Could This Be The Christ?

We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise this evening in Psalm 96 in the Scottish Psalter.

Psalm 96 in the Scottish Psalter, singing from verse 1 to verse 6.

The tune is St. Magnus.

We'll sing a new song to the Lord, sing all the earth to God.

To God sing, bless his name, show still his saving health abroad.

We'll sing verse 1 to 6 to God's praise.

O sing a new song to the Lord, sing all the earth to God.

To God sing, bless his name, show still his saving health abroad.

Among the heathen nations, his glory do declare.

And unto all the people show his works that wondrous are.

For great the Lord, and greatly he is to be magnified.

Yea, worthy to be feared is he above all God's beside.

For all the gods are idols come, which blinded nations fear.

But our God is the Lord by whom the heavens created well.

Great honour is before his face, and majesty divine.

Strength is within his holy place, and there doth beauty shine.

Amen.

Let us come to God in prayer.

Let us pray.

Our gracious Father in heaven, we do give thanks to you that we can come and sing.

Sing a song to you, a song of praise, a song of worship, a song of thanksgiving.

A song that reminds us that you are the only one worthy of praise.

We live in a world that makes up its own idols in so many different ways.

There is worship going on around us.

Even though it's unknown to some, they feel that they are just living life,

and yet they worship the gods of this world.

And we can be so guilty of it ourselves and being caught up in the worship that does not give all our glory and focus to you.

But we get distracted, Lord.

We worship the things of this world more than we should.

But we thank you that your word reminds us that you are the only one who is worthy of our praise.

That you are the only one who we are to worship with all of our hearts.

And so we thank you for the reminder of your word and of your day.

We thank you for the reminder of your people.

All these reminders that you have given to us.

That we are people who are to be set aside.

Set aside for a great purpose to live in this world, not for our glory, but fully for yours.

And we thank you that for that purpose, for that reason, in the midst of all the distractions that we face,

and the ways that we were living, and maybe still are living to some,

that you gave your own son.

That your word reminds us that in the lostness of this world,

and in the hopelessness that we can experience and feel,

that you sent your son to offer us the way to hope,

and the way to salvation.

The way to find that path to the living waters that will fully quench our souls,

and quench our appetite.

That will fulfill us and satisfy in all things.

We thank you for your word, and how it does that.

How it refreshes our souls.

How even the singing of your praises uplifts our spirits.

And how we are able to come and unite our hearts and our voices in praise of you.

We ask, O Lord, that you will come and be in our midst this evening.

That you will help us to offer up praise worthy unto you.

Spirit filled and with rejoicing and gladness in our hearts.

That you are the one who has opened our eyes,

or who is able to open our eyes,

and to see the wonder and the beauty of salvation in Christ Jesus.

So we pray, Lord, that you will be with us.

That your name will be magnified and blessed.

Not just here, but around the world today.

In the worship of your name and the praising of it.

That your people will be uplifted.

That sinners may be saved.

And that your name would go far and wide.

That people would hear it, maybe even for the first time.

Hear the name of Jesus.

And wonder what it means.

But come to behold the wonder of the name above every name.

That name that we are to worship.

So, Lord, may you guide us in our worship this evening.

May you open your word to us.

And may your spirit be upon us.

May you open your heart and in our hearts.

And in our souls and in our minds.

As we can feel the distractions of this world.

And even perhaps the distractions of the week that lies ahead.

With all the plans that we may have.

And all the different things that we will be looking forward to.

And anticipating.

That we would not be so distracted.

That we would not go into the week forgetting about you.

So, Lord, we ask for your blessing on us as a people.

And as a congregation of your people here.

That we will know, Lord, your presence.

That we will know your hand upon us.

Leading us and guiding us.

Every step of the way.

We thank you, Lord, for your day.

That day in the week when we have the quietness of it.

We are able to put all other things to one side for a time.

And we know there are those who have works of necessity and mercy.

We remember them, Lord.

We remember the many who have to work today.

And who may be even feeling the tiredness of this day.

And a busyness.

The busyness of a week.

We remember those who work in hospitals and homes.

And all the different services that provide safekeeping for us, Lord.

The police, the fire service, the coast guard.

There are so many who have to work, Lord, for our needs.

Even on this day.

And we do thank you for them.

And we pray that they will have rest for their own bodies and souls.

During the week.

In their own time as well.

And we thank you for the means that we have to engage in worship.

That we can come together here.

That we can tune in online.

That we are able so often to catch up with services during the week as well.

And we pray that in the week ahead that we will take heed of your word.

