From Gary V. Womack... WORSHIP - In Spirit and Truth

WORSHIP - In Spirit & Truth

Jn. 4:1-24 JESUS MEETS THE SAMARITAN 

                 WOMAN AT JACOB'S WELL.

Place: Sychar in the land of Ephraim, in Samaria

Near Shechem, Jacob's well, near where Joseph's bones were buried after being brought from Egyptian bondage.

vs. 20 "Our fathers..." THE 10 TRIBES OF ISRAEL

           "...this mountain..." MT. GERIZIM, the 

            Samaritans' place of worship.

           "...you Jews say..." AS OPPOSED TO THE 

            SAMARITANS

           "...Jerusalem is the place where one ought to 

            worship."

A DISTINCTION - OPINION OR GOD'S LAW

LOOKING BACK IN HISTORY

"Our fathers..." THE 10 TRIBES OF NORTHERN 

                          KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

1 Kgs. 11:1-13, 26-40 SOLOMON TURNED FROM 

                                   GOD:

He married foreign women against God's instructions.

He allowed them to turn his heart from God.

He worshiped foreign gods (idols)

He built high places (of worship) for foreign gods.

vs. 33 KINGDOM DIVIDED BECAUSE OF IDOL 

          WORSHIP

1 Kgs. 12:25-33 JEROBOAM'S SIN OF 

                          CHANGING GOD'S WORSHIP.

He built Shechem in Ephraim (where Jesus met the

Samaritan woman at Jacob's well.)

vs. 28 He instituted idol worship of golden calves

           A matter of convenience - "too much to go 

           up..." Ascribed their exodus from Egypt to 

                    the idols.

vs. 29 He set up 2 places of worship at Dan & 

           Bethel

vs. 31 He made priests from those not of the tribe of 

           Levi.

vs. 32 He ordained a feast similar to the feast of 

          tabernacles (Neh. 8:13-18)

1 Kgs. 12:19 JUDAH & ISRAEL NEVER LOOKED 

                     AT EACH OTHER THE SAME 

                     AGAIN.

                   "...you Jews say..." AS OPPOSED 

                    TO THE SAMARITANS

254 YEARS LATER (721 BC)

2 Kgs. 17:5-12 JUDAH WAS BESIEGED 3 YEARS, 

                        THEN SCATTERED TO ASSYRIA 

                        AND BEYOND.

vss. 24-33 THE BEGINNING OF THE 

                 SAMARITANS.

Note: It appears that the city of Samaria was the primary target & primarily the people of the city that was deported to Assyria. On the walls of the royal palace at Dur-Sarraku, Sargon of Assyria had

recorded these words: "In my first year of reign...the people of Samaria ...to the number of 27,290 I carried away...The city I rebuilt - I made it greater than it was before. People of lands which I had

conquered I settled therein. My tartan I placed over them as governor."

123 YEARS LATER (about 598 BC)

WE KNOW THERE WERE STILL JEWS WHO REMAINED IN SAMARIA AFTER THE ASSYRIAN DEPORTATION.

Jer. 41:5 "...certain men came from Shechem, from 

                Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men 

                with their beards shaved and their clothes 

                torn, having cut themselves, with 

                offerings and incense in their hand, to 

                bring them to the house of the Lord."

THIS WOULD CAUSE US TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE WAS THE PROBABILITY THAT IN THOSE 123 YEARS, JEWS WOULD HAVE INTERMARRIED WITH THE ASSYRIAN CAPTIVES WHO HAD BEEN PLACED IN SAMARIA.

63 YEARS LATER (535 BC)

Ezra 4:1-6 THE SAMARITANS, SEEKING TO 

                 HELP REBUILD THE TEMPLE, ARE 

                 REJECTED BY ZERUBBABEL & ALL 

                 OF JUDAH.

91 YEARS LATER (444 BC)

WHEN THE WALLS ARE BEING REBUILT, SANBALLAT HARASSES . WE LEARN THAT HE WAS OF THE SAMARITANS.

Neh. 2:19-20 "But when Sanballat the Horonite, 

                      Tobiah the Ammonite official, and

                      Geshem the Arab heard of it, they 

                      laughed us to scorn and despised

                      us, and said, 'What is this thing that 

                      you are doing? Will you rebel against 

                      the king?' [20] So I answered them, 

                      and said to them, 'The God of heaven 

                      Himself will prosper us; therefore we 

                      His servants will arise and build, but 

                      you have no heritage or right or 

                      memorial in Jerusalem.'"

Neh. 4:1-2 "But it so happened, when Sanballat 

                  heard that we were rebuilding the wall, 

                  that he was furious and very indignant, 

                  and mocked the Jews. [2] And he spoke 

                  before his brethren and the army of 

                  Samaria, and said, 'What are these 

                  feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify 

                  themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? 

                  Will they complete it in a day? Will they 

                  revive the stones from the heaps of 

                  rubbish - stones that are burned?'"

"...this mountain..." MT. GERIZIM, SAMARITANS' 

                                PLACE OF WORSHIP THE 

                                PLACE WERE JESUS SPOKE 

                                TO THE SAMARITAN 

                                WOMAN AT JACOB'S WELL 

                                WAS IN THE SHADOW OF 

                                MT. GERIZIM. HISTORY 

                                TELLS US THAT SANBALLAT 

                                BUILT A TEMPLE ON THE

                                TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN. IT 

                                WAS DESTROYED BY 

                                HYRCANUS IN 109 BC. THEN 

                                HEROD BUILT ANOTHER 

                                TEMPLE THERE IN 25 BC.

                                IT IS SAID THAT THE 

                                SAMARITANS REFUSED TO 

                                USE THE NEW TEMPLE, BUT 

                                CONTINUED TO WORSHIP 

                                OUT IN THE OPEN ON TOP 

                                OF THE MOUNTAIN.

"Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

A DISTINCTION - OPINION OR GOD'S LAW?

THE JEWS HAD CONTINUOUSLY CHARGED THE SAMARITANS WITH FORSAKING GOD - FOR MAKING GOLDEN CALVES TO WORSHIP AT BETHEL - AND THEN AT MT GERIZIM.

Deut. 12:1-14 GOD'S LAW REGARDING THE 

                      PLACE THEY WOULD WORSHIP - 

                      THE PLACE WHERE HE WOULD 

                      PUT HIS NAME.

1 Kgs. 9:1-9 GOD'S PROMISE TO SOLOMON OF 

                    THE BLESSING OF HIS PERPETUAL 

                    PRESENCE THERE ON THE 

                    CONDITION OF FAITHFULNESS, 

                    OBEDIENCE, & WORSHIP OF HIM 

                    ONLY.

WHAT LESSONS DO WE LEARN FROM HISTORY?

GOD IS SERIOUS ABOUT MAN'S WORSHIP.

FAILURE TO HONOR HIS WILL RESULTS IN GOD'S REJECTION OF US.

Heb. 10:19-31 CONSIDERING HISTORY'S 

                       LESSONS, THE SERIOUSNESS

                       OF WORSHIP, & GOD'S WRATH - 

                       WHAT DO THESE VERSES SAY 

                       TO US?

From Gary... The Composite Bible

Today, with so many translations available to the English reader, you really have to ask yourself: 

" What Bible translation should I use"

My answer to this question is to find a literal translation and then progressively compare it to more literal translations.  This forces you to think of not only the general meaning of the text, but the differences between the words as well.  Listed below is the book of 3rd John; as you read, I think you will see the benefit of what I am saying.

Note: The completed work can be found on compositebible.com.  There are a variety of PDF Bible combinations to choose from or you can read online if you prefer or download one or more of the four Microsoft Access Database programs (a free runtime edition of MS Access is available).

Enjoy your study!!!

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

3 John

3 John 1 1

The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!

3 John 1 2

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

Beloved, I desire that in all things thou shouldest prosper and be in health, even as thy

soul prospers.

beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even

as thy soul doth prosper,

3 John 1 3

For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in

truth.

For I rejoiced exceedingly when [the] brethren came and bore testimony to thy [holding

fast the] truth, even as *thou* walkest in truth.

for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee,

even as thou in truth dost walk;

3 John 1 4

I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.

I have no greater joy than these things that I hear of my children walking in the truth.

greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth

walking.

3 John 1 5

Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and

strangers.

Beloved, thou doest faithfully [in] whatever thou mayest have wrought towards the

brethren and that strangers,

Beloved, faithfully dost thou do whatever thou mayest work to the brethren and to

the strangers,

3 John 1 6

They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward

on their journey in a manner worthy of God,

(who have witnessed of thy love before [the] assembly,) in setting forward whom on their

journey worthily of God, thou wilt do well;

who did testify of thy love before an assembly, whom thou wilt do well, having

sent forward worthily of God,

3 John 1 7

because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

for for the name have they gone forth, taking nothing of those of the nations.

because for [His] name they went forth, nothing receiving from the nations;

3 John 1 8

We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

*We* therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow-workers with the truth.

we, then, ought to receive such, that fellow-workers we may become to the truth.

3 John 1 9

I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn`t accept what

we say.

I wrote something to the assembly; but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place

among them, receives us not.

I did write to the assembly, but he who is loving the first place among them --

Diotrephes -- doth not receive us;

3 John 1 10

Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with

wicked words. Not content with this, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those

who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.

For this reason, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he does, babbling

against us with wicked words; and not content with these, neither does he himself

receive the brethren; and those who would he prevents, and casts [them] out of the

because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he

doth, with evil words prating against us; and not content with these, neither doth

he himself receive the brethren, and those intending he doth forbid, and out of

the assembly he doth cast.

3 John 1 11

Beloved, don`t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He

who does evil hasn`t seen God.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He that does good is of God. He that

does evil has not seen God.

Beloved, be not thou following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who

is doing good, of God he is, and he who is doing evil hath not seen God;

3 John 1 12

Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that

our testimony is true.

Demetrius has witness borne to him by all, and by the truth itself; and *we* also bear

witness, and thou knowest that our witness is true.

to Demetrius testimony hath been given by all, and by the truth itself, and we also

-- we do testify, and ye have known that our testimony is true.

3 John 1 13

I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;

I had many things to write to thee, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee;

Many things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,

3 John 1 14

but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you.

Greet the friends by name.

but I hope soon to see thee, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace [be] to thee. The

friends greet thee. Greet the friends by name.

and I hope straightway to see thee, and mouth to mouth we shall speak. Peace to

thee! salute thee do the friends; be saluting the friends by name.

Suffering

Suffering

Bible Reading:  2 Cor 1:3-10

Song:  "HAVE THINE OWN WAY"

I. Introduction

A. Fair weather friends really bring you down when you 

     really need them.

B. Friend in need is a friend ... INDEED ! better than 

     riches !

C. Funny show (wonder years): theme " Get by with a 

     little help from my friends"

D. Friend that will stick closer to you than a brother = 

     GOD !!

E. Focal point of friendship is when you are really 

    suffering and need a friend to comfort you.

F. Finding this truth in the scriptures... 2 Cor 1:3-10

II. Body

A. Comfort in suffering: 

     God is our help and example 3-5

     1. Without God there are times when you really are 

         ALONE!! (walk from buttermilk falls)

     2. With God even the worst of times is bearable and 

         God's presence is near, so.....blessed be God"

     3. Without a doubt, true joy, true comfort, true 

         happiness is found in God; for LIFE is in HIM!

     4. With God there is purpose in ALL aspects of our 

         life and this purpose is the building up of the body 

         of Christ !

      5. With God as our help and example, we have 

          encouragement to press on. ... vs. 5

B. Comfort through suffering: Godly sacrifice is 

                                               comforting 6

     1. The goodness we do for others comes back in ways 

         we can not possibly imagine.

     2. The greatness of Christianity is 

         SELF-SACRIFICE! (Christ the perfect example)

     3. The Godly man WILL DO... GODLY THINGS.

     4. The God of all the Earth will do right and HE 

         WILL GET US THROUGH.

C. Comfort with suffering: 

     Godly communion is strength 7

     1. God does not leave you alone (even though it may 

         seen like it at times) 1 Ki 19

     2. God's nature IS hope, is secure, is ABLE to be 

         equal to ANY problem. 1 Cor 10:13

     3. God has given us ALL a charge to be "helpers" to 

         help build up the BODY OF CHRIST.

D. Comfort beyond suffering: 

     God given strength in the PAST 8-9

     1. What is the most vivid pain you can remember? 

         (Sensitive teeth in 1993)

     2. What did it mean to you when you first realized you 

         were getting better ?

     3. What if your suffering were brought about by your 

         efforts to spread the Gospel?

     4. What God has started, GOD will finish.

     5. With each and every victory you experience, your 

         faith grows and grows and grows.

     6. What value is there in suffering ... confidence that 

         God will have HIS way with you AGAIN... this is 

         HOPE.

E. Comfort for suffering: 

    Godly confidence for the FUTURE 10

     1. The future (and this verse) is really tied to the past.

     2. This is what faith is all about.

     3. The essence of faith is confidence in GOD !

III. Conclusion

A. Suffering and comfort are tied together for the 

     Christian.

B. Suffering has value 

    (EXAMPLE, COMFORT, CONFIDENCE, HOPE, 

      FAITH)

C. Suffering produces FAITH.

D. Suffering is actually GOOD FOR YOU.

E. SUFFERING BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO GOD   

    (AND OTHERS CLOSER TO YOU).