A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Wednesday,
June 24,
2020
We passed
this peaceful early morning scene yesterday along Meadow
View Road here in Lancaster County on the way to a
chaplain visit in Lebanon County.
Click to enlarge
"Not
Neglecting"
Message
summary: Since Resurrection
Day believers have
gathered each Lord's Day to worship the
risen Lord Jesus. Some in small groups, others
in very large. Songs of praise are sung, prayers
are offered and God's truth is proclaimed. What a joy to meet together!
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.
"We will not neglect the house of our God" (Nehemiah 10:39b). "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:25).
After the long coronavirus lockdown churches are opening again. The church we regularly attend (Calvary Church in Lancaster) opens this Sunday. But others have been open for several weeks. My nephew is a pastor and they have been having services outdoors on a large lawn on the church property and people can space out however they choose. This Sunday we will return to a service together that will be a farewell to Pastor John Keefer, who is retiring after many years of faithful pastoral service.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."We will not neglect the house of our God" (Nehemiah 10:39b). "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:25).
After the long coronavirus lockdown churches are opening again. The church we regularly attend (Calvary Church in Lancaster) opens this Sunday. But others have been open for several weeks. My nephew is a pastor and they have been having services outdoors on a large lawn on the church property and people can space out however they choose. This Sunday we will return to a service together that will be a farewell to Pastor John Keefer, who is retiring after many years of faithful pastoral service.
Phil Menditto is a
friend of ours from Bible college. He is founder
of a church in Philadelphia and
has been serving that congregation for 40 years.
We visited the
church shortly after it started when they were
meeting in a function room at a Howard Johnson's
hotel and had the nursery in a hotel guest room. The Philadelphia
Christian Center is now a large, multi-ethnic,
multi-racial church with many outreaches into
the needy city.
Brooksyne saw this
photo on Facebook of Phil and his wife Carol
back in the pulpit after the
quarantine as he is moved
while speaking to his flock. His son-in-law
wrote, "This picture brings me to tears every
time. I don’t think people know how much this
man loves his church. Times like quarantine are
not easy for a pastor who loves his church
people."
During the
quarantine many of us watched a church service
over the internet or in our case also attended
drive-in services. Many found creative ways to
minister such as our friend Tommy Carpenter who
now has a Facebook live message from his home.
We are pleased to see churches and ministries
adapt as best they can but in our view gathering
together in any way, apart from actually being
with one another, just isn't the same.
Many of us have missed attending services with others. Phil Givler is a friend who has been driving to another county for several weeks just so he can attend a "real" service. At Costco the other day I saw Paul, a man I am accustomed to seeing in "real" church, and the few minutes of face to face fellowship (although masked and socially distanced) was still a blessing.
The latter chapters of Nehemiah records one of the greatest periods of spiritual awakening or revival found in the entire Bible. A careful study of this portion of Scripture reveals many characteristics of revival (see below).
Our first daily text is a solemn pledge the people had made regarding their attention to the house of the Lord. "We will not neglect the house of our God". The specific context indicates they had in mind the financial offerings to the work of God and for the distinct functions of the leaders.
The New Testament parallel is Hebrews 10:25 a verse commonly used by preachers to stress the importance of church attendance!
Each Lord's Day believers have gathered since Resurrection Day to worship the risen Lord Jesus. Some in small groups, others in very large. Songs of praise are sung, prayers are offered and God's truth is proclaimed. The coffee may or may not be good or might not even be offered. Our regular attendance may or may not be what we consider "fun". But fulfilling God's call in "not neglecting to meet together" remains an essential component of growth and stability in our Christian life.
Many of us have missed attending services with others. Phil Givler is a friend who has been driving to another county for several weeks just so he can attend a "real" service. At Costco the other day I saw Paul, a man I am accustomed to seeing in "real" church, and the few minutes of face to face fellowship (although masked and socially distanced) was still a blessing.
The latter chapters of Nehemiah records one of the greatest periods of spiritual awakening or revival found in the entire Bible. A careful study of this portion of Scripture reveals many characteristics of revival (see below).
Our first daily text is a solemn pledge the people had made regarding their attention to the house of the Lord. "We will not neglect the house of our God". The specific context indicates they had in mind the financial offerings to the work of God and for the distinct functions of the leaders.
The New Testament parallel is Hebrews 10:25 a verse commonly used by preachers to stress the importance of church attendance!
Each Lord's Day believers have gathered since Resurrection Day to worship the risen Lord Jesus. Some in small groups, others in very large. Songs of praise are sung, prayers are offered and God's truth is proclaimed. The coffee may or may not be good or might not even be offered. Our regular attendance may or may not be what we consider "fun". But fulfilling God's call in "not neglecting to meet together" remains an essential component of growth and stability in our Christian life.
We hope all of you that follow Jesus are part of a Bible-preaching, Christ-honoring church! Those who attend just to get a blessing are missing an essential part of God's plan since we are to edify one another. We not only attend to be blessed by God and His people, but we also seek to be a blessing to the Pastor and congregation. Sure, there will be sheep bites now and then among an imperfect body, but there will also be love and forgiveness, prayer and healing, guidance and growth, fruit-filled service and forbearance, and so much more iron sharpening iron, as we come together to serve our risen King.
Why accept the
virtual when you can have the real thing? I hope
you are able to go to church this coming Lord's
Day! One of the great characteristics of revival
is a renewed commitment to the "house of our
God". I pray that earnest Christians around the
world will take up the call and join the people
of Nehemiah's day in proclaiming and practicing,
"we will not neglect the house of our God".
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
have been blessed and encouraged by the body of
Christ as we fellowship and grow together like one
big family. We weep with those who weep and we
rejoice with those who rejoice. With the coronavirus
pandemic our habit of gathering with other believers
on Sundays and otherwise has been halted but we are
grateful for various means in which we still
participate in worship, hear the gospel being
preached, as we continue to pray one for another.
Amen.Brooksyne's
Note: During the 30 years that Stephen had a
pastoral role we were at the church every week
preparing, organizing, doing office work, following
up on needs, and on and on the list goes for those
in ministry. It was a place where we served, but
without the people present taking their places in
the sanctuary, classrooms, worship band, nursery and
other areas of service it was just an empty
building. I consider how it must feel for pastoral
and church administrative roles during this virus
pandemic carrying on duties in an empty building,
especially leading in worship and preaching to an
empty sanctuary. Here's a screenshot photo from a short
transitional video that was used on our
online church. When congregational members enter the
empty building on a Sunday service or other church
event the building takes on life, vibrancy, and
provides the real reason we had a building in the
first place. May we see that again for all
Bible-teaching churches very soon, while we are also
thankful for the creative means for which churches
of all sizes and capabilities have developed with
online ministries and otherwise to reach those who
are unable to worship in a public setting.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Characteristics of the awakening in Nehemiah's time from a personal Bible study over 20 years ago: (It was too long to preach as a sermon!)
- This "awakening" was characterized by unity (8:1a).
- This "awakening" was characterized by the reading of God's Word (8:1b).
- This "awakening" was characterized by attention to God's Word (8:3b).
- This "awakening" was characterized by worship (8:6).
- This "awakening" was characterized by expository preaching (8:7,8).
- This "awakening" was characterized by brokenness (8:9).
- This "awakening" was characterized by great joy (8:10,17).
- This “awakening” was characterized by obedience to God’s Word (8:14-17).
- This “awakening” was characterized by fasting and other outward signs of a contrite heart (9:1).
- This “awakening” was characterized by confession of sin (9:2b).
- This “awakening” was characterized by separation (9:2a).
- This “awakening” was characterized by a profession of God as sovereign Lord and Creator (9:6).
- This “awakening” was characterized by a declaration of their spiritual heritage (9:7ff).
- This “awakening” was characterized by “great distress” as the people contemplated how seriously they had violated God’s commandments (9:37b).
- This “awakening” was characterized by a binding, written agreement to obey the Law of God. (9:38).
- This “awakening” was characterized by a commitment to stewardship. (10:32-39).
- This awakening was characterized by a renewed commitment to the “house of our God”. (10:39b).
- This “awakening” was characterized by a spirit of volunteerism. (11:2)
- This “awakening” was characterized by a real focus on music. (12:24-47)
- This “awakening” was characterized by holy anger at sin. (13:8)
- This “awakening” was characterized by a burden to properly support those that work for the Lord. (13:10)
- This “awakening” was characterized by a consecration of the Sabbath. (13:17)
A
Sunday School teacher challenged her children to
take some time on Sunday afternoon to write a
letter to God and bring the letter back the
following Sunday. One little boy wrote, "Dear God,
we had a good time at church today. Wish you could
have been there."
From The Happy Christian: Pearls of
Christian Wisdom
Yesterday
we wrote about pilot Henry Dempsey. Here's a more
detailed version along with a video "Hang on Hank" is a legend in
Maine aviation lore
"Philadelphia
Christian Center Sunday AM Service 6/21/20" Phil's
message "Maintaining Faith In Troubled Times"
begins here.
I watched this and noted how similar Phil's message is to
the Daily Encouragement we shared yesterday, "When Lawlessness Increases - Hold
Firm"!
"The Old
Country Church" Video Gaither
Vocal Group
"Old
Church Choir" Video Zach
Williams
"Nobody"
Video
Casting Crowns with
Matthew West
A long farm
lane in Lancaster County near where our lead photo was
taken.
(Google map)
(Google map)
Click to enlarge
Last week I
shared how I had trimmed our holly bush with
a hedge trimmer and when cleaning
off the clippings had discovered a bird nest with eggs (photo). I
have been discreetly observing the nest daily and the mother bird has been faithful in her laying
duties. When I went out early yesterday morning there
were no hatchlings yet.
But late
yesterday afternoon I checked and we have our
first-hatched and already begging for food! The mother
bird looks like a brown thrasher, but only seeing her
from a distance we cannot be certain.
Finally
today:
Amongst so
many sources of sadness in our world our area is dealing
with the disappearance of an 18 year old Amish girl who
went missing this last Sunday, walking home from church.
We can only imagine the agony this family is enduring.
Daily Encouragement readers are welcome to pray for a
resolution. Story here.
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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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."
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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Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA