The Beginning of the   « Called out »

Jan 22

How the first followers of Christ assembled.

Act 2:37

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Step one : They heard the message of the Gospel

Step two : They repented. They began to change their minds. They were pricked in their hearts. They felt anguish over their sin. And they asked what to do.

they were humble and received the message. They did not say we don’t need that Jesus. Not that one that died horribly and cursedly on a Roman torture devise. No they saw that HE overcame death and rose from the grave and now was speaking to them by HIs Spirit in Peter. They repented meaning they did not beat themselves up, but they picked themselves up and turned around to take the gift. They changed their minds form centuries of wrong religion taught by their dear Rabbin and they listened to THE Rabbi JEsus.

Many Rabbis continue to teach that this prophecy will be fulfilled someday in the future when all the mixed up races of the man made Isreal repents. But that is a recent idea, a leaven of the Pharisees teaching that was injected into our doctrines.

Zec 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

This was Pentecost the day that God had been patiently waiting for since Adam gave the Creation to the enemy. This was they day that God could send His spirit of Grace. After all the work was accomplished including Jesus paying the price being nailed to the cross. This was the day that the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem received this Spirit, after they mourned for their errors. I beleive this was fulfilled then.

Jesus was pierces in his hands and feet. Thus this was fulfilled and the Jews knew Davids words

Psa 22:16

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

And they pierced his side

 Jhn 19:34

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Jhn 19:35

And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

Jhn 19:36

For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Amazing that they tortured Him and flayed Him for hours and then hung Him on the tree, but they could not break one single bone that the word of God was not broken.

Jhn 19:37

And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced

Act 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Repent! This does not mean be sorry for yourself. But sorry enough about what you did to try a new way. The Way is Jesus and always is. The word « repent » metanoeo  in Greek means simply to change your thinking.  You can be sorry and miserable or even flagellate yourself to death. But until you change and turn to the Light you cannot be healed or saved.

Step three : They were Baptized in the Spirit

Being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is not just a ritual where you wash your sins away in water and pronounce the magic words of « Jesus Christ » over the person. No it means to be immersed in all that Jesus as a man accomplished up to the cross, and all the Christ accomplished being raised and ascended to the right hand of the Father. It means to be immersed in the blood that can wash away all sin, not water. It means accepting the cleansing produced by Him coming to live inside you! This is speaking of a greater baptism than water. This is the greater baptism John the water baptiser prophecied of. The baptism in the holy spirit and fire that purifies your soul. Of course the ritual of water baptism will not add or subtract from this spirit of Grace.

And with this gift of purification they received into full view the power of the Holy spirit on that day!

Step four : They were called

Act 2:39

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call

They were called as well as all of us from every corner of the earth to be part of the body of the called ones, The Ekklesia, which is poorly translated as the Kirk or Church.

Act 2:40

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

« The unbelieving Jews were an untoward generation, perverse and obstinate; they walked contrary to God and man (1 Th. 2:15), » Mathew Henry

Peter was speaking directly to their generation that day.  A generation of corrupt ritual and tradition of the Rabbis that contradicted the grace of God. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians »

1Th 2:14-16

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

And many Jews that day did decide to save them selves from the consequence of being on the wrong side and came to be saved.

Act 2:41

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls

Not all that day received or welcomed the word of Peter. Many Jews were hardened even more and continued to fight the move of the Gospel. But that day about three thousand persons of the Jewish faith turned to Jesus and were totally immersed in the holy spirit baptism.

Step five : They Continued together

Act 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

They continued together in 1) The apostle’s doctrine or teaching 2) the full sharing 3) eating together and 4) praying.

These are foundational keys to the building of the early Christian Community all through the actions recorded by Luke in Acts. And we shall see how as this book is the guide to how the Christian community can grow.

Act 2:46

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Here we see that they continued « with one accord » not just in the temple but in meals together house to house.. But what does « with one accord » mean?  It must be a key also in building the Body of Christ since it is used mostly in the book about building the Kingdom which is this book of Acts.  It is used 11 times in Acts meaning with one mind and one mind.
   «A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to “rush along” and “in unison”. The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church. »

It was used while they were waiting for the gift in Acts 1 :14

It was used on the day of Pentecost as they waited in harmony and in one place Acts 2 :1

In Acts 4 :26 when they were tested by the first persecutions they prayed in harmony for more boldness

Act 2:43

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Fear in the sense of respect because as they fellowshipped together they were seeing the power of the Holy spirit operate many wonders and signs.

