“Keeping Our Treasure in Focus” John 4:21-26

The Discovery of Treasure! 12 Gold coins = $300,000 ea! July 30-31, Vero Beach, FL 300 years to the DATE after sinking in a storm "People freak out that we're literally feet off the beach in 2-3 feet of water."- Bret Brisben, Captain of the S/V Capitana The coins were there all along; just covered up, hidden by ordinary sand.

“But an hour is coming, and now is…!” vs. 23 God CALLS us to worship NOW! His call: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us … (John 1:14) “"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst“ (Matthew 18:20)

Worship the Father Through the Son, In the Spirit! “Whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise” (John 5:19). “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23). “The Father [is] glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes… He will glorify me because it is from me” (John 16:13-14)

Focus on the Father Woman’s focus – “our fathers” vs. 20 earlier, her measure vs. 12 – “our father” Jesus: vs. 21 – “you shall worship the Father” His character – King David’s praise – (1 Chronicles 29:10-13) His righteous acts– “Praise Him for His mighty deeds” (Psalm 150:2) Worship challenge: What about His character? Have you seen Him at work this week?

You Cannot Worship Someone You Reject “The one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16) Matthew 10:40, “Whoever receives me receives him who sent me” (Matt. 10:40). "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46) "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me…” (John 14:21).

Instead, Worship Flows From the Grateful Heart! “hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above!” (H. Van Dyke) Worship lays aside distractions, cares, breaking into praise: 1) Who He is (vs. 26) “I am He!” 2) All He has done (vs. 29” – Come, see a man who told me all…I have done”

“Worship in Spirit and Truth” vs. 24 Brings Focus on Him! * no one can come unless the Father draws him (John 6:44) * The “draw” of God comes from the cross of Calvary – (John 12:32) * no one comes apart from Jesus: (John 14:6) and (Acts 4:12) – “salvation in no one else” Worship in truth triggers confession and repentance (Isaiah 6, Matthew 17, Acts 9)

Caution: Excellence in Worship Can Draw Attention To Itself! Tendency to slide from worship into entertainment – what pleases us rather than God – “we make it our aim to please Him…” (2 Corinthians 5:9) Performance (our greatness) instead of ministry (His greatness) John 3:30 – “He must increase but I must decrease”

The Father “Seeks” Your Heart’s Worship! Vs. 23b How? He saturates with kindness (Rom. 2:4) He convicts of sin (John 16:8) so we will repent! (Psalm 32:4) “heavy hand!” He orchestrates circumstances, some glorious; sometimes pain (Rom. 8:28) He tests the soul (Judges 3:1) He perplexes us (Isaiah 55:8-9) His revelation in creation (Rom. 1:20)

Testimonies Confirm Our Focus! “Many Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…” (John 4:39). What is your story? The Focus: not our propensity to sin – but His grace to love and forgive us! Our testimonies render us humbled at the foot of the cross – Ephesians 2:8-9