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To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are
our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to
consider making a donation 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.
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials)
1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only.
2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print.
3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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 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."
© Copyright 2014 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Listen
to us read this
message on
your
audio player.
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
It's
interesting to consider passing fads,
including religious ones. Back in the early seventies there
was a resurgence in Christianity known as "The Jesus Movement". I
reflect that I essentially was a part of the movement which had a
powerful impact on my early days of discipleship. At that time a
popular
expression of faith was to greet one another in the hallways of our
large public high school with our index finger raised signifying, "One
Way Jesus". Now in 2014 I cannot imagine walking through a public place
like a mall and greeting people with an upraised index finger! But I
remain steadfast in my belief in regard to what that gesture symbolizes.
One of the great issues confronting the true church is the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as God's only appointed way of salvation, as taught in Scripture. Now the politically correct, seeming more loving, tolerant view is that Christianity is only one of "many valid ways" to get to heaven. Preachers who unwaveringly support the Biblical and historic position are now maligned as being unenlightened, hateful or intolerant.
In this age when tolerance has been elevated to a false god, we must have a solid foundation in what the Scriptures say about this matter and the Scriptures are unambiguous. But sadly even some in the church are compromising on this issue and many others without a solid Biblical underpinning may be tempted to do so as well. After all, who wants to be considered "narrow-minded and ignorant", as I heard an individual describe people that believe as I do.
The apostle Peter made the bold assertion in the daily verse, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." He may have been recalling the words of the Lord; "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Later the apostle Paul expressed the same truth in 1 Timothy 2:5,6, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time."
We who follow Christ must seriously heed the word from the apostle Jude, "Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." Our Lord Himself, as well as the apostolic preaching and teaching of the early church, make it very clear that Christ is God's only appointed provision for salvation. Let us steadfastly and unashamedly resist the temptation to concede on this vitally important doctrine.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we thank You for our salvation that is found in no one else but Jesus,
for there is no other name under heaven given to us whereby we can be
saved. It is in the powerful name of Jesus that demons are cast down,
sinners are set free from the shackles of sin, and the sick are made
whole. It is in the name of Jesus that every knee will bow, those in
heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth to proclaim that
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. We gratefully proclaim
that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior who has redeemed us through
His shed blood that we might be forgiven our sins and be saved for all
eternity. Amen.
Last Saturday evening we attended a Lancaster Barnstormers minor league baseball game with a special feature: Cowboy Monkeys! Ester got several good photos we share with you today.
Tiny monkeys riding border collies who corralled bighorned sheep. They are not strapped on as was demonstrated later. Hilarious!
Throwing out the first pitch! (I never saw a baseball pitcher, minor or major, that looked anything like this pitcher!)
At the end of the game the owner, Tim Lepard, walked around showing the 22 year old capuchin monkey, Whiplash. Ester was already there for a good photo. Brooksyne was a couple rows up and ended up with this photo of Ester as well!
We had dinner with our friends Mark and Carolyn Pulliam before we attended the Barnstormer game where they handily beat the Bridgeport Bluefish. Mark and I have been friends since the late 90's when we both worked for the same chaplain service company.
We had five seats in the middle of a long row, the only seats available in that section when I bought them. In the second inning I noticed no one had taken the four seats beside Mark so I moved over to converse with him through the game. In the middle of the seventh inning I quipped to Mark, "I guess I can relax since surely the rightful seat purchasers are not coming." Less than a minute later two couples showed up and kindly informed me that I was in one of their seats! They had me look at the seat number which had this interesting label, unlike others in the stadium, "Saints & Sinners. Local readers may check it out in Section 18, Row H. Turns out, 5 couples made a season purchase of these seats and tagged the section "Saints and Sinners" since there are several ministers among the group. Looks like Mark and I were in the right place after all!
Ester having a laugh with Carolyn.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"No Other Name" Video
Cowboy Monkey Rodeo! Video
I am blessed when I see believers praying together in a circle. We saw this photo on our friend Sabra Penley's blog as we prepared the message.
"No Other Name"
Listen
to us read this
message on
your
audio player."Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
One of the great issues confronting the true church is the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as God's only appointed way of salvation, as taught in Scripture. Now the politically correct, seeming more loving, tolerant view is that Christianity is only one of "many valid ways" to get to heaven. Preachers who unwaveringly support the Biblical and historic position are now maligned as being unenlightened, hateful or intolerant.
In this age when tolerance has been elevated to a false god, we must have a solid foundation in what the Scriptures say about this matter and the Scriptures are unambiguous. But sadly even some in the church are compromising on this issue and many others without a solid Biblical underpinning may be tempted to do so as well. After all, who wants to be considered "narrow-minded and ignorant", as I heard an individual describe people that believe as I do.
The apostle Peter made the bold assertion in the daily verse, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." He may have been recalling the words of the Lord; "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Later the apostle Paul expressed the same truth in 1 Timothy 2:5,6, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time."
We who follow Christ must seriously heed the word from the apostle Jude, "Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." Our Lord Himself, as well as the apostolic preaching and teaching of the early church, make it very clear that Christ is God's only appointed provision for salvation. Let us steadfastly and unashamedly resist the temptation to concede on this vitally important doctrine.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we thank You for our salvation that is found in no one else but Jesus,
for there is no other name under heaven given to us whereby we can be
saved. It is in the powerful name of Jesus that demons are cast down,
sinners are set free from the shackles of sin, and the sick are made
whole. It is in the name of Jesus that every knee will bow, those in
heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth to proclaim that
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. We gratefully proclaim
that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior who has redeemed us through
His shed blood that we might be forgiven our sins and be saved for all
eternity. Amen.Last Saturday evening we attended a Lancaster Barnstormers minor league baseball game with a special feature: Cowboy Monkeys! Ester got several good photos we share with you today.
Tiny monkeys riding border collies who corralled bighorned sheep. They are not strapped on as was demonstrated later. Hilarious!
Throwing out the first pitch! (I never saw a baseball pitcher, minor or major, that looked anything like this pitcher!)
At the end of the game the owner, Tim Lepard, walked around showing the 22 year old capuchin monkey, Whiplash. Ester was already there for a good photo. Brooksyne was a couple rows up and ended up with this photo of Ester as well!
We had dinner with our friends Mark and Carolyn Pulliam before we attended the Barnstormer game where they handily beat the Bridgeport Bluefish. Mark and I have been friends since the late 90's when we both worked for the same chaplain service company.
We had five seats in the middle of a long row, the only seats available in that section when I bought them. In the second inning I noticed no one had taken the four seats beside Mark so I moved over to converse with him through the game. In the middle of the seventh inning I quipped to Mark, "I guess I can relax since surely the rightful seat purchasers are not coming." Less than a minute later two couples showed up and kindly informed me that I was in one of their seats! They had me look at the seat number which had this interesting label, unlike others in the stadium, "Saints & Sinners. Local readers may check it out in Section 18, Row H. Turns out, 5 couples made a season purchase of these seats and tagged the section "Saints and Sinners" since there are several ministers among the group. Looks like Mark and I were in the right place after all!
Ester having a laugh with Carolyn.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"No Other Name" Video
Cowboy Monkey Rodeo! Video
I am blessed when I see believers praying together in a circle. We saw this photo on our friend Sabra Penley's blog as we prepared the message.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are
our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to
consider making a donation 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.Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials)
1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only.
2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print.
3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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 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."
© Copyright 2014 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA