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)
Thursday, June
8, 2023
Yesterday
we were in a
remote portion
of
Northumberland
County about
50 miles
(straight
line) north of
us where we
met the Lapp
family for a
day of
adventure. On
the way we
passed these
very happy
Amish girls
who had been
working
together
planting
organic herbs
and took an
"excursion" on
the wagon. The
young driver
was having an
especially fun
time.
(Click to enlarge)
"False
Prophets"
Message
summary: Today,
as
much as ever,
we must
continue to be
on our guard
against false
prophets.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Her
leaders judge
for a bribe,
her priests
teach for a
price, and her
prophets tell
fortunes for
money. Yet
they look for
the Lord’s
support and
say, ‘Is not
the Lord among
us? No
disaster will
come upon us’”
(Micah 3:9).
"I warned you
when you felt
secure, but
you said, 'I
will not
listen!' This
has been your
way from your
youth; you
have not
obeyed Me"
(Jeremiah
22:21). “Watch
out for false
prophets. They
come to you in
sheep’s
clothing, but
inwardly they
are ferocious
wolves”
(Matthew
7:15).
Yesterday
we passed a
truck that had
the large
letters on it
"Super Ego".
Turns out it's
an actual
trucking
company
although I was
unable to find
how they came
up with that
name. But it
sure struck me
as descriptive
of many
politicians
and more than
a few
religious
leaders!Micah
described the
politicians
and religious
leaders
(priest and
prophets) in
the daily
text;
essentially
they were in
it for the
money which is
also true of
many
politicians
and more than
a few
religious
leaders today
who may also
have super
egos and false
motives.
A
mega theme in
Micah's book
includes
rebukes to
false
prophets,
corrupt
government
leaders and
greedy
priests. These
are timelessly
needed
rebukes.
Today
we will focus
on the false
prophets:
"A
false prophet
is a person
who spreads
false
teachings or
messages while
claiming to
speak the Word
of God. In the
Bible, false
prophets also
spoke on
behalf of
false gods.
False prophets
functioned in
their
prophetic role
illegitimately
or for the
purpose of
deception. The
Bible
denounces
false prophets
for leading
people
astray." (from
gotquestions.org)
The
prophets were
misleading the
people by
failing to
faithfully
proclaim God's
word and
telling people
only what they
wanted to
hear. Many
false prophets
spoke against
the plan of
God. Today we
have many weak
churches and
pulpits which
have succumbed
to liberalism
and
accommodation
with the world
proclaiming a
false message.
Jeremiah
demonstrates
the role of a
true prophet
speaking for
God, "I
warned you
when you felt
secure, but
you said, 'I
will not
listen!' This
has been your
way from your
youth; you
have not
obeyed Me"
(Jeremiah
22:21).
Jeremiah faithfully ministered during those fateful last days of Judah prior to the Babylonian captivity. He served during the time of godly Josiah the last King that honored God. Each of the four kings that followed him were evil. The context of the daily verse places it at the time of Jehoiakim, who reigned for eleven years and whose life is summed up by the phrase "the detestable things he did" (2 Chronicles 36:8). How would you like the writer of your obituary to include that same description followed by the listing of those detestable things?
Consider the first clause in the daily text, "I warned you when you felt secure". In addition to security the Hebrew word used here conveys abundance and prosperity. It seems that just prior to the fall of the kingdom there was a period of prosperity and security in Judah. Even as evil swept through the land and judgment loomed, the economy was booming. The people "felt secure" and just wouldn't listen to the warning of the true prophet of God. By contrast the false prophets were saying, "'Peace, peace'; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 8:11b).
Jeremiah faithfully ministered during those fateful last days of Judah prior to the Babylonian captivity. He served during the time of godly Josiah the last King that honored God. Each of the four kings that followed him were evil. The context of the daily verse places it at the time of Jehoiakim, who reigned for eleven years and whose life is summed up by the phrase "the detestable things he did" (2 Chronicles 36:8). How would you like the writer of your obituary to include that same description followed by the listing of those detestable things?
Consider the first clause in the daily text, "I warned you when you felt secure". In addition to security the Hebrew word used here conveys abundance and prosperity. It seems that just prior to the fall of the kingdom there was a period of prosperity and security in Judah. Even as evil swept through the land and judgment loomed, the economy was booming. The people "felt secure" and just wouldn't listen to the warning of the true prophet of God. By contrast the false prophets were saying, "'Peace, peace'; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 8:11b).
Jesus
warned His
listeners, “Watch
out for false
prophets. They
come to you in
sheep’s
clothing, but
inwardly they
are ferocious
wolves”
(Matthew
7:15). The
apostle John's
timeless
warning is, “Beloved,
do not believe
every spirit,
but test the
spirits to see
whether they
are from God,
for many false
prophets have
gone out into
the world”
(1 John 4:1).
Today, as much as ever, we must be on our guard against false prophets!
Today, as much as ever, we must be on our guard against false prophets!
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer: Father,
many of us
responded to
Scripture in
the way that
people
responded to
Micah's words
of warning now
recorded in
Scripture, "'I
will not
listen!" From
our youth into
adulthood we
chose not to
obey Your
words in
Scripture. How
wonderful that
the Spirit of
God got our
attention and
changed our
heart's
response to
that of "I
will listen!"
I will listen
to the message
of salvation
presented
through
Christ's
sacrificial
death. I will
listen to
preachers,
prophets, and
evangelists
who pronounce
truths from
Your holy
Word. Not only
will I listen,
but I will
obey that
which is
taught
according to
Scripture. I
will keep up
my guard
against any
false prophet
who would add
to, take away
from or alter
the inspired
Word of God
handed down
through the
centuries. My
very soul is
at stake and
my eternal
destination as
well! Keep me
faithful, I
pray, in the
name of Jesus.
Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Yesterday
we visited an
animal farm,
an interesting
choice for an
activity for
the Lapp
family on
vacation,
since they
operate the
Old Windmill
Farm. Bit this
farm had
exotic animals
like the
ostrich, deer,
zebra, camels,
etc. which the
children
enjoyed
feeding.
(Click
to enlarge)
This
cow
transported
his feed right
into its mouth
via his long
flexible
tongue!
(Click
to enlarge)
Feeding
the camels.
The
hazy day is
due to the
wildfires in
Canada which
is impacting
our entire
region.
(Click
to enlarge)
We
also toured
Woodward Cave,
which was a
first cave
tour for the
children and
proved to be
an interesting
one, as most
caves are.
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. 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.
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