Our Message is Jesus -Avoid Distractions

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We must not become caught up in the chaos and controversy of our day. Our main message must always include Jesus as our main focus. When the world is divided, and everyone voices their opinions, we must refuse to participate in heated arguments. Our job is to represent Jesus. For the past two years, people have been speaking against the government, whether they are for or against masks, social distancing, vaccines, and other non-essentials.

As Christians, these issues should not be our focus. Yes, we want to bring light into these situations, but we should represent Jesus always. It saddens me to hear how quickly people speak against presidents, prime ministers, and leaders. This brings no witness to the Gospel. It only shows that we are no different from the world. It is time we speak about what is important. Let us lift up the name of Jesus!

Our governments can be wrong. They can also make very poor decisions, but we are not to speak against them. The Bible is very clear on this issue. Instead of voicing your opinion on what is happening today, why not put your focus on Jesus. He is the best world leader we will ever have. His Kingdom must come on earth as is it in Heaven!

1.      Jesus our main message

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence. Colossians 1:16-18

In these verses, it shows us that God even made thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers through and for Jesus. How can we miss this? Jesus is in control today just as much as He was two thousand years ago. We did not enter into the year 2020 and Jesus no longer knew what to do. This is why we must keep Jesus as our main message.

Let us put an end to debates about non-essentials. We must go back to the basics. We need to lift up the name of Jesus to a confused and dying world. The world needs Jesus, end of debate.

2.      Bring your message back to Jesus (John 4:1-42)

A favourite story for many is the woman at the well. Jesus rested near this well because He knew that a Samaritan woman was going to show up. He knew her questions and the doubts that she had. Jesus knew He was the answer. Often, she tried to change the subject and change the message, however, Jesus always brought the debate back to Himself.

Now we will look at a few points in this story and how Jesus brought the message back on track. We must learn from the master how to do this.

a)      The Samaritan woman had a religious mindset

Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. (v9)

The woman almost disqualifies herself because of how Jews treated had treated her in the past. Her debate was understandable as she had many terrible dealings with the Jews of her day. Our religious mindsets can disqualify us from believing what the Bible says. In the next verse, we see that Jesus does not really answer the question but rather He brings the conversation back to Himself and who He is and what He can do.

b)      She began to seek flaws/limitations

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” (v.11)

Once again, the Samaritan woman took the focus off what Jesus was saying. She did not know who she was talking with, so she began to look for flaws and limitations in Jesus. People you witness to will do this to you too.

She was looking in the natural. She could not see how Jesus was going to draw water. The Samaritan thought He was limited. I know this sounds crazy to us who know who Jesus is but remember, she did not know Him yet. She was an outcast.

However, if you read the next two verses you see Jesus once again did not debate with her. He presented Himself as living water. He told her she would never thirst again. Instead of trying to prove Himself to her, he just presented her with something better than she was asking. Let the religious debater know who Jesus is instead of debating about a certain point with them.

People may see your flaws and limitations, but your job is to not focus on that; rather present something better. Jesus is our message! We must share who He is, not debate and argue with everyone we meet.  

c)       The Samaritan becomes intrigued with Jesus

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” (v. 15)

Jesus now has the Samaritan’s attention. He knew to speak to her about something she was facing. He could have stayed debating about Jacob’s well and the importance it was to the Samaritans. However, Jesus knew she needed something more. If we continue to only debate about subjects like COVID-19 we are going to lose our audience. We must bring them something significant about Jesus.

Once we have the person’s attention and intrigue, we can follow Jesus’s pattern. After speaking to her about Himself, He then pointed to a very delicate area in her life. He received a ‘word of knowledge’. Not only do we want to speak to people with head knowledge, but we also need God to reveal things that only He would know about them.

It was not until this word of knowledge that she understood that Jesus was a prophet. She knew that it was not common knowledge to this Jewish person. The Samaritans of the city may have known but how did this stranger? Only if God had revealed it to Him.

d)      Religious mindsets eventually became believing faith

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” (v. 39)

We see that this woman eventually became a believer in Jesus. Not only did she believe but she became an instant witness. Jesus did not tell her you must go testify. She was just so amazed at what Jesus said to her that she knew she must tell everyone. A whole city came to know Jesus and it all began with one woman who was looked down upon. You never know who you might reach. That person could become a person who wins a whole city to Jesus!

Conclusion:

Jesus is our great teacher. We can learn from Him. When you are talking to people about Jesus use these principles and allow God to speak through you. Believe that the gifts of the Spirit will work through you.

All the gifts of the Spirit are at your disposal. Ask God to give them to you. These signs will lead people to Jesus. We can only convince people through His power, not through religious debate.

Steven Stoffelsen

Author of Trusting God’s Timing

Founder of House of Refuge Street Ministries