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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Thursday,
May 2, 2024
Yesterday
riding through
the Lancaster
county
countryside I
visited the
Spooky Nook
greenhouse.
This is an
Amish run
business and
they sure like
purple
martins, a
bird I
couldn't
identify even
if I did ever
spot one!
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
"Pray"
Message
summary: Today
is the
National Day
Of Prayer here
in the USA.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"I
urge, then,
first of all,
that requests,
prayers,
intercession
and
thanksgiving
be made for
everyone--for
kings and all
those in
authority,
that we may
live peaceful
and quiet
lives in all
godliness and
holiness" (1
Timothy
2:1,2). "If my
people, who
are called by
my Name, will
humble
themselves and
pray and seek
my face and
turn from
their wicked
ways, then
will I hear
from heaven
and will
forgive their
sin and will
heal their
land" (2
Chronicles
7:14).
Today
is the
National Day
Of Prayer here
in the USA. We
gathered early
this morning
here in Mount
Joy where
local pastors
led us in
prayer. As we
prepare our
message a
large group
(we hope) will
be gathering
at our state
capitol for
prayer and
then this
evening we
have a
countywide
event here in
Lancaster
County.
Our
country and
world is in
desperate need
of divine
intervention!
Our
encouragement
messages go
out to
believers in
many different
countries so
we try to
write for the
spiritual
edification of
all true
believers
regardless of
where they
live. We are
unaware of
other
countries that
might have
official
national days
of prayer as
we have here
in America.
However we
genuinely
believe this
is a very
important day
here in our
country where
God has
providentially
ordained that
we should live
out our lives
here on this
earth.
Wherever you reside you should pray for your country and every point we make today will apply regardless of your location. This instruction from Paul is always appropriate, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1,2).
We have often considered the second daily verse and we both committed it to memory many years ago, probably while in Bible College. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple was being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God's Name.
The phrase "My people" in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people and their specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive error when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God's land in the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers foundationally hold heavenly citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship).
That said, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that "My people" today refers to the people of God who live throughout the world.
God still requires these conditions of His people:
* Humble themselves
* Pray
* Seek My face
* Turn from their wicked ways
God promises these blessings for His people:
* Then will I hear from heaven
* And will forgive their sin
* And will heal their land
As God's people we are indeed called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek His face and to turn from our wicked ways. Wherever we may live let us who love God apply these conditions! The eternal, unchanging God is still speaking from heaven; forgiving sin, and extending His healing touch to all who look to Him. Regardless of what happens to America or the land where you live, His promise to the individual who earnestly seeks Him is always bright, good and full of hope.
Wherever you reside you should pray for your country and every point we make today will apply regardless of your location. This instruction from Paul is always appropriate, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1,2).
We have often considered the second daily verse and we both committed it to memory many years ago, probably while in Bible College. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple was being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God's Name.
The phrase "My people" in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people and their specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive error when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God's land in the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers foundationally hold heavenly citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship).
That said, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that "My people" today refers to the people of God who live throughout the world.
God still requires these conditions of His people:
* Humble themselves
* Pray
* Seek My face
* Turn from their wicked ways
God promises these blessings for His people:
* Then will I hear from heaven
* And will forgive their sin
* And will heal their land
As God's people we are indeed called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek His face and to turn from our wicked ways. Wherever we may live let us who love God apply these conditions! The eternal, unchanging God is still speaking from heaven; forgiving sin, and extending His healing touch to all who look to Him. Regardless of what happens to America or the land where you live, His promise to the individual who earnestly seeks Him is always bright, good and full of hope.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
thank You for
Your continued
mercies to our
land because
You are a
loving,
forgiving God.
You have
called on us,
Your children,
to be a people
of prayer,
devotion, with
denial of
self. We pray
for our people
to repent of
neglect and
defiance of
Your holy
commands. In
the name of
Jesus we come
against the
powers of
darkness that
seek to engulf
the light of
Your salvation
that brings
help, hope,
and
forgiveness to
sin sick souls
and secures
their eternal
dwelling in
heaven. Help
us not to grow
weary in our
intercession,
for we want to
be faithful in
prayer so
that, at a
future date,
we will
witness the
harvest of
souls. We pray
for Your will
to be
accomplished
in the name of
Jesus. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"The
Jesus Way"
Watch
on YouTube
Phil
Wickham
We sang this
song of
conviction in
our gathering
today.
This
morning I sat
near our
longtime
farmer friend
Galen and
asked him to
help me
visualize how
large 89 acres
would be. He
referred to a
field on his
farm visible
from this
vantage point
which would be
approximately
89 acres which
would be to
the right of
this view.
However this
field was
obstructed by
trees but the
green field in
the background
seemed very
similar. This
is in regard
to a point I
made last week
that if all
the world's
land mass was
the size of
Lancaster
County (944 sq
miles) Israel
would be .015%
of that which
would be
0.1416 sq mile
or 89.6 acres.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
On
part of my
ride yesterday
I was on the
Lancaster
Junction rail
trail. The
farm in the
background is
owned by an
Amish family
and the
enterprising
children have
built this
small veggie
stand near the
trail. They
had plants and
fresh cut
rhubarb. I
thought the
rock-lined
walkway was a
nice touch!
Last
week I shared
about a
persistent
robin who
insisted on
building a
nest on top of
the fan that
is over our
outside dining
table. I think
she knew we
were church
folks since
she built
another nest
while we were
out on Sunday.
Now she's
right at home!
So
far she has
laid one egg
but we expect
more and will
regularly
report over
the next
several weeks.
Finally
these white
eggs are in a
nest deep
inside a small
blue spruce
beside our
deck. I will
watch to see
what type of
bird this is
but do any of
our readers
know?
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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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Mount
Joy, PA 17552
To
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(This will
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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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