✝ Daily Encouragement (12/12/23) "Not In Vain"
Published: Tue, 12/12/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Preaching in Taunton,
Massachusetts
"Not In
Vain"
Message summary:
Amidst the inevitable setbacks and disappointments Paul and all who follow Christ will encounter he gave this charge to Christ's followers: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain
” (1 Corinthians
15:58).
Note: Due to excessive noise due to hanging drywall a podcast was not prepared for this message
"For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain" (1 Thessalonians
2:1).
This last weekend we went to New England where we lived in the 90's where I pastored a church in Taunton, Massachusetts. This year the church is commemorating their 95th anniversary. It was started just before Christmas in 1928 by a businessman, Albert A. Augat who served for 30 years.
Over the last 95 years the church has had eight pastors, including Greg Wheaton, who is now serving. Of note,
to the best of my knowledge, the church has never been impacted by a pastoral scandal, for which we give thanks to God. Christian leaders are held to a higher standard but far too many let down their guard and fall into disrepute leaving a stain on the church and a poor testimony to their community and beyond.
We were so pleased to observe the work carrying on nearly 25 years after we left as well as seeing the
familiar faces and new ones. We sensed a healthy vibrancy among the people. The church has outreach ministries to the needy and homeless, a good number who set up camp near the church, which is located on a busy highway, US Route 44.
Taunton was founded in 1637 by members of the Plymouth Colony. It is one of the oldest cities in the
United States, founded only seventeen years after the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1620, which is located 20 miles to the east of Taunton.
It is known as the Christmas City with a large display on the town green which still includes a nativity scene
on display each Christmas since 1913. Yes, even in New England!
In my sermon I reminded the congregation that our labor in the Lord is not in vain, applying this to those who
faithfully serve in this spiritually hard area of our country, and for all who are faithful to the ways of the Lord.
We rightly speak of the importance of having stalwarts of the faith planted in our churches, but we also know
the importance of seeing new life through those who are newly born of the faith. It helps us to remember the early days of our coming to faith. It fills the church with fresh vigor and excitement much like having a new baby in a family. Perhaps that’s why Jesus described it to Nicodemus as being “born again” in John 3:3.
Believers face discouragement from time to time or even for extended periods because of their seeming "lack of success". Contributing to this mindset are comparisons with others, our own expectations, expectations from others and a resigning attitude of "Am I really making a difference here?" I have found that the potential for discouragement does not lessen with age. In fact the challenges associated with aging can actually intensify periods of discouragement. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers several months after his rather short period of ministry there. We are told that during his time of ministry "some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women" (Acts 17:4). But we have no record of the number actually converted or any discipling activity following this or the setting up of a church. There’s certainly no record of a church building being erected. Paul and his ministry associates were run out of town shortly after he began to see the fruit of his labor. What chance would the fledgling group have to survive or to sustain themselves and develop into a church of believers? Yet when Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, set out to write a letter to “the church of the Thessalonians" he placed his confidence in God and was assured that his ministry to the Thessalonians had not been in vain. He wrote, “For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain". Another version states, “You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure". What a wonderful assurance to have in spite of the apparent setbacks and disappointments. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, as we faithfully serve You it is not for our own fulfillment but for the fulfillment of the Great Commission that the Gospel message be delivered at home and abroad to the outermost parts of the earth. No matter our Christian service, whether great or small, when it is offered in Your name it brings eternal reward, often visible here and now but at times unseen by the human eye. Help us to go forth in confidence and walk in obedience, no matter the fruit we see or don’t see, as we
seek to glorify Your name. We can take heart within our spirit knowing that we will hear "the rest of the story" on the other side. Amen.Special Year-end Financial
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"Your Labor is Not In
Vain" Watch on YouTube
Paul Zach & Madison
Cunningham
The church presented us with a Bible box made by Steve Higgins, (far right) a long time church member. Pastor Greg is pointing to the engraved message on the cover, It's a Bible verse I often quote, "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is still today" (from Hebrews 3:13). We'll share more about the story behind this
tomorrow.
It was nice to see Cliff Jones, who was just a
young boy when we left that area. He is faithfully serving the Lord, working as a mechanical engineer and raising a large family.
The Nativity on the Green in Taunton, MA.
Perhaps they are waiting for Christmas day to place Baby Jesus in the manger.
New Englanders really like their coffee, ever
since the Boston tea party. This appears to be a bulk delivery along I-95 near New Haven Connecticut as we returned home yesterday!
Work continues on our house addition project.
Last Friday the insulation was installed and today they are hanging drywall.
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options