Daily Treasure

“But whosoever drinketh of the water I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Most of us are familiar with the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Prior to Jesus meeting with her He had been walking in the hot sun. It was necessary for Him to go through Samaria. This had nothing to do with location. This was part of Christ’s mission. He could have gone a different route and avoided the area most people in that day did their best to bypass. However, Jesus felt it was expedient for Him to go through Samaria. When He arrived, His throat was parched and He asked the woman for a cool drink of water. He explained to her that with drinking the water from the well, one would thirst again. However, He offered her something that would give her eternal refreshing. If she received it, she would never thirst again. She may not have completely understood, but, in faith, she asked for the water He offered. She received Christ and the Spirit came in to cool her thirsty soul.

As we live for Jesus, we may go through those “desert” times when we feel our soul is parched. Matthew 5:6 states, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Allow the Spirit to rejuvenate you when you feel barren or unfruitful.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the opening service of the WNAC National Retreat and for Danita High as she leads her first retreat.

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 John 2:27).

Today we see the Spirit of God as a symbol of anointing oil. When we read of those being anointed with oil, it was in regards to being set apart for service to God. In Old Testament times kings and priest were anointed with oil. In the New Testament Jesus refers to His anointing as was prophesied in Isaiah 61:1-2.

The first part of our verse tells us we have an anointing abiding within us. It is that anointing that prompts us into service to God. We may not feel called to be a missionary or other specific full-time Christian service but with the Spirit living within us, we are all called to serve the Lord in some capacity. With that in mind, our service to God is full-time because we should desire to do or go wherever He leads until His return. We shouldn’t worry that we’re not well-educated, because the One who anoints us will teach us everything we need to know. The Holy Spirit will not give us a new revelation but will give us the capacity to learn the truths of God’s Word already revealed. Everything we will ever need to know for salvation and Christian living, we will receive of the Spirit as we allow Him free reign in our lives.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Good News FWB Church in Svishtov, Bulgaria, will have their first baptism service September 13.

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

Today our scripture likens the Holy Spirit to the wind. We cannot see the wind, but we can feel it and see the effects of what it can do. The wind comes and goes but we are never sure where it will end. It could move like a soft, gentle breeze or like a forceful gale but when it blows through you understand its sovereignty.

In John chapter 3 we see the account of Nicodemus coming to Jesus. Jesus told him he must be born again. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, well-versed in the scripture, but telling him he had to born again was very perplexing. Though Jesus explained the second birth to him, he still seemed bewildered so Jesus used the wind to further explain the new birth to Nicodemus.

There will be times in our lives when we will face uncertainty. It will seem like the wind has rocked our vessel, but remember it may just be the Spirit of God trying to get our attention.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray God will prepare Jan Clay’s heart to lead women in worship this weekend at the WNAC National Retreat.

“And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).

This week we will look at symbols of the Holy Spirit. In today’s verse we see the symbol of the “dove.” Feeling so unworthy, John the Baptist was reluctant to baptize Jesus. Jesus convinced John the Baptist it would be the right thing to do and scripture tells us Jesus was baptized. As soon as Jesus came out of the water, we see the dove appear as the heavens open. God used the dove to tell His Son how very proud He was of Him.

Once we are saved, we should desire to be baptized, following the example of Jesus. We may not see a dove appear but that same Holy Spirit will be there assuring us of how pleased God is with us.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Ask God to use this year’s Program and Plan Book to guide and inspire leaders. Not familiar with this resource? Order one for your group through WNAC.

“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22a).

What are some of the things your grandparents left you? I’m not talking about money or worldly goods but integrity, good character and Christian faith. My fathers parents were older in my growing up years and lived a great distance from us, but I did learn a lot from them. I am told out of 34 grandchildren I am most like my grandmother. For hours I sat and watched in silence my grandmother iron and exchange a cooled iron for a nice hot one that was sitting around the fireplace. In her 80’s grandmother carried two buckets of water from the well three times a day for cooking and cleaning. I lost them both when I was 20. They were almost 90. I never had the opportunity to let them know the inheritance they left me. All the years I observed Isaac and Mary Elizabeth they were training a future pastor’s wife. Now at 60 I wonder what I will leave my six grandchildren. Am I leaving them good Christian values and character? When I make my journey to heaven I hope they will remember maw maw loved Jesus with all her heart and that my prayer for them is they would accept Jesus as their personal Savior.

LaCrecia McFaddin
Tennessee

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray as you study and meditate on Scriptures and teachings from the September-October TWG study, “Understanding the Person Within You.”

“Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6).

Have you ever seen a crown adorned with gravel? I haven’t. All the crowns I have ever seen were made of precious metals and bright and beautiful gems set within the crown. It takes a lifetime to raise children/grandchildren. As grandparents we can help lead these precious children into the ways of the Lord. We must saturate them with prayer and be the example of good Christians. Many of us chose the way of our godly grandparents rather than the wicked ways of the world. Let’s give our grandchildren lots of love and help them to know they belong to God. Let’s show them how special their lives are to the Lord and that in due season they will be a crown to us all.

LaCrecia McFaddin
Tennessee

PRAY TOGETHER: Reports reveal about 30 Christians in Pakistan were beaten and robbed as they gathered to pray. Pray God’s protection on these believers. Psalm 91:1-2.

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

Another evidence that the Spirit is a person is He can be grieved. There are things we can do that will hurt Him. The Spirit exalts Jesus. When we fail to do the same, we grieve the Spirit. It is not a matter of hurting His feelings. He is painfully saddened by this.

When we crowd Him out of His residence because we put the things of this world ahead of Him, it hurts. When there is time for everything else but little or no time for reading the Word and prayer, do you think that doesn’t grieve Him? We must take into consideration that what we do to Him goes deeper than we think.
He sees where what we do will lead us and that makes our grieving Him more painful.

Back in Bible times a seal was placed upon a person to show ownership. As children of God we are sealed by His Spirit until the day of His return because we have been purchased through the blood of Jesus. We belong to Him. The adoption process began. We are members of God’s family and our adoption will be fully realized when He returns to redeem our bodies.

The Holy Spirit is part of our identity as a Christian. We need His help to be all we can be for the glory of the One who sent Him. Reverence Him like you would God and live your life so you won’t grieve Him.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: South Carolina and West Virginia both have state retreats this weekend. Pray for speakers and attendees to experience renewal and refreshing.