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female announcer: TODAY ON TOUCHING LIVES...
Merritt: OH, I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU'VE MESSED UP,
AND I DON'T CARE HOW BIG A MESS-UP YOU ARE.
ANYBODY, NO MATTER WHAT THEY'VE DONE, WHO THEY ARE,
HOW BAD THEY MESSED UP--
ANYBODY CAN WORSHIP GOD IF THEY DO IT
IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH,
INCLUDING YOU.
announcer: WITH HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR LIFE,
THIS IS TOUCHING LIVES WITH JAMES MERRITT.
Merritt: WE STARTED A SERIES OF MESSAGES CALLED,
ON THE FRINGE.
AND WE'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE THAT JESUS ACTUALLY WENT AFTER.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT JESUS IS
THAT HE GRAVITATED TO THE KINDS OF PEOPLE
THAT WE TEND TO IGNORE AND WE TEND TO RIDICULE
AND WE TEND TO EVEN HATE OR REJECT.
AND TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE MOST FASCINATING CONVERSATIONS
JESUS EVER HAD WITH A WOMAN,
WHOSE AUTOBIOGRAPHY MIGHT HAVE BEEN TITLED, "THE MESS-UP,"
BECAUSE, AS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, THIS WAS ONE MESSED UP WOMAN.
IF YOU BROUGHT A COPY OF GOD'S WORD,
I WANT YOU TO TURN TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.
THERE ARE FOUR GOSPELS: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN.
I WANT YOU TO TURN TO THE FOURTH CHAPTER
OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY I KNOW
WE REALLY NEED TO STUDY THIS STORY.
NUMBER ONE, JOHN DOES SOMETHING NO OTHER GOSPEL WRITER DOES,
AND HE DOESN'T DO IT BUT ONE TIME.
HE DOES IT HERE.
HE DEVOTES 42 VERSES
TO TELLING THE STORY OF THIS AMAZING ENCOUNTER
BETWEEN JESUS AND THIS MESSED UP WOMAN.
FURTHERMORE, WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO READ WITH ME THIS MORNING
IS THE LONGEST CONVERSATION JESUS EVER HAD
WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL IN HIS THREE-YEAR MINISTRY.
NOW, THOSE TWO THINGS ALONE TELL ME,
THIS MUST BE A BIG DEAL.
THERE MUST BE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT LESSONS
THAT YOU AND I NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS STORY.
NOW, HERE'S KIND OF THE INTERESTING THING.
WHEN YOU FIRST READ THIS STORY NOW, YOU'RE THINKING,
"MAN, THIS MUST BE ONE POPPING STORY,"
AND IT REALLY ISN'T.
I MEAN, QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S REALLY KIND OF MUNDANE.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF ORDINARY.
AND AT FIRST GLANCE, YOU DON'T THINK IT'S THAT BIG A DEAL,
BECAUSE IT REVOLVES AROUND A WOMAN
WHO WE STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HER NAME IS.
AND SHE'S PERFORMING THIS MOST MUNDANE, BORING TASK
THAT WOMEN DID EVERY DAY
OF DRAWING WATER OUT OF A WELL.
SHE COMES ALL BY HERSELF.
AND WHERE NO OTHER MAN
WOULD NORMALLY GIVE HER THE TIME OF DAY,
EXCEPT, AS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN A MOMENT,
FOR THE WRONG REASON,
JESUS TAKES THE INITIATIVE
AND ENGAGES THIS WOMAN IN A CONVERSATION
THAT THOUGH SHE DOESN'T KNOW IT
IS ABOUT TO RADICALLY CHANGE HER LIFE.
BECAUSE AS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, SHE WAS NOT JUST MESSED UP;
SHE WAS A MESS-UP.
SHE HAD MESSED UP.
SHE WAS A MESS-UP.
BUT HER ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS NOT ONLY TELLS YOU AND ME
HOW WE OUGHT TO RELATE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MESSED UP,
BUT IF YOU'RE AT THIS POINT AND YOU'RE SAYING,
"MAN, I'M MESSED UP. I HAVE MESSED UP,"
THERE'S A GREAT LESSON YOU NEED TO LEARN THIS MORNING,
AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO TAKE OUT THE DOOR--LISTEN.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM THIS WOMAN.
IF YOU WILL FESS UP TO YOUR MESS UP,
JESUS WILL CLEAN UP YOUR MESS.
IF YOU WILL FESS UP TO YOUR MESS UP,
JESUS WILL CLEAN UP YOUR MESS.
NOW, THERE'S NO MESS-UP THAT JESUS CAN'T CLEAN,
BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU
MIGHT BE SITTING RIGHT THERE AND YOU'RE SAYING,
"WELL, I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO SOUND GOOD,
"AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT,
BUT, MAN, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I'VE MESSED UP."
WE HAD A YOUNG LADY TODAY.
SHE WOULDN'T MIND ME TELLING YOU THIS STORY.
WHEN SHE HEARD THIS STORY THIS MORNING,
SHE GAVE HER LIFE TO CHRIST.
SHE CAME OUT TO ME AT 9:30.
SHE SAID,
"I'M A MESS-UP."
SHE SAID, "BUT I'M GIVING UP."
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
SHE SAID, "TODAY I GAVE UP."
SO SHE SAID, "I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOUR TIMES,
"BUT TODAY I'M GIVING MY LIFE TO CHRIST,
AND I'M LETTING HIM CLEAN MY MESS UP."
THAT MAY BE YOU THIS MORNING.
YOU MAY BE SAYING, "MAN, I AM MESSED UP.
"WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM THIS WOMAN?
IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR ME?"
THREE LESSONS I WANT TO GIVE YOU VERY QUICKLY.
NUMBER ONE:
WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS IS WAITING TO MEET US.
IF YOU'RE MESSED UP,
I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING I KNOW ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW:
JESUS IS WAITING TO MEET YOU.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP THE STORY, JOHN 4:1.
"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."
NOW THE NEXT STATEMENT IS BIG.
DON'T MISS THIS:
"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."
THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACT.
"SO JESUS, WEARIED AS HE WAS FROM HIS JOURNEY,
"WAS SITTING BESIDE THIS WELL.
IT WAS ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR."
NOW, WHENEVER YOU READ A LOT OF DETAILS
IN A STORY IN THE BIBLE,
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.
THOSE DETAILS ARE NOT THERE JUST TO BE READ.
THERE'S SOMETHING BIG ABOUT THOSE DETAILS,
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY JOHN
GIVES ALL THESE DETAILS IN THE STORY,
BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN IS,
WHAT MAKES THIS STORY SO FASCINATING
IS NOT JUST WHO THIS STORY WAS ABOUT
BUT ACTUALLY WHERE THIS STORY TOOK PLACE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO FASCINATING WHEN JOHN SAYS IN VERSE 4...
WELL, NO, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
NOT ONLY HE DIDN'T HAVE TO,
HE SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE THROUGH SAMARIA.
SO THAT TELLS US SOMETHING WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT.
OKAY, THEN WHY DID HE HAVE TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA?
JUST A LITTLE SIDEBAR HERE.
SOMETIMES THE VERY PLACES THAT WE THINK WE SHOULD AVOID
ARE THE VERY PLACES THAT GOD WANTS US TO ATTEND.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY?
IT'S IN THOSE PLACES THAT DIVINE ENCOUNTERS AWAIT US
THAT GOD WANTS US TO EXPERIENCE.
YOU KNOW WHY JESUS HAD TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA?
IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF THE PLACE HE HAD TO GET TO.
IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF THE PATH THAT HE HAD TO TAKE.
THE REASON WHY JESUS HAD TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA
WAS BECAUSE OF A PERSON THAT HE NEEDED TO MEET.
NOW, WATCH THIS. THIS STORY REALLY GETS GOOD.
IT GETS MORE FASCINATING BECAUSE YOU WON'T BELIEVE
WHO JESUS IS WAITING TO MEET.
ALL RIGHT, WE PICK UP IN VERSE 6.
HERE'S A JEWISH MAN TALKING TO A SAMARITAN WOMAN.
THAT'S WHY JOHN ADDS THIS DETAIL IN VERSE 9.
THIS IS THE LAST PERSON YOU WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT
JESUS WOULD HAVE TALKED TO ALONE.
AND HE'S TALKING TO HER AT THE LAST PLACE
YOU COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED HE WOULD TALK TO ANYBODY.
NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN JUST A MOMENT,
THIS WOMAN HAD A LOT MORE BAGGAGE
THAN JUST BEING A SAMARITAN WOMAN.
SHE WAS ONE MESSED UP SAMARITAN WOMAN.
I GOT NEWS FOR YOU.
JUST LIKE THAT WOMAN, AS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN JUST A MOMENT,
JESUS KNOWS THE WORST ABOUT YOU.
HE KNOWS ALL YOUR MESS-UPS.
YOU SAY, "MAN, I'VE MESSED UP."
HE KNOWS IT.
"YEAH, BUT, PASTOR, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I MESSED UP."
HE DOES.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE I MESSED UP."
HE DOES.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I MESSED UP WITH."
BUT HE DOES.
AND HE KNOWS ALL OF THAT,
AND YET, LISTEN, HE'S STILL WAITING TO MEET HER,
JUST LIKE HE'S STILL WAITING TO MEET YOU,
BECAUSE I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU:
JESUS IS NOT OFFENDED BY WHO YOU ARE.
JESUS IS NOT OFFENDED BY WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
JESUS IS NOT OFFENDED BY THE PAST.
HE'S NOT OFFENDED BY WHAT ANYBODY ELSE THINKS ABOUT YOU.
HE DOESN'T CARE.
HE IS WAITING TO MEET YOU.
SO LET ME JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A THOUGHT.
MAYBE YOU'RE HERE THIS MORNING,
AND MAYBE YOU'RE NOT A CHRISTIAN.
MAYBE YOU'RE ALL NOT REALLY INTO CHURCH.
MAYBE YOU'RE JUST INTO JESUS.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, "LOOK, I JUST CAME HERE
"BECAUSE A FRIEND INVITED ME.
I'M JUST KIND OF CHECKING IT OUT."
LET ME JUST ASK YOU TO JUST TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT SOMETHING.
JUST ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE REASON
WHY YOUR FRIEND INVITED YOU TO CHURCH--
THE REASON WHY THAT GUY
THAT WORKS NEXT DOOR TO YOU IN YOUR OFFICE
KEEPS TRYING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT JESUS--
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE REASON WHY
SOMEBODY KEEPS TRYING TO SHARE THEIR FAITH WITH YOU--
THE REASON WHY THEY GIVE YOU A BIBLE,
THE REASON WHY THEY LET YOU KNOW THEY'RE PRAYING FOR YOU--
IS IT JUST POSSIBLE THAT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IS,
IS JESUS TELLING YOU, "I JUST WANT TO MEET YOU.
"I JUST WANT TO ENCOUNTER YOU.
"I JUST WANT US JUST TO HAVE A CONVERSATION."
NOW, IT'S BETTER THAN THAT.
BECAUSE FOR THOSE OF US
WHO ARE MESSED UP OR WE HAVE MESSED UP,
I WANT YOU TO SEE SOMETHING ELSE.
NOT ONLY SHOULD WE UNDERSTAND
THAT JESUS IS WAITING TO MEET US,
WE SHOULD BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS WILLING TO ACCEPT US,
BECAUSE LOOK WHAT HAPPENS.
JOHN GIVES ANOTHER CLUE AS TO WHAT THIS STORY IS ALL ABOUT,
BECAUSE NOW JESUS-- NOW, WATCH THIS.
JESUS IS NOW--HE'S REALLY STEPPING UP THE CONVERSATION
BECAUSE HE MAKES THIS UNBELIEVABLE REQUEST, VERSE 7.
JESUS...
YOU'RE ASKING A SAMARITAN WOMAN FOR A DRINK
OUT OF HER UNCLEAN, FILTHY, SIN-CONTAMINATED, SAMARITAN JUG.
BECAUSE REMEMBER, JEWISH MEN WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THIS WOMAN
LOWER THAN A TAX COLLECTOR,
BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE,
SHE WAS A SAMARITAN.
STRIKE ONE.
SHE WAS THE LOWEST FORM OF A SAMARITAN
BECAUSE SHE WAS A WOMAN-- STRIKE TWO.
AND YET, HERE'S A JEWISH MAN TALKING TO HER WITH RESPECT,
AND HE'S BASICALLY SAYING TO HER,
"I WOULD BE HONORED TO DRINK AFTER YOU.
"I WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD LET ME DRINK AFTER YOU.
"I WOULD BE HONORED TO TAKE THE SAME WATER OUT OF THAT JUG
THAT YOU'VE BEEN TAKING."
NOW, THIS IS WHERE THE STORY REALLY GETS INTERESTING.
VERSE 10.
NOW, HERE'S AMAZING.
