✝ Daily Encouragement (7/11/22) "God Is In Control!"
Published: Mon, 07/11/22
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Monday, July 11, 2022
"God Is In Control!"
Message summary: Today God is in control of your life and mine. Real peace and assurance comes from having knowledge of His control and confidence that He is always working for our good. Are you going through a storm or are you enduring a "trial"? Are you experiencing sleepless nights due to worries? Remember God is in control.
"It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance" (Acts 12:1-6). ![]() When I hurt my shoulder in May it was due to the associated pain though weeks later that particular pain has greatly diminished. We read that trouble sleeping comes with the aging process. Based upon all the advertisements for mattresses, sleeping aids and other sleep related items we are not alone. According to an article titled "Top 6 Things to Know About the $30 Billion Sleep Aids Market" people are increasingly
digging into their pockets for help sleeping.
In the book of Acts there are two reports of God's servants being imprisoned and how they dealt with a night in prison; Peter, in Acts 12, Paul and Silas in Acts 16. In this message we will consider Peter's experience:
In considering reasons for a long, fitful, sleepless night, Peter certainly had one. His fellow disciple and friend James had just been beheaded and the next morning he was to stand trial before Herod Agrippa, the persecutor of the Christian church. Now at this time, humanly speaking, Herod's likely action was pretty evident. His poll ratings among the Jewish majority had shot up dramatically at James' death. You might say
he was in the mood to persecute.
Surely Peter would be mentally preparing his defense through the long night. That's something that will keep you from sleeping. In addition to awaiting the trial he was bound to two soldiers with two chains. Additional soldiers were guarding the entrance in his maximum security prison cell. We really don't suppose Peter was given a nice soft bed with clean sheets and a My pillow™; a given for most who expect a good night's sleep. And Tylenol PM was "light years" from making its debut among the sleepless population at the time! Yet Peter was sleeping. "The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance." ![]() Peter had learned from this experience and from other miraculous interventions he had witnessed that God is always in control. Isn't that true for all who have placed their trust in Christ? The longer we live the more we see God intervene for His children. The church prayed earnestly for Peter's release. The same prison entrance that bound Peter with chains became a miraculous exit to his freedom in the middle of the night. A very important Biblical issue we must face head on is this: In ways we simply do not understand, God was no less in control at the beheading of James than in Peter's miraculous deliverance recorded in Acts 12. It's also true today when one is miraculously delivered or healed and their life is extended a short season, while another, equally precious in God's sight, is not spared. "What do we have that won't ever wear out, break, die, go out of style, or need repair? Only our Lord. We can rejoice and give thanks, because our life and our future are tied to the Eternal Father, the Creator of the heavens and Maker of our world. Not only is God good; He is good to us. But more than just being good, He is loving too, and His love will never wear out, grow old, fade away, or need repair." (John Burns) Today God is in control in your life and in mine. Real peace and assurance is a result of a deep, abiding knowledge of His control. Are you going through a storm or are you enduring a "trial"? Are you experiencing sleepless nights due to worries, busy schedules, or physical infirmities? Remember God is in control. And every prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear In the end, we'll see that it was worth it When He returns to wipe away our tears Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"God, You're So Good" Video Passion Brooksyne's note: I was looking up a particular song and this one came on. I immediately recognized the classic chorus and tune, the only difference is that this version is sung to God rather than about God and has additional verses. I couldn't begin to count the number of times I have
played this simple chorus over the years along with its many added verses (some impromptu as we sang them). This is also the first song I teach youngsters on the piano because it is easy and repetitive.
"A Thousand Hallelujahs, Hymn of Heaven, Day By Day" Video This is a medley from our worship service yesterday at Calvary Church in Lancaster. We were especially blessed to transition from "Hymn of Heaven", a relatively new song to "Day By Day", an old hymn. This includes our worship pastor's prayer.
Noah, along with his parents, my nephew Patrick and his wife Kelly at his graduation party. He will be attending Penn State studying engineering. Yea!
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