Drinking from Jacobs well or JESUS’ well?
Drinking from Jacobs well or JESUS’ well?
“JESUS arrived at the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Wearied by HIS long journey, HE sat on the edge of Jacob’s well, and sent HIS disciples into the village to buy food, for it was already afternoon.” John 4:8
Jacob was the twin of Esau who connived to get the blessing away from Esau for himself. He was a deceiver for most of his life until an amazing encounter with GOD changed his character. GOD changed his name from Jacob to Israel.
One man but two parts:
Jacob = deceiver, who acts out of the flesh.
Israel = prince who prevails with GOD by the SPIRIT
But like for most of us transformation is usually not a one-time event. It is a process and the same was true for Jacob being transformed into a prince with GOD.
This well was a historic site. Jacob’s well from over thousands of years ago. Everybody knew it as Jacob’s well, a place to get necessary water. Put your spiritual eyes on to see more than just a natural well.
Jacob’s well supplies the water for the Jacob-life inside each of us. Fed by Adam’s fall, this water flows through all humanity.
The Jacob-life:
- Wants to manipulate
- Wants to control
- Wants to charm
- Wants to strive to make things hap
JESUS (a living well with living water) sits on the top edge of Jacob’s well as a lid, to stop people from drinking from this well and offers a living one. (A well sat upon a well!)
Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water. JESUS said to her, “Give Me a drink.” Vs 8
Why did JESUS ask her for a drink? HE could have got it HIMSELF.
Look beyond the physical story here. The water JESUS wanted was the refreshing and satisfying pleasure of her devotion.
HE says to each of us, “Nothing satisfies ME except you!”
“If you only knew who I am and the gift that GOD wants to give you, you would ask ME for a drink, and I would give you living water.” 10
She is still only operating in the flesh and the natural.
The woman replied, “but sir, you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is very deep. So where do you find this living water? Do you really think that you are greater than our ancestor Jacob who dug this well and drank from it himself?”
JESUS answered, “If you drink from Jacob’s well, you will be thirsty again, but if anyone drinks the living water that I give them, they will never be thirsty again. For when you drink the water I give you, it becomes a gushing fountain of the HOLY SPIRIT, flooding you with endless life!”
“gushing fountain” Greek “hallomenou” a verb always used for people, meaning an activity of the HOLY SPIRIT, a Person!
The woman replied, “Let me drink this water . . .” JESUS said, “Go get your husband and bring him back here.” “But I am not married” the woman answered. “That’s true,” JESUS said, “for you have been married five times, and now you are living with a man who is not your husband.” Vs 15-18
When we are living dominated by the flesh we are married to 5 husbands: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch.
5 husbands, but 6 men. 6 is the number of men. Ill. She had been in and out of relationships thinking if she could only find the right man. Each time she was disappointed. Man cannot fill that place in your heart that only GOD can fill.
Her jaw must have dropped to hear JESUS say this. 5 times married and now just living with a man – obviously she had given up on marriage.
Our hearts can never be satisfied with what is on earth. We must drink the living water that comes from heaven.
Christ becomes the 7th husband Who satisfies!
We are to be the bride of CHRIST. This is the relationship we were made for. The only one that will satisfy our heart and HIS!
PIC: I am my beloved’s:
“You must be a prophet!”
Then she proceeds to ask HIM a spiritual question. You Jews say we should worship GOD in Jerusalem and my people say Mt Gerizim. Which is the right church?
JESUS said, “From now on, worshipping the FATHER will not be a matter of the right place but with a right heart. For GOD is SPIRIT and HE longs to have sincere worshippers who adore HIM in the realm of the SPIRIT and in truth.” vs 24
Note: GOD is seeking worshippers not worship!
Religion teaches GOD dwells up there and we are separated down here. But GOD has always wanted to dwell with man. Eden – GOD was there. In the wilderness – GOD was there in a wilderness tabernacle. It had 3 parts like us.
Outer court – our body
Holy place – our soul
Holy of Holies – our born again Sspirit
Salvation is only when the HS comes inside you. Before salvation HS was outside you wooing you to GOD. But there has to be a time you receive HIM inside you to stay.
The Christian life is not lived by imitation but by inhabitation!
But wait there’s more!
HOLY SPIRIT comes in you = salvation, Jn 20:22
HOLY SPIRIT upon you = baptism of HS, Acts 1:8
HS comes in you for your sake.
HS comes upon you for others sake. Ministry and power.
Just because you are born again does not mean you automatically worship GOD in SPIRIT and truth.
PIC of wilderness tab:
The veil of the flesh – go beyond the flesh of what you see and feel.
The veil of the soul – go beyond the mind and intellect.
Jn 16:15 – HS will show us things of GOD
I Cor. 2:9-10 – HS unveils unimaginable things
What is GOD looking for in worshippers?
Ill. Malachi 1:10 GOD was so sick of religious worship services said to close the doors of the church. Today thousands drag themselves to church services to be miserable for an hour so they can feel they have done their duty to GOD.
First place we learn of worship is Job chapter 1:20 . It does not look like a worship service. It was the worst day of Job’s life. We see tears and anguish and he throws himself at the feet of GOD and worships. Things did not get any better after this! He still had 42 chapters to live before things got better. But in the end he was a changed man who knew GOD personally like never before.
From this we learn worship has little to do with sermons or songs. IT has to do with surrender to God even with I don’t understand why. I worship GOD because HE is eternal, trials are not. GOD is more important than family or fortune!
The great and supreme commandment:
To love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Mark 12:30
When we worship GOD – we are changed on the inside. People who know you will see the change in your eyes and hear it in your voice and watch you do things you have never done before!
All at once the woman left her water pot and ran off to her village and told everyone, “Come meet a man who told me everything I’ve ever done!. . . Hearing this, the people came streaming out of the village to go see JESUS.” Vs 28-30
Conclusion: GOD is faithful to use anyone to reach others if we are honest to tell others JESUS knows everything we’ve ever done and
Still loves us!
From wonder to wow, to worship!
If you are still craving satisfaction from the world – you need to ask JESUS for a drink of living water.
If you need to be born again – come, receive and drink.
If you need baptism of HS – come and receive
The biggest hindrance to people receiving or following the HOLY SPIRIT is pride. GOD resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.