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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
April 23, 2024
"No
Rival, No
Equal!"
Message
summary:
God
has no rival
and no equal.
Now and
forever, He
reigns!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:17).
We hear about a lot of rivalries in life: sports rivalries, sibling rivalries, corporate rivalries, political rivalries and so forth.
A rivalry is defined as "the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship". Rivalry is the 'against each other' spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called a rivalry, and each participant or side a rival to the other.
We consider great rivalries in sports. Perhaps the best known and longest lasting is the baseball rivalry between New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox dating back to 1901. During that time they have played each other 2,320 times.* We saw the intensity of this rivalry when we lived in the Boston area in the 90's.
In
the corporate
world we
consider the
longstanding
rivalry
between Coke
and Pepsi.
The Bible speaks of rivalries as well, usually in a family sense such as the bitter rivalry between twin brothers Jacob and Esau. At the time of Christ's trial Herod and Pilate were rivals. Even among the Twelve there is some evidence of rivalry such as the peculiar seating request by James and John. (Mark 10:35-40). "When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John" (Mark 10:41).
Paul alludes to a type of rivalry that exists among ministries and the motivation for preaching: "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel" (Philippians 1:15,16). Sad to say these types of questionable motivations and ministry rivalries still exist today.
Many of us have been blessed by the powerful worship song "What A Beautiful Name" which we sang in our church this last Lord's Day. It comes to a majestic crescendo with this verse:
I am especially blessed by the line, "You have no rival, You have no equal".
Satan is God's ancient adversary but he is not God's rival. No doubt, he would like to reckon himself as God's rival and we may mistakenly see him that way.
However a rivalry is a contest between two equals. We wouldn't speak of the New York Yankees and the little league team I played on in Belton, Missouri as being rivals.
Satan is a part of the created order, a fallen angel.
The Bible speaks of rivalries as well, usually in a family sense such as the bitter rivalry between twin brothers Jacob and Esau. At the time of Christ's trial Herod and Pilate were rivals. Even among the Twelve there is some evidence of rivalry such as the peculiar seating request by James and John. (Mark 10:35-40). "When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John" (Mark 10:41).
Paul alludes to a type of rivalry that exists among ministries and the motivation for preaching: "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel" (Philippians 1:15,16). Sad to say these types of questionable motivations and ministry rivalries still exist today.
Many of us have been blessed by the powerful worship song "What A Beautiful Name" which we sang in our church this last Lord's Day. It comes to a majestic crescendo with this verse:
You
have no rival,
You have no
equal
Now and forever, God, you reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names
Now and forever, God, you reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names
I am especially blessed by the line, "You have no rival, You have no equal".
Satan is God's ancient adversary but he is not God's rival. No doubt, he would like to reckon himself as God's rival and we may mistakenly see him that way.
However a rivalry is a contest between two equals. We wouldn't speak of the New York Yankees and the little league team I played on in Belton, Missouri as being rivals.
Satan is a part of the created order, a fallen angel.
God
is the Creator
of the
universe. He
is "God
Most High,
Creator of
heaven and
earth"
(Genesis
14:19).
We serve the God whose Name is above every name, we serve the King who is "eternal, immortal, invisible".
Today lift your eyes and direct your heart:
We serve the God whose Name is above every name, we serve the King who is "eternal, immortal, invisible".
Today lift your eyes and direct your heart:
- to the One who has no rival,
- to the One who has no equal,
- to the One, now and forever, who is steadily reigning over the affairs of the universe and over the affairs of your life.
- His is the Kingdom.
- His is the glory.
- His is the Name above all names!
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Jesus,
through Your
sacrificial
death You
silenced the
boast of sin
and the grave.
Though my sin
was great,
Your love was
greater; and
nothing can
separate us
now. You
indeed have no
rival, and You
have no equal.
What a
beautiful name
it is, the
name of Jesus,
that at Your
name every
knee will bow
in heaven and
on earth, and
under the
earth and
every tongue
will confess
that Jesus
Christ is Lord
to the glory
of God the
Father.
Amen.
Lyrics from
"What a
Beautiful
Name" and
Philippians 2
adapted in
prayer.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"What
A Beautiful
Name"
Watch
on YouTube
From
our service
this last
Sunday at
Calvary Church
in Lancaster.
"Holy,
There Is No
One Like You"
Watch
on YouTube
Housefires
"See
How Good It Is
(Psalm 133)"
Watch
on YouTube
Wendell
Kimbrough
featuring
Sandra
McCracken
Suggested by
Nigel based on
yesterday's
message on
neighborliness.
Nigel, along
with his wife
Laifong, are
good friends
who attended
our
congregation
in Taunton,
MA.
See
how good it is
Gathering with friends
Welcoming the stranger in
See how good it is
Gathering with friends
Welcoming the stranger in
See how good it is
The
pink dogwood
tree in our
backyard
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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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Weber
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To
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(This will
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
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Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
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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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