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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Monday,
January 22, 2024
During
this time of
snow and cold
weather Anna
Ruth has been
taking the
three youngest
Lapp children
to school on
their
horse-drawn
sleigh. Since
there was
almost no snow
at all last
winter this
recent
snowfall has
been extra fun
for the
children in
our area,
actually in
many other
states as
well.
"Uncompromising
Convictions"
Note:
This week we
will have a
four part
series based
upon four
characteristics
demonstrated
by Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael and
Azariah.
Message summary: May our resolve be like that of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to have uncompromising convictions no matter the setting, the culture, or the test put before us!
Message summary: May our resolve be like that of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to have uncompromising convictions no matter the setting, the culture, or the test put before us!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).
When
we made our
marriage vows
on May 8, 1976
we were
expressing our
uncompromising
conviction to
be faithful to
one another in
marriage.
Thankfully by
the grace of
God we have
kept those
vows. We still
tease each
other which is
a healthy
aspect to
marriage. This
weekend we had
an experience
that to an
onlooker may
have been
easily
misinterpreted.
We
had met at
Costco and
were in two
different
vehicles due
to keeping two
different
schedules.
After we were
done shopping
I told
Brooksyne I
would just
load the van
and she could
go on home. As
she was
leaving a
packed parking
lot she rolled
the window
down as she
drove to the
spot where I
was still
loading up the
van and said,
"I have a new
bedroom at my
house if you
have no where
else to go and
want to come
over"
(referring to
our recently
completed
bedroom
addition).
I
chuckled
inside even as
I grimaced
considering
how that might
be interpreted
by someone
over-hearing
our playful
exchange!
Our
personal
convictions
are based upon
Scriptural
truth and
applied to our
individual
lives.
Convictions
provide
intentional
boundaries to
keep us on the
paths of
righteousness
as we seek to
live godly
lives.
In the book of Daniel we have the record of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These were their given Hebrew names but each was also given a Babylonian name. We best know Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, four Hebrew young men removed from their homeland during the exile and taken to Babylon.
One of our favorite funny church moments took place during a Sunday evening church service in Massachusetts about twenty-five years ago. I referenced Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and asked the congregation if anyone knew their Hebrew names. A little hand shot right up as he excitedly blurted out "Rach, Shak and Bennie." Now if you have kids or grandkids you're probably laughing right now as you might recognize these are their nicknames on a popular Veggie Tales story. I can understand why a child (or anyone) might assume these were the Hebrews names!
However Daniel, who was given the name Belteshazzar, is consistently self-identified as Daniel in the book bearing his name and the rest of Scripture, although the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, insisted on calling him Belteshazzar.
Early in the book of Daniel the three young men faced a test regarding their personal convictions they held while living in Judea. It concerned a special diet and specific details as to why this was an issue for them was not provided in the text. It likely had to do with foods prohibited in the Jewish law. However it was a "line in the sand" for them. Today's text should be memorized and applied to each dedicated Christian's life regarding keeping our personal convictions.
I find it helpful to study the text in various versions:
Here are three essential points in regard to developing and maintaining our personal convictions:
May God give us resolve and strength like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to have uncompromising convictions!
In the book of Daniel we have the record of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These were their given Hebrew names but each was also given a Babylonian name. We best know Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, four Hebrew young men removed from their homeland during the exile and taken to Babylon.
One of our favorite funny church moments took place during a Sunday evening church service in Massachusetts about twenty-five years ago. I referenced Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and asked the congregation if anyone knew their Hebrew names. A little hand shot right up as he excitedly blurted out "Rach, Shak and Bennie." Now if you have kids or grandkids you're probably laughing right now as you might recognize these are their nicknames on a popular Veggie Tales story. I can understand why a child (or anyone) might assume these were the Hebrews names!
However Daniel, who was given the name Belteshazzar, is consistently self-identified as Daniel in the book bearing his name and the rest of Scripture, although the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, insisted on calling him Belteshazzar.
Early in the book of Daniel the three young men faced a test regarding their personal convictions they held while living in Judea. It concerned a special diet and specific details as to why this was an issue for them was not provided in the text. It likely had to do with foods prohibited in the Jewish law. However it was a "line in the sand" for them. Today's text should be memorized and applied to each dedicated Christian's life regarding keeping our personal convictions.
I find it helpful to study the text in various versions:
"But
Daniel
purposed in
his heart that
he would not
defile
himself" (KJV)
"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself" (NIV)
"But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself" (NASB)
"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself" (NIV)
"But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself" (NASB)
Here are three essential points in regard to developing and maintaining our personal convictions:
*
Our
convictions
should be
determined by
Scripture,
both explicit
and from
principles
derived. By
"explicit" we
mean those
commands and
prohibitions
that are
forthright.
For instance I
don't have to
pray regarding
God's will in
staying
faithful to my
wife. That's
an explicit
command. On
the other hand
we will
develop many
convictions
from
Scriptural
principles.
These are
issues that
may not be
explicitly
commanded or
forbidden but
we find
Scriptural
principles
that guide us.
* Our strength in maintaining our convictions is developed from early, less significant choices. The stand that Daniel and the three Hebrew young men took in regard to the dietary issue gave them strength for a much greater test later on when they faced the fiery furnace when called to violate the 1st and 2nd commandments and later when Daniel faced the lion's den.
* Our convictions will always be tested. That's the nature of life! With our society's hastening slide into decadence true Christians will increasingly have their convictions tested.
* Our strength in maintaining our convictions is developed from early, less significant choices. The stand that Daniel and the three Hebrew young men took in regard to the dietary issue gave them strength for a much greater test later on when they faced the fiery furnace when called to violate the 1st and 2nd commandments and later when Daniel faced the lion's den.
* Our convictions will always be tested. That's the nature of life! With our society's hastening slide into decadence true Christians will increasingly have their convictions tested.
May God give us resolve and strength like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to have uncompromising convictions!
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, it was
faithful
Joshua who
issued this
challenge to
the
Israelites:
"Choose this
day whom you
will
serve."
This passage
serves as an
example to
those of us
currently
experiencing
the results of
a pluralistic
society where
God our
Creator is
being viewed
as just one of
the gods we
might be
devoted to.
But we, with
uncompromising
conviction,
hold steady to
the words of
Scripture,
"that all the
peoples of the
earth may know
that the Lord
is God; there
is no other."
Like the
followers in
Scripture, "We
want our
hearts
therefore to
be wholly
true to
the Lord our
God, walking
in His
statutes and
keeping His
commandments.”
If it requires
that we lay
down our life
we are assured
that You bring
great reward
in our eternal
dwelling. Keep
us strong,
faithful and
unswerving in
Jesus' name we
pray.
Amen.I found these points regarding convictions online:
Biblical
Convictions
(Essential/Objective)
Without these
biblical
truths,
Christianity
and the
ability to
glorify God no
longer exists.
Biblical
Beliefs
(Non-essential/Objective)
True believers
in Christ may
disagree on
these
theological
beliefs or
systems of
belief.
Personal Convictions (Situational/Subjective) How does God want me to live in the gray areas of life that are not specifically spelled out in Scripture?
Personal preferences (Autonomous/Subjective) What do I like, and want, and choose?
Personal Convictions (Situational/Subjective) How does God want me to live in the gray areas of life that are not specifically spelled out in Scripture?
Personal preferences (Autonomous/Subjective) What do I like, and want, and choose?
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Psalm
103"
Watch
on YouTube
Calvary
Church Choir
and Orchestra
from
yesterday's
service
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Weber
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To
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(This will
open to a page
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
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chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
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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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