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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Thursday,
December 28, 2023
Message
summary:
Today we
encourage you
to focus on
the joyful
hope we have
in Christ and
with a
thought-provoking
saying I
really like:
“Man’s way
leads to a
hopeless end,
but God’s way
leads to an
endless
hope.”
Amen!!!
Note:
Podcast not
prepared for
this message
due to a
painter
spraying the
ceiling on our
new bedroom
right beside
our office!
“Be joyful
in hope”
(Romans
12:12).
“Beloved, now
we are
children of
God, and it
has not
appeared as
yet what we
will be. We
know that when
He appears, we
will be like
Him, because
we will see
Him just as He
is. And
everyone who
has this hope
fixed on Him
purifies
himself, just
as He is pure”
(1 John
3:2,3).
When
Brooksyne and
I got married
in 1976 our
first home was
in a parsonage
about
twenty miles
due north of
Springfield,
MO
where I
pastored our
first church
called
Sunnyvale, way
out in the
country.* It
was near a
small village
named Pleasant
Hope. In fact
our very first
joint checking
account was
opened at the
Pleasant Hope
Bank. I don’t
know the basis
of this name,
Pleasant Hope,
but the names
of many
geographical
locations have
a religious
significance,
as they were
settled by
devout people
of faith.
An
interesting
village name
here in
Lancaster
County is
Mount Hope.
Since devoted
religious
immigrants
settled this
area in the
18th century
it likely
represents an
expression of
faith.
I
don’t know
about
tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray.
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray.
When
Brooksyne and
I got married
in 1976 our
first home was
in a parsonage
about
twenty miles
due north of
Springfield,
MO
where I
pastored our
first church
called
Sunnyvale, way
out in the
country.* It
was near a
small village
named Pleasant
Hope. In fact
our very first
joint checking
account was
opened at the
Pleasant Hope
Bank. I don’t
know the basis
of this name,
Pleasant Hope,
but the names
of many
geographical
locations have
a religious
significance,
as they were
settled by
devout people
of faith.An
interesting
village name
here in
Lancaster
County is
Mount Hope.
Since devoted
religious
immigrants
settled this
area in the
18th century
it likely
represents an
expression of
faith. Hymn
writer Ira
Stanphill, who
was a pastor
here in
Lancaster
County from
1962-1968,
wrote the
great gospel
classic, "I
know who holds
tomorrow". The
entire song is
an expression
of the fixed
hope we have
in Christ and
throughout our
message today
we want to
share the
lyrics.
Wouldn’t
it be great if
all our
problems from
2023
disappeared as
we turned the
calendar page
from December
2023 to
January
2024?
Well, you and
I know it
doesn’t work
that way. Some
things will
improve;
others will
worsen.
Hope is one of the greatest of God’s gifts to us. Our relationship with God always involves faith, and active faith in God always leads to hope. When our faith in God is weak, inactive or non-existent we have either no hope or a misplaced hope.
But a joyful hope is the heritage of all true followers of Christ. We are included in the “beloved” when John writes to those who are “now (present tense) the children of God".
As children of God there’s a lot about our future, both the immediate and distant, much of which we don’t understand. I believe this is expressed in our text, “it has not appeared as yet what we will be".
But the aged apostle John writes with much certainty about the future, “We know that when He appears...” His future appearance, although mocked and scorned by the world, is a fixed reality.
At that time “We will be like Him, and we will see Him just as He is!” Elsewhere the Scriptures refer to the return of Christ as the “Blessed Hope” and it truly is.
As we prepare for a new year I am incentivized and challenged by the last phrase in our daily text, “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure". This hope is not a mere wish but an absolute certainty and leads to an unshakable confidence concerning the future promises of God. It's a fixed hope. As a result of this we, as God’s children, will purify ourselves because our Lord is absolutely pure. The Precept commentary notes,
I
don’t worry
o’er the
future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.
I
don’t know
about
tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
Hope is one of the greatest of God’s gifts to us. Our relationship with God always involves faith, and active faith in God always leads to hope. When our faith in God is weak, inactive or non-existent we have either no hope or a misplaced hope.
But a joyful hope is the heritage of all true followers of Christ. We are included in the “beloved” when John writes to those who are “now (present tense) the children of God".
As children of God there’s a lot about our future, both the immediate and distant, much of which we don’t understand. I believe this is expressed in our text, “it has not appeared as yet what we will be".
But the aged apostle John writes with much certainty about the future, “We know that when He appears...” His future appearance, although mocked and scorned by the world, is a fixed reality.
At that time “We will be like Him, and we will see Him just as He is!” Elsewhere the Scriptures refer to the return of Christ as the “Blessed Hope” and it truly is.
As we prepare for a new year I am incentivized and challenged by the last phrase in our daily text, “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure". This hope is not a mere wish but an absolute certainty and leads to an unshakable confidence concerning the future promises of God. It's a fixed hope. As a result of this we, as God’s children, will purify ourselves because our Lord is absolutely pure. The Precept commentary notes,
“The
Christian life
is a process
of becoming
more and more
like Christ.
