APOSTOLIC FAITH CHURCH

Bible Study Intensive

Brett D. Weber, Pastor

www.apostolicfaith.bravepages.com

May 01, 2002

 

 

EVANGELISM

"Motivated Needs"

"And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph" (John 4:4-5).

In our lesson we will study the techniques Jesus Christ used in winning souls, and what it was that motivated the Savior to go out of His way to reach them.

 

JESUS the SOUL-WINNER

Jesus had some qualifications of being a soul-winner that we need to take notice of and apply them in our list of techniques. If we are truly to be soul-winner for the Kingdom of God we desperately need to use Jesus Christ as our example. Jesus was motivated by His need to win souls.

1.       Must needs = Motivation . The Greek word (dei) meaning (a) of a necessity lying in the nature of the case. (b) of necessity brought about by circumstances, in the case of Christ, by reason of the Father's will, (c) of necessity as to what is required that something may be brought about.

This motivation was a force of love in which Christ was willing to do the will of God.

(Luke 4:43; John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38-40).

2.      Go = Action. The Greek word (dierchomai) meaning "to come or to go through." Jesus went to where the need was. A soul-winner that is motivated by needs will always bear fruit. Believers that seem to be negative no matter what the circumstances never seem to have much success in soul-winning. For the believer that prays and seeks the open door will in a short time discover that God will lead souls to them or lead them to ripe souls for the harvest.

3.       Through Samaria = Jesus had a vision and a purpose. Jesus went where no one else wanted to go. Jesus Christ was motivated by the need to reach the lost and unwanted of His time (Luke 19:10). New territory is always a prime place to bring the gospel message of salvation (Luke 5:31-32).

 

 

 

 

CIRCUMSTANCES

Jesus Christ was motivated by needs and had to be a soul-winner even under unfavorable circumstances. He was tired physically, hungry, and thirsty. Jesus could have by all means rested and sought out His own will (Matthew 26:41: Mark 14:38). The area in which He was ministering was not like anything you and I may be used too, it was hot and dusty. The time in which Christ’s’ appointment was scheduled with the woman was the sixth hour of the day, which would make it high noon. Jesus not only confronted cultural differences, but also the social differences of His time.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

1.       Racism – There was a strenuous hatred between the Samaritans and the Jews. Jesus placed this woman in a superior position by asking her for some help by giving Him a drink of water, and she responded to His need. The woman was completely caught off guard. A believer should never go soul-winning with the spirit of pride. Jesus went soul-winning and exemplified love, concern, dependence, humility, and tactfulness.

2. Ignorance – "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water"

(John 4:10). The woman was ignorant of not only the gift but also the gift Giver. She was very interested of the gift Christ was speaking of. Jesus was not tearing her down but building her up on what she had and offering her what she really craved and thirsted for, what she so desperately needed, the "living water" (John 3:3-8, 7:38).

2.       Sin – Transgression of the Law. Jesus told the woman to go call her husband vs. 18-19. Right away individuals will judge a person because of their sin. One of the first things a believer should do is help the unsaved face the sin in their lives and not condemn them. An individual in sin is afraid of the light because the light will always expose the sin. The woman here in scripture is anxious and curious, but is not ready for forgiveness and salvation until she faces her sin. The sinner must first be introduced to Jesus and then attracted to Him.

3.       Denominations and Organizations – "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship" (John 4:20). The woman wanted to create an argument over the place of worship. Jesus quickly set this aside and went straight to the heart of the matter. Many believers have the mind set that if some one does not attend their particular local assembly, denomination, or organization then that individual is lost eternally. What we as believers need to understand is that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20).

The BEGINNING

Jesus met the woman at the well and began to minister to her needs from the very beginning. He used what she knew to bring understanding to what she did not know. Jesus started out with water and proceeded with living water. Jesus asked the woman to do something she was able, draw water, and proceeded to explain to her what he was able to do, produce a well of water. The water that she would draw would still result in her being thirsty, Jesus would give the thirst quencher. The water that she was capable of consuming would sustain her physical life, Jesus’ living water would result in eternal life.