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, July 4, 2013  Lancaster County Rainbow Photo taken by our friend Connie Pickel. "Glorious Freedom, Wonderful Freedom" "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God" (Romans 8:20,21). Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom, No more in chains of sin I repine! Jesus the glorious Emancipator, Now and forever He shall be mine. July 4 is a holiday here in the USA and many are off work today as well. We are planning to have a cookout! It's "Independence Day" which is historically a time we express thanks to God for our political freedoms. Many take these freedoms for granted and may not even notice that they are systematically being diminished. We are aware that these messages are read all over the world by our fellow brothers and sisters who live under varying degrees of political freedom, some with very little. Most live in countries with relatively good freedoms. Others live in places with religious oppression and in some cases outright persecution. However we really doubt if this material reaches those living in actual slavery, although sadly millions still live under such conditions. Today we want to share about a freedom that is available to all that is infinitely greater than any political or religious freedoms we may or may not enjoy in this present life. One hundred or one thousand years into eternity I suspect for those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ; where we lived and the conditions we lived under during our brief earthly sojourn will be of little regard. Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters, Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain; But I received a glorious freedom, When Jesus broke my fetters in twain. In John 8 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day who had challenged His authority. The encounter specifically began when Jesus asserted, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The Pharisees challenged Jesus and the validity of His testimony and of course that has been at the heart of resistance to God's redemption plan ever since. Jesus taught that those who "hold" to His teaching are truly His disciples (v. 31). He said to them "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). This especially insulted the proud Pharisees who responded, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" (v. 34). But Jesus was speaking of a slavery that impacts the entire human race; rich or poor, powerful or weak, highly educated or unlearned, politically free or oppressed. People from every background are slaves to sin! Yet this is the very slavery from which Jesus came to free us: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). In Romans 8 Paul is referring to this slavery to sin and the freedom the Redeemed are able to experience as children of God. It is, indeed, a glorious, wonderful freedom! If you are a citizen of a free country don't take it for granted. Give thanks to God for this wonderful privilege and consider those who sacrificed for your freedoms. May this prompt you to pray for our brethren who do not have these freedoms. Above all give thanks to God that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice so that we might be freed from the slavery of sin. That's something that we can all rejoice in no matter the political climate of our country. Today, are you free indeed? Christ provides: 1) Freedom from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:18). 2) Freedom from guilt and shame (Colossians 1:21-23). 3) Freedom from fear of death (Hebrews 2:15) Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, how wonderful it is to enjoy the privileges available to those who live in a free country We give thanks for those who enlisted and served in our military, fighting for and maintaining our independence. And how glorious it is to enjoy freedom from sin, thanks to the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus, on our behalf. Our lives, once enslaved to sin, now enjoy the freedom from that which once held us captive to Satan's bondage. We live in victory because You have set us free and we are now free indeed. Thank You, Father, for delivering us from the domain of darkness and transferring us into the kingdom of Your Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins! Amen.  Yesterday in the course of our chaplain visits Dave greeted me with an extended hand (covered with grease). Dave of course was just having a good time. I give him a pat on the back rather than our usual handshake.! "Glorious Freedom" Video Gaither Vocal Band "Amazing Grace - My Chains Are Gone" Video CCHS Concert and Chapel Choir "Place Of Freedom" Video Church of the Highlands Praise Band |
 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 7/3/13: $10,903.00 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 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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