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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Thursday,
September 28, 2023
Miss
Daisy,
an Old
Windmill Farm
goat, getting
a driving
lesson.
Personal
note: Very
early this
morning Ester
and took
Brooksyne to
Baltimore for
a 6:30AM
flight to
Nashville to
meet up with
her sister
Elaine. After
Nashville they
will be
traveling to
Arkansas for
several days
and then to
Oklahoma to
see both sides
of Brooksyne's
family. Next
weekend she
will be
attending her
50th high
school class
reunion in
Tulsa!
"The
Lord Lives, Whom
I Serve"
Message
summary: Today
we need men
and women,
teenagers and
children, all
around the
world, who
like Elijah
will
unashamedly
declare their
faith in the
living God.
May we
personally
proclaim, "The
Lord lives,
whom I serve"
and boldly
confront our
apostate
culture.
Consider ways
that we might
go about doing
that today.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word'" (1 Kings 17:1).
Brooksyne
has taught
children since
she committed
her life to
Christ in
Junior High
School over 50
years ago.
Over the years
she's had her
share of
memories from
the impromptu
expressions of
children, some
rather
humorous.
Once
she was
teaching on
Elijah and, in
describing
him, she told
the children
that he was a
"bold man."
Making sure
that she was
not talking
over their
heads, she
asked her
preschoolers
what the word
"bold" meant.
Mandy quickly
raised her
hand and
answered in
her little but
confident
voice, "He
didn't have no
hair". Brooksyne
very simply
and delicately
pointed out
the difference
in the words,
"bald" and
"bold".
Interestingly,
Elisha, who
followed
Elijah, was
indeed a bald
man! (2 Kings
2:23)
Elijah was among the greatest characters of the Bible. We have no background information on him except for that found in the daily text, "The Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead", which is how he is introduced into the Biblical narrative.
"Elijah demonstrates a persevering stand for God."
He served God during the notoriously wicked reign of Ahab and Jezebel. He is distinct in the manner of his exit from this world and for later standing with Jesus and Moses at the Mount of Transfiguration.
He
is introduced
into the
Biblical
record by
boldly
approaching
the wicked,
polytheistic
king with an
eternally true
declaration: "As
the Lord, the
God of Israel
lives..."
Today, some
2,850 years
later we who
follow Christ
likewise
proclaim, "The
Lord lives".
But it's the next phrase in the Scripture text that especially grips my heart; only three simple, monosyllabic words, "whom I serve". What a bold statement to make before the wicked and powerful king who in the previous chapter was described as one who "did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him" (2 Kings 16:30). He had made it very clear how he felt about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In our day, as believers, we often let fear override our boldness as we attempt to witness. We keep the message subtle so there is no fallout if the recipient rejects our witness. But Elijah took a bold, unambiguous stand for the living God, and suffered yet stood firm in the consequences.
In the next chapter he is ready to confront Ahab again, along with the prophets of Baal, on Mount Carmel. Similar to the opening statement about him in our daily text in 1 Kings 18:15 we read, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve..." This demonstrates the persevering nature of Elijah's stand.
Prosperity, along with spiritual apostasy (falling away from the faith), characterized the reign of Ahab. This story is an interesting parallel to world conditions today, isn't it! Certainly I know that many in the world live in severe poverty and that here in America, as well as many other countries, we face economic uncertainty but I still assert, for the most part, we live in prosperous conditions.*
Once
she was
teaching on
Elijah and, in
describing
him, she told
the children
that he was a
"bold man."
Making sure
that she was
not talking
over their
heads, she
asked her
preschoolers
what the word
"bold" meant.
Mandy quickly
raised her
hand and
answered in
her little but
confident
voice, "He
didn't have no
hair". Brooksyne
very simply
and delicately
pointed out
the difference
in the words,
"bald" and
"bold".
Interestingly,
Elisha, who
followed
Elijah, was
indeed a bald
man! (2 Kings
2:23) Elijah was among the greatest characters of the Bible. We have no background information on him except for that found in the daily text, "The Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead", which is how he is introduced into the Biblical narrative.
"Elijah demonstrates a persevering stand for God."
He served God during the notoriously wicked reign of Ahab and Jezebel. He is distinct in the manner of his exit from this world and for later standing with Jesus and Moses at the Mount of Transfiguration.
He
is introduced
into the
Biblical
record by
boldly
approaching
the wicked,
polytheistic
king with an
eternally true
declaration: "As
the Lord, the
God of Israel
lives..."
Today, some
2,850 years
later we who
follow Christ
likewise
proclaim, "The
Lord lives".
But it's the next phrase in the Scripture text that especially grips my heart; only three simple, monosyllabic words, "whom I serve". What a bold statement to make before the wicked and powerful king who in the previous chapter was described as one who "did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him" (2 Kings 16:30). He had made it very clear how he felt about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In our day, as believers, we often let fear override our boldness as we attempt to witness. We keep the message subtle so there is no fallout if the recipient rejects our witness. But Elijah took a bold, unambiguous stand for the living God, and suffered yet stood firm in the consequences.
In the next chapter he is ready to confront Ahab again, along with the prophets of Baal, on Mount Carmel. Similar to the opening statement about him in our daily text in 1 Kings 18:15 we read, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve..." This demonstrates the persevering nature of Elijah's stand.
Prosperity, along with spiritual apostasy (falling away from the faith), characterized the reign of Ahab. This story is an interesting parallel to world conditions today, isn't it! Certainly I know that many in the world live in severe poverty and that here in America, as well as many other countries, we face economic uncertainty but I still assert, for the most part, we live in prosperous conditions.*
Ahab,
though a
descendant of
Abraham,
didn't want to
hear from this
prophet and
set out to
kill him as a
result of this
prophecy of
drought. And
there are
plenty today
who don't want
to hear
anything from
those who
represent the
living God and
faithfully
seek to
proclaim the
truths in the
Bible.
The
road to
apostasy
begins with a
four-word
question.
They're the
same four
words that
worked so
masterfully
against Eve in
the Garden of
Eden and have
proven
effective on
countless
humans ever
since. Just
four words: "Did
God really
say?"
(Peter Heck)
Today
we need men
and women,
teenagers and
children, all
around the
world, who
like Elijah
will
unashamedly
declare their
faith in the
living God.
May we
personally
proclaim, "The
Lord lives,
whom I serve"
and boldly
confront our
apostate
culture.
Consider ways
that we might
go about doing
that today.
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Daily prayer:
Father, I
boldly declare
that You are
the living God
whom I serve.
Only a God
like You can
turn evil into
good, exchange
sorrow for
joy, or offer
life beyond
the grave.
Like Elijah, I
want to
fearlessly
proclaim You
to be the Lord
and Savior of
my life and
tell of all
Your wondrous
deeds. I
join with the
apostle Paul
in asking that
whenever I
open my mouth,
words may be
given me so
that I will
fearlessly
make known the
mystery of the
gospel to
those who have
not yet heard
or
comprehended
its meaning
for their
lives. Amen.
* Prosperous Conditions - As our standard of living has risen so has our expectations and sense of entitlement to the "good life". When we do not receive what we feel we are entitled to, we may feel less than prosperous. This is a deception. Most all of us have indoor plumbing, electricity, a roof over our head and many other material blessings that others do not have.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, I
boldly declare
that You are
the living God
whom I serve.
Only a God
like You can
turn evil into
good, exchange
sorrow for
joy, or offer
life beyond
the grave.
Like Elijah, I
want to
fearlessly
proclaim You
to be the Lord
and Savior of
my life and
tell of all
Your wondrous
deeds. I
join with the
apostle Paul
in asking that
whenever I
open my mouth,
words may be
given me so
that I will
fearlessly
make known the
mystery of the
gospel to
those who have
not yet heard
or
comprehended
its meaning
for their
lives. Amen.* Prosperous Conditions - As our standard of living has risen so has our expectations and sense of entitlement to the "good life". When we do not receive what we feel we are entitled to, we may feel less than prosperous. This is a deception. Most all of us have indoor plumbing, electricity, a roof over our head and many other material blessings that others do not have.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Praise
You Anywhere"
Watch
video on
YouTube
Brandon Lake
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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.
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BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
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IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
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Weber". We
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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
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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."
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