A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Wednesday, April 17, 2013  How Firm A Foundation  Listen to this message on your audio player."The Blessing Of Certainty" "With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught" (Luke 1:3,4). There is so much we don't know. The recent terrorist attacks remind us how that so much in life is uncertain. As Ira Stanphill wrote: Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand. Early this week we were required to file our taxes here in America. Fellow Pennsylvanian Benjamin Franklin famously noted: "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." Well, Franklin certainly paid taxes during his lifetime and when he died on this date (April 17, 1790) he personally proved and experienced the other certainty. Here we are, over 200 years later, and there's no change in Franklin's two certainties. However today we want to consider four more certainties we can assert based on the authority of God's Word. 1) The certainty of what is taught in Scripture. Luke begins his gospel, "With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught" (Luke 1:3,4). Paul wrote to Timothy, "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:14-17). As the hymnwriter wrote 200 years ago: How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! 2) The certainty that Christ came from the Father. Jesus, in His high priestly prayer, stated, "For I gave them the words You gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent me" (John 17:8). This is the very heart of the Gospel message. He came to do His Father's will and could resolutely declare from the cross, "It is finished." 3) The certainty of the well-known phrase, "You can't take it with you" This certainty is expressed by the Apostle Paul, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:7). But most people really don't live their lives as if this were true! 4) The certainty of the hope we have in Christ. "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:19). The main question is this: Are we ready to die? Are we prepared for the judgment? This is a certainty that Benjamin Franklin didn't note. God has given us a will to decide and there is absolutely no decision we make in our lifetime that is greater than this. As important as it is that we select the right marriage partner, our life's vocation, or other major life decisions, all of these pale in comparison to the decision regarding our eternal destiny. This decision is to personally believe in Christ, receive Him as our Lord and Savior and daily live for Him. This leads to another wonderful certainty: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). I hope you have all made this decision. But if, by the providence of God, you've come across this brief message and haven't yet accepted Christ as Your Savior, or you are uncertain of your salvation through faith in Christ, let me strongly urge you to examine your heart today. God's instruction from His Holy Word properly prepares us for the most important date of our human existence. Let's be ready!! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Jesus, we thank you for that we can be certain of. It will take my entire life on earth and all of eternity to express my love and devotion to You. In Your great love and compassion You saw my need for redemption and paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the Cross in my place. You paid in full the sin debt You did not owe so that I could receive complete forgiveness which I did not deserve and could never earn. What indescribable peace this brings to my heart on this earthly pilgrimage. Because You gave Your all for me, I receive in full Your gift of salvation today! Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources  How to become a child of God A simple presentation of how to be ready. "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" Video Alison Krauss and The Cox Family "How Firm A Foundation" Video Sovereign Grace "My Faith Has Found a Resting Place" Video Billy and Cindy Foote "I Know Whom I Have Believed" Video "He Knows My Name" Video Maranatha Singers "Be Still My Soul" Video Kari Jobe An inspiring story for many years at the Boston Marathon has been the Hoyt team. Here's an update from this year's marathon. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/12)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider an offering to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. Click here to donate online.2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 4/16/13: $5,970.00. We express thanks to all who support our ministry! 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 to our email list. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)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. 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. Other versions are also occasionally used. © Copyright 2013 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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