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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Thursday,
December 8, 2022
"Everlasting
Father"
Note:
This week we are sharing a
five part series based on
Isaiah 9:6, considering
one the great Old
Testament prophecies
concerning the Messiah.
Message summary: Today let us rejoice with exceeding great joy that we have an everlasting Father! Listen to our message on your audio player. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Sometimes
companies will use
everlasting in their name
to connote the quality and
endurance of their
product. In our area we
have a roofing
manufacturer called
Everlast Roofing and in
Ohio there's a roofing
company called Everlasting
Roofing. Now roofing can
have a long life. As I
recall we have a 30 year
roof which should last
into our 80's (barring
unforeseen destructive
weather). But for sure
it's not everlasting!
Bur
today let us consider the
One who is truly
everlasting!
God's design and pattern is for children to be raised by a mother and father. The first reference to father and mother in the Bible is in Genesis 2:24. "This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh." This statement was made before the fall and before Adam and Eve even had children! Did they even knew what children were? Of course all through history this pattern was not always maintained. Death through war, accident or illness, as well as divorce and abandonment, have always been a part of the human condition in a fallen world. When I read the story of Uriah, murdered due to David's attempt to cover up his sin with Bathsheba, I have wondered if Uriah had children who were left fatherless. What about the other men who died in the scandalous cover-up? (2 Samuel 11:17). However now with increasing sexual and moral anarchy the very notion of children needing a mother and a father is questioned, especially a father. However one only has to look at the lawless conditions among so many young men and women raised in fatherless settings due to the "new" morality (or what really amounts to old immorality) to see the devastating impact of this foolish notion. Yesterday
I watched an old rerun of
the Andy Griffith show and
was struck by the good
fathering his character
portrayed and how that
authoritative role is so
lacking for many in our
day. Now it seems
Satan is on overtime in
his efforts to destroy
children. From abortion,
to the evil taught in so
many schools with
children being groomed
in sexual perversions,
to a flood of fentanyl
and other life
destroying drugs.
The need for a father and mother is cross cultural and cross generational. In previous ages the need for a father figure was well-understood and, upon a tragic death or abandonment by a child's father, another male such as a brother, uncle or grandparent became a father figure. But this is diminishing and now the need of a father figure is debated in certain "enlightened" social circles. After all we're told the "village" can raise the child with more government programs. A father is really not needed. These current social conditions have a bearing on how one views God, whom Isaiah calls "Everlasting Father". Many have had undesirable experiences with their earthly father they must overcome as they learn to trust their heavenly father. While the view of God as the Father is used in the Old Testament, it is not a major theme. Deuteronomy 1:31 speaks of God's care for His people through the wilderness: "There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place”. But
the emphasis of God as
father becomes a great
focus in the New
Testament, as Jesus
frequently referred to His
Father. He begins what we
call the Lord's Prayer
with this wonderful title,
"Our Father..."
Just meditate for a moment
the blessing of the plural
He used. God is our
Father!
He
often urged His followers
to have a fatherly view of
God such as His command, "In
the same way, let your
light shine before men,
so that they may see
your good works and give
glory to your Father
in heaven" (Matthew
5:16). In Christ's time of
great agony he cried out
to His Father, "Now,
Father, glorify Me
in Your presence with
that glory I had with
You before the world
existed" (John
17:5).
Each of the writers of the New Testament epistles allude to God as Father such as Paul, "For this reason I kneel before the Father" (Ephesians 3:14). The writer of Hebrews alludes to both earthly fathers and our heavenly Father when he wrote, "Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?" (Hebrews 12:9). James wrote, "Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning" (James 1:17). And Peter's prayer begins, "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:3). John wrote "Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children" (1 John 3:1). Jude "To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:1). And finally in that grand finale revealed in Revelation we read, "I will give Him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:21). Today let us rejoice with exceeding great joy that we have a truly everlasting Father! Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13) Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily
prayer:
Dear God, of
all the
descriptions
ascribed to
you the title
of Father
reveals Your
nurturing,
protective,
disciplinary
and loving
care. Not just
present during
our young
years, or our
time on earth,
but You are
eternal,
existing
before time
began and You
will be our
Father forever
throughout
eternity. Your
role as our
Father keeps
us from
sinking in the
miry clay, for
You uphold us
with Your
righteous
right hand,
which keeps us
from falling
and being cast
down. Amen.
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past year (and
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Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Everlasting
Father"
Video
Maranatha!
Music
Further
Study:
What
is the meaning
of
“Everlasting
Father” in
Isaiah 9:6?
(from
gotquestions.com)
Indicative
of the
challenges
that parents
face and the
sheer evil
that is
sweeping our
country and
destroying
children:
‘Medicine
and Science
Are Being
Politically
Perverted’ to
Oppose Trans
Procedures:
Biden Official
This man
pretending to
be a woman
used to be a
doctor at the
same hospital
we use in
Hershey, PA
and then
became
Secretary of
Health. This
hospital like
many (probably
most) has gone
all in with
the agenda of
perversion.
Finally
today:
Brooksyne's
note:
Yesterday I
found this
decorator
plate at the
Gift &
Thrift Shop
where I
volunteer
periodically
as a cashier.
I was excited
upon spotting
it, I
purchased it
and I
excitedly
washed it and
displayed it
on my kitchen
counter. I
have been
mediating on
this passage
in Matthew
1:20-23 and
have memorized
the first half
and am working
on the entire
passage. I
took a photo
of the plate
so I could
meditate on
this verse
while reading
my devotions
in the living
room. Anyone
interested in
joining me in
memorizing
this beautiful
passage of
Scripture this
Christmas?
It
looks like
Stephen
thought these
bread rolls
were worth
posting. I
took a photo
of them for my
siblings since
this was a
recipe my mom
left the
family, and
only now,
after 46 years
of marriage
did I use her
recipe. I
think it got
lost in the
family line
and only came
to my
attention over
the last few
months. Mom
was a
wonderful
baker and she
always made
rolls for
church
potlucks and
for our
holiday meals.
We were so
proud of her
rolls at
church dinners
because
everyone
always fussed
over them and
we were proud
that it was
our mom that
made them. You
know the
feeling, don't
you! Anyway,
it was a joy
to make them
this past
Monday and
memories
flooded my
mind as I was
kneading the
bread and
thinking about
the special
holiday
gatherings we
had as a
family. Mom
and Dad have
been with the
Lord now for
over twenty
years and I am
now older than
the years God
allotted them
on this side
of glory.
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We
want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry. We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support but if
you would like
to make a
donation to
our ministry
see here for
more
information.
To donate directly online click here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: STEPHEN & BROOKSYNE WEBER - 700001-237376 SERVING IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY Please Note: If
you
desire you can donate
directly through
PayPal using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber".
We
keep this option
available due to the
familiarity,
convenience,
international
supporters, and for
those who may not need
an official receipt.
You can also set up
for recurring
donations. You can
also use PayPal
on this link.
Stephen & Brooksyne 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 2022 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |