting or someone else will do this or I just have to get this one area of my life straightened out or I'm too much of a hypocrite or I don't know what to say or I'm too scared or I'll just wait until they come to me. 00:40:59.179 --> 00:40:59.319 No. 00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:00.179 We don't have to wait. 00:41:00.179 --> 00:41:03.739 The harvest is ready. 00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:10.779 Lift up your eyes and see the fields are white for harvest. 00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:20.659 This white harvest was probably the Samaritans coming toward Jesus in their white robes as the town comes to him. 00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:23.019 He's saying to themselves, lift up your eyes. 00:41:24.259 --> 00:41:25.440 The harvest is white. 00:41:26.379 --> 00:41:27.199 Here they come. 00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:29.539 Here they come. 00:41:30.759 --> 00:41:35.179 Do you see the harvest that is all around you? 00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:37.379 Do you see it? 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:56.879 Do you see that your neighbors, your classmates, coworkers, family members, waitresses, people at the gym, people at the grocery store, people at the bank, at the Starbucks, your mechanic, your hairdresser, 00:41:56.880 --> 00:41:58.119 your mailman. 00:41:59.720 --> 00:42:01.079 They need Jesus. 00:42:03.860 --> 00:42:08.500 They need Jesus and they need you to reach out to them. 00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:14.760 Lift up your eyes and see the harvest. 00:42:14.760 --> 00:42:20.740 There's an urgency that we should feel when it comes to reaching out to the walls. 00:42:21.740 --> 00:42:23.340 Close with verse 36. 00:42:24.340 --> 00:42:34.660 Jesus said, already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together. 00:42:34.659 --> 00:42:35.599 What's he saying? 00:42:36.259 --> 00:42:38.559 He's saying, guys, we're already reaping. 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:45.179 I just sowed by reaching out to this woman and I'm already reaping and collecting those wages. 00:42:45.299 --> 00:42:46.859 The fruit is coming in right now. 00:42:46.940 --> 00:42:47.859 We don't have to wait. 00:42:48.119 --> 00:42:51.699 We can actually sow and reap at the same time. 00:42:51.799 --> 00:42:56.440 Imagine doing that like planting a tomato seed in the morning and in the afternoon you're reaping the tomato seed. 00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:57.579 That's what he's saying. 00:42:57.579 --> 00:43:02.260 Usually when you sow, you have to wait a long time for the plant to grow. 00:43:02.460 --> 00:43:03.139 But not here. 00:43:03.200 --> 00:43:03.740 He's saying this. 00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:06.260 You can sow and reap in the same day. 00:43:06.639 --> 00:43:10.139 The sower and reaper are rejoicing together. 00:43:11.740 --> 00:43:16.519 Jesus found great joy in the middle of that harvest field. 00:43:16.920 --> 00:43:19.679 Sweaty, dirty, and tired. 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:27.539 And we can find joy as we join God in his glorious plan to save the lost. 00:43:27.679 --> 00:43:40.659 There is nothing in this world, I promise you, there is nothing in this world that will bring you more joy than seeing a lost man or woman come to know the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus Christ. 00:43:42.359 --> 00:43:44.079 Yes, it can be hard work. 00:43:45.179 --> 00:43:46.179 Harvesting can be hard work. 00:43:46.179 --> 00:43:50.539 Yes, it can be long hours and discouragements and rejections and setbacks. 00:43:50.799 --> 00:43:53.339 But there is a joy that comes. 00:43:54.619 --> 00:43:58.940 And Jesus is sending us into the harvest field for our joy. 00:44:00.319 --> 00:44:01.440 Charles Spurgeon said, 00:44:01.940 --> 00:44:10.299 If you are eager for real joy, such as you may think over and sleep upon, I am persuaded that no joy of growing wealthy, 00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:15.940 no joy of increasing knowledge, no joy of influence over your fellow creatures, 00:44:16.179 --> 00:44:17.940 no joy of any other sort, 00:44:18.139 --> 00:44:22.000 can ever be compared with the rapture of saving a soul from death 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:27.059 and helping to restore our lost brethren to our great father's house. 00:44:27.859 --> 00:44:28.500 Let's pray. 00:44:28.500 --> 00:44:28.579 Amen. 00:44:28.579 --> 00:44:28.879 Amen. 00:44:28.879 --> 00:44:29.099 Amen. 00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:29.299 Amen. 00:44:29.299 --> 00:44:29.519 Amen. 00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:29.739 Amen. 00:44:29.739 --> 00:44:29.799 Amen. 00:44:29.799 --> 00:44:29.819 Amen. 00:44:29.819 --> 00:44:29.919 Amen. 00:44:29.919 --> 00:44:30.279 Amen.