Vol. 36, No. 9    September, 2012

       THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
              By Dr.  George Mills

  “And He must needs go through Samaria”
     (John 4:1-43).

Please take a few moments and read all of this text in John 4.  This text has been the inspiration for countless sermons, lessons, illustrations, and of course many Gospel Songs.
The last person Jesus interviewed was entirely different than this woman. The last person was a man; Nicodemus, by name. We do not know the name of this woman. The last person, Nicodemus was moral, this person is very immoral. The last person, Nicodemus was admired, This woman was despised. Very, very different indeed! The meeting place in this text is the village of Sychar, in the land of Samaria. The land, and people of Samaria were despised by the Jews. Why would Jesus waste His time on a woman of this stature?
This place became one of the most fruitful places in the ministry of our Lord Jesus. He sees far beyond the surface to the many and varied possibilities in each of us…

1. THE SINNER. In so many ways this woman is a picture of every one of us.

(A) She was a Samaritan. (V9). Samaritans werenot real Jews. These were transplants from other areas and placed there by their captors with the intent that the Jews would be so busy fighting with these “mis-fits” that they would not give the government much trouble. To a great extent it really worked. The Jews hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans hated the Jews. I have read somewhere that the Jews prayed; “God forbid that the sun go down and find me in the presence of a Samaritan.” Being a Samaritan, she was “Afar off.” The Jews had the Temple and worship, and priesthood. This woman would not be welcome there. She was “afar off.” But so is every person who does not know Christ. “We who were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” We were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers having no hope and without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:11-22)

(B). She was an outcast. V6 of our text says that she came to the well at noon for her water. The rest of the women of her village probably came to the well very early in the morning for water supply for the day. They certainly would not wait until the heat of the noon time to come for their supply of water. All this indicating that this woman was not in good standing with the village women. I am reminded that since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden we ALL are outcasts from God’s society.

(C) She was condemned by the Law. Ex 20:14 says,“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” This woman confessed that she had five husbands and was at that time living with a man to whom she was not married. Oh yes, she has broken the Law, and was condemned by the Law. But the same thing can be said of every person who has ever been born, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “Now preacher, I have never done the things she was guilty of.” We may not have done many things but the Bible still concludes that “ALL have sinned.” We are born sinners. That’s why we “Must be born again.”

(D) She was blind to the Person of Jesus Christ. She saw Him only as another Jew. Like so many who do not know Him see Him only as another good man or the founder of another religion, but He is so much more!

(E) She was evidently very religious. When Jesus began to reveal her to herself, she began to talk very “religious.” “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain.” The mountain she speaks of is Mount Gerizim. The  Samaritans had built a temple on Mount Gerizim, and had a copy of the Jewish Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Bible. They called this the Samaritan Pentateuch. It was very similar to the Jewish version, but the names and characters were changed to fit the Samaritans instead of the Jews. (Sorta like one of these new “versions” of today, they like to change things).

Now, please understand these things…

Some knowledge of the Scriptures will not save. It is clear that this woman had some scriptural knowledge.

She knew of the coming Messiah,(v25) This did not save her.

Being part of a “religious society” will not save you.

Being familiar with the letter of the Law, and not the Truth of the Law will not save. “Ye worship ye know not what.” “God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

2. THE SAVIOUR. What a Wonderful
Saviour we serve…

(A) He went out of His way to go through Samaria. He could have taken another route. Many of the Jews on their journey would have crossed the Jordan river to keep from going through Samaria. “He must needs go through Samaria. There were people in Samaria who needed to be saved. The compelling, compassionate heart of Jesus caused Him to go through Samaria.(Read Phil 2:5-11) I praise His Holy Name that over 50 years ago, He came to where I was!

(B) The Saviour used tact as He dealt with the woman’s need. He did not condemn her, It is evident that she knew her condition.  He simply made her face her problem…SIN!!

(C). He used simple things to reach people. To the farmer, He spoke of seed, and the farmer understood Him. To the hungry He spoke about bread. To the seeker, He spoke about the door. To the traveler He spoke about the way. And to this thirsty woman He spoke about the Water Of Life, and she understood! Once long ago, I took a drink at the Well of life, and my spiritual thirst has been satisfied.

3. THE SALVATION.

AGAIN SHE WAS THIRSTY.
Her thirst was deeper than just a thirst for water. She evidently had tried many things in life seeking a quench for her thirst. Perhaps I am speaking to someone who has tried just about everything and nothing works. This Man Jesus is still on the job. He can calm your troubled spirit and quench your thirsty soul if you will but call upon Him today! He will hear your heart’s cry!

(A) SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT! (V10, v14) We simply, by Faith alone receive Salvation. This woman had nothing to offer…And so it is with every person. We are sinners, we have nothing to offer. The Water He offered was free! “The water that I shall give.”

(B) SALVATION IS IN A PERSON.
“I know that when Messias cometh, which is called Christ, when He is come, He will tell us all things. Jesus said unto her, I THAT SPEAK UNTO THEE AM HE.” v25-26.
Salvation is not in a religion, not in joining, not in baptism, not in changing, doing or trying. Salvation is in the Person of Jesus Christ who said, “I that speak to thee am He.”

(C) SALVATION IS FOR ALL PEOPLE. For the Jews, and for the Samaritans. “For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Ro. 10:13).

(D) SALVATION PRODUCES A GREAT CHANGE. The woman’s view of Christ changed from, Him being a Jew,v9, to a Prophet, v19, to The Christ, v29. And so it is with everyone who will receive Christ. “If any man be in Christ He is a new creature.” We will see how this woman became that NEW CREATURE in Christ.

4. THE SOUL WINNER.

V28 says the woman left her waterpot and went into the city and began her witness. Leaving her waterpot pictures her leaving her burden with Jesus. Why would she need a waterpot, she has found the Well!. “Come see a man who told me all things I ever did. Is not this the Christ.” (v29).

She unashamedly testified for Christ, a Jew, whom before she despised.

Now, the disciples were busy doing good things, (v8) but Jesus was busy doing the best thing. Jesus said to His disciples, “Say not ye there are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already unto harvest.” Jesus pointed to the crowd she was bringing from her village.”Here comes the harvest!” Jesus sowed the seed, the woman believed, she went into her village, sowed the seed, and brought many to Christ, (v39-41).
In just a few months from this time, Christ will pay the supreme sacrifice for sin by His death on the cross. He will rise from the dead and will give His Great commission, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and IN SAMARIA, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).In Acts 8:1-9, 8:14, 8:25, 9:31, the Gospel of The GRACE of God was preached in Samaria and a harvest of souls was brought to Christ.
I can see no other human reason for such an open door at Samaria than to believe this can all be traced to this conversation at a well  between this woman and Jesus at noon some months before. Her testimony was still ringing, “Come see a man who told me all things I ever did. Is not this the Christ?”
Are we busy doing this very same thing? I hope so. May God bless us as we, together, try to get the Gospel of Grace to as many as we can, while we can. I do sincerely trust that you understand who Christ is, and what you must do with Him. Have you received Him? If not, why not today, now, in this present hour tell Him that you believe in His sacrificial death on the cross for your sin, that He was buried, and that he arose from the dead to be your personal Saviour. He will hear the cry of your heart. Begin TODAY to live FOREVER!

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“HOW BEAUTIFUL  UPON THE MOUNTAINS ARE THE FEET OF HIM THAT BRINGETH GOOD TIDINGS, THAT PUBLISHETH PEACE, THAT BRINGETH TIDINGS OF GOOD, THAT PUBLISHETH SALVATION, THAT SAITH UNTO ZION, THY GOD REIGNETH.”(Isa 52:7).
Let us faithfully stand upon our mountain. Let us PUBLISH the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ to all nations.

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian, and the world is no friend to your Bible. This Ministry does not defend the Bible (KJB) for it needs no defense. It stands upon it’s own record. If it was true yesterday, then it is true today, and tomorrow, and the ages to come.

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       I AM NOT WHAT I USED TO BE
                By Pastor George Mills

“Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” (2Cor. 5:17).

I am not what I used to be,
    Condemned by sin’s great penalty.
Now free to be what I can be,
Free because of Calvary,
    In Christ I’m not what I used to be.

I am not what I should be,
    Winning every victory.
Bringing the lost so they can know,
The Love of Christ in Calvary’s flow,
    That’s just what I should be.

I am not what I want to be,
    I want my Lord to have the best of me.
I want to help bring the harvest in,
To rescue lives from the power of sin,
    That’s what I want to be.

I am not what I am going to be,
    When I am clothed with immortality.
To live in a place prepared for me,
To live in that land of purity,
    That’s just what I am going to be.

Until then each day I’ll be,
    Everything God intended for me.
Busy doing what I can,
To share the news with every man,
    Thank God I’m not what I used to be.

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS..It is no friend to the Christian. The world crucified the only perfect One who ever lived, and the world seeks to crucify the ones who choose to follow Christ. Trusting the world’s wisdom will lead to defeat. Trusting God’s Word, (KJB) will cause us to be “More than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Ro. 8:37).

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WANDERING THROUGH THIS WILDERNESS…  By Pastor Mills
Sometime ago a Christian man came to me and asked me for a loan of some money. He went on to tell me of his plight. He said that he had fallen far behind in his monthly payments, utilities, credit cards, etc. He further stated that “He, wrote and sent checks to all of his creditors.” He knew that he did not have the money to cover these checks in his account, so he said; “BY FAITH” he wrote the checks, mailed them, and now he has canceled checks, marked “Not Sufficient Funds” all over town and he has to have money to cover all this expense. I told him that his action was NOT by faith, but by FOOLISHNESS. I think that he must have been listening to one of these preachers who told him that “all that he had to do was to speak to his check book and it would obey him. All of this HEALTH and WEALTH preaching sounds good, but it does not measure up to sound Bible doctrine. There are no short cuts to wealth and prosperity. I have never in all of my years of Bible study found this doctrine of so called “Debt Cancellation.”  Stop looking for an easy way out. Stay out of debt in the first place. The borrower is servant to the lender. If you do have debts, pay them as you agreed to do when you made the debt. God is honored and glorified when we fulfill that which we have obligated ourselves for. Becoming a Christian is NOT like winning a “Christian Lottery.” Do I believe in Miracles? Of course I do, I am one. I do not believe in foolishness, and that which is not based on sound Bible doctrine. There are many money schemes, get rich quick schemes, etc. Many“pyramid schemes” and e-mail schemes from Nigeria from some “rich widow”who wants to share her wealth with you. Be careful about investing your money in these Tel-evangelist “ministries” that have learned to squander millions every year from innocent people. I have been saved over 50 years. I have never missed a meal, never been without a place to sleep. If God chooses to make one rich., so be it, and thank God for it. NO, I did not loan any money to the man who asked me. He can’t pay his bills, so that would mean the lender would be servant to the borrower!

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               FROM MY HEART
                  By Mildred Mills

    MOUNTAIN TOPS AND VALLEYS

There are mountain tops and there are valleys, but no middle ground for me! I can say that my times spent in the valleys have been very few and for this I am thankful. I am reminded that on both sides of the valley there are mountains and that is where I choose to be, on the mountain top. However, I find myself much closer and more in touch with the One who loved me and gave His life for me when I am down in the valley. I have to look up and trust Him more. He teaches us when we are in the valley to wait upon Him, to draw close to Him and to know that He is right there with us and in His time will allow us to get right back on the mountain top where we belong. We have become much stronger in the Lord because;   
             It’s In The Valley I Grow!

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
   Full of sorrow, trouble and woe,
It’s then I have to remember,
   That it’s in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top,
    And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God’s Love,
    And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn,
    And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it’s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand,
    Why things happen as they do
But I am very sure of one thing,
    My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing,
    When I picture Christ on the Cross.
He went through the valley of death,
    His victory was Satan’s loss.

Forgive me Lord for complaining,
    When I’m Feeling so very low,
Just give me a gentle reminder,
    That’s it’s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord,
    And use my life each day,
To share your love with others,
    And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord,
    For this one thing I know,
The mountain tops are glorious,
    But it’s in the valleys I grow.

                    (Author Unknown)

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WANDERING THROUGH THE WILDERNESS….Answers to questions…
From time to time we do take the time to answer some questions that seem to trouble many..

Question…”Why do Christians get sick? Does this mean I have sin in my life?”

