Two big updates on prayer coming up:

First of all, this Sunday I’ll be leading the Sunday School time, building on Rev. Dr. Tom’s Pfizenmaier’s class on “silence, solitude and simplicity.” I’ll share some of my own joy in experiencing what Tom outlined plus some practical steps to walk in the Lord’s presence more each day. At the end of the class, we’ll write down names of people we would love to come to know the Lord. Then we’ll pray for them.

Secondly, next Wednesday we’ll have our weekly prayer night, a night of “Prayer and Praise.” I am so grateful for the wonderful leadership and consistency Elizabeth Kuczun has brought to our Wednesday evenings! I’ll lead this particular Wednesday at 7:00 pm in the lobby of the FLC. We’ll start meeting there more regularly during the winter months due to the challenge of heating the Coggin Room. Elizabeth will be leading us in the musical aspect of worship as we sing some songs and fellowship together…come and join us!

Back to Sunday – We enter week two of our series of six on ‘Worship.’ The passage the Holy Spirit led me to is John, chapter 4. This chapter is often described as “The Woman at the Well.” We’ll look at v. 9-30. Jesus begins to speak to the Samaritan woman and she is quite surprised, “you are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” In that time and culture, Jews did not associate with Samaritans. The ethnic and religious divisions were so entrenched that they didn’t even speak in public together. Also it was unprecedented for a man to speak to a woman in public. Jesus is breaking across two major barriers for the sake of this woman’s soul. What a witness to all of us to reach out when prompted by the Holy Spirit no matter who it is, whether Tom Brady or the person on the street corner. If God wants us to reach out by His grace and leading, we need to be obedient and reach out! 

Jesus then said to her,

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is who asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and He would have given you living water.” (v. 10).

Jesus is beginning to reveal that He is not just talking about literal water. He is speaking of something much more profound, much more real and truly lasting. Meanwhile the woman is trying to figure this all out. She says to Him, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” (v. 11). Now she is seeking Jesus in wondering where this living water can be found, because, at least externally, she is not seeing it. Jesus initiates with people and does the drawing to Himself, but people also need to search and seek Him out to truly see and experience the power of God. To do this, we have to keep digging below the surface in seeking the Lord as to the Truth of His promises and as to who He is!

Jesus then answers her question in a profound and clear way. This is truly one of my personal favorite Scriptures:

Amen!! Every person has a deep hunger and thirst for something that will truly fill. This could be also described as a relentless hunger and thirst. Even though the “wells” of the world (whatever those may be) cannot ultimately satisfy, it is tempting to remain in a place of pursuing these as our primary goal. Jesus is the only One who can ultimately quench the thirst of the human heart. Those who have come to know Him as Lord can give a rousing “amen” to this. Even as believers we can forget and pursue other things to fill our hearts. But we know that our thirst has ultimately been quenched in Christ. Thanks be to God!!

Then in v. 16-22 Jesus challenges the woman with her major “well” of idolatry which was men (five husbands). Read and reflect on this passage and note the gentle, yet matter of fact way Jesus interacts with her. Powerful. V. 22-24 reveal that the woman is looking for the “where” and “what” of worship. But Jesus points her (and all of us) back to the “who” of worship. She is looking for the externals of worship (location, tradition, etc.), but Jesus is pointing to Himself as reason for worship. It’s easy for us to get caught up with externals and miss the Lord as our ultimate object and goal of worship.

Later the woman goes into town and says, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” The people responded and made their way toward Him (v. 29-30.) Once the woman truly encountered Jesus, she couldn’t help but tell people about Him! True worship leads to the desire to pour out and tell everyone about Him. Worshipping the Lord leads to evangelism and discipleship!! Amen. Let’s pour out what He is pouring into us, by His grace.

See you Sunday for another great day of worshipping the living God!

Blessings,

Pastor Andrew