✝ Daily Encouragement (4/10/24) "Warnings and Pleadings"
Published: Wed, 04/10/24
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Wednesday, April 10, 2024
An old iron rail bridge along the Schuylkill River
Trail
"Warning and
Pleadings"
Message
summary:
Today consider our response to warnings and pleadings. We still live in a "corrupt generation".
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"With many other words he (Peter) warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation'" (Acts 2:40). 
Yesterday we went on a bike ride along the Schuylkill River Trail in Berks and Schuylkill counties. When riding we usually look around to enjoy the scenery but looking down yesterday we saw a turtle on the trail.
For some reason it just wasn’t interested in moving off the trail, perhaps enjoying the warming sun. Brooksyne was intrigued by the pretty orange flesh coloring and took a closeup.
But we also knew the turtle needed to get off the trail lest it gets run
over. It wasn’t the safest place to nestle down. Thankfully, when we drove back there was no evidence of a flattened turtle or a biker who had fallen due to hitting it!
But verbal warnings and pleadings would be of no value due to some serious communication problems between us and the
turtle.
Today let's consider a crucial warning we can all understand
if
we will listen. Sadly, most are not listening, let along heeding.
Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost surely set the gold standard for
apostolic preaching. His Spirit-empowered message focused on Jesus Christ. He warned and pleaded with His listeners, and the results brought about a remarkable surge of growth in the new church and set the early pattern for life as a community of believers (2:41-47).
"With many other words". Peter's entire message contained more than the selections recorded in Acts 2. This summary of the sermon by Luke (who wrote the Book of Acts) takes less than 5 minutes to read, but this description suggests a much longer message! "He warned them; and he pleaded with them". Peter's appeal ended with warning and pleading which is much less prevalent in today's preaching. So tempting to the preacher, particularly here in America, is to lovingly explain how Jesus can make your life better. But we all need hard preaching calling us to repentance and warning of the consequences if we do not repent. The final phrase contains Peter's challenge (if you will the very first altar call), "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation". These words sound harsh and unloving today. The word used for "corrupt" is skolios in the Greek (from which we get the English scoliosis, abnormal curvature of spine). It is also translated perverse, wicked, unjust. Peter, of course, is using skolios figuratively to refer to conduct or lifestyle which deviates from God's standard, a turning away from the truth. Skolios refers to those things that are morally or spiritually corrupt. We speak of someone's behavior as "crooked" or dishonest. Here Peter is exhorting them to be rescued from outward perverted conduct which characterizes every unregenerate person (and in this case a generation), all of whom are crooked in mind, heart, and action, bent ethically in every depraved way imaginable! (Precept Online Commentary) Indeed we still live in a "corrupt generation". This sermon would preach in any generation but it sure seems that, with the intensity of the corruption escalating year by year, it's especially fitting today. Today let me, using the very same words of the apostle Peter, warn and plead with you, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation". We do so by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter said many years later, "not living the rest of our earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2).
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we're so thankful that You did not leave us without a Comforter after Christ's ascension to heaven, but You sent the Holy Spirit to give power to believers on the day of Pentecost and for all who surrender their lives to Christ until His return. In response to Peter's sermon regarding a corrupt generation such as ours where confusion abounds, where postmodernism is embraced and proven historic truth is
rejected, where people seek to please themselves rather than You I choose to guard the basic spiritual principles presented in Scripture and exhorted by teachers of the Word. I choose to be faithful in my calling to live for You today and for all of eternity. Amen.Brooksyne's Note:
As I was reading the message today I couldn't help but think about Moses and
the many times God spoke through him to the stiff-necked Israelites about their rebellion and the consequence of their disobedience.
Moses prepared his last sermon (Deuteronomy 31) and put it to song so that it would be frequently heard, memorized and a witness against those who chose to be rebellious and stiff-necked. Moses recited all the words of the song to the assembly and afterward said to the people,
"Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
" (Deuteronomy
32:45-47).
Afterwards the Lord directed him to Mount Nebo in Moab where he would take his last breath.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Today we will share some photos of our bike ride along the Schuylkill
River Trail
This section of the Schuylkill River is known as the
chutes.
Due to a need to bypass a private property the Schuylkill River Trail uses
this newly built ramp.
The trail passes an active rail yard for the Reading and Northern Railroad
in Port Clinton PA.
At one point the trail intersected with the Appalachian Trail so as I always do when I am on the AT I walked the entire width of the trail. The trail runs a length of almost 2,200 miles between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, passing through 14 states. 
Looking down off the trail to a church in Port Clinton, PA  Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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.
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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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