JanMary

Q1. (John 6:5-9) Why does Jesus try to get the disciples to own the task of feeding the crowds? It was on the job training, as they were soon going to be "fishers of men", with the responsibility of "feeding" them spiritually the "living Bread" of life after He ascended to Heaven. They were not just to be observers, but participants...so they would never forget. Before the miracle, when He tested them, they assumed the only way to feed the multitude was to go into a town to buy food, but knew that was impossible, as there was not enough money. He was training them to depend upon Him as their source for every need.. What is the significance to the story of the boy’s five loaves and two little fish? Jesus can take the little we have and with His touch can multiply it to meet whatever needs He sees in and around us...be it gifts, material goods, or whatever we have, He is never limited by our limits or lack. Miracles are always about human impossibility...and His power demonstrated in His love.

Q5. (John 5:39-40) What should be the role of the Scriptures in our lives? Jesus said in speaking to the religious leaders, that His Word should live in our hearts. His Word is alive and active...a double edged sword (cutting away with one edge and healing with the other) It's His revelation of Himself to us. It is the final authority. The early Berean church hungrily searched to see if what was being taught was true...we ought to do the same. We are encouraged in scripture to meditate on His Word and to know His Word. Having been deceived at one time due to ignorance of God's Word, I believe in reading every day. Not in a religious, legalistic way, or formula (did that for too many years), but as the Spirit leads and directs as I spend time with Him in the early morning. When the formula caused the Word to become a stale duty, I put it down and asked the Lord to give me a hunger for His Word...and He did. Now it's my joy and delight...my daily bread and comfort, my guidance and instruction each day. Always fresh and new! How is it possible for a person to be a great student of the Bible, but so lacking in spiritual discernment and lifestyle? Some read the Bible simply for knowledge...want to know what it says, but with unbelief. The Holy Spirit breathes the words into life for us...without Him indwelling I suppose the Bible is like reading the dictionary...just lots of words on a page. How can we keep our churches orthodox but not legalistic and judgmental? Ironically it was from a challenge at church that I started to read the Bible through in a year which led to legalism for me.....not a good plan! Grace preaching inspires and encourages.....the law or a mixture of law and grace demands and leads to legalism and judgment.

Q4. (John 5:36-37) According to John’s Gospel, what is the value of miracles? Jesus said "The works that the Father has appointed for Me to accomplish and finish, are a witness and proof that the Father has sent Me. (That Jesus is God) John called them "Signs"...pointing to the truth that Jesus is Messiah. God come down to earth. What is the weakness of faith that depends solely on miracles? Unbelief in Jesus' Words...the Word of God! Why do you think that we don’t have more miracles in our day? Unbelief in Jesus' Words...the Word of God! Teaching inconsistent with the Bible. How much is that dependent upon a congregation’s attitude (and unbelief) towards the importance of modern-day miracles? I think it's very important...however miracles occur despite unbelief. I received a miraculous healing in my back...and miracles were not talked about at the church we attended....I was watching a Christian television program and a Word of Knowledge was given that a "woman whose back had been injured in a car accident was being healed right now...it's in the low pelvic region." I had been crying in pain and frustration at just having to lie there. Even after I heard the popping and snapping sounds in my back I didn't believe it could be me, "because God doesn't love me that much".....then I heard "Stand up and do what you couldn't do before...bend over, twist..." Skeptical, I stood up and all the pain was gone. I still didn't believe it could be me...so I did things which I was sure would bring pain....none there! So I called the television program and told them my back had just been healed. That was 40 years ago, but it's as amazing to me today as it was then...except now I know how much He loves me! But if miracles are to happen at church, there must be openness to them and a welcome to the Holy Spirit to come and minister!

Q3. (John 5:30) Why is Jesus so dependent upon the Father for wisdom? Jesus is fully God and fully man, yet limited Himself while on earth to living as we are to do....fully dependent on His Father. He relied on the Father to guide Him in all things, just as we are able to access if we rely on Him. Words of knowledge and God's wisdom carried Him through each circumstance every day and night of His life. How dependent are you upon your culture to approve of your way of life and validate your wisdom? I'm not! I learned years ago that my culture does not value my Christian walk, nor wisdom, as they are in conflict...polar opposites in many cases. To what degree do you depend upon God for wisdom? I also learned years ago that my wisdom will not suffice....His wisdom is what I rely on...when I fail to do so, I fail.

