John Chapter 4:39-42

God wants to use you as everybody in the guise of just half of us would commit to spreading the good news we would turn the triad rights look to the Lord used in here. One lady with a shady past was a good thing she she didn't know the God doesn't usually boycott the good thing nobody told her that God wouldn't use somebody like that was a good thing that that she did know God doesn't use people who've been divorced good thing. Jesus didn't realize she'd been divorced up though he knew and used her anyway. You know whether your pastors shameful color for horrible war.

Good doesn't limit what God wants to do. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Today we have a special guest roster. You welcome Pastor DA Brown box. God wants us to be contagious, not contagious with the cold contagious with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the more we follow Jesus, the more excited we are about telling others listen to this. Listen to your passion fired up to tell other people about Jesus. That sounds good. DA as we do that will impact the lives of those around us in ways that we can even imagine.

So now let's listen as David McGee continues his teaching make a difference. Now we been talking about the woman at the well in John chapter 4 with cover going through the chapter here in verse 39 says in 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 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 Way, God was using and sometimes even make the mistake of thinking it's obvious why God wants to use. 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 and 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 Peckham 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 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 to let you go, somebody did. He actually went out of his way, as they were sent 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 get a lot of spiritual pride. You can see it in the discussions you know are you guys going to leave me and Peter take what you know. Maybe all these guys but not me, Lord. 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. So where that describes you, maybe you're still in religious pride made her sit out there this morning going why is God using that you will be asking biosphere to go with you still get the same answer. Or maybe you're in a place where you've been through a hard time and you messed up and you did not the Lord. Maybe you're thinking your unusable because nothing could be further from the truth you've come to the place where your pride in your trust is not in your flash scene. Often Christians do this they put their trust in their ability to follow the Lord don't do that, but your trust in the Lord's ability to lead you to be put your trust in your ability to follow Lord you live a Christian life that is filled with disillusionment and perhaps bitterness. But if you have your trust in him to lead you, man is going to be just a joyous adventures you follow Lord as he continually pulls you back in the past when you wander off and one of the reasons this excites me. One of the reasons I get excited about this passage in some similar passages in the fact that God has done work in my life and is not a working other people's life is because is just awesome thing about being a Christian, you never know when God's going to show up, you never know who God's going to use energy-saving me.

There's nobody can't save anybody save one save them all. You realize there's not one person that you know that is beyond the reach of the gospel, the very one that you're tempted to look at go man, no way would he ever come to the Lord is one God wants to use this is just awesome stuff coming to realize, you never know when God's goodness sakes much. There may be somebody sitting here this morning.

It's not safe that when we finish up will be saved. There may be more than one you can live in the constant expectation that God is going to do something radical in your life and let me assure you seen it time and time and time again. Just when you think the night is endless. Just when you think it is so dark that you'll never see the light again. Don breaks in the Lord intervenes and he comes into your situation breaks the bondage is and shatters the dark and that's an exciting way to live. That's the expectation I live and I'm not going make it by the skin of my teeth. I hope not getting in. How you do it.

I'm just dying to know.

And then you're wondering why more people don't want to come to the Lord, that doesn't get me excited to see somebody who you know. Try to be happy and say in this.

People get saved people be in touch hasn't happened just wants in John four were seen it week in and week out people getting save lives being changed. I want to be that now you know I constantly let your thing because that is so appropriate. But there so many Christian New York were we used to have one that went here and I think it was just to keep me depend upon the Lord. Every time I would present a plan and to handyman work signage at world in the whole build minute about three services and me. We were all slammed into a little teeny room in a knowing I had another survey.

Nobody is going to go not really feel like this is a God thing. I really feel like it's the Lord to do. It's not the Lord.

I don't want to be anymore. I want to be a taker. The world has enough you want the world needs is some Christian diggers to watch more movies.

Get that thing down.

You people are looking for truth.

They are looking for truth and yes we have to present sin. We have to talk about sin.

We have to talk about the need for the Messiah and our sinful nature in our fallen nature, but we don't stop there. And this woman probably got uncomfortable.

The conversation that Jesus had, but he didn't stop there. He gave the answer.

He is the answer. You realize why Christians are afraid to talk about the past is because when they come to Jesus.

The past is no, it no longer matters. See that's how you know I can talk about the fact that I used to mess up what because my past is no longer painful because of Jesus able to say goodbye to my past. I'm not stuck in some cycle not been set free of all that bondage all all the mistakes, all failures, all the pain Jesus were done with her while he got the good news amazing mistakes but go verse 40 so when the Samaritans had come to him. They urge them to stay with them and he stayed there two days and many more believed because of his own word, they heard the words of Jesus, and it is critical it is absolutely critical that as believers, and especially his new believers that we get into the word of God, the new believers are placed in a church teaches the word of God. When we were traveling around all over the country and we were see a lot of people come to the Lord. It was hard sometimes. Knowing they were going to be attending a fellowship then teach the Bible only taught out of the bottle minute unit would teach a verse or two on Sunday morning but they weren't actually in the Scripture verse by verse chapter by chapter. We had people call us back say hey you know what might use leaders of this born-again thing is just an emotional experience is not necessary.

Manuals are about breaking my heart Lord God is important so often in Scripture see the teaching of the Word of God brings about revival here. The revival comes about this one woman's testimony, and in not only did she get changed look at that she's changing her world she's changing her world and how the world can get changed if each of us change our world that are particular sphere of influence. If you will.

If each of us is willing to step out in faith and and see God do work in our lives it would blow your mind know what God wants and is good will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's 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 ring con real 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 could 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, verse 42. Then they said to the woman, now we believe and not because of what you said. For we ourselves have heard him and we know that this is indeed the Christ the Savior of the world. That's awesome because we've gone from early in the chapter Jesus talk about salvation is of the Jews did them realize and that the door is now open for them, for Gentiles, Gentile, is anybody who's not Jewish thought closed on the Jewish people, but is now open to the Gentiles and they heard the words of Jesus and calls them to believe Jesus is the Savior of the world. He's not just the Savior.

People in Kernersville or of North Carolina or the United States. God is not just doing a work in America is doing work all over the world and because we need to realize and and understand. I think a lot of the ecumenical stuff is very, very dangerous today, and that every church everywhere joining together despite their differences.

Churches out there that don't believe what I believe about salvation. I can't join hands with them and we can disagree on some of the other things but not on the central issues to understand that we, along with unbelievers.

We share one simple thing we all need a Savior we all need Messiah in Jesus is the only true Savior. We have this bond if you will, this identification with every body we see and we meet in the moment we begin to arrogantly think I've got it and you don't something's gone wrong sums gone horribly wrong see whether somebody is here this morning listening on the radio listening through the Internet or on the other side of the world Jesus as their Savior. He desires to save if only they will come doing only in this is a think anybody who's willing to humble themselves can be included in the plan of salvation all those who willfully stand and prod be left out. It's a humble those wellness so you know what I have messed up. I do need forgiveness. I do need safe and let me say some bold here and edit it if it offends you, then you probably need to hear more.

God has no use for Christian snobs. He has no use for Christian snobs and you know what, as a pastor I see too much about going all I see people who look down their noses at people who need salvation as if they didn't need it.

If it has them. They weren't as desperate for the forgiveness of your sins. Ministers wrong. That's just wrong and I know people come to me and said no I'm not comfortable with a pastor talked about the fact that he sent sums up my will go somewhere else now.

I'm not approving of my sins. I hate my carnal nature.

I'm not approving of your sins. I'm not saying you're okay with your sins know we need to be sanctified. We need to be drawn close to the Lord.

But you know what, the fact that I remember that I'm a center helped me to reach out to those that have not received his amazing grace, and the only way a Christian can make himself unusable is pickup the snobbery pickup this prod. It stinks in the nostrils of God is an interesting thing you know early on. You think Jesus died for some people, but you don't think it includes you and then you come to that day were you go. You know what Jesus died for me that I can be forgiven, but then you're supposed to mature from that to you know what Jesus died for the world. He died that he would reach other people and you begin to be involved in that reaching out want to give you a few scriptures were to run through pretty quick. Some of you are familiar with them. This is called the Roman road got up can and you got a piece of paper job. These now I don't have a piece paper right in your Bible. It's okay to write about.

Okay even though you're not King James it's okay to write your problem with taking notes. It's a good thing Roman. This is called the Roman road, if you will write these down and if you write them in your policy then you got them in your Bible never said it was a mighty Salem insurance versus with this lays out the plan of salvation Romans chapter 310 as it is written, there is none righteous, no not one move quickly through Romans 323 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans chapter 58 but God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 512 therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sin. In other words, when Adam fell, we also Romans 623 for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Two more Romans did not intend that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved for the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Want to point out something says confess and believe and you will be saved doesn't mention baptism doesn't mention abiding or be unfaithful. Believe confess receive Romans 1013 says for who ever call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. And that's the Roman road.

Write it down. You may want to memorize some of these verses, but that's enough to lead somebody to a prayer of salvation and God wants to use you use everybody in this or just half of us would commit to spreading the good news we would turn the triad right side look to the Lord used in here. One lady with a shady past. What's a good thing she she didn't know that God doesn't use people like that. It's a good thing nobody told her that God would use somebody like that was a good thing that she did know God doesn't use people who been divorced. Some of you woke up on that one good thing Jesus didn't realize she'd been divorced now, he knew and used her anyway. You know whether your pastors shameful or colorful work horrible or good doesn't matter doesn't limit what God wants to do with you one of Jesus's favorite words, and Isaiah 55 one he says, is anyone thirsty, come in during John 737.

He says if anyone thirsts, let them come to me and drink and noticed that these people who heard the woman they didn't just stop there, they went in they heard the words of God. They got plugged in the God.

How many people of gotten saved because of this one woman at that time, and over the years. People who have referred to this passage, people of heard it tall that were drawn to the Lord. One woman who was willing to leave the past behind and instead of being trapped by our failures was set free to share the good news not only impacted her life, but impacted the lives of others. That's her final life lesson or faith should not only impact our life but the lives of those around us.

This is what supposed to happen. The saying is healthy she reproduce healthy she were compared to she and the Scriptures.

This is something that is a normal thing. This is not abnormal. This is what supposed to be happening in the life of every Christian of every believer asked chapter 181 verse eight says, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all today and Samaria and to the end of your Jerusalem today are Samaria and to the ends of the earth work power is due to lists where we get our word for dynamite. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to tell others and I guess there's three kinds of people here this morning.

There's people for the first time of heard me mean it's not about being the best you can be is not about earning your way into heaven.

It's not about doing the best you can and hoping for the best. No, it's not that.

Do you even would you consider that good news of human pain in that picture. I'm sorry, but it's a false, doesn't infuse me with hope and some ices if you just try harder. God will accept you.

That's the good news. The good news is he's asking you to come this morning, just as you are. He understands he understand you've messed up in the stands you've made mistakes. He understands that you fail, but he still makes invitation to there's two other people groups. I guess in here. One would be those who say you know what I am saying but you know what I'm not doing what I'm supposed be doing for the kingdom of been freshly convicted this morning from God's word that I'm supposed to be selling, and I desire to have God's power in my life so that I can be witness C we we talk about the Holy Spirit doing this and doing that this is a key verse tells us why we get filled with the spirit so that we can be witnesses and there's 1/3 group, a group that frightens me a group that knows the grace knows the forgiveness and doesn't care about the lost frightens me. I don't understand I don't understand somebody not wanting to be a part of what God is doing. I don't understand somebody that could look somebody who's having a hard time in sin and not offer them the hope that Jesus gave them hope that that scrappy this morning, and if it does describe you. My prayer for you this morning is that God will break your heart heart so that you might we pray over the lost were supposed to be like Jesus and it was Jesus's love for the world that drove him to the extreme and the agony of the cross do we cry over the loss do we pray over the lost probably not enough and with every beat of our heart, 60, 70 times a minute with every beat of our heart. A lost person is slipping often to an eternity without God made the Lord forgiveness as individuals and corporately for not sharing the good news more than we do. But maybe you're sitting here this morning. You never heard the gospel like that she never heard that you come to him and he doesn't work you been thinking you gotta be so good for so long and you can come to the Lord friend that's not the good news. The good news is you can come this morning with your burdens with your mistakes with your failures and you can be forgiven.

In this invitation. Jesus gives you friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a 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. 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 continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God