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Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday,
July 5, 2023
Fireworks
Display at the
Reading PA
ballpark.
"The
Necessity
Of Restraint"
Message
summary:
Today let us
consider the
blessing and
necessity of
restraint.
“Only he
who now
restrains it
will do so
until he is
out of the
way. And then
the lawless
one will be
revealed” (2
Thessalonians
2:7,8). “So
then,
brothers,
stand firm and
hold to the
traditions
that you were
taught by us,
either by our
spoken word or
by our letter”
(2
Thessalonians
2:15).
Yesterday our country celebrated its 247th birthday. We were married the year of the bicentennial so the nations birthday (Independence Day) is easy for us to remember! My, how things have changed in our country since 1976.
Yesterday our country celebrated its 247th birthday. We were married the year of the bicentennial so the nations birthday (Independence Day) is easy for us to remember! My, how things have changed in our country since 1976.
John
Adams, the
second
president of
the United
States,
prophetically
wrote in 1798:
"We have no
government
armed with
power capable
of contending
with human
passions
unbridled by
morality and
religion….Our
Constitution
was made only
for a
religious and
moral people.
It is wholly
inadequate for
the government
of any
other."*
Today
let us
consider the
blessing and
necessity of
restraint.
As our country becomes more and more secularized there are many who relish the thought of how wonderful they believe things will be when the influence of godly, Bible-faithful Christians are diminished or even eliminated. They see the attempts of Christians to restrain ungodliness as hateful and dangerous and an impediment to progress.
I read about a young teacher in Washington state who in a blog post looked forward to the day when the older generation, many who hold traditional moral values, pass on so “progress” (in her view) of a social utopia could continue unabated. Frankly in my view, apart from a great awakening type of revival she and many like her are going to get their way, though not completely, for God always has a remnant of godly people in every generation.
The
human race has
been bucking
up to
restraints
placed by God
from the very
beginning when
Adam and Eve
rejected God's
restraint
regarding the
forbidden
fruit in the
Garden of
Eden. The
sinful nature
wars against
restraints
placed by God
in His Word.
Now attempts
are being made
not only to
reject the
restraints but
to silence any
effort of
restraining
that which is
forbidden by
God.
2 Thessalonians 2 is a prophetic portion of God’s Word and thus subject to various interpretations by equally earnest Bible students: “Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:7,8). One Bible student views this passage as referring to a time when the influence and restraint of Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit will be removed worldwide and the lawless one will be revealed and have free range. The restraints will be lifted and it will not be a pretty picture.
Today I share a closing thought from this section of Scripture from the Apostle Paul, a call to all of us, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” Let us continue to be a people restraining all sorts of evil though many do not appreciate the blessing of restraint.
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer: Father,
as we march
onward to Zion
and uphold the
Biblical view
of righteous
living, we are
often mocked
or dismissed
as a radical
bunch of Jesus
followers. But
we know that
it is the
righteous
remnant who
restrain Your
wrath in the
midst of the
flood of
evildoers. You
are not
willing that
any should
perish, but
that all
should turn to
repentance.
You didn’t
send Jesus to
earth to
condemn the
world but to
provide
redemption for
all who
believe upon
Your name. We
do believe and
respond by
walking in the
ways of
righteousness.
It is by grace
that we are
saved, so we
give You
thanks through
Christ Jesus
our Lord in
whose name we
pray. Amen.Liberal
Missouri is a
tiny town in
Barton County,
not too far
from the
equally tiny
town of
Harwood where
my Mom grew up.
It was named
after the
Liberal League
in Lamar,
Missouri (to
which the
town’s
organizer
belonged). It
was started as
an atheist,
“freethinker”
utopia in 1880
by George
Walser, an
anti-religionist,
agnostic
lawyer. He
bought 2,000
acres of land
and advertised
across the
country for
atheists to
come and help
him start “a
town without a
church, where
unbelievers
can bring up
their children
without
religious
training,’ and
where
Christians are
not allowed.”
In spite of his objective, churches were established over the years in and around Liberal Missouri and now, although apparently there is still a vestige of its founding principles that remain, a survey indicated that over 50% attend church. Most interesting is that by some accounts later in life George Walser forsook his atheist leanings and eventually became a Christian!
In spite of his objective, churches were established over the years in and around Liberal Missouri and now, although apparently there is still a vestige of its founding principles that remain, a survey indicated that over 50% attend church. Most interesting is that by some accounts later in life George Walser forsook his atheist leanings and eventually became a Christian!
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Monday
evening we
joined some
friends to
watch a
baseball game
in Reading PA.
It is among
the oldest
Minor League
parks in the
US built in
1950.
Stephen's
older brother
Pat and his
wife joined us
yesterday for
a 4th of July
cookout
although we
ate inside due
to the heat!
Last
night a
neighbor
stopped by and
enjoyed
showing us his
restored El
Camino.
Last
night just
before sunset
I (Stephen)
took a bike
ride on the
river trail up
to Falmouth,
PA. Across the
river is the
York Haven
Hydro plant
which began
commercial
operations in
1901, making
it one of the
oldest
hydroelectric
projects in
America.
On
the way back
my odometer
hit the 1000
mile mark!
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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
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
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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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