The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
Search Daily Encouragement
A new message is
updated most weekdays usually by Noon Eastern Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Monday,
July 5,
2021
Last Friday we passed this farm scene in Manor
Township here in Lancaster County. Lancaster County holds
the distinction of being the most productive non-irrigated
farming county in the United States and ranks second in acres of preserved farmland
with more than 58,000 acres preserved. We are pleased that
the farmland across from our home is preserved. More than
99% of Lancaster County farms are family owned.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"Jesus,
The Glorious Emancipator"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“So if
the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John
8:36). “For the creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself also will be set free from its
slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of
the children of God” (Romans 8:20,21).
Today here
in the USA many are enjoying a paid holiday on a three day
weekend! We are planning to have a cookout this afternoon
and, depending on the weather, will also ride our bikes.
"Independence Day" in the USA is historically a time we
celebrate our political freedoms and give thanks to God
which we did so in our worship service yesterday and in
our small group. So many take these freedoms for granted
and may not even notice that they are systematically being
diminished.
We are aware that these messages are read all over the world by our fellow brothers and sisters who live under varying degrees of political freedom, some with very little. Most live in countries with relatively good freedoms. Others live in places with religious oppression and in some cases outright persecution. However it's unlikely that this material reaches those living in actual slavery, though tragically, millions still live under such conditions.
We are aware that these messages are read all over the world by our fellow brothers and sisters who live under varying degrees of political freedom, some with very little. Most live in countries with relatively good freedoms. Others live in places with religious oppression and in some cases outright persecution. However it's unlikely that this material reaches those living in actual slavery, though tragically, millions still live under such conditions.
As we
prepared the message this morning we read about another
mass kidnapping of 140 school children in Northwest
Nigeria, a country where Christians are constantly
besieged by Muslim terrorists. We are now praying for
those children and their heartbroken families. What a
stark contrast to the pleasant day we have here in rural
Pennsylvania and the present peace.
Today we share about a freedom from a type of slavery that is available to all and infinitely greater than any political or religious freedoms we may or may not enjoy in this present life. One hundred or one thousand years into eternity, for those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, the place where we lived and the conditions we lived under during our brief earthly sojourn, will be of little regard.
Once I was
bound by sin’s galling fetters,
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain;
But I received a glorious freedom,
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain;
But I received a glorious freedom,
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.
In John 8 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day who challenged His authority. The encounter specifically began when Jesus asserted, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The Pharisees challenged Jesus and the validity of His testimony and of course that has been at the heart of resistance to God’s redemption plan ever since.
Jesus taught that those who “hold” to His teaching are truly His disciples (v. 31). He said to them “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). This especially insulted the proud Pharisees who responded, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” (v. 34).
But Jesus was speaking of a slavery that impacts the entire human race; rich or poor, powerful or weak, highly educated or unlearned, politically free or oppressed. People from every background are slaves to sin! Yet this is the very slavery from which Jesus came to free us: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
In Romans 8 Paul is referring to this slavery to sin and the freedom those who are redeemed are able to experience as children of God. It is, indeed, a glorious, wonderful freedom! It is the greatest manumission which is "the act or process of formal emancipation from slavery".
If you are a citizen of a free country don’t take it for granted. Won't you join us in giving thanks to God for this wonderful privilege as we also consider those who sacrificed for our freedoms. May it also be a prompter to pray for our brethren who do not have these freedoms. Above all give thanks to God that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice so that we might be freed from the slavery of sin. That’s something that we can all rejoice in no matter the conditions we live in on this side of eternity.
Today, are you free indeed? Is Jesus your Glorious Emancipator?
Glorious
freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen &
Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, how wonderful it is to enjoy
the privileges available to those who live in a free
country. We give thanks for those who enlisted and
served in our military, fighting for and maintaining
our independence, along with those who voluntarily
served in an alternative manner. And how glorious it
is to enjoy freedom from sin, thanks to the
sacrifice of Your Son Jesus, on our behalf. Our
lives, once enslaved to sin, now enjoy the freedom
from that which once held us captive to Satan’s
bondage. We live in victory because You have set us
free and we are now free indeed. Thank You, Father,
for delivering us from the domain of darkness and
transferring us into the kingdom of Your beloved Son
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our
sins! Amen.
Daily
prayer: Father, how wonderful it is to enjoy
the privileges available to those who live in a free
country. We give thanks for those who enlisted and
served in our military, fighting for and maintaining
our independence, along with those who voluntarily
served in an alternative manner. And how glorious it
is to enjoy freedom from sin, thanks to the
sacrifice of Your Son Jesus, on our behalf. Our
lives, once enslaved to sin, now enjoy the freedom
from that which once held us captive to Satan’s
bondage. We live in victory because You have set us
free and we are now free indeed. Thank You, Father,
for delivering us from the domain of darkness and
transferring us into the kingdom of Your beloved Son
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our
sins! Amen.Christ
provides:
1)
Freedom from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:18).
2) Freedom from guilt and shame (Colossians 1:21-23).
3) Freedom from fear of death (Hebrews 2:15)
2) Freedom from guilt and shame (Colossians 1:21-23).
3) Freedom from fear of death (Hebrews 2:15)
Our
forty-fifth
anniversary
photo taken in
Harpers Ferry,
WV
(Click on photo for larger view)
(Click on photo for larger view)
To
receive the "Daily
Encouragement" each
Monday-Friday use our sign-up
form or this
page to subscribe to our
free email list.
You can also subscribe to the
Wordpress rss
feed or through a Wordpress email
subscription. (See the email
subscription on the top right side
after opening this page.)
iHeart
radioPermissions: 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. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
We 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
approximately half our time to
Daily Encouragement and the
other half to our chaplaincy
ministry to companies for
which we receive compensation.
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 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.
To
donate directly online here.
This will open to a page that
designates the offering to:
WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP,
Specialized Chaplaincy
Ministry ID: 700001-237376
If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To
donate directly online here.
This will open to a page that
designates the offering to:
WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP,
Specialized Chaplaincy
Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note: We
also provide this easy
option due to the
convenience, for
international supporters,
and for those who may not
be concerned regarding
receiving an official tax
deductible receipt. Click here to
send an offering using
PayPal. This
will open to a page that
states "Brooksyne Weber"2021 YTD
offerings to Daily
Encouragement Net:
$9,485.00
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."
© Copyright 2021 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA