"That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship." ~~Jesus

Tags

Honesty, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Worship

What kind of people is God looking for?

Now that is an interesting question. While the woman at the well didn’t really ask it, Jesus answered it.

Sometimes we don’t know the question to ask. Or if we do, we don’t ask it.

God doesn’t want us to fake it. He wants us to be honest in our worship. He wants us to be our selves.

That is the kind of people He loves the most. God’s goal for me is to come to Him just like I am. He knows me at my core. I can’t deceive Him. When I’m myself, I see Him for who He is.

“That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.” ~~Jesus (John 4:24 The Message)

"What you’re called does not matter and where you go to worship does not matter." ~~Jesus

Tags

Church, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Worship

Religious Fraud

It is not about what religious group you are born into. It doesn’t matter what church you go to.

Jesus is challenging us. He is clear. There are a lot of things that don’t matter. At least, they don’t matter to him. And what matters to Jesus should matter to me. That should be my focus.

It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Our worship must engage our spirit in the pursuit of truth.That’s the kind of people that Jesus is out looking for. Those who are simply and honestly themselves before God in their worship. 

Jesus challenges us to know that God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. It is not what religious group you were born into. It is not what church you go to.

But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.” ~~Jesus (John 4:23 The Message)

"You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day."~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Messiah, Worship

Jesus challenges me to worship in a clear way. Sometimes I am just guessing. That is not the way of God’s chosen people.

God is light. He is so clear there is nothing but truth in Him. No guessing; just clarity.

Our worship needs to be the same way.

You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day.

~Jesus (John 4:22 The Message)

 

"Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Samaritan, Worship

Wave arms in worship

Jesus challenges me to know that worship isn’t going to church or any specific location. It isn’t where I worship; Baptist Church, Catholic Cathedral, Jewish Synagogue, Muslim Mosque.

What is important is do you worship the one true God? Do I reach God through Jesus?

Jesus challenges me to be one of those who is simply and honestly themselves before God in me worship. That is all.

May I worship God simply and honestly today.

Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. 

~~Jesus – John 4:21 (The Message Bible)

 

"These fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!" ~~Jesus

Tags

Fields, Harvest, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John, John 4, Ripe

Jesus knows things we don’t. He challenges us to wake up. He looks out and doesn’t just see people. He sees a field that is ready to be harvested. Jesus sees people who are ready for God’s world (Kingdom).

Jesus challenges us to see the same things. We can’t be complacent. We must not think someone else will do what God wants us to do right now.

We must rise to the challenge Jesus has for us. It is harvest time.

“These fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!” ~~Jesus (John 4:35 The Message)

"You spoke the truth there, sure enough." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Truth

Jesus knows us. Jesus knows us to our core. We can try to evade the truth but Jesus knows the truth. So there is no point in even trying to hide.

The kind of people our Father is out looking for are those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. He wants that kind of relationship with us.

“That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.” ~~Jesus (John 4:18 The Message) 

“Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant.” ~Jesus

Tags

Harvest, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Love, Role

Harvest

There are many roles for us to play in God’s world (Kingdom). Sow of us sow the seed. Some of us weed. Some of us water. Some of us reap the harvest. When we play the role of the harvester, we need to remember those who went before us to sow, weed and water.

Jesus has a role for us to play. Our job is to understand what it is today and be faithful to God’s plan. If our role is to get rid of the weeds today, then let us do it joyfully knowing that one day someone will be able to harvest the crop. In fact, if there is no weeding done, there will be no harvest.

We will all share together in the harvest. God knows about our faithfulness. We will all be triumphant together.

Here are the key ideas:

1. It is important for us to serve the role today that God has given us.
2. God’s goal is for the eventual harvest to be completed.
3. God knows what is the best thing to happen today.
4. God is good to patiently love the harvest in.

“The Harvester isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.” (John 4:36-38 The Message)

"Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Pursue, Spirit, Truth, Worship

Jesus challenges us to worship God in a way we have never known before. Do we think worship is sitting in church singing the hymn and raising our hands? It is definitely not.

Worship is at the core of who we are in pursuit of who God is.

Are we pursuing God in our worship? Are we heads over heals going after Him? Are we engaged with Him like never before?

Jesus wants us to know that God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.

God’s goal for us is to engage our spirit in worship of the living God.

 “Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth.” ~~Jesus (John 4:24 The Message)

"Go call your husband and then come back." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Wisdom

Jesus knows everything. There is no reason to pretend otherwise. He knew the “Woman at the Well” had been married 5 times and the person she was living with right now wasn’t her husband.

He knew she would answer “I have no husband” when he would ask her to go get her husband.

He also knew that operating with the Spirit of Wisdom would get her attention to listen to God’s word for her.

When she left the encounter, she would say to others, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” A word of Wisdom can make a huge difference.

May I operate with the Spirit of Wisdom that God gives me to help others encounter Jesus.

“Go call your husband and then come back.” ~~Jesus (John 4:16 The Message)

"I am the Messiah. You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Messiah

Jesus challenges us to know who He is. He is clear. He is straightforward. He is the Messiah.

The woman he was talking with casually mentioned she was waiting for the Messiah to be revealed. She couldn’t have been expecting this response from the man who wanted some water.

The conversation got interrupted. She had heard enough. She went and spread the word.

Jesus has revealed himself to us. What are we waiting for? Why do we act like we are continuing to look for Him?

Jesus is the Messiah. God has put Him in charge of everything. Jesus restores us to our rightful state of right standing with God, our Father.

“I am the Messiah. You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.” ~~Jesus (John 4:26 The Message)

“He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life.” ~Jesus

Tags

Harvest, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4

Harvest

Jesus challenges us to know that the harvest is ready. There is no waiting. People are ready to hear the good news of God’s love. People are ready to live a life dedicated to doing what God wants.

We are working for wages in God’s world. What is our pay? Eternal life that never ends. The shear joy of working for Jesus. The pleasure of seeing others commit to serving God. These are the wages that come to those of us who sow the seed of God’s good news. They are also the pay of those who reap what is sown. Both get the pay.

People are ready. Now is the time. We should not wait. Jesus makes it clear that there is a continual harvest ready if we will both sow and reap. Jesus challenges us to not make excuses. It isn’t our job to try to figure out is someone ready to hear the good news. Our job is to proclaim the goodness of God. Maybe we will reap the harvest or maybe we will just plant the seed.

Others have toiled to get things ready for the harvest. Will we let their work go to waste? Now that would be a shame to trash the work of others who have gone before us.

God’s goal for us to act now. Souls are ready to be gathered into the harvest of a life lived for all of eternity.

“The Harvester isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.” (John 4:36-38 The Message)

“That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.” ~Jesus

Tags

Faithful, Good News, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4

Good news of God

Jesus is clear that we don’t always know our role but we have to tell everyone the Good News. It may just be sowing a seed for later on or it may be time for the person to come to Jesus.

Our job is to be faithful. God’s job is to bring the message home.

“That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.” ~Jesus (John 4:38 The Message)

“The Harvester isn’t waiting.” ~Jesus

Tags

Harvest, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4

Harvest

Jesus challenges us to understand that God is ready to act. God isn’t waiting around. God will move.

God isn’t waiting. God is taking his pay, gathering in the grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Jesus is arm in arm with God, triumphant. God has elevated Jesus, seating him next to Him for all of eternity.

God’s goal is for to join in the harvest. Souls are waiting on us to point them to Jesus.

May I join with Jesus in the harvest.

May I know that now is the time for the harvest.

“The Harvester isn’t waiting.” ~Jesus (John 4:36 The Message)

“As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest?” ~Jesus

Tags

God's Will, Harvest, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4

Harvest

We are good at looking around at nature and figuring out what time of year it is. We can see the snow right in front of us and know that it is winter. Nothing too tough about that.

