Daily Encouragement (8/25/20) "Moral Purity"
Published: Tue, 08/25/20
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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Message summary: Today, we encourage all readers to heed the Scriptures in living a life of moral purity. The attacks will continue as the old adversary continues his quest to steal and kill and destroy. Let us, armed with God's Spirit and His Word, "resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9).
 Listen to this message on your audio player."For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality" (I Thessalonians 4:3).
 Last week I was speaking to a young man and the conversation led to a discussion about his living arrangements. As a professing Christian he has been
very receptive to my ministry so I asked him, "Are you living morally?" Lowering his head he candidly answered he was not but is living with his girlfriend. I issued him a challenge and he seemed genuinely appreciative and was not offended by my question which is a risk you increasingly take these days. His main reason for delaying marriage was that he wanted to get her a multi-thousand dollar ring though he admitted the expensive ring really didn't mean that much to her
anyway.When I got married expensive rings weren't such a big thing and I told him how our marriage had endured though Brooksyne's engagement ring was an inexpensive selection we both picked out so that I didn't get deep into debt! It wasn't the ring, it was the commitment we were making that was our priority and remains so to this day, and prayerfully "till death do us part".
I recall another friend who shared a sad story. A man in his church was dealing with a break-up in his marriage. Although he was still willing to talk to church leadership he was unrepentant in dealing with his immoral behavior. What I found interesting is that at one time he had been in group leadership in the church seeking to help men abstain from immorality.
Prior to the print media, such as photos, video, and the internet pornography was much less prevalent, and yet it was still a source of temptation for many. We recall the words to an old hymn that remains relevant, "But still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe". Sexual immorality is increasingly seen as the norm in our day. Brooksyne recalls a conversation with a young man considering proposal to his girlfriend. The conversation went something like this: Brooksyne: "So you're getting serious, are you! "Young man: "Yeah" (with a big smile and stars in his eyes). Brooksyne: "You're wanting to get married, great!" He said "Well, not really. Her parents are a little old-fashioned and I'd like her to live at my place. Maybe if we're engaged they'll let her move in with me." That young man sure wouldn't have wanted to deal with Brooksyne's parents who were "old fashioned" enough to believe that she would be allowed to move in with me only after we said "I do" in a sacred wedding ceremony. In the course of our ministry we have seen the truly destructive effects of sexual immorality. We are regularly exposed to heartbreaking stories of rebellion against God and His long established standards. The consequence affects not just our generation but those before we arrived and those who come after us. For men particularly, sexual immorality usually begins with the visual stimulation, known as lust. Visual images leading to lust abound but really they've been around a long time. Three thousand years ago David observed a woman bathing from the roof of his palace, leading to lust and then to his eventual well-known moral fall. The result of his actions brought grave consequences to the family, his own children, the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of God. It wasn't just for a short season but affected future generations.  Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll shares a tip I have found very helpful and effective in this regard. Essentially he advises when confronted with a lustful thought or image to
quote Scripture. He states, "You cannot quote Scripture and lust simultaneously." I have sure found that to be the truth! It's like trying to mix oil and water – they do not have the same properties and thus are incompatible.Today's Scripture passage is a straightforward command. It's a good verse to quote when facing temptation in regard to sexual immorality. There may be some issues in life in which the will of God is a bit uncertain but today we read two that are very clear. I place it in the first person, "It is God's will that I should be sanctified and that I should abstain from sexual immorality." This command is among the clearest of God's commands, found abundantly throughout all of Scripture. Yet the world's "system" screams at us to violate it. This "system" diligently seeks to obscure the consequences of disobedience. Biblical standards are mocked by many as being restrictive and outdated.  Probably one of the most familiar phrases to our young people is "safe sex". They may not have the
slightest notion about balancing a checkbook, but they know the various methods of contraception. The "system" is no less relentless in the attack on adults and the scores of broken marriages, shipwrecked lives, and abandoned children. Ruined ministries bear ample witness to this.But earnest followers of Jesus Christ desire to do the will of God. "It is God's will that you should be sanctified." "Sanctify" means to be "set apart, holy." A helpful definition I recall from my Bible College days is, "Sanctification is separation from that which is evil and dedication to that which is of God." The Westminster catechism defines sanctification as "the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness." The Scripture text goes on to specify one area of how our sanctification is demonstrated: "That you should abstain from sexual immorality". Today, we encourage all readers to heed the Scriptures in living a life of purity. The attacks will continue as the old adversary continues his quest to steal and kill and destroy. Let us, armed with God's Spirit and His Word, "resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9). Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Loving Father, we want Your counsel to be our guide as we face the enemy's assault on our personal holiness. As Hollywood and much of the world continues to trivialize and ridicule Biblical Christianity the horrendous consequences are evident as generations of people ignore Your
principles established from the beginning of time. We desire to live holy lives which are a direct consequence of following Your statutes. We reject those personalities and influences that confuse our thinking and gradually erode our commitment to purity of mind, body, and spirit. We ask for discernment to recognize worldliness and discipline to embrace that which leads to holiness. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Take Time To Be Holy" Video Collingsworth Family
"Holiness Is What I Long For" Video Scott Underwood Today we share train photos taken Sunday afternoon in Jim Thorpe.
The steam engine leaving Jim Thorpe.
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 Farther up the gorge
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The engine coming back into Jim Thorpe alongside newly repainted engine 5018
See here
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Close-up of steam engine 425
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For train lovers and for those who like to see a moving train, hear the toot, toot, but don't want to be stopped at a railroad crossing when trying to be on time for a meeting:  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." © Copyright 2020 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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