Q2. (John 5:21-24) According to John 5:24, when does eternal life begin? Thank the Lord, it begins the moment we say "Yes!" to Jesus and receive His free gift of salvation! What is our default position without Christ – life or death? Apart from Jesus, we will die the second death and be separated from Him for eternity. How can people come to eternal life if they never “hear my word”? I've heard of people on rare occasions (In Iraq) having Jesus appear to them, and they are saved, where He then directed them to a church for discipling after their encounter. But the normal way is for them to hear the Word through a testimony of Jesus' work in another's life, or to hear the Word preached at church or on television or radio. (I first heard the gospel on the radio on the way to a church and was born again before arriving!) How do your friends and neighbors normally hear Jesus’ word? They hear as we share about what Jesus is doing now or has done in our life. I don't force the issue but am always mindful for openings to share. Many in our family are bound in a cult, and who are aware of the trials we've encountered and still face, I share how He is carrying, strengthening and providing for us in the hard places. I've shared miracles we've been privileged to receive. I continue to pray for their hearts to be softened and the scales to be removed from their eyes. What might be your role in seeing that they hear his word? In the sermon Sunday our pastor mentioned a statistic which shocked me. 90% of Christians say they have never invited anyone to church. (fear of rejection was the reason most stated). Another statistic was that 95% of Christians no longer share their faith after they've been saved for 2 to 3 years. Our role is to remain faithful to share when the Holy Spirit opens the way. A former pastor encouraged us to ask Him for opportunities in the morning before our day starts, which helps me to be mindful to watch for and expect openings. I believe there is more impact coming from a known and trusted friend or neighbor where the life lived before them backs up the testimony shared in words.

Q1. (John 5:19-20) Are we intended to emulate Jesus’ listening to the Father, or is knowing the Bible a modern-day substitute for this? I was deceived as a new baby Christian by a bright and beautiful angel who appeared to me in our kitchen in the middle of the night (I thought someone forgot to turn out the light and went to do so) .He told me a number of things and not knowing anything much about scripture, I thought he was Jesus! It was only when the things he told me turned out to be lies that I realized the only way to be sure of "voices" was to compare what is said with Scripture...I got into a wonderful Bible Study immediately. "My sheep know My voice"...is true of me now. I have continued to be in His Word for 40 years. We are to listen to the Father through His Word, as well as whenever He speaks! We can discern that it is He speaking because we know His Word (From that night of deception I learned the difference: When it is the Lord speaking, it is to our spirit. When Satan spoke to me it was to my soul about flesh-y desires.) The Lord most often speaks to me when I am reading the Bible but He has spoken when I've been combing my hair, washing dishes, driving the car, awakened me from sleep, in the shower...just about everywhere. Why don’t churches teach more about hearing the voice of God? I think it's due to fear of folks being led astray (as Satan lied to me), or perhaps churches do not trust the Holy Spirit to be faithful to the sheep in such matters. (I was only deceived for a week or two...and it was a valuable training time for me, which the Holy Spirit allowed and Who quickly showed me that it was not Jesus speaking and that I needed to know God's Word. He then led me to a wonderful Bible Study. I'm grateful for having been through that experience...because I know His voice and I'm quick to obey. Quite a few years ago I was alone in a parking lot in a beautiful country park late in the year reading my Bible and soaking in the fall colors and beauty all around me. There was one way in and out of the parking lot....with just enough space for two cars to pass. My car was facing away from the entrance / exit and I was oblivious to any danger when I heard in my spirit "GO NOW". I knew God's voice...and immediately started the car and drove toward the exit. As I did so I passed a car coming in with a man at the wheel. When our eyes met the hair on the back of my neck stood on end...his eyes were sheer evil. Shaking, I realized if I had hesitated even for a minute he could have blocked my exit and if he had a weapon there was no one around to help me. I thought "This is one reason the Lord wanted me to know His voice...it may have saved my life by not having to take time to figure out who was speaking! What would happen in our generation if we would learn to dynamically hear God and then obey what he is saying to us? I like that word...dynamically! if the Church will learn to hear and obey we could have a dynamic body of believers rather than a largely impotent, passive religious group who stay inside the church and hope the pastor will evangelize, and who for the most part have been deceived into believing that miracles and the power of the Holy Spirit were retired when Jesus arose into Heaven. We would be praying about everything, including the elections and governing of our Country. I was stunned to read in a Christian magazine that less than 50% of Christians in America are registered to vote and half of those registered admit that they don't vote. I'm praying for revival and empowering of the Church to complete His work in every country in these last days....I believe that's God's will.

Q4. (John 5:14-15) Is it possible to be blessed outwardly, but lost inwardly? Most certainly! Some of the most lost and miserable people on the planet, are deemed the most wealthy, most beautiful or handsome, or most talented . Why did Jesus confront the healed man in the temple with his sin? It's possible that the sickness was a result of sin, and Jesus wanted to bring the man to complete healing...body, soul and spirit, rather than ignoring the root cause. How was this necessary for a full healing, his salvation? A sinner must acknowledge his or her sin and repent in order to be saved. The sin was apparently the cause of the illness. Jesus is concerned about the whole person not just the physical when He heals. Does the man seem to respond with faith to Jesus’ rebuke? No...."the man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who made him well."...blamed Jesus rather than praised Jesus.

Q3. (John 5:9-13) Why are the “sabbath police” (the Pharisees) so upset at the man who is healed? The Pharisees were self righteous "keepers of the Law" who expected others to follow their legalism...Jesus healed the man (and others) on the Sabbath, which they misconstrued as "work" (such as a tailor walking with a needle...the tool of his trade....tucked into his lapel). He then told the man to pick up his mat and carry it....They cared nothing for the man...only that Jesus "broke the law" in both healing on the Sabbath, and in telling the man "to break their version of the Law." How can a person be so intent on rules that they miss what God is doing? Narcissistic folks ("me first, you not at all") and those who live under the law and who get their value from their own works and abilities, while expecting others to follow their "rules.", are only focused on "doing it right"...without regard for God or people, and at the expense of others. Have you ever caught yourself doing that? Yes! When I was a young Christian I had no idea about grace....I actually thought that success as a Christian was to walk from Salvation, (point A) to Heaven (point B ) in the straightest line possible while doing "it all right." I learned after failures and misery that isn't possible...my most valuable learning has been through mistakes, failures, disappointment in myself, my priorities, how I treated people, etc. I read the Bible through every year for several years, and didn't get a whole lot out of it except pride in having done so. I became distraught if I got a day or two behind then had 5 or 6 chapters to read in one day to get caught up....it was all about "how I was doing", which then led me to compare myself with others...and either came up way short, or felt superior. It was a trap of Satan to cause despair! Thank God, He delivered me from that....with the verse "All that you have done, I have accomplished for you". What joy! What a relief! When Jesus said "It is finished!", He had completed my salvation, provision, plans, promises, health, relationships, the works He preplanned for me.....all of it, and my part is to rest in Him each day, follow His lead, Let Him lead, and He works through me to His Glory, not mine. Learning and understanding Grace has changed me totally from an uptight legalist, to a joyful, relaxed, daughter of God, who extends grace to others. In learning about grace, I learned how deeply and unconditionally I'm loved and cherished by my Father in Heaven! Has someone in your church been so intent on “how we do things here” that they couldn’t see God at work? Yes, our former pastor... a young man, started out well, but soon began to make rules, then more rules. Got trusted people to "spy" on others so he would know if things were being done his way. Of course as the congregation "woke up", the church began to fall apart, then he got into deception about finances, and made up rules about giving...... a downward spiral resulting in many wounded, disillusioned believers.. What is the sin of the Pharisees here? Pride! (We do it right, and Jesus you're wrong!) They are spiritually blind and don't understand that the law was meant to be a mirror to show us our sin and need for a Savior...and that "the Law is the ministry of death." (2 Cor 5:7), while the new covenant in the Spirit, gives life (Rom 7:4-7)