That we would come to unite our hearts in the prayer meeting.

During the week.

On the different evenings, Lord.

That we would enjoy being together with one another.

And hearing your word.

And praising your name in that way.

And we ask that you will hear our prayers.

We know that there is much to pray about.

Even as we look at our own notice sheet.

We realize, Lord, the different things going on around us.

Both locally and nationally.

And even internationally too.

We thank you for the work of among our young people.

And we pray for the youth fellowship to take place this evening.

May you be with them there.

May you be with Mojo as he speaks and shares a word of testimony.

May you be with the leaders and the young ones who gather as well.

That they would enjoy that time together.

Of getting to know one another.

But above all to hear of the wonder of your work.

How you are a God who longs to save his people.

And longs to show that real care and compassion towards us.

We thank you, Lord, that even when we are blind.

That there are times when we can look back and see.

The wonder of your grace and your mercy towards us.

So we pray for all our young ones to know the wonder of your grace.

And that saving grace.

That saving faith.

We pray too for the youth and discipleship worker, Gordon MacLeod.

We thank you for all the work he is doing.

And for our presbytery.

Throughout our islands.

The way he encourages.

The way he helps.

The way he supports.

And guides.

Not just the young.

But ministers.

Elders.

Deacons.

And even all congregations as a whole.

How he is able to encourage.

And share of his experience in different ways.

And we pray that he will be encouraged.

In his own heart.

That you will help him, Lord.

To lean upon you.

And to look to you.

And in all the plans for the future going forward.

In that work.

We pray that you will lead and guide in it.

And may your hand of blessing be upon him.

And upon all that he does.

We pray too for our congregation as a whole.

And all the different activities going on.

And all the people associated with us.

We thank you for those who have gone out from our midst.

To different parts of the world.

And we think of Muriel.

We thank you for her work.

And pray for her as she prepares to return home.

That that would go well in her preparations.

And planning for it.

And her travels too.

And all the arrangements to be made.

That all would go well with her.

And that her time at home would be a refreshing time for her.

And a time where we can enjoy fellowship with her.

We thank you for the great privilege of being able to share.

In the prayerful work of your ministry far and wide.

That when we feel that there is maybe little else we can do.

That we would remember the great power that there is in prayer.

And that we can pray for the work of your ministry here and far and wide.

To know the blessing of your hand upon it.

Remember our nation at this time as well.

As we look ahead in the week before us.

Lord and we think of the funeral to take place tomorrow.

We pray for those who will minister in it.

We pray for your word.

As it will be read and sung and heard.

That it will be heard.

We thank you that your word reminds us that your word is powerful.

That it is sharper than a two-edged sword.

That it can pierce deep within us.

And we pray that that will be the case even tomorrow.

That as your word is proclaimed.

As it is read.

As it is heard.

That your spirit will be with it.

That you will pour out your blessing on us as a land.

And that you would, Lord, come in a day of your power.

To revive us.

To renew us.

To give us a real sense of our need of you.

We pray, Lord, for our nation in the days ahead.

For all who will rule over us.

A new king.

A new prime minister.

And the governments.

Throughout our land.

In terms of Westminster.

Hollywood.

And also our council chambers as well.

That, Lord, you will grant great wisdom to all who rule.

And to rule well and according to your word.

So, Lord, we pray.

Looking to you now.

That you will continue with us.

That you will open up your word to us.

As we come to share from it.

As we continue to sing your praise.

Be with the one who leads us in the singing this evening.

Help us all, Lord, to lift up our voices in praise to you.

And to have ears to hear what you are saying to us.

And, Lord, we pray that your word will minister to our hearts.

And to our souls.

That it will refresh us.

And challenge us.

And convict us.

Above all, it will convince us.

Of the wonder of your glory.

Of the wonder we have.

In the saviour Christ Jesus.

The one who we can come.

And call our Lord.

Our Father.

And our God in heaven.

So, we pray you'll hear our prayers.

That you'll continue with us.

And refresh your people far and wide.

And bless your word.

To all ends of the earth.

For all we ask.

We ask for the forgiveness of our sins.

And to your name be the praise and the glory.

Amen.

Let's again sing to God's praise.

And sing Psalms.

Version of Psalm 62.

Page 80 of the psalm books.

Psalm 62.

We're singing from verse 5.

The tune is Heron Gate.

Find rest my soul in God alone.

In him my hope is ever sure.

My safety fortress sheltering rock.

In him alone I am secure.

We'll sing from verse 5.

Down to the end of the psalm.

To God's praise.

