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 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Archives Free email subscription  Listen to these messages  Text only for printing Follow Daily Encouragement on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn     See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archive edition Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Listen to this message on your audio player."Do What It Says!" "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22). Speak, O Lord, as we come to You To receive the food of Your Holy Word. Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; Shape and fashion us in Your likeness, That the light of Christ might be seen today In our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us All Your purposes for Your glory. I recently gave counsel to a young man seeking to overcome an addiction. He shared with me some steps he had learned in a program and confidently informed me, "If anyone follows these steps he will not fall back into addictive behavior." He knew the right course to take but by his own admission had stopped doing it. He's again trying to get back on track as others encourage and pray for him. I am pleased that he appears to be doing well. Today's lesson is vital in regard to any form of overcoming we have in life. Our short Scripture passage was the memory verse in Brooksyne's Sunday School class this last Lord's Day. She's a stickler with memory verses and we have proof of that as we occasionally hear from former students now in their 30's and even 40's, still recalling some of those verses. One of her most common techniques is putting the Scripture to music (including reference) as well as other creative means. Good Sunday School teachers have a pocket full of methods in this regard. Today's verse is, as we would expect from God's Word, good counsel for all ages. It's a truth we need to apply throughout life and always be on guard against any lapses. For preachers it's a ready made three point sermon: 1) "Do not merely listen to the word." When Brooksyne taught this on Sunday she explained to her young students what the word "merely" meant. That's a big word for a third grader along with 'deceive'. We are certainly to listen and pay attention as we hear and read the Word. But we must not stop there. There is a danger in churches where the Bible is faithfully preached, for many walk away with the mistaken concept that simply listening to a Bible-based message is sufficient and will result in their spiritual growth and living right. Never think you are "safe" and spiritually maturing simply because you are hearing the Word! 2) "And so deceive yourselves." It seems many are deceived in this manner based on the number of self-described Christians in America who hold to and regularly practice unbiblical views. Old-time evangelist Vance Havner writes, "Away with the notion that it does not matter much how we hear! The man who hears and refuses to obey walks out of church having betrayed himself into deception. One cannot hear the truth and remain the same!" 3) "Do what it says." The old hymn calls us to "trust and obey". Jesus taught, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). We need to keep before us this question, "Am I doing the will of my Father who is in heaven?" Pastor Steve Cole comments, "Obedience should always be the bottom line of Bible study or biblical preaching. Correct application must always be built on correct interpretation." Teach us, Lord, full obedience, Holy reverence, true humility; Test our thoughts and our attitudes In the radiance of Your purity. Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see Your majestic love and authority. Words of pow'r that can never fail— Let their truth prevail over unbelief. Remember, do what it says! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we don't want to merely listen to Your Word and so deceive ourselves thinking that we have fulfilled the law of Christ. Instead we want to listen and apply Your truths, thereby obeying Your commands and honoring You in all we think, say and do. Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; shape and fashion us in Your likeness so that the light of Christ will be seen in us through our acts of love, our deeds of faith, and our words of truth. Fulfill in us Your purposes for Your own glory and honor we pray. Amen. *Adaptation of "Speak, O Lord" in second half of prayer  Today following our chaplain visitation we stopped by a store and ran into Ron Hoover. We didn't literally run into him and it's a good thing with his shoulder surgery last week. Ron is the local chair for the Convene group and has a mentoring role with many local businessmen. Brooksyne is expressing her "sympathy" for the temporary loss of his right hand since he is right-handed.  Here's an idea if you have an unsightly tree stump in your yard!  These team horses are relaxing in the barn after a hard day of field work.  A well-stocked pantry is colorful evidence of an abundant harvest! Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Speak, O Lord" Video Keith & Kristyn Getty "Trust And Obey" Video Chelsea Moon w/ the Franz Brothers "The Obedience Song" Video Here's a good song for kids we came across. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne  Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) About Us "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/21/13) 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. 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"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 2014 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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