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)
Monday,
February 19, 2024
A
garden shed on
the Old
Windmill Farm
covered with
snow during
last week's
storm. Today
is sunny but
still quite
cold.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). “Watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16). “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:3,4).
Daily prayer:
Father, Your
Word is a lamp
unto my feet
and a light
unto my path.
It is eternal
and it stands
firm in the
heavens.
You give me
understanding
to learn Your
commands and
the fortitude
to apply these
principles
which is a
life-changing
process over
my lifetime.
You
established
Your Law to
last forever
though it is
often
criticized by
modern
philosophers
and those who
want to sway
the truth to
their own
liking. Help
us not to be
intimidated by
those who
claim "more
education" has
made them
wiser than the
miraculous
black and
white truths
delivered to
us in the Holy
Scriptures.
Help us to
carefully
exegete the
Word of God as
we contend for
the faith once
and for all
entrusted to
the saints of
all
generations.
Amen.
Another illustrative memory: I had a similar experience to my science teacher friend about 20 years ago when I was at a chaplain training seminar in Springfield Missouri and attended a special presentation. One of the speakers who had an interest in astronomy, in the middle of his lecture, scornfully mocked the Biblical teaching concerning creation and bragged that he was able to persuade the entire class he taught at Evangel College as an adjunct professor in "theistic" evolution. (In essence he believes that the current teaching of evolution is correct but God is somehow at work behind the scenes.) In this view the clear teaching of creation in the Bible is essentially a myth. After he spoke these words and following the seminar my mind was spinning in disbelief.
"Contending
For Sound
Doctrine"
Message
summary:
Today,
wherever you
are, whatever
you do, keep
careful watch
over your life
as you contend
for the
apostolic
doctrine. Hold
fast to that
which the
Scripture
teaches.
Discern and
resist the
evil
influences
that would
attempt to
discredit the
teaching of
God’s Holy
Word.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). “Watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16). “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:3,4).
Yesterday
I taught a
lesson
introducing a
study of
foundational
doctrines in
our Adult
Bible
Fellowship
class. I had
referred to
this in
Friday's
message but
want to again
emphasize the
importance of
contending for
sound
doctrine.
Mike
is a friend
who for many
years taught
as a science
teacher in a
local
Christian
school. He
shared of an
encounter he
had with a
student in his
class who
expressed that
the Biblical
accounts
describing
Adam and Eve,
the flood, and
other miracles
of the Bible
were not
really true,
but merely
myths.
Mike told the student his belief that the Biblical record was indeed a reliable account. Later he received a call from the student's father. He identified himself as a PhD who taught Theology in a culturally Christian college. He asserted that his child was merely expressing his beliefs and went on to defend them. Thankfully my teacher friend was not swayed!
A major emphasis in the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) is the importance of maintaining sound doctrine. Consider these texts, all from the Pastoral Epistles:
Mike told the student his belief that the Biblical record was indeed a reliable account. Later he received a call from the student's father. He identified himself as a PhD who taught Theology in a culturally Christian college. He asserted that his child was merely expressing his beliefs and went on to defend them. Thankfully my teacher friend was not swayed!
A major emphasis in the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) is the importance of maintaining sound doctrine. Consider these texts, all from the Pastoral Epistles:
- "Hold on to the pattern of sound doctrine that you have heard from me" (2 Timothy 1:13).
- "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).
- "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3).
- "But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine" (The apostle Paul to Titus in Titus 2:1)
Contending for
sound doctrine
has been a
battle the
true church
has faced from
its earliest
years. We must
continue to
contend!
So often in the history of the church, apostasy begins in the church's educational system. Schools pride themselves in educational excellence and academic respectability, which is understandable. It seems to me though that professors are often hired based primarily upon their educational attainment, not their adherence to sound doctrine, particularly if their degrees are from "prestigious" colleges. After all, it looks good to have a PhD from Harvard, Yale or some other elite school on the faculty.
So often in the history of the church, apostasy begins in the church's educational system. Schools pride themselves in educational excellence and academic respectability, which is understandable. It seems to me though that professors are often hired based primarily upon their educational attainment, not their adherence to sound doctrine, particularly if their degrees are from "prestigious" colleges. After all, it looks good to have a PhD from Harvard, Yale or some other elite school on the faculty.
Today
let us
consider three
phrases from
each of our
daily texts:
“Continued
steadfastly”.
In musing over
these matters
I emphasize
just these two
words from our
first daily
text which is
so greatly
needed. It’s a
description of
the early
church and a
pattern we
surely do well
to follow.
