From Shame to Freedom by Pastor Brent Lokker

Last Saturday we took a journey with a thirsty Jesus who met a Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well.  She had some serious pain from her past that was causing her to make poor decisions in life, leading to deep shame (John 4).  We tend to think sin is the big problem, but Jesus knows shame is the real killer. Shame is used by the enemy to give us a false impression of ourselves, thus leading to further destructive life-choices. The cycle of shame is relentless and lethal and not from God.    Which one of us can’t identify with this woman in one way or another?   Jesus offers her and us His living water instead of our old, tired ways of putting up a good front in our misery (the symbolism behind Jacob’s Well). Then, Jesus does something that’s almost disturbing, unless we really know the integrity of His heart that’s always motivated by love.  He intentionally pushes on a sore spot in this woman’s life by making mention of the very thing she’s ashamed of—she’s had 5 husbands already and she’s not married to the man she’s currently with.  Why would he do this?  Simple.  Out of his great love and compassion for this woman, He was allowing her to get in touch with her pain because he was about to take it’s sharp teeth away, forever changing her life. Rather than judging her, He was going to love her into freedom.   Almost certainly this woman’s choice to move from relationship to relationship with various men was rooted in deep father wounds. So when she asked Jesus, “Where is the right place to worship God, on this mountain or that one?”  His response was to introduce her to a heavenly Father who loves her with all His heart—a father who wants to be with her so much that He would meet with her inside of her own heart!   You have to catch this: Jesus wasn't dealing with her sin. Instead, He was healing her to the very core of her being.  She was receiving tender truth to realign her identity and worth to God’s unchanging opinion.  Jesus was saying to her, “The world says you’re worthless because you’ve made a mess of your life. But I say you’re worth everything to your father and He’s spared no expense to free you and claim you as His treasured one.”   One encounter with the living, loving Jesus rocked this woman’s world and changed her forever!  She had tasted of His goodness and mercy and she would never be the same. She ran back to her city—to the same ones who had despised her—and had this message to share:   “I met a man who knows everything about me and he loves me!”    Then the most amazing thing happened.  The townspeople listened to her!  They came streaming out to meet Jesus!  Can you imagine the depth of healing that took place in that encounter with Jesus that would cause such a dramatic transformation? Whatever it was, the people saw it and raced out to meet Jesus.   This Saturday during our Blazing Fire worship service, we're going to pick up the story where we left off and see how one changed life can be the catalyst for the transformation of an entire region!   As you make the choice to love people around you at home, in the marketplace, in the workplace or wherever you go, never underestimate the significance of one transformed life and the ripple effect it will have! This is why the Lord urges you not to judge people, but to love them and see the treasures within. This is what will set the captives free!   Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.  - Ephesians 5:1-2 (MSG) -