A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Thursday, January
3, 2019
(Photo by Howard Blichfeldt)
The gristmill in Western Pennsylvania was one of the first rolling mills in the country, processing corn, oats, wheat and buckwheat for local customers.
"Stand
Your Ground!"
Message
summary: We are
in the midst of this
great spiritual battle
and God's call is that
we actively stand our
ground.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering" (Hebrews 10:32). "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13). "But he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
In America we can watch a lot of football at this time of year with college bowl games and the professional postseason. Of course this is a subject that will not "connect" to everyone, including many who live here in the USA, let alone other countries, so I'll keep the illustrative portion of this message brief.
Consider
the goal line stand.
You're on the defense
and the opposing team
has the ball on the one
yard line with 1st and
goal. You are a lineman
and your job is to keep
the opposing team from
moving the ball that one
yard, although they have
four opportunities to do
so. You must stand your
ground!
Standing your ground is an important posture or position to take when staying faithful to a cause important to your heart.
Today so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are standing their ground against tremendous opposition in this great contest. In the last several days I have read or watched documentaries about three places where life has been really hard in 2018; North Korea, Kurdistan* and Venezuela. Of these the most hellish is North Korea where the people are expected to treat the dictator as a god. Using football as an illustration may have a sense of trivializing the very real contest in which they battle.
The first daily text is a commendation of the first century Hebrew believers who had stood their ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. The Greek word translated "contest" is "athlasis", which is a root of the English word athlete. All we who follow Christ are involved in this great contest, what the Apostle Paul calls "The Race" (2 Timothy 4:7). Some approach this contest in a passive sense, as if we are just standing on the sidelines as spectators.
But others rightly recognize that we are in the midst of this great spiritual battle and God's call is that we actively stand our ground. The apostle Paul alluded to this stand when he commissioned followers of Christ to, "Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13).
The early believers to whom the Book of Hebrews was addressed were enduring persecution because of their uncompromising stand for truth. They stood their ground even in the face of tremendous suffering and this is also the current experience of many all around the world. In fact as we prepare this message from the comfort of our home we feel so far, far removed from their plight. Today may God help us and all that read this to remember them in prayer as they stand firm in the midst of the great conflict.
And may the Lord empower each of us with grace to stand our ground in regard to the particular issues we deal with today and in 2019. Earnest believers, l invite you to join us as we stand our ground regarding faithfulness to apostolic doctrine (Acts 2:42, Jude 3) and Biblical standards of morality (Galatians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 4:2-4).
The Bible speaks of a great falling away that will occur in the end times (2 Thessalonians 2:3). I wonder if we are seeing that before our very eyes. Stand your ground; for if you don't stand you'll surely fall! There's much truth in the saying, "If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything." "But he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering" (Hebrews 10:32). "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13). "But he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
In America we can watch a lot of football at this time of year with college bowl games and the professional postseason. Of course this is a subject that will not "connect" to everyone, including many who live here in the USA, let alone other countries, so I'll keep the illustrative portion of this message brief.
Standing your ground is an important posture or position to take when staying faithful to a cause important to your heart.
Today so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are standing their ground against tremendous opposition in this great contest. In the last several days I have read or watched documentaries about three places where life has been really hard in 2018; North Korea, Kurdistan* and Venezuela. Of these the most hellish is North Korea where the people are expected to treat the dictator as a god. Using football as an illustration may have a sense of trivializing the very real contest in which they battle.
The first daily text is a commendation of the first century Hebrew believers who had stood their ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. The Greek word translated "contest" is "athlasis", which is a root of the English word athlete. All we who follow Christ are involved in this great contest, what the Apostle Paul calls "The Race" (2 Timothy 4:7). Some approach this contest in a passive sense, as if we are just standing on the sidelines as spectators.
But others rightly recognize that we are in the midst of this great spiritual battle and God's call is that we actively stand our ground. The apostle Paul alluded to this stand when he commissioned followers of Christ to, "Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13).
The early believers to whom the Book of Hebrews was addressed were enduring persecution because of their uncompromising stand for truth. They stood their ground even in the face of tremendous suffering and this is also the current experience of many all around the world. In fact as we prepare this message from the comfort of our home we feel so far, far removed from their plight. Today may God help us and all that read this to remember them in prayer as they stand firm in the midst of the great conflict.
