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Brooksyne Weber
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Thursday, April
20, 2023
Flowering
trees beside
stone
farmhouse on
Trout Run Road
Click
to enlarge
"The
False Commission"
Caution:
This message may offend the "woke"
Message
summary:
The soldiers
who guarded
the tomb
could, for a
price, ignore
what they
witnessed
firsthand. We
also can
ignore what we
know to be
true, for a
price. We can
choose to deny
truth and fear
the wrath of
man more than
the wrath of
God, but the
price we pay
is the forfeit
of our own
soul (Mark
8:36). Let us
instead be
people of
truth!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"While
they were
going, behold,
some of the
guard went
into the city
and told the
chief priests
all that had
taken place.
And when they
had assembled
with the
elders and
taken counsel,
they gave a
sufficient sum
of money to
the soldiers
and said,
“Tell people,
‘His disciples
came by night
and stole Him
away while we
were asleep.’
And if this
comes to the
governor's
ears, we will
satisfy him
and keep you
out of
trouble.” So
they took the
money and did
as they were
directed. And
this story has
been spread
among the Jews
to this day"
(Matthew
28:11-15).
Lying
was first
introduced
when Satan,
the father of
lies, first
deceived Adam
and Eve in the
Garden of
Eden.
Throughout
human history
humanity has
always dealt
with lies and
in our view
this sinful
epidemic of
lying is
increasing
exponentially.
Actually in
some settings
I now just
assume I am
being lied to.
In recent
years lying is
often called
misinformation
and in today's
text we have
an example of
intentional
misinformation.
Our
pastor
preached on
this text this
last Sunday
and called
this section
of the chapter
"The False
Commission",
since it
precedes the
Great
Commission. He
is a very
thoughtful
preacher and
has a way of
pointing out
interesting
details in the
text. For
instance he
pointed out
the phrase "some
of the guard"
may imply that
there were
other guards
who came to
faith after
witnessing the
resurrection.
But good
preaching also
prompts the
listener's own
further study
and musing of
the text and
that's what
happened as I
listened
Sunday.
These
guards told
the chief
priests "all
that had taken
place". At
this point
there's no
reason to
believe they
were telling
anything but
the truth;
they were eye
witnesses of
the glorious
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ. How
could this be
anything but
life
transforming?
But
the chief
priests and
elders
(the religious
elite)
demonstrated
stunning
hard-hardheartedness.
Earlier they
had posted a
guard, being
concerned that
the disciples
would steal
the body. Now
they heard the
truth from the
soldiers and
rather than
examine their
hearts
they
gave "a
sufficient sum
of money to
the soldiers
and said,
'Tell people,
‘His disciples
came by night
and stole him
away while we
were asleep'".
That
supposedly
would keep
them out of
trouble.
"And
this story has
been spread
among the Jews
to this day".
This was the False
Commission.
Instead of
spreading the
good news of
the Great
Commission
they spread
the false news
which is still
believed by
Jews and
skeptics to
this day.
After Pastor
made this
point
Brooksyne told
me she
whispered in
her friend's
ear who sat
beside her,
"And that was
taxpayers'
money being
used for the
big lie". Her
friend
whispered
back, "Yeah,
and they're
still doing it
even today".
I am stunned
at this
unbelief for a
price.
A sufficient
sum of money
still buys
lies of all
sorts. How did
these soldiers
deal with the
certain
internal
conflict of
knowing what
really
happened
but lying
about what
they know
did not
happen; that
the disciples
had stolen
Jesus' body
while the
guards slept.
Today
there is so
much to which
we are being
lied about and
it gets more
and more
bizarre as we
face the
reality of
what it is
doing to
destroy the
souls of man
and the ruin
of our nation.
Romans 1:18, "For
the wrath of
God is
revealed from
heaven against
all
ungodliness
and
unrighteousness
of men, who by
their
unrighteousness
suppress the
truth".
People are
accepting many
lies even
though, like
the soldiers,
they surely
have to be
internally
conflicted if
they have even
an iota of
spiritual
discernment
and Biblical
knowledge.
Such as:
- That the baby developing in the womb is just a glob of tissue and is disposable at will.
- That the clear design by God for marriage between a man and a woman can be violated with a notion that men can marry other men and women can marry other women.
- That
the clear
design from
God that "He
created them
male and
female" can be
violated with
the demonic
notion that a
male can
become a
female and a
female can
become a male.
What's
next is
presently
unimaginable
just like the
previous
points were
not long ago
unimaginable.
That's what
lying,
repeating the
lies, and
practicing
deception does
to the
individual
conscience or
to an entire
nation, if not
checked by
those who
refuse to
participate in
the lies.
The
soldiers who
guarded the
tomb could,
for a price,
ignore what
they witnessed
firsthand. We
can also
ignore what we
know to be
true, for a
price. We can
choose to deny
truth and fear
the wrath of
man more than
the wrath of
God, but the
price we pay
is the forfeit
of our own
soul (Mark
8:36). Let us
instead be
people of
truth!
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
we are told in
Scripture to
speak the
truth in
love. We
want to be
full of grace
and truth like
John described
Jesus to be.
The Bible does
not speak of
"your truth"
or "my truth"
but truth is
based on the
character of
who the
Godhead is, so
we ask You to
help us not to
acquiesce to
the current
philosophies
of our day by
repeating
"approved"
lies or by
suppressing
the truth just
to get along
or blend in
with our post
modern world
of relativism.
Give us
courage to
build and
maintain our
character on
the truth
spoken of in
Scripture, for
Jesus Himself
stated "I am
the Way, the
Truth, and the
Life." Let us
lovingly speak
the truth at
all times as
we seek to
honor You and
Your name, for
it is in
Jesus' name
that we pray.
