John 4:10-18 “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.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.“

Today we take a look at the conversation that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman. Remember that Samaritans were not supposed to mingle with the Jews, and Jews were not to mingle with the Samaritans. So Jesus was breaking some social rules here. But make note of how Jesus tells her the Good News. Many people believe we ought to do as John and Jesus did by going to the streets and yelling from a blowhorn “Repent! For the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” However, that was a different setting. He proclaimed that, rightly, to those who knew what it meant to Repent and what He meant by the kingdom of heaven: The Jews. For us today that would be us preaching to Christians. But when it comes to those outside the church who don’t know these “Christianese words” we have to consider taking a different approach. Let’s see how Jesus did it with this Samaritan woman.

Jesus knew that she felt that she knew “the truth.” Most people go through life thinking they know the right way and they know the truth when they really do not. I just had a conversation last night with a couple of young women who feel like they “know Christianity” simply because their college professors, or school teachers, or their parents told them a few things. The Lord tells us in Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” and Proverbs 12:2 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” The Lord knows this and begins explaining that if she really knew the Truth, she wouldn’t have asked why He was talking to her because she would have realized He was the Messiah. This is a gentle but firm way of introducing Jesus to people who know a corrupt religion. But He doesn’t immediately say “I’m the Messiah,” but instead makes her a bit curious by going into the “Living Water.” That is what we ought to consider when we are talking with the Lost souls: If we are to be Fishers of Men, how do we do that? By setting a bit of bait and getting people interested in what we’re saying rather than scaring them off with religious talk, coming on so strong that it’s like throwing a rock in a lake rather than casting the line or net.

The woman shows interest and also shows her lack of understanding by asking how He would give her water from the well when He had no way of drawing it out. She was thinking naturally which is–natural! Jesus continues to whet her interest by explaining that He’s talking about some Living Water that is different than this one. He, by the Holy Spirit, knows what to say to her just as we can know what to say to the lost today if we simply pay attention to the leading of the HOLY Spirit rather than our own human spirit or worse–an unclean spirit. He knows that explaining a water that would quench thirst forever would pique her interest.

With that she becomes “hooked” interest-wise, and asks for what Jesus is telling her about (which is the Holy Spirit, which only is given from God the Father, and only to those who enter that covenant relationship with Him through Jesus). She asks for that wonderful Living Water, and He brings up the important subject of repentance! He says, “Come back with your husband and I’ll give it to you.” He knows full well that she doesn’t have a husband but rather has had five husbands and right now is sleeping with a man that isn’t her husband. She explains that she isn’t married, and then He explains that He knows this and gives the details that He knows by the Holy Spirit.

It is important that we understand when we present the Good News, we must never forget Repentance. We should never beat someone over the head with their sins. We can see Jesus NEVER does that with ANY person except the hypocrites who know better but refuse to repent. When it comes to the world, to those in the highways and byways, He is more gentle in reminding them that there is GOOD NEWS, but to reach it you must admit that you are in need of that good news, and repent of sins and turn to Him.

Too often we Christians neglect learning to be led by the Holy Spirit. We try to win people to Christ with our head knowledge, or some religious script or set of statements. Very seldom does that work though. We may get “decisions for Jesus” but it’s all in the mind rather than truly leading them to give their heart and life to Christ and being born again. But if we simply learn to be led by the Holy Spirit He will give us perfect words that reach into the very hearts and souls of those who hear us, and we can actually win souls to Christ.

I love you all dearly and pray that the Lord continues to bless you and keep you and draw you closer to Him. Please keep the entire Body of Christ in your prayers, and pray that we begin to be united by the Holy Spirit, The Body of Christ with Christ alone as the Head, and we begin truly showing the World who the remnant of the Lord is in these last, troublesome days! Keep on keeping on, brethren!

Love always in Christ,
Your friend always,
And brother,
Michael