Hope - John 4 (Pastor Jeff Shipley)

Living Hope for Hurting People

Now I want you to pay attention. It wasn't anything in Israel wasn't their military.

We're gonna be in John chapter 4 this morning. John chapter 4 and this is a sermon I actually preached a number of years ago. But I want us to look at it maybe in a different perspective this morning.

John chapter 4 the amount of people They come through this church on a weekly basis is amazing. People who never show up on a Sunday morning. People who are just hurting the counseling appointments the pastors and I do and not well not just pastors other people do as well is reached a new level both in its frequency but also in the effectiveness of spreading the gospel.

And one of the things that people are searching for is not a doctrinal understanding. They're not looking for Something to connect to even though those are some of the colloquialisms that are used what people are truly searching for.

Especially those who have been wound up in religion. They're searching for peace peace with God and then by default peace with everyone else and peace with themselves. And today. Just for a few moments.

I would like to share with you that there is a hope. There is a hope outside of your feelings. There is a hope outside of the codependent Relationships that you have for there is a hope outside of the veneer of Self-defense that you put up to try to keep the world at bay.

There's a hope outside of the rebellion that you spew out on your social media and with your words. To try to make others Intimidated or fearful of you so that you won't get hurt. There is a hope and my friends once you receive that hope it is Intoxicating it is Blissful, and it is something you never want to lose now.

You may say pastor I already have that hope. Well the Word of God calls it a living Hope. You see it is a moving Active thing. It is not a religion based on passivity, but it is a lively hopeful thing.

We good Medic someone go check all right. I want you to read John chapter 4. We're going to start in verse 1, and I know this is a lot of scripture today. That's why I gave you such awesome notes that I found on Adrian Rogers comm.

So verse 1 says this now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than he had ever made than John Baptist. Listen although Jesus himself Never did baptize anyone only his disciples.

He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called sick are Near the field that Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there so Jesus wearied.

He was tired as he was from his journey was sitting beside the well and it was about the 6-hour or noon a woman verse 7 came from Samaria. Came to drop something's not right is it? Turn this off turn that on verse 7 a woman from Samaria came to draw water.

Jesus said to her give me a drink for his disciples had gone away to buy food. Y 'all remember that the Samaritan woman said to him how is it that you a Jew ask a drink from me. Now look at the qualifier a woman of Samaria for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said if you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you give me a drink. You would ask him and he would give you living water a living hope a moving force. Three things I want to give you this morning from this passage.

Is it there is hope for everyone in this room, and I'm telling you there's a hope With everyone in this world. I know some hyper Calvinists say that the lost have no hope. I tell you the very fact that Jesus in the blood of Christ was shed.

Gave hope to all mankind for the Word of God says he came not to be a propitiation for our sins only but for the sins of the whole world. There's a hope for all. Now listen to what she says. Jesus is sitting at the well.

She ain't got no idea who this guy is. She walks up, and here's this Jew male. And he turns to her and says give me a drink and her idea was this. Now I want you to note The racial and I'm using that term not correctly because how many races of people are there?

There's one race guys homo sapien sapien follow the science anyways. He's sitting there, and she says how is it that you a Jew? Ask me a Samaritan. Now you have to understand the context of this. Samaritans and Jews used to be one people.

Before they started fighting amongst each other you know think of it like this think of it as Democrat or Republican or Baptist and Methodist or whatever division you want to be they originally. Or should be still one people, but man's sin got in the way his arrogance got away.

But I want you to notice the attitude of Christ if you look on your paper. There's a little map that I drew. Actually, I copied it off of Google, but I'll shamelessly take credit. There's a map there, and if you will look at that map I'm gonna show you How Jews used to travel you see Galilee there in the north where Jesus was from that's where he was living.

Before he started his ministry. He was living in Galilee and the Jews in Galilee had to come through Samaria to get to Judah Jerusalem there in the south but no self-respecting Republican white anglo-saxon American white power person.

Would dare travel through Samaria because in peoples was unclean you know what I'm saying. They was unclean. They were they had on the north and south border man them Jews were yelling. Let's build a wall right because they weren't going to go through.

Those lesser people now for those of you that are feeling a little awkward today with all these racial things listen to me come here. You have swallowed the lie of this world. Now you can continue to be stupid and an idiot or you can pass through.

The reality of we are one people and the only division and humanity is lost and saved. That's it. That's it. Skippy. I've read the end of the book. That's the only two there are okay. So they would literally cross the Jordan River.

Go all the way around Samaria, so their precious feet wouldn't touch the dirt in Samaria. Look at verse 3 again. What did Jesus say? Hmm he left Judea and departed for Galilee so he left the south and he went north.

But watch verse 4 and he had to pass through Samaria. They don't mean Geographically y 'all they don't mean he had to pass through because there was a storm on the other side. It meant that he was going to pass through that place because there was a broken woman.

I don't know who needed a fresh touch from Jesus. And there wasn't gonna be anything that stopped him. Not the biasness not the racism not the cultural difference. He had a message of hope to deliver and it was to a single woman at a well.

Hmm we all all Have become so entitled and arrogant through victimization. That's the number one thing. Well, you don't know what I've been through. Ladies and gentlemen, I ain't got to know what you've been through to know you're in need of a Savior.

Okay, so do us all a favor and that self-righteous Entitlement act that you used on your mom and dad when you were a rebellious teenager. Go ahead and let that die. So you keep won't stop running your life and the life of your children.

Okay, cuz ain't nobody caring. Oh, you'll have some people that come along beside you and say oh poor baby. Look here or do this and this will make you happy. Yes, it can make you happy for a moment, but it will never give you the hope that Jesus Christ can.

Jesus Came through Samaria to find that one woman. Notice what he said verse 10. Jesus answered if you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you give me a drink you would ask him and He would give you the living water.

I want you to notice something. I want you to notice something for all you hyper Arminiasts in here. Some of y 'all I don't know what he made don't worry about it. It's stupid church crap, but for all you folks in here to think you found Jesus.

Mm-hmm. Amen, I asked Jesus Christ in my heart a man. Here's another one. I need to get back into church. My life is a wreck ladies and gentlemen church won't give you hope but Jesus Christ will. What you need to do is submit and Obey the gospel then you will find the hope that you're looking for.

See. Here Jesus is talking to her and I want you to note that he came and found her. She wasn't looking for nothing. Some of you are here this morning today and all you did is come to a church service.

You weren't expecting the Lord to show up. You were expecting Baptist. You were expecting preacher. You were expecting smoke machine. I don't know what you were expecting. But I'm here to tell you today where two or three are gathered.

Jesus is there in the midst of a Jesus Christ is here if you're willing to submit Jesus. Jesus came and look for her now once you'd also notice something bills. Yeah, I said bill. I Want you to notice how many times Jesus has to give that water.

Watch what it says. If you knew the gift of God who was saying to give me a drink you would ask him and he would give you living water in the Greek oh. It says water. It's singular. It's singular. Jesus Christ found you he saved you he opened up your eyes.

He regenerated your soul to be able to understand what faith is. He did all the work. You were nothing but a recipient of God's grace. Oh that pastor. You don't know what I've done. No, you don't know what Jesus Christ did.

That's the problem. You're relying on your feelings or morals or ethics or good works or some sort of let's see. Could see feeling when a certain song is played. You're living in the nostalgia of the past rather than the grace and the hope that is in the presence and you're defeated.

Weak hurt Christian. Well, guess what? You're in good company. Because God invented something called the church to help with that. Guys, I look before me in a room of people and I know some of y 'all go to me.

You don't know my past life. Dude, you don't know where you at. I can't swing a debt some guy up here dude had tattoos. He was like man. I got some tattoos. I'm like man. There's two hundred fifty thousand dollars with the ink in this room.

We got the best tattoo artists in Memphis sitting back there. Tattoo ain't nobody care. Your pastors got eight of them. I know what damn what it is. Cuz we all did the same thing. Well pastor, you don't understand what I've been through praise God.

I don't have to because I don't want to listen to another war story. I don't want to hear about how your dog went away. Your daddy abused you your husband mistreated you. I got that already got a whole room full of it.

See what I'm here to do is not listen to how broken you are. But to give you a hope that is for all people. That's what up. That's what I do. That's why I'm here I'm trying to share with you what God did with me.

Look at verse 15. Here's what some of y 'all gonna do today. Dan at invitation time right now the Holy Spirit of God is Convicting you and here's what you're gonna do during the invitation time sir, verse 15.