Jesus challenges us to be that discerning spiritually. It is, of course, harvest time all around us. Do we see it? Do we know it? Where is our sense of urgency?

What keeps Jesus going is doing what God wants. That is it. That is God’s goal for us as well. God has something He wants us to finish. God wants us to lean in, listen to Him and get it done. Is it harvest time? Yes, it is.

May I see what God sees.

May I focus on what God wants to happen.

 In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, “Rabbi, eat. Aren’t you going to eat?” He told them, “I have food to eat you know nothing about.” The disciples were puzzled. “Who could have brought him food?”  Jesus said, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!  (John 4:31 – 35 The Message)

 

“Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Adoration, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Worship

Worship and adore God

Jesus knows how to worship God, our Father.

Jesus challenges us to worship God the right way. It has to come from our core, out of adoration for who God is and God’s great love for us.

Do I adore God? Am I stunned at all the good God does for me and everyone else?

God is God. God is in a good mood. God’s goal for us is to worship Him and adore Him.

Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. ~~Jesus (John 4:24 The Message)

“God is sheer being itself—Spirit.” ~~Jesus

Tags

God is God, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Spirit

God is God. He is. God has always existed and will always exist.

We struggle to know what God is like. How do we describe Him. What is His essence like?

Jesus is clear about God. God is Spirit, sheer being itself. God is.

“God is sheer being itself—Spirit.” ~~Jesus (John 4:24 The Message)

"The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." ~~Jesus

Tags

Eternal Life, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Satisfaction

Eternal Life

Jesus, our Master, challenges us to look beyond a cool bottle of water. This world and all it offers doesn’t satisfy. Jesus brings to us satisfaction and a life that never ends.

Jesus challenges to look around us, the bread we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear and see them for what they are. Temporary items of this world that never satisfy us.

We consume and always want more. It is never enough. In GOD’s world (Kingdom) we are always satisfied.

“The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” ~~Jesus (John 4:14 The Message)

"Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever." ~~Jesus

Tags

Eternal Life, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Water

Nothing is impossible. God is God.

Eternity is a long time. Think a billion years.

Not enough.

A trillion years. Not enough.

It is hard enough to think of 100 years. Jesus wants us to wrap our minds around the enormity of what GOD can and will do. GOD is GOD.

Jesus offers the Holy Spirit and life for all eternity. It is an unconditional offer. It is ours for believing in Him and GOD.

Jesus challenges us to drink His water and be satisfied.

It is enough. We don’t need anything else.

“Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever.” ~~Jesus (John 4:14 The Message)

"Go home. Your son lives." ~~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Healing, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Miracles

Heartfelt experience with Jesus

You come to Jesus. You beg him to personally come and heal your son who is dying.

Jesus puts you off. Won’t go see him and heal him. Jesus makes a blunt statement that all you are interested in is miracles. Jesus challenges you.

Will you be put off? Will you slink away? Do you have faith?

This man did not slink away. He had faith and kept at Jesus. He begged. He pleaded. He knew Jesus could heal his son.

So, Jesus says to him:

“Go home. Your son lives.” ~~Jesus (John 4:51 The Message)

He went home. His son was healed. Just as he believed and just as Jesus said.

Jesus challenges us. Do we really believe?

"Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again." ~~Jesus

Tags

Holy Spirit, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Kingdom, Water

Holy Spirit

Jesus challenges us to not be deceived by things in this world.

In God’s World (Kingdom), you can drink water and be satisfied.

Thinking that water in this world really satisfies us is a deception.We drink, but, we get thirsty again. And again. And then again.

It is the Spirit of God that satisfies us. We must drink of that water. We must be thirsty for that water. We must focus on God’s World not this world.

God’s goal for us is to be satisfied.

“Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again.” ~~Jesus (John 4:13 The Message)

"I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you." ~~Jesus

Tags

Eyes, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Today

Open eyes

Jesus challenges us to see the opportunities right in front of us.