And may the Lord empower each of us with grace to stand our ground in regard to the particular issues we deal with today and in 2019. Earnest believers, l invite you to join us as we stand our ground regarding faithfulness to apostolic doctrine (Acts 2:42, Jude 3) and Biblical standards of morality (Galatians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 4:2-4).
The Bible speaks of a great falling away that will occur in the end times (2 Thessalonians 2:3). I wonder if we are seeing that before our very eyes. Stand your ground; for if you don't stand you'll surely fall! There's much truth in the saying, "If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything." "But he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Jesus, You warned
Your listeners as
You sat on the Mount
of Olivet that at
the end of the age
nation will rise
against nation,
kingdom against
kingdom, famines and
earthquakes will be
commonplace.
Believers will be
handed over to be
persecuted and many
will turn away from
the faith as
wickedness
increases. In the
midst of such dark
desolation we cling
to the bright
promise, full of
hope and motivation
for those who walk
steadfastly with
You; he who
stands firm to the
end will be saved.
We will conquer the
enemy as we stand
our ground, for the
battle is not ours,
but Yours, Lord
Jesus! Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Be Strong and Take Courage" Video Maranatha Singers
"We Shall Stand" Video Maranatha Singers
"I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now" Video The Happy Goodmans
Kurdistan* Actually in the last several years life has been better for the Kurdish people and the book I read, "The Miracle of the Kurds: A Remarkable Story of Hope Reborn in Northern Iraq" spoke of evangelism among them. The people in North Korea and Venezuela on the other hand suffer greatly as do people in so many places around this world.
Jack Brown, a reader of this series from Michigan, sent us an interesting study he had done on God's promises that will bless our readers as they face another year.
- He will be with us. (Genesis 3:12)
- He will never leave us nor ever forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)
- He will equip us with everything good for doing His will and work in us what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 13:21)
- He will provide fresh mercy and grace every day for each day's need. (Lamentations 3:22)
- He will accept our worship as we treat those in need with benevolence and live lives dedicated to integrity and purity. (James 1:27)
- He will be reliable and trustworthy. (James 1:17)
- He will give us wisdom generously when we ask Him for it consistently. (James 1:5-6)
- He will grant us grace and lift us up when we choose to live humbly. (James 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:6)
- He will give us new beginnings in Christ. (1 Peter 1:3)
- He will restore, strengthen and steady us. (1 Peter 5:10)
- He will care for us if we will give our cares to Him.. (1 Peter 1:7)
- He will forgive all our sins if we will acknowledge them, turn from them and dedicate ourselves to stay away from them. (1 John 1:9)
- He will produce the character of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in us by His Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
- He will love us with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
- He will bless us, forgive all our sins, heal all our diseases, redeem our lives from destruction, crown our lives with love and compassion and satisfy the needs of our lives. (Psalm 103:2-3)
- He will give us courage, strength and grace to redemptively deal with all we face. (Philippians 4:13; Psalm 31:2)
- He will grant us success as we take in and live out His Word. (Joshua 1:8)
- He will be our light, protection and salvation. (Psalm 27:1-2)
- He will hear and respond to our prayers. (Psalm 17:6)
- He will transform us by continually renewing our minds so we can think and live in His ways. (Romans 12:1 and following)
- He will bring further along to completion what He has begun in us. (Philippians 1:6)
- He will keep working into us His will and purpose so that we will do and want to do His will and purposes. (Philippians 2:13)
Today's gristmill photo was taken by our friend Howard Blichfeldt and was used with his permission. He comments: "This is a beautiful location no matter what time of year you arrive. I have seen it in all seasons since the time my father brought me here as a child to fish or walk. One must be careful though as Slippery Rock Creek can be very dangerous water and the shoreline rocks are as slippery as black ice. That said, this is a place worth visiting more than once and winter is especially pristine. The water is pure and the blanket of snow makes everything look so unspoiled. The sounds of winter are plentiful here whether the occasional chatter of a red squirrel, the tapping of a lone woodpecker, the sound of rushing water or the absence of anyone else, I am always drawn into the peacefulness of the moment. Nature always finds a way of reminding me of its healing power, a force exceeded by no one but the One who provides it." Howard's photo site is here.
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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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