John 4:24

0:00 I want to start off by asking you a question. Who is God? There was a time when the comedian Jay Leno hosted the Tonight Show. And he had a segment called Jaywalking. He would walk around the streets with a microphone asking random people questions they should know the answer to. Well, there's this one particular episode. He asks biblical questions because it's near Easter. There's a confident young lady who answers all of them correct. Or so she thought. She called her dad afterwards to tell him of her success, and he said, well, only the wrong answers get aired.

0:37 You can ask my wife later which one of her answers made it on the show. Don't worry, she knows her theology. She may not know her Catholicism and geography. But back to the question, who is God? I wonder if Jay Leno ever asked anyone that. How would you answer that? It's certainly a loaded question with many different ways to answer, but thankfully there's a profoundly simple one found in our text tonight. Turn with me to John 4, 24. If you're using a pew Bible, it should be found on page 889. Our verse is found in the middle of a story 45 verses long.

1:10 So I encourage you to have the entire passage in front of you as we'll be referencing from it tonight. Remember the question, who is God? God is spirit. And those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. His nature may not have been the answer you would have given to the question, who is God? But it's crucial to understand who he is because it explains how we are to worship him. Up to this point in history, worship was understood to be physically displayed through offerings, rituals, temple assemblies, sacrifices, you name it.

1:45 But here, Jesus is about to usher in the new way to worship God, and he alone is worthy to declare this. You should also notice two words repeated in this verse, spirit and worship. if you include the verse above it worship is mentioned in total five times and spirit three times now my dad taught me when he was teaching me how to read the bible and learn it that anything that's repeated in scripture it wasn't because the author didn't know what to say but rather he had something very important to say so we see two details here god's nature and the nature of our worship so the main idea for us i want to think about tonight is this since god is spirit true Since God is spirit, true worship is not the result of the flesh, but of the Holy Spirit.

2:33 We'll focus on two things, worship in spirit and worship in truth. Before we do, why did Jesus say this and to whom? As I mentioned before, our verse comes in the middle of the story. So let's get some context. If you look at the beginning of the chapter, you'll see Jesus is forced out from where he's in Galilee because the Pharisees are after him. So he's from Judea, he's in Judea, he's right here in Judea, and he's going to go up to Galilee. And what do you have in between? Samaria. If you know your Bible, you know this is going into enemy territory.

3:06 And if you don't know your Bible, just think of the Jews and Samaritans like oil and water. They do not mix. There's such a rift between these two people. It's also worth noting in verse 4, where it says Jesus had to pass, as a more providential statement than a geographical one. Yes, it was the quickest way to get to Galilee. But any devout Jew back then wouldn't dare travel through Samaria. They believed doing so would defile them. The two despised one another so deeply.

3:36 But why? The Samaritans were a mixed race of Jewish and Gentile descent. They had their own version of the Pentateuch, their own place of worship. The Samaritans, just separate from the Jews. The Samaritans were rejected by the Jews and non-Jews. Can you name a more rejected people? I'd argue you're talking about the most rejected people group on earth during this time. So, of course, Jesus had to pass through there. I believe having that summary background helps us feel the weight of what Jesus is walking into.

4:11 So, for the setting, Jesus arrives to a famous well made by the patriarch Jacob. And who is there with him from this rejected people? A rejected woman. She's been scorned and shunned by society. We know this because she's drawing water during the hottest part of the day. And usually women draw water in the morning or evening when it was cooler and did it together. We'll learn more later why she's been outcasted. But in verse 6 we see Jesus is not only thirsty, but he is weary.

4:42 Isn't that a wonderful detail not to overlook? His full humanity is on display here. He has just walked about over probably 40 miles from Judea. And for the average person, that's taken at least 12 hours. Now, we don't know when he left or how many times he stopped, but regardless, he can relate to us even to the point of exhaustion. And because of his weariness, it leads to ministry and to a single soul, not a crowd like we're used to reading about. Believer, remember this the next time God presents to you the opportunity to share the gospel at an inconvenient time for you.