Find rest my soul in God alone.

My hope is ever sure

My safety for the sheltering rock

In him alone I am secure

My honor and salvation rest

On broad my walk and mighty fort

O people, trust in him always

To him alone for a good heart

The low for man is but a breath

The high for man is but a life

Within a bullet, side by side

They come to nothing but a sign

Do not seek after wealth by force

Or die afraid, will God in gain

And even though your wisdom please

Set not your heart on what is vain

My God has spoken, I have heard

That you are strong and loving Lord

Each one according to his deeds

You will assure and be reward

Can we turn together now to read in God's Word

In the Gospel of John

We're going to read in chapter 4

The Gospel of John chapter 4

John 4 · chapter mention

And we read from the beginning down to the verse marked 42

And here we have one of these wonderful encounters

Where Jesus meets with someone who in many people's eyes

Would seem to be a hopeless case

And yet he opens her eyes to see

The wonder of having her thirst quenched

In a way that's so amazing

And just a reminder to ourselves too

That when we feel a little lost in this world

And maybe don't know where to turn

That we have the one we can call on to

The one who is the Christ

So we come to read here in John chapter 4

John 4 · chapter mention

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard

That Jesus was making and baptizing

More disciples than John

Although Jesus himself did not baptize

But only his disciples

He left Judea and departed again for Galilee

And he had to pass through Samaria

So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar

Near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph

Jacob's well was there

So Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey

Was sitting beside the well

It was about the sixth hour

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water

And Jesus said to her

Give me a drink

For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food

The Samaritan woman said to him

How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?

For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans

Jesus answered her

If you knew the gift of God

And who it is that is saying to you

Give me a drink

You would have asked him

And he would have given you living water

The woman said to him

Sir, you have nothing to draw water with

And the well is deep

Where do you get that living water?

Are you greater than our father Jacob?

He gave us the well and drank from it himself

As did his sons and his livestock

Jesus said to her

Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again

But 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

The woman said to him

Sir, give me this water

So that I will not be thirsty

Or have to come here to draw water

Jesus said to her

Go, call your husband and come here

The woman answered him

I have no husband

Jesus said to her

You are right in saying I have no husband

For you have had five husbands

And the one you now have is not your husband

What you have said is true

The woman said to him

Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet

Our fathers worshipped on this mountain

But you say that in Jerusalem is the place

Where people ought to worship

Jesus said to her

Woman, believe me

The hour is coming

When neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem

Will you worship the Father

You worship what you do not know

We worship what we know

For salvation is from the Jews

But the hour is coming

And is now here

When the true worshippers

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

The woman said to him

The woman said to him

I know that Messiah is coming

He who is called Christ

When he comes

He will tell us all things

Jesus said to her

I who speak to you

Am he

Just then his disciples came back

They marveled that he was talking with a woman

But no one said

What do you seek?

Or

Why are you talking with her?

So the woman left her water jar

And went away into town

And said to the people

Come

See a man

Who told me all that I ever did

Can this be the Christ?

They went out of the town

And were coming to him

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him

Saying Rabbi

Eat

But he said to them

I have food to eat

That you do not know about

So the disciples said to one another

Has anyone brought

Brought him something to eat?

