6 November JOHN 4

If you knew, you would have asked, and he would have given you

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.”

Reading this passage, a few things stood out for me, the first, If you knew the gift of God, secondly who it is that asks you for a drink and thirdly, he would have given you living water and lastly Jesus always recognises our needs.

The Living Bible says in John 4:10(TLB) He replied, “If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for some living water!”

1. If you knew the gift of GodWhat is the gift of God? It is eternal life, it is Jesus, it is to know that God can supply all your needs, whatever that may be. If this woman just knew whom she was dealing with.

Jesus - the Gift of Eternal Life

John 3:36(NLT) And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

The perfect gift

“Jesus is the perfect Gift because God gave Him with knowledge of our needs. God knew we needed a Saviour, Deliverer, Redeemer, Healer, and Friend. We needed someone who was fully God and fully man. Only Jesus could meet this need. Being fully God enabled Jesus to carry our sin. His Deity enabled Him to be the Sacrifice Who could bear the sin of the world along with the penalties of sickness, poverty, and spiritual death. Being fully human allowed Jesus to identify with what we go through, enabling Him to provide for all of our needs and desires and to care for us in any situation. Jesus became our Substitute. We owed a debt we could not pay, and Jesus paid a debt He did not owe. Because of Jesus, you and I can be free. If our greatest need had been information, technology, money, or pleasure, God would have sent us an educator, a scientist, an economist, or an entertainer. The truth is, our greatest need was redemption, and God sent a Redeemer! God knew what we needed, and He sent the perfect Gift.” -Kenneth W. Hagin

The only one who could supply all your needs

Philippians 4:19(MSG) You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.

1. If you knew, you would have asked

How powerful is this statement by Jesus, If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him

If this woman had just known, she would have asked. If she knew what Jesus could have done for her, if she knew who He was, if she knew His power and ability, she would have asked. Sometimes we are also guilty of this - if we would just realise who He is and what He can and wants to do for us. God wants to provide for our needs; we must recognise Him for whom He is and what He can do for us.

Matthew 6:7-13(MSG) “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.

Matthew 7:7-11(MSG) “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love, will be even better?

1. He would have given you living waterIf you knew, if you would have asked, he would have given you living water.

2 Corinthians 9:8(ESV) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

James 4:2b(ESV) You do not have, because you do not ask.

God is waiting on you. If you have needs that aren’t being met, it may be that God is waiting on you to ask! The problem isn’t that God doesn’t want to meet your need; the problem could be that you haven’t asked him.

1. Jesus offered this woman what she did not know she did not have, living water. He exceeded her expectation

John 4:13-15(NLT) Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

What a fantastic story. This woman came for water, natural water; Jesus offered her living water. Is it not amazing, that God does not only meet our needs, but He exceeds them.

Ephesians 3:20(NLT) says: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” The Message Bible reads: “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!

What stood out further for me in this story is that, although the woman did not know who Jesus was, Jesus reached out to her. He wanted to meet her need, He wanted to exceed her need. Once Jesus explained to her that He could give her living water, her response was, Give me this water. This changed everything. It changed her life, it changed her view of Jesus.

1. Once she excepted the living water, she knew who He was

John 4:19(NLT) “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.

John 4:25(NLT) The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Amazing, the moment this woman said yes, to the living water, something happened. She recognised Jesus for whom He is, a prophet and the Messiah.

John 4:14(TPT) says: but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never be thirsty again. For when you drink the water I give you, it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, flooding you with endless life!

1. Coming and drinking are what it means to believe in Jesus

John 7:37-38(NLT) On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

“Believing is receiving Jesus as water, food, and life for the soul.” -John Piper

Today, recognise Jesus for whom He is, and what He can do for you.