5:18 God's timing is perfect. So if your schedule's full or you think you're too tired or don't know what to say, rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the words and wisdom to be his faithful witness. Now starting in verse 7, we see the dialogue begin with Jesus and the Samaritan woman. He asks her for a drink of water, but she has her guard up. Throughout their conversation, she fires back defensive questions to Jesus. How are you a Jew asking me, Samaritan. How are you going to drink with nothing to draw water with? Are you saying you're greater than our father Jacob? Then comes verse 13. Read with me there. Jesus said to her, everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. Whoever drinks of 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 to eternal life this offer surprises her you mean i don't have to come to this well in the heat of the day ever again give me this living water she doesn't get it the living water

6:20 is not physical it's spiritual in fact it's the holy spirit let me read to you john 7 verses 38 and 39 jesus said whoever believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the spirit whom those who believed in him were to receive for as yet the spirit had not been given because Jesus was not yet glorified. What a great reminder for us believers to hear on the eve of Easter. Jesus died for our sins but didn't stay dead. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you now. Jesus is alive right now and reigning in glory.

7:00 Soak your soul in that this week as you prepare yourself for Easter. Back to the story. Look at Jesus' reply in verse 16 to her request for the living water. Go and get your husband. Why does Jesus say this? It's not because he's wanting to prove to her what she'll eventually accept, that he is the Messiah and knows all things. He could have proven that in a myriad of different ways. He says this to her because in order to drink from the living water, she needs to first address the sin that is obstructing her from doing so. She cannot keep living this way and expect to receive the living water.

7:35 Up to this point, she's accepted her ostracized status with her people, but she didn't realize the damage her sin was doing to her between her and God. She may have worshipped him while living this way, but she was no true worshiper of God. She even tries to hide it. She denies it since she has a husband, believing that her crafty answer, I have no husband, can conceal her shame and quickly move past it. But Jesus calls her out and lays the full truth right in front of her. He responds to her in verse 18.

8:06 You are right in saying you have no husband, for you've had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you said is true. Learn right here from Scripture. You cannot hide your sin from God. Jesus wonderfully displays this fact while on earth. How much more can he see now from heaven? God always gives us the whole truth, while Satan always gives us the whole lie. God never shines away from telling you what you need to hear, no matter how hard it is to hear it. That's true for me.

8:37 That's true for you. That's true for her. But he does this because he loves us and wants what's best for us. Always expose your sin and exchange it for what he has to offer. I promise you, it's going to be far more rewarding. Now, we don't know if the past five husbands died or divorced her or a combination of both. But we do know she's longing to be loved, as we all are. However, the love she seeks, she'll never find. And now she's basically given up on it, because the man she's with now is not even her husband.

9:09 Only God seeks us with love that will fill us with complete satisfaction. But to accept that love is to accept we are dead in sin and in need of a Savior to bring us to life. If you're here tonight and not a believer in Jesus, let me invite you to consider becoming one. If you've ever felt yourself to be found wanting, or maybe you feel you're doing okay and you're a good person. Friend, there's only been one good person to walk this earth, and he went to the cross for you and me.

9:42 Now he stands at your door and knocks. Let him in. Accept Jesus for who he says he is and drink from the living water. Consider Jesus tonight. Now, in the story, Jesus is about to drop the hammer by telling the woman that her argument for where the right place to worship God is irrelevant. The physical location is not where God seeks true worshipers. And only Jesus can decree that the Old Testament is done. He's here, and he's shattering this news that the way of worships are no more.

10:13 There's a new way. Look with me in verse 23. But the hour is coming, is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. For the Father is seeking such people to worship him, God is spirit. And those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. So let's discuss worshiping in spirit. After hearing the story, how do we worship in spirit and truth? Verse 24 uses the word must, which means required. So to worship God in any other way is useless.

10:45 Let's make sure we understand what true worship is not. It's not produced from the flesh. Romans 8.8, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. This means your outer expression of worship is worthless if it's coming from you alone. Here's this warning from Jesus, Matthew 15, 8 and 9. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. In vain, Jesus talked about those who could easily beat us in Bible jeopardy.

11:22 Praise God, that's not who he's seeking. The Samaritan woman believed up to this point, worship was to be done at the temple, but she's hearing for the first time what Paul reminds us of in 1 Corinthians 3.16. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you? John Piper said this of worship. True worship is based on a right understanding of God's nature and is a right valuing of God's worth. We cannot have that right understanding or value of God if we do not have the Spirit dwelling in us and continually working in us.

11:58 We call that sanctification, being made more and more into the image of Christ. So then, how do we worship in spirit? It is approaching God humbly and surrendering yourself to him at all times with a fully focused spirit and a clean heart is to fear him with a deep love. It is to have the Holy Spirit working in us. It is to have the joy of our salvation at the forefront of our mind, heart, and spirit. This inward change in us by God produces genuine outward acts of worship to him.