Q2. (John 5:6) Why do you think Jesus asked the invalid if he wanted to get well? I think Jesus wanted to hear the man verbalize what he really wanted.....to be healed or to lie there for another 38 years.This implies that the man hadn't really sought after healing....in 38 years surely whomever brought him to the pool and laid out his mat for him and probably provided lunch and water for the long day there, would have stuck around to help him get into the pool had he been asked. A woman with severe arthritis came forward for prayer at our church. She was a visitor, so her name and situation were not known. As she approached, the Holy Spirit revealed that she had painful arthritis from unforgiveness. "Tell her I will heal her if she will forgive her father". That was communicated when she asked for prayer. She said "NO! I will never forgive him, turned on her heel and left. One would think she really wanted to be healed to have come to church and to ask for prayer. The Lord wanted to heal her emotionally and spiritually so that He could heal her physically. She wanted only physical healing and to hold onto the emotional wounds. Perhaps the man at the pool, whom Jesus told to stop sinning, had a similar situation. Why is it important for us not to make assumptions, but to seek discernment about people’s needs before we pray for them? The Holy Spirit always knows our needs...so checking with Him for discernment is always wise.

Q1. (John 5:1-16) How would you describe the invalid’s character? It was weak! He was a whiner. Apathetic. Conflicted...he was at the pool but seemed to enjoy the pity he attracted. He had the classic victim mentality: Feel sorry for me, because I have no options. Life has been cruel to me, "and I have no one to help me...someone else always gets to the water ahead of me" Victims are typically blamers and take no responsibility for their actions or for their well being. He got attention but always the wrong kind with his self pitying attention getting blaming. The invalid’s faith? It doesn't seem that he had much if any. Although he was at the pool.....but may have been there for others sympathy and affirmation that his life was pitiful. How does Jesus’ healing here demonstrate the grace of God? God's grace is ALWAYS undeserved. I was in a similar condition to the man for many years before Jesus "found" me and saved me....lifted me from the miry clay of self pity and victimization. (I had been victimized and so may the man have been, but God always offers us a way out and up!) He is attracted to our weakness and delights in supply His strength in us. Why do we humans find it difficult to accept grace when it is offered to us? Teaching and training that the "good" or the "worthy" are the ones who deserve blessing and reward. Most of us know that we don't deserve anything good as sinners.. and yet the Lord gives us breath every moment of every day which we didn't ask for or deserve. We're taught in the world "do good, get good. Do bad, get beat"....but we did bad and get grace...what a lovely and kind Lord we serve. Why do we resist the concept that God’s gifts are entirely by grace? I think it's built into us....if a 2 year old didn't start wanting to do things for him or herself they would remain totally reliant on others for their care. Like the two year old, we just plain want to "do it ourselves" and be rewarded for our effort...it's the way life on earth works. But God's kingdom is an upside down kingdom. The first are last the last are first. The worst of us are given grace. Thank you, Jesus! What a gift!

Q4. Have you read of miracles accompanying a great harvest of new believers on the missions fields in our day? Yes, many times. In Nigeria a friend reports that people are being raised from the dead, and healed miraculously. In another Country there are eyes appearing in formerly empty eye sockets. Witchcraft is rampant there so the Holy Spirit does amazing signs and wonders to empower the Gospel message and to demonstrate the power of God who is above all powers and principalities as it says in scripture He will do. Other nations are now sending missionaries to a mostly godless America, with the Gospel, accompanied by signs and wonders. What place do miracles have in evangelism today – both in your country and abroad? Because it's scriptural, I believe they are important....The power of God underscoring the Word of God! Why do some denominations in our day deemphasize miracles or claim that they were only for the early church? I believe it's due mainly to fear and ignorance...poor teaching. I heard a pastor say he "doesn't want the Holy Spirit to manifest His presence in the church because it "can get messy". By that I think he means that he will not be in control of the service which he prefers. A former pastor said the same thing, but that he "doesn't want to embarrass anyone". (The Holy Spirit embarrasses no one!) A local church in our area has a sign out front.."At our gatherings expect Killer music, interesting talks, no weird stuff"...and by that they mean the Holy Spirit will not show up there in any way at any time, and by pretending it's not "church", they hope to attract unbelievers. (We visited once to see what they are about. The church was darkened like a night club making it impossible to read the Bible, sparsely attended, unfriendly and cold....I believe seekers are seeking the God of power and might Who can transform lives. Yet they proclaimed that they want to evangelize our valley) Why do some denominations emphasize miracles? Many churches believe the whole canon of scripture...not "deleting" miracles and the work of the Holy Spirit. Those with leaders who are filled with the Holy Spirit and offer Him the leadership role understand that miracles are great encouragement and validation of the Lord's presence and power. (If miracles do not occur that is up to the Holy Spirit. Miracles are not a necessity to faith, but are a blessing when they do come.) Which of these types of denominations tend to grow faster? I haven't seen statistics, but I would imagine the ones where the Holy Spirit is invited to the services, since He is the one who saves, heals and delivers, is our Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby. (amp. John 16:26) What kind of “discipling” is necessary for those who come to Christ primarily on the basis of miracles? Solid teaching and training in the basics of Christianity, and continued Bible Study as one grows in grace. Emphasis on intimate relationship with our Lord, and the importance of following His leading each day in walking out our faith as His representatives and ambassadors. We are encouraged to share with others as letters written not on stone but on hearts of human flesh filled with His compassion and to allow Him to transform our lives into His character. (Gal.5:22-23) Also teaching that miracles have an important place but are not to be chased after and seen as the foundation of faith.

Q3. (John 4:53) What are the factors that caused the royal official’s household (immediate family, extended family, and servants) to believe? The first factor was that the official believed Jesus could and would heal his son and he put his faith into action to seek Jesus face to face. The second was that the son was healed, and at the same hour as Jesus said "Go in peace. Your son will live." The father's faith and testimony impacted all of them. Years ago I heard a pastor say that we could claim our unsaved loved ones based on Acts 16:31. As I thought about how that might be, I asked the Lord "How can I claim them without that removing their free will? Almost at once I heard "Because I know the future." That settled it for me and I've claimed all of our unbelieving family based on that word. I pray for each of them to be brought to the place of desiring to know Him. How mature was this faith initially? I'm not sure...It seems that he had more than seeking faith in order to travel 20 miles to find Jesus. He put his faith into action. How do you think the royal official was able to nurture it beyond mere “miracles faith”? Faith is a gift from God, so on that foundation along with the added miracle of healing he believed (adhered to, trusted in and relied on) Jesus. As in the miracles of healing I shared on Q1, those strengthened our family's faith and caused us to want to know Jesus in a deep way.

Q2. (John 4:43-50) What do we learn about the royal official’s faith from his actions? He didn't take the rebuke personally...but persisted and begged until Jesus responded to His request, which was granted on the spot! Why did he travel 20 miles from Capernaum to Cana? What does this say about his faith? When he heard that Jesus had come back to Galilee he traveled believing Jesus could and would heal and save his son's life. When he departs for home and “takes Jesus at his word,” what does this tell us about his faith? He had faith in Jesus' word alone that his son was healed and didn't ask for "proof", but left for home believing he'd find his son well again.

Q1. (John 4:43-48) Many of the Galileans believe mainly because they have seen miracles. In what ways do miracles help build faith? The miracles I've both seen and experienced demonstrate the love and power and Presence of God here on earth, which have deepened my love and gratitude toward Him, enhancing the sense of oneness with Him and a desire to know Him more! Our son's thumb was cut off in a bicycle accident and was reattached by a hand plastic surgeon, but after a week it died and turned black. The Dr. was going to remove it before gangrene set in, but I asked for a few more days to have him anointed with oil and more prayer. After 2 days when Dr. unwrapped it again his mouth fell open and he was speechless for a minute then exclaimed in wonder "It's a miracle...we doctors don't get to see miracles like this!" He was Jewish, and the miracle opened his heart to receive our testimony and the gift of a Bible. Sometimes, "Seeing is believing". Many years ago when my injured back was healed miraculously through a word of knowledge over the television by Demos Shakarian, the miracle opened those around me to seek Him, the Healer, and caused my faith to soar, as well as my broken and wounded heart to begin healing on the inside, and my doubts to vanish about whether or not He is real and involved in our lives. Why does only seeing miracles not build a mature faith? Only seeing miracles with no desire to know the Miracle-Maker amounts to not much more than entertainment...as Jesus' miracles were to some. A believer who relies on the miraculous will have no foundation for true faith. Miracles are not a replacement for the day to day walking with Jesus and living out our faith through trials and testings' and hardship, in the absence of miracles...that is true faith. Why does Jesus rebuke the Galileans in 4:48? He said unless you people see signs and miracles you will never believe (have faith) at all. That reminds me of those who wanted to make Jesus King, after he fed the multitudes...not for salvation and the joy of knowing and walking with Him, but for the provision of free food. He says in Psalms to Seek my face.....not just my hand.

Q4. (John 4:39-42). Why do you think Jesus stayed two days in Samaria, when elsewhere he instructed his disciples not to preach in Samaritan villages? The Samaritans were receptive and open to the gospel...they asked Him to stay...a field ripe for harvest...unlike the Jews who were constantly looking for ways to kill Him. It must have brought Him great joy to be received and invited to linger and share more with them. Jesus was fully God and fully man, so He felt rejection just as we do. What does it mean that Jesus is the Savior of the whole world? Jesus died for everyone in the world...whosoever will may come. What are its implications for our lives? We are to be open to share with "whosoever" comes across our path, no matter who they are. For your church’s mission? I love that our church is very focused on missions (the Congo, Israel and Palestinians, this year, and our area through City Serve, where literally hundreds of thousands of hours are volunteered locally in all manner of ministries to bring the gospel (in Word and deed) as demonstration of God's love and care to those who most likely will not come to church or are unable to come.

Q3. (John 4:36-38) Sowers and reapers usually got “paid” when the crop was harvested. According to this analogy, what will Christian workers receive at the end of the age when the final harvest takes place and Christ comes? We will rejoice together with the Lord for every soul who joins us in Heaven!

Q2. (John 4:35) What caused the harvest to ripen so rapidly in Sychar? The impact of the Samaritan woman's testimony...and the amazing life change she experienced in encountering Jesus the Messiah. How likely is it that the testimony of one, discredited woman could make such a huge impact? I think the fact that she was a discredited, shunned woman is what made the huge impact....everyone knew her and knew her situation, so much so that she avoided the gossip and sneers by avoiding people....and now she boldly proclaimed the gospel and unashamedly went about publicly proclaiming "Come and see a Man who told me everything I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" There is no proof like that of a drastically changed life! What might God do with your testimony if you were to share it? I do share it, whenever I have the opportunity. A Pastor once suggested we write our testimony out, and pare it down to 3 min. including salvation scriptures, so that if given the opening, it can be shared in a grocery store line, or in an elevator, etc. This was very helpful...and if interested in more detail the listener can always ask questions for more information. We then shared it a time or two so that it came naturally....and received feedback if we were on the right track or needed to make changes. Why is it necessary to “open our eyes” to see the potential spiritual harvest? Everyday life focuses on the day to day and the hum drum details...it requires opening our "spiritual eyes" in order to see and recognize the Lord's opportunities before us, and the Holy Spirit's work through us to accomplish eternal results.

Q1. (John 4:31-34) What does Jesus mean by “food” in these verses? Jesus said His "food" was to do the will and pleasure of His Father Who sent Him...and to accomplish and completely finish His work. What was his passion? Revealing His Father's love to the people....and explaining that He is "The Way" to the Father. What is your passion? My passion is to share the gospel with people....and to encourage... (my gifts are evangelism and exhortation) What will it take so that your passion, your goal in life, is to do the Father’s work? In your life, what do you think that might look like? My goal in life was set years ago when in a Bible Study we were asked what we wanted our epitaph to say about us when we are gone....I said "I want to be remembered as a woman of faith who loved people". That's my focus as I go through the day...not in a Pollyanna-ish way, but in down to earth, every day situations and circumstances. I don't always succeed, but that's my goal, and in Him, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me", so I keep relying on Him to get me to the finish line with having pleased my Father.

Q6. (John 4:23-24) What does it mean that “God is spirit”? God is the Uncreated One....Who has always existed...He is "not one of us human beings".....He's invisible and alive in the Spiritual realm. He can't be seen with human eyes...only what He has created in the material world can be seen. But He can be known and worshipped.....desires to be known and worshipped! What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? He has made known how He desires to be worshipped. First to the Jews through blood sacrifices to atone for their sins in order to be in relationship with Him. Now through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, we worship and come freely into His Presence by the Blood of the perfect Lamb....we may dance in His presence as David did. We may sing in a known language, or in an unknown tongue as the Holy Spirit leads. We may kneel, stand, bow down, or lie down. We may pray, and praise in known words or in other tongues. Tears may be worship. I trust the Holy Spirit to lead me in Worship. Have you ever “gone through the motions” of worship without worshipping? Yes, sad to say, I have...a number of times, especially when I've been angry at Him. How can you worship in a way more pleasing to God? Worship is a growing process for me. I feel much more free in worship than I did coming from an ecclesiastical church background where shaking hands with the person next to you was as "warm" as church got. Worship consisted of knowing when to stand, kneel or sit, to be in sync with everyone else. I've been delivered from that rigidity in recent years. I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me in all things...so that I'm pleasing Him.

Q5. (John 4:19-22) What motives cause the woman to bring up a religious controversy to Jesus? I think she was stunned that He was talking to her...and about spiritual things, to boot. I think that she was confused and bewildered! She knew the Jews despised the Samaritans...I think she was trying to make sense of the whole encounter. Her self esteem was in the trash....and here was Jesus singling her out and talking about deep things of eternal consequence. I also think she was trying to remind Him that it was very weird and out of the norm that they were conversing in this way....maybe seeking clarification about "Why me of all people?" (Like we might say "Are you serious???") Why do people today try to generate religious controversies with us? What are their motives? I've only had one person do this...and it was really that he was deeply wounded by the "death of his innocent little 2 year old nephew" in light of his "religious" background. He was wanting to get his questions answered before going any further with the Gospel message. The Lord gave me an answer that satisfied him and he eventually accepted the Lord and followed Him faithfully. But there must be dozens of reasons and motives for the controversies....stalling, fear, pride, a contentious spirit, demonic interference, anger, confusion, ....that's where we can ask for a Word of Knowledge.....to help cut through the diversion tactic.

Q4. (John 4:16-19) What was the effect of Jesus’ special knowledge of the woman’s history with men? The woman realized Jesus' knowledge was supernatural, since He had not met her nor did He know anything about her. He gently revealed her sin, without condemnation or shame...just simple facts. This opened a dialogue with her which was not intimidating in any way...but was life giving. Jesus was limited as we are to finite knowledge until the Holy Spirit gave Him supernatural knowledge (word of knowledge, or word of wisdom, etc) as we are also able to receive on behalf of others. What effect did it have on her faith? She said "Sir, I understand that You are a prophet." She moved from curiosity and thirst for water to the spiritual. How can such gifts of the Spirit work today to bring people to faith or deepen their faith? I've received Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge through other believers which have been life changing! I've been given Words for others who've said their lives have been changed also. To hear from someone's lips, words that only the Holy Spirit could know is so powerful, faith building, and love affirming. The first time I experienced this was years ago. I was deeply depressed. I had symptoms similar to what my brother had when he was stricken with polio. I wanted to die. My husband was depressed through our many losses and trials and kept saying "It's too late for us!" The next morning at church I went forward for prayer but said nothing...had no idea what to ask for. The woman did not know me or anything about me. She started to pray. Stopped and prayed in tongues for a moment. Looked at me and said. "You've been believing lies! You are not going to get sick! Your life is not going to be cut short! It's not too late for you!" As I cried, she prayed about those areas. The heaviness lifted. I quit worrying about getting sick. The lying symptoms left and never came back. I stopped wanting to die. I shared what she said with my husband and his heaviness lifted. To hear those words from her lips told me how much God loves me...and how He knows my every thought, since I had told no one about my fears. He cares about every detail of our lives. The one giving the Word is blessed....to have the privilege of speaking on His behalf is very humbling and beautiful...and to see the impact on the receiver is overwhelmingly beautiful! We serve such a precious God!

Note: Believing Christians disagree about some of these issues. Be gentle and loving as you respond to one another. Q3. (John 4:9-15) What does the “gift of God” and the “living water” (4:9) refer to? I believe the Gift of God is Salvation through Jesus death and Resurrection, and the living water is the indwelling Holy Spirit of God Who takes up residence in us at the point of Salvation. ("Living" in that He never leaves us nor forsakes us, and flows out of us to others.) What does receiving this gift result in (4:14)? A new life in Christ now and continually throughout eternity. (Having passed from death to life) Does this gift differ from or is another way of saying the “baptism with the Spirit” that John the Baptist spoke about in 1:33? I can only speak of my own experience. The Holy Spirit came to live in me at Salvation and confirmed to me that I am God's child. Then there was a specific baptism in the Holy Spirit a year or so later when I received a prayer language and the empowering to be His witness without fear or timidity. There have also been a number of "fillings" along the way... (I heard this explanation one time:" At salvation, the Holy Spirit baptized me into Jesus. The baptism is when Jesus immersed me fully in the Holy Spirit") That matches my own experience. Others may have had a different experience.

