 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Messages · Archives ·  Archive/print editionFriday, July 3, 2009  A well-watered garden in Perry County, PA. Click here for a large desktop version of the photo.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."People of Conviction" "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). "They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them" (Deuteronomy 32:28). Tomorrow is Independence Day here in America with many beginning to celebrate today and throughout the extended weekend. I realize many readers live outside of the USA but you can also apply today's brief challenge to the nation in which you live. In fact. in one way or another there's nowhere on earth this message would not apply. Proverbs 14:34 describes two contrasting outlooks concerning the state of a nation in God's reckoning: 1) "Righteousness exalts a nation." Righteousness in this case refers to people seeking to live according to God's holy standards as expressed in His Word. As people seek to live this way a nation is exalted or elevated; it is upright. By "nation" we may think of a present day political subdivision but the sense here is a people group. 2) "But sin is a disgrace to any people." A great definition of sin is from the Westminster Catechism, a helpful learning tool developed during the Reformation which taught the faith with questions followed by brief answers. What is sin? "Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God." Sin is a disgrace or, as translated in many versions, a "reproach". It stains, separates, and brings shame to the transgressor. Consider the disgrace of rampant sexual immorality, violence, idolatry, dishonesty, greed and so many other evidences of sin in our land. It seems day by day this disgrace increases and the pace has certainly accelerated here in the USA in recent years, and is even more visible in recent months. A depraved entertainer dies and the media and masses practically deify him. June was declared by our president a month to celebrate sexual perversions. Here in my state (Pennsylvania) our governor is an ardent gambling proponent and in the last several years casino gambling has been approved as a means of urban renewal and tax relief! A state-sponsored ad promoting gambling speaks of the players as "investing". What a sad, pathetic condition this land is in. Deuteronomy 32:28 is taken from the context of a nation experiencing God's judgment; summed up with this description, "without sense, no discernment". Today I write to the people of God scattered throughout the world and encourage you to pray and live out a godly life against the grain of popular culture. In this great spiritual darkness Jesus continues to call His followers to "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Calvin Coolidge observed that "the strength of a country is the strength of its religious convictions." It is obvious by the sin that abounds in our land that our spiritual convictions are very weak in our present day. Let us, as Christ's true disciples, be people of conviction who will stand up for righteousness. May we be counted among those who exercise spiritual sense and discernment. By doing so our righteousness will have a part in exalting this nation and help to bring about spiritual change in the lives of those living within our nation! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, we want to live above the fray of this world as a people of righteousness set apart for Your purpose. We forsake the things of this world that bring disgrace to Your holy name and live for the purpose of bringing glory, honor and praise to You, our Father. We pray for our nation, for the turning away from our sins and turning toward the abundant life we find in Christ our Lord. You've called us to repentance and to share the good news of salvation to all who are lost. Help us to seek a fresh calling upon our lives to be obedient in this commission from Scripture. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. "Spiritual Revival" To all of God's people who are interested in the study of His Word, in the development of their own Christian lives, in a revival of the spiritual life of the Church, in the conversion of sinners, and in the evangelization of the world: Many thoughtful people have come to feel strongly that the hope of the church today is in a deep and widespread revival. We are confronted with difficulties that can be met in no other way. The enemy has come in like a flood - it is time for those who believe in a supernatural religion to look to God to lift up a standard against him. Oh, for a revival of such power that the tide of unbelief and worldliness that is sweeping in upon us shall be beaten back; that every Christian shall be lifted to a higher level of life and power, and multitudes of perishing souls be converted to God! Why not? God's arm is not shortened, nor His ear heavy. The history of revivals proves that such a work must begin at the house of God. Who can doubt that if somehow the Church could be thoroughly aroused – not a mere scratching of the surface of our emotions, but a deep heart-work that shall make us right with God and clothe us with power in prayer and service – this century would witness the mightiest movements of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost! Let us break up our fallow ground, seek a fresh anointing of the Spirit, and then move forward, expecting great things of God. (D.L. Moody wrote the above message about Spiritual Revival to Christian workers, inviting them to attend a Conference at Northfield, MA, in August of 1899 (four months before his death at 62 years.) We include this message today because, though it was penned 110 years ago, its message is timely for our nation and our world.) 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.) "If My People Pray" Video Avalon "Purify My heart" Video Brian Doerkson "Restore My Soul" Audio "Give Us Clean Hands" Video Chris Tomlin The Westminster Shorter Catechism Here is a complete online version. I regret that a teaching method like this is not used more today, including in my own ministry.
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 "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 7/2/09: $5,770.00)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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