Daily Encouragement (10/20/08) "Our Heavenly Citizenship"

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · · Podcast · Free email See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive/print edition Monday, October 20, 2008 An Autumn afternoon at the Pierce home. I stopped by Ken and Nyla's home Saturday to pick up some barley straw. Their son David enjoys the fall decorations! Listen to us share this message on your audio player. "Our Heavenly Citizenship" "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body" (Philippians 3:17-21). Here in the United States we are involved in a very heated presidential race. In a broader sense we are also in a very heated culture war and this is really true wherever this is read today. As God's people we need the Word of God and God's perspective on life. As I study today's text I note that Paul left an example and pattern. Through the inspired Word of God this example and pattern, initially provided to the Philippian believers, is also very pertinent for us today. We do well to heed it carefully. An ongoing faith struggle for the believer is to remember where our home really is. I believe this is particularly true in places where life has been very good. We listen to the political leaders and wonder who can best keep us safe, keep life good and even make it better. Of course both candidates project a rosy outlook promising us even more for less. Yet our nation's critical moral and spiritual condition is barely mentioned. Note the contrast in the daily Scripture portion. First, "many live as enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18) and Paul summarizes their outlook; "Their mind is on earthly things." "Earthly things" conveys a perspective that sees life only with the natural eye. Paul observes that "many" live this way and evidence of this is seen everywhere you look! I consider how relatively few of the people I encounter are likely giving any thought to God and their eternal destiny. Their minds are consumed with earthly things. "But our citizenship is in heaven." Now that's the perspective I want! Sure, I'll be voting this November and praying for our country (particularly for a great spiritual awakening that I believe is the only hope for genuine reform). I have American citizenship and this is the country where God has providentially ordained that I would live out the earthly part of my existence. No matter what country grants us citizenship, as believers we have dual citizenship and want to be cognizant daily of where we hold our primary citizenship, where our real home is. It's not here! We want to have the perspective of Paul regarding the return of the Lord. "And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Where's your primary citizenship and thus spiritual focus today? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, it is because of Your great compassion and the sacrificial death of Jesus that we receive our heavenly citizenship. We're so thankful for our heavenly citizenship where we will one day experience all the special privileges that await us there. Help us not to be so tied to our earthly citizenship that we crave the pleasures and merits of this world above the future eternal inheritance promised to Your faithful followers. Amen. Dual citizenship - Paul testified that he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25). Friday evening Howard and Angie Moses joined us for dinner. They are both from Knoxville Tennessee and now work with Transport For Christ, a ministry to the trucking industry. A friend in Idaho sent me this and I found it to be a blessing TEN PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION: 1. The Bible will still have all the answers. 2. Prayer will still work. 3. The Holy Spirit will still move. 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people. 5. There will still be God-anointed preaching. 6. There will still be singing of praise to God. 7. God will still pour out His blessings upon His people. 8. There will still be room at the Cross. 9. Jesus will still love you. 10. Jesus will still save the lost. Note: Actually I would change them from predictions to promises! Last night we had our first really "hard" frost so Brooksyne cut flowers late yesterday afternoon and made what will probably be her final 2008 arrangement from fresh cut flowers in her garden. She also collected the remaining hot peppers and green tomatoes. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources (Click on the link to open and play) "Wayfaring Stranger" Video Selah "What A Day It Will Be" Audio "Your Love" Video Oslo Gospel Choir Here are two excellent books I would recommend pertaining to today's topic: Safely Home By Randy Alcorn / Tyndale House "Is this the day I die?" wonders Li Quan as he endures persecution for his faith. Half a world away his college buddy, businessman Ben Fielding, steps on the plane to China. Reunited after 20 years, both men face decisions that will determine their destinies---and the fates of their nations and the world. 400 pages, softcover from Tyndale. Here's an excerpt. Order information and audio clip Heaven By Randy Alcorn / Tyndale House As the years pass and we watch more and more of our family, friends and mentors pass away, it is only natural to ask questions about heaven. However, our understanding of heaven is often limited to a few half-forgotten Sunday school lessons and the insubstantial images provided by popular movies and T.V. Fortunately, in Heaven Randy Alcorn provides us with a thoroughly researched and biblically definitive description of heaven. As Alcorn addresses our most serious questions about heaven, including the nature of judgment, and answers a few of our less serious questions as well, including the accessibility of cafe mochas the sweet by and by, we will develop a deeper understanding of our eternal destination and will find the courage to strive for heaven while were living on earth. Order information and audio clip Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 04/15/08 Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net through 10/19/2008: $15,606.00) SUBSCRIPTION INFO Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If this newsletter no longer meets your needs we will be happy to remove your address from the list immediately. To remove your address merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD! Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." How to become a child of God 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net