POSSIBLE—NOT EASY

November 1, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.–Philippians 4:13

God’s will is not always easy but it is always possible. For with God all things are possible. Rest in the fact that God will never command you to do something you can’t accomplish. He will never direct your steps without providing the strength to walk the path.

Jack Handey wrote in his book entitled Fuzzy Memories:

There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day at school. Since I was smaller than he was, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate instructor told me I owed him five dollars a lesson. Five dollars! So I just went back to paying the bully.

Truth be told, it’s sometimes easier to pay the bully than it is to learn how to defeat him. However, God never commands you to live for His glory without helping you to overcome the obstacles you will face. Whether it is loving your spouse, witnessing to friends and family, or remaining pure on a college campus, Christ will enable you if you obey Him. Paul did not say, “I can do most things through Christ,” but “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

While you’re at it, stay alert to the fact that opposition usually means opportunity is close at hand. In fact, there is rarely opportunity without opposition, so you must be prepared for both opportunities and obstacles at the same time.

Paul intends to encourage us as we follow the leadership of Christ, which in real terms means never throw in the towel. He challenged the Corinthians and every Christian to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” What a great promise—your toil is not in vain.

Endurance that demands blood, sweat, and tears, will be rewarded one day. So get ready for today’s obstacle course and run it with patient diligence. The hurdles may be high, the track may be uneven, the distance may be great, but it’s possible . . . not easy!

Ask the Lord to help you to discern opportunities masked by obstacles. Ask Him to give you the ability to see possible advancements in your character development that are presently cloaked in those difficult obstacles. –By Stephen Davey,”Wisdom for the Heart”

THE POWER OF FAITH

October 31, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

For by grace are ye saved through faith—. Ephesians 2:8

Man is an odd creature. Even God can’t please some people. Doesn’t it seem strange to you that the same people who complain that the way to salvation is too complex and that “nobody can know for sure”, also claim that salvation through faith alone is too simple and easy? They say,”I can’t believe it. There’s got to be more to it than that!” If that describes you, consider these words from the pen of J. Gresham Machen:

Acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is offered to us in the gospel of His redeeming work, is saving faith. Despairing of any salvation to be obtained by our own efforts, we simply trust in Him to save us; we say no longer, as we contemplate the Cross, merely ‘He saved others’ or ‘He saved the world’ or ‘He saved the Church’; but we say, every one of us, by the strange individualizing power of faith, ‘He loved me and gave Himself for me.’

When a man once says that, in his heart and not merely with his lips, then no matter what his guilt may be, no matter how far he is beyond any human pale, not matter how little opportunity he has for making good the evil that he has done, he is a ransomed soul, a child of God forever.

Although at great cost to Him, God could not make salvation any easier–“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life—“(John 3:36). Those who believe otherwise are wrong–they are arguing against God and calling Him a liar. So, who are you going to believe? Trust Him today and He will give you “everlasting life”!

THE POWER OF FAITH

October 30, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

For by grace are ye saved through faith—. Ephesians 2:8

Man is an odd creature. Even God can’t please some people. Doesn’t it seem strange to you that the same people who complain that the way to salvation is too complex also claim that salvation through faith alone is too simple and easy? They say,”I can’t believe it. There’s got to be more to it than that!” If that describes you, consider these words from the pen of J. Gresham Machen:

“Acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is offered to us in the gospel of His redeeming work, is saving faith. Despairing of any salvation to be obtained by our own efforts, we simply trust in Him to save us; we say no longer, as we contemplate the Cross, merely ‘He saved others’ or ‘He saved the world’ or ‘He saved the Church’; but we say, every one of us, by the strange individualizing power of faith, ‘He loved me and gave Himself for me.’

O DEATH

October 29, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?–1 Cor.15:55

I came across this excerpt from a sermon by Samuel Davies, preached at a young man’s funeral on September 1, 1756. I hope it sparks your imagination and blesses your heart as it did mine:

Jesus has abolished death, overthrown its empire, and delivered its captives; and he has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Therefore be it known unto you, O Death, you king of terrors, that though we cannot now resist your power nor escape your arrest—yet we do not surrender ourselves to you as helpless, irredeemable prisoners. We shall yet burst your bonds, and obtain the victory over you.

And when we commit the dust of our friends or our own to you, O grave! know, it is a trust deposited in your custody, to be faithfully kept until called for by Him who was once a prisoner in your territories, but regained His liberty, and triumphed over you, and put that song of victory into the mouths of all his followers, ‘O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?’ (1 Cor 15:55).

Yes, indeed, “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”(Romans 8:37). Even in the darkest hour we have reason to rejoice–knowing that, for the believer, the best is yet to come! Regardless of what the day holds, our future is secure in Christ.

PERSPECTIVE

October 28, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance—The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.—I will bless the LORD—.Psalm 16:5-7

Perspective is powerful–it can make you feel like a prince or a pauper. Keeping things in their proper perspective is key to pleasure, your ability to enjoy life. Example–

Picture yourself, with everything you have, living in the heart of Hollywood, surrounded by the mansions of the rich and famous. This view breeds discontent. It’s easy to be envious when you compare yourself to folks like that. You start to feel that you deserve more, bigger, and better. Life seems unfair.

However, let’s change our perspective by picturing ourself, with everything we have, living in a poverty ridden place such as Haiti. Look at your neighbors. Notice the beggars roaming the streets. Consider the cardboard shacks in which they live. Pay close attention to what they wear and eat. Think about their means of transportation and the lack of public services. Want to trade places? Of course not!

It is no wonder that a wise man like Paul would say,”—we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen—things which are–eternal.”( 2 Cor. 4:18). He knew that, instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should keep our focus on who we are and what we have in Christ.

Discontent destroys our joy and impedes our progress in life. It makes winners feel like losers. As Ben Franklin said, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”

A wall plaque in my office says,”I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.” Yep–it’s all a matter of perspective!

POSSIBLE—NOT EASY

THE POWER OF FAITH

THE POWER OF FAITH

O DEATH

PERSPECTIVE

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