The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
Search Daily Encouragement
A new message
is updated
most weekdays,
usually by
Noon Eastern
Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Thursday,
January 4, 2024
"Steadfast"
(Part
3)
Message
summary:
Our aspiration
for 2024 and
our appeal to
each reader is
to remain
faithful to
the Lord with
steadfast
purpose!
"When
he (Barnabas)
came and saw
the grace of
God, he was
glad, and he
exhorted
(encouraged)
them all to
remain
faithful to
the Lord with
steadfast
purpose" (Acts
11:23).
The
main focus of
steadfastness
in the Old
Testament is
on God as we
shared in
yesterday's
message. In
the New
Testament
"steadfast" is
mostly used to
call each
believer to be
faithful. Our
theme verse
this year, 1
Corinthians
15:58, has
these words,
"be
steadfast".
The
first
reference to
steadfast in
the New
Testament is a
short
description of
Barnabas'
ministry to
the believers
in Antioch as
found in our
daily text.
The
background:
After
Stephen was
slain and the
church was
scattered "they
(Christ-followers)
traveled as
far as
Phoenicia and
Cyprus and
Antioch"
(Acts 11:19).
They initially
spoke to the
Jews but soon
their audience
was expanded
to the
Hellenists
(Greeks,
Gentiles)
(Acts 11:20).
"And
the hand of
the Lord was
with them, and
a great number
who believed
turned to the
Lord"
(Acts 11:21).
To be
effective in
winning souls
to Christ the
hand of the
Lord must be
on the
messenger's
ministry!
"The
report of this
came to the
ears of the
church in
Jerusalem, and
they sent
Barnabas to
Antioch"
(Acts 11:22).
Barnabas is
actually a
nickname
meaning "son
of
encouragement".
This describes
his steadfast
encouragement
and support of
many in the
church
beginning in
Acts 4. The
other day
David Penley,
a longtime
Texan friend,
briefly
responded to a
message and I
wrote back
informing him
that he has a
role in my
life like that
of Barnabas.
We all need
people like
that in our
lives. And we
all need to be
encouragers as
well!
Now,
a
consideration
of our daily
text:
"When he (Barnabas) came and saw the grace of God": What does the grace of God look like? In this case Barnabas saw that the "hand of the Lord" was with the unnamed, scattered disciples who shared the Gospel in Antioch and that "a great number who believed turned to the Lord". What evidence would others see that might indicate that the grace of God is upon you and your ministry?
"He
was glad"
What is more
thrilling then
seeing the
results of
ministry? In
this case he
was rejoicing
in the
ministry
"success" of
others, the
hallmark of a
genuine,
mature
Christ-follower.
"And he exhorted (encouraged) them all": Now it was his turn and he does what he did best, encouragement! But what was the heart of his message to these young believers in Antioch?
"To
remain
faithful to
the Lord with
steadfast
purpose".
That's
our aspiration
for 2024 and
our appeal to
each reader. To
remain
faithful to
the Lord with
steadfast
purpose!
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
desire that in
all our ways
we remain
steadfast in
obeying Your
decrees. Too
frequently we
lose sight of
our stated
goal of
obeying You in
all matters
since we’re
daily exposed
to ungodly
philosophies,
lifestyles,
and trends
that stand in
direct
opposition to
teachings from
Scripture. Yet
Your Word
tells us to
remain
steadfast in
our Christian
witness,
prayerful in
all matters,
faithful in
our example to
others, and
obedient to
the teachings
of Scripture.
With the help
of Your Holy
Spirit we will
be obedient to
Your decrees
even as we
pray for
others to see
the Light of
Christ that
shines through
us in this
sin-filled
world. Help us
to remain
faithful to
You with
steadfast
purpose! In
Jesus' Name.
Amen.Here's
the entire
context of our
passage today:
"Now those
who were
scattered
because of the
persecution
that arose
over Stephen
traveled as
far as
Phoenicia and
Cyprus and
Antioch,
speaking the
word to no one
except Jews.
But there were
some of them,
men of Cyprus
and Cyrene,
who on coming
to Antioch
spoke to the
Hellenists
also,
preaching the
Lord Jesus.
And the hand
of the Lord
was with them,
and a great
number who
believed
turned to the
Lord. The
report of this
came to the
ears of the
church in
Jerusalem, and
they sent
Barnabas to
Antioch. When
he came and
saw the grace
of God, he was
glad, and he
exhorted them
all to remain
faithful to
the Lord with
steadfast
purpose, for
he was a good
man, full of
the Holy
Spirit and of
faith. And a
great many
people were
added to the
Lord. So
Barnabas went
to Tarsus to
look for Saul,
and when he
had found him,
he brought him
to Antioch.
For a whole
year they met
with the
church and
taught a great
many people.
And in Antioch
the disciples
were first
called
Christians"
(Acts
11:19-26).
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Keep
Believing"
Watch
on YouTube
Gaither Vocal
Band
Keep
believing in
what you know
is true
Keep believing
You know the Lord will see you through
When troubles rise in your lifе
And you don't know what to do
You'll be fine if you just keep beliеving
You can take Him at his word
He is faithful kind and true
Not a prayer will go unanswered
In His time, He'll see you through
Keep believing
You know the Lord will see you through
When troubles rise in your lifе
And you don't know what to do
You'll be fine if you just keep beliеving
You can take Him at his word
He is faithful kind and true
Not a prayer will go unanswered
In His time, He'll see you through
"When
the Saviour
Reached Down
for Me"
Watch
on YouTube
Edward
Menaldino On
Tuesday we
mentioned a
memorable
event for me
when I was
being
interviewed
for ordination
and one of the
elders (called
presbyters)
shared a verse
with me (1
Corinthians
15:58). That
experience and
Scripture has
been very
impactful in
my life to
this day and
is our theme
verse this
year. At the
time the
elder, Edward
Menaldino, was
a pastor of a
church in
south
Philadelphia
but in his
younger years
he was a
singing
evangelist.
Ethan
Levengood, a
chaplain at
United Zion
Retirement
Community here
in Lancaster
County, and a
longtime
reader wrote
that he
recalls
hearing Edward
Menaldino sing
on a radio
program many,
many years
ago. Although
he has been
with the Lord
since 2012
someone
maintains a YouTube
channel
with his
music! This
music is
probably from
the 50's.
Remember, it
was
"contemporary"
at that time!
To
receive the
"Daily
Encouragement"
each
Monday-Friday
use our
sign-up form
or this
page to
subscribe to
our free email
list. You can
also subscribe
to the Wordpress
rss feed
or through a Wordpress
email
subscription.
(See the email
subscription
on the top
right side
after opening
this page.)
We
want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry.
We realize
there are many
fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support 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.
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).
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.
2024 offerings YTD: $
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
2023
offerings YTD:
$29,196.00 (Note:
some offerings
from the
previous year
will continue
to post for
the first
several days
into the new
year)
2024 offerings YTD: $
Daily Encouragement on:
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."
© Copyright 2024 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA