Bromley Baptist Church – 4^th June 2006 PM – John 4:1-42 – The Spirit and Jesus

Back in February I preached on this passage. I spoke of the transforming power of Jesus - able to change people, communities, our attitude to worship. As we come to Pentecost I’m drawn to it again. Jesus offers the woman living water. He makes the same offer in the temple – 7:37-39 - and we’re told ‘by this he meant the Spirit,’

Today we learn about the work of the Holy Spirit - whom Jesus sends, who is Jesus to us now!

I’d like to look at this under 4 headings - Encounter, Experience, Education, Expression

1. Encounter

This passage is all about an intimate encounter with Jesus. Started casual, ordinary but an encounter with Jesus could never be ordinary! - it is extra-ordinary! When Jesus met people they didn’t stay the same! - either for good like Zacchaeus or for the worse - like the Pharisees.

Before Jesus left us He said that he would send ‘another Counsellor’ to be with us (John 14:16). There are 2 Greek words available for ‘another’. You could talk about ‘this is one piece of furniture and this is another piece of furniture, (chair and table) - or you could say ‘This is one piece of furniture and here is another piece of furniture’ (chair and same chair). Guess which one is used here in John’s gospel! - the latter.

I can’t understand why some people say they love Jesus yet shy away from the Holy Spirit!

· He’s been sent by Jesus to be Jesus to us!

· In refusing the Holy Spirit we’re refusing Jesus - in his bequest to us and in his very presence!

· If you damp down the Spirit’s fire you’re trying to extinguish Jesus.

· If you deny the Spirit access you’re denying Jesus access.

· If you’re offending against the Holy Spirit you’re offending against Jesus!

· An encounter with Jesus means an encounter with Him BY THE HOLY SPIRIT!

2. Experience

If you are changed by Jesus through the Holy Spirit you don’t get a one off encounter! - you’ve started a lifelong journey - a pilgrimage that only ends in glory!

And He walks with you by the Spirit through every step of that journey. That’s why he can promise to be with us even to the end of the age - that he’ll never leave us or forsake us!

Some in the Church seem never to have had an encounter nor experience that on-going walk with Him - knowing His call and companionship at your side.

Now I’m not saying that the normal Christian life is one of a ‘24 hour glow’ - like the old Readybrek adverts! But I am saying that a one off encounter with Jesus when you were converted is not His norm for you! He wants to go on to filling you and your life more and more! - always satisfied with Him yet never satisfied with yesterday’s touch of Christ!

Discipleship is not just following a path, it’s walking with the Master.

3. Education

The Holy Spirit - as Jesus with us - is in the habit of putting us right! He is the Counsellor - one who draws alongside and brings us wisdom (not merely intellectual) and a life changing dynamic. Jesus gently teaches the woman at the well about the nature of his offer of water and He enlarges her appetite for the Spirit! - though her understanding isn’t fully formed! - see how she still seems under the impression that Jesus is talking about drinking water! - v.15 - she reckons Jesus can give her water on tap at home!

We evangelicals like to make sure everyone understands everything. We start in Sunday School, we continue through church and want our people to understand well. Education, Education, Education! We are cerebral people. I will be the last to ever deny that we need clear teaching at all levels. But I do have misgivings about our fanaticism that implies that He can’t use us until we understand! ...that gives the impression that our Trinity is God the Father, Son and Holy Scripture!

· This woman clearly didn’t understand it all!

· The first disciples clearly didn’t understand much at all!

· I’ve read some of the stuff the early Baptists wrote and clearly they didn't understand.

· Some of the young people who are used by God in life changing ways taking the gospel into the backwoods of China seem to go with a very limited understanding.

· The girl who prayed for Jennifer Rees Larcombe for healing didn’t understand - and praise the Lord - or she would never have prayed as and when she did. She knew enough to respond to the calling of the Spirit.

What deters some people from offering for service or leadership is the idea that ‘I don’t know much of the Bible.’ Now I praise God that they acknowledge this but as long as there is an appetite for more they should be given the opportunity to serve! This is why we get starved of leaders, why we often only have leaders who are well advanced in years. Jesus didn’t chose disciples on the basis of what they knew, but on what his grace and Spirit could do with them.

He also re-focuses her attention on things that are important. She gets the idea that she must debate theology with Jesus about where they should worship God. It was a common dispute - Samaritans vs. Jews. Jesus turns her attention from dispute to the Spirit vv21ff.

Education by the Spirit is not to dispute inconsequential things (how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, whether we should wear ties on Sunday, which song book should we use?) but to turn our hearts and minds to the unfailing presence of Jesus by the Spirit.

4. Expression

The Spirit touched her life - she began - just a little - drinking from the eternal well-head. She went back to town and despite her isolation she wanted to tell the people of the one she’d met.

If you have had encounter, on going experience and the teaching of Jesus by the Spirit but haven’t given expression there is some blockage that we need to make a matter of prayer.

I liked Jonathan’s answer the other Sunday - at tea he was asked about the importance of Biblical teaching as opposed to activities for young people. Jonathan said it was a matter of ‘both/and’. He knows that without expressions like Soul in the City work, or putting young people to work for Jesus - though their Biblical knowledge may be low, you may as well not bother. The big steps in my faith and knowledge were through mission, activities, - doing something with Jesus and his people. That’s the way we grow! Christianity is dynamic not academic!

I was hearing last weekend that advertisers, frustrated with the general failure of advertising methods, have devised a scheme which taps into the best method of advertising – personal recommendation. They’ve contracted taxi drivers to introduce their ‘subject’ (e.g. place for a holiday) into the conversation with clients or actors are paid to bump into people on the streets and engage in conversation introducing a recommendation (e.g. gym just down the street)

It is time for the church to learn the expression of our faith through salt and light!

So, what are we to say to the Spirit of Jesus?

Someone went on a trip to Rome - saw the Vatican and went into the Sistine Chapel – puzzled that lots of tourists are herded through a small door when there's a massive double door shut - He asked why? - answer ’That door is opened every 25 years’- ‘why?’ ‘to let the Holy Spirit in.’

Do we only want the Spirit of God to be given access once in 25 years? - or even once a year at Pentecost? God waits outside for the big double doors of your heart to be thrown open.

But somehow a lot of church folk have the idea that they should make the mix of their Christian lives with as little of the water of the Spirit as possible - and if possible none! No wonder they either turn out to be stodgy like dumplings or dissolve into whatever society they prefer - Pharisaism or secular society or something else other than real Christianity!

John the Baptist told us that Jesus would baptise us with the Holy Spirit! Immersing us, not ‘just enough’ and no more - but totally flooded!

Will you, will I be open to Him?