Act 2:44

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Act 2:45

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Act 2:46

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Act 2:47

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

« See how these Christians love one another. They were concerned for one another, sympathized with one another, and heartily espoused one another’s interests. They had fellowship with one another in religious worship. They met in the temple: there was their rendezvous; for joint-fellowship with God is the best fellowship we can have with one another, » Matthew Henry

« (1.) They were daily in the temple, not only on the days of the sabbaths and solemn feasts, but on other days, every day. Worshipping God is to be our daily work, and, where there is opportunity, the oftener it is done publicly the better. God loves the gates of Zion, and so must we.

(2.) They were with one accord; not only no discord nor strife, but a great deal of holy love among them; and they heartily joined in their public services. Though they met with the Jews in the courts of the temple, yet the Christians kept together by themselves, and were unanimous in their separate devotions. »

What happened since then? Where it this love and fellowship?  We only meet once a week and on certain days and give only a percent at our convenience, because we are told to. Is that all there is? We have fallen from grace into works and try to impress God with our pitiful works instead of being impressed every day by His works.

I think that when the kings of the kingdoms of this world took control of the « Church » that the true beleivers were margiinalized and even persecuted. Those who took the easy way and not the trials of persecution were bought by the love of this world.
Centuries of injustice and crusades followed because the grace and love of the holy spirit were replaced again by man’s tradition.

In the last two centuries we have seen the rise of two economic systems.. Capitalism and COmmunism.  We can say that the Christians followed one theory or the other. But none came from God. Only love and here is the crux.

You cannot force people to compete in Capitolism without having the Love of God and men as the motive.  It is natural to the heart of flesh to be self serving and self worshipping. And make money at the cost of defrauding our brother

The Communist movement saw  this and correcte it by forcing the rich to share.  But it was not motivated by love and rather by gulags and guns. Either way is wrong and either self serving or community serving with out God and there fore without Love. God is Love remember that!

So we may say we are believers and rip off the poor. Like we do in Capitalism. But where is the love of God for the poor? We may order people to work for the community and deny God exists. But were is the love of God for the individual? Either way will not grow the Kingdom of God. They only foundation to build the Kingdom of God is to seek it first and allow the kingdoms and economies of men to follow. The Kingdom of God operates on love and the kingdoms of this world without God operate on serving man and greed.

Jan 17 2022

JOY

Joy in the valleys

Psalm 23

I found it interesting that in the Psalm 23 there is mention of the word for « intoxicated » in the Septuagint translation here :

Psa 23:5 NIV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psa 23:5 LXX « You annointed my head with oil and Your cup is intoxicating me as the most powerful wine. »

Here is the whole Psalm 23 NIV style

A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[fn] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

OR

Septuagint style

A Psalm of David

The Lord tends to me like a shepherd and not one thing do I lack. He encamps me in the place of tender shoots, at the waters of rest He nourished me.  He returned my life. He guided me upon the worn paths of righteousness because of His name. For even is I should go in the midst of the shadow of death, I shall not be afraid of evils, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. (His protection against sin and his pulling by HIs love)  You prepared before me a table in the face of those who afflict me. You annointed my head with oil and Your cup is intoxicating me as the most powerful wine.  And your mercy chases after me a;; the days of my life and my dwelling is in the household of God for the full length of time.

I find it interesting that the Scripture at least in the Greek translations use “methuo” so often. It means to intoxicate and to make drunk!  We are always looking for ways in our scientific and medically arrogant world to raise dopamine, serotonin or endorphins to get happy. But we use drugs or alcohol, sex or other temporary fixes only to be let down when they are not around.

But God promised to do the same with out anything But Himself who is God. He God is SPIRIT and HE is HOLY. But He also gave us the gift of the Holy spirit to dwell in us every second and forever! And this cannot be taken away at anytime. In good times and in trials!

So How do we experience this fruit of the spirit “Joy”?

