Go Tell What You Have seen

John 4:39-35

Personal testimonies are a powerful way to step into understanding anything, not just spiritual things. We look at testimonies in products we buy, recipes we use, places we stay, cars we buy, and so much more. They can either deter us towards something or encourage us towards it! In the same way, God uses our testimonies and stories to reveal more about Him and help others discover more about Him. It’s not about what WE did in order but what God has done on our behalf.

In the story of the woman at the well, she has a clear encounter with Jesus that leads her to believe He is the Messiah. It’s such a powerful story that she begins to tell others and can’t help but share what Jesus preached to her. How others respond to her is how we should lead others to explore Jesus for themselves…

“And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:41-42).

The people in her town had a personal encounter with Jesus, reinforcing what they had already heard from the woman. They heard it themselves! They had an experience with the living God that they can’t deny! In reaching others, we can be persuasive, but we can’t make them believe anything - it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that they come to have faith in Christ and declare Jesus the Lord.

We must embrace the heart posture of the woman at the well; it’s not about sharing the gospel for our scorecard, but there is a real encounter we have had with Jesus that we want to share! We must also trust the power of the Holy Spirit that He is working before us and wants us to join in the work.

Where are you tempted to believe that you are responsible for saving others? How can you surrender that belief to the Holy Spirit?