ANY OTHER MAN, IF YOU'D WALKED UP ON THE SCENE,
AND YOU'D SEEN A MAN TALKING TO THAT WOMAN,
YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF,
"OKAY, THEY MUST BE HAVING SOME KIND OF A *** CONVERSATION."
BUT HERE'S A MAN, HE'S NOT HAVING A *** CONVERSATION;
HE'S HAVING A SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION.
AND, I MEAN, ON A DIME. WATCH WHAT JESUS DOES.
THIS IS WHY JESUS-- I'M TELLING YOU,
THERE IS NOBODY LIKE JESUS.
IT JUST BLOWS ME AWAY.
I MEAN, ON A DIME,
HE TURNS THE WHOLE SITUATION COMPLETELY AROUND.
WHEN SHE WALKS UP, SHE THINKS,
"YOU'RE THIRSTY, BUT I GOT THE WATER."
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, JESUS REVEALS TO HER,
"UH-UH. YOU'RE THIRSTY. I GOT THE WATER."
SHE'S GOING, "WHO IS THIS MASKED MAN?
WHO IS THIS GUY?"
NOW, VERSE 16.
"JESUS SAID TO HER, 'GO CALL YOUR HUSBAND AND COME HERE.'"
I LOVE THIS PART OF THE STORY.
"THE WOMAN ANSWERED HIM, 'I HAVE NO HUSBAND.'"
RIGHT? WELL, THAT IS TRUE.
"JESUS SAID TO HER,
"'OH, YOU'RE RIGHT IN SAYING I HAVE NO HUSBAND,
"'FOR YOU'VE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS,
"'AND THE ONE YOU HAVE NOW IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND.
WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IS TRUE.'"
NOW WE'RE GETTING THE FULL PICTURE.
NOW WE KNOW WHY SHE CAME IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY.
AND NOW WE KNOW WHY SHE CAME ALL BY HERSELF.
BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS SHE A WOMAN--
NOT ONLY WAS SHE A SAMARITAN WOMAN--
SHE IS A FIVE-TIME MARRIED SAMARITAN WOMAN,
AND SHE IS LIVING WITH A MAN WHO WASN'T EVEN HER HUSBAND.
AND JUST LIKE A FLY IN A SPIDER'S WEB, SHE'S CAUGHT.
NOWHERE TO RUN.
NOWHERE TO HIDE.
AND YOU GOT TO LOVE THE ONLY THING
SHE KNOWS TO SAY, RIGHT?
I MEAN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU WERE HER?
ALL RIGHT, WATCH THIS.
THIS IS BRILLIANT.
YOU THINK?
BRILLIANT DEDUCTION, SHERLOCK!
"YOU'RE A PROPHET!
"HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES?
"HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU KNOW I AM NOW A MISTRESS
"TO A MAN WHO'S ALREADY MARRIED TO SOMEBODY ELSE?
"YOU'RE A PROPHET. YOU'VE GOT ME ALL FIGURED OUT.
YOU KNOW ME INSIDE OUT."
AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, IT HIT HER.
SHE CLOSES HER EYES, AND SHE GRITS HER TEETH,
AND SHE CLENCHES HER FISTS, AND SHE BRACES HERSELF.
SHE SAYS, "OKAY.
"I'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE. GET IT OVER WITH.
"GO AHEAD AND TAUNT ME.
"GO AHEAD AND RIDICULE ME.
"GO AHEAD AND MAKE FUN OF ME.
"GO AHEAD AND GIVE ME THAT,
"'HOW IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU
"MESSED YOUR LIFE UP SO BAD' LECTURE
BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT MANY TIMES BEFORE."
SO SHE'S SITTING THERE, AND SHE'S WAITING.
AND INSTEAD, WHAT ENSUES IS
THIS UNBELIEVABLE CONVERSATION ABOUT WORSHIPPING GOD.
AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT JESUS DOES THAT I LOVE.
SHE'S A SHARP LADY.
SHE DOES WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO.
SHE CHANGES THE SUBJECT.
AND JESUS LETS HER.
VERSE 19:
"THE WOMAN SAID TO HIM, 'SIR, I PERCEIVE THAT YOU ARE A PROPHET.
OUR FATHERS WORSHIPPED ON THIS MOUNTAIN'"--
YOU SAY, "WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WAIT A MINUTE.
HOW YOU JUMPING FROM PROPHECY TO WORSHIP?"
SHE'S JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF THIS MESS, RIGHT?
SHE SAYS, "LOOK, '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'"--
NOW WATCH THIS--
"'AND IS NOW HERE.'"
THAT'S BIG.
WOMAN, YOU DON'T REALIZE WHAT TIME IT IS.
I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU.
"'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 HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.'"
NOW, JESUS TELLS HER SOMETHING IN THIS MOMENT
SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD EVER HEAR FROM ANYBODY.
HE SAID, "LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, LADY.
"I GOT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
"ANYBODY--
"ANYBODY--OH, I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU'VE MESSED UP,
"AND I DON'T CARE HOW BIG A MESS-UP YOU ARE.
"ANYBODY, NO MATTER WHAT THEY'VE DONE, WHO THEY ARE,
"HOW BAD THEY MESSED UP--
"ANYBODY CAN WORSHIP GOD IF THEY DO IT
"IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH,
INCLUDING YOU."
AND WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION IS,
JESUS NEVER BRINGS UP HER PAST AGAIN.
JESUS NEVER BRINGS UP HER PRESENT AGAIN.
THERE'S NO LOOK-DOWN-AT-YOUR-EYES-AT-HER
CONDEMNATION KIND OF LOOK.
JESUS HAD JUST SAID SOMETHING TO AN EFFECT,
AND SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT SHE HAD HEARD.
JESUS HAD JUST SAID TO HER, "YOU KNOW WHAT I JUST PROVED TO YOU?
"I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU.
"I KNOW EVERY SKELETON YOU'VE GOT IN YOUR CLOSET.
"I NOT ONLY KNOW THE FIVE HUSBANDS YOU'VE HAD,
"I KNOW THEIR NAMES. I KNOW WHERE THEY LIVED.
"I KNOW THE MAN YOU'RE LIVING WITH RIGHT NOW.
"I KNOW HIS NAME,
"AND I KNOW YOU'RE LIVING WITH HIM,
"AND HE'S MARRIED TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
"I KNOW YOU'VE MESSED UP, AND I KNOW YOU'RE MESSED UP.
"BUT I DON'T CARE.
"I CARE ABOUT YOU.
"I LOVE YOU.
"I'VE BEEN WAITING ON YOU.
"I ACCEPT YOU.
"I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU'VE BEEN.
I JUST CARE ABOUT WHERE YOU COULD GO."
BUT YOU WILL NEVER GET TO BE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE
IF YOU DON'T HONESTLY ADMIT WHERE YOU ARE.
BECAUSE REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MESSAGE?
IF YOU WILL FESS UP TO YOUR MESS UP,
JESUS WILL CLEAN YOUR MESS UP.
SO HERE'S OUR PROBLEM:
WE'RE LIVING IN A CULTURE RIGHT NOW THAT TELLS US,
"HIDE YOUR MESS-UPS.
"DON'T LET ANYBODY KNOW THAT YOU MESSED UP."
OR WE LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT SAYS,
"BUT IF YOU GET CAUGHT, DON'T CALL IT A MESS-UP."
RIGHT?
SO A MAN COMMITS ADULTERY WITH, YOU KNOW, AGAINST HIS WIFE,
OR A WIFE AGAINST HER HUSBAND,
AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TAUGHT TO SAY:
"I MADE A MISTAKE."
ALL RIGHT, READ MY LIPS:
ADULTERY IS NOT A MISTAKE; IT'S A SIN.
I EMBEZZLED A MILLION DOLLARS FROM MY COMPANY.
IT WAS AN ERROR IN JUDGMENT.
NO, IT WASN'T. YOU STOLE, YOU THIEF.
BUT SEE, WE'RE TAUGHT, "NO, NO."
YOU DON'T DO THAT IN OUR CULTURE.
YOU HIDE YOUR MESS-UP.
YOU NEVER ADMIT.
AND WHAT JESUS IS SAYING IS,
"LOOK, YOU WILL NEVER EVER GET YOUR MESS CLEANED UP
UNTIL YOU ADMIT YOU'RE A MESS THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP."
I'M GOING TO SAY THAT AGAIN.
YOU WILL NEVER GET YOUR MESS CLEANED UP
UNTIL YOU ADMIT YOU'RE A MESS THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP.
SO THIS WOMAN COMES TO THIS WELL THINKING THAT SHE NEEDS WATER,
AND WHAT JESUS HAS FINALLY SAID TO HER WAS, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS?
"IT'S NOT THAT YOU GOT A DRY THROAT.
"YOUR PROBLEM IS, YOU GOT A DRY HEART.
"YOU DON'T NEED PHYSICAL WATER.
"YOU NEED SPIRITUAL WATER.
"BECAUSE THAT JUG THAT YOU'RE CARRYING--
"THAT REPRESENTS THE WORLD'S WATER
"THAT WILL NEVER SATISFY YOUR THIRST.
"BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, I'VE GOT SOME LIVING WATER
THAT WILL SATISFY YOUR DEEPEST THIRST."
AND THE LAST LESSON TELLS ME SOMETHING.
IT TELLS ME WHY ANYBODY--
I DON'T CARE HOW MESSED UP THEY ARE--
CAN LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS JESUS WAITING TO MEET THIS LADY--
NOT ONLY WAS JESUS WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS LADY--
WATCH THIS.
WE SHOULD REJOICE THAT JESUS IS WANTING TO CHANGE US.
HE WANTED TO CHANGE HER.
NOW, LOOK AT ALL THE BARRIERS
THAT JESUS WAS WILLING TO OVERCOME
JUST TO MEET THIS WOMAN, JUST TO ACCEPT THIS WOMAN,
AND JUST TO CHANGE THIS WOMAN.
THINK ABOUT THIS.
HE OVERCAME THE RACIAL BARRIER
BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE SAMARITANS
BECAUSE HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO KNOW, GOD ACCEPTS EVERYBODY."
HE OVERCAME THE MORAL BARRIER FOR A *** PAST.
HE SAID, "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
GOD WILL ACCEPT YOU UNDER ANY CONDITIONS."
HE OVERCAME THE *** BARRIER.
HE SAID, "LOOK, GOD LOVES MEN AND WOMEN JUST THE SAME."
HE OVERCAME THE GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIER AND PROVED
THAT ANYBODY ANYWHERE CAN WORSHIP GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
IF THEY DO IT IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
SO THEN THIS CONVERSATION NOW IS JUST GOING AT WARP SPEED
LIKE AN OUT-OF-CONTROL ROLLER COASTER,
AND IT HITS THIS UNBELIEVABLE CLIMAX, VERSE 25:
AND WHAT BLOWS ME AWAY IS,
IT IS THE SINGLE MOST INCREDIBLE STATEMENT
HE EVER MADE TO ANYONE IN HIS LIFE.
NOWHERE ELSE IN THE BIBLICAL RECORD
WILL YOU FIND WHERE JESUS CAME OUT SO BLATANTLY AND SAID,
"I'M EXACTLY WHO YOU SAY I AM."
AND HERE'S WHAT JUST BLOWS MY MIND:
DOES HE DO IT TO A JEW?
NO, HE DOES IT TO A SAMARITAN.
WELL, AT LEAST YOU'LL DO IT TO A SAMARITAN MAN.
"NO, I'M GOING TO TELL IT TO A SAMARITAN WOMAN."
WELL, AT LEAST YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT
TO A SELF-RESPECTING, CLEAN, PURE SAMARITAN WOMAN.
"NO, I'M GOING TO DO IT TO A WOMAN
"THAT'S BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES AND LIVING WITH SOMEBODY
"THAT SHE'S NOT EVEN MARRIED TO.
A TOTAL MESS-UP."
AND IN THAT INSTANT,
SHE IS RADICALLY CHANGED.
YOU SAY, WELL,
"PASTOR, HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE WAS RADICALLY CHANGED?"
BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS IN VERSE 28:
"SO THE WOMAN LEFT HER WATER JAR"--
WHICH YOU WOULD NEVER DO--
SHE 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 TOWN AND THEY WERE COMING TO HIM."
SHE HAD COME TO GET WATER THAT WOULD QUENCH THE THIRST
IN HER THROAT FOR AN HOUR OR TWO,
BUT SHE LEFT WITH WATER
THAT HAD QUENCHED THE THIRST OF HER HEART FOREVER.
AND I WANT YOU TO WATCH THIS.
I WANT YOU TO WATCH THIS.
IF THIS DOESN'T GET YOU EXCITED, I CAN'T GET YOU EXCITED.
THIS JUST BLOWS ME AWAY, MAN.
JESUS BLOWS ME AWAY.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, HE JUST BLOWS ME AWAY.
WHEN YOU COME TO JESUS,
YOU NEVER GET WHAT YOU COME AFTER.
YOU GET MORE THAN YOU COME AFTER,
AND YOU GET BETTER THAN YOU COME AFTER.
THAT JUST BLOWS ME AWAY.
SHE'S GOING, "LOOK, I JUST WANT A DRINK OF WATER.
I'M KIND OF THIRSTY."
AND HE SAYS, "OH, NO, I GOT SOMETHING BETTER THAN THAT.
"I DON'T HAVE WATER FOR YOUR THROAT.
I'VE GOT WATER FOR YOUR HEART."
THIS WOMAN HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR JUST SOME TEMPORARY HAPPINESS.
JESUS GIVES HER PERMANENT JOY.
BECAUSE THIS WOMAN, WHO HAD BEEN USED BY SO MANY MEN
FOR THEIR OWN PLEASURE,
WAS NOW BEING USED BY GOD FOR HIS GLORY.
SO LOOK WHAT HAPPENS IN VERSE 39:
"MANY SAMARITANS FROM THAT 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 FOR 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'"--
NOW WATCH THIS UNBELIEVABLE STATEMENT--
"'AND WE NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS INDEED
THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.'"
[laughs]
THESE SAMARITAN GUYS AND THE OTHER SAMARITAN WOMEN
WHO HAD THE SAME HANG-UPS THIS WOMAN HAD,
AND SOME OF THE SAME MESS-UPS THIS WOMAN HAD,
THEY LOOKED AT HER,
AND THEY THOUGHT TO THEMSELVES,
"HUH, IF JESUS ACCEPTED YOU,
"MAYBE HE'LL ACCEPT ME.
"IF JESUS LOVES YOU, MAYBE HE'LL LOVE ME.
IF JESUS CHANGED YOU, MAYBE HE'LL CHANGE ME."
AND THEY CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION, VERSE 42.
"WE KNOW THIS IS INDEED THE SAVIOR"--
WATCH THIS--
"OF THE WORLD."
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, LISTEN TO THIS:
THESE DOWN-AND-OUT, ON-THE-OTHER-SIDE-OF-THE-TRACKS,
LOWER-THAN-LOW-COULD-GET SAMARITANS
NOW KNEW SOMETHING THE JEWS STILL DIDN'T GET:
JESUS IS FOR EVERYBODY.
HE'S FOR THE MESSED UP. HE'S FOR THE STRESSED OUT.
HE'S FOR THE DRESSED DOWN.
HE'S THE SAVIOR OF THE DOWN-AND-OUT SAMARITAN.
HE IS THE SAVIOR OF THE UP-AND-OUT JEW.
NO, JESUS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.
HE CHOSE TO.
HE WENT TO AN OUT OF THE WAY PLACE
TO EXTEND GOD'S GRACE AND GOD'S LOVE
TO AN OUT OF THE WAY WOMAN.
WHEN SHE FIRST MET JESUS, WHAT DID SHE HAVE?
SHE HAD A MESSED UP PAST.
SHE WAS LIVING IN A MESSED UP PRESENT,
AND ALL SHE HAD TO LOOK FORWARD TO WAS A MESSED UP FUTURE.
AND THEN SHE MEETS JESUS, AND WHAT HAPPENS?
HER PAST HAS BEEN FORGIVEN.
HER PRESENT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED.
HER FUTURE IS ALL SECURE.
ALL BECAUSE SHE WAS FINALLY WILLING TO ADMIT,
"YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THIRSTY ALL OF MY LIFE,
AND I'VE BEEN DRINKING THE WRONG KIND OF WATER."
BECAUSE YOU DO KNOW THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS--
YOUR PARENTS KNOW THIS.
IF YOUR KIDS EVER MAKE A MESS,
THERE'S ONE THING YOU GOT TO HAVE
ALMOST ALL THE TIME TO CLEAN UP THAT MESS.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE WATER, RIGHT?
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE WATER TO CLEAN UP A MESS.
THAT'S WHY JESUS SAID BACK UP IN VERSE 13:
SO NOW LET ME WRAP ALL THIS UP
AND TELL YOU WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH YOU.
YOU HAVE A CHOICE--
SAME CHOICE THAT WOMAN HAD.
THAT WOMAN COULD HAVE BLOWN HIM OFF AND SAID,
"NOT BUYING IT.
I'LL JUST KEEP THE WATER I'VE BEEN DRINKING."
