Welcome back to part 7 of our series a word in season for 2024.
In our last part I shared another key found in the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4. That led her from simply living life, to living a life more abundantly. Lets recap
Key 7
The most important place to worship/pray to the Lord is not corporately in a specific place . But personally in your quiet place, one on one with the Lord. Jesus modelled this, He would slip away from his closest disciples, to spend time with only His Father . This model of practice was seen by Jesus disciples to be so essential, the number one key to His successful ministry . That, out of all the things they saw Jesus do. The one thing, one of His disciples questioned Jesus about was ‘teach us how to pray” in Luke 11:1. How was he spending time with the Father and what was the conversations like.
Today we will see that Jesus has three more even greater revelations to reveal to the Samaritan woman. That holds three more keys and an important understanding for us today. Then after that Jesus combines what we learnt in our last message and this message and shows us how to apply it.
Lets pick up Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman in
John 4:22
Your people don’t really know the One they worship. We Jews worship out of our experience, for it’s from the Jews that salvation is made available.
Key 8
Living a life more abundantly, Is only found in learning to worship out of a personal experience with Jesus or a personal encounter with Him. This was what the Samaritan lady was having in this scripture. Although she has not fully realised this yet. This is what we have awaiting for us every time we choose to spend time with Him.
Then Jesus continues with a remarkable understanding , “for it’s from the Jews that salvation is made available”. So why was Jesus offering this Samaritan woman something that was intended for the Jews ? This question is important for us, as gentiles weren’t invited to receive salvation first. Remember that Jesus was first sent for the Jews ( God Chosen). But He was rejected, along with His word. So this provided for the invitation to be passed on to people like the Samaritan woman, also you and me. This is why Jesus is saying this to the Samaritan woman.
But Jesus is not finished. He both confirms what He has just said and expands it with an absolutely amazing revelation and an invitation. Lets read.
John 4:23-24
From here on, worshiping the Father will not be a matter of the right place but with the right heart. For God is a Spirit, and he longs to have sincere worshipers who worship and adore him in the realm of the Spirit and in truth.”
This verse Holds our next two keys, to living a live more abundantly. One we will cover today the other in our next part.
Key 9
The place to worship does not matter. But it’s the heart posture and position that is the most important. ( I want to point out here, that there are forms of worship that are important ie corporate like in church or small groups, But the number one that makes Heaven watch including the Father is personal worship . Out of a fully surrendered heart, not there to get something, But there to give something.
I believe this was the key to the success of both Jesus and Davids ministries . The very reason the Father called David a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22 NIV)
I wonder how much of our time is spent with the Lord is asking for and how much is just sitting waiting,surrender and giving! I have notice in the last month a total sift in focus, in my quiet time with the Lord. I go to ask, then I stop and have this thought ‘what is more important ?, what I want ? or what I can give ?’ So I re position my heart, will and surrender fully. I wonder how successful our personal ministries would be. If we took time ask what is on the Father’s heart. Then position our life’s, or will and desire to pursue it. We partner with Him in and co-labour in His work ! Which I believe is the right Heart Jesus is talking about inn the above verse.
Let’s leave it there for today.
Here is your Challenge this week.
Over the next 7 days, would you consider making this heart shift in your quiet time too ?
1. Would you re position your heart, will and surrender fully, in your quiet time to Him ?
2. Ask the Father what is on His heart ?
3. Then position your life, will and desire to pursue what He has revealed to you.
4. Ask Him to equip you and teach you for the task now in front of you.
Father I ask for this one thing ! As your Children come to see what is on Your Heart, would you not only reveal these things to them. But equip and co-labour with them to see these things become reality in the world. Thank you Father, Thank you, Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit Amen
Craig Patten
Founder Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Centre & Ministries