The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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)
Tuesday, March
14, 2023
Church
sign in
Bethel, PA.
The
Blue Mountain
ridge is in
the
background.
This is the
ridge the
Appalachian
Trail runs
along in this
part of the
state.
"When
Truth Hurts"
Message
summary:
Today
let us receive
the truth,
primarily the
Gospel truth,
even if it
does hurt! Let
us hear and
heed our
Lord's words:
“If you
abide in my
word, you are
truly My
disciples, and
you will know
the truth, and
the truth will
set you free”
(John
8:31,32).
“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31,32).
As
we've
mentioned
often on daily
encouragement
we are
genuinely
blessed by the
messages we
read on church
signs and
private yards
throughout
Lancaster and
Lebanon
County. We see
a lot of them
here in rural
Pennsylvania.
They can be
thought-provoking
and even
humorous. Last
week we passed
the church
sign in our
lead photo in
Bethel, PA
which states,
"If The Truth
Hurts, Then It
Is Working".
For
many years
during the
time I served
as a pastor I
had a small
placard
attached to
the pulpit
facing me as I
preached with
these words,
"Sir, we would
see Jesus".
It was visible
as I stood in
front of God's
people and
preached every
Sunday
reminding me
that it's not
me that the
people came
out to see,
but Jesus,
whom I
solemnly
represented.
This is an
extremely
important
truth for all
ministers of
the Gospel to
keep in mind
as they break
forth the Word
of Life.
The
venerable J.
Vernon McGee
also used this
phrase on his
pulpit
reminding him
of his serious
duty but he
writes:
"There
is another
verse I wanted
to place on
the audience
side of
the pulpit,
but I never
had the nerve
to do it. It
is these words
of Paul: “Am I
therefore
become your
enemy, because
I tell you the
truth?” As you
know, many
folk today
really don’t
want the
preacher to
tell the truth
from the
pulpit. They
would much
rather he'd
say something
complimentary
that would
smooth their
feathers and
make them feel
good. We all
like to have
our backs
rubbed, and
there is a lot
of
back-rubbing
from the
contemporary
pulpit rather
than the
declaration of
the truth."
McGee
died in 1988
so it's no
telling how
long ago he
wrote this and
it is even
more true
today in the
age of
"seeker-sensitive"
churches where
a cardinal
rule is "don't
say anything
that might
offend
someone".
Bible teacher A.T. Robertson quipped, "It is always a risky business to speak the truth, the whole truth. It may hit and hurt".
The
phrase "truth
hurts" means
that the truth
can be painful
or
uncomfortable
to hear,
especially if
it conflicts
with our
beliefs,
expectations,
or desires. It
can also
increasingly
conflict with
popular
culture.
In
the daily text
Paul is
addressing a
drift away
from the truth
among the
Galatian
believers. A
few verses
earlier he
wrote, "Formerly,
when you did
not know God,
you were
enslaved to
those that by
nature are not
gods. But now
that you have
come to know
God, or rather
to be known by
God, how can
you turn back
again to the
weak and
worthless
elementary
principles of
the world,
whose slaves
you want to be
once more?"
(Galatians
4:8,9).
Truth
can hurt when
it challenges
our beliefs.
These
Galatians had
been exposed
to false
teachings.
They had been
persuaded of
certain
beliefs by
false
teachers,
hearing
something,
even something
true, that
contradicts
those beliefs
can be
difficult to
accept.
It
can feel like
a personal
attack, and we
may resist it
because it
threatens our
sense of
identity. This
will be the
case as our
society
becomes
increasingly
Biblically illiterate
and rejects
God's ways and
many become
ignorant of
God's truths.
Earlier
in the book of
Galatians Paul
writes, "I
am astonished
that you are
so quickly
deserting Him
who called you
in the grace
of Christ and
are turning to
a different
gospel"
(Galatians
1:6).
Our
sinful nature
makes us prone
to exchanging
truth for a
lie. In Romans
1:25 Paul
wrote of those
who "exchanged
the truth
about God for
a lie and
worshiped and
served the
creature
rather than
the Creator".
Today
let us receive
the truth,
primarily the
Gospel truth,
even if it
does hurt! Let
us hear and
heed our
Lord's words,
“If you
abide in my
word, you are
truly my
disciples, and
you will know
the truth, and
the truth will
set you free”
(John
8:31,32).
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, just
as Paul wrote
that he was
astonished
when Your
followers were
so quickly
deserting the
gospel of
Jesus Christ
and turning to
a different
gospel, we too
are astonished
and grieved
when we see
those who have
walked with
You in
righteousness
and truth turn
to a
counterfeit
gospel, one
that says
Jesus is a
way, not the
way; another
that says we
are saved by
our good
works, by our
name
recognition,
by how much
money we give
to charitable
works and on
and on the
list grows. We
thank You for
Christian
friends,
preachers, and
Christian
leaders who
speak the
truth even
when it hurts.
They don't
just go along
to get along,
but they stand
on principle
not seeking to
be contrary
but to be
Christ
honoring and
obedient to
that which is
established in
Your word. We
want to abide
in You so that
we will abide
in Your truth
and do not
fall prey to
erroneous
teaching. Keep
us faithful,
Jesus. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Oh
But God"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Shane
& Shane
"Holy Forever" Click to listen on YouTube From our service this last Sunday at Calvary Church. Brooksyne and I found ourselves talking about this song and even singing the chorus throughout the day. She told me the thought came to her when we sang "You are holy forever" during the service that she considered how essential the word "forever" is when singing God's virtue of holiness. In Brooksyne's own words: I thought about Satan who was an angel enjoy the glories of heaven and all the privileges that angels enjoy, but then he became proud, was cast out and has caused destruction, mayhem and every other negative words I can think of in my vocabulary in addition to seeking to rob us of our soul. What if God's holiness wasn't forever, that He would take an abrupt turnabout with His omnipotence and then use it for evil. We would be hopeless, banished and never know the eternal glories that await those who are faithful followers of Christ. How futile and frightening. But I'm so glad we can rely on the promises in God's Word and sing with 100% conviction God is holy Forever!
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.)
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support at this time but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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)
If
you desire you
can also
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,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Daily
Encouragement on: 
Wordpress
iHeart
radio
Permissions: 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.
Wordpress
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.
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 2023 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA