A Life Changed Making a Difference
Jesus, God in the Flesh | A Study through the Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsThe testimony of our changed lives may lead others to put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but only if we share it with the intent of leading others towards Him.
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Introduction |
What is the most important question that one must answer? Why is this question the most important question?
On June 2, 1872, C.H. Spurgeon wrote the following:
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XVIII Testimony and Experience (No. 1,053)
THE most important question concerning any man living is this, is he a saved soul or no? It is of comparatively little consequence whether he be rich or poor, educated or uneducated, compared with this, is he among the living before God or is he dead in sins? Is he pardoned or unpardoned? Is he a child of God or an heir of wrath? Is he walking in the darkness or has he passed into the light? Hence of all the days of a man’s history the most important is the day in which he is born again. If the man be indeed saved, and a new man in Christ Jesus, he will look back upon the day of his regeneration as his chief birthday. His new birth is second in order of time, but he will always put it first in importance.
What are some ways that people come to know Christ?
Focus Passage | John 4:39-45
Outline |
As we come to our text, we see evangelism fleshed out for us. We see two examples of how people come to know Christ. Both examples are of equal importance. Within these examples, we see key points to notate about each.
The power of a person’s testimony (v. 39)
39 Now from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.”
God can use you to win others despite your status in life
God can use you to win others despite your past life
How many of us have a past we are not proud of?
How many of us are allowing our past to hold us back?
Remember who this lady is. She’s is a woman of ill repute. She’s had four husbands. She was in a fornicated relationship when Jesus came to her and presented Himself as the gospel in the flesh. If anyone had not only a past, but a present life to be ashamed of it was her. However, when she allowed Jesus to be Lord of her life, He changed her. Her past was forgiven and she truly was liberated by the truth and forgiveness of Christ.
How great is to know that the truth still liberates today!
John 8:32, 36 (NASB 2020) 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
How great is to know that once our Lord forgives our sins, He remembers it no more!
Psalm 103:12 (NASB 2020) 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us.
God can use you to win others because of the change He brought to your life - ‘…He told me all the things that I have done...’
Remember, as children of God, we have become new creations.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB 2020) 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
This woman knew that. She declared to them, He told me all things I have done (v. 39b). Previously John writes that the woman dropped her water pot, ran to the next town and emphatically called out, Come, see a Man who told me all things that I have done; this is the not the Christ, is He” (vv. 28-29). Jesus had told her all that she had done, but we also know that He forgave all that she had done and set her free. This is the same for us today.
Often we forget the power of a changed life. We give doctrine and Biblical answers, but we forget to the flesh out and illustrate those answers through personal testimony. If all we give is doctrine and cold state words, it won’t make a difference. However, when you share how the truth of Jesus Christ changed you, it becomes personal. It becomes powerful. It truly becomes the Living Word being lived out in your life. You can truly say, I am a life that has been changed and He, if you so desire and will let Him, can and will change your life. We are doing others around us a disservice for not sharing how God saved us and what He has saved us from.
The power of the Word of God (vv. 40-42)
40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of His word; 42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world.”
How many of us realize that salvation is both private and public?
What is meant by the statement that salvation is both private and public?
Salvation is public in that we are to go and tell others - ‘…because of what you said...’
Salvation is private in that is a personal decision not a second-hand decision - ‘…Many more believed because of His word…for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior...’
Faith grows by spending time with Jesus and His word - ‘…So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days...’
Romans 10:17 (NASB 2020) 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Not everyone will accept Christ as Lord. They put their faith in His signs but not in Him. As we have already read and studied...
Not all faith is a saving faith (vv. 43-45)
43 And after the two days, He departed from there for Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, only because they had seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.
John 2:23–24 (NASB 2020) 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name as they observed His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people,
Conclusion |
Let us never forget the power of a true testimony of a child of God. Our testimonies are powerful, but they are personal stories of a life touched and changed by the power of the Holy Spirit but one placing their faith in Jesus Christ. That personal attribute makes more of a difference than we will ever see on this side of eternity. May we never forget that our salvation is both public and private. May we never forget that faith grows in the presence of the King and hearing His Word. May we know that faith in the signs of Christ is not the same as having faith in Christ. The signs point toward there being a God, toward Christ being the Savior, but we must put our personal faith in the person of Christ not just His signs.
