Coming out of the Darkness and into Light and Love
Speaker: John J Roberts
Date: September 25, 2022
Series: Out of Hiding: Moving out of Shame and into the Beauty of Being Known and Loved. #2
Text: John 3:1-17; John 4:1-30
Introduction
The darkness of shame manifests itself significantly in isolation.
John 4:1-30 – The Woman at the Well.
What do we know about the woman from the story?
John 3:1-21 – Nicodemus at Night
The greatest tool of the enemy of our soul is to keep us isolated and in the darkness.
Satan’s desire for us is to keep our attention on anything but the goodness of God and the potential goodness of others… and the best way he can do that is with isolation.
God’s aim is to draw us out of the darkness and into light and demonstrate true love by not leaving.
God is always coming toward us… even as he knows us fully!.
Psalm 139:7-12
Questions for Reflection and Exercise.
- Put yourself in the story of the Woman at the well. What is Jesus telling you about you?
- Do you feel welcomed to Jesus, or ashamed?
- Put yourself in the story of Nicodemus. What are you afraid people might come to know about you, that if they did, would cause them to abandon you?
- Bring those thoughts and feelings to God and talk WITH GOD about them… honestly open your life to the God who loves you.
- Who are the people in your life that you can trust with your real story?
