John 4:31-42

September 22, 2013 The woman has just left her waterpot to go tell the men of her city about the Messiah. Shell be back, but in the meantime Jesus has a conversation with His disciples: In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
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But he

Meat is the thing that satisfies. He was hungry, so they went and got Him something. But when they returned He was no longer hungry; this is why they asked:
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Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? They havent yet learned to look past the earthly things.
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Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,

Jesus defines meat to answer their question. First, it is in doing the will of God. and to finish his work. What is the Fathers work? For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day (Jn. 6:3839). God had given some to the Son, and now the Son is here to finish the work of redeeming them. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (I Thess. 5:9). This is why Christ must go through Samaria; He had an appointment! So, therefore, the main point is that the meat of the servant and the thing which sustains him is to do the thing hes sent to do. This brings us to the next part:

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Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. Look around: theres food everywhere! Dont forget that theyre in Samaria and the Jews have no dealings with them. But Christ has dealings with them and so do His servants. He came to save whosoever.
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And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal:

This is what it means I have meat. that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. Note that this is past tense: I sent. The disciples have already had a little taste of this meat before: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet (Mt. 10:5-14). Well, this conversation is ending, but look whos coming:
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And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Heres another example of the meat. This woman had done nothing but report; in fact, even the disciples hadnt been sent there. But the Samaritan harvest was ready and it brought great joy! #1- Doing Gods work is spiritually fulfilling and better than anything earthly. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich (Prov. 28:6). #2- The harvest is everywhereeven in places we dont expect. #3- Success and failure arent measured in numbers but in obedience. Ive heard it said that a church which doesnt baptize is no church at all. Really? What if the church faithfully teaches the truth and does good works and obeys as a servant? Could it not be said that such a church is faithful as a sower? And why is success automatically seen as obedience? Is it not true that the path to destruction is wide and that many will say, Lord, Lord? #4- Gods work may seem slow to the sowers, but He accomplishes all He desires. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Is. 55:10-11). #5- The gospel is all about Christ. Its not about personalities or personal testimonies. Christ is the gospel! newgracebaptistchurch.wordpress.com