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 24, 2013   Listen to this message on your audio player."Like A Hammer" "'Is not My word like fire?' declares the Lord, 'and like a hammer which shatters a rock?'" (Jeremiah 23:29).   Presently two projects I am working on are both made out of reclaimed old windows that were discarded when people had new windows installed by a home improvement company we serve. I am making a cold frame for Brooksyne so she can plant earlier in the spring and a large photo frame using the panes in an old window as frames for an assortment of photos. I have seen them used this way and the crackle texture of weathered wood only adds genuine character to the project.In a tool shop you need a lot of tools since you never know what might be needed for a specific job. I inherited quite a few of my dad's tools and also have purchased many others through the years.  One of the most common tools needed for a wide variety of projects is the hammer and I have quite an assortment; regular claw hammers, both large and small, a ball pein, a sledge hammer, and a soft-faced rubber headed mallet. Each has a particular purpose and through the years I have used all of them at one time or another.The hammer is an ancient tool first referenced in the Bible in Exodus when a lampstand was hammered out from pure gold (Exodus 25:31). One of the goriest uses for a hammer is found in the sad record of Judges, a period characterized by "everyone did as they saw fit." Many of us feel our country is increasingly becoming like the period of the Judges. On several occasions we have used today's text in this series but always focusing on the first phrase, "'Is not my word like fire,' declares the LORD" * Today I want to consider the phrase, "like a hammer which shatters a rock." In context this is speaking of God's Word, "'Is not My word like fire?' declares the Lord, 'and like a hammer which shatters a rock?'" In the context Jeremiah is preaching against false prophets. A powerful section from verse 28 should be heeded by all preachers, "Let the one who has my word speak it faithfully." The analogy of God's Word being "like a hammer which shatters a rock" likely has the sense of the power of God's Word in shattering and breaking up the hardness of our hearts. John Gill, a Puritan writer commented on this passage, "to which the heart of man may be compared, being hardened by sin, confirmed in it; destitute of spiritual life; stupid and senseless; stubborn and inflexible; on which no impressions are made, and is impenitent and inflexible; see (Zechariah 7:12); now the word of the Lord, in the hand of the Spirit, is a means of breaking such hard hearts." I am sure we have all dealt with a hard heart and need the hammer of God's Word to do a softening work in breaking down the hardness of our heart. Charles Spurgeon looked back upon dark hours in his own life and said: "I bear willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my Lord's workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, the teaching of Your Word is like a hammer that breaks away the clumps of hardness in our hearts; our stubbornness, pride, and rebellion. When we read and apply Your principles they open our blinded eyes, guide us out of darkness into light and put a fire in our spirit; a fire that doesn't burn out but empowers us to live for You all the days of our life. We thank You for the fire of Your Spirit. It is in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Soften My Heart" Video Kelly Willard and the Maranatha Singers What a blessed song of consecration! "Soften Your Heart" Video Keith Green One of his many convicting songs. "O Refuge Of My Hardened Heart" Video Jars Of Clay "Hard Heart" Video Cindy Morgan Not really my style preference but some good lyrics. * "Is Not My Word Like Fire?" Previous message on the first part of our daily text. Here's a brief Bible study on "the Word of God Compared to a Hammer" Here is an entire sermon based on this verse! Webpage His points are: I. THE DEMOLITION OF A HAMMER II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HAMMER (Constructive) III. THE DRIVING OF A HAMMER -- PIERCING IV. THE DISCIPLINE OF A HAMMER For any who may be curious about my reclaimed window project here are a lot of ideas. Reclaimed windows |
 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 4/23/13: $6,453.00 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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