Water for the Thirsty

 

 

 

It has been said that when a person becomes very thirsty the desert can produce false images called mirages.  A mirage is defined as something that falsely appears to be real.  I suppose the real test in life is to know the false from the real.  To know the real water holes from the mirages.  To do this we must be in a place where there is reality around us instead of hot sun, sand and mirages.  This place of true reality is found in the Word of God! 

 

We can drink from the waters of this life but too often will find that they are not life giving but instead waters of death.  It is like the man who was thirsty and came upon a spring of water in the desert.  He had just begun drinking when he noticed many skeletons around the pool.  His first foolish thought was, “This pool must be reserved for skeletons”.  He was right and wrong at the same time.  It was reserved for skeletons and he would soon become one himself.  Sin is like the waters of this life which promise a cool refreshment to the soul but when it is finished only brings forth death and destruction.

 

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14-15 (KJV) 

 

The only thing which can truly satisfy is God’s presence.  The Bible speaks of it as the Holy Ghost.  When his Spirit fills a man or woman, living water begins to flow and washes out the destructive false mirages and sins of the past.  This living water brings life and happiness.  It is not a mirage but the real thing.  Jesus spoke of mirages (in a round-about way) when he addressed the people of his day who were thirsty. 

 

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” John 7:37-39 (KJV) 

 

If you are thirsty and chasing after mirages, why not try Jesus Christ and his Spirit?  He is truly the only one who can satisfy the soul.  This Holy Ghost experience is happening all around the world.  Why not ask him for this experience.  People are discovering the joy of Jesus Christ and his Spirit.  One of the most popular studies at Focus on Freedom is entitled “What Does It Mean to Receive the Holy Ghost?” and I would love for you to go through it.  Hope to see you there!

 

Thanks for letting me into your week, I pray it will be blessed of the Lord!

 

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture.

 

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

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Jesus Quotes on Money

 

 

 

Did you know that many people have opinions when it comes to money?  I know I do and I’m sure you have one or two as well.  Famous and not so famous people have had their say on this matter.  I share a few with you.

 

· Contentment makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor. — Benjamin Franklin

· No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money, too. — Margaret Thatcher

· He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. — Benjamin Franklin

· There were times my pants were so thin I could sit on a dime and tell if it was heads or tails. — Spencer Tracy

· Finance is the art of passing currency from hand to hand until it finally disappears. — Robert W. Sarnoff

· October: This is one of the particularly dangerous months to invest in stocks. Other dangerous months are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February. — Mark Twain

· The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax. — Albert Einstein

· When a person with money meets a person with experience, the person with the experience winds up with the money and the person with the money winds up with the experience. — Harvey MacKay

 

The last one there might be a good one to remember.  Did you know that Jesus had many things to say (quotes) about money?  Just a few of them will get the message across.

 

“For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:25 (KJV) 

 

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? [21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21 (KJV) 

 

Jesus didn’t say that being rich was evil for he knew that many great and Godly men were wealthy.  The point he was making is that the priority of wealth in this life verses the life to come is very important.  Simply put, we should lay up treasures in heaven first and all of the things in this life will be added unto us.

 

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31-33 (KJV) 

 

If you or someone you know is having financial difficulties why not stop by the study entitled “A Parable of the Vanity of Riches” and another one entitled “Financial Freedom”.  It may open your eyes to the importance of right priorities and set you on a path to freedom!

 

Thanks for letting me into your week, I pray it will be blessed of the Lord. 

 

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture.

 

“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

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Faithfulness is Important

 

 

 

The tombstone read, “Here lies Captain Ernest Bloomfield Accidently shot by his Orderly, March 2, 1789  “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”

 

Sometimes it might seem that being called faithful is not a good thing, for the Orderly at least, but when we examine this unique and often missing character quality in our day we quickly see that it is very necessary.  The Bible talks about faithfulness and puts a premium on those who have it and word of rebuke for those who don’t.  For example consider these verses.

 

“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” Proverbs 25:19 (KJV) 

 

Have you ever chomped down on a fresh piece of peanut brittle only to have a tooth let you down?  How about trying to run across the yard and your ankle buckle in?  If you have, you’ve experienced the need for faithfulness.  Faithfulness in things like feet and teeth can be iffy at times, but there is one who is always faithful all the time.

 

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” Deut. 7:9 (KJV) 

 

“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalm 89:34 (KJV) 

 

All of us have experienced the disappointment of an unfaithful person or thing and it makes us angry, frustrated and seeking revenge.  Sometimes the revenge needs to be pointed directly at the one looking at you in the mirror.  All of us have failed at being faithful to some degree but God wants us to understand that through his power he can help us in this area.  He wants us to be faithful in the good things, not the bad so our tombstone can read someday, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”  Otherwise it may be our jail sentence.  Think on these things!  I have written a study entitled “Being Faithful” (real original) that will go further into this important character quality.  Hope to see you there!

 

Thanks for letting me into your week, I pray it will be blessed of the Lord. 

 

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture.

 

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings…” Proverbs 28:20 (KJV) 

Note: This applies to the ladies too!

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

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