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Monday, January 16, 2017
"Holding Tightly"
Note: Today's Scripture text and a similar theme were used in "Holding Unswervingly" a message from earlier this month but with a different focus. In that message we considered what we are not to throw away. Today we consider the necessity of holding tightly (firmly, unswervingly, unwaveringly).
Listen to this
message on your
audio player.
"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise" (Hebrews 10:23).
I'm an avid football fan and especially enjoy the level of play in the post season. In fact it was 50 years ago yesterday that my Dad and I watched the very first "Super Bowl" (although it wasn't called that then). It was probably on a 19 inch black and white TV which we thought was pretty good at the time. I don’t think we even imagined they would have big screens like they do today!!! Our hometown Kansas City Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers. These two teams also played in separate games yesterday but there will not be a rematch of the first Super Bowl this year!
Yesterday I watched the games with my two Zimbabwean friends, Nathan
and Neville, who have come to enjoy American football. The two games
were suspenseful to the very end, one
determined in the last three seconds. Using a football illustration may
be somewhat ineffective since some readers do not enjoy football
and international readers may be unfamiliar with the game, but please
read on!!!
American football is quite different than what is called football in many other countries, which we call soccer here in the states. In spite of the name football players use their hands extensively.
A critically important and fundamental skill of football is holding on to and keeping a tight grip on the ball. When the quarterback is holding the ball for a pass he must grip it tightly. On one play yesterday Aaron Rogers (photo to left) was being sacked but still managed to hold on to the ball. If a runner is carrying the ball or a receiver catches one he must hold on to the ball tightly! Turnovers are often a deciding factor in football games
In life we must also avoid turnovers and there are many ways in which it is imperative that we keep a tight grip such as our commitment to our marriage, our family, our health, our doctrine and our integrity. I have a series of messages churning in my spirit dealing with holding on to the pattern that Scripture sets before us, a pattern that is being abandoned at an alarming rate.
The most essential tight grip is seen in our daily text: "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Other versions state, "Let us hold fast without wavering" and "Without wavering, let us hold tightly."
The text begins with the words "Let us"
which is known as the hortatory subjunctive. This is my favorite
preaching and writing style whether I am the listener and reader, the preacher or writer. One of the first sermons I ever
preached was from Hebrews and throughout the message I repeatedly used
the phrase "Let us". After the message a listener thanked me for the
salad sermon (lettuce)!
The author of Hebrews uses this phrase "let us" twelve times. When I read this book or hear sermons preached using this phrase (also known technically as the cohortatory) I am encouraged, as it seems the author or preacher is leading me, not pushing me. The writer conveys that he was facing the same circumstances as his readers so he presents a form of personal resolve in his writing.
I
believe today's text is the singular key text in the entire book. This
call to faithfulness is directed to the earliest believers who were the
initial recipients of this Scripture and to all others through the ages
of the Church, including us today. That's a vital way we read the
Scriptures.
We are to "hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm." Of course primarily this hope we affirm is the hope we have in Christ. Earlier in the book we read, "we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end" (Hebrews 6:11).
And this hope we affirm is absolutely secure, "for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Rest in this wonderful assurance today and join me in holding tightly to our hope in Christ!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
in this ever-changing society where transition beckons us daily, You
are the Changeless One. As we hold tightly to the hope we profess we
will not be swayed to the right nor to the left. And we hold to this
hope because You are faithful to Your Word and to Your divine
character. Though the heavens are silent at times and the world
continues to slide into decadence and intolerance toward true
Christians we remain faithful. We will hold on a little while longer
and shine as lights in this dark world so that we can influence as
many as possible. As we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess we
will not give up due to weariness, weakness, or a wayward heart, for
Your unchanging truth makes the triumph sure. We joyfully have
enlisted, led by Your grace divine. Amen.
We
want to thank all who supported our ministry this last year, whether it
was your faithful readership or sharing our message with others,
whether it was your financial support, or whether it was your prayers
for our ministry and family needs. Perhaps it was a part or combination
of all the above - we thank You for being such a vital part of our
Daily Encouragement "family". We are grateful for your support in any
way, and we too remember you in our daily prayers.
Total 2016 offerings: $27,025.00
Total donors: 86
Offerings came from 25 states and Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom and South Korea.
These offerings are very appreciated and are a critical source of our ministry funding. The time required for preparing these messages and sending/posting them is roughly equivalent to a full-time job shared between us (about 40 hours weekly +/-).
Since we prepare these messages from our home office there are very little direct, unique expenses required soley used for Daily Encouragement. Since we already would need computers and internet access for our other ministries (including corporate chaplaincy) these unique expenses, which include the fees for listserve and podcast server, are less than $1,000 annually.
Means of distribution of Daily Encouragement:
And so, we begin another year with our YTD accounting that we've used for many years! 2017 YTD offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: $322.00
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Ice-covered pond in Lancaster County PA
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"Holding Tightly"
Note: Today's Scripture text and a similar theme were used in "Holding Unswervingly" a message from earlier this month but with a different focus. In that message we considered what we are not to throw away. Today we consider the necessity of holding tightly (firmly, unswervingly, unwaveringly).
Listen to this
message on your
audio player."Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise" (Hebrews 10:23).
If you feel today that you can't make it
Keep holdin' on, cause you can take it
If you hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on
Keep holdin' on, cause you can take it
If you hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on
I'm an avid football fan and especially enjoy the level of play in the post season. In fact it was 50 years ago yesterday that my Dad and I watched the very first "Super Bowl" (although it wasn't called that then). It was probably on a 19 inch black and white TV which we thought was pretty good at the time. I don’t think we even imagined they would have big screens like they do today!!! Our hometown Kansas City Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers. These two teams also played in separate games yesterday but there will not be a rematch of the first Super Bowl this year!
Yesterday I watched the games with my two Zimbabwean friends, Nathan
and Neville, who have come to enjoy American football. The two games
were suspenseful to the very end, one
determined in the last three seconds. Using a football illustration may
be somewhat ineffective since some readers do not enjoy football
and international readers may be unfamiliar with the game, but please
read on!!! American football is quite different than what is called football in many other countries, which we call soccer here in the states. In spite of the name football players use their hands extensively.
A critically important and fundamental skill of football is holding on to and keeping a tight grip on the ball. When the quarterback is holding the ball for a pass he must grip it tightly. On one play yesterday Aaron Rogers (photo to left) was being sacked but still managed to hold on to the ball. If a runner is carrying the ball or a receiver catches one he must hold on to the ball tightly! Turnovers are often a deciding factor in football games
In life we must also avoid turnovers and there are many ways in which it is imperative that we keep a tight grip such as our commitment to our marriage, our family, our health, our doctrine and our integrity. I have a series of messages churning in my spirit dealing with holding on to the pattern that Scripture sets before us, a pattern that is being abandoned at an alarming rate.
The most essential tight grip is seen in our daily text: "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Other versions state, "Let us hold fast without wavering" and "Without wavering, let us hold tightly."
The text begins with the words "Let us"
which is known as the hortatory subjunctive. This is my favorite
preaching and writing style whether I am the listener and reader, the preacher or writer. One of the first sermons I ever
preached was from Hebrews and throughout the message I repeatedly used
the phrase "Let us". After the message a listener thanked me for the
salad sermon (lettuce)!The author of Hebrews uses this phrase "let us" twelve times. When I read this book or hear sermons preached using this phrase (also known technically as the cohortatory) I am encouraged, as it seems the author or preacher is leading me, not pushing me. The writer conveys that he was facing the same circumstances as his readers so he presents a form of personal resolve in his writing.
I
believe today's text is the singular key text in the entire book. This
call to faithfulness is directed to the earliest believers who were the
initial recipients of this Scripture and to all others through the ages
of the Church, including us today. That's a vital way we read the
Scriptures.We are to "hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm." Of course primarily this hope we affirm is the hope we have in Christ. Earlier in the book we read, "we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end" (Hebrews 6:11).
And this hope we affirm is absolutely secure, "for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Rest in this wonderful assurance today and join me in holding tightly to our hope in Christ!
Weeping may endure for the night
But if you trust in Jesus
Everything's gonna be all right
Just hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on, Hold on
But if you trust in Jesus
Everything's gonna be all right
Just hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on a little while longer
Hold on, Hold on
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
in this ever-changing society where transition beckons us daily, You
are the Changeless One. As we hold tightly to the hope we profess we
will not be swayed to the right nor to the left. And we hold to this
hope because You are faithful to Your Word and to Your divine
character. Though the heavens are silent at times and the world
continues to slide into decadence and intolerance toward true
Christians we remain faithful. We will hold on a little while longer
and shine as lights in this dark world so that we can influence as
many as possible. As we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess we
will not give up due to weariness, weakness, or a wayward heart, for
Your unchanging truth makes the triumph sure. We joyfully have
enlisted, led by Your grace divine. Amen.We
want to thank all who supported our ministry this last year, whether it
was your faithful readership or sharing our message with others,
whether it was your financial support, or whether it was your prayers
for our ministry and family needs. Perhaps it was a part or combination
of all the above - we thank You for being such a vital part of our
Daily Encouragement "family". We are grateful for your support in any
way, and we too remember you in our daily prayers.Total 2016 offerings: $27,025.00
Total donors: 86
Offerings came from 25 states and Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom and South Korea.
These offerings are very appreciated and are a critical source of our ministry funding. The time required for preparing these messages and sending/posting them is roughly equivalent to a full-time job shared between us (about 40 hours weekly +/-).
Since we prepare these messages from our home office there are very little direct, unique expenses required soley used for Daily Encouragement. Since we already would need computers and internet access for our other ministries (including corporate chaplaincy) these unique expenses, which include the fees for listserve and podcast server, are less than $1,000 annually.
Means of distribution of Daily Encouragement:
- Website with each message archived since 2005
- Daily email list
- Weekly email list
- Podcast
- Facebook page
- Wordpress (entire message)
- Wordpress (prayer only)
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine
ministries
and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead
you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our
readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our
time to Daily
Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to
companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time
varies
week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a
part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many
years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses
and
income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here
for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will
be receipted directly by them. Thank you!
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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."
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