 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionTuesday, February 10, 2009  Coast Guard Lighthouse Station Lake Superior - Marquette, Michigan Photo by Howard Blichfeldt  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."Rope-Holders" "Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket" (Acts 9:25).  Jerel Book is a retired minister friend of mine. For many years he pastored churches throughout the United States, but now he is a regular encourager in his home church. He approached me once, placed his hand on my shoulder and solemnly told me that he prayed for me each morning. Now that was a tremendous source of encouragement and strength.  When William Carey, the Father of Modern Missions, was leaving for India as a missionary, he told a group of interested friends, "Saving souls can be likened to a man drowning in a deep well and a volunteer can do nothing unless there are people who will hold the rope for him to be lowered till he reaches the drowning man, and then pull them up to safety." Carey adds, "I will go to India as a volunteer to seek sinners drowning in the well of SIN. But I can't do it alone. I need rope-holders. Will you be my rope-holders?" Acts 9 records that Saul had gone to Damascus, "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples." But he was dramatically converted and immediately began to preach for Christ while still in Damascus. He then experienced the same persecution of which he had once been a zealous participant and now a plan was devised to kill him (v.23).Interestingly the very ones he had come to persecute days earlier were now essential in his daring nighttime escape. Paul learned early on that he was part of a team. I want you to picture these disciples tightly holding the ropes as they carefully lowered him down the city wall in a basket. This is one of the most vital lessons we need to apply in our service for Christ. When Saul was converted God could have directly intervened and removed the blinding scales from his eyes, but instead His healing power was released through the obedient hands of Ananias. Now several unnamed disciples were instrumental in helping Saul out of town in the midst of persecution that was aimed directly at him. They, along with Ananias, (who perhaps was among them) became the first of many, many ministry associates to Saul, whom of course we now know as the apostle Paul. In fact many years later Paul recounts this specific escape in 2 Corinthians 11:33. These disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. Saul experienced divine protection in the midst of persecution, but he would also learn that God's deliverance often comes in cooperation with other people. I am thankful for the scores of godly people through the years whom I have teamed with to advance God's cause. Many of you receiving this message are a part of that team. Today consider your life and ministry for Christ. There are surely those who have held the ropes for you. They've given a word fitly spoken, interceded in prayer for you, helped you out of a jam, lovingly rebuked you when you needed it (but didn't really want it), etc. Consider also those you've reached out to and held the ropes for. It may have been hard, inconvenient or even dangerous (as it was for the original rope-holders). But aren't you thankful these disciples did it? Keep holding the ropes out there for fellow believers, for those in missionary service, for your spiritual leaders and for loved ones who've not yet submitted their hearts to God! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, we're thankful for the rope-holders who bear our burdens and encourage us in times of weakness and difficulty. You work through such human vessels to convey Your strength, comfort, protection, and challenge as we walk together in faith. Help us to be faithful in doing our part to encourage, pray, and offer support to those You lay on our hearts that we may be united and strengthened in our Christian journey. Amen. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Thank You For Praying For Me" Video A vital way we hold the rope for others is by praying for them. I was searching for a fitting song early this morning that reinforces today's message and this song came on WDAC, one of our local Christian radio stations. This video is the song with a powerpoint slide show used at a Mother/Daughter banquet. Yesterday I shared a photo of a bunch of dolls purchased on clearance at Walmart by some Amish friends. The dolls will be dressed in Amish clothing and sold at the Bird In Hand Farmer's Market to tourists! Today's photo of the lighthouse station was taken by Howard J. Blichfeldt and is used with his permission. His website is here. Howard desires to honor the Lord through his photography. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 01/20/09  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. (2009 YTD financial offerings through 2/9/09: $1,315.00) SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "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 these messages no longer meets your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who may 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! "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "A Little Foolishness" - A humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) I haven't had time or "inspiration" for this for awhile but it has several stories that get regular page views. "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. We are distributing this CD without charge in our ministry. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. If any reader in this series would like a CD merely write us and request one.  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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2009 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us |
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