Jesus said to them

My food is to do the will of him who sent me

And to accomplish his work

Do you not say

There are four months

Then comes the harvest

Look

I tell you

Lift up your eyes

And see that the fields

Are white for harvest

Already

The one who reaps

Is receiving wages

And gathering fruit

For eternal life

So that sower and reaper

May rejoice together

For here the saying holds true

One sows and another reaps

I sent you to reap

For that which you did not labour

Others have laboured

And you have entered into their labour

Many Samaritans from the town believed in him

Because of the woman's testimony

He told me

All that I ever did

So when the Samaritans came to him

They asked him

To stay with them

And he stayed there two days

And many more believed

Because of his word

They said to the woman

It is no longer because of what you said

That we believe

For we have heard for ourselves

And we know

That this is indeed

The saviour

Of the world

And so on

And may God bless

That reading from his word

We again sing

To God's praise

Before we turn

To look at that passage

In Psalm 107

In the Scottish Psalter

At the beginning of the psalm

Psalm 107

Page 382

I'm going to sing

From verse 1

To verse 9

Praise God

For he is good

For still his mercy's lasting be

Let God's redeemed say so

Whom he from the enemy's hand

Did free

We sing from verse 1

To verse 9

To God's praise

Praise God

Praise God

For he is good for still

Praise God

For he is good for still

Praise God

For he is good for still

His mercy's lasting be

Let God's redeemed say so

His mercy's lasting be

From the enemy's hand

He is great for still

His mercy's lasting be

From the enemy's hand

He is a great for still

His mercy's lasting be

And gather there out of the lands

From north, south, east, and west

They stayed in desert pathlessly

No city found to rest

For thorns and hunger in them face

Their soul well streets them blessed

They cry unto the Lord

And he then frees from their distress

Them also in a way to walk

That brightest he did die

That he might do a city go

Where in the mind abide

O thy name to the Lord who fear

Praise for his goodness there

And for his words of wonder done

Unto the sons of men

For he the soul that longing is

Thou fully satisfied

With goodness he the hungry soul

That fell under thee

Well, let's turn back to our reading in the Gospel of John

In this reading in chapter 4

We're going to look at the whole of the passage that we read

But we can read again at verse 25

The woman said to him

I know that Messiah is coming

He who is called Christ

When he comes he will tell us all things

Jesus said to her

I who speak to you

Am he

Just then his disciples came back

They marveled that he was talking with a woman

But no one said

What do you seek?

Or why are you talking with her?

So the woman left her water jar

And went away into the town

And said to the people

Come

See a man who told me all that I ever did

Can this be the Christ?

Have you ever had a meeting

With someone that just stays with you

For maybe days, weeks, maybe even years afterwards

Maybe it's a meeting you've had

Some point in the past

Maybe you can even look back

In your more recent experience

Maybe even this last week

You've met someone out and about

Or maybe someone's popped in to visit

And you've had a conversation with them

And you've come away from it thinking

That did me good

That was a good experience for me

Because there are times in the hustle and bustle of life

When just a wee conversation with someone

And especially a conversation from a believer

A Christian

Who has a word

Just to refresh our souls

Just makes us ever so thankful

For all that the Lord has done

Have you ever had an experience though

Like this woman of Samaria has

In this passage that we've read together

Perhaps you have

Perhaps you know what it is

To have met with the one

Who is able to give you waters

From a well that will never run dry

To satisfy a thirst that you've had for a long time

And to know that you will thirst no more

Because you are believing and trusting in him

Or perhaps you haven't had this meeting yet

Perhaps you are longing for this meeting

To encounter with this one

Who is able to satisfy your thirst

Perhaps you are looking in life to find something

That will just give you that satisfaction

That joy

And yet all the time you are just feeling tired

And jaded with it all

While our text this evening

Reading this evening shows us

This woman of Samaria

Whose life is very much

In that category of being just tired

And jaded

And weary

A life that has perhaps been going

Round and round in circles

For a very long time

And she's just worn out

By it all

And she's tried

Drinking from every well that there is around her

And every place she's gone

Every time she's come away

Feeling even more thirsty than she was

When she first came

But then something happened

A meeting happened

A meeting happened

That completely changed her life

The Lord Jesus came to her town

And outside that town

In the middle of the day

In the heat of the day

In the weariness of life

She finds one who is able

And who does indeed transform her life

He opens her eyes

To see what she needs

And not just that

He opens her eyes to see

Where that need can be found

And this woman

Who was tired and weary

Coming to the well

Returns to her town

To a people that perhaps

Had shunned her and turned away from her

As we'll see as we go through this passage

They turn to hear

What she has to say

And in listening to her

They begin to realise

That something as incredible

Has happened in her life

That she has met with someone

Who has made all the difference

And as she says to them

Could this be the Christ

The Messiah

The promised one

Well, Jesus we see here

Takes this jaded

This hardened woman

And he leads her to a place of trust

And a place to

Coming to quench her thirst

And drink

From the living water

Of the well of faith

And the well of salvation

And she realises

There is much more in this well

Than just the water that quenches her natural thirst

Here her very soul

Her very being

The very thirst in life

Is quenched

And satisfied

And these

This meeting, these verses

They remind us

Of two things

First of all

They remind us that

If you are saved

If you have encountered with this Jesus

Who offers you living water

We are reminded how good

He has been

How gracious

He has been to us

In redeeming our soul

What He has done for us

Goes beyond

Any way we can give thanks to Him

And yet we come

Praising His name

Thankful

That He is the one

Who continues to refresh our soul

And to refresh us through His words

That even as we feel weary and jaded in this world

Through all that is going on around us

As we come to the living water of His word

We find ourselves refreshed

And encouraged

But it also reminds us too

Secondly, if you are lost

If you are like this woman was

As she made her way to the well

Just jaded and weary

Trying to find a way to find joy and happiness

And hope in this world

It reminds us that the answer is found

Not in the wells of this world

And the things that this world will say

Will satisfy us

Our satisfaction

Our thirst can only be quenched

Into coming to the living water

That the Lord Jesus Christ offers us

And to drink from this well

To drink from His word

To find with Him

Through His word

Through His word

The Spirit

Convicting us and convincing us

And giving us that hope

That hope of eternal life

Through Him

I want us to see

Three things as we look at this passage

Three things of the ones

Who we see in this passage

And the first thing we are going to look at is

The woman in the sense of

The lonely woman

We read here that

Jesus had left Judea

At the beginning of the chapter

To go to Galilee

And that journey

Took Him through Samaria

And on this journey

He enters into a region

That the Jews would be very hesitant

Of going into normally

Normally the Jews would avoid

Going through Samaria

We read here

That the Jews

And the Samaritans

They didn't get on

They didn't see eye to eye

In fact there was a real

Hatred and a real bitterness

Between them

But on this journey

He and his disciples

Making their way through Samaria

They stop in this town

Called Sychar

A small town

And here they stop for a time

It tells us there in verse 4

That he had to pass through Samaria

And he came to the town

Of Samaria called Sychar

Near the field that

Jacob had given to his son

Joseph

And Jacob's well was there

So Jesus

Weed as he was from his journey

Was sitting beside the well

And it was about

The sixth hour

His disciples

Had gone ahead of him

Into the town

To get some food for them

To share together

And it was while

Jesus was left alone

At this well

That this amazing encounter

Happens

Where this woman

Of Samaria

Comes along

Just by chance

She happens to come along

When Jesus is sitting there

That's the way many people

Would look at it

Isn't it?

Just this chance encounter

Perhaps you've had some

Chance encounters

As you see it in your own eyes

When maybe you meet with someone

Who has a word to give you

But they're not chance encounters

They're appointments

From God himself

They are there in God's providence

And here we see in God's providence

Jesus meets with this woman

Of Samaria

And I've called her

The lonely woman

First of all

Because that's what you see of her

At the start of this

This encounter

She's a lonely woman

In the sense of

The kind of life

That she is now living

And there are little things

That give us a hint

To that in this passage

The information we are told about

Or would indicate this

To us

First of all

You see there

When Jesus was sitting at the well

What time was it?

It says at the end of verse 6

It was about the sixth hour

That's midday

That's middle of the day

In the middle of the day

Noon

And here he is

Out at the well

At midday

And this woman

Comes to the well

And this is unusual

Because normally

In those days

The woman would come out

To the well

Either early in the morning

Or late into the evening

In the cool of the day

Not in the middle of the day

When the scorching sun

Is beating down on them

And they have to carry

These heavy water jars

They wouldn't make the journey then

Because it would just

Tire them out

And burn them out

Even quicker

So a work that was

Already difficult enough

Would be even more difficult

Here coming

At the sixth hour

And the other thing you notice

About when she came is

She was by herself

There was nobody else

With her

And again

This is a telling insight

Into her life

Because normally

They would come

As a crowd

They would come together

To do this work

So they would be speaking

With one another

Talking with one another

Helping one another

If the need arose

So this woman

Was different to the others

In the middle of the day

And by herself

This was unusual

And it's telling

It's telling that she was doing this

And then it goes on

To explain perhaps

The reason why

It was

That she was alone

And coming in the middle

Of the day

She had a lifestyle

That would seem to indicate

That grief and sorrow

Was never far from her

She had had five husbands

We are told

And now she's with a man

Who's not her husband

And again

This insight just shows us

The kind of life

That she had

It was one

That was lonely

Weerisome

No friends

Around her

Perhaps being shunned

By many who had once

Been her friends

There seems to be little

In her life

To fill her with joy

And happiness

What we are seeing instead

Is a lonely woman

And yet

It is a woman

That Jesus

Meets with

A woman that comes

In the middle of the day

And finds herself

Talking to one

Who is the Christ

And it's a great reminder

To us all

That Christ is there

For anyone

That Christ is there

For everyone

But it's a reminder too

Of what loneliness

And isolation

Can do to us

It can often leave us

Feeling a sense of hopelessness

But it also leaves us

In a very dangerous situation

As well

When we're lonely

When we're isolated

When we're feeling weary

In this world

It can often lead us

To turning to look for happiness

Anywhere and everywhere

We will try and find something

That will give us joy

But we're often looking

In the wrong place

And it would seem

That this woman

Had craved

The company of men

It would seem

That her whole lifestyle

Had just left her

Ended up

Seeking what would normally be

A happy and a healthy way of life

But to her

It had just led to disappointment

After disappointment

And for ourselves

It may not be

That's the way we try

And find our happiness

But there are other things

Where we try and find

Our happiness today

So where do you look for joy?

Where do you look to have your thirst quenched today?

In loneliness

In isolation

In our own weariness of life

We can turn to the wrong place

Perhaps it leads us

To turning to drink

Perhaps it leads us to thinking

Oh, I'll do the lottery

Or I'll place a bet

Or I'll place a bet

And all of a sudden

We find ourselves

Just getting sucked into

A way of life

That is wrong

We try and find and think

That joy and happiness

Will be found in all the wrong places

People so often

Turn to things like a horoscope

And they think to themselves

Well this might have something good

To say to me

It'll give me something

To encourage me

It'll give me something

To encourage me

We're turning to all the wrong places

We all have a great need

And a hunger for joy in life

But so often we miss the mark

We look in the wrong place

And now the amazing thing

We see in this woman's situation

Is the one who comes to her

Is the one who can meet her every need

And that's the great news

Of the gospel for ourselves today

We have tried maybe

Drinking and filling her

Trying to quench her thirst

In all kinds of different ways

And there's no satisfaction

There's no quenching of that thirst

We're still feeling

That emptiness inside us

It is Pascal who once said

There's a great God-shaped void

In the heart of every man

Which cannot be satisfied

By any created thing

But only by God

The creator made known

Through Jesus Christ

You have that void

And you're trying to fill it

It's like the child

That's trying to put the blocks

Into the bucket

Where you're trying to put the circle

Through the square

It's just not going to go

You're trying to hammer it in

But it's just not going to happen

You have to put it into the right shape

And for ourselves

We're constantly just trying to put

The wrong shape into our life

It just will not fit

Because the only thing

That's going to fit

The only thing that's going to change

And fill that void

Is Christ

So here

This lonely woman

She meets with this Christ

That's what was missing

In this woman's life

Is it missing in yours?

Is that void in your heart tonight?

If you want to find answers

We're not to turn to the wisdom

Of this world

And the false temptations

The false longings of this world

That will say to us

This will satisfy you when it won't

And our only way to find satisfaction

Is in Christ

And this is a day that would change this woman's life forever

And as a Christian tonight

There's a great reminder to you if you're a Christian here

Of the importance of making time for people

The importance of being there when people perhaps have their questions to ask

The importance of getting alongside those who maybe in your eyes

Seem so far away from God that there's no hope

This is a reminder to us

That there's a void in every heart

And no matter how far away someone seems

We are to always have time

To always have time to come along and to answer

There's a man called Charles Adam

An American in the 19th century

He was a very important political figure

And he had a busy life

And again he didn't like things to interrupt his life

And he saw many things that were a waste of time

And he kept a diary

And one day he entered this into his diary

Went fishing with my son today

A day wasted

That was an assessment of that time spent with his son that day

What was interesting was his son kept a diary

He was called Brook Adams

And he kept a diary that day

And his entry was this

Went fishing with my father

The most wonderful day of my life

And you see when you look at the experiences

That when the encounters we have in life

Sometimes we feel that was just a waste of time

But you never know what's going on in someone's heart

In that person's heart

It might be the most wonderful experience in their life

If the disciples as you see them coming back

They looked on this woman

Speaking with Jesus

And they wondered why on earth is he spending time with her

Why is he wasting his time?

That's the way we would have seen it

But not Jesus

He had time for her

And she

Her life was totally transformed

By this encounter

Because who did she meet with?

Well we see

This lonely

This lonely woman met with a loving saviour

We're showing here just the love of Christ

Jesus had to meet with this woman

It was the only thing that was going to make a difference in her life

And the wonderful thing today is that God sent his son

Into this world for that very reason

To meet with sinners

Not just the woman of Samaria

Not just the ones we read of through the scriptures

Those who had gone away from God

The likes of maybe Paul

You see how Jesus met with him

And you think well there's a sinner

He was persecuting

He was killing Christians

And you look at the obvious candidates

And you think well there's someone who Jesus

Should meet with and needs to meet with

But the amazing thing is

That God sent his son to meet with you

Every one of us

That we would encounter this loving saviour

And the question is then

How do you respond?

What do you do with this loving saviour?

This woman as she comes

She begins to question

She begins to ask him

And you see this

The loving way that Jesus speaks to her

He opens up her eyes to see

How much he knows about her

He says in verse 16

Go call your husband and come here

The one answered him

I have no husband

Jesus said to her

You are right in saying

I have no husband

For you have had five husbands

And the one you now have

Is not your husband

What you have said is true

So as he questions

She begins to realise this man

He knows all about me

He knows everything that there is about me

But does he judge her?

No

He begins to talk to her

In a way that she begins

To have her eyes opened

As to who he is

And he does it in this way

Where he talks about

This living water

That he would get a drink from her

He opens her eyes to see

What is worship?

In verse 24

He says God is spirit

And those who worship him

Must worship him in spirit

And in truth

So there is this discussion

There is this discussion

Going on between them

And all the time

Jesus is working away in her heart

And in verse 25

The woman says to him

I know that Messiah is coming

He who is called the Christ

When he comes

He will tell us all things

Jesus said to her

I who speak to you

You am he

That realisation

That donning

That donning of the one

Whom she is speaking to

I who speak to you

Am he

And that's the wonder of coming

To the word of God

That's the wonder of coming

And drawing near to God

You meet with the Messiah

The Christ

This loving Saviour

And you see the one

Who has done all for us

She knows

The Messiah is coming

Perhaps you believe

That God is coming

Perhaps you know

Through all you have heard

And read in the scriptures

Yes there is a day

That God will come again

Maybe you believe it

But the question is

Do you believe in the Christ

The Messiah

The Saviour

Are you ready

For that day

He is the one

Who has come so lovingly

Alongside his people

He comes lovingly

Again and again

To show us the way

To speak to us

Through his word

He comes

As a great shepherd

Calling his sheep

I remember speaking

To a minister once

And who was telling

Of how he was dealing

With someone who had come

From a foreign land

And they had

He had come into this land

He had been a shepherd

Where he had come from

And he had come

To Scotland

He was based in Edinburgh

And he was living in this city

And he just hated it

He was lonely

He was afraid

He was isolated

He longed to be a shepherd

Back home again

But he knew it couldn't be

But the minister was able

To explain to him

And tell him

Of the good shepherd

Of the Lord Jesus

And one who knows his sheep

And calls them by name

He had to come

From his homeland

He had to come away

From everywhere

Where he was comfortable

He had to come into

A foreign city

A foreign country

To meet a stranger

Who could explain to him

The things of Christ

And there are many things

In our lives

That we cannot understand

Many paths

We maybe have to go down

And things that experiences

We have in life

And we cannot understand them

But as we look back

We see that God

Has used them

For our good

To bring us to a point

Where we hear

Of this wonderful Saviour

Jesus knew

Everything about her

And the scary thing

For you tonight

Is he knows everything about you

He knows everything about me

But our past

Our background

Is no barrier

To the offer

Of the gospel

And that's the offer

That we have here

To come

And take of this water

To come

And drink from this well

The offer that Jesus gives

To her here

Is that she would take a drink

And not thirst

Anymore

In verse 14

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

That is the offer

That Christ has

For us all tonight

To come

And take

Of this water

The woman

Listened

To Jesus

And suddenly

In the midst

Of her loneliness

And in the most

Unexpected of places

There was this dawning

Of hope

In her life

When he comes

He will tell us

All things

She said

But Jesus said

I who speak to you

Am he

Jesus offers

This living water

He is a loving

Saviour

And if you haven't

Come

To this well

The invitation

Is there

And you say

But my heart

Is so wicked

I've done so much

In my life

That's wrong

Well so had this woman

So have we all

And yet we can still come

The offer of the gospel

Is free

And for all

So we are to come

And find

This loving Saviour

And to know him

But what do we do

To do with that?

Well then we see

The transformation

That comes

In this woman

She goes

From a lonely woman

To one who is longing

Longing to tell others

Of this loving Saviour

When the disciples

Came back

She was maybe

Afraid of them

But what she did then

Was she went back

Into the town

She went away

Into the town

She left her water jar

Went away into the town

And says in verse 29

Come

See a man

Who told me

All that I ever did

Can this be

The Christ?

What a wonderful

Transformation

Here she is

The one who was lonely

And had this encounter

Now she is

To be the one

The means to others

Coming to know

Of this Saviour

And it's a great reminder

To us all

This woman

Who had her life

Changed

What does she want

To do now?

She wants to tell people

She has had this encounter

She has met the Christ

And she wants to say

To others

Come

Come and see

This man

Could this be

The Christ?

And they come

And you notice

That they don't mention anything

About her past

Her background

Or everything that was leaving

Her lonely and isolated

They listen

And so we are to be bold

To tell others

We've had a

Today

In the Sunday school

This morning

Joanne and I

Last Friday

The over 55s

We were open to questions

And you never know

What kind of questions

Are going to come your way

But the questions

Were really good

In terms of

They make you think

They make you ask

Questions of yourself

Well why do we do

What we do?

Why do we believe

What we believe?

One of the questions

That came up

Among the young ones

Today was

How do you go about

Telling others?

Telling others about Jesus?

And the great thing is

That question is there

But it's not just

Among the young folk

Every one of us

Will maybe have that question

How can I go and tell others?

Well here's a great example to us

First and foremost

First and foremost

Is to be excited about the one we've believed

To know the difference that he can make

Come she says

Come see a man

Who knows everything I ever did

Could this be the Christ?

She's enthused

She's longing to tell others

And there's a great example to us there

Just come and share with others

Come

In other words

Invite

Invite people to come and hear of this Christ

Come and see of this man

This man who knows everything about me

A sinner

Just like you know me

A sinner in my past

And my present

And my future

And yet

I know a loving saviour

I know this loving saviour

Who can make all the difference

This woman's life

This woman's life

Is totally transformed

Where she's able to tell others

And the interesting thing is this

You never know

What other people are thinking

And maybe they're just wishing

I wish they'd say something

To me

There's a man called

Thomas Huxley

And he was

An agnostic

Quite a famous agnostic

And that's someone

Different to an atheist

Now an atheist

They would say

Doesn't believe in God at all

An agnostic

Will not say they don't believe

But they'll say that

Well God just cannot be proved

But at the same time

There's maybe a more openness

To reason there

To discussion there

Thomas Huxley was very anti-Christian

But there was a time in his life

It's said when one day

One Sunday morning

He had been with a crowd of men

In the evening before

And on the Sunday

There was a host of the men

Who were getting ready to go to church

And Thomas Huxley turned to one of them

And said

He knew he was a Christian man

He said to him

Will you stay at home

And tell me this

Why are you a Christian?

The man knew Thomas Huxley very well

He knew he was very good in debate

And discussion about the Christian faith

And why not to believe it

And he was a little bit hesitant

But Thomas Huxley said to him

I don't want to argue with you

I just want you to simply tell me

What Christ means to you

And so the man stayed at home that day

And spoke with him

And he explained to him

The reasons why he loved his Saviour

And how the Saviour had loved him so much

And Thomas Huxley's eyes filled with tears

And he said

And he said

I would give my right hand

If only I could believe that

And he rejected it

He pushed it away

But there was something that was making him ask the question

Because there's a void in us all

And there are in voids in many people around us

And we are to have the courage

And the boldness to say

Come

Come

See a man

Who knows everything about me

Could this be

The Christ?

Are you saved today?

If you are

Rejoice

Rejoice like the Samaritan woman did that day

But you have discovered the greatest thing in this world

A well that will quench your thirst

A place where there is love

And joy

And hope

But if you are not saved

What for you?

Will you come?

Come to this well

Come to Christ

Come

See a man who knows all about you

Who knows what's missing

But above all

Has what you need

Will you come?

To this well

Of living water

There is hope with Christ

What's the greatest encounter you could have today?

It's to meet with him

To meet with Christ

And to bow before him

And worship him with all your heart

And to know his love

And his care

And his compassion

The one who says come

Will you not come

And have your thirst quenched?

Let us pray

Our Father in heaven

We do thank you

We do thank you for the gospel hope

We thank you for the Christ

The Messiah who has come

To come to give us that invitation

To the well of living water

And we pray that Lord you will help us to come

And to invite others to come

To come and meet with the Christ

Who can fill the void in all our hearts

We pray that we will know

Your blessing over us

And to go with us

In all the days ahead

In Jesus name

Amen

We're going to conclude by singing to God's praise

And sing psalms version of Psalm 139

Psalm 139a

And we sing at verse 16 to verse 18

And the tune is brother James' ear

Psalm 139a and at verse 16

And all the days that I should live

Which you ordained for me

Were written in your book O Lord

Before they came to be

We'll sing from verse 16 to 18

To God's praise

Psalm 139a and at verse 17

Amen

And all the days that I should live

Which you ordained for me

Were written in your book O Lord

Before they came to be

were written in your book, O Lord, before they came to thee.

O God, how precious are your thoughts, I scan them from afar.

And as I seek to grasp them all, how numberless they are.

When I took out them, they would be more than the grains of sand.

When I awake, I am with you, still safe within your hand.

When I awake, I am with you, still safe within your hand.

Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.