Just these
words grip me,
“And they
continued
steadfastly...”
The Amplified
version
states, “And
they
steadfastly
persevered,
devoting
themselves
constantly.”
The first on
the list of
what they
continued to
steadfastly
practice was
the “apostle’s
doctrine”.
I believe as we devote ourselves to Jesus we also will continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. I believe the Bible from cover to cover. I believe it is the authoritative, infallible, inerrant, wholly inspired Word of God. I sure don’t understand all of it and some of the accounts are difficult to comprehend, but I attribute much of this difficulty to my own limited comprehension. Also because it is the unfiltered, unphotoshopped glimpses of real people who lived out their lives here on earth, some as excellent role models and others not so much. In fact the extremes of evil and goodness are portrayed all throughout the Book of books.
“Watch your life and doctrine closely”. That is how we live as we conduct our lives and watch our doctrine closely (what we believe). A major emphasis in 1 Timothy is the importance of maintaining a godly life and sound doctrine. My heart is heavily burdened when I see the slipping of godly standards of morality and sound doctrine, yet this has been a battle the true church has faced from its earliest years and these very issues were even dealt with in the New Testament church.
I believe as we devote ourselves to Jesus we also will continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. I believe the Bible from cover to cover. I believe it is the authoritative, infallible, inerrant, wholly inspired Word of God. I sure don’t understand all of it and some of the accounts are difficult to comprehend, but I attribute much of this difficulty to my own limited comprehension. Also because it is the unfiltered, unphotoshopped glimpses of real people who lived out their lives here on earth, some as excellent role models and others not so much. In fact the extremes of evil and goodness are portrayed all throughout the Book of books.
“Watch your life and doctrine closely”. That is how we live as we conduct our lives and watch our doctrine closely (what we believe). A major emphasis in 1 Timothy is the importance of maintaining a godly life and sound doctrine. My heart is heavily burdened when I see the slipping of godly standards of morality and sound doctrine, yet this has been a battle the true church has faced from its earliest years and these very issues were even dealt with in the New Testament church.
"Contend
for the faith".
MacArthur
writes, "Jude
wrote this
urgent
imperative for
Christians to
wage war
against error
in all forms
and fight
strenuously
for the truth,
like a soldier
who has been
entrusted with
a sacred task
of guarding a
holy
treasure".
Today,
wherever you
are, whatever
you do, keep
careful watch
over your life
and keep
contending for
the apostolic
doctrine. Hold
fast to that
which the
Scripture
teaches.
Discern and
resist the
evil
influences
that would
attempt to
discredit the
teaching of
God’s Holy
Word.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, Your
Word is a lamp
unto my feet
and a light
unto my path.
It is eternal
and it stands
firm in the
heavens.
You give me
understanding
to learn Your
commands and
the fortitude
to apply these
principles
which is a
life-changing
process over
my lifetime.
You
established
Your Law to
last forever
though it is
often
criticized by
modern
philosophers
and those who
want to sway
the truth to
their own
liking. Help
us not to be
intimidated by
those who
claim "more
education" has
made them
wiser than the
miraculous
black and
white truths
delivered to
us in the Holy
Scriptures.
Help us to
carefully
exegete the
Word of God as
we contend for
the faith once
and for all
entrusted to
the saints of
all
generations.
Amen.Another illustrative memory: I had a similar experience to my science teacher friend about 20 years ago when I was at a chaplain training seminar in Springfield Missouri and attended a special presentation. One of the speakers who had an interest in astronomy, in the middle of his lecture, scornfully mocked the Biblical teaching concerning creation and bragged that he was able to persuade the entire class he taught at Evangel College as an adjunct professor in "theistic" evolution. (In essence he believes that the current teaching of evolution is correct but God is somehow at work behind the scenes.) In this view the clear teaching of creation in the Bible is essentially a myth. After he spoke these words and following the seminar my mind was spinning in disbelief.
This
is the same
college the
small Bible
college I
attended
merged into
over ten years
ago.
This
is a critical
issue facing
the Church. So
many worship
at the shrine
of academia.
In fact my
teacher friend
conveyed that
the professor
seemed to
assert that
his having a
PhD would
settle the
issue and
place his
beliefs in an
authoritative
position above
any criticism
from my
teacher friend
(who
ironically had
a degree from
the same
college where
the professor
taught).
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.
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
2024
offerings YTD:
$1,940.00
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