I want to know. But to learn I need to put more of my dependence on the Good Shepherd and less on my things that make me happy.  Can the Creator of all dopamine  and serotonin not provide a boost? Even when there is no reason to be happy. Even when there is no more drugs or even food. There are fasts from these things. Either by choice of by necessity.

But God is the source and the fountain of all life

IN the presence of God is Joy.

When David wrote this Psalm he said “Your cup is intoxicating me” God can give us the boost we need without drugs that lead us away from God.

Pr 23 :31-33

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

There are ways that seem good but are counterfeits, slick and convincing counterfeits.

Pro 14:12

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

So the Psalm said there are ways the Shepherd will lead his sheep that are the right habits

“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” and the word used for paths is the “worn pathways” like the habits must be walked upon to become worn. We must walk in the right ways until they are habitual pathways in our neurons. There are no quick fixes without discipline and self control. That quality as well as Joy comes from GOD and is a fruit of the Holy spirit He gave to us. But we must let our habits be changed to walk in the spirit and not try to medicated ourselves with the flesh.

No matter what trials we face He is never going to leave His sheep, His own children. But He will correct and direct us with his rod and staff.

He has prepared good works for us to walk in. Since Our Father created the whole universe and even time, He can do that. He knows all before we walk into it. So he supplies our food, the words of God and he food to sustain the body that reads it. He supplies what we need and it is a feast even during the trials we face. Even in the face of our enemies, such as persecutiion, prison, depression, discouragement and fear. He pours out to us by His spirit Love, Joy and Peace in the midst of all trials.  This is supernatural and above all the happy things. It is a miracle and it is maintained by prayer, praying in the spirit.

Jde 1:20-21

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

We are warned that there is two WAYS to get happy but only one works.

Eph 5:17

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Eph 5:18

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

Debauchery or “excess” in the KJV is the word in Greek that means “without hope of being safe” It means when you look to parties, rock and roll and drugs you are going to feel good but you are now in the devils control and you are not going to be in a good place to be protected and healthy.  You pay and pay dearly. But if you  Joy comes by the spirit You are protected always and you can be “happy”. So how to be filled with the spirit? How to let God fill your cup to overflowing and refresh you?

“. You annointed my head with oil and Your cup is intoxicating me as the most powerful wine.  “

So does God get us drunk? No but what we are look for is Joy not a hangover!

So it must be available to be satisified with Gods kind of Joy, when He anoints us and fills our cup with Spirit.

Eph 5:19

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Psa 36:5-9 NET

O LORD, your loyal love reaches to the sky; your faithfulness to the clouds.

Your justice is like the highest mountains, your fairness like the deepest sea; you preserve mankind and the animal kingdom.

How precious is your loyal love, O God! The human race finds shelter under your wings.

They are filled with food from your house, and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.

Ps 36:8-9 LXX “They shall be intoxicated from the fatness (richness) of your house and you will allow them to drink from the fresh steams of your pleasure. For from you is the spring of life. In your light we see Light”

In the Greek translation of this again the word “intoxicate” was used

“They will be intoxicated with the richness of your house ; You will give them to drink from your refreshing streams of pleasure.”

What are these streams of living water that can “intoxicate”  Jesus told us. He promised us

 Jhn 4:10

Jesus answered her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who said to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

This is a source that can intoxicate and satisfy without being lost

Jhn 4:13

Jesus replied, “Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again

Jhn 4:14

But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”

What is this source, or spring or well? But the gift of the holy spirit that Jesus promised to give.

Jhn 7:38

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Jhn 7:39

But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing[fn] in Him would receive; for the Holy[fn] Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified

He was glorified after He completed His sacrifice and was risen from the dead to take His place at the Fathers hand. Then on the day of Pentecost these unlimited and eternal source of life were poured out on all you who believed on Him.

Act 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

With this flow of life comes an intoxication, better than drunkenness.  A satisfaction and fullness that cannot be taken away.  The Holy spirit was given on Pentecost and from then on we have the source of life in our own belly. We can walk by it have have the fruit

 Gal 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The difference between being made “joyful” with wine and the spirit is control.

When we seek happiness through one we are being controlled. But when we are filled with the Spirit of GOD we are always the ones that control it. We are not mad but saved.

1Co 14:32-33

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Eph 5:18

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

So the answer to the search for happiness or joy must be here in the fruit of the spirit, not in the fruit of grapes. Joy and happiness may come temporarily from “spirits” but eternal source of Joy comes from the gift of the holy spirit

Act 2:16

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

Act 2:17

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Act 2:18

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

Act 2:19

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

Act 2:20

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

This is the first sermon  inspired by the brand new Gift of the Holy spirit. Christ was speaking again to his people. God was speaking in Christ who was speaking through the gift of the holy spirit now living and speaking by the mouth of Simon Peter to Israel!

Now the prophecy that Joel spoke some five or six centuries before.  God, the Holy Spirit, know all. And now on this day of Pentecost it was fulfilled and  the Kingdom of God was birthed as the new Body of Christ. Being build one member at a time until He returns

Many have said this was “Like” what Joel said. But that is NOT what Peter said “this is what” and not like some future we still are looking for. No it came. And after seventy years there was “blood and fire” and the sun was darkened by the Temple and all Jerusalem burnt to the ground by the Roman Titus.  And when people run from God to their religion or Satan’s counterfeit, they may again and again experience “Blood and Fire”  It is just physics.  No light. No Jesus. Equals darkness over the land.

Many teach “What happened on the day of Pentecost was a near fulfillment of that promise, with the final fulfillment coming in the last days” But when Jesus sent the Gift of the Holy spirit it was not the “near” fulfillment but total fulfillment starting from that day until the end of this world. Jesus Christ fulfilled all his work for us and now we work for Him and by His spirit HE IS ALIVE! AND THE KINGDOM IS HERE!  We are just waiting for this world to get out of the Way.

Act 2:21

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 Act 2:22

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—

• Here Peter was obeying Jesus’ command in Acts 1:8
• He stayed in Jerusalem until the promise came
• Now that he received it Peter became a witness to Jerusalem and Israel first

Act 2:23

“Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken[fn] by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death

Act 2:24

“whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

• That was the gospel
• That Jesus was ALIVE! And present by the witness of the holy spirit!
• Then Peter reminded the Jews the well known  old scriptures of David that this too was already explained a thousand years before  Acts 2:25-30
• “For You will not leave my soul in the Grave” Acts 2:27
• “that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;” Acts 2:30
• Acts 2:32 “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”
• The exalted Jesus Christ sent this promise of the Holy spirit from the Father Acts 2:33
• This was the simple Gospel: The death of Jesus, the Ressurection from the dead and the Living Christ coming in the Gift of the Holy spirit! 

Act 2:38

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:39

“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

• Repent. To repent means to change your mind. In context, it means changing your mind about Christ and the goodness of God (Rom. 2:4). Peter is echoing Jesus who said “Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15). “Change your unbelieving mind and believe the glad tidings of God’s grace and forgiveness.”
• We are not forgiven because we repent and are baptized; we are forgiven in accordance with the riches of his grace (see Eph. 1:7). Forgiveness is a gift to receive (Acts 26:18) rather than a wage to be earned.
• We are baptized and cleaned not by our sprinkling, dunking or even scub diving in water, but only by the Blood of Jesus.  The whole Gospel of what HE did not what we do.
• However, you will never experience his forgiveness unless you receive it by faith. Only in Christ do we have the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14).
• And the goal is to have Christ living and working in you. The promise of the holy spirit is given as a gift. It is given but we must believe we are forgiven first. Then we can have the confidence to be Christ. Then we can join the Living Christ with His spirit living in us
• Peter offered this Good News here to the Jews and some three thousand accepted it that day!
• Paul continued and was called to bring the same Gospel to the Corinthians and the rest of the world.

1Co 15:1

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,

1Co 15:2

by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

1Co 15:3

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

We need to make this our priority!  Bring the Good news so simple a child can get the power of God! This simple Good news that Jesus overcame the eternal sleep to Give us all Eternal life by leaving that tomb behind and pouring Himself into all of those who ask for it!  That should be first thing.

THE WELL OF LIVING WATER

Πηγή

Pege

IS the word for source of living water. It can be the source of a flow like a river

It can be a spring and in French that is what a spring is called “La Source”

It can also mean a well as opposed to a tank or a cistern where the water can be collected but not be flowing or living.

That is the word used in the Greek translation for “fountains”

 Jer 2:13

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Gods own people. Not the dog Gentiles but the chosen Isrealites! They have made their own cisterns or tanks to collect water instead of taking the fresh water from God. Man made tanks of religious doctrines often replace the freely given water of the holy spirit. It is often mans religion that is dead and toxic that replaces the freedom in Christ.

Jer 2:8

The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Pastors can teach legalism and law and that is all it is without a personal relationship with the Lord of the Bible. They did not know God! Yet the prophecy for the devil.

There is a story of Jesus meeting a woman at a well, a Pege, a source of flowing water. Here Jesus uses the analogy of the well to compare it to what?

Jhn 4:6 NIV

Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

Jhn 4:7 NIV

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”

Jhn 4:8 NIV

(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

Jhn 4:9 NIV

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jhn 4:10

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
What is this gift Jesus was refering to? What was this “living water”  It could not be only H2O.

Jhn 4:11

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

The woman began to see that Jesus was not referring to water literally.

“He would have given you living water: In ancient times they called spring water living water because it seemed alive as it bubbled up from the ground. At first glance, it might seem that Jesus told this woman about a nearby active spring. But Jesus made a play on words with the phrase “living water,” because He meant the spiritual water that quenches spiritual thirst and gives life” David Guzak

Jhn 4:12

Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?

The woman was going to help Jesus and thought He was a tired traveler and she was going to be “a good samaritan” Both the Samaritans and the Jews had the common ancestor of Jacob but since then there was a great divide!

“What a mortal feud there was between the Jews and the Samaritans: The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. The Samaritans were the adversaries of Judah (Ezra 4:1), were upon all occasions mischievous to them. The Jews were extremely malicious against the Samaritans, “looked upon them as having no part in the resurrection, excommunicated and cursed them by the sacred name of God, by the glorious writing of the tables, and by the curse of the upper and lower house of judgment, with this law. That no Israelite eat of any thing that is a Samaritan’s, for it is as if he should eat swine’s flesh.” Matthew Henry
    Religion or drinking from poisoned cisterns poisons love and relations. Most wars are approved by religious persons. But Jesus came to give living water not religious rules.

    Because men worship in Jerusalem or Shechem God does not care, but people do. Jesus the King of peace came to forgive and give to all men, because all men were created in Gods image. Not certain chosen ones. Because men are Catholic or protestant is no reason to stop dealing with each other and deny human civility!

Many a religious person who has zeal for religion, show that however their religion may be true they are not truly religious; but, pretending to stickle for religion, but deny love! And that is the reason supposedly for religion!

“Jesus Christ is the gift of God, the richest token of God’s love to us, and the richest treasure of all good for us; a gift, not a debt which we could demand from God; not a loan, which he will demand from us again, but a gift, a free gift.” Matthew Henry

• The Spirit of grace is as living water; see ch. 7:38. Under this similitude the blessings of the Messiah had been promised in the Old Testament, Isa. 12:3; 35:7; 44:3; 55:1; Zec. 14:8. The graces of the Spirit, and his comforts, satisfy the thirsting soul, that knows its own nature and necessity.

Jhn 7:38-39

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Isa 12:3

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Isa 35:6

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

The living water was always associated with healing, saving, giving life to the crops and was seen when Jesus came. He healed the lame, deaf and dumb and He still is doing it through the spirit He poured out on us.

Isa 44:3

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

The holy spirit is like water, living water and is needed to help the crops grow. We are like his crops and need water and sonlight to grow

But He paid the price on the cross so that this Holy spirit is given to all who ask for free!

 Isa 55:1

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

God paid the price by giving the gift of His son and they both gave us the holy spirit on Pentecost.

Lets return to the story recorded  in John about the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob.

Jhn 4:15

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

The woman did nothing to earn the gift but ask.

Jhn 4:16

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

Jhn 4:16

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
This was normal and respectful. Jesus was already pushing the limits of cultural correctness in talking to a woman. Today we may have to push the limits of laws of men like “political correctness” when it needs to be corrected by truth.

Jhn 4:18

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly

This was a witness that Jesus had power, supernatural power of the Holy spirit. HE could tell the details of her mistakes and he knew because Father gave him reveleaded knowledge. It was supernatural and she knew it. Jesus now had her full attention.

Jhn 4:19

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

Jhn 4:20

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

Perhaps she was evading the question of her sin in her personal life. Perhaps she was learning. But by the power of the holy spirit she was being witness too. Jesus promised that this same source of living water would pour out of all believers also. He promise we could do this and greater works because He lives in us by the this spirit of life. The holy spirit not us, it is this power that convinces the world of their need to come to the Savior. The power of revelation knowledge was bringing her to salvation.

Jhn 4:21

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

The hour which Jesus was prophetically talking about was the day of Pentecost recorded by Luke in Acts. Then people could manifest the spirit and only then because it was not available until the hour came. Now it is available to all believer who just ask.

It is not given when we are “holy” enough. It is given to help us to grow holy and we need it to grow. It is the living water and without it our lives remain a desert.

Jhn 4:22

You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Even the word “Jews” or Yehudi is from “praise” “Yada” And it was God who chose who he chose to reach the whole world. Salvation came from the race of the Jews because God had chose Mary to be His mother.  She was a real decendent of Jacob, Israel and David. Not all Jews today can prove their genetic purity. But that does no longer mean anything.  Now all who believe on Jesus the King of the Jews can become Jewish by faith alone.

Rom 4:12

and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

 Rom 2:29

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Rom 10:12

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

Jhn 4:23

But the hour is coming, and 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.

“Jesus pointed her to a time when worship would no longer be focused on places (neither Jerusalem nor Mount Gerazim). The greater work of Jesus would bring a greater, more spiritual worship.” David Guzak

“One of the greatest announcements ever made by our Lord; and made to one sinful woman.” Dod

““The prophetic ye shall worship, though embracing in its wider sense all mankind, may be taken primarily as foretelling the success of the Gospel in Samaria, Acts 8:1-26.” Alford

Jhn 4:24

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

“Spirit and truth” is a way of say worshipping in truly spiritually. Meaning that until the hour come the worship was not really spiritual but only physical representations.

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth: With these words Jesus described the basis for true worship: it is not found in places and trappings, but in spirit and in truth.” David Guzak

Because GOD is Spirit we need the gift of the Spirit to worship in the spirit, that is to walk in the spirit, to live by the living water that pours out of the Living Christ in our belly.

Jhn 7:38

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Acts 2:16-17 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:”

This was when the gift of the Spirit was poured out from heaven to all those who believe and need it. Pentecost!

Jhn 4:25

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jhn 4:26

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

………………….

Wells and sources of living water were used to prophecy the coming of this gift.

Psa 36:8

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,

And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures

Psa 36:9

For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.

God really is the source, the well, the spring of life from which all good gifts flow. All real pleasure and satisfaction come from His spirit.

So we can say we need His spirit like we need water to survive

Psa 42:1

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God!

Psa 42:2

I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”

Psa 68:26 ESV

“Bless God in the great congregation,

the LORD, O you[fn] who are of Israel’s fountain!”

Joe 3:17-18

“So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,

who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.

And Jerusalem shall be holy,

and strangers shall never again pass through it.

“And in that day

the mountains shall drip sweet wine,

and the hills shall flow with milk,

and all the streambeds of Judah

shall flow with water;

and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD

and water the Valley of Shittim.

Many have said this is future, but I see it fulfilled in the past. It was fulfilled when the Gift of the Holy spirit was poured out on Pentecost.

Phl 3:3

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God[fn] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh

We now have received the promise of the Father, which is the holy spirit and we now can worship in spiritual truth. This goes way beyond sacrifice of animals or cutting off body parts. These were the best God could ask for until the people of God could receive the gift at the right hour.

Now we are able to worship and give thanks to God by way of the spirit He gave to us

“Different ways of worshipping God may involve lighting candles, burning incense, or praying to certain statues; other forms of worship may vary depending on where one goes. In God’s Word, we read that God seeks for “true worshippers” to worship Him. How can we be true worshippers? As we will see in God’s Word, true worship involves speaking in tongues. We will look at how speaking in tongues is worship to God and some practical keys to speaking in tongues more.”

Worshipping God by Speaking in Tongues