Having trouble reading this message? Read mobile edition online
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, February 4, 2011  If you are able we encourage you to listen to this anointed song based on our daily text (much of it word for word). It prompted today's message. It will also prepare your heart for the teaching based on this passage. "Who Shall Separate Us From The Love Of Christ?" "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39). Listening or singing along with Bible verses set to music is a great way to memorize the Word of God. Yesterday, while in route to one of our businesses where we serve as chaplains, we were listening to our local Christian radio station, WDAC, when a song came on that brought assurance to both of us; one of those powerful songs that you play to the end even though you arrive at your destination before it's finished! The apostle Paul is expressing his supreme confidence in God's master plan for his own life and for His Kingdom in our daily Scripture portion. Due to it being a part of the Holy Scriptures we can make it our confidence as well! He begins the section by asking a vitally important question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" He then lists a number of adverse situations in life that may seem to separate: "Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35). Now as I read this verse on February 4, 2011 at 56 years of age I've had some heartaches and disappointments in life. Certainly things have not always turned out the way that I had planned or desired so I've known distress at times. However, I have not experienced tribulation, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword anywhere near like Paul or like many others who have lived for Christ in the 2,000 year history of the church. Paul responds to his own questions with this glorious verse of assurance: "No, in all these things (the adverse conditions described in verse 35) we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). "We are more than conquerors" translates the single Greek word "hupernikomen", which is used only here in the entire NT. This is linguistically known as a "hapax legomenon", a term used for words that occur only once in a body of literature (in this case the New Testament). In fact it's so rare that it's possible that Paul originated the word to express his thought! I've been accused on more than one occasion (by my wife) of making up words as I preach! Hupernikomen literally means we are "hyper-overcomers" or "preeminently victorious". It is actually a combination of two more familiar words; "huper" from whence we get "hyper" and nikao from whence "Nike" gets its name. I'm most blessed by the rendering in the NASV which states "we overwhelmingly conquer." Now let that bless your soul today, fellow overcomer! Note that the basis of this overcoming is "through Him who loved us." The words "I am persuaded" are a great source of strength and assurance for the believer. Other versions use the word "convinced". Living in a state of being persuaded and convinced is an essential part of living the God-ordained life of spiritual assurance and abundance. If we are really convinced of God's love and care we are blessed indeed! This conviction is an internal, personal appropriation of a constant, unchanging spiritual reality. You see, the reality is that God loves and cares for His own, whether we are persuaded of it or not. The Amplified Version conveys a strong sense of the meaning when it translates: "I am persuaded beyond doubt." We are dealing with many troubling issues in our day leaving tremendous impact on the personal, nationwide, and worldwide levels. Error is not creeping but charging into the church that our forefathers could not have imagined. New sources of fear abound. Uncertainty permeates. We shake our heads in wonder as to what this world is coming to? Therefore we need to be persuaded like Paul, don't we? "Nothing shall separate us from the love of God." May I suggest you say this verse aloud throughout the day, or perhaps you'll want to put it to a musical tune so that you can joyfully remind yourself. Perhaps you will choose to personalize it by filling in any adverse circumstances you're presently dealing with that would otherwise lead you to doubt this powerful promise from God's Word. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily Prayer: Father, I know that doubt and uncertainty imposes fear while faith and assurance develops a calm, trusting spirit. I do not look to the unstable world for strength or encouragement but I look to Your unchanging Word where You fully assure me that nothing shall separate me from Your love. It is in Your strength and through Your power that I will remain faithful though tested by adverse circumstances. These come so that my faith is purified, proven genuine, and becomes sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. May my life bring praise, glory and honor to Jesus my Lord and Savior. Amen.For Greek Students: I found this comment so edifying as I studied this text. Hupernikomen is in the present active and the prepositional compound intensifies the verb "we are winning a most glorious victory" (from Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament). We continue to pray for the conditions in Egypt and especially the church. This note from Mission Network News: Although the protests started out peaceful enough, violence between government and anti-government supporters spread quickly. It comes at a time when Global Advance is preparing for strategic events in the Middle East. Jonathan Shibley was in Egypt last week when the protests started. While the spiral into chaos is unsettling, he says, "I think this is a watershed moment not only for Egypt, but for much of the Arab world. We're going to have to take a little bit of a 'wait and see' approach to what continues to play out. I also believe that it's a ripe time for the Gospel." The physical aspect of the uprising has provided an opportunity. "Some of the things that are happening parallel what's going on in the Spirit, as well. There's restlessness in that entire part of the world. I think, as believers, we need to focus our prayers on the people in the Middle East." No matter what happens, the Great Commission won't change. "Pray for God's will to continue to unfold and then for the strengthening of the believers there."  We're seeing a lot of interesting snowmen in the course of our work. Yesterday we passed this sitting snowman who was dressed as a road crew worker in Palmyra, PA.  Anyone care to have a seat on our deck bench? So much for the Webers extending a "warm hand of fellowship" if we invite you to "have a seat" here. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Who Shall Separate Us From The Love Of Christ" Video This is the song we heard yesterday on the radio station. This is by a musician named Wayne Tate, though the version we heard was by Calvin Hunt and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.Click on the link to open and play. "More Than Enough" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir "My Life Is In Your Hands" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Powerful, this was filmed in Louisiana State Penitentiary. "Helpless" Video Paul Baloche and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/10)  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks!See here for details. 2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 2/3/11: $1010.00 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. This newsletter is never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.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! "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!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (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.  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!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. © Copyright 2011 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 |
Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday. To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below. However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!
| You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery Forward to a Friend | Manage Subscription | Subscribe | Unsubscribe |  |