12:31 Your worship reflects your spirit's condition. Jesus says, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What does your worship look like right now? Examine yourself. Better yet, ask the Spirit. He'll be more honest with you than you will be with yourself. Is your river not flowing? Or does it feel dried up? Believer, that's not because of God is that way. What is it that is impeding your spirit? If you're feeling spiritually stale or you feel like you're fighting a never-ending battle with a particular sin, consider then a deeper look into your soul.

13:04 King David's response to his adultery is a good example for us. Psalm 51, 10 through 12. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. David does not focus on his sin. Instead, he goes right to the source, his heart and spirit. Remember, your battle is not with a particular sin, but with your heart.

13:37 And you cannot truly worship God if your heart is not in tune with his spirit. Audit your heart and allow the spirit to bring to light what must be removed so he may flow with living water. Allow God to get your heart right and true worship will follow. Worship in truth. The truth is Jesus Christ. He is the word of God made flesh full of grace and truth. D.L. Moody says, when I pray, I talk to God. But when I read my Bible, God talks to me. God has placed his power in his word, and it's easily accessible for us to know.

14:13 Do you know your Bible? R.C. Sproul said, everyone is looking for a power in a program, in a technique, in anything and everything, except where God has placed it, his word. You won't know the truth, the word of God, unless you have the spirit. Anyone who knows how to read can read, but not everyone who reads can understand. I can read a physics book, but I won't understand it. the Holy Spirit must work in you to help you know the word. Let him do so. Let me offer two quick applications to encourage you to be true worshipers in spirit and truth.

14:49 In spirit by prayer, when do you pray and how often? Is it only for yourself or do you pray for others? Praise God, we're in a church that is a praying church. But for you personally, we should be praying without ceasing. So essentially, you should be talking to God all the time. And that's a good thing. You should do it. The enemy is powerful, but he has no power over your prayers. He can't intercept them, but he'll try to prevent them. So do your best to pray without ceasing.

15:23 In truth, by meditating on a verse or a passage, ask the Spirit to help you build time into your schedule to spend time with him in the Word. If you don't know where to begin, start with the bulletin. You can see ahead of time where we're going to be in the passage on Sunday. read it and come into it knowing what we're going to be talking about there's plenty of bible reading plans you can join what if you have a long commute you don't have time well these bible apps now they can talk to you while you're driving listen to it if you don't have 20 minutes in the morning what about five make time to draw near to god and then ask the spirit to help you recall the truth throughout the day a right heart posture intentionally seeking god's word will draw you near to him and take you deeper into him it's worth your time there are many other applications you can do but let the spirit lead you ask him to make you more into the image of christ and have the mind of christ and allow him to do it yield yourself to him you will not regret it finally go and tell

16:23 worship to god is personal and intimate and our response to the gospel is a form of worship Look with me in verse 39. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony. He told me all that I ever did. The most rejected woman we know from the most rejected people we know goes and boldly proclaims Jesus to the ones that rejected her, and they believed. Look at what Christ can accomplish when you allow him in.

16:56 Does that not stir your heart for evangelism? If she can do it, certainly you and I can too. That is a form of true worship God deserves. Samaritans ask Jesus to stay with them, and he does for two days. I wonder what Jesus said to them. Well, we don't have to wait until heaven to find out. We can know now for ourselves by having God reveal himself to us in his word. And as you read it, pray for the Spirit to protect that time. May it always be a sacred time. What an incredible truth that we can know God now.

17:29 I pray you take advantage of that. So worship God by treasuring him over all things. And you'll see the spirit create in you a deep river of living water for others to enjoy as you worship in prayer and in praise and acts of love and serving others all for God's glory. Call upon God to help you humbly submit to the Holy Spirit. For you cannot truly worship God in spirit and in truth if the Holy Spirit is not working in you. Make way, dear brothers and sisters, for the spirit to work in you.

18:00 Before I pray, let me close with 1 Thessalonians 5, 23. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let me pray. Father, can I say thank you enough for your great love and saving grace. So thank you for revealing how we should respond to it in worship. May the spirit flow continually in us so we may be your faithful servants found worshiping you in spirit and in truth when you look upon us.

18:36 May it be true of us your word from Isaiah 12. With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation and we will say in that day, give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Amen.