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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Wednesday,
April 17, 2024
"Muzzling
Christ"
"But
We Preach
Christ
Crucified"
Message
summary:
I
am thankful
for the
freedom to
preach Christ,
for "Salvation
is found in no
one else, as
there is no
other name
under heaven
given to
mankind by
which we must
be saved”.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"But we preach Christ crucified" (Romans 13:7). "Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone'. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11,12). "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
Most of you reading our messages regularly know that in addition to this writing ministry we are also chaplains. Since the late 90's Brooksyne and I have worked with companies who call on us to be their chaplains. For the first several years we worked for a company (Marketplace Chaplains USA) that provides these services as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
"But we preach Christ crucified" (Romans 13:7). "Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone'. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11,12). "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
Most of you reading our messages regularly know that in addition to this writing ministry we are also chaplains. Since the late 90's Brooksyne and I have worked with companies who call on us to be their chaplains. For the first several years we worked for a company (Marketplace Chaplains USA) that provides these services as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
In
2006 we began
working
independently
directly for
companies
having at one
time as many
as 12
companies we
served, but
for the last
several years
as we approach
retirement we
have scaled
back and
presently work
with only
four. We know
these owners
directly and
they want us
to provide a
Christian
influence that
will hopefully
impact their
employees.
We
are free to
"preach
Christ" though
we do so with
sensitivity to
individual
employees and
recognize
those who
welcome our
services and
spiritual
input into
their lives
and those whom
we simply
befriend. Very
few outright
reject us. In
one company we
have
befriended a
Muslim man who
seems to
welcome our
friendship.
This
morning we
will have an
opportunity to
share a
devotional
with the
employees of a
company.
Yesterday
I attended a
meeting with
fellow
ministers who
serve in a
variety of
chaplain
services; such
as military,
correctional,
healthcare and
hospice. As
they opened up
and shared
about their
ministries I
learned how
they deal with
so many
attempts to
muzzle their
voices in
presenting
Christ and the
Gospel.
I've
known for many
years that
healthcare
chaplaincy is
very
pluralistic (a
view that all
religions are
equally valid,
there are many
ways to God,
etc).
But
I was
surprised how
this plurality
has impacted
other forms of
chaplaincy as
well. A
military
chaplain told
me they could
get in trouble
for just
concluding a
prayer using
the phrase,
"in the Name
of Jesus".
I
called Mark, a
friend who
served in the
military and a
retired
chaplain. He
told me it
wasn't always
this way but
he recalls the
muzzling of
the Name of
Jesus began in
the 90's and
has increased.
We have been
in ecumenical
settings where
we know this
to be true but
we've also
known some
leaders who
have prayed in
the name of
Jesus anyway
according to
their biblical
conviction.
But
efforts to
muzzle the
Name and
message of
Christ go back
to the
earliest days
of the
apostles when
they were
brought before
the Sanhedrin
(Jewish court)
and told by
the high
priest, “We
gave you
strict orders
not to
teach in this
name”
(Acts 5:28).
Yet they gave
a classic
answer of holy
disobedience,
"But Peter
and the
apostles
answered, 'We
must obey God
rather than
men'"
(Acts 5:29). They
were not
muzzled!
Each
one of my
chaplain peers
will have to
use wisdom in
navigating
these times as
faithful
servants of
Christ and His
gospel. But I
am thankful
for the
freedom to
preach Christ,
as "Salvation
is found in no
one else, for
there is no
other name
under heaven
given to
mankind by
which we must
be saved”.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Jesus,
Scripture
tells us that
at the last
judgment those
from every
tribe and
nation will
bow upon
hearing Your
name. Every
tongue will
confess that
You are Lord,
to the glory
of God the
Father.
We, as the
redeemed, look
forward to
that glorious
day when all
of creation
acknowledges
You as Lord.
But our hearts
cry out for
family members
and other
loved ones
who, having
denied Your
power in this
life, will be
forced to
acknowledge
You as Lord on
that final
day. Renew our
passion for
reaching those
in our
generation
with the Word
of Life, so
that they will
joyfully
proclaim Jesus
is Lord in
this life as
well as the
next. In the
powerful name
of Jesus we
pray. Amen.Why
two titles for
today's
message? I
couldn't
decide which
one to use.
Additional
note: The
specific
prompting for
today's
message was a
testimony by a
veteran
hospice
chaplain
yesterday. He
shared how he
had the
opportunity to
share with a
dying Jewish
woman who was
an Auschwitz
concentration
camp survivor.
After she
shared her
remarkable
story with him
the chaplain
asked if he
could pray
with her and
she agreed. He
offered a
prayer with
sensitivity to
her Jewishness
using phrases
like the God
of Abraham,
etc. However
in his
earnestness he
mentioned
Christ! It did
not bother the
elderly lady
at all but her
daughter, who
was listening
on, was
offended that
the Name of
Christ was
uttered and
reported him
to the
authorities in
his
organization.
Actually
I am baffled
at how easily
so many people
are offended.
I try to
reverse roles.
If I had a
friendly
conversation
with a Rabbi
and he offered
to pray with
me I would
consent and
expect him to
use phrases he
was accustomed
to and part of
his religion.
I would see
his prayer as
a kind
gesture.
Note:
Tomorrow
Brooksyne will
share a
personal
experience
regarding an
attempt to
muzzle her.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"I
Believe"
Watch
on YouTube
Phil
Wickham
(Brooksyne's
note: When
I saw that
Stephen had
selected this
song I told
him our choir
would be
leading it
this coming
Sunday and I
am so pleased
that we are.
The words
always speak
to my heart,
especially the
line, "No,
I'll never be
ashamed of the
gospel of
Jesus Christ.
How could I
ever walk away
from the One
who saved my
life!".
"There
Is One Gospel"
Watch
on YouTube
CityAlight
"I
Choose Christ"
Watch
on YouTube
Karen Peck
& New
River
Historical
perspective:
During
WW1 Woodrow
Wilson
presented a
Bible to
servicemen
with the above
inscription
(sorry for the
poor
resolution)
My
aunt gave me a
NT her husband
(my uncle) was
given, along
with all
soldiers in
WW2. I am
embarrassed to
say I
misplaced the
testament
itself! But
here is the
inscription:
"THE
WHITE HOUSE -
As
Commander-in-Chief
I take great
pleasure in
commending the
reading of the
Bible to all
who serve in
the armed
forces of the
United States.
Throughout the
centuries men
of many faiths
and diverse
origins have
found in the
Sacred Book
words of
wisdom,
counsel and
inspiration.
It is a
foundation of
strength and
now, as
always, an aid
to attaining
the highest
aspirations of
the human
soul." Signed
Franklin
Delano
Roosevelt.
Our
chaplain's
meeting was
lead by Paul,
a retired army
chaplain.
Here's
a photo of our
gathering of
chaplains
yesterday.
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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.
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Encouragement
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Stephen
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Weber
495
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Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA 17552
To
donate
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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
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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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