The woman said to him give me this water so I won't get thirsty and come here to draw water. See you're looking for the lowest common denominator of your trichotomy to be fulfilled now for you Mississippi folks.

Let me break that down for you. Okay, you see you are a trichotomy back in Genesis 126 when it said let us go down and make man in our image. Notice the plurality of those pronouns back in Genesis image of God.

Which means you have a mind you have a body and you have a soul father son and holy. It ain't that hard really. Arkansas folks get this. All right. But here's what people tried to do. They want to find Jesus.

Because they want the flesh to be fixed without ever submitting the mind and heart to Christ. There are many people who have walked down an aisle in a Baptist Church and a pastor said oh my my. Take me by the hand or here's the better one.

Every head bowed and every eye closed if you want to give your life to Jesus raise your hand. You've raised your hand, but you've never submitted your heart. And then you wonder why God and I are this far apart say judge not lest you be judge and don't even know what that means.

And you're gonna go through life Relying on your pride. Relying on your strength and here's what's gonna happen. And you don't have to believe me you will one day you're gonna split the gates of hell wide open and be eternally damn Separated from God and then you're gonna be that dork that goes.

Wait a minute. I've got a gold star on my Sunday school report. I Didn't cuss smoke or drink. I was a good person. Yeah, because you submitted your flesh. But never your soul.

Conviction, Repentance, and True Conversion

Hmm this lady now it's a.

Well-known commentary. This woman came at noon to get water now traditionally. The women now, I know this isn't true today. Okay, I know this ain't true today. Y 'all get ready for it. Okay, so we're about to talk about the chicks awaiting the cows listen Robert.

I wouldn't laugh too loud boy. I Know I recognize that laugh. Did y 'all see that? I can't even see him and I knew that laugh. You see the women in the morning time would get their little pots. They would march out to this well and as they were drawing water wait for it, they would all talk and share prayer requests.

Christians. Did y 'all hear about Lauren Vance? Man, we need to pray for her. God. Let's let's let's pray for her, but she ain't never prayed. You just a vows spewing out hate and sin and jealousy. You're godless heathen and you actually think that that's a less amount of sin than the adultery of those that you gossip about.

Go look up the seven saying God hates. You might want to get a reality check there. So she's coming at noon all by herself. Why cuz ain't nobody like her. She ain't got eyes odds. Or whatever. The thing is today Tommy Hilfinger or whatever you girls wear.

I Don't know. I ain't in the girls fashion except on Friday nights. Hocus yeah, you ain't wearing them hocus you ain't Sigma fresh fire savage, you know what I'm saying? You ain't got pink hair. He's single man.

And so she's sitting there all alone. She's sitting there. Dejected but here's her problem. I ain't talking about the rest of the women. Here's her problem. She blames how she feels on everybody else.

Now y 'all keep that in mind. Can we fit in to go there? Her hope is diminished and weak because it's everybody else's fault for where she at. Let's talk about hope is for all but number two. Hope is truth.

Let's read verse 16 a little bit. Verse 16. So she sits there. I want to start talking about this living hope and all that and she goes so you're a Jew and Jesus says to her this is so savage. Ratchety sketch ratchet verse 16.

Jesus looks at her and says hey. Go call your husband and come back here. She says oh, I'm sorry, I don't have a husband now watch. What smile Jesus loves you Joel stain does? You have correctly said I don't have a husband.

Jesus said for you had Five of them guys and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true. I don't. I want you not to miss the sarcasm in that verse. She was a neighborhood bicycle.

Okay, she had been through husbands left now. She living with somebody now y 'all focus up here y 'all focus because here's the problem some of you want to take God's Word and modern culture and Twist them together and come up with something new.

Well, let me tell you something that don't work for God when God said This is wrong. He didn't mean at that moment He meant it's wrong period for some of you in that. What's the generation now called a bunch of fairy little sissy kids?

Whatever it is. They sit there and go well, you don't understand my situation. You don't understand my problem. God's Word says thou shall not and it wasn't a suggestion. It was a command guys. Jesus slams her in the face.

Pastor Josiah. Pastor Jeremiah, I've listened to y 'all sermons online these last few weeks and they're a little harsh. But be honest with you. They made me feel some kind of way. I had my feelings up in there and I was offended.

This is the part where you're supposed to grovel and apologize. Jesus wasn't being very nice here. Was he actually he was being very loving. Because let me tell you something there was a guy who once said I think it was Nietzsche.

Correct me if I'm wrong in John 8 verse 32 Jesus said I've come to give you life and given it abundantly, but then he said this. The truth will set you free. That was Jesus. I forgot. You see here's the problem guys.

You want to be free from sin, but at the expense of truth. You want to make excuses? You want to be forgiven without repenting? Guys the Word of God. Jesus said he shows up for the first time and he said this repent for the kingdom of God's at hand.

You want to bypass repentance to get to forgiveness? You ain't ever gonna find it. You ain't gonna ever find a peace. You ain't gonna ever find the hope. Well G pastor. What is repentance repentance is this?

It's a changing of a mind that by default Changes your body you walk away from sin towards God. Have you repented? Well, yes, sir back in 1983 I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. That's your testimony. You know, I don't share a lot of my testimony of the past you know what because my testimony is still going.

When I asked for somebody's testimony and they start in the womb, it's like when I asked my wife, how was your day? She starts at 6 a .m. When she gets up, baby I just want to know if anybody robbed you or mean to you today.

I don't care about what your hairdryer did or what your hair did right have a Christian testimony. You could go back to this morning. Yesterday your testimony should be all children of God growing in faith.

Some of y 'all this is what your Christian testimony look like, you know, why cuz you dead. You flatlined you ain't a Christian. Oh you religious, but you ain't no Christian. Jesus says go and get your husband.

First 19 and 20 now watch this God. Here's some of y 'all again in this room today. And you're gonna know the truth as it comes out of the Word of God and hits you square in the chest. What was this woman's response to this look?

Verse 19 sir. So we've gone from Jew to sir. Huh? We get a little bit of respect here because he just pulled a magic trick at it. He just daybird copper fielded me and something going on, but I don't know what it is, sir.

The woman replied I see that you are a prophet Jew sir now prophet hmm. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain yet you Jews say that the place of worship is Jerusalem. What is the number one way? Christians and pseudo Christians deal with conviction they pull religion out of their butt.

They pull religion out of their butt. Some of y 'all just did it now. I can't believe a pastor just said but but but but but but but but God likes big butts. I promise you that because everywhere in his word that it says you had no hope you were a failure.

It says this but God who was rich in mercy, but there is therefore now no condemnation. You might want to start looking at the butts and stop looking at your legalistic religion to find the hope that you're missing.

She sits there, and she brings up a religious question guys. Do you really think it's gonna matter to God that you were in a Baptist Church? Do you really think I had a lady talking to me she's on staff at another place.

And she said I can't wear this nail polish or people are offended. I Never heard this one before and I've been in this game for a long time. I did not know nail polish was sinful. Did y 'all know that?

Any of you women ever been told you can't go to church with that sort of nail polish on one two three. Really speaking for the men in this room I have never sat and watched a chick walk by and went hey, dude check out her nail polish.

Never happens and For you women to save you a little bit of money. I've never said check out her shoes either. Okay, never. Guys we've come to a place where we want to superimpose our religious ideals.

Instead of repenting. Notice what Jesus answers, I love this answer. Oh, this is so awesome. Jesus said now watch this Jesus said to her verse 21 woman. Woman believe me. Hmm the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

You will worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know for salvation is of from the Jews meaning Jesus was a Jew so the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father and spirit and in Truth for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

You know. Automatically hope is truth. Here's maybe a truth. You need to understand God is seeking you out. You aren't too dirty. You're not oh, but pastor. I've done this. I've done that. I've done this.

God's seeking you so much so he sent his son to be crucified for you. He watched his only son. Scream in pain and cry out for him, but he rejected Jesus. He poured out his wrath on Jesus instead of you.

Now you tell me that God doesn't love you. Hmm. I love my church family, but there ain't no way I would take baby Ava and kill her for you. That's what God did with Jesus. You see there is hope in truth not just in truth and understanding where you're at.

But there's also a hoop hope in understanding where God's at and God is actively seeking you last thing. There is hope in Messiah. All right last thing. Listen verse 26. Well, let me start put it in context.

