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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
November 21, 2023
This Lancaster County Farm is on Grandview Road near Mount Joy.
This
is a preserved
farm, meaning
there are
restrictions
on any changes
or
development.
We have these
types of farms
all though our
area,
including the
land across
and behind our
home.
Click on photo for larger view
"The
Wise Builder"
Message
summary:
Let us resolve
that we will
apply godly
wisdom as we,
like a wise
builder, build
and keep on
building our
house upon the
rock!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"The
wise man built
his house upon
the rock"
(Matthew 7:24).
"So teach
us to number
our days that
we may get a
heart of
wisdom" (Psalm
90:12).
This
week we have
two framers
working on our
house,
building the
walls and roof
for our
bedroom
addition. They
are working
diligently
although it's
just a tad
cool outside today
and we have a
forecast of
rain. It was
nice to see
some walls go
up yesterday!
Today they are
preparing to
put the roof
on which will
require some
modification
to our
existing house
to support the
center beam to
hold the roof
up. Having
closed in
sides and a
roof will be a
big step in
seeing the
room closed in
and then the
inside work
can begin
regardless of
weather.
A
well known
maxim in
carpentry is
"measure twice
and cut once"
which saves a
lot on making
mistakes and
wasting
material.
Another phrase
I overheard as
the men worked
yesterday is
"doublecheck"
which is a
wise practice
for any
builder,
whether
building a
house or
building a
life.
As
we go through
life building
our spiritual
house on the
rock we do
well in
applying
wisdom to
"doublecheck"
or better yet,
check
continually.
The Bible
says, "Examine
yourselves to
see whether
you are in the
faith; test
yourselves. Do
you not
realize that
Christ Jesus
is in
you--unless,
of course, you
fail the
test?" (2
Corinthians
13:5). The
Amplified
Bible states,
"Examine
and test and
evaluate your
own selves to
see whether
you are
holding to
your faith and
showing the
proper fruits
of it. Test
and prove
yourselves".
So
let us examine
ourselves,
noting six
characteristics
of the
genuinely wise
in the Bible.
1)
The genuinely
wise build
their life on
the foundation
of hearing and
practicing the
teachings of
Jesus.
Yesterday's
message
reminded us of
the vital
importance of
building our
lives on a
solid
foundation by
both hearing and
obeying the
words of
Jesus.
According to
our Lord, “Everyone
then who hears
these words of
mine and does
them will be
like a wise
man who built
his house on
the rock".
2)
The genuinely
wise seek
Christ to
worship Him.
They
are like the
Magi in the
Christmas
story.
Their purpose
in making the
long trek from
the east was
forthright: we
"have come
to worship
Him". In
worship we
declare our
allegiance as
we celebrate
His supremacy
and worth. In
worship we
recognize the
Great One and
our own
neediness
regardless of
our position
in life. He
alone is
ultimately
wise: "To
the only wise
God be glory
forevermore
through Jesus
Christ! Amen"
(Romans
16:27).
Many
of us have
heard the
phrase "Wise
Men Still Seek
Him".* The
genuinely wise
still seek Him
like the wise
men from the
east. They
always have
and always
will. This
wisdom is
altogether
different than
the wisdom of
the world.
3) The genuinely wise are very careful about how they live. "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise" (Ephesians 5:15). The apostle Paul speaks to those who seek Christ for wisdom. The wise live carefully whereas the unwise (foolish) live carelessly. It's not hard to find people living foolishly, the world is full of them!
4)
The genuinely
wise have a
teachable
spirit. "Give
instruction to
a wise man,
and he will be
still wiser;
teach a
righteous man,
and he will
increase in
learning"
(Proverbs
9:9). A
meaningful
aspiration is
to be a
lifelong
learner. This
can apply to
many interests
but above all
should be a
quest to know
God and His
Word, growing
in the grace
and knowledge
of our Lord
and Savior
Jesus Christ
(2 Peter
3:18).
The
wise may be
among the
elite and
highly
educated
according to
worldly
standards or they
may not be.
Some of the
wisest people
in this regard
have little of
the world's
education. And
bluntly
speaking, many
of the highly
educated
according to
the world's
standards are
spiritually
ignorant and
foolish! Just
look at the
sheer evil and
nonsense
coming out of
our supposedly
"elite"
colleges.
5)
The genuinely
wise listen to
advice. "The
way of a fool
is right in
his own eyes,
but a wise man
listens to
advice" (Proverbs
12:15). One of
the great
dangers for
all ages is
the failure to
seek out and
listen to
advice. So
many people do
what is right
in their own
eyes rather
than seeking
godly counsel.
6)
The genuinely
wise control
their temper.
"A fool
gives full
vent to his
spirit, but a
wise man
quietly holds
it back"
(Proverbs
29:11). Today
there are so
many forms of
"rage" as
people do not
control their
temper. But a
wise man
quietly holds
it back. “A
quick-tempered
man acts
foolishly"
(Proverbs
14:17). James
provides
timeless
advice on this
matter, “So
then, my
beloved
brethren, let
every man be
swift to hear,
slow to speak,
slow to wrath;
for the wrath
of man does
not produce
the
righteousness
of God” (1:19–20).
Today
let us
determine that
we will
practice the
characteristics
of the
genuinely wise
using the
standards of
the Bible. Our
daily text
expresses it
so well: "The
wise man built
his house upon
the rock"
(Matthew
7:24). Let
us resolve
that we will
apply godly
wisdom as we
build and keep
on building
our house upon
the rock! "So
teach us to
number our
days that we
may get a
heart of
wisdom" (Psalm
90:12).
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, Your
word teaches
us to be very
careful how we
live, not as
foolish but as
wise followers
of Jesus. In
today's
society of
noncommittal
attitudes or
"whatever
rings your
bell" way of
thinking (or
non-thinking)
we choose to
be committed,
sober, and
vigilant about
the way we
live our lives
in accordance
to what we
believe. We
walk as
sensible,
thinking
people with a
due sense of
responsibility,
not as those
who don't know
or care about
the meaning of
life here or
the life yet
to come. We
care deeply
about the
temporal and
eternal
destiny of our
lives and
therefore we
seek Your
kingdom and
Your
righteousness
above all. So
teach us to
number our
days that we
may get a
heart of
wisdom.
In the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen."The
Wise Man Built
His House Upon
The Rock"
Watch
on YouTube
This
children's
song was
written in
1948 by Ann
Omley. It's
one of those
songs many of
us sang as
children which
reinforces a
Bible truth
and that we
remember
through life.
In both
classes
(middle-aged
and older) I
taught this
last Sunday we
concluded the
lesson by
singing this
song, motions
and all!
* John Keefer, now retired, was my pastor for many years and remains a friend. I recall him saying if he was ever to have a bumper sticker he would have one with this phrase. So I gave him a bumper sticker "Wise Men Still Seek Him".
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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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