A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, September 23, 2011  We pass by these small witness signs all through Lancaster County.  Listen to this message on your audio player.Note: Today's message is the third in a three part series on "Tyrannies of the Soul". "The Tyranny Of The Forbidden" "Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance" (2 Samuel 11:2) In the last two messages we have dealt with "Tyrannies of The Soul". In this series we use the word "tyranny" to describe those compulsions that oppress the soul. The tyranny of the urgent is essentially the oppressive compulsion that I must do it now. The tyranny of the discontent is essentially the oppressive compulsion that I must have it now. The tyranny of the forbidden is essentially the oppressive compulsion that I must partake of the forbidden.  Years ago I heard a pastor preach a sermon titled "An Affair to Remember" dealing with David's sin with Bathsheba. We need these hard hitting reminders of the consequences of sin. I consider the lustful temptations common to all and the many times I have dealt pastorally or as a chaplain with those who have fallen into sin. I consider several friends from Bible College that gave into lustful temptation and sinned in this regard. I also consider the devastating impact it had on their spiritual lives, their families and their ministry. God's healing, forgiveness, and restoration are available from our merciful God but adultery permanently scores the initial foundation of trust between two individuals.Ever since the fall the human condition has had such an allure to do what God has forbidden! Of course we inherited this genetic condition from Adam and Eve. A line in a hymn states, "O how the world to evil allures me, O how my heart is tempted to sin" (from the hymn, "I Must Tell Jesus"). Consider this simple perspective of a country preacher. Perhaps you've read or heard this truth before: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, It will cost you more than you want to pay and It will keep you longer than you want to stay." One of the great cautions in life is an awareness of how this tyranny of the forbidden can slide one into decadence often taking place incrementally. Casting Crowns has a stirring song that deals with this spiritual condition called "Slow Fade." This is true for both the individual and societal levels. Surely as the Prodigal left his father he did not aspire to feeding pigs or long to eat their feed! People don't aspire to be addicts. So often they will testify that they began with "just a little" tobacco or alcohol. Consider other areas where this is true. "Just a little of the forbidden won't hurt" the devil continues to whisper. After all, the fall began with just a single bite from the forbidden fruit. The daily verse is innocuous enough; a successful king taking a walk at night on the roof of his home; a woman bathing, a quick (perhaps) glance of beauty. Thus far no real problem. A single observation of beauty is not a sinful act but can quickly lead to sin if the look becomes a gaze and the gaze becomes a lust and the lust is acted upon. And many of you know what follows is just that. We have here a profile of an individual's incremental slide into sin, the tyranny of the forbidden. David's glance toward beauty turned into a lustful gaze. "David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" What's he inquiring for? He was a married man. That should have settled it. And when the messenger reported that she is "the wife of Uriah the Hittite", that should have absolutely settled it then and there. But "David sent messengers and took her." It was all downhill from that point on. The Life Application notes: "The deeper the mess, the less we want to admit having caused it. It's much easier to stop sliding down a hill when you are near the top than when you are halfway down. The best solution is to stop sin before it starts." Each time we resist sin's temptation we lay one more brick as we erect the restraining wall of resistance.  The chapter ends with this timeless assessment of sin from God's perspective: "But the thing David had done displeased the LORD." The following chapter and remainder of the book chronicle the brave prophet Nathan's rebuke and how the harsh consequences of David's sin affected his entire family and the nation. These are powerful reminders that sin always has consequences. One of the most convincing lies of Satan is, "Sure there are consequences for others, but your situation is special. You're are an exception." We all must, in one way or another, deal with and overcome the tryranny of the forbidden. A lesson for us to heed is Joseph's classic statenment in resisting the forbidden: "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9).Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Many years ago, William Booth (1829-1912), founder of the Salvation Army, wrote about the dangers to the gospel he saw coming in the next generation to follow him: I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; forgiveness without repentance; salvation without regeneration . . . and Heaven without Hell. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "I Must Tell Jesus" Video Elisha Hoffman wrote this hymn after having a lady come to him under much grief and worry, ringing her hands, she stated I do not know what to do, and Elisha Hoffman told her to tell it to Jesus alone....she remarked...that's it...that's it...I need to tell it to Jesus...and she that came with much worry left with great joy in her heart. "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" Video Jason Lavik I appreciate the candor of this line: O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above. "Slow Fade" Video Casting Crowns This is the song I referred to in the message and a song used in the movie "Fireproof" "Prodigal Son" Video Keith Green A ballad that tells the story of the Prodigal son. Note: This song has a very long introduction! "I Need You More" Video Lindell Cooley "I never want to go back to my old life." |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/10)  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. 2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 9/22/11: $9,631.00 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 by us 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 through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using 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 or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "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. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.  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 2011 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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