Come and See

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham a little later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham's brand-new book reignite first hears his message come and see your Bibles and turn with me to John's Gospel, the fourth chapter the fourth chapter of the gospel of John, and I will speak to the day of the subject come and see what you can have a private conversation with Jesus. You can ask it whatever you chose choose to ask you could listen to him one on one and personally engage our Lord well. One by one people in the New Testament of the stories of the Gospels met Jesus and were personally invited to know him and to experience a personal life changing experience of salvation and and one by one we are discovering how Jesus changes live individually and personally so that you you personally can know Christ and follow him with all your heart that everyone knows Christ has a story of the chain life and it is a powerful story and it is a story that you want to tell it is your testimony. The fact is, all of us are representatives of Jesus Christ. We are all being what you pull out of your driveway on Sunday mornings.

People in your community or neighborhood.

Realize that your churchgoing person so they may look at you a little differently. They may want to use that you claim to be a Christian. They may watch you very carefully when you bow your head in prayer over your meal at school are at a restaurant people around you may take notice and they may begin to observe you what you would expect a different level of commitment from you when you read your Bible are people know that you're a follower of Christ. There is an expectation. People want to know are you real are you authentic are you legit all of us are being what and all of us should be one and we must be careful. Therefore, how we live. I heard about a little boy who I wanted to see what his pastor was like so he went down to his pastor's home. The pastor had a workshop out behind his house a little boy just outside watching this man work in his carpenter shop and he was just watching you watching the pastor thought will visit this a good thing. This little boy just wants to see what is pastor does and how he's making things and and if I little boy never said a word so the pastor said son. What would you like you like for me to show you some of the things that I've been making little boy said no not really. So will then why are you here is that I just want to see what a preacher says when he hits his finger with a hammer.

Well, people want to know how you react when you get hammered by line when you are here with hardships. What is in you. Are you contagious are you conspicuous are you compelling are you contagious in your witness for the Lord Jesus Christ, the best argument for Christianity is a Christian, your love, your devotion, your joy, your peace the way you live your life, your character by what is true to say that the best argument for Christianity is a Christian is also true, unfortunately that we have to say the best argument against Christianity is a Christian who lives hypocritically are a Christian who is uncaring are a Christian who is judgmental or self-righteousness, and many times people are turned off by Christianity by the way we live our lives will in John chapter 4 we meet a woman who met Christ in her life was so radically change that she became immediately a powerful witness for our Lord and she said to her entire community come and see. Come and meet a man who has changed my life.

So in chapter 4 verse four we begin the story and he speaking of Jesus had to pass through Samaria. Now that's an important sentence. He had to pass through Samaria.

The fact is that Jewish men and travelers would never go through Samaria on purpose.

There was along the route around to Galilee that a Jewish traveler could get from Jerusalem to Galilee and rather than pass through the Samaritan Badlands. They would go all the way around, walked 5 1/2 days typically to get to their destination rather than going through Samaria. Why did they want to go through Samaria because I hated group of people lived in Samaria. They were the Samaritans and these were considered half breeds by the Jewish people.

They and intermarried intermingled among the Gentile nations. They had their own system of religion they had abandoned the Jewish faith, and so that Samaritans hated the Jews and the Jews hated the Samaritan and so when the Scripture says that Jesus had to go through Samaria. It wasn't because he literally physically had to take that route. But there was something else that was grinding him to Samaria and that something else was a woman he would meet at a well needed to know him who would provide for all of us and to this very day. An illustration of how Jesus moves beyond the boundaries of the barricades of life through culture through prejudices through social and religious extremes and moves to the heart of people where they are meeting them there. So Jesus engage this woman because it was a divine encounter. He was on a mission. What the Scriptures say I've come to seek and to say that which was lost. Verse five says so we came to a town of Samaria call psych or near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph Jacob's well was there. So Jesus queried as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well, it was about the sixth hour. Note that Jesus who is God, was also man and he was physically tired, worn down by the road. He was thirsty and he was hungry. He was one of us and he shared the physical struggles of humanity, and so he's weary from his journey, but not only wearied physically, but on his search for souls.

His heart is moved and he's tired in his pursuit of people.

Verse seven says a woman from Samaria came to draw water and Jesus said to her, give me a drink for his disciples and got away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, how is it that you like you asked for a drink from me.

A woman of Samaria. She came to the well to get water. She came in high noon the sixth hour of the day. That was an unusual time for a woman to draw water from the well.

Typically, the women of that day would gather early before the sun came up, before the heat of the day.

It was a time of gathering in conversation with this woman came alone at at high noon when the sun was with hot why. Perhaps because she was an outcast in her own community. She was tired of the other snide remarks and the searing looks the other women so she managed to wait until no one else was there to come draw water. When she got there there was a mysterious stranger sitting there this man she had never seen before and not just a man, but a Jewish man, who is this man, what is he wants and he asked her for a drink of water. Kindly he says would you give me a drink now known Jewish rabbi, and Jesus was known as a rabbi, which means teacher no Jewish teacher would converse with the Samaritan woman or a woman publicly, not just the Samaritan woman but a woman. That was a part of the religious system of the day and so there would be no conversation so no doubt this woman was taken back when this Jewish man begins talking to her and she had quite a bit experience of experience with men. Obviously, having been married five times and living with another man and now by now she's wondering what is this guy will so she split, but she's casual. She says well why are you asking me for a drink of water – when Jesus begins speaking to her of living water. Verse 10 says Jesus answered her, if you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you. Give me a drink. He would've asked him and he would've given you living water. The woman said answer. You have nothing to draw water with in the well is deep where you going to get this living water. You can hear the hardness of her heart. The cynicism of her life. She came from water but she had a thirst much deeper. It was the first of the soul, and Jesus is looking right through to this woman's soul and he begins to remind her of her spiritual need. You see, there is a spiritual thirst in every heart there is a void, a fact you that we try to fill up with the wells of this world all the pleasure of this world, all the possessions of this world.

We try to fill up our lives with these things, but of course and never satisfied. Some try to fill up their lives with simple thing. Some try to fill up their lives with good things.

But good or bad things on this world can never satisfy or quit thirst of the soul. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in his message come and see Pastor this month we have a special gift for our listeners to give a gift to PowerPoint it your brand-new book, reignite what can you tell us about this powerful resource. My latest book reignite is out and it is definitely needed. The message of this book is needed today. It was actually born out of a personal experience emotional crisis in my life after cancer surgery and I discovered some things about reignited my life that I want to share with you if you find yourself exhausted, tired, depressed and anxious uncertain about your future that I believe this book is going to encourage call today and get reignite as our thank you for your gift.

Call 1-800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627 or text the word PowerPoint 231-3131 text PowerPoint to 313131. Now let's get back to today's message come and see. Here she is social out embrace by the love of Jesus Christ that Jesus began conversing with her to bring her to himself and the woman said in verse 15.

Let's back up to verse 14 whoever drinks of the water that I will give him.

Jesus said, will never be thirsty again in the water. I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life and the woman said to him, sir, give me this water so that I may not be thirsty.

I have to come here to draw water and so Jesus has her spiritual interest but she's not ready to receive what Jesus is giving and so Jesus says to her, go get your husband. The woman answered him. In verse 17. I have no husband. Jesus said to her you're right in saying I have no husband for you had five husbands and the one you have now is not your husband what you said is true. Lucas now. He knows her past woman said what an understatement.

Sir, I perceive that your profit now Jesus wasn't being cruel or callous when he tells this woman to go get your husband as a matter of fact, just the opposite. He's not trying to drive her away. He's bringing her to himself as many times as I have read this passage of Scripture over the years. I don't know why but I've never really taken note of the fact that Jesus said to this woman. Go get your husband and bring them here bring about her. To me, I'll talk to he wasn't trying to run her off. He wasn't condemning her.

He wasn't pushing her away.

He's drawing a red signal get go get your husband and bringing me here and when she lied and covered up the situation. Jesus knew it because you see Jesus looks right in our hearts. He notes who we are and what we've done. The Scripture says in the book of Hebrews that that all creatures are naked before his eyes and exposed before God and that we will give an account for our actions before a holy God. God knows everything that we've been doing and as long as were covering up as long as were being dishonest about who we are and what we been doing God cannot help us will not help.

God sees and knows you.

He wants to bring you to forgiveness. But first he must bring you to conviction because there can be no listen to this, there can be no conversion without conviction you can never be saved from sin until you admit your sin and recognize that you broken God's command and failed to obey God. And that's what the Bible calls sin. So he's helping her to point out her own sin.

To admit our sin and is Jesus is getting close baby too close for comfort. At this point she changes the subject and like a lot of people, when you start talking to them about a relationship with God. She wanted to discuss religion. So as you read the passage here. She begins to ask him about this mountain in Jerusalem and that mountain there in Samaria.

Look at verse 20. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship and Jesus said to her woman believe me the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem when you worship the father you worship what you do not know.

We worship what we know, for salvation is from the cheers but the hour is coming, is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth, like many people, when we get a little close for comfort regarding their lives, their spiritual lives. In particular, I want to change the subject like this one, and the questions are typical of what about people who never heard the gospel. What about injustice in the world. What about suffering in the world.

What about all the hypocrites in church the answers on the questions are typical but is always to revert to reverse to change the subject and that's what this woman didn't Jesus refused to allow her to disengage in this conversation.

He said look, the fact is that when I go to be worshiping one day at this particular place on that particular place on this mountain of that mountain because it's not a matter of the mountain is a matter of the heart, they they worship the him the true God must worship him in spirit and in truth. Now, Jesus did say to her, as we just noted that salvation is of the Jews. He was bold enough and corrected and honest enough to say the way your worshiping is the wrong way. That's a daring statement, especially in this generation of pluralism and inclusiveness. That's the ultimate politically incorrect thing to say in our culture that you are worshiping the wrong way say that at the next social gathering and just see where that gets you at the party because we have an idea that everyone is basically good and going in the same direction. Maybe by different paths by different religions.

Many of us were taught this growing up, my generation, the generation of the 60s when we were in the University. One of the primary psychology books that we study was a well-known popular psychology known as I'm okay you're okay member that I'm okay you're okay were all okay everybody's okay but so many people today have the idea that all religions teach the same thing. That's nonsense all religions do not teach the same thing on the same path to God they're contrasting to one another. They conflict with one another and Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes to the father except by me. So if you believe that Jesus is the way the truth of the lie that Jesus and Jesus alone died on the cross for your sins that he rose again on the third day, how dare you say that all religions of the say what you might say all religions are the same. They're all going in the same direction know where Christianity is not a religion is a relationship with Jesus Christ and in Jesus is not the only way to heaven, then he's none of the ways they haven't, for he claimed to be God. He claimed to be the Savior of all, why, when Jesus died on the cross. If you could come to God in some other way. Why would God hang his darling son upon the cross. If all passive religion lead to God, why would we send missionaries in the world to tell the good news of the gospel.

If everyone could get there on their own way and not for that but is simple to say, it is clear to say Jesus himself said that this woman will salvation is of the Jews and you are worshiping the wrong way and then he went on to say God is a spirit, and they worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, this woman says to Jesus. Verse 25 I know the Messiah is coming. He was called the Christ when he comes, he will tell us open and Jesus identifies himself. He said I speak to you am he literally said, I am he who is speaking to you. I am the one is speaking to you. He took the IM name of God, God's only day and almost apparently almost instantaneously. This woman is principal verse 28, so the woman left her water jar and went away in the town and said to the people come see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ and they went out of the town and were coming to him. Now this woman is an evangelist. This woman, though fresh, often experience of meeting Jesus Christ, she knew hardly anything, she simply went to her friends back in the community. Some who had had laughed at her. She may have been the laughing stock of the community and she said come and meet this man is change my life. Come and meet this man who looked right through me and accepted me, brought me to want to support this woman brought the whole community out to me. Jesus hello what happened after that because were not told, but I'm sure that community was never the same for God is called everyone of us to be witnesses to bring people to Jesus. So I know how to do the prices change your mind just say like this comes come and see what commonly is eliciting a PowerPoint object and in his message coming see, chances are you faced your share of crisis. Maybe you're even in the fight of your life right now.

Or maybe you're simply feeling exhausted by the busyness of life and sapped the spiritual strength. Whatever you're facing. We want to help fan the flame of faith your life by sending you Dr. Graham's newest book reignite this personal account of how God let Dr. Graham do his own crisis. Happy focus on God during difficult season.

See you can experience fresh passion and joy in Jesus and will send you a copy as thanks for your gift today so call now to request your copy of reignite: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop to restore the gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.Margie Castro what is your PowerPoint for today. It doesn't matter who you are what you done or where you've been. No one is too far gone for Jesus. Now that statement is important enough that is worth repeating. No one, no one is too far gone for Jesus and there's no better evidence of this in the woman that Jesus met at the well. She had been used and abused. She had been divorced five times she was living with her boyfriend and her life was a mess. Even so, Christ reached out to her with the living water of eternal life, the forgiveness of sin and her life was instantly transform this woman, a woman who had been ravaged by regrets and failures in brokenness. This wasted burned-out woman was made brand-new because of the power of Jesus to change her she wasn't too far gone for Jesus and the application to your life in my life is really clear is that it no one around us, no matter how wasted no matter how strong out, no matter how far gone they may seem that person may be someone you love is not too far gone for Jesus and you know what, neither are you. If you think God has given up on me. I want you to think again. Jesus loves you and John four says whoever drinks of this water. The water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up into eternal life.

Jesus said whoever drinks of the water that he will give them eternal life. So like I said before, no matter who you are, no matter what you've done, what sins you committed where you've been. You are not too far gone for Jesus Christ. You are a great sinner and saw my butt. Jesus is a great Savior. It is my prayer that no matter where you've been in the past that you will begin today in Jesus name to live a brand-new life and that is today's PowerPoint.

Remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint today will send you Dr. Graham's brand-new book. I is our thanks. Call one 807 957-1800 795-4627 also text the word PowerPoint 313131 PowerPoint 3131. Join us again next time. Dr. Graham brings a message about trusting in God's power and presence, no matter what you're facing. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint ministries