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Monday, June 10, 2019

Flory Road, Lancaster County, PA
Farm view on Flory Road, Lancaster County, PA
We pass this peaceful scene as we ride our bikes through our neighborhood.
(Click to enlarge)

"Living Boldly"

Message summary: Today in the power of the Holy Spirit let us live boldly for Christ in our generation. 

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak Your word with great boldness" (Acts 4:29). "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

I saw a newer friend at church yesterday who uses a rather interesting means of remembering my name, addressing me as "Stephen, who was stoned". His name happens to be Paul and I address him as "Paul, who consented to my stoning". Of course at that time Paul was known as Saul and had not yet been converted to Christ. Both Stephen and Paul were Spirit-filled, bold witnesses in the early church and examples for all of us.

Yesterday was "Pentecost Sunday" when we commemorate the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.* Peter, who just 53 days earlier, had cowered in fear and denied the Lord, now stood up and boldly proclaimed the living Lord, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36). This demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit promised in Acts 1:8 when Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you".

The daily text is from a portion of Scripture when the disciples first faced persecution following the Day of Pentecost. Their petition was not, as we might expect, for a removal of the threat or a ceasing of opposition and certainly not an appeal for an easy life. Jesus had made it very clear they would face opposition, "in this world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33) and they seemed to have accepted this. The heart of their prayer was, "Enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness".

That prayer was answered as the Spirit-empowered disciples went forth and "began to speak the Word of God with boldness". The next chapter records continued and increasing persecution and ends with this summary: "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ".

Then the focus turns to Stephen who, even as he faced his brutal stoning, boldly proclaimed Christ and is recorded as being "full of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:55). Later Paul wrote "Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold" (2 Corinthians 3:12).

And the list goes on and on through the remainder of the New Testament and all throughout the church age; men and women boldly declaring their faith in Christ. Today let us follow that example and in the power of the Holy Spirit live boldly for Christ in our generation.

What this dying world could use is a willing Man of God
Who dares to go against the grain and works without applause;
A man who'll raise the shield of faith, protecting what is pure;

Whose love is tough and gentle; a man whose word is sure.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily prayer: Father, in this depraved generation, darkness is sweeping across the land. Enable us to speak Your Word with great boldness like Peter on the Day of Pentecost. May we not be intimidated or allow ourselves to be bullied into a position that contradicts that which is revealed in Your Holy Word. We rely on the power of Your Holy Spirit to live out our lives in a way that honors You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

* Last Monday I mistakenly wrote that the previous day was Pentecost Sunday! (I suppose I was thinking of the association of Ascension Day which was the previous Thursday.)

Elisha the prophetBrooksyne has taught children since she committed her life to Christ in Junior High School. That's now been almost 50 years and she's stored up many funny memories. Once she was teaching on Elijah and she described Elijah as a bold man. Making sure that she was not talking over their heads, she asked her preschoolers, "Who can tell me what the word, 'bold' means?" Little three-year old Mandy quickly raised her hand and with a self-assured smile answered, "It means he didn't have no hair."

Actually it was Elisha who at one time was mocked for being bald (2 Kings 2:23). But both he and Elijah also demonstrated living boldly for God, as have millions down through the ages.



Calvary Church child dedication 6/9/19
Yesterday we had a child dedication at Calvary Church. You can see we sat behind the proud grandparents with the cameras and video cams!



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"A Few Good Men"  Video  Gaither Vocal Band  This older song came to mind during preparation of this message. The words used to conclude the message especially grip my heart and is a great challenge for all men of God as we consider Father's Day next Sunday. Of course the call to being bold is to both men and women and is demonstrated in the Bible by women like Deborah.

"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (different than traditional hymn with same title) Video   Calvary Church worship team. Our worship leader, David Ross, does a nice job of introducing the song.

Finally today:
We had dinner with Mark and Carolyn Pulliam at the Red Robin yesterday. We wondered if the restaurant is aware they are quoting a Scripture verse on their salt shakers!

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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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