LBC Sermons & Messages

John 4:31-45

The gospel has been presented in Ch3 to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader and in Ch4 it was presented to Samaritan women, a gentile. These two individuals were pressed to make a decision concerning their relationship to this man, Jesus Christ, and so it is with those of us reading this gospel.

Acts 1:8 reads “you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Samaria, and unto the ends of the earth”. Peter, who had the keys of heaven, followed this pattern (Acts 2, Acts 10) and so did Paul in his ministry.

In our text we have a discourse concerning the need of evangelism. The disciples were shocked that Jesus had been talking with these women, wondering, “what was he seeking”. What he was seeking is found in verse 23, “people to worship him … in truth and in spirit”. This was Jesus’ goal, and it superseded all other needs, and he stresses the urgency to present the gospel message to individuals that they may have eternal life. He also stresses that evangelism is often a team effort, a process, one sows another may reap. Jesus stays two days with these people sowing seed and a few years later Philip reaps the harvest (Acts 8 ).

We need to be sowing seed and letting the Holy Spirit take that message and work in the heart of the individual and bring him to a point of accepting Christ as Savior.

I see two guidelines emerging, we are to witness when we have the opportunity. Col 4:5-6 “conduct yourself with wisdom … making the most of the opportunity”. In the course of a conversation make every effort to speak of spiritual things and be sensitive to their interest or hostility. Christ did this with the Samaritan woman; he asked for a drink of water, she showed some interest and it ended with Jesus telling her that he was the Messiah.

We are entrusted with the gospel message, be alert to opportunities God’s send our way and “preach the word, be ready in season and out of season” (II Tim 4:2).