Amen. Barne's
Notes of the
Bible:
But speaking
the truth in
love -
"being
sincere." The
translation in
the text is
correct -
literally,
"truthing in
love" -
ἀληθεύοντες
alētheuontes.
Two things are
here to be
noted:
(1)
The truth is
"to be spoken"
- the simple,
unvarnished
truth. This is
the way to
avoid error,
and this is
the way to
preserve
others from
error. In
opposition to
all trick, and
art, and
cunning, and
fraud, and
deception,
Christians are
to speak the
simple truth,
and nothing
but the truth.
Every
statement
which they
make should be
unvarnished
truth; every
promise which
they make
should be
true; every
representation
which they
make of the
sentiments of
others should
he simple
truth. "Truth
is the
representation
of things as
they are;" and
there is no
virtue that is
more valuable
in a Christian
than the love
of simple
truth.
(2) The second thing is, that the truth should be spoken "in love." There are other ways of speaking truth. It is sometimes spoken in a harsh, crabby, sour manner, which does nothing but disgust and offend. When we state truth to others, it should he with love to their souls, and with a sincere desire to do them good. When we admonish a brother of his faults, it should not be in a harsh and unfeeling manner, but in love. Where a minister pronounces the awful truth of God about depravity, death, the judgment, and future woe, it should be in love. It should not be done in a harsh and repulsive manner; it should not he done as if he rejoiced that people were in danger of hell, or as if he would like to pass the final sentence; it should not be with indifference, or in a tone of superiority. And in like manner, if we go to convince one who is in error, we should approach him in love. We should not dog-matize, or denounce, or deal out anathemas. Such things only repel. "He has done about half his work in convincing another of error who has first convinced him that he loves him;" and if he does not do that, he may argue to the hour of his death and make no progress in convincing him.
(2) The second thing is, that the truth should be spoken "in love." There are other ways of speaking truth. It is sometimes spoken in a harsh, crabby, sour manner, which does nothing but disgust and offend. When we state truth to others, it should he with love to their souls, and with a sincere desire to do them good. When we admonish a brother of his faults, it should not be in a harsh and unfeeling manner, but in love. Where a minister pronounces the awful truth of God about depravity, death, the judgment, and future woe, it should be in love. It should not be done in a harsh and repulsive manner; it should not he done as if he rejoiced that people were in danger of hell, or as if he would like to pass the final sentence; it should not be with indifference, or in a tone of superiority. And in like manner, if we go to convince one who is in error, we should approach him in love. We should not dog-matize, or denounce, or deal out anathemas. Such things only repel. "He has done about half his work in convincing another of error who has first convinced him that he loves him;" and if he does not do that, he may argue to the hour of his death and make no progress in convincing him.
What
is truth?
from the Got
Questions
teaching site-
A Proposed
Definition of
Truth: In
defining
truth, it is
first helpful
to note what
truth is not:
The
Greek word for
“truth” is
aletheia,
which
literally
means to
“un-hide” or
“hiding
nothing.” It
conveys the
thought that
truth is
always there,
always open
and available
for all to
see, with
nothing being
hidden or
obscured. The
Hebrew word
for “truth” is
emeth, which
means
“firmness,”
“constancy”
and
“duration.”
Such a
definition
implies an
everlasting
substance and
something that
can be relied
upon.
- Truth is not simply whatever works. This is the philosophy of pragmatism—an ends-vs.-means-type approach. In reality, lies can appear to “work,” but they are still lies and not the truth.
- Truth is not simply what is coherent or understandable. A group of people can get together and form a conspiracy based on a set of falsehoods where they all agree to tell the same false story, but it does not make their presentation true.
- Truth is not what makes people feel good. Unfortunately, bad news can be true.
- Truth is not what the majority says is true. Fifty-one percent of a group can reach a wrong conclusion.
- Truth is not what is comprehensive. A lengthy, detailed presentation can still result in a false conclusion.
- Truth is not defined by what is intended. Good intentions can still be wrong.
- Truth is not how we know; truth is what we know.
- Truth is not simply what is believed. A lie believed is still a lie.
- Truth is not what is publicly proved. A truth can be privately known (for example, the location of buried treasure).
Kevin,
a longtime
reader made
this
interesting
point
regarding
yesterday's
message: Peter
has such a
need to see
and I presume
to touch Jesus
that he cannot
wait for the
boat. It won't
be a private
moment as the
others are
less than a
football field
away. But the
shame and
guilt of his
failure and
denial on the
night of the
'trial'
weighed on him
so heavily
that he NEEDED
to be
restored.
Why am I not more like this with the Lord and with people? Why do I delay to reconcile? I don't know - but I see benefit in sandal-in-mouth Peter's urgency
Why am I not more like this with the Lord and with people? Why do I delay to reconcile? I don't know - but I see benefit in sandal-in-mouth Peter's urgency
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"The
Voice Of Truth
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Casting Crowns
Here's
an
interesting
article
about the
current gender
fad which is
deceiving so
many. The
comments are
equally
insightful.
Our
pastor's
message from
last
Sunday Click
to listen on
YouTube
Includes his
thoughts about
the false
commission.
Yesterday
afternoon I
took a
neighborhood
bike ride
along with my
friend Bob.
Horses
along Trout
Run Road
Click
to enlarge
Protecting
and incubating
the eggs
beside Donegal
Creek
Click
to enlarge
Flowering
trees beside
Donegal
Springs
Click
to enlarge
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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
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This will open
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states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
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available due
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convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
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recurring
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Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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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."
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