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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday,
August 9, 2023
Late
yesterday
afternoon I
joined my
friend Nick
and a group
from his
church for a
bike ride
along the
Northwest
Lancaster
County River
Trail and
Falcon came
along. The
mighty
Susquehanna
River is in
the
background.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"Disguise
and Deception"
Message
summary:
Today
we encourage
you to turn
fully to
Christ and be
ever vigilant
against our
ancient foe.
Heed the
simple words
from James
1:16, "Don’t
be deceived".
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“Satan
disguises
himself as an
angel of
light” (2
Corinthians
11:14). “Don’t
be deceived,
my dear
brothers”
(James 1:16).
Brooksyne
left for a
meeting after
having cleaned
the kitchen.
When I came in
the room I
noticed the
coffeemaker
was still on
and figured
she had made
herself some
fresh coffee
prior to
leaving so I
poured myself
a cup. I took
one drink and
started
coughing,
spitting it
out as I
repulsed at
the horribly
sour acidy
taste. Turns
out it was
vinegar
with a very
slight coffee
flavor!
I told her about the horrible vinegar/coffee drink in the coffee pot when she came home. After I finally convinced her I was not teasing she had a good laugh. She had run some vinegar through the coffeemaker in the process of cleaning it, but mistakenly left old coffee grounds in the basket so the vinegar "looked" like coffee as it poured through.
She wasn’t trying to disguise her cleaning process or deceive me, although she normally empties the basket prior to running the vinegar solution into it. I should have been more observant at the light brownish color of the "coffee", since we tend to like our coffee a bit on the stronger side!
This
reminds me of
another form
of disguise
and deception,
but this one
is quite
intentional.
It is a
disguise that
we, as
Christ’s
followers,
need to be on
our constant
guard against.
Brooksyne
left for a
meeting after
having cleaned
the kitchen.
When I came in
the room I
noticed the
coffeemaker
was still on
and figured
she had made
herself some
fresh coffee
prior to
leaving so I
poured myself
a cup. I took
one drink and
started
coughing,
spitting it
out as I
repulsed at
the horribly
sour acidy
taste. Turns
out it was
vinegar
with a very
slight coffee
flavor!
I told her about the horrible vinegar/coffee drink in the coffee pot when she came home. After I finally convinced her I was not teasing she had a good laugh. She had run some vinegar through the coffeemaker in the process of cleaning it, but mistakenly left old coffee grounds in the basket so the vinegar "looked" like coffee as it poured through.
She wasn’t trying to disguise her cleaning process or deceive me, although she normally empties the basket prior to running the vinegar solution into it. I should have been more observant at the light brownish color of the "coffee", since we tend to like our coffee a bit on the stronger side!
This
reminds me of
another form
of disguise
and deception,
but this one
is quite
intentional.
It is a
disguise that
we, as
Christ’s
followers,
need to be on
our constant
guard against.Today’s
first
Scripture
forthrightly
states, "Satan
disguises
himself as an
angel of
light".
Essentially in
this disguise
Satan seeks to
steal the
identity of an
angel of
light, a good
angel, in
order to
deceive. The
word
translated
“disguises” is
very
interesting.
Other
translations
use the words
“transform” or
“masquerade”
to translate
the Greek word
“metaschēmatizō”,
which means
"to change in
fashion or
appearance".
From the very beginning Satan has used disguises in various forms as a means of deception, as in the garden he disguised himself as a serpent. Jesus, in His most lengthy teaching on Satan said, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44).
A great line in the hymn “A Mighty Fortress” expresses it this way:
Thank God for the remainder of the great old hymn which reminds us of His provision to overcome our enemy through the infinitely greater power that comes in the name of Jesus Christ.
From the very beginning Satan has used disguises in various forms as a means of deception, as in the garden he disguised himself as a serpent. Jesus, in His most lengthy teaching on Satan said, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44).
A great line in the hymn “A Mighty Fortress” expresses it this way:
But still our
ancient foe
doth seek to
work us woe,
His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate
On earth is not his equal.
His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate
On earth is not his equal.
Thank God for the remainder of the great old hymn which reminds us of His provision to overcome our enemy through the infinitely greater power that comes in the name of Jesus Christ.
Did
we in our own
strength
confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His name,
from age to age the same;
and He must win the battle.
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His name,
from age to age the same;
and He must win the battle.
Today
we encourage
you to turn
fully to
Christ and be
ever vigilant
against our
ancient foe.
Heed the
simple words
from James
1:16, "Don’t
be deceived".
Daily
prayer:
Father, we
look to You
and depend on
Your Word to
teach us
spiritual
discernment so
that we can
readily
identify Satan
when he
regularly
appears in
disguise.
Thank You for
Your
indwelling
Holy Spirit
that bears
witness with
ours when we
test the
spirits to see
that which is
from You and
that which is
from the
devil. When
we're
uncertain
surround us
with godly
counsel and
reveal to us
Your truths as
we prayerfully
look to You
for daily
guidance.
Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"A Mighty Fortress" Click to watch on YouTube Click to watch on YouTube Tommy Bailey, Keith & Kristyn Getty
On
the way to the
trail ride
last night I
drove past
these horses
at the end of
Kraybill
Church Road.
The masks are
to keep flies
out of their
eyes, but I
also see an
illustration
for "see no
evil"!
(Click
on photo to
enlarge)
The
Shocks Mill
railroad
bridge is
always
photogenic and
I can never
resist pulling
out my camera
to capture
this
magnificent
bridge that
has been in
use since
1905. What
caught my
attention this
time was the
log jam that
keeps building
up.
(Click
on photo to
enlarge)
When
I got to the
trail head
there was a
large group
from a local
ministry
called
LIFECYCLES who
dispersed into
smaller groups
for the ride.
This group was
clearing a
fallen tree on
the trail. The
mission of LIFECYCLES
is to build
young men and
women of
character in a
Christ-centered
bicycle
touring
adventure
experience for
teens with a
mentoring
program to
guide them
into
adulthood.
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want to thank
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WEBER -
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CHAPLAINCY)
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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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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."
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