Welcome back to our series “A word in season for 2024’
Last time with started reading out of John 4, the story of the Samaritan woman. As she was an amazing lady who managed to step into life more abundantly through an encounter with Jesus.
We started looking at her journey that transitions her from living life, to living life more abundantly. Through the Lord’s revelation, we learnt two keys. Out of John 4:10-12
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’?
Key 1
Living life more abundantly is found, foremost in the kingdom of God. Available to all of us through Jesus invitation.
Key 2
Custom and Cultural belief’s will only get you life, never life more abundantly !
And I explained why.
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 paid the price in full, on the cross.
Finally I provided a challenge to sit with the Lord and ask Him which areas you are living life out of Custom and Cultural belief’s. Then laying them down and picking up a Truth towards freedom and living a live more abundantly.
Today we continue our series in John 4:12 where the Samaritan woman confronts Jesus with a challenging question and statement.
Do you really think that you are greater than our ancestor Jacob who dug this well and drank from it himself, along with his children and livestock?”
Jesus replies by taking it up a level, But comes from another direction. He starts from where she is standing, where her mind is at. Which is always the best way to bring advice and direction. He gives an invitation or suggestion, with a heart of Love. It is the way the Father does it to us all.
Let’s read how jesus does this. John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “If you drink from Jacob’s well you’ll be thirsty again and again, but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never thirst again and will be forever satisfied! For when you drink the water I give you it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, springing up and flooding you with endless life!”
Jesus is offering this lady life more abundantly !
But does she receive it, question it or rejected. Let’s read on.
John 4:15
The woman replied, “Let me drink that water so I’ll never be thirsty again and won’t have to come back here to draw water.”
The woman’s heart is willing, but her mind of logic and reasoning is becoming a barrier to receiving this gift Jesus is offering her.
Key 3
We need His mind to understand what He is saying and offering us. As described in 1 Corinthians 2:14 and Roman’s 12:2
1 Corinthians 2:14 (TPT)
Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.
Romans 12:2 (TPT)
Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.
Next time we will see how Jesus does something very interesting. He starts on those things that are restricting and will restrict her from stepping into, a life more abundantly. A invitation to transparency and vulnerability.
But Here is your challenge today !
A simply, but powerful prayer with a life change invitation.
Let’s pray
Father I ask Your baptism of Holy Spirit. To come upon me and in me. I give the Holy Spirit permission to enter into my heart and mind. So that I will be able to inwardly, be transformed. By the Holy Spirit, through a total reformation of how I think. I ask that you will give me, the Mind of Christ. To empower me to, discern Your will. So I can live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in Your eyes. Amen
For those of you, who want to place an offering at the alter or plant a finical seed in the fertile ground of the Lord. Maybe you could contribute in someway towards His House, we are currently building. To equip the saints for ministry, then release His word through them, in a variety of ways.
Below is a link to a secure website, so you can do this safely online.
https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=87bf3759-ef4a-4ae2-ac5d-902b82587e44
Or our bank account details for New Zealand memebers,
Encounter Centre – 03-0481-0007448-000
If you require a receipt for tax purposes please email to info@encounterministries.org.nz
Craig Patten
Founding Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Centre & Ministries