Q2. (John 4:9-15) Jesus’ words to the woman in verses 10-13 seem to imply that all people are spiritually thirsty. What has been your experience? As for me, I was like a dehydrated sponge looking for water when the Gospel was presented to me and I received it gladly the moment I heard what Jesus has done for me, a sinner. As I've shared over the years, I've found that most people are thirsty. Some more than others, and those receive the Lord...hopefully the not so thirsty will be brought to a place where they will hunger and thirst after Him and His righteousness. Does the woman seem spiritually thirsty at this point? Not at first...she seemed more puzzled about why a Jew would first: Speak to her, a woman, and second: a despised Samaritan and third: would ask her for a favor! And probably wondering what in the world a Jewish Rabbi would be doing in Samaria in the first place! What caused her deep thirst to surface? Jesus revealed Himself as Messiah, by telling her things about herself that only God could know. He extended Grace and mercy to her...and acceptance...something she had none of in her life as a social outcast. She couldn't even come to draw water in the cool of the day as the other women did...she came alone when no one else would venture out in the heat of the afternoon. There was no condemnation or shame toward her from Jesus, only love. What does this teach us about our own witness? The way Jesus approached her is beautiful...he drew her to Himself, little by little, at her leading through her questions and statements. From this I learn to LISTEN for cues from the one I'm sharing with...and not try to slam dunk the Gospel "water" down like offering a drink from a fire hose...be gentle, patient, kind and accepting.....what a Savior...what Wisdom...what Loving Kindness!

Q1. (John 4:7-9) Why do you think Jesus went against the social norms to communicate with the woman? One of the things I love about this story, is that not only did Jesus go against social norms to communicate with her, but he went against the norm and traveled to Samaria just to meet and redeem her! (V4) "It was NECESSARY for Him to to through Samaria...which was the long and out of the way route to get to Galilee. The Holy Spirit led Jesus to her, and when He told her "everything she ever did" she became an evangelist to her people in one hot afternoon after meeting her Savior and Lord! He pleased His Father in all that He did, rather than pleasing the Jewish religious rulers. Why do we hesitate to go against social norms to share the good news? The belief that we have to "fit in", or we'll be thought of as weird. The truth is we're "odd for God" if we truly love and serve Him. (I love that! A former Joyful heart Bible Study woman called herself Odd for God.... a great way to describe true disciples and followers of Jesus!) Out of fear, and insecurity, we may dysfunctionally focus on Form (appearance or the outline of life) rather than Substance (What fills in the outline: Real life, love, authenticity, Bibllical values), until we grow in Christ. Jesus always focused on Substance: authenticity, to please His Father, and the focus of His mission...to redeem mankind through the death He came to die. He was never focused on public opinion. How do we balance our need to obey God and our need to live peaceably in our culture? If by peaceably you mean staying under the radar, and not "offending" anyone with the the Gospel, then I would say it's not likely that we'll live peaceably. Rom 13 calls us to obey the laws of the land....and so we are to obey those laws...but NOT the politically correct anti-Christ folks who would like to shut Christians up for good! (and who are in a fight to the death to win their battle against God, and sadly, have done an excellent job of muzzling the mouths of fearful and timid Christians.) We are called to be bold and fearless!

Q5. (John 3:36) Is it possible to believe in God’s love and God’s wrath at the same time? Yes, because God is love, and He is also just. His wrath however was poured out upon Jesus on the cross so that I will never experience it. When Jesus cried "It Is Finished"...he declared that sin had been punished and the penalty had been meted out on the innocent, perfect Lamb Of God. God's wrath will only be poured out upon nations and individuals who mistreat Israel, and who reject His gift of pardon and forgiveness purchased for them on the cross. How does God’s justice allow salvation, when what we deserve is punishment for our sin and unbelief? Justice requires that sin be punished. His love opens the door to sinners who've received Jesus' Divine tradeoff. He took all of my sin past, present and future, punished by the Father's wrath upon Himself and in exchange gave me His holiness, wrapping me in His glorious robe of Righteousness forever. He took upon Himself what I deserve to give me what I don't deserve and could never earn....His Grace! (Hint: the “substitutionary atonement.”)