Welcome back to part three of A word in Season for 2024.
Let’s recap last time we looked at John 10:10 and how I believe it holds a remarkable question and invitation from Jesus
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
…I have come that they may have
1. life,
2. that they may have it more abundantly.
I proposed a question, which one you would like to live in and which one you currently live in ?
As the scriptures are full of people that just had life.
But also a selected few. That managed to live life to its fullest, which is the life more abundantly Jesus is offering . With amazing riches in heaven awaiting them when they arrived.
Lastly I shared a story about a young pastor who asked me a remarkable question. What is that one peice of advice, you can give me for longevity as a pastor in ministry/?”.
And the answer the Lord directed me to give.
“In proverb 1:32, we see two weapons of warfare that will come against us in life and our personal ministry . One called the killer and the other destroyer. As per John 10:10, we know these are both intention’s of Satan.
The killer weapon, is called waywardness. as one focusing only on ‘self’ that’s ends up in a life, out of control.
The second weapon is called the ‘Destroyer is ‘complacency’. Described as someone, who chooses to sit down and stop living,dreaming and hoping. Which will lead to them giving up on life itself, hence death. As we see in Proverbs 29:18 where there is no vision people perish.
I finished with this piece of advice . (Which is so important for all of us)
1. So may your eyes always be on Jesus, so it never becomes about you.
2. May you always have a dream beyond your current dream, so you don’t sit down and give up on the journey”.
Today we continue with an amazing lady I touched on in our last part. Who managed to step into life more abundantly through an encounter with Jesus. Called the Samaritan woman, her story is in John 4.
As we look at her transition from living life, to living life more abundantly. I hope through the Lord’s revelation, to point out keys on her journey relevant for us today. I will do this in three parts as, I believe these keys are each piece of the puzzle towards where we are all would like to be and slowly becoming.
So let’s give some background to this story called the Samaritan woman.
A lady comes to a well for water, she was doing this outside of the normal time, water would have been collected
Why You may ask ?
Because she was not popular in her village. Do you know why ?
Because of customs and cultural beliefs , regarding her past and present life.
Jesus arrives at the well to meet her after sending his disciples into town.
He purposely asks her to do something outside of both Jewish and Samaritan culture, custom and their beliefs.
why. ?
1. Firstly because the Father asked Him too.
2. Because this was where she was, in her life (an outsider )
She answers by telling him that it is against her peoples belief to associate with Jews.
Let’s pick up the story in john 4:10
Jesus replies, “If you only knew who I am and the gift that God wants to give you—you’d ask me for a drink, and I would give to you living water.” The woman replied, “But sir, you don’t even have a bucket and this well is very deep. So where do you find this ‘living water’?
Jesus is speaking kingdom, But as with many people he spoke in this way. They simply could not understand or comprehend what He was saying.
Key 1
Living life more abundantly is found, foremost in the kingdom of God.
What was this lady’s response !
She tries to resort back to her custom and cultural beliefs. I place she knows and understands.
Key 2
Custom and Cultural belief’s will only get you life, never life more abundantly !
Why you may ask ?
Because Custom and Cultural belief’s are
1. Tied up in ritual- not relationship,
2. things are done out of obligation not freedom,
3. Things are done out of heart of need provide -not out of heart of love.
4. Lastly judged by works, not out of Faith, in Jesus. Who paying the price in full, on the cross.
Let’s leave it there for today, next time we will look at how. Jesus slowly leads the Samaritan lady, towards discovering her true identity. By taking it up a level and from another direction.
Challenge time
1. Take sometime to worship and praise Him, which is the entry point true heart open and a mind to be transformed as seen in Roman’s 12:2
2. Now I want you to say “Father God are the areas of my life I am living out of Custom and Cultural belief’s And wait and write down what He says. If you don’t hear Him speak, thats ok. Go back into worship (as worship and praise shift our reality from this world to His Kingdom ). Then ask Him the above question again.
3. When you have your list. Take each thing and Say the following prayer: “Father I choose to lay this………………….(name the thing) at Your feet, What are you going to give me in return ? Wait and write down what He says or shows you beside the thing you’re laying down. Repeat this for all of the things on your list. Being careful to write in detail what He says or reveals to you in picture, vision etc
4. Now take the two lists, This is your choice time, you can keep what you have or have what He has shown you ?? (See God is not a God that simply takes. But ‘Gives’ He only wants us to lay down or hand over to Him, because through doing so, He can give you something incredibly special in return)
5. If you want what you have then here we end for you.
6. But if you choose to lay down what He is asking. Here is how you do it. Take your lists, Now choose one thing and what He has shown you, He wants to replace it with. Say the following prayer ‘Father I choose to lay-down ……………………..’(describe what you are laying down). Then continue prayer with ‘I choose to pick up instead……………………….(say what He revealed He wants to give you in return )’ then conclude prayer with ‘I thank you in Jesus name amen’
7. Now repeat with the rest of your list.
Father I pray for your children, May you help us all today, advance into Your will. For all of us to live, to its fullness. A life more abundant by taking up the gift you Son Jesus purchased for us on the cross ! Amen