Bakersfield First Assembly

Pastor Frank Triggs

ohn 4:19-24 (NIV) – [19] “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. [20] Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” [21] Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. [22] You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. [23] Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

1. Worship is not about a particular place.

"The Samaritans had set up a place for worship on Mount Gerizim, basing their authority to do so on Dt 11:26-29;27:1-8; the Jews had followed David in making Jerusalem the center of Jewish worship. The split had come in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezr 4:1-2; Ne 4:1-2) when the Samaritans had offered to help rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem but had been rebuffed. So there was an ongoing debate between the two groups as to who was correct." (Life Application New Testament Commentary)

Deuteronomy 11:26-29 (NIV) – [26] See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— [27] the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; [28] the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. [29] When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses.

2. Worship is not about a particular people.

Romans 1:16 (NIV) – [16] I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Revelation 7:9-10 (NIV) – [9] After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. [10] And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

3. Worship is about a particular person.

Luke 4:5-8 (NIV) – [5] The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. [6] And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. [7] So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” [8] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV) – [28] Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our “God is a consuming fire.”

4. Worship is about a particular approach.

“God is Spirit” means he is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere, and he can be worshiped anywhere, at any time. It is not WHERE we worship that counts, but HOW we worship. (Life Application Bible)

1 John 2:4 (NIV) – [4] The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

John 4:15-19 (NIV) – [15] The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” [16] He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” [17] “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. [18] The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” [19] “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.

Genesis 2:25; 3:6-8 (NIV) – [25] The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame… [3:8] Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. [9] But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” [10] He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” [11] And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

1. Sin brings shame.

2. Jesus brings salvation.

Romans 10:11-13 (NIV) – [11] As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, [13] for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Psalms 32:5 (NIV) – [5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

1 John 1:8-9 (NIV) – [8] If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

3. Confession brings forgiveness.

John 8:31-32, 36 (NIV) – [31] To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

4. Truth brings freedom.

John 4:7 (NIV) – [7] When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” [8] (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) [9] The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) [10] 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.” [11] “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this LIVING WATER? [12] Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?” [13] Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, [14] but 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.” [15] The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

1. Know the Living Water.

Jeremiah 17:13 (NIV) – [13] O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of LIVING WATER.

2. Ask for Living Water.

Luke 11:9 (AMP) – [9] So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you, [10] For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.

3. Receive the Living Water.

John 7:37-39 (NIV) – [37] On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of LIVING WATER will flow from within him.” [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

4. Trust the Living Water.

Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV) – [13] “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of LIVING WATER, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

5. Drink the Living Water.

Revelation 7:9, 16-17 (NIV) – [9] After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb… [16] Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. [17] For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of LIVING WATER. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Well With My Soul - Part 14 (May 16, 2021)

John 4:4-6 (NIV) – [4] Now he had to go through Samaria. [5] So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob’s WELL was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the WELL. It was about the sixth hour.

“The context does not indicate that Jesus was in a hurry to get to Galilee. Thus, the necessity must be understood in a different way: Jesus went to Samaria to give the Samaritans what he had given to Nicodemus—the offer of eternal life by being born again. And, furthermore, by going to Samaria and bringing the gospel to the despised Samaritans, he showed that he was above… prejudices.” (Life Application Bible)

1. Sometimes, we just have to.

2. Go through not around.

Psalms 23:4 (NIV) – [4] Even though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Genesis 33:18-20 (NIV) – [18] After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. [19] For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. [20] There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. (which means “mighty is the God of Israel”)

Joshua 24:32 (NIV) – [32] And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.

3. You are not where you came from.

4. Remember, you are only human.

PICTURE: T-shirt Jesus took naps (see attached)

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) – [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. [16] Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Psalms 103:13-14 (NLT) – [13] The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

John 4:1-3 (NIV) – [1] The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, [2] although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. [3] When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

1. Refuse to compare

John 3:30 (NLT) – [30] “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

John 4:1-2 (TM) – [1] Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed [2] (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people.

John 6:38-40 (NIV) – [38] For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. [39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. [40] For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

2. Don’t need recognition

John 12:42-43 (NIV) – [42] Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; [43] for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

3. Can walk away

John 6:53-54, 60, 66 (NIV) – [53] Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. [54] Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day… [60] On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” [66] From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

4. Trust God’s timing

John 7:3-5 (NIV) – [3] Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. [4] No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” [5] For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

John 7:6-8 (NIV) – [6] Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. [7] The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. [8] You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.”

Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV) – [4] But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

5. Accept our role

Matthew 3:11 (NIV) – [11] “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

"These verses tell of some of the exploits that the special corps of David’s army carried out. There were two elite groups of men: 'the Thirty' and 'the Three.' To become a member of such a group a man had to show unparalleled courage in battle as well as wisdom in leadership. 'The Three' was the most elite group." (Life Application Bible)

2 Samuel 23:13-17 (NLT) – [13] Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. [14] David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. [15] David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” [16] So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. [17] “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.

1. Mighty men and women don’t start out that way.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NIV) – [1] David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. [2] All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV) – [26] Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him.

2. Satan is our ultimate enemy.

Genesis 10:13-14 (NIV) – [13] Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, [14] Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) – [8] Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9] Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

3. We often long for what we cannot have.

1 Samuel 30:3-6 (NIV) – [3] When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. [4] So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. [5] David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. [6] David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

4. True commitment is willing to take great personal risk.

“Those in trouble, in debt, or discontented joined David, who himself was an outlaw. These people were outcasts themselves and could only improve their lot by helping David become king. David’s control over this band of men again shows his resourcefulness and ability to lead and motivate others. It is difficult enough to build an army out of good men, but it takes even greater leadership to build one out of the kind of men that followed David. This group eventually formed the core of his military leadership and produced his ‘mightiest men.’” (Life Application Bible)

5. No sacrifice is too great for God.

John 12:1-8 (NIV) – [1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. [3] Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. [4] But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, [5] “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.” [6] He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. [7] “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. [8] You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

God can bring us out of our current circumstances and into something better, even something great. God gives us everything we have: all of our talents, all of our possessions, our relationships, our children. He gives us everything we have. Is this satisfaction? No, we should be content with what God has given us. Never be satisfied but always be striving to do better as God leads and guides us along, His way. There is the danger in God's blessing and that is a tendency to forget. We must never forget that every good gift is given by God. Remember that!

It Is WELL With My Soul - Part 10

April 18, 2021

Sacrifice yourself to God, a living sacrifice in communion with God. Always remember the areas in our lives where we have experienced God taking action, helping us along in life. When trouble strikes, call on God, call on the Name of the Lord. Stand your ground with God as your lead. Do not give in to the temptations of the Devil. If at first you don't succeed, try again with God as your lead. Keep on trying but do so as you depend on God, as you call on Him.