Peace at Christmas?

 

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14 (KJV) 

As we approach the Christmas Holiday it would be easy to look at the present condition of our world and say “Where is God in all of the trouble?”  “If the angels proclaimed peace on earth and good will toward men where is it?”  Good question.  The answer must lie, not in how peace will come to the earth but how it is imparted to individuals.

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was not looking for peace in the future by the mere stroke of a pen upon legislative paper or a mass movement aimed at changing laws but peace to him was something that had to be possessed by individuals before it could come to the world at large.  As I pondered this it came to me that there is peace on earth and good will toward men!  It may not be en-mass but it is alive and well in the hearts and lives of men and women who have the prince of peace in their lives.  This is the inner peace that will carry you through the most difficult of times.  It will give you a calm in the middle of a storm.  It will bring tranquility to your heart so that you can give good will to others. 

A  year ago, I was at the local Wally Mart and as people were going here and there looking for gifts I heard a little boy singing a Christmas carol loud enough for those of us busy people to hear as we passed by.  I thought to myself, “He likes Christmas!”  Frankly, I do too.  I felt like stopping to listen or even joining in with him but I kept on walking dutifully following my wife down this isle and that.  Maybe I should have stopped, maybe we all need to stop and sing with the little boy or girl once in a while and learn to experience the peace they express a little more.  Maybe in the hustle and bustle of the day we will see Jesus standing by waiting to give peace to us as he does the little ones.

Do you know someone who is not happy at this time of the year?  Send them a little good will and help to bring about peace on the earth in your little corner.  Don’t have peace for yourself?  I have written a study titled “Finding Happiness”  that may be of interest to you or a friend.  You can have peace in your heart.  Our world needs peace and they can find it through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  Merry Christmas and may there be peace and good will in your world not just during the Holidays but everyday of the year!

Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family.  It is truly an honor to have you here.  Pass along this newsletter and encourage a friend to sign up!  We pray your Christmas Holiday season will be blessed.

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Luke 2:13-14

Sincerely

Greg Wirths

Focus on Freedom

Study Leads To Freedom

 

 

Last week our Focus on Freedom newsletter focused on a great giveaway.  When I received my personal newsletter it was in my junk folder.  I guessed it was because the title sent up a red flag that it was junk mail.  If you received last weeks newsletter in your regular mailbox I apologize for repeating it this week.  For the benefit of those who didn’t I am sending it again this week.  My apologies for any confusion.  Since it has thrown us off a week I am extending it through the month of January.    I believe that the Word of God is truth and it is important that we study it, for through HIS truth we can and will be set free!

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:31-32

To this end I would like to announce that we will be giving away a free copy of SwordSearcher 5.5 to the first person who signs up ten friends on the free Focus on Freedom weekly newsletter through the month of January.  This Bible study software is an invaluable tool for anyone interested in knowing the Word more intimately.  You can find every word in the Bible and where it is located and it also has many features such as Greek and Hebrew definitions of the original words as well as many commentators, dictionaries and books. 

All you have to do is get ten friends to join the free weekly newsletter through the month of January.  Once they have signed up and are active ( meaning they must confirm their e-mail address) all I need from the winner is an e-mail with a list of those ten e-mail addresses that I can check with my list to verify.  The first list of ten I receive that checks out legitimate I will send a free copy of SwordSearcher 5.5 to you.  A $49.95 value.  This includes all oversees participants.  I reserve the right to cancel any applicant for any reason and my decision will be final.  The winner will be announced shortly after January 31, 2010.

Pretty simple!  My motive is up front.  I want to get the word out about Jesus Christ and his Word.  So those of you who are Bible students please sign up people you know who have a need for the Word in their lives not just a Bible buddy.  Thanks!  I think a great way to start the New Year is to make a commitment to study the Word of God and help a friend in need by introducing them to the Word of God through the free weekly newsletter!  SwordSearcher is not connected with this giveaway and I am not benefiting by this financially in any way.  I just think it is a cool program and want to share it with someone who will benefit from it. You can check them out if you like to at:

http://www.swordsearcher.com/

I am also putting a link here for the newsletter and also on the right side of the Focus on Freedom site.  I’ll be waiting to hear from you!

Here’s the weekly inspirational scripture. 

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Psalms 119:105

Sincerely

Greg Wirths

Focus on Freedom

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up at the main site now for your free subscription!

 

Special Giveaway for December

 

 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Since we know the Bible is the Word of God (“The Source of Truth”) it becomes imperative that we study it.  If we fail to know what God has said we will surely be deceived.  Case in point is the story of Adam and Eve.  God gave them his commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”  Genesis 2:17

Eve was deceived by the serpent because she added to God’s word.

“But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”  Genesis 3:3

God never said they couldn’t touch the tree.  When he saw her ignorance of the Word he knew he could easily deceive her into believing a lie and breaking the commandment of God, which she did.  Many false teachings abound today because of illiteracy of the Word of God.   There are so many “thoughts” about this and that and that it’s hard to get the truth.  I have had many people ask me, “Why are there so many different denominations and religions in the world today?”  The reason is simple, illiteracy of the Word of God.  Don’t be deceived by someone who says “I believe” or “I feel that my way is right”.  What I or anyone else believes or feels is really irrelevant.  What does the Bible say about it.  Have you read it for yourself?  One of the goals of Focus on Freedom is to educate people in the basic teachings of the scriptures.  By doing this people can be set free from the bondage of sin.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:31-32

To this end I would like to announce that we will be giving away a free copy of SwordSearcher 5.5 to the first person who signs up ten friends on the free Focus on Freedom weekly newsletter in the month of December.  This Bible study software is an invaluable tool for anyone interested in knowing the Word more intimately.  You can find every word in the Bible and where it is located and it also has many features such as Greek and Hebrew definitions of the original words as well as many commentators, dictionaries and books. 

All you have to do is get ten friends to join the free weekly newsletter in the month of December.  Once they have signed up and are active ( meaning they must confirm their e-mail address) all I need from the winner is an e-mail with a list of those ten e-mail addresses that I can check with my list to verify.  The first list of ten I receive that checks out legitimate I will send a free copy of SwordSearcher 5.5 to you.  A $49.95 value.  This includes all oversees participants.  I reserve the right to cancel any applicant for any reason and my decision will be final.  The winner will be announced after January 1, 2010.

Pretty simple!  My motive is up front.  I want to get the word out about Jesus Christ and his Word.  So those of you who are Bible students please sign up people you know who have a need for the Word in their lives not just a Bible buddy.  Thanks!  I think a great way to start the New Year is to make a commitment to study the Word of God and help a friend in need by introducing them to the Word of God through the free weekly newsletter!  SwordSearcher is not connected with this giveaway and I am not benefiting by this financially in any way.  I just think it is a cool program and want to share it with someone who will benefit from it. You can check them out if you like to at:

http://www.swordsearcher.com/

I am also putting a link here for the newsletter and also on the right side of the Focus on Freedom site.  I’ll be waiting to hear from you!

Here’s the weekly inspirational scripture. 

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Psalms 119:105

Sincerely

Greg Wirths

Focus on Freedom

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up at the main site now for your free subscription!

 

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

 

 

Some time ago around 34 A.D. a group of one hundred and twenty people gathered together into an upper room to seek for an experience with God.  They wanted what Jesus Christ had promised them, ie; the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  The master told them that their old experience with God through the law would be replaced with a personal relationship of his indwelling Spirit!  It happened when the day of Pentecost (A Jewish feast day) had fully come and they were all filled and changed by the Spirit of God.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

The people who had gathered to see what was happening were completely baffled.  The Apostle Peter began to tell them that this was Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled before their very eyes.  See Joel 2:28

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” Acts 2:16-17

He went on to say that this promise of the Holy Ghost baptism is for everyone of us!

Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

That’s you and I!  I know for a fact that God is still pouring out his Spirit on those who will open their heart to receive it.  When the Holy Ghost fills a soul he comes to bring righteousness, peace and joy.  Isn’t that the desire of all men?  I have written a study entitled “What Does It Mean To Receive The Holy Ghost?” that I would love for you to go through.  When you are done why not pray that you too can experience Christ in you the hope of glory?

Why not tell a friend about Focus on Freedom and the free weekly newsletter.  Each month our readership grows.  Thanks so much!

Here’s the weekly inspirational scripture. 

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

Sincerely

Greg Wirths

Focus on Freedom

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up at the main site now for your free subscription!