The Power of Testimony | Austin K

This message was preached  by Austine Kudalkar at Word of Grace Church on April 29th , 2018. To listen/download the audio please click here. 

The gospel of John was written by an ordinary fisherman. This was the man who wanted to sit on the right hand of Jesus and wanted to bring fire down from heaven over a city. But his heart was transformed by the life and ministry of Jesus and he was known as the apostle of love.

       I.          Engaging people

John 4:1-4 “Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria.”

a.    Intentional: Jesus was intentional about going to Samaria because he wanted to encounter this woman.

b.    Initiate: Jesus initiates a conversation with this woman. Leaders always initiate.

c. Overcoming barriers: There was great hostility between the Jews and Samaritans. In our culture it is the caste system. Also women were not valued in society. So the Samaritan woman was surprised that a Jewish man would address her. So don’t let these barriers stop you from reaching out to people. 

d.  Identifying the real need: Jesus identified that this woman was thirsty for fulfilment and satisfaction. John 4: 14-15 “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.””

People are always looking for something more. They want to upgrade everything they own. They want more and more- smoking, pornography, going from one relationship to another.

John 4:16-19 “16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied.Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.””

This woman has gone through rejection several times. Jesus spoke to her knowing her past life but he did not mistreat her, reject her or judge her. There is great power when we speak with people and do not judge them.

     II.          Invitation to Worship through relationship

John 4:19-26 – Jesus speaks about worshipping God through relationship. The true worshippers will worship in Spirit and in Truth. This woman was more interested in the places of worship rather than the person to worship. Worship without relationship with the Father is not worship at all.

1.      Worship in Spirit:

John 3:4-7 ““How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” When you place your faith in Jesus, he adopts you into your family and fills us with the Holy Spirit which is out guarantee of eternal life.

2.      Worship in Truth: John 14:10 “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”. Ephesians 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” Jesus is the word of Truth. John 1:14 “and the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us”. Jesus revealed himself to this woman.

    III.          Honoring women: Jesus demonstrated to his disciples how to treat women- to talk to them and converse with them. In the same way, people in our society are looking at us- how we treat people, how we honour women. This is how we can transform culture and impact society. So this is a call to Action. But why do we do this?

a.      The will of God- John 4:34 ““My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”John 6:38-40 “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”” The will of God is for us to be saved and not to lose us. He gave us eternal life. Here is an invitation to receive Jesus as your saviour. He will not lose us and nothing can snatch us from his hand.

b.      Sowing and Reaping: John 4:37-38 “Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”” There is always someone who shared their testimony and the Gospel to you. But don’t expect immediate results when you sow. Romans 10:14-17 “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message? 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ”

    IV.          Share the gospel of Salvation- Many Samaritans came to believe because of the woman’s testimony. The woman accepted God’s love and did not feel judged. Many came to Jesus and put their faith in him. Revelation 19:10 “” When you share your testimony, you are prophesying into their life. Some may reject it and some may accept it. But we have the hope that can turn mess into a message, a test into a Testimony, a trial into a triumph and a victim into a victor!

  Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.