Once upon a time there was a woman who lived in Samaria. One day she went to Jacob’s well to draw water. A man named Jesus was there and he was thirsty. He struck up a conversation with her which shocked his disciples.

During their conversation she realized Jesus was the Messiah. She ran back into town telling the men to come and see the man who told her everything she’d every done!

The men ran out to see and because of her testimony some of the men whom she’d been shacking with came to know Jesus. The Bible says a great company was reached in Samaria through this woman with the “shady” past!

Today many people are lead to Christ through the influence of others. Having an influence on others is important but don’t let it end there. See to it that the person you’re influencing comes to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour!

John 4:39, And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that every I did!

I know most of you have never seen our Christmas Tree. It’s fake, it doesn’t give off any odor and I don’t have to water it. It’s a plain Jane tree and there’s nothing special about it until you decorate the dude.

Once a year we get it out of the attic, take it out of the box, set it up and then we proceed to put all the ornaments and lights on the tree. After this small task is done I put the finishing touch on the tree which is a beautiful star on top!

Once the star is in place we plug her up and this fake tree that puts out no odor becomes a thing of beauty.

I was thinking, I’m a lot like that tree. There’s nothing special about me. I’m just an old farm boy from the State of Georgia. I’m losing my hair, I have to wear glasses and I’m on the final stretch in life to heaven.

What makes me special and you special is the light that lives inside us. Jesus is that light and he wants to shine through you today to a lost and dying world who needs Him!

Remember, you are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hidden!

Last Friday night I had the privilege of going to do Darrington Prison in Rosharon, Texas to do a program for the prisoners and their families.  I knew many of these men from last year.

While there I met a man who told me he was up for parole in 2037. He told me he was in for life but he’d been saved a year earlier and now he was walking with the Lord.

This man is guilty and he’s been condemned with no hope of getting out! Let’s say someone decided to offer him a pardon so that he could be set free. He’d take that pardon in a heart beat so that he could be with his family and friends. If he didn’t we’d consider him down right crazy!

Our position is something like a man who is in prison being asked whether or not we want a pardon. We’re not on trial because we are condemned already, we are guilty of sin.  Jesus offers each person a pardon. Will you accept the pardon? The gospel is preached to save those who are lost. Because of Jesus we can be set free from the bondage of sin!

John 3:17, For sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved!

Have you ever tried to be something you’re not? Let me illustrate! Someone says to you, “How’s it going today?” and you say, “It’s going great, but deep down you’re a miserable wretch!” Or, they might ask, “How’s business going?” and you say, “Oh, business is booming!”  but if the truth me known your business is about to go bankrupt!

Mask, we hid behind them all the time and refuse to take them off until we get home behind closed doors.

We can fool others by hiding behind different mask but we can’t fool God. When we come to God we’ve got to come to him just as we are realizing that he knows all and sees all! God loves you and he doesn’t want you to play games with him. When you meet with God this morning, be honest and be yourself!

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (John 2:23)

These people were believing in Jesus not because of who he was, but they believed because of what he did, which didn’t cut the mustard! You see, theirs wasn’t a saving faith at all.

Let me give you an example. You walk into a room and see a recliner. You say to yourself, “My, that recliner looks so comfortable and I do believe it will hold me up because I saw a large person sitting in it the other day!” You believe it will hold you up but you don’t put your trust in the chair until you sit in it!

Many believe in Jesus because they’ve heard about him but they’ve never pt their trust in him. Oh, they go to church and they say they know him but deep down they do not! The Bible says the demons also believe and shutter! We should examine ourselves to see if we truly know the Lord!

John 2:3-5, And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!

My mom at times gave good advice, but there were times she did not! Mary, the mother of Jesus gives the best advice to the servants she can give! She says, what he tells you to do, do it!

The best advice I can give you today is, whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it! Obedience is the key! Remember, it’s not about you or those around you, it’s about Jesus!

John 1:37-39, And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them. What seek ye? They said unto him, “Master, where do you stay?” He saith unto them, Come and see!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God extends the same invitation to you and I today, “Come and see.” Taste of the Lord and see whether or not He is good!

I’m amazed everyday when I get out of my recliner after I’ve read my Bible. I’m amazed in the fact that the one who created me wants to spend time with an old rascal like me!

It’s true, God is good and everyday, anytime of the day a person can go and see exactly how good he wants to be! Be blessed this fine day!

Have you ever met someone that thinks their better than everyone else? I mean, they think their the cats meow.  I don’t know why some people develop that sort of attitude but it happens and it happens all the time!

Let me be frank with you! You’re not better than me and I’m certainly not better than you. It doesn’t matter what color of skin we have or what country we came from God loves us all!

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us on the cross. While dying on the cross Jesus was hung between two thieves. One was no better than the other!

What was the difference between the two thieves? The difference lies in the fact that one thief believed in Jesus and one did not, and that’s the difference between you and your neighbor.

By friends, it’s up to us saved sinners to tell lost sinners about Jesus! Remember, we’re not better than anyone else, if anyone sees goodness in us it’s because Jesus lives within us!

Luke 23:54, Then they took Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off!

It is a dangerous thing to follow the Lord afar off. I like  reading God’s Word because it continually shows me what kind of rascal I am. It reminds me of  where I am now and where I came from!

You see, we’re capable of anything and we need to realize that! Old Peter thought he had arrived and there was no way he’d deny his Lord. Peter’s problem was he’d forgotten what he was and what he was capable of!

Even when we spend time alone with the Lord there are times we’ll read about some type of sin and think, there’s no way I’d do anything like that. Let me remind you, Jesus told Peter he’d deny him three times before the rooster crowed but he didn’t listen and he didn’t believe him!

Ask God today to show you what you really are. We are rascals, we are sinners, but we’re rascals and sinners saved by the grace of God! It’s humbling to know that God  saved an old sinner like me!

Have you ever heard the old saying, “While he patted me on the back with one hand, he was stabbing me in the back with the other!” We’ve all felt like we’ve been betrayed by a friend or loved one and it sure doesn’t feel good!

Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas and then later on he was betrayed by Peter, a man who said he’d die for him. After Judas realized what he had done he gave the money back and went out and hung himself. When Peter realized what he had done he went out and weep bitterly.

One killed himself, and the other repented! Have you betrayed the Lord with some act of sin? Do you feel like there’s no return? The fact is, you can be forgiven just like old Peter! The Bible says, “Repent ye therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord!”