Ans…I do not have the answer for every situation. I have prayed for many, many believers who were sick. Some got better, and others went home to be with the Lord. I believe everything the Bible says about the power of prayer concerning sickness.  I have asked “Why” many times..

Being saved does not mean that you will never get sick again. Salvation is not a “cure-all” as far as illness is concerned. We ALL get sick and we ALL will die unless Jesus returns before that time. This body we live in is frail and corruptible. We live in a world that is filled with disease, germs, etc.

“If I get sick, does that mean I have lost my Salvation?”

Of course not! In Salvation we have Eternal, Everlasting life. That’s what the Bible says. Everlasting, meaning the length, and Eternal meaning the quality, The preaching and teaching of some would leave you with the idea that you lost out, BUT NOT SO! Read John 3:16, John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:37, John 10:27-30.

“Why are some Christians sick?”

Many, many born again Christians have lived in a sickly body for years. There are many unkind accusers who try to tell them they have sin in their lives. Consider these few of many things we could discuss here..

Some Christians are sick because of natural birth defects inherited from parents who inherited from their parents, etc. A heart condition, or a blood condition , or a liver condition may be genetic.

Some Christians are sick because of natural causes. Again, we live in a sin cursed world filled with diseases. Measles, Chicken Pox, and thousands more. Christians do get sick from time to time.

Some Christians get sick because of lousy eating habits….Need I say more?

“Should a Christian go to a Doctor?”

Of course! I believe that you should see your Doctor in illness, and See your Doctor for regular check-ups. You should follow his orders. You would not be acting in unbelief, you would be using common sense. Christians live in a body that has NOT been redeemed. This body is weak and subject to sickness, death and corruption. We still live in a polluted world. One day Christians will  have a body just like Jesus.
I believe that all healing is Divine healing. If we get healed from some sickness, it is because God in His Grace did that for us. I do not believe in these “divine healers” or “faith healers.” The airways are filled with religious charlatans, tricksters, and money grabbers who rob innocent people who believe their ‘gospel.” I believe that the prayer of faith can save the sick, If God wills one to be healed, (James 5:15, James 4:14-15).All Fundamental Bible Believing people believe in the power of prayer and pray for loved ones who are sick.

“They that are whole need not a physician but they that are sick.” (Lk. 5:31).

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        TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
                   By Ashley Stevens

        THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

What would you do if you knew everything you said was being recorded? Would you think twice before you spoke? Would you think twice before you let the shameful and hurtful words slip out?
Dr. Deb Roy, a researcher and cognitive scientist in Massachusetts decided to record the first three years of his child’s life to learn how humans learn language. He and his wife collected over 200,000 hours of audio and video footage. What if Dr. Roy wanted to conduct his research project at your home? Would you participate if you knew that every single word you said would be recorded and then analyzed? What if he did analyze your words? Would he be surprised about how well behaved you were, and how Christ shines through you? Or would he be disappointed by your choice of words?
In James 1:19 it states, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Be very careful when choosing words to come out of your mouth. God is listening to every word you are saying. Would He be disappointed? I sure hope not. We should not just say that we are Christians, but through our actions and our words everyone should know that we are believers in Christ. They should see Christ through us.

Until next time,                      Ashley Stevens

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The Bible (KJB) is our authority. The Bible teaches us who we are, where we came from, where we are going,, and how to get there. We are interested in man’s opinion to a certain degree, but where man’s opinion disagrees with God’s Word, then man’s opinion is futile. False doctrine abounds today all because of man’s opinion. Let us hold fast to the great words of the Psalmist who stated, “Forever O Lord, thy Word is settled in Heaven.” (Psa. 119:89)

                                                 Amen!!

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               BEHOLD THE LAMB
               By Pastor George Mills

“Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

The great theme of the Old Testament is found in the question, “WHERE IS THE LAMB?” (Gen 22:7). The great theme of the New Testament is the answer to that question; “BEHOLD THE LAMB.” John the Baptist pointed to our Lord Jesus Christ and made that great statement, “Behold the Lamb.” Let me share with you three brief points as we BEHOLD THE LAMB today…

1. BEHOLD THE DANGER…SIN. BEHOLD,  means “TO LOOK, to GAZE upon.”When you say SIN it has the hiss of a serpent. Just what is sin? We have discussed this so many many times. How do we define SIN? If you ask that question on the street you will get a different answer from everyone. Some will major on just one thing and say “That’s sin.” Others will say “there is no such thing as sin.” Others will say that sin is anything you get caught in.” “Drinking, stealing
robbing, cheating adultery, lying, etc.” Notice that John said “SIN,” singular and not sins, plural. Sin is our birthright. Sin is the natural condition of all men. We are born sinners. Sin is the one thing that will send the soul to hell. Sin is the reason why “We must be born again.” (John 3:1-7). Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit is come, He will reprove the world of SIN and of RIGHTEOUSNESS and of JUDGMENT.” “Of SIN because they believe NOT on me.” So SIN is the natural state or condition in which we were born. UNBELIEF is the SIN that will cause a man to spend eternity lost and without God. Jesus came to pay the penalty of SIN and to bear all the judgment of SIN. It all started in the Garden of Eden, and through the natural birth process passed on to every man. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Ro. 3:23). If you do not know Christ in free pardon of all SIN, BEHOLD THE DANGER. Christ opened the way to God.

2. BEHOLD THE DIRECTION, LOOK! In order to cure the sin problem of the world mankind looks in many directions. God’s answer is to “BEHOLD THE LAMB.” In John 3:14-16 Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”  This refers to the Book of Numbers 21:6-9. Because of Israel’s unbelief and desire to turn back to Egypt, God sent serpents into the camp. Many were dying because of the serpents. Moses prayed for the people. God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and lift that brazen serpent high so that all can see it. Whosoever was bitten by a serpent all that he had to do was to LOOK, to BEHOLD that brazen serpent and he would not die. The only cure was a simple LOOK! I do not know how many Israelites died because they did not look upon God’s only remedy. God’s ONLY remedy for sin is a SIMPLE DIRECTION, LOOK, BEHOLD THE LAMB. My friend, look in no other direction. Jesus Christ alone, His Birth, His Life, His Death, and His Resurrection is God’s only cure for sin.

3. BEHOLD THE DELIVERANCE. SIN TAKEN AWAY! Christ does not cover sin, He takes sin away. In the Old Testament, the sacrifices did nothing with sin, they only cover sin until the next day of atonement. As a believer in Christ, our sin is forever gone! Never to be remembered again! Christ took care of our sin problem by His finished work. When we accept that fact, by faith alone, we are born again, our sin is gone! All of the sin of all the world was placed on Christ. He paid the sin debt. HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOUR!. Now, you can do one of only two things,
A). Receive Christ as your Saviour.
B). REJECT HIM. To receive Him is life, to reject Him is death, don’t take that route, eternity lasts too long!
GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU MAKE THAT DECISION TO “BEHOLD THE LAMB!

Receive Him today, He always hears the cry of the repentant heart. I praise God anew today for the day in my life when He DELIVERED me from the PENALTY, the POWER, and one day from the very PRESENCE of that one word, “SIN!”

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            THE SAVIOUR’S TOUCH
              By Pastor George Mills

“And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Mt. 8:3).

We often speak of “Touching Him,” or “Touching the hem of His garment.” This, we all want to do! It will be worth it all when at last our faith will be sight, and we can bow before Him, and literally TOUCH HIM. What a day that will be! I am still grateful for the fact that He touched me! Yes, many times I have felt His Loving touch, just when I needed it..
AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…it is no friend to the Christian. As we wander through this WILDERNESS, His touch is ever near. In Bible times, if anyone touched a leper, he, himself would become unclean, like the leper in Mt. 8:3. Christ touched that poor leper identifying Himself with the man. Later, on His cross, Christ was identified with our uncleanness. All of our sin was placed upon Him, and his Righteousness is placed upon all who claim Him as Saviour. Yes, we can touch Him now, by faith at His Cross.

THINK ABOUT IT…Heaven touched earth one day, and earth touched Heaven one day when our ways met…AT CALVARY!

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THANKS TO ALL WHO PRAY FOR THIS MINISTRY. PRAY THAT WE MAY TOUCH LIVES EVERYWHERE WITH THE GOSPEL!