A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Monday, October 31, 2011  Note: This message uses a sports illustration. I realize using a sport analogy will not connect with everyone and may even annoy some. If so scroll down to "Biblical exposition" "Lessons From Comebacks" "But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him" (Acts 2:24).  Well, as sport's fans know, it was a great series going to a final deciding game seven. Game six was certainly the most suspenseful game I've ever watched. Twice the Texas team was one strike away from victory but Saint Louis kept coming back. The Saint Louis team demonstrated an important character trait throughout the season, series and in individual games, especially game six. The ability to comeback. "Comeback" is used in sports to describe an athlete or team that's behind and comes back to victory. These comebacks can be encouraging to sport's fans everywhere (except for those cheering for the team that lost!) Comebacks remind us that it really isn't over till it's over. But of course I see a spiritual application as well. "Biblical exposition" In our daily verse Peter is preaching to the curious crowd on the day of Pentecost. Fifty days earlier he was among the first witnesses of the greatest event in history. Apostolic preaching emphasized the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was and ever will be at the very heart of the Gospel. A faithful witness will always, "earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3). Peter, who infamously denied the Lord at His trial, had made a great comeback and now is preaching on the day of Pentecost. He makes a great statement of faith concerning Christ: "God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death." Jesus had experienced the agony of death and apparent defeat. His lifeless body was placed in a tomb and sealed. To His enemies a comeback now was an impossibility. But Peter declared, "It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him." Peter surely recalled the teaching of Jesus he had heard time after time. Early in His ministry Jesus had said "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19). After Peter had made his great confession of faith, Jesus clearly taught that He would "suffer many things, be killed, and be raised again the third day." Even his enemies were aware of the claim and had made provision for a guard at the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66). But no paltry Roman guard was going to stop this Comeback! Death had forever lost its sting. Jesus Christ mounted the greatest comeback ever and today we serve a risen Savior. Let us rejoice in this truth and live for the One who once died and now lives forevermore. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him! It is for this truth that we must earnestly and continually contend! Now let me address another type of comeback. Many years ago I spoke to a group of supervisors at a meeting in a large lumber mill. This company gives the chaplains a brief opportunity each week to share a devotional at this meeting. I find sports are a great way to connect with men and I shared an illustration about a baseball comeback at that time. We also have comebacks in our own lives. It might be a comeback from a reckless lifestyle, an accident, or a spiritual failure. I acknowledged that many of these men likely had issues they overcame in life or would need to overcome. I could see the men were listening intently. After the meeting a man came up to me and told me how significant this message was to his own life. He lifted up his hand which had been seriously injured in an industrial accident. He was missing his fingers and part of his hand. He testified how he had comeback from the injury and was now holding down a productive job.  Peter's denial had a potentially deadly spiritual failure. His deep remorse is expressed in the phrase, "He went outside and wept bitterly." Peter was down but he didn't stay there. His "comeback" is one of the great stories of the Bible. He came back to be a leader in the early church and wrote two letters that are in the Bible.Today I'd like you to consider comebacks in your life; issues that seemed so insurmountable but you dealt with them and with God's help overcame (or you're presently overcoming). That's part of your testimony. If you are dealing with circumstances right now that seem hopeless, always keep the faith! God is ready to forgive, restore, and guide You in the way You should go. If Peter could come back after his disgraceful fall you can as well. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily Prayer: Father, You proved that death could not keep its hold on our Lord Jesus Christ, when You raised Him from the dead. The resurrected power that You gave Jesus also dwells in us, the redeemed. It gives us the power to overcome the most impossible situations where Satan has had influence over us. At times You miraculously intervene and other times You provide us with the strength to hold up when we experience trouble upon trouble. When we lose our way You lovingly, gently, and persistently nudge us back to the Great Shepherd of our souls. Thank You for specializing in things thought impossible and for doing what no other power can do! Amen.First snow storm of the season! Saturday as forecast we received snow, a rare occasion in this area for October.  One of the unusual aspects of getting a snow storm this early is that the leaves are still on many of the trees. We were concerned for our oaks which were sagging under the weight of the snow but this morning as the snow has melted they are just fine. However the weight and felled trees did cause damage all through our region and there were (are) many power outages.  Thankfully our only damage is the flattening of the pampa grass near our driveway. We cut it down each fall anyway. Of course the heavy frost also finished off our summer plantings but we expect that by this time.  We normally leave our fall decorations up through Thanksgiving but these pumpkins may not last that long after the heavy freeze. The blessing of having friends who know how to fix things!  I had trouble with my old riding lawn mower so Chris Bert, who has an amazing range of mechanical proficiencies, stopped by Friday afternoon to fix it for me. He also sharpened the blades as you can see in the above photo. Chris has an interesting "comeback" testimony.  After the repair Chris helped me mow the lawn as Brooksyne and I prepared for the storm. This old mower has an interesting history that involves another mechanically proficient friend (see here) "Arise My Love" Video Newsong "The Champion" Video Carman Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/21/11)  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 10/27/11: $12,416.00 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!) (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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