Pastor’s Desk

Welcome to a great church – Melbourne West Church.

I was reading the 4th chapter of the Gospel of John recently and was struck by the similarity of our own endeavours. Initially we see Jesus sitting down by the well because He was tired from the journey. It’s true that any vision will exact a toll on those on the journey, this is to be expected and not something to sidestep as many do.

In the story we then see a woman come to the well in the middle of the day which indicates something isn’t quite right for her, as she would usually be doing this in the cool of the morning or evening. When things don’t go according to plan, we can often separate ourselves from those God wants to join us to, and end up isolated from the main purpose He has for us.

We then see Jesus put an expectation on her, He asks something of her. Jesus will always ask something of us that isn’t what we expect or even want, but notice He makes comment concerning ‘gifting’.

Many modern Christians seem to think ‘their’ gifting is about them. It’s not, its about ‘the vision’. In our case, that’s 300 in 3, a Church building, and Church plant. What is so encouraging about this story is Jesus’ response to this woman’s unknown need, and this is my main point here.

John 4:10 (NIV) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

The answer to all this is ‘the living water’ of the Holy Spirit. None of us can or ever will accomplish the vision without this constant infilling of the freshness of God.

John 4:14 (NIV) whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Another interesting aspect here is her seemingly endless circle of failure in life: 5 husbands. Most journeys of life and any God given vision is going to have its trial. It can appear that we are never going to get there.

Finally in v23 we see the key. The Holy Spirit & Truth!

Works for me!!

Pastor Larry Blackmore