YOU COULD DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD KIND OF DO WHAT THAT WOMAN DID.
BUT HERE'S-- JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW--
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO.
THAT'S A GLASS OF WATER-- A PITCHER OF WATER.
THIS IS MORTON'S SALT.
NOW, WHEN YOU TAKE MORTON'S SALT...
AND YOU POUR IT INTO WATER,
YOU CAN DRINK IT.
BUT TWO THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
IT DOESN'T SATISFY YOUR THIRST; IT JUST MAKES YOU THIRSTIER.
NOT ONLY THAT,
IT SPEEDS UP THE DEHYDRATION PROCESS.
AND WHAT JESUS SAID TO THIS WOMAN WAS,
"ANY WATER THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER YOU,
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DRINKING."
IT'S SALT WATER.
AND I TOOK A LITTLE SALT BEFORE I CAME OUT HERE,
AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
I'VE BEEN REAL THIRSTY.
BUT SEE, I GOT THIS ICE WATER.
DOESN'T THAT SOUND GOOD?
I GOT THIS ICE WATER.
AND I TOOK SOME SALT TO MAKE ME THIRSTY.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW-- LITTLE SIP HERE.
AH.
I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.
[laughter]
YOU KNOW WHAT?
NOT THIRSTY ANYMORE.
SO HERE'S THE CHOICE, REAL SIMPLE:
YOU MESSED UP,
AND YOU'RE MESSED UP,
AND YOU KEEP LIVING IN THE SAME MESS-UP,
AND YOU KEEP GOING BACK
AND YOU KEEP DRINKING THE WORLD'S WATER,
AND I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU,
ALL THAT'S GOING TO DO FOR YOU IS JUST MAKE YOU MORE THIRSTY.
IT'S GOING TO DEHYDRATE YOUR HEART,
AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE SATISFIED.
BUT I AM TELLING YOU AS A 50-YEAR SATISFIED CUSTOMER:
WHEN YOU COME TO JESUS AND YOU DRINK HIS WATER,
YOU WILL NEVER THIRST AGAIN.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU FESS UP YOUR MESS UP,
HE WILL CLEAN YOUR MESS UP.
announcer: NO MATTER HOW BADLY YOU'VE MESSED UP,
NO MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR BAD CHOICES LOOK LIKE,
JESUS WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT HE LOVES YOU
AND HE WANTS TO HELP YOU TURN THINGS AROUND.
CALL TOUCHING LIVES TODAY AT:
WE WANT TO PRAY WITH YOU AS YOU RESET YOUR COURSE
AND LEAVE YOUR PAST BEHIND.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE'VE ALL MESSED UP.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE MESSED UP
DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO STAY MESSED UP.
JESUS ISN'T INTERESTED IN HOLDING YOUR PAST AGAINST YOU.
IN FACT, THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.
HE CAME TO FREE YOU FROM YOUR PAST MESS-UPS.
LEARN HOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SIN,
TO ACCEPT GOD'S FORGIVENESS,
AND CHOOSE A PROMISING FUTURE FREE FROM SIN.
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE SERIES ON THE FRINGE
FROM TOUCHING LIVES TODAY AT TOUCHINGLIVES.ORG, OR CALL:
CDs $40, DVDs $60.
NOW, A LOOK AT THE NEXT TOUCHING LIVES.
Merritt: BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT GRACE DOES?
GRACE DROPS ROCKS.
GRACE WALKS AWAY FROM ROCKS.
GRACE WILL TAKE YOU OUT OF THE ROCK-THROWING BUSINESS.
SO WHEN YOU COME TO JESUS WITH ALL OF YOUR BROKENNESS,
YOU COME TO JESUS WITH ALL OF YOUR GUILT,
YOU COME TO JESUS AND YOU'RE GUILTY AS CHARGED,
HE'LL GIVE YOU GRACE.
announcer: DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF SIN
OFTEN CAUSES PEOPLE TO ISOLATE THEMSELVES.
THEY STOP GOING TO CHURCH AND AVOID FRIENDS.
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF FORGIVENESS.
SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY TO REACH THEM
IS THROUGH VARIOUS FORMS OF MEDIA.
BECAUSE OF YOUR PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT,
TOUCHING LIVES IS ABLE TO PROCLAIM THIS MESSAGE OF HOPE.
- ♪ TOUCHING LIVES ♪