## Jesus: The Soul Winner

## John 4:1-30

(Prov 11:30) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

"He that winneth souls is wise." Knowledge is the accumulation of information, but wisdom is seeing things from God's perspective. We know that God is interested in the eternal destiny of souls. If we are to be wise, we must also be interested in souls. No greater example can be found in the Scripture than that of Jesus Christ. In our text this morning, He is presented as One who cares for the souls of others. From Nathaniel in the beginning of His ministry to the thief on the cross at the end of His ministry, Jesus was busy about bringing sinners unto Himself. He genuinely cared for the fallen and was willing to reach out to all, whatever the cost!

In these verses, we see Jesus as He speaks with a poor, lost, sinful woman. As we prepare to look to this passage, let me ask a couple of questions. Do you know the Lord? Are you genuinely saved today? If not, please know from the outset that Jesus cares for you.

(Psa 142:4) I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

That was the cry of David many years ago when he found himself in the midst of a crisis. In fact, it may be true that no man on this earth truly cares about you or what happens to your soul. But Jesus cares! He cared so much that He willingly left Heaven and proved His love by dying for your sins and mine on the cross.

(Rom 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

For those here without Christ, please let the Lord to speak to your heart this morning. Come to Jesus for salvation. He cares for you, and He will demonstrate that fact if you will allow Him the opportunity.

Christian, learn from the Savior's example. He longs to use us to reach this lost and dying world.

I. The Confrontation With A Sinful Woman v1-8

A. First we see the Savior

1. In these opening verses, Jesus is shown in His compassion and in His humanity.

2. While Jesus was God, He was still a man and He was acquainted with the trials and problems of life.

3. He demonstrates that He does indeed care for the lost.

B. Next we see the Sinner

1. Here is a woman who is sinful and is in need of salvation.

2. According to verse 6, it is about the sixth hour or around 12 noon.

3. For a woman to be drawing water at this hour would be an unusual occurrence.

4. Normally, the women from the village would gather together early in the morning, while the day was still cool.

5. This was also a social time for the women as they drew water for their daily needs.

6. Because this woman is alone and is coming at during hottest time of the day is an indication that she was a social outcast.

7. It seems that the other women of the village would have nothing to do with her.

8. She probably came to the well alone to avoid the insults and attacks of the other woman.

C. All have sinned…

1. This lady is no different from any other sinner who has ever walked upon the face of the earth.

2. Like all sinners, she had deeper problems than being a social outcast.

3. The problem that she and all sinners face is that, as sinners, we are estranged from God.

(Isa 59:2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

4. It is our sin that stands between us and a relationship with the Lord.

5. Until we come to Jesus by faith, we will continue to be a spiritual outcast from God.

6. But, Jesus bridges the gap between God and man.

(1 Tim 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

II. The Conversation With A Sinful Woman

A. They Talked Of Wells. v9-11

1. When Jesus asked her for a drink, apparently He had no means by which to draw water.

2. She responded with amazement that a Jew would ask for a drink from a woman, much less a Samaritan.

3. It was considered inappropriate for a Rabbi to speak to a woman in public.

4. Jesus, then, offers her a drink of "living water."

5. She confuses the physical with the spiritual.

6. Salvation is not a transaction that can be explained in human terms.

7. At this point, she is not ready for salvation, but Jesus is leading her along in that direction.

B. They Talked Of Water. v12-15

1. Jesus tells her that she can drink from Jacob's Well every day and she will still get thirsty and will have to come back and draw again.

2. However, He tells her that He can give her a drink of water that will forever satisfy her.

3. This is the nature of salvation.

4. One can drink of the pleasures of this world, like this poor woman, and will still have to try to find more ways to satisfy themselves.

5. However, one trip to the fountain of living water will forever satisfy the thirsty soul.

6. Coming to Jesus will forever meet the needs of life and of the heart.

7. But she is still confusing the physical and the spiritual.

C. They Talked Of Wickedness v16-19

1. In an effort to awaken her to her spiritual need, Jesus plainly touches what must have been the sorest spot in this woman's life.

2. He pointed out her sinfulness!

3. I can almost imagine the guilt this woman lived with day after day.

4. I would imagine that her heart was in constant turmoil because of her sins.

(Prov 13:15) Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

5. This may seem cruel of the Lord, but nobody will ever come to Jesus for salvation until they are first awakened to their own personal need.

6. Until a sinner knows he is lost, he will never desire to be found.

D. They Talked Of Worship v20-24

1. Since they are on the topic of religion, the woman proceeds to show Jesus that she is no slacker in that area either.

2. She tries to start an argument about the proper place to worship.

3. Jesus simply ignores her attempt to argue, and tells her that true worship is never found in external rituals and substitutes for God.

4. True worship can only be found in worship that comes from His indwelling Spirit.

5. There are billions who give themselves to external forms of worship today in an effort to get close to the Lord.

6. These things will never work!

7. Worship is not some ritual or form, worship is a state of the heart that exalts a great God.

8. To do that, you only need His Spirit and a willingness to give glory unto God.

E. They Talked Of Wisdom v25-26

1. This lady displays openness to the words of Jesus.

2. She reveals that she is concerned about salvation and about the things of God.

3. Jesus simply reveals Himself as the supply she needs.

4. This is what He does for every sinner.

5. He doesn't come to judge or to condemn.

6. He simply come as the Way, the Truth and the Life and offers Himself as the only way of salvation.

III. The Conversion Of A Sinful Woman v27-30

A. It Was Immediate v28a

1. As soon as Jesus revealed Himself to her; she responded in faith and her salvation was instantaneous.

2. There was no long process to complete, no praying through, no holding on, etc.

3. She simply trusted and she was instantly saved.

4. It still works the same today.

5. When a sinner comes to Jesus, and places his faith in Christ, the transformation is immediate.

6. The sinner is instantly changed from a dead, lost sinner into an eternally alive child of God.

7. What a change takes place!

B. It Was Incredible v28b

1. She ran right off in her excitement and forgot all about why she even went to the well.

2. She just left her water pot behind.

3. She came to the well for physical water and discovered spiritual water.

4. She met Jesus and was forever changed.

5. When a sinner comes to Christ, there is an immediate transformation that takes place.

(2 Cor 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

C. It Was Evident v28c-29

1. She ran to the city to tell the others about this Man she had met.

2. She felt compelled to tell others about the salvation that she had just experienced.

3. Salvation will give you a message to share and a heart to share it.

4. When you have been delivered from death and Hell, you want to help others find their way out of sin as well.

Jesus makes the difference in every life He touches. Has He touched your life? Has He redeemed you from your sins? I invite you to come to Jesus today and to allow Him to save your eternal souls. There is absolutely nothing more important than where we will spend eternity, and that all rests upon what we decide about Jesus. Come to Him today and be saved.