The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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encouragement and exhortation.
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Monday, August 21,
2023
This
restored one
room
schoolhouse is
now a meeting
place
sponsored by a
local church.
Since so many
bikes pass by
they installed
a water
fountain and a
bike repair
station!
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
"A
Message From Malachi"
Message
summary: God's
response
concerning
what wearies
Him is so
interesting
and very
appropriate
for our times.
How was (is)
God wearied? "By
saying, 'All
who do evil
are good in
the eyes of
the LORD, and
He is pleased
with them'."
Today we need people like Malachi willing to faithfully proclaim God's message regardless of how popular or unpopular it may be among the people. Fast forward to our present day and I present Alex Kocman, a very bold Christian, who proclaimed truth in a neighboring city's council meeting. (link to article below)
The Biblical prophet Malachi served God about 100 years after the end of the Babylonian exile (about 440 years before Christ came). His name means "my messenger". The temple had been rebuilt and the walls of the city were now secure after the cooperative team effort during Nehemiah's leadership. The people had experienced two separate moves of God's Spirit several years earlier in both Ezra's and Nehemiah's lifetime. These times of revival were marked by repentance, reforms, and a renewed attentiveness and adherence to God's Word. My, don't we need that kind of revival today!
But now once again the people had lapsed back into lukewarmness and indifference and needed the stirring voice of a prophet of God. I am sure thankful for such voices today that remind me of what really matters!
We need the Holy Spirit's moving to refresh us by dissolving indifference and chipping away at the hardness that creeps into our lives over time. Our prayer should always be: "Lord, keep reminding me of what really matters for eternity!!!"
Malachi uses a very interesting writing style that consists of an indictment from God against the people, "You have wearied the LORD with your words."
This was followed by a question from the people, "How have we wearied Him?"
God's response concerning what wearies Him is so interesting and very appropriate for our times, "By saying, 'All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them'".
These very words (or more correctly, the sentiment of these words) are far too common today in the moral confusion and anarchy that abounds in our world. There are many who believe that those "who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD". Further insulting is the view that, "He is pleased with them".
"You
have wearied
the Lord with
your words.
'How have we
wearied Him?'
you ask. By
saying, 'All
who do evil
are good in
the eyes of
the Lord, and
He is pleased
with them'"
(Malachi
2:17).
Yesterday we completed our study of the Minor Prophets in our Adult Bible Fellowship class with a study of Malachi, the final book in the Old Testament. I am one of several teachers who share the duties of teaching in this "Crossroads" class of mostly seasoned believers (60+). This week I want to elaborate on some of the points I made yesterday when I presented the lesson.
Yesterday we completed our study of the Minor Prophets in our Adult Bible Fellowship class with a study of Malachi, the final book in the Old Testament. I am one of several teachers who share the duties of teaching in this "Crossroads" class of mostly seasoned believers (60+). This week I want to elaborate on some of the points I made yesterday when I presented the lesson.
The
Minor Prophets
are perhaps
the hardest to
understand and
perhaps the
most neglected
part of the
Bible, but a
high view of
Scripture
asserts both
their
inspiration
and value.
Throughout
this study we
have found
many truths so
applicable to
our current
day.
Today we need people like Malachi willing to faithfully proclaim God's message regardless of how popular or unpopular it may be among the people. Fast forward to our present day and I present Alex Kocman, a very bold Christian, who proclaimed truth in a neighboring city's council meeting. (link to article below)
The Biblical prophet Malachi served God about 100 years after the end of the Babylonian exile (about 440 years before Christ came). His name means "my messenger". The temple had been rebuilt and the walls of the city were now secure after the cooperative team effort during Nehemiah's leadership. The people had experienced two separate moves of God's Spirit several years earlier in both Ezra's and Nehemiah's lifetime. These times of revival were marked by repentance, reforms, and a renewed attentiveness and adherence to God's Word. My, don't we need that kind of revival today!
But now once again the people had lapsed back into lukewarmness and indifference and needed the stirring voice of a prophet of God. I am sure thankful for such voices today that remind me of what really matters!
We need the Holy Spirit's moving to refresh us by dissolving indifference and chipping away at the hardness that creeps into our lives over time. Our prayer should always be: "Lord, keep reminding me of what really matters for eternity!!!"
Malachi uses a very interesting writing style that consists of an indictment from God against the people, "You have wearied the LORD with your words."
This was followed by a question from the people, "How have we wearied Him?"
God's response concerning what wearies Him is so interesting and very appropriate for our times, "By saying, 'All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them'".
These very words (or more correctly, the sentiment of these words) are far too common today in the moral confusion and anarchy that abounds in our world. There are many who believe that those "who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD". Further insulting is the view that, "He is pleased with them".
Isaiah
5:20 states, "Woe
to those who
call evil good
and good evil,
who put
darkness for
light and
light for
darkness, who
put bitter for
sweet and
sweet for
bitter".
Now let's be clear; God never wearies of listening to sincere prayers from an earnest heart. He delights in our words of praise and never wearies in taking care of His children. But teachings like, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them" most certainly wearies and grieves Him.
I don't want to weary God with my words. In what ways do our words "weary" God?
Now let's be clear; God never wearies of listening to sincere prayers from an earnest heart. He delights in our words of praise and never wearies in taking care of His children. But teachings like, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them" most certainly wearies and grieves Him.
I don't want to weary God with my words. In what ways do our words "weary" God?
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
pray for a
sincere heart
that is
sensitive to
Biblical
truths as they
apply to our
lives. We
struggle with
forgetfulness
and
indifference –
twin enemies
of a living
vibrant
relationship
with You. We
earnestly seek
You for
spiritual
revival;
revival that
includes
messengers who
challenge our
indifference
toward modern
accepted
philosophies
of this world
rather than
the
life-changing
godly truths
of Scripture:
revival for
those of us
who sit in the
church pews
week after
week who hear
the Scriptures
expounded upon
but leave
unyielded to
the working of
the Holy
Spirit in our
lives. We
don't want to
weary You,
Lord, but
rather honor
You. Revive
both the
messenger and
listener so
that our lives
are a
demonstration
of the reality
of a vibrant
walk with Your
Son, Jesus,
our living
Savior and
Lord. Amen.Follow-up
personal note:
Last Friday
morning we
were invited
to speak to
the employees
of Sensing
Devices, a
small company
in Lancaster.
A 19 year old
co-worker,
Anthony
Serrano, was
murdered
earlier in the
week and upon
invitation we
made ourselves
available as
grief
counselors.
We had an
extended visit
with one
family member
and hope to
meet with
Anthony's
mother in the
very near
future. She
also is an
employee at
this company.
We spoke of
our
opportunity in
Friday's DE
and received
some emails
from those who
are praying
for this
family and we
thank you for
helping carry
their burden.
Anthony leaves
behind a one
year old son
whom his
mother and
father will
now raise.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"I
Am Thine O
Lord"
Watch
video on
YouTube
Reawaken Hymns
Last
Friday we
stopped by to
visit with a
group of JK
Mechanical
employees who
were
participating
a "gives back"
workday
building a
Habitat For
Humanity house
in Columbia,
PA.
Although
I prefer to
ride my bike
on our area's
many rail
trails it is
also nice to
ride on the
country roads
if they're not
busy. Saturday
I rode a quiet
section of
rural roads
between Mount
Joy and
Manheim
passing many
beautiful
farms and the
restored
one-room
schoolhouse
seen in our
lead photo.
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
Fred
and Lydia
Goshen are
newlyweds who
sit near us at
church with an
interesting
story. They
were high
school
sweethearts
who broke up
and each
married
another
person. Fred
became a
widower after
62 years of
marriage and
Lydia after
61. After the
deaths of
their spouses
they
reconnected
and married
only a few
months ago.
They're still
in the hand
holding stage
which looks so
sweet!!
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WEBER -
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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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