Download... September 5, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Nesly Jean-Baptiste.
TEXT: JOHN 4:1-4
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
There are many passages from Judea to Galilee, but here Jesus chose the right path through Samaria. What is your Samaria? You must go through. I must obey God, through the path of the way that He directs. There will be souls in “that” way,.. that need to be converted. What design does God have for your life?
God has that satisfaction that He has led you through all the way through,.. for His purpose. Regardless what place or station of life you are in, God has His way for you. His purpose for all of us is all encompassing. It is a privilege. We of course all have different trials in the paths of our lives, yet God has the victory for us all. Those before us that have obeyed, have left us a testimony. This is an encouragement for us all, to stay sweet in our soul. What “favor” or effect are we leaving behind? For any value to be had, we must go through with victory.
We are instructed in Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Allow God to work and fulfill His pleasure in you. The scriptures leave many references of those who have been blessed by fulfilling His instructions in their lives. The responsibility is in our hands, to do what the cloud of witnesses have exhorted us in. Too many neglect until they have a problem. Our neighbors are “watching” and are aware if we display godly fruit,..or not. We are being watched... is the answer to how many know more than we know, about our own self. God wants us to be that “testimonial” cloud of witnesses.
Psalms 105:16-19-21 16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: 19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. 20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: God needs individuals to spiritually reign for the purpose of bringing salvation’s rescue to other souls. Here Joseph was sent through much tribulation, to ultimately be an instrument for the salvation of Jacob’s family (God’s chosen people), through Joseph’s ultimate royal “promotion.” Chastity is the way God designed for His people to have that way of God’s pure way of light,.. in this world of darkness. God wants a pure people, young and old alike. Even the young need not fear to be strong in God, to be used for His purpose in the spiritual rescue of lost souls,.. through salvation.
The story of Joseph, (Genesis chapters 39-50) may not seem to have been the best or easiest path as was directed in this biblical account. But God had a reason and purpose for every agonizing trial and tribulation. His way is the right and better way! It will entail much suffering for a great spiritual gain. Though no one else will really understand our actions or dilemmas in God’s will, God of course does understand and will uphold us in His purpose. If it brings you despair, it is God’s will for you to pull yourself out,.. and stand strong in Him. An analogy would be like when you are cooking a turkey, when the heat is at it’s greatest point , that is when the thermometer will “pop” as the turkey is really ready. In that same way we may think it is already “too hot” for us in the heat of the “battle”, but God knows when we are truly ready (maturity wise) to be delivered out from the battle’s heat.
Job also in his distress of his tribulation, remained faithful... for God’s timely deliverance. Again Psalms 105, Verse 19 God’s time must arrive when to be delivered. If submissive, it will build spiritual character. Otherwise how can God use me? In the biblical account ,in the book of Esther, she found she alone would not escape the coming threatened demise of her people. Esther would not be able to escape, unless she found the courage to be used by God, for their deliverance,...which she did.
Acts 20:18-24 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Verse 18 The elders were knowledgeable in Paul spiritual example to “lead” them through every “season.” Verse 19 Serving God within the midst of all temptations and dangers, yet still keeping a humility of mind. Verse 20-23 Paul kept back nothing that was spiritually profitable. He went while not knowing the dangers that awaited him, while still legally bound, teaching and exhorting them all, publicly, ..regardless of the great risk involved. His only and needed confirmation being the witness of the Holy Ghost in every city where he was sent. Verse 24 Paul let nothing of the dangers of this life move him spiritually away from his consecration, in order to possess the testimony of the grace of God. Likewise so did Job go through all without sin,.. regardless of his grave oppositions.
The Holy Ghost is our ever faithful witness to exhort us to persevere for the purpose of God reaching souls for salvation,...for He will be our strength. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
If married to an unsaved companion that is in opposition, it is vital to remember that God is in control. Whatever oppositions..through another, or dilemma, ..we need to remember to have it settled to keep in God’s will. The God of all grace,...after we have suffered awhile. I Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. There will be suffering to be victorious in God’s will for our spiritual life. We must keep our heart with all diligence. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Our prayer needs to be, “God help my spirit in your sight to be right.” If I have “acted wrong”, help my spirit to be rightfully corrected. Psalms 139:23, 24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Our determination must be, no matter what the opposition, my spirit will remain sweet.
Marriage is many times a strong challenge to our spirits being not properly submitted. God can help you to be sweet at all times. To always be enabled to maintain spiritual peace, God must be allowed to perfect us, for this spiritual maturity. Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. If we allow God to perfect us, we can be more readily used for Him. “Be sweet” so God’s children will be drawn to your spiritually edifying fruits. God wants to fulfill His design in your life!
Romans 8:31, 35-39 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Verse 31 With God who can really be against us? Verse 35 Who can truly separate us from God’s love,..persecution, famine, nakedness, etc.? If we read Foxes book of Martyrs, we see beautiful examples of endurance through all, even unto death! This grace cannot be obtained without much time in prayer, meditation, and bible studying. Only with much sacrifice can we expect to make this spiritual race victoriously. For God’s “sake we are killed all the day long .....for the slaughter.”(verse 36) “They loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelations 12:11 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. We cannot always overcome the enemy without investing much time in prayer, meditation, bible study,..essentially God being first, and above all in our heart, mind and soul. We must sacrifice all to have and keep the victory in this spiritual race. Whatever, or wherever God directs, let us submit to God’s design for our lives. Are you submitted, and sanctified for His use and design? The only spiritual failure we will have is when, and if we take our self out of God’s protection. We are God’s agents,.. If we allow His design for our life.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Can you discern this morning, your position before God? If you keep struggling to be at rest spiritually,... God says “Come unto me and I will give you rest”. We must allow God to fully work out His design (or will) and change,.. that He would make in us! You must go through “Samaria”. What is your “Samaria?”