We need to see what God is doing rather than what He isn’t doing. We need to see what God is doing today not what we think He is going to do 4 days from now or 4 months from now or 4 years from now.

He is doing amazing things today. He wants us to tap into that today. The fields are ready to be harvested. He needs workers today.

What God wants us to do is right in front of us. We must see it.

God’s goal for us is for us (not Him) to open our eyes. We must do it.

“Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you.” ~~Jesus (John 4:34 The Message)

"The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started." ~~Jesus

Tags

Food, God's Will, Jesus Sayings, John 4

Jesus challenges us

Jesus challenges us to focus on the main thing. God has a goal for us today. God wants us to focus on it.

It isn’t about what our next meal will be or what will be on the menu.

It is about doing what God wants us to do right now. Doing God’s will step by step, every day. All those steps add up to His grand plan for His world (the Kingdom).

Doing what God wants right now is our source of energy.

“The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started.” ~~Jesus (John 4:34 The Message)

"Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe." ~~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Miracles

Jesus Challenges Us

You come to Jesus. Your son is sick and is going to die. You ask Jesus to come and heal him.

Jesus puts you off. That’s right, Jesus doesn’t just hop to it to do what you want.

In fact, He challenges your motives. This is your opportunity to slink off or stand firm.

Jesus challenges us. Do we believe in him or will we give up?

Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king’s court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.”

But the court official wouldn’t be put off. “Come down! It’s life or death for my son.”

 Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.”

The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!”

He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, “The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o’clock.” The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, “Your son lives.”

That clinched it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee.

John 4:46-54 (The Message)

"It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Love, Righteousness

Right standing with God

We get caught up in the wrong things.

What church do we go to or what denomination do we belong to. How good is the worship team or choir. What school did we graduate from. What neighborhood do we live in.

What is my title at work. How much money we earn. What car do we drive. The list goes on and on.

Jesus challenges us down to our core. What is my relationship with our loving God and Father? Do I love Him and Him only? Do I seek with all my heart to please Him every day? Do I love the people in my life the way He loves me?

That is all that is important. Jesus challenges us to live that way.

God has a goal in mind for us. He wants us to live in right standing before Him. Jesus is the way to that right standing.

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God.” ~~Jesus (John 4:24 The Message)

"I have food to eat you know nothing about." ~~Jesus

Tags

Food, God's Goal, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Nutrition

John 4:32 God’s food to eat

It can be confusing to talk with Jesus. We’re talking this world and He’s talking about God’s world.

Jesus challenges to see things from God’s perspective; from His world. So it can be confusing, when we talk about food that isn’t the kind of food He is thinking about.

This seriously messed with His disciples when He was here. It can confuse us today if we aren’t careful.

God’s goal for us is that we focus on His world. He is in control. He has a plan for us. We need to get our nutrition from Jesus and God.

May I see things His way and not my way.

“I have food to eat you know nothing about.” ~~Jesus (John 4:32)

"If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."~~Jesus

Tags

Generosity, God is Good, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Water

Generosity of God. He is in a good mood.

Jesus knows first hand the generosity of God. Everything starts from God caring and His generosity. Jesus knows that God is a loving Father.

When we ask for a drink of water, he reminds us (challenges us) to focus on what is important. Water will only quench our thirst for a brief period of time.

Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit (living water) who empowers us for all of eternity. We have that now.

May I drink from the living water of Jesus and realize the power of His Holy Spirit. May I realize that now.

“If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”~~Jesus (John 4:10)

"Would you give me a drink of water?" ~~Jesus

Tags

Conversation, Drink, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Questions, Thirst

Jesus asks a question. Simple and to the point. He was thirsty.

Jesus also knew where the question would lead and that the conversation would change this woman’s life.

It really didn’t matter what her answer was going to be, He was going to have the conversation. So, it isn’t about the question as much as it is about the conversation. True with Jesus. True with us. But it did start with a question.

God’s goal for our life is to have conversations. He can quench our thirst. It starts with a conversation.

A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)  (John 4:7-8)