Daily Encouragement Net
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 Friday, September 20, 2013  Yesterday we walked through Ken's Nursery and saw this array of fall pepper blooms along with the sleeping cat. "Living To Please God"  Listen to this message on your audio player."Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (Romans 8:8,9). "Find out what pleases the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). Sharing with a friend the other day I considered our conversation and how the Holy Spirit guides us into truth as we walk with Him day by day. He related an experience he had as a young Christian in his mid-twenties. He and a fellow employee in his company were both avid football fans with loyalties to their own Alma Maters. The two teams were playing against each other and, after some badgering by his co-worker, my friend was persuaded to place a $20.00 bet on the game. He shared with me a life lesson he learned when his team lost and he had to hand over $20.00 to the co-worker who won the bet. He spoke of how his spirit was convicted as this act of gambling went against his determination to provide for his wife and newborn child who were home. He fully realized what he had done was frivolous and wasteful in his use of resources in this manner. He told me that's the last bet he ever made! This friend was growing in the Lord and learning what it is to live responsibly which we know pleases the Lord. The Holy Spirit leads us into this truth through spending time in His Word, observing the lives of devoted believers, and through life's experiences. Our daily text is so rich and applicable to our lives that we implore our readers to read the text over and over and ponder its truth. It is a forthright statement concerning our nature and who controls it. It begins with the blunt, unambiguous phrase, "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." There's sure nothing confusing about that. Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe remarks concerning the phrase "sinful nature" means to be lost, outside of Christ. The unsaved person lives to please himself and rarely if ever thinks about pleasing God. The root of sin is selfishness—“I will” and not “Thy will.” To be unsaved and not have the Spirit of God is the lowest level of life. But a person need not stay on that level. By faith in Christ he can move to the second level. This level is the life lived by the people of faith. Paul goes on to write: "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you." All true believers have the Spirit of God living in them. That's foundational theology and non-negotiable. Paul goes on to reinforce this truth, "And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." So what does it mean to be controlled by the Spirit? Frankly that's always been a challenge, for it surely doesn't mean we are mere automatons. We don't become passive observers but active participants as we deny the sinful nature and invite the work of the Holy Spirit to align our desires with His will for our lives. Allowing the Spirit to control our lives is a lifelong battle since we live only in these earthen clays of flesh on this side. But I'm encouraged as I think back to areas of my life where "my will" has been replaced by "Thy will" and am confident that as I seek Him faithfully I'll see more and more of His will unfolding in my own heart. Let us choose to die daily to our sinful nature and invite the Spirit to take control of our will. It requires ongoing surrender to Christ, for it is in Him that we live, move and have our being. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, I once again affirm my commitment to follow You wholeheartedly. I welcome the work of Your Holy Spirit, as He lives in me, to guide me into all truths. May the fruit of my life be evidence to onlookers that I seek to do that which pleases You. In those areas where there are strongholds help me to deny my sinful nature and walk in the power of Your Spirit who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name I pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Follow Me" Video Kelly Willard Last Sunday we lead a worship service in a nursing home and alluded to a song written by Ira Stamphill who also wrote this song. An elderly lady raised her hand and informed us that he had been the pastor of her church some 60 years ago. "Lead Me Lord" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir "Where He Leads Me" Video Twila Paris |
 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 9/19/13: $14,013.00 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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