 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Messages · Archives ·  Archive/print editionMonday, June 22, 2009  Open Bible Photo by Doris High  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."A Time to Flee" "But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house" (Genesis 39:12). "From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her" (2 Samuel 11:2,3). "Flee from sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18). "Keep yourself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22). "But thou, O man of God, flee these things" (1 Timothy 6:11). Yesterday I issued a challenge to the men in our church to rise up as men of God with the solemn charge Paul gave to Timothy expressed in the final daily Scripture portion, "But thou, O man of God, flee these things." My main points were Flee, Follow and Fight. Often we hear the expression, "They fled the scene of the accident" and we immediately think that those who ran are trying to hide something or escape responsibility. But today I want to examine the positive aspect of the command to flee.  Our neighbors have a yellow parking lot type stripe at the end of their driveway about 20 feet from the road. They made the visible boundary for their 6 year old daughter to indicate how near the road she's allowed to go. From her youthful mind this stripe may seem restrictive but from her parents' perspective it's a safety measure. They aren't standing there hour after hour telling her to "Stop!", but the presence of the line, and what it stands for, is doing it for them.God doesn't appear in person to restrain us in our hour of temptation, but when His commands are imbedded in our hearts they become a part of our conscience that says, "Stop! Don't listen to the evil one. He intends to do you harm; God wants to preserve your life." When it comes to boundary lines established by God there is a proper time to flee. Today let's look at this matter particularly in regard to sexual temptation. Due to our God-ordained hormonal constitution people in every generation have dealt with sexual temptation. One of the greatest examples of victory over sexual temptation is seen in the actions of Joseph. The Bible tells his story in Genesis 39 and today's first text records the essence of this victory. He was being seduced by Potiphar's wife and yet Joseph responded, "How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?" (v. 9).* Rather than yield to temptation "he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house." Those who love God must hate sin. Matthew Henry describes Joseph's victory over temptation in this way: "He would not stay to parley with the temptation, but fled from it, as escaping for his life. If we mean not to do iniquity, let us flee as a bird from its captor, and as a deer from the hunter." The Bible also forthrightly records failure and David's story is likely the most familiar. Today's second text records the essence of what led to his moral failure: "From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her." David didn't want to flee the temptation; instead he wanted familiariity with his temptress. Like Joseph, he should have fled. (Perhaps a dip in a cool fountain would have lessened his lust and taking a sominex might have solved his insomnia!) But today we face a situation far more intense and distinct from those in previous generations. There is an acceptable flood of material condoning and even glamorizing immorality. In many cases it's even taught in public schools and through government agencies. Interestingly there is a parallel sense of condemnation by popular culture toward those who still maintain a Biblical outlook on morality who are seen as old-fashioned, narrow-minded and intolerant. There are those reading our message today who have engaged in sexual immorality in the past but have repented and found the purifying scrub brush of the Holy Spirit brings renewal, cleansing and an invitation to start over according to God's design. Some of you are presently fighting a battle. You know in your heart this message is for you. The apostle Paul wrote, "Flee from sexual immorality." Today we need to practice, maintain, and proclaim the Biblical teachings. Those who do so will be increasingly reviled. Preachers who stay true to the Bible and faithfully proclaim the Word are branded old-fashioned and homophobic, if they merely repeat what the Bible says in regard to its unambiguous, forthright condemnation of homosexuality and hold to the Scriptural teachings concerning sexual morals. Our word of encouragement today is to stay faithful to God's teachings. Honor the boundary lines that He has given to us through His commands. When the tempter comes don't entertain him. He'll leave when you recite the Scriptures and seek God's counsel. When you do so, victory is sure to be yours! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, it is Your desire that we stay faithful to Your teachings. Scripture gives many examples of those who knew to do right, but instead yielded to temptation. The consequences of their wrong actions inflicted a great deal of loss, life-long regret and emotional pain. Help us to avoid the traps Satan has set for the believers by not only reading the Word, but applying its truth to our lives, and standing firm when the temptation to do wrong is ever before us. * It's interesting that Joseph had this conviction regarding sin even though at this point the Ten Commandments had not yet been given. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)  I have a framed copy of an old hymn titled "More Men Like Daniel" that hangs on the wall beside my desk as I work. It's not well known and in fact I have rarely seen it in a hymnal. I have never sung it but sure appreciate the thoughtful words. It has long been out of copyright so I can share it here. We need more men like Daniel! I began my message on Father's Day by sharing the words of this hymn: We need more men like Daniel to stand for God and right; Men clean and strong, who hate the wrong, And for the truth will fight. When those controlled by evil their base designs pursue, We need more men like Daniel who never prove untrue. We need more men like Daniel their virtue here to show; Men bold, sincere, who know no fear when called to face the foe. Though dangers dark may threaten, they crave not ease or rest. We need more men like Daniel who boldly stand the test. We need more men like Daniel whose faith defied the king; Who knelt and prayed when plans were laid His shameful death to bring. But God sent down His angel His all to guard and shield; We need more men like Daniel whose hearts will never yield. "More Men Like Daniel" Neal McAulay/Charles Gabriel © 1922 Homer Rodeheaver "Purify My heart" Video Brian Doerkson "Restore My Soul" Audio "Give Us Clean Hands" Video Chris Tomlin Pure Life Ministries Changing lives by leading men into purity. The written tribute: A great way to bless your father.  Regardless of what country you may live in we sure need a revival! On Sunday morning July 5 our church will join many others in participating in "Call2Fall", a nationwide prayer meeting. We encourage others to look into this, especially pastors here in America. Essentially this is a definite time during worship on Sunday, July 5th when we get on our knees before the Lord in repentant prayer, pleading with God to reshape our lives, renew our land, and send times of refreshing (See 2 Chronicles 7:14; Acts 3:19). Ester's favorite Father's Day gift to me was a singing Billy Bass she purchased at a Thrift store! Maybe it was yours at one time, but we're now enjoying the songs, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and "Take Me to the River." Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 05/08/09  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 6/21/09: $5,220.00)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 either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. Subscribe to Daily Encouragement Updates by EmailCancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet 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. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended 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. 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! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!) "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!) "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  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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