John Chapter 4:31-39

Disciples go into town and they come back with food, but without anybody with an these are the guys easing into this. This is the first stringers.

These are the boys and the woman was in such bondage, the woman who had been simply not by sin goes in the town was verse 30 tells then they went out of the city and came to him. She brought most the town & the disciples come back empty-handed, with nobody followed him and the woman who had been in such bondage and sin came up with half the attempt. I think this is interesting because God uses the people you don't think you would use and realize that everything turns into an opportunity to witness welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today as Pastor David begins a message make a difference based in John chapter 4, we have a special guest studio. Welcome Pastor DA Brown and Bob really excited about this teaching. It's exciting to hear that God wants to use us to be a blessing to other people's eternity, not just there next 10 minutes, not just their day would be a blessing to their attorney about this is teaching you don't want to miss folks, you're in the right place because now here's David McGee with his teaching. Make a difference.

So verse 31 that we been talking about the woman at the well in John chapter 4 with cover going through the chapter here and then what's happened at this point is the woman has realize that Jesus is the Messiah because he told her so.

The woman goes in the town and the disciples are coming out of town so was pick it up verse 31. In the meantime, his disciples urged him Sandra Rabbi eat, but he said to them, I have food to eat, of which you do not know verse 33 therefore the disciples said to one another. Has anyone brought him anything to eat now.

Don't miss the irony what's going on right here is first of all the disciples go in the town and they come back with food, but without anybody with a and these are the guys easing into this. This is the first stringers. These are the boys and the woman was in such bondage, the woman who had been so beaten up by sin goes in the town was verse 30 tells then they went out of the city and came to him. She brought most the town & the disciples come back empty-handed, with nobody followed him and the woman who had been in such bondage and sin came up with half the town. I think this is interesting because God uses the people you don't think he would use. Amen. Coming even in our mind we have this thing of you know you gotta do this you gotta do that you gotta go to school for seven years.

If you really gave your really serious, you need to go for nine and then perhaps God might use you but look who it is that God uses and realize that everything turns into an opportunity to witness. Look for opportunities for more used to not see them look in the grocery store look in the restaurants look at the coworkers. Ecclesiastes chapter 11 verse forces. He who observes the wind will not.

So when he who regards the clouds will not reap. Don't let your fear or your anxiety keep you from sharing your faith. Perhaps you remember if you're old enough, the first time you drove how nervous you were sweaty palms and you are very very anxious why because you hadn't driven that much. Well hopefully if you've been driving a little while, you didn't feel that way. She's got behind the wheel this morning. You got behind the wheel. You were comfortable what you're used to driving them listening thing can be applied to sharing your faith. Granted, the first time the first couple of times you may get really nervous, sweaty palms and no no, but as you begin to assure your face more and more it becomes a habit.

If you will, a good habit and that anxiety begins to go, and let me ask you question the enemy can get you to not share your faith through anxiety. Do you understand he has a vested interest in making sure you feel anxious before you share your faith anything can shut you down that way then you pour it on and then the disciples Jesus as I have food eat of what you do not know when the disciples said some mild runs. Let me know what happened there they are again encouraging us see and it's interesting because if you if you follow you can like church history, you know you have seen John St. Mark and St. Matthew. But look at the reality of Scripture. The understand the reality of Scripture paints a different picture because we think of how I we get this picture in our head. What the disciples were like. First of all we think they were there they were very tall voices spoke about deep theological issues but is that what Scripture says to understand what this book says deep theological issues I discussed more than anything else was who was going to be the greatest. And if that's not bad enough, remember that two of them said their mother to ask Jesus when he wouldn't answer no mom he never answers we've asking lots and just start start about servant hood. Would you asking to see some stuff as we go through the gospel of John, the disciples missing it.

Why do I bring that up well so I can get beat up when I get to heaven know that because when we paint the disciples is something superhuman than we think. Why can never do that. I can never be like that.

Truly I think there was a special anointing on these guys but also see that there were human but Jesus was teaching them and we need to remember that we need to be encouraged because when I see something like this where the disciples obviously missed what Jesus was trying to tell him in a weird way it encourages me because I've missed sometimes what Jesus meant to tell me what Jesus was saying is that there's a satisfaction to doing the Lord's work, sustenance and energy thing that comes with it. Verse 34 Jesus said to them, my food is to do the will of him who sent me, and the finish his work early on fourth chapter John, Jesus is talking about finishing the work.

Where was his work finished on the cross member. He said it is finished. The Telus died in the Greek paid in full.

That's what he was here to do you ever thought about it. Obviously we we think about Jesus and the way to the cross but understand there was a real challenge in front of Jesus as well. He had to disciple these 12 guys he had to impart to them the wisdom in his mission that was going to change the world and he had three years to do it.

36 months 1095 days and he accomplish this task. That's an amazing thing to me and it's amazing is the disciples were empowered by the spirit of God. When you start reading the book of acts.

It's like different men. Then you read about in the Gospels that had a very real encounter with Jesus Christ. They've been filled with God's Holy Spirit and it makes all the difference in the world are you doing the work of the Lord when that your job faster is not just my job is everybody's job.

I think we can somehow we got off track to think that Christianity is like a spectator sport and somehow we painted the picture that as long as you give God you know I can hour and 1/2 or so on Sunday morning. That's about all he desires for me and nothing could be further from the truth. You want your heart.

You want your life you want you to tell about the goodness of God to others. Proverbs chapter 10 verse five says he who gathers in summer is a wise son and he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame verse 35 of John chapter 4, he says, do you not say there are still four months and then comes the harvest, behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest. I wonder how many people are waiting to share their faith for how many different reasons here this morning.

Maybe think about just don't know enough Scripture well before the end of the service today. I will give you enough Scripture to lead somebody to the Lord, you probably already have enough now the anxiety God will help you with that fear in overcoming the fear of man, Jesus is saying. The fields are white with harvest and certainly that was true right then and right there and it's also true today. A parallel passage, Matthew chapter 9 verse 37 then he said to his disciples harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest is an interesting prayer, but the Lord tells us the braces pray that the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Ask a question you here this morning and you're willing to pray this prayer that Jesus himself recommends you pray as they raise your hands. I guess I'll pray that for praise God may tell you something as you pray this prayer you will begin to realize something is your praying for laborers to go forth in the harvest in your thinking of some guy, maybe in India got guess my different month.

He's got you in mind, and as you pray this prayer.

What happens so often as you begin to realize you know what, I'm a labor. This is something I'm supposed to be doing not just somebody overseas, not just somebody around the world, but something I'm supposed to be doing you just raise your hand. The prey that are you open to the fact that Jesus may say okay, your labor.

Go are you open to the fact that Jesus might data raise your hand again if you open the okay. We got your own video you're committed now. Praise God. Now don't don't be afraid because here's what happened so often the enemy comes and goes. Don't raise your hand you hate the cold and he'll send it to Alaska. Somehow we get in our mind this really twisted thing about doing the will of God doing the work of the Lord. But you know what it says that God will give you the desires of your heart never people to a set Scripture lysates what that means is that God will give you what ever your heart desires. No, no, no, that's not what it says see I believe that Scripture says that God will place in your heart's desires.

You will desire to do the right thing and you know how I know that God is at work in your life this morning Scripture here you're here, and that shows me that God is at work in your but are you doing the work are you talking to people about your faith invite people to church, you realize that some people may be waiting on you to invite them to the study that said 75% of unbelievers would go if they were invited to church harvest fields ready. Are you ready to do the work. See now when I think of that when I think 75, three out of four people would say yes if you invited you know what it makes me think they're probably sitting there wondering why you haven't invited him to church maybe they seem there are that your believer heard that you go to church in life and then they think well why wasn't he asking me to go to church. This is he or she think there's something wrong with me. Did they think I don't measure up to the think I'm going to make a mistake and so they're not invite me to go with in the church scene. We think well you know if I invite them there in a field weird note no chances are they're already feeling weird because perhaps you have been invited to take that step will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now is a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob were excited be here. Listen to the teaching want to pray for some people in our listening audience today. Specifically, the cities in California and con Rio Linda Salinas sent heart of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara God, we thank you for the people in the cities today we pray that they would tune in and be encouraged in your word. Lord help and have an open heart that you want to speak directly to them God that you want to forgive them of all their sins. Lord you want to use them to be a blessing to other people so others can be forgiven to in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse Daniel chapter 12 verse three says those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever.

First lifelessness the Lord in the Scriptures tells us to tell others. We are either telling others or we are in disobedience to what he told us to do things I love about the Bible. There's not a lot of gray areas in Jesus told us to tell people he's told us to invite people he's told us to go into the highways and the byways and were either doing that or were in disobedience. Verse 36 is a need to reach receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reads may rejoice together for in this saying is true. Once those in another Greeks I sent you to read that for which you have not labored others of labor and you've entered into their labors.

There's a lot of things going on in this church there is a lot of outreach ministries going on were doing the radio broadcast were also going into prisons. We've got the teachings that are on the website.

We hear from places all over the United States and actually had some people in Germany going to the website.

Listen to the teachings understand our heart in this.

It's not about just the four walls of the church and I will as a person with a heart for the lost, it will never be about the four walls here, ever, ever, Jesus said, will be fishers of men. He never said will be keepers of the square. Amen.

We sure are passionate about this loss. People thing you bet it you know a lot because I think that's the heart of the Lord. I don't understand a Christian that would look at loss.

People go maybe some oil region now know it's our job, and there's a whole team that's involved, there's a team of prayer support. There's a team of financial support. There's people actually doing the work of the ministry and it's important that we all join together and that we not lose heart. Galatians chapter 6 verse noncitizen don't get tired of doing what is good.

Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. It's interesting to see that this portion of Scripture, and you may want to read this later something ask chapter 8 verse one through about 25 Philip walks into a revival going on in Samaria that the seeds are planted right here that's important to remember to first Corinthians chapter 3 verse six is our planet Apollo slaughter, but God gave the increase, then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters but God, who gives the increase. I like that verse. So then, neither he who plants is anything I get part of because every known in some essay so you planted this church know God planted district God's one that started sowing and reaping, sowing and reaping son Eric and you realize in the United States average person hears the gospel is presented with the gospel.

Seven times before they make a decision for Jesus that you never know the first review the seventh.

To be honest, it doesn't matter is not up to you but understand every time you share with somebody they perhaps are one step closer to receiving the gospel and so your planting the seed God gives the increase is responsible for the increase they lose couple people at who's responsible for the increase over one more time then we move out who's responsible for the increase.

Very good wines that so important because here's what happens sometimes when people start sharing your faith they begin to think that they are responsible for the increase. So they're going to do everything including stick the door and start to holler at the person is there walking off because they think they are responsible for the increase. If you think you're responsible for the increase you're in trouble because then you will get in the flesh on the create that increase.

God is responsible for well I don't have time, talk to people about my faith. You don't have time while now I need to mow the yard clean the house, wash car at some point you will say goodbye to your house and your car in your yard and you will say hello to eternal rewards.

The cars can be go the house is good.

Begone everything is going to be go. The only thing that's left is what you will have done for the Lord. So where should you be spending part of your time and your energy in your efforts in doing these things for the Lord now. Another thing that's interesting to me in this passage Jesus talks to Nicodemus.

I think we look at that passage is what's good at your Jesus was trying to influence the influential that's good luckily chooses in John chapter 4. The woman at the well and when I found when I start trying to witness this money and share my faith with somebody. It's interesting you know the door that gets slammed the quickest is those people who are religious, but don't think they need Jesus because they're trusting in their goodness. That's the door that slams the hardest and what I found is that the people who are struggling. The people that have problems. Those people are more open to the gospel. The people who are down and out. The people in your workplace that may be on the verge of getting fired because of their performance because they come in late because of last night's activities or whatever and they're probably more open than anybody else in the workplace. Everybody else, looks at him thinking and talk to him… Her. There's no openness there reach out to the Samaritan reach out to the people there. Her harvest is weight and it's often less intimidating to us to reach out to those who are struggling Second Life lesson this fellowship as a team to reach others with the good news.

Are you on the team are you on the team think I know there's a lot of people who are committed to this work and committed to this fellowship and sadly enough we also have spectators. I don't sit just because other fellowships are 5% less than average 3 to 5%. The church were probably in excess of 25%. I'm not kicking back going all praise God is great when we have 100%. Maybe were all supposed to be serving. None of us especially spectators. If you can show me from Scripture from verses that were especially spectators all by I'll go with.

I don't see I see they were all to be discipled and were all to be serving the Lord. There's many things in and many hands joined together in this work. The people that are so much that goes unseen.

There's people to come in every Saturday to clean the church there. So it there investing because he realizes the money comes and then to totally nasty dirty church by his taking care of they might not come back with people that go over the grounds we have people help people park why because we realize that people hit a snag there. They may not come in the door. It's all join in together as a team to reach the community and we need to join together.

That's what it takes. It takes a team verse 30 noncitizen. Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified he told me all that I ever did.

Again, guys look who Jesus is using keep coming back to that pastor right I do you know why because I don't think we get. I don't think we realize that God wants to use you when we look at pastors and go well yeah you know God was using and sometimes even make the mistake of thinking it's obvious why God wants to use and sadly some pastors go on and on about why God is using because there this because there that because there's so highly educated and nothing against education, study the word of studied it for years, but I think when we use that as a reason not to be active in serving the Lord. That's not what God intended. Look where he picked these disciples from Betty pickup from Jerusalem from the schools of the rabbis know 11 of them came from the Galilee region which was known for well modern-day English. Further, partiers.

That's where the partiers are now. That's where the people who weren't really interested in spiritual things are now all he did get one from Judea was Judas. God wants to use the foolish things to confound the wise he wants to use every person in here, you realize that the God nobody is unusable.

Look at Peter when he did not Jesus did Jesus go away you know when you're done.

You're just it's not a work out for you. Sorry work. I have to let you go, somebody did. He actually went out of his way, as they were sent to go to the disciples and Peter special invite for the guy who did not the Lord. The amazing thing is that from Peter's denial made a musical before the denial got good news and you know why because Peter had a lot of pride. Yet a lot of spiritual pride. You can see it in the discussions you know where you guys going to leave me and Peter take what you know.

Maybe all these guys but not me. But when Peter broke when Peter realized he could no longer put faith in Peter man, Peter became a great tool in the hands of the master friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day.

From the heart of David McGee. That sounds good pastor day and again. It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com.

If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM Eastern time. This visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link. There you will experience a live service from David's home church. The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continued teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God