I love the story of the Samaritan woman in her encounter with Jesus at the well of Sychar (John 4:1-42). Jesus cut across racial prejudices (v9), in love, to reach this woman. Jesus operated in the spiritual gift of the word of knowledge to get her attention (v17-18; 1 Cor 12:8) and showed her the route to salvation (John 4:26; Rom 10:9).

There is also a great contrast in these verses as well. The contrast of the carnal mind of the non-Christian versus Jesus and the born-again Christian (v10-18). Jesus talked of “living water” (v10 and 13-14). He was referring to the water of the word; the word of God (Eph 5:26). The woman only saw natural water but Jesus spoke of the spiritual power of the word of God (Heb 4:12) to satisfy our spiritual thirst and transform us as children of God to eternal life (v10 and 13-14). “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:  neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (KJV; 1 Cor 2:14). The Holy Spirit reveals God’s word to us, to our spirit (our spiritual heart or conscience; John 14:26). The bible tells us we are: “spirit, soul and body” (1Thess 5:23).

We are told that God’s word “is truth” and that “the truth shall make you free” (John 17:17; 8:32). Free from what? Well, anything that holds you back from having and being all that God wants you to have and be. It’s not just head knowledge but spiritual discernment, understanding, revelation, which sets us free and brings the God kind of life (John 10:10).

We must get into the word and build up our faith (Rom 10:17). We need to get the word into our spirit so it can become powerful in our lives to transform us, change us and release all of God’s promises in our lives. There are no short cuts, it takes time in the word to get that spiritual discernment or revelation and faith that we so need.

Please give this to a friend. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.