HAVE YOU HEARD HIM?

John 4:42

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

The desire to have God in our lives is what brings about the emptiness that humans feel in general, and when He is not there we find other things to fill our void, to keep us going, a place where we can place our faith, something to hope on.

This is the basis of religion. Religion is a satisfaction for that void or deprevation. Some fight the reality of human's emptiness by trying to convince themselves that God is not real. Others find someone, someplace, or something they can call God. All is the quest to fill that void.

The children of Israel were supposed to be the lucky nation, the Heavenly Father chose them as His people, the bigger plan was that they should be the channel through which the Messiah was to bring salvation to the whole world. (It could be anyone else, however it was Abraham who submitted, then the journey began, Abraham may not have been the first to be asked. Selah)

Remember how Christ put it:

John 3:16-18

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

We can see that Christ didn't say Israel, or Judah and particular region, He said "the world", that is every living being, no matter where they are from. However, it was to begin from Israel, this is why He told the Samaritan woman:

John 4:22b

for salvation comes through the Jews.

However He went on to explain, that it goes beyond that:

John 4:23

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

So this has nothing to do with where you are from, what language you speak or whatever tribe, race, religion etc you were born in.

So, you could be born into whatever belief, but the time must come when you have to hear for yourself!

The Samaritan woman took a message to her community:

John 4:28-30

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone,

“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”

So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

Her testimony caused many to belief:

John 4:39-41

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”

When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,

long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.

This was her testimony, however, the people had to hear for themselves too, and when they did it was a complete seal of faith:

John 4:42

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

You must know the Lord yourself, apart from all the teachings, readings etc, you must have your encounter with your Lord. You cannot just rely on hearsay. And when it comes to the Messiah, see what He says:

Revelation 3:20

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Religion tends to take your mind from Christ to a series of dos and don'ts, and keep you under a bondage of human influence, that is what the Pharisees and Sadduccess were doing before Christ came, see what Christ said about them:

Matthew 23:2-7

“The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.

So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.

They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.

And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.

They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

Listen, 

". . .everything they do is for show . . ."

*When they pray, the make loud noises, today it is loud speakers, disturbing the peace of others

*When they claim to fast, everybody must hear about it, they even want to force others to do to

*When they do a miracle, it must be with camera to display for people to see

*Their dressing must be an oppression to others, whether with designer suits, or turbans or hairs cuts, or beards, just to be a disturbance to others

*When they give alms, everybody must see them - gush!

See, Religion is man-made and could really be a disaster to many.

But what does the Heavenly Father desire?

"Spirit and Truth worship"!

Listen a bit to Jesus:

Matthew 6:2-6,16-18

When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.

But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.

But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.

Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Come on, Christ brought no religion. All these things He teaches are not found in religion.

Have you heard Him? 

Or

Are you holding on to what they said?

The Heavenly Father must be real to you, you must have fellowship with Him, this can only be done through His Word, His Son Jesus the Christ, because it is from His Son that the Spirit is released to all men. Remember grace and truth came from Him.

Have you heard Him?

Or are you listening to religions, philosophy, science or mere sentiment.

Come to Christ today!

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher