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A new message is
updated most weekdays usually by Noon Eastern Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message) Rocky
Acre Farm
Late
yesterday
afternoon was
an enjoyable
time for a
bike ride
through rural
areas south of
Mount Joy.
Click to enlarge "Restraining
Evil"
Message
summary:
A very
important
spiritual
reality for us
to consider is
the area of
darkness that
surrounds us.
We are called
to let our
light shine
and by God's
grace and
power I want
mine to shine
brightly to
expose and
dispel the
darkness which
will also
restrain evil!
Please join
us.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"For
you were once
darkness, but
now you are
light in the
Lord. Live as
children of
light (for the
fruit of the
light consists
in all
goodness,
righteousness
and truth) and
find out what
pleases the
Lord. Have
nothing to do
with the
fruitless
deeds of
darkness, but
rather expose
them. For it
is shameful
even to
mention what
the
disobedient do
in secret. But
everything
exposed by the
light becomes
visible, for
it is light
that makes
everything
visible"
(Ephesians
5:8-14). "The
night is far
gone; the day
is at hand. So
then let us
cast off the
works of
darkness and
put on the
armor of light
(Romans
13:12).
Yesterday
I taught our
ABF (Adult
Bible
Fellowship) on
the topic of
God's purpose
for the church
sharing four
common
expressions of
this purpose:
to evangelize
the lost, to
worship God,
to disciple
believers and
to show
compassion to
the needy.
I
had my lesson
all prepared
with a spiffy
PowerPoint
presentation
but during the
night before
teaching I
considered a
fifth purpose:
the aspect of
the church
being a
restraining
influence on
evil.
Many
seek to
silence this
restraining
voice of the
church and
relish the
time the world
will be freed
from the
"old-time
religion" as
they see it.
That will
happen during
the
tribulation!
But
for now all
over the world
individual
believers,
local churches
and parachurch
ministries are
actively
restraining
evil. Here's
an example:
I
visited a
truck chapel
in Elkton,
Maryland with
a longtime
friend, Bunny
O'Hare. These
chapels are
staffed by
chaplains and
volunteers who
have a burden
to reach the
truck drivers.
It is located
at a huge
truck-stop
along I-95
between
Baltimore and
Philadelphia.
As we walked out among the hundreds of parked trucks looking for opportunities to interface with drivers I asked Bunny if prostitution was prevalent in this setting. So often truck-stops are plagued by sexual immorality with so many lonely truckers and desperate women. Bunny told me it hadn't been since the chapel was placed on the site. Although
I knew the
answer I asked
him why, which
is a great way
to get various
perspectives
and insights
even when you
think you
already know
the answer to
something.
The
presence of
the chapel and
chaplain was a
restraining
influence on
evil.
We
discussed the
power of light
to expose and
dispel
darkness. As
God's servants
walk through
the area
praying and
living as
children of
light darkness
is dissipated.
That's a great spiritual reality for all of is to consider today in whatever area of darkness that surrounds us. We are called to let our light shine and by God's grace and power we want ours to shine brightly and expose and dispel the darkness and restrain evil! Please join us. Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, as
Your redeemed
children You
have called us
to let our
lights shine
for Jesus. By
clothing
ourselves in
Your armor of
light, we will
expose the
evil deeds of
darkness and
display the
fruit of
goodness,
righteousness
and truth. Any
good or
positive
influence we
present in the
face of
darkness is a
reflection of
Your Spirit
abiding in our
hearts and
flowing out of
our actions
and attitudes.
Be glorified
in all we say
and do is
our prayer.
Amen.
In
class
yesterday we
talked about a
current
expression of
evil that has
come to
Lancaster
County; the
city library
is hosting a
"drag queen"
story hour. A
group of
Christians
will be
seeking to
expose the
darkness with
a presence at
the event to
express their
disapproval.
Here's the story.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"You
Can't Tear Us
Apart"
Watch
on YouTube
Acoustic
Truth Brooksyne's
note: I
heard this on
the Christian
radio over the
weekend and
really
appreciated
its message
regarding the
Christian's
response to
the current
evil
influences of
our day.
Yesterday
our choir sang
"Is He
Worthy"
followed by
our current
favorite, "Worthy
of It All".
If you care to
listen here's
the video
cued where the
song begins.
These
goats across
from the Rocky
Acre Farm ran
to greet me.
This is also a bed and breakfast.
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Joy, PA 17552
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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. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2024 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |