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I'm honored that you've allowed me to be a part of your Christian life.  Please return often for fellowship, study and prayer.  Thank you very much for visiting.
Love & Hugs,
Glen

Conclusion of our Bible lesson revealing several surprises about Jesus and the Disciples. He teaches us to let His living water flow. 

Jesus And The Woman At The Well-2

Continued from Jesus And The Woman At The Well

Internal Compass: Another thing this spring He puts in us does is guide us. In Ro. 8:14, Paul writes, "…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." His spring leads us! Here's what John had to say about Holy Spirit leadership (I Jn 2:26-27): "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." Follow God, not man! Don't let anyone get between you and God. No church, not even this church, not me, no denomination, no pastor, no priest, no angel; no one should tell you that you need them in any way to be closer to God. If anyone does, get away from them. They aren't serving God. The spring that is in you will guide you. Follow Jesus alone. The only help I am is in pointing you to Scripture you may not have seen. If I start pointing to myself as your guide, put a fork in me, 'cause I'm done. If we remain in Him, His spring will begin to well up in us.

3. Refreshing Others: If we have a spring inside us, we don't need a well. If living water is flowing in us, what's the well for? Jesus said it would well up, but if it's always flowing in us why the well? For others! We need the spring to well up in us so others can tap into our supply of eternal life, and be refreshed. In a wonderful symbol for no longer needing water, John writes, "the woman left her water jar." Where did she go in such a hurry? To refresh others. She went to tell everyone in town she may have found the Christ. Jesus didn't stop her and say she wasn't qualified. He let her be a well. 

Having been a staff pastor in 2 churches, I can tell you what we considered normal for someone so new in Christ. We would say, "Oh no! You have to be trained before you can do that. You're not qualified! You could mislead someone or offend them." We didn't know it, but we were doing the misleading. I asked my supervising pastor early in my ministry career, "Why am I not given more significant ministry opportunities? You've told me you believe I'm called by God!" He said, "Everyone starts with mundane office, maintenance and janitorial work…even the Apostle Paul didn't start preaching until around 11 years after his conversion." I was so ignorant of Scripture I believed him. Acts 9:20 says of Paul, "at once he began to preach." Don't let anyone be your Bible!

Look at Eph 4:11-12: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service…" Some people think you need a license to minister, yet , remember the word "Deacon" we talked about a few weeks back? We said it meant servant? Remember? The same Greek word is used for minister in Eph 4:12. The NIV got it right, calling it 'service'. You don't need a license to serve. Ministry professionals, like myself, often get confused at this. We kill ourselves with the overload of ministry work we "have" to do. Yet our job isn't to do the ministry, it's to equip others to do the ministry. You know, the ones we said weren't qualified? Whose fault is that? We pat them on the head and say they can usher or greet or teach children, or pull weeds…whatever we're too important to do ourselves. Then we whine that no one serves in our church. Sound familiar, pastors?

I know you're sneaking onto this web page to find out what I'm saying. Since all you church leaders are listening, hear this loud and clear. We can lead best if we get out of the way. God has a plan, often not ours, that sometimes involves brand new people preaching the Gospel. When we don't allow people to express what they believe is their calling we block the flow of living water. We stunt their growth by preventing them from being a well that refreshes others. Then we exhaust ourselves, trying to personally meet everyone's Spiritual needs. At http://www.web-church.com, we're designed to release people into their ministry as soon as we get a chance to know them. If their calling is compatible with ours, we'll equip them and help them fulfill all the Lord has for them. If it's not compatible, we'll help them find a place where it is, even another church if necessary. Everyone should be able to serve God as He leads, not as some human leads.  This brings us to you. God has given you living water, a spring of endless supply and a well to refresh others. Don't block the flow! People need to drink from your well. You need people to drink from your well so your spring will keep flowing. Jesus said we are salt and light in this world. Not that we must strive to be…that it's what we are. If we don't cover the lamp or stop the flow of living water, people will automatically refresh their lives at our well. Let it flow!

Here's a funny thing about this passage. The woman left at the same time the disciples were returning from Burger King. They had food on their minds. At the same time they were eating and telling Jesus, 'Eat your Whopper before it gets cold.' The woman had rounded up the whole town to see Jesus. Jesus said His food was to do God's will, that a harvest was at hand and that's where their efforts should be focused. The disciples wanted to stop the townspeople so their Master could eat. But Jesus seemed to say…

Not now, Living Water is Flowing. Let it flow!

Maybe you're still with me because you want His living water to heal you and end your craving for some addiction; just ask Him…He will. Maybe you want to have this spring in you that's always flowing, His Holy Spirit, so you'll no longer thirst and have the stamina to do his will. He promises the Holy Spirit, just ask. Maybe you're a ministry professional and you want to stop damming up people's springs and let it flow. Ask God to give you the faith to stop controlling, to turn the controls over to Him. That's where faith lives. He will honor that. I pray God answer all your prayers and bless you beyond measure. Amen!

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