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 Thursday, August 22, 2013  Lancaster County Country Lane Photo by Frank G. Heron (Click on photo to enlarge) "Understanding The Increasing Deviancy"  Listen to this message on your audio player“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24). As we get older we both are becoming less and less familiar with popular culture, although we never really were to "with it" in this regard, no matter our age. It's practically incomprehensible the degree and scope of moral decadence that is present today, both the culturally approved and culturally unapproved. Practically every day there is some new acceptance, promotion or justification for some type of behavior that was once considered deviant. What will the next frontier look like as those things once considered "deviant" are referred to as "good" by fallen humans? Can anyone deny there is an increase in wickedness? The daily Scripture portion is longer than we usually post but we felt all was needed to provide a context. It's a good portion to read aloud several times and perhaps put to memory.  Today let us focus on two verses that is a succinct description of fallen humanity: "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." "They" describes the human race. It describes all of us apart from the redemptive work of Christ. What we particularly want to focus on today is the last phrase, "a continual lust for more."This “continual lust for more” began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. God had provided enough, absolutely all they needed. In the midst of all the blessings and that which God permitted in Eden stood the forbidden tree. The crafty serpent enticed Adam and Eve that this forbidden fruit was a "gotta have". Because they did not resist the temptation, their disobedience resulted in what theologians call “original sin”. Since that time mankind has had a hard time resisting the forbidden.  Whatever level of wickedness "satisfies" the sinful cravings for a time, will eventually be insufficient. More will be needed. This can be seen in so many of Satan's vices such as gambling, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and sexual immorality. Each vice so often begins with a "harmless", scaled down introduction but will so often become your master and take you where you never intended to go and keep you much longer than you ever intended to stay. Does anyone really set goals for themselves to live in the gutter?Today as God’s standards of morality are mocked and shrugged aside we see this phenomenon of a "a continual lust for more" growing at a fevered pitch. Thus I frankly ponder what the next frontier will be when that which is presently considered deviant behavior becomes acceptable behavior. It may be something we can hardly imagine but just consider where we are now and that which was unimaginable just a few years ago, by Christian and non-Christian alike. The ungodly make big business out of every kind of impurity. Pornography, prostitution, vulgar media, and every other kind of impurity make up one of the largest industries in our country. The vast majority of it is open, shameless, and legally protected. Many years ago a Christian leader observed that many of the books published in the United States today rival the drippings of a broken sewer. That was before the availability through the internet and other media. Now the drippings have become a surging flood. With the flood of evil, pornography and perversions sweeping through our land and around the world many of those who have partaken are now having "a continual lust for more." Deeper and deeper depths of depravity can be expected and the evil acts that accompany it. We should not be surprised. Today is my spiritual birthday. Forty-two years ago I accepted Christ as a high school student in the Kansas City Missouri area and began to serve the Lord. The very next verse brings joy to my heart today: "You, however, did not come to know Christ that way” (Ephesians 4:20). Those that experience the life transforming power of Jesus Christ are different. The slide into decadence stops and the renewal begins. We are a new creation. Rather than having a continual lust for more wickedness we become seekers of God's Kingdom and desire more righteousness, peace and joy. Everyone is headed in one direction or the other. Which way are you heading today? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, shape my thinking into that which will bring about growth and conformity to Your will. Teach me to think not in accord with my own human instincts but with the truth as it is revealed in Your Word. It will keep me from lusting after deadly forbidden fruit if I plant myself into that which is holy and righteous. As the world continues to slide into decadence help me to delve deeper into Your Word and faithfully commune with You so that my heart does not grow cold or indifferent. Nor will I be drawn into every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more. I want to stand firm to the end so that I am saved from this world of sin. In Jesus' name and in His strength I pray. Amen.Further study: Here are various ways the key text is translated. (Bible Gateway) Online study with detailed commentary Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources May The Mind Of Christ" Video Emu Music "I Want to Be More Like Jesus Every Day" Video Old Friends Quartet "To Be Like Jesus" Video Not specified "I Want To Be More Like Jesus" Video Keith Green "Does Jesus Care?" Video The Isaacs All this week we are featuring a song by the Isaacs since we hope to go to an Isaacs concert this coming Sunday evening in Lebanon PA. See here for info if you are in our area and may be interested.  Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 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 8/21/13: $12,837.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  If a friend forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here.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 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: These messages are only sent from us to people who request it; please accept our apologies if it reached you in error. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time. 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  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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