✝ Daily Encouragement (1/5/24) "Steadfast" (Part 4)
Published: Fri, 01/05/24
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
 Home Archives About Us  Listen to these messages
Friday, January 5, 2024
 "Steadfast"
(Part
4)
Message summary:
Down through the ages of the church each generation has had reliable servants of Christ who faithfully, steadfastly plugged along in service for the Lord demonstrating reliability. And what about you, whether you are a minister or a lay person? Are you reliable? Reliability matters to
God.
Listen
to our
message on your aud
io player.
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy
2:2).
This first week of
2024
we have been considering a timeless call of God for all believers to be
steadfast.
On Tuesday I shared a memory from 45 years ago when a verse was personally spoken to me during an interview for my ordination which has essentially become my life verse. It is also my theme verse for 2024.
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians
15:58).
One of the ways I've sought to encourage others already this year is by quoting the verse (I memorized it many years ago) but personalizing it by using their name. Today I had several occasions to do so
in my chaplaincy role. I said,
"Therefore, Rick, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in
vain".
Today I want to share another memorable teaching and candid challenge I heard when I was younger. It was at a chapel service at Zion Bible Institute, at that time in Barrington, Rhode
Island.
I was already out of college and in ministry and had probably gone over to a chapel service to support students who attended our church at the time. We had several that we continue to associate with to this
day, most notably Joel and Adrienne Charest, who serve as missionaries in Africa.
The speaker had a much needed word for the students and for all who would listen. He very candidly pointed out (to this effect),
"I
may not be very handsome" (I can't recall what he looked like!), "I may not be the most dynamic speaker, I may not be musically gifted" and he listed several other characteristics normally associated with "success" in
ministry.
Then he said, "One thing I can be is reliable
”.
That was a good word and a vital challenge for young people preparing for Christ's service. Reliability is also related to steadfastness.
The apostle Paul wrote, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable
men who will also be qualified to teach others"
(2 Timothy
2:2).
Reliability is an absolutely essential characteristic for effective service for the Lord (or for anything in life for that matter). Reliability is very underrated today and often under-appreciated. More people want flashiness. Many will crowd to get into the auditorium of a flashy speaker with the latest word or trendy message or to hear a singer or musician.
But many thousands of dedicated pastors serve God week after week to much smaller crowds. And the vast majority of God's work is not being done by "professional" clergy but the scores of
faithful, dependable, lay people serving God day in and day out in less visible settings all around the world.*
Here's an example: Mike and Kathy Matangelo would be unknown to most readers. They had a formative role in the church we planted in 1977, faithfully and reliably serving in a variety of ways. Today, in
their mid-seventies, they still are serving, discipling men in a prison in North Carolina. Each week they travel 30 miles to the prison and have done so for almost 20
years.
In his final book the Apostle Paul gave instructions to Timothy about preparing the next generation who would bear witness for Christ to the world. He emphasizes just one characteristic - reliability. The KJV
says "faithful men".
Down through the ages of the church each generation has had reliable servants of Christ who have faithfully, steadfastly plugged along in service for the Lord demonstrating
reliability.
And what about you, whether you are a minister or a lay person? Are you reliable? Reliability matters to God.
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, because of reliable believers who not only lived an exemplary life but boldly shared the gospel with me I too became a believer. You have now entrusted this Gospel message to me so that I, too, can transmit the message of redemption to others. Help me to be characterized by steadfast
reliability.
* This is not meant as a disrespect for the many faithful servants in "professional" ministry. Their
leadership role is vital. But I still contend that the vast majority of front-line, field work ministry is done by unheralded, unpaid servants of God. Laity comes from the Greek word "laos" which means people.
Mike's ministry to prisoners is called Transformation Journey
We enjoy a brand of bread called "Dave's Killer Bread". I tend to read the packaging of any
product and saw this on the bread wrapper during our dinner tonight: "Today 1/3 of our employees at our Oregon bakery have a criminal background, and we have witnessed first-hand how stable employment sparks personal transformation."
 Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see here to sign up for our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription
information intact.
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.
You can send a check payable to "Daily Encouragement Net"
to:
Stephen and Brooksyne
Weber
495 Kraybill Church
Road
Mount Joy, PA
17552
 To donate directly 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 2023 offerings: $29,196.00
2024 offerings YTD: $ 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.
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."
© Copyright 2024 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"
|
Thanks for reading our message!
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
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