So let's read keep reading verse 25 the woman said to him. Check this out. The woman said to him. I'm laughing because I've done this. The woman said to him. I know that Messiah is coming. He who is called the Christ and when he comes he will tell us all things.

I Don't understand everything, but I'm gonna trust in the Messiah. Now watch what Jesus does for all of you. That wish that Jesus would just be point-blank with who he was in the gospel. I want you to read instead of watching YouTube videos watch this.

Jesus said to her. I Who speak to you am he? Right. Some of y 'all jumped. Why do you think I came to talk to you woman? I came all this way. Just for you. I'm sorry. You're sinful. You need some hope.

Yeah, but religion honey. You beat yourself up long enough blaming others for your poor choices and insecurities. It's time to stop. It's time to repent. Oh God will Me and God have a personal private relationship.

And when Messiah comes he'll. I'm sitting right here. Whoo. There's hope for all. There's hope in truth, but I want you to understand this last thing. There's hope only in the Messiah. I want you to understand.

When you meet the real Jesus. When you read meet the real Jesus. Listen to me some y 'all getting a DD and getting bored on me now. Focus focus up. When you meet the real Jesus. There's going to be a real change.

Well pastor, I invited Jesus my heart 20 years ago and nothing's really changed except I've gotten older. You didn't meet the Jesus. I know. You didn't meet the Jesus Scripture talking about you may have got some morals.

You may have changed some things in your life. You may have even got off alcohol or crack cocaine. But there ain't been really any change change. I want you to watch what this woman does. Jesus says. I am he now watch this verse 27 the church finally shows up.

Just then his disciples remember back in verse 8. They went to the city to buy food, but they're coming back now. Just then his disciples came back and they marveled that he was talking with a woman. But ain't nobody said why are you talking to her church?

When someone comes up in this building. Do you really sit there? I know Witten doesn't but some of you people don't belong here and you haven't caught the culture yet of who we are. So some of y 'all still may be doing a little stupid.

You walk up in here and you see somebody walk up in here. Let me find someone to pick on real quick. God, there's so many choices. How are such losers. We'll use Camille because she looks very awkward right now, so I'm gonna use her.

She loves being the center of attention, by the way, so you see Camille. And you notice her tattoos and you're kind of thinking to yourself. Why is she here? You know what I'm saying? Roderick hey Roderick.

Hey, buddy Roderick the other day walked into subway and He was telling me this yeah, I'm gonna tell it you told me you told the pastor Roderick walked in the subway the other day and he ordered a salad.

I'm sister behind the counter. He got a salad and he said hey, do y 'all serve crackers? And she said we serve everybody here, man. Roderick came up and told that joke to his pastor. Guys, do you ever wonder why somebody Gwynn just got it?

Yeah. She went to private school. Do you ever wonder why somebody is here. Here's one church. Have you ever gone? Oh, they got cancer. I wonder what they did. Wonder why Jesus is mad at him. You ever done something like that.

Be very careful of that kind of brain Pattern because you are lining up perfectly the Pharisees who heard Jesus say how will you escape the damnation of hell? Just food for thought from one cracker to another all right watch this verse 28.

Verse 28. So the woman read with me the woman left. Went to her local Baptist Church and joined up. Began to teach Sunday school and bought a skirt and made sure that the neckline was appropriate. She then stopped wearing white shoes except after Easter.

Because that's a real sin right there guys. Is that what it says? Listen what happens when you finally get hope? Now some of you Christians say oh, I'm on fire for Jesus, but you ain't opened your mouth about him except in a worship service.

Listen to what what she does. So the woman left her water jar and went away into the town and Said to the people come and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ. Now I want you to know it's a couple things.

Who did she go to? The very people who had shunned her. How's your forgiveness factor this morning? Well, I can't remember. I only want to think about the harsh things James King did to me. Opposite casserole dish to a church function, and he said he wouldn't eat it because he was too full.

He was making fun of my cooking effort that sat in my chair. That I've been sitting in in this church those things are ridiculous. I Can't ever forget the man who molested me never will forgive him. It got quiet real too quick didn't it.

There is someone who said if you can't forgive others God will not forgive you. Oh, but pastor. You don't understand my pain. Oh, yeah, I do. You ain't got an excuse. Well, he broke my heart and left me.

You broke Christ's and left him. Tell you what, let's make a comparison. You don't have to forgive others if you walk down the Via Dolorosa take those stripes. Die in a sinless perfected stake on a cross.

For the sins of the whole world. When you do that, you can then elevate yourself the place of God. But until then it's not a suggestion. It's a command to forgive others as I have forgiven you. She went to the people that made fun of her.

Now watch this ready for this. Watch this. She left her jar. Some of y 'all came here today to find something else. Maybe you looking you church shopping because you church hopping. Because somebody made you mad at the last place you been.

Well. Let me let you on a secret here in Witten we may not want you either or about your money. I Don't see it. Don't count it. Don't hear about it. I don't want to know anything about it. I've nothing I want or need.

Okay, TV cameras in here. I ain't looking to become famous. Here's what I'm looking for when I die and stand before God for him to say well done now good and faithful servant son. Come on in boy. You did good.

You say because I ain't worried about empty water jars. And pain and that stuff that you keep going back to to try to fill your life with something other than true. Oh. Will you make Jesus Christ? Everything else you've tried whether it be people drugs when you meet Jesus.

There will be a real change because all that stuff will turn to ash in your mouth. And you'll find the peace of God that passes our understanding that no one can understand. Verse 27, you know, I already did that.

Let's do verse 39. So she goes back she tells them and then here come all the pastors, you know. All the pastors were like, oh, she's doing that prophecy thing again, you know. Why isn't she in the kitchen making a sandwich, you know, which is where all women should be.

You know what I'm saying? No, I'm serious y 'all. My what dishwasher stopped working the other day and went up and picked up her hand and shook it. It was still working. You know what I mean? You know when The first missionaries came to this part of the world.

They already found Christians there. Paul was actually amazed he goes where'd all these Christians come from a little woman at a well a woman Who had been married five times and shacking up with someone met Jesus and it changed not only her life But everyone else around her so that 20 years later when the church is sending out missionaries.

It was already there because of a woman decided to get through her shame and started being obedient to the cross watch Verse 39 now many Samaritans from that town. Believed in him watch what it says. Believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified he told me everything I did.

Therefore when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them and he stayed there two days many more believed because of what he said and they told the woman we no longer believe because of what you said for.

We have heard Ourselves and know that this is really the savior of the world. Of white now, it's just talking about white people there. Y 'all this is uncomfortable and awkward for me. Someone give me the courtesy laugh.

Savior of the world. You know what she didn't care who she was talking to. She didn't care who came to Jesus. She was just talking about the truth. I want you to notice the beauty of this the last part of this it says.

We believe because of what no longer you said, but because we've experienced it ourselves. I'll close with this Hunter you can come get ready to do your thing. Y 'all listen to me. There are gonna be a lot of people That miss the grace of God to go to heaven because they're looking for a sign and wonder instead of hearing the Word of God.

Listen to me. I've heard people say when we have guest pastors that come in or guest speakers. They go he really just didn't do it for me. Do you think the Word of God is like freaking JC Penney's you're gonna go try it on then walk away.

What are you stupid? What if God says that if we quit praise it? I don't need hunter. Some of y 'all say I can't worship God because I don't like that style of music at some point your life. You're gonna have to mature past the stupidity you're living in.

Yeah. Listen to me. They believed on nothing more than the Word of God and it changed their lives. And you know what it changed their families as well. Because that generation died away and the one that the missionaries found were the children of these people.

Where you at this morning I? Didn't have a sermon this morning. This wasn't no sermon. There ain't no church service. I know. You know by Jesus Christ your heart Lord and Savior. God bless you all that bullcrap.

This is the Word of God and some of you sitting in this room. You've heard with years and said amen, and that's good. But some of you in this room this Word of God not my words. But the Word of God to hit you square in the heart, and you've said I know I'm not a Christian.

But I'm too embarrassed where I've done this to me. I've prayed Jesus in my heart too many times. Find me in Scripture where it says to pray Jesus in your heart, maybe. You hadn't been doing it according to God's Word, but rather than some preachers word.

Maybe it ain't working because you trusting in your religion rather than Jesus Christ the Messiah. Maybe it is you want to submit your heart without submitting everything else. I Can sin like a godless heathen Monday through Saturday, but on Sunday for two hours.