This process
will not be
complete until
we see Christ
face to face,
but knowing
that this is
our ultimate
destiny should
motivate us to
purify
ourselves. To
purify means
to keep
morally
straight, free
from the
corruption of
sin. God also
purifies us,
but there is
action we must
take to remain
morally fit.”
This action, I believe, is staying true to the pure doctrine of Scripture, not just reading it but living it. We must be vigilant in keeping God’s standards as our rule book, rather than the ever changing standards of this world that reflect the fallen human nature rather than the spiritual nature that has been redeemed and refined by the inerrant Holy Word of God.
Genuine Christ-directed faith leads to a fixed hope and that leads to an amazing, unexplainable ability to rejoice no matter the circumstances, to "be joyful in hope". Surely some of you are facing very trying circumstances even as you read this.
Today
we encourage
you to focus
on the joyful
hope we have
in Christ. A
thought-provoking
saying I
really like:
“Man’s way
leads to a
hopeless end,
but God’s way
leads to an
endless
hope.”
Amen!!!
Many
things about
tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
share the
sentiment Paul
expressed when
he wrote, "If
only for this
life we have
hope in
Christ, we are
to be pitied
more than all
men". Our hope
is not limited
to our earthly
existence, but
rather it
flourishes and
yields growing
anticipation
as we
contemplate
the blessed
future event
of our Lord’s
soon return.
Being aware of
our
unworthiness
and
inclination to
sin gives us
all the more
motivation to
fix our hope
on You. We
want to set
our affections
on things
above, not on
things of this
earth, for we
are dead to
the world and
our life is
hidden with
Christ through
You, Father.
Purify our
thoughts, our
actions, and
our
conversation
as we with
renewed
determination
fix our hope
on the
Everlasting
One. We pray
this in Jesus’
name. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"I
Know Who Holds
Tomorrow"
Watch
on YouTube
The Petersens
(young people
singing an old
song!)
"He
Sees What We
Don't"
Watch
on YouTube
Bowling
Sisters
There
are times in
this life when
fear is so
heavy
And burdens weigh on your mind
You are weak in the knees and no strength can you find
Just hold on, helps right on time, my Jesus is always on time.
Chorus:
And burdens weigh on your mind
You are weak in the knees and no strength can you find
Just hold on, helps right on time, my Jesus is always on time.
Chorus:
And
though you may
see a valley
He sees the mountain you'll be standing on
When all you can see are the tears falling down
I'm so glad He sees what we don't.
I've seen His children walk thru the darkest of midnight
I've witnessed faith put to the test
And I have watched as the storms flew in with the thunder
But in each trial He knows what's best
And I am so glad He knows what's best
Chorus again
He sees the mountain you'll be standing on
When all you can see are the tears falling down
I'm so glad He sees what we don't.
I've seen His children walk thru the darkest of midnight
I've witnessed faith put to the test
And I have watched as the storms flew in with the thunder
But in each trial He knows what's best
And I am so glad He knows what's best
Chorus again
Bridge:
He knows the end from the beginning
He looks ahead past the hurt and the pain
To a place where the peace passes all understanding
He sees the sun thru the rain
He knows the end from the beginning
He looks ahead past the hurt and the pain
To a place where the peace passes all understanding
He sees the sun thru the rain
*
I found the
location of
our first home
as a married
couple on Google
maps. The
church has
long been
closed and it
looks like the
property is a
mess. But we
have wonderful
memories of
the year we
spent there as
newlyweds
our senior
year of
college.
Tip:
Have you ever
located on
Google maps
the various
places you
have lived? In
many cases you
can also get a
street view
such as this photo.
The church
building is on
the left with
the piano on
the porch and
the small home
we lived when
we first got
married is on
the right.
That year I
did farm work
for local
farmers and
Brooksyne
worked at the
Assemblies of
God
Headquarters
in
Springfield,
MO.
Two
of the
long-time
devoted
members of the
little country
church were
Tracy and
Beulah
Sutherland
with a very
young 21 year
old Brooksyne
(during the
"big hair"
perm days.)
The
Sutherlands
were in their
90's at this
time. Beulah
went on to
live past 100.
Tracy was a
lifelong
farmer.
Yesterday
we visited
with our
friends Rick
and Rachel in
their home in
York County.
We have served
as chaplains
at Rick's
company, White
Oak Display
and Design,
since 2008.
White
Oak makes
displays for
retailers. If
you've been in
a store such
as Bass Pro
Shop, Cabelas,
Lowes,
Walmart, etc.
you've
probably seen
a display they
have made.Each
year they
demonstrate
their work
with a small
gift to their
customers (or
vendors, I
can't recall).
This year it
is a wireless
phone charger
with the
charging gizmo
sandwiched
between
plywood. He
gave us one
and it works
great!
Special
Year-end
Financial
Appeal
We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). Like most ministries, we typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful.
We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
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.
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.
You
can send a
check payable
to "Daily
Encouragement
Net" to:
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
495
Kraybill
Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA 17552
To
donate
directly
online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).
Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
Offerings
YTD:
$26,981.00
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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 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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