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Monday,
June 8,
2020
Opossum
Lake in Cumberland County, PA
"Spiritual
Hydration"
Message
summary: Today we consider the importance of
staying spiritually hydrated.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player. "On the last and
greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said
in a loud voice, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come
to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as
Scripture has said, rivers of living water will
flow from within them'" (John 7:37,38).
Sam Beiler spent most of his career with
Auntie Anne's, a worldwide company known for their
hand-baked fresh pretzels which started here in
Lancaster County. He eventually bought the company
from Anne Beiler before developing Spooky Nook, the
largest indoor sporting complex in North America.
Sam Beiler spent most of his career with
Auntie Anne's, a worldwide company known for their
hand-baked fresh pretzels which started here in
Lancaster County. He eventually bought the company
from Anne Beiler before developing Spooky Nook, the
largest indoor sporting complex in North America.Sam
was born into an Amish family and shared a memory
from his childhood. Amish tourism was growing in
Lancaster County with many coming into our area
fascinated at seeing the Amish culture. Early on he demonstrated his
entrepreneurialism.
He and some friends had a marketing idea.
They took some quart canning jars from one of their
mom's kitchens, filled them with water, and sold
them along the road as "Amish Water". They sold out
but got in trouble later for selling the canning
jars, since these glass jars are used year after
year to preserve food harvested fresh from the
garden. What little money they earned would not
compare to the money saved by preserving one's own
fruit and vegetables.That
was before the bottled water craze we have now had
for many years. When we were growing up the notion
of buying water in a small bottle to drink would
have seemed crazy, especially to my depression era
parents.
Regardless
of where you live water is absolutely vital to life
in many, many ways. Our physical well-being depends
on staying hydrated. The failure to hydrate can lead
to dehydration (hypohydration) which is not only bad
for our overall health but can lead to several
conditions that make work more dangerous such as
fatigue and light-headedness (dizziness). In sports
and outdoor construction work this can be a real
problem and highlights the importance of staying
hydrated.
Last week we were stopped at a
red light in Lancaster when we spotted two
hardworking men in the hot sun clearing the curbing
of weeds and debris. You could see their
perspiration right from our car. We rolled our
window down to let them know their labor certainly
improved the appearance of the street. But before we
had a chance to do so the car in front of us also
rolled their window down and called for the younger
man (40's) to come to the window. The passenger
passed on a tall bottle of water. The man gratefully
received the water and passed it on to the elderly
man who was pushing the wheelbarrow. He wasted no
time and immediately began to guzzle down the thirst
quenching water which must have been gratifying to
the thoughtful donor. Today
let us consider the importance of staying
spiritually hydrated. The two above-mentioned
conditions in physical dehydration can also affect
us spiritually, that is, fatigue and dizziness (not
keeping a clear head).
Today's
Scripture text has the words of the Lord Jesus. He
had stood to deliver a message at the last and
greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. In a loud
voice (one version states, "Jesus
shouted to the crowds", He gave the
following invitation; "If
any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!
He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts
in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said,
from his innermost being shall flow [continuously]
springs and rivers of living water." (Amplified)
Jesus used an analogy in His teaching that is completely cross cultural. "Rivers of Living Water" is a concept that can be grasped by all people. That is, what Jesus intends to flow out of those who come to Him and drink from His eternal life-giving supply. "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." He certainly doesn't say or intend that a stagnant pool of diseased water will flow from within him!
Just as water is necessary to sustain
physical life (our bodies are made up of
approximately 2/3 water), so the Savior and all that
He teaches and represents are essential for an
abundant and eternal life. We need to drink
daily from His fresh flowing supply to sustain our
spiritual growth and fruitful development lest we
become spiritually dehydrated.
As believers in Christ we need fresh inflow and God's Word provides an inexhaustible supply. Although the pure reading of Scriptural text should be the primary source there are many supplements such as Bible teaching, reading godly books, listening to uplifting music and so forth.
We also need an outflow; that is, sharing His Word with others in various forms of ministry. In our current form of ministry we seek to continue to grow in the Lord and the knowledge of His Word and then share it through this online writing ministry, face to face, and through preaching as opportunities arise. Perhaps you are a Sunday School teacher, youth leader, worship leader, or lead a ministry in the nursing home. There are so many avenues in which we are given opportunity to extend to others what God has instilled in us.
Today, let the rivers of God's living water flow through our lives to a parched, needy, dehydrated and divisive world! Let's be a source of spiritual hydration.
This "living water" will be a feature of heaven. Jesus said in Revelation, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6). "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we accept Your invitation to come
and drink freely from Your inexhaustible supply of
life-giving water, to hydrate ourselves spiritually.
May Your springs of living water overflow to those
around us as it springs forth in our words and
actions. Thank You for redirecting, refreshing, and
replenishing our spirit with Your life-giving,
eternal water. Amen.
Jesus used an analogy in His teaching that is completely cross cultural. "Rivers of Living Water" is a concept that can be grasped by all people. That is, what Jesus intends to flow out of those who come to Him and drink from His eternal life-giving supply. "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." He certainly doesn't say or intend that a stagnant pool of diseased water will flow from within him!
As believers in Christ we need fresh inflow and God's Word provides an inexhaustible supply. Although the pure reading of Scriptural text should be the primary source there are many supplements such as Bible teaching, reading godly books, listening to uplifting music and so forth.
We also need an outflow; that is, sharing His Word with others in various forms of ministry. In our current form of ministry we seek to continue to grow in the Lord and the knowledge of His Word and then share it through this online writing ministry, face to face, and through preaching as opportunities arise. Perhaps you are a Sunday School teacher, youth leader, worship leader, or lead a ministry in the nursing home. There are so many avenues in which we are given opportunity to extend to others what God has instilled in us.
Today, let the rivers of God's living water flow through our lives to a parched, needy, dehydrated and divisive world! Let's be a source of spiritual hydration.
This "living water" will be a feature of heaven. Jesus said in Revelation, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6). "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we accept Your invitation to come
and drink freely from Your inexhaustible supply of
life-giving water, to hydrate ourselves spiritually.
May Your springs of living water overflow to those
around us as it springs forth in our words and
actions. Thank You for redirecting, refreshing, and
replenishing our spirit with Your life-giving,
eternal water. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Drinking
At The Spring Of Living Water" Video Melody Four A song
from our younger years which we haven't heard for many
years. But the words and melody came back in considering
today's message.
"The
Blessing Singapore" Video Dedicated to the
believers in Singapore especially to Sally and Peter who
have been a part of our ministry since 2001. By the way
there are several Auntie Anne's Pretzel stores in
Singapore!
Sam
Beiler, owner of Spooky Nook Sport's Complex
This message has an illustration of selling Amish
water. Video (cued to start at illustration)
Aerial view
of the Spooky Nook Sport's Complex which was formerly an
Armstrong warehouse. The line of trees on the left is the
Lancaster Junction rail trail which we often ride.
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2020 Stephen C. & Brooksyne
Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA