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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Monday,
November 13, 2023
"Breaking
The Code"
Message
summary: On
our journey
here below
it's vital to
have the right
key to break
the code of
experiencing
the treasure
chest of God's
salvation and
all His
blessings.
That key to
breaking this
code is "the
fear of the
Lord".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"The
Lord is
exalted for He
dwells on
high. He will
be the sure
foundation for
your times, a
rich store of
salvation and
wisdom and
knowledge; the
fear of the
LORD is the
key to this
treasure"
(Isaiah
33:5,6).
Saturday afternoon I was visiting with our longtime friend Nick, whom some of our readers may recall broke his hip two months ago in a bicycle accident. He is doing well in his recovery, still undergoing physical therapy, and is back to work in his insurance business.
Saturday afternoon I was visiting with our longtime friend Nick, whom some of our readers may recall broke his hip two months ago in a bicycle accident. He is doing well in his recovery, still undergoing physical therapy, and is back to work in his insurance business.
I
had a question
for Nick about
Ester's
insurance and
he asked if he
could look
over the
paperwork.
After
examining the
form for about
30 seconds he
excitedly
exclaimed, "I
broke the
code!" and
went on to
explain to me
the issue that
had been an
enigma to both
Brooksyne and
me.
To
break (or
crack) the
code is the
process of
discovering
the meaning of
an encoded or
mysterious
message. It
was initially
used in a
military sense
of breaking
the enemy's
code.
Thousands of
talented women
were secretly
recruited and
trained during
World War 2 to
become code
breakers for
the US Army
and Navy.
Working
tirelessly at
two
code-breaking
centers in the
DC area, these
women cracked
code that
provided
critical
intelligence
information in
the European
and Pacific
Theaters.Today let us consider how to break life's most vital code, the key to living with the assurance that God will be the sure foundation for our times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge. That assurance brings peace like a river regardless of what we may be facing.
Our
text begins
with this
timeless
truth, "The
Lord is
exalted for He
dwells on
high". Today,
some 2,700
years after
Isaiah wrote
this, our God
is still
exalted and
dwelling on
high! And He
always will
be.
He
ever remains,
"the sure
foundation for
your times, a
rich store of
salvation and
wisdom and
knowledge".
Isn't that an
assuring truth
for the age we
live in? The
text calls
this a
"treasure".What a blessed treasure we long for, to be settled on a firm foundation in these tumultuous times where we can draw from a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge. This is an expression of our deepest need and greatest treasure.
But
today we
especially
focus on the
last clause
which unlocks
this priceless
treasure but
it's lost by
the majority
in this world;
"the fear
of the Lord".
I earnestly
feel many in
the church and
even
professing
Christians
have also
forgotten or
dismiss the
fear of the
Lord. "The
fear of the
LORD is the
key to this
treasure".
Indeed the
very notion of
“fearing the
Lord” seems
archaic to
many in our
generation.It
is my
observation
that the fear
of the Lord is
under-emphasized
and in some
settings never
mentioned. It
seems there is
always a
struggle for
balance in
Christian
theology. In
sermons of the
past the "fear
of the Lord"
was pounded
from the
pulpit Sunday
after Sunday.
In fact this
was the theme
for one of the
most famous
sermons ever
preached in
America:
Jonathan
Edward's
"Sinners In
The Hands Of
An Angry God".
Hellfire and
brimstone
sermons seemed
to be the
recurring
theme and in
some settings
presented an
unhealthy fear
of a loving
God that
brought little
peace or
needed
security to
the believer.
However in recent decades the love and grace of God has been the chief theme to the point of completely de-emphasizing the proper understanding of the fear of the Lord. Both themes are essential and part of Biblical revelation.
However in recent decades the love and grace of God has been the chief theme to the point of completely de-emphasizing the proper understanding of the fear of the Lord. Both themes are essential and part of Biblical revelation.
The
late Bible
teacher Jerry
Bridges
writes:
A study Bible gives this helpful insight to the meaning of the fear of the Lord:
We need to have a healthy, holy fear of God and I earnestly believe this healthy, holy fear is vitally needed for our generation. Today as we daily walk in His love, let us properly reverence and fear Him for the Bible says, “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways” (Psalm 128:1). That is the key to breaking the code for God's greatest treasure.
"There
was a time
when committed
Christians
were known as
God-fearing
people. This
was a badge of
honor, but
somewhere
along the way
we lost it.
Now the idea
of fearing
God, if
thought of at
all, seems
like a relic
from the
past."
A study Bible gives this helpful insight to the meaning of the fear of the Lord:
“A
reverent awe
of God’s
power, majesty
and holiness
produces in us
a holy fear of
transgressing
His revealed
will; such
reverence is
essential to
gaining a
heart of
wisdom. The
New Testament
indicates that
the sincere
fear of the
Lord in our
hearts will be
accompanied by
the comfort of
the Holy
Spirit.”
We need to have a healthy, holy fear of God and I earnestly believe this healthy, holy fear is vitally needed for our generation. Today as we daily walk in His love, let us properly reverence and fear Him for the Bible says, “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways” (Psalm 128:1). That is the key to breaking the code for God's greatest treasure.
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer:
Father, our
generation
seeks more and
more knowledge
all the while
exercising
less and less
restraint
toward sins
that grieve
Your heart,
weakens our
testimony, and
disrespects
Your
commands.
If we build
our lives upon
foundations of
this temporal
world we will
sink when the
rains fall,
the streams
rise, and the
assaulting
winds blow and
beat against
that which we
have worked so
hard to build.
Instead we
choose You to
be our firm
foundation
upon which we
build our
lives. In
doing so we
choose to love
You and
thereby have a
reverential
fear of going
against Your
prescribed
will for our
lives. You
created us and
You know what
is best for us
so help us to
acknowledge
that truth,
believe it
with all our
hearts, and
act upon it.
Amen.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, our
generation
seeks more and
more knowledge
all the while
exercising
less and less
restraint
toward sins
that grieve
Your heart,
weakens our
testimony, and
disrespects
Your
commands.
If we build
our lives upon
foundations of
this temporal
world we will
sink when the
rains fall,
the streams
rise, and the
assaulting
winds blow and
beat against
that which we
have worked so
hard to build.
Instead we
choose You to
be our firm
foundation
upon which we
build our
lives. In
doing so we
choose to love
You and
thereby have a
reverential
fear of going
against Your
prescribed
will for our
lives. You
created us and
You know what
is best for us
so help us to
acknowledge
that truth,
believe it
with all our
hearts, and
act upon it.
Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Sovereign
Over Us"
Watch
on YouTube
Shane and
Shane
(includes
lyrics)
"Firm
Foundation (He
Won't)"
Watch
on YouTube
The Worship
Initiative
These
lyrics really
bless us:
Christ
is my firm
foundation
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now
He won't He won't
I've still got joy in chaos
I've got peace that makes no sense
So I won't be going under
I'm not held by my own strength
'Cause I've built my life on Jesus
He's never let me down
He's faithful in every season
So why would He fail now
He won't He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail (no)
(Oh) Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
(And) I'm safe with You
I'm going to make it through
(REPEAT)
Yeah I'm going to make it through
'Cause I'm standing strong on You
Yeah I'm going to make it through
'Cause my house is built on You
He won't He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail no He won't
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now
He won't He won't
I've still got joy in chaos
I've got peace that makes no sense
So I won't be going under
I'm not held by my own strength
'Cause I've built my life on Jesus
He's never let me down
He's faithful in every season
So why would He fail now
He won't He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail (no)
(Oh) Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
(And) I'm safe with You
I'm going to make it through
(REPEAT)
Yeah I'm going to make it through
'Cause I'm standing strong on You
Yeah I'm going to make it through
'Cause my house is built on You
He won't He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail no He won't
"We
Choose The
Fear Of The
Lord"
Watch
on YouTube
Maranatha
Singers
"Peace
Like a River"
Watch
on YouTube
Vinesong
What
does it mean
to have the
fear of God?
From
Gotquestions
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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 and a variety of other versions.
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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