AN EASY QUESTION

July 12, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”–Jer.32:27

There are many tough questions in life, but this isn’t one of them. This is as easy as it gets. If you know the Lord you know the answer. You know from the testimony of His Word, from observing His mighty works, and from personal experience.

I love the old Stuart Hamblen song that says, “It is no secret what God can do”. That’s something you need to think about everyday. Were I to ask, “What are you facing? What’s your problem or need?”, I would get a wide variety of answers. The nature of man’s problems vary greatly, but we all have one thing in common– we all need help. Sadly some folks are unaware of what God can do. Others are doubtful about what God might do. They feel hopeless. That’s tragic. At this moment some of you are carrying a heavy burden all day and are so troubled that you can’t sleep at night.

I don’t know what your problem is–whether it’s physical, spiritual, emotional. domestic, vocational, or financial, but I know God and I know He is able. With Him all things are possible. You will never face anything too big for God. He can handle anything. We have proof of that. That doesn’t mean God will do as you desire. He might have a better plan. Other than what God has promised we don’t know what God will do, but we do know what He can do.

Knowing the greatness of His love we have good reason to believe He will use His power to meet our needs if He deems it best. Knowing His wisdom we know that if God has a plan different than ours, it is a better plan. There is no greater encouragement than knowing God is able, believing He cares, and confident that that He will even use the bad for good. That’s why we sing “What a Mighty God we serve!”. Take heart my friend, there is nothing too hard for God!–HDS

DANGEROUS ASSUMPTIONS

July 11, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”.- (Hebrews 3:14)

The great evangelist Billy Sunday said the problem with a lot of people is they treat sin like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake.

Have you ever seen a baby rattlesnake? They are actually kind of cute. They have a little snake body, a little rattler, and little fangs. Someone might say, “Look at that little baby rattler. He’s so cute.”

Let me tell you something about that baby rattler. He might be smaller in size than an adult, but his venom is actually more potent, drop for drop, than the venom of an adult rattlesnake. And if that little rattlesnake were to give you a little bite, you would die if you couldn’t get to a doctor quickly.

Make no mistake about it. Sin is powerful. It is elusive. It is tricky. And it can appear so appealing on the outside. I have seen people who knew better, Christians who have walked with the Lord for years and know His Word well, fall into sin and be deceived by it.

We must be very careful, especially when it comes to seemingly small sins in our estimation. Sometimes we look at something and say, “That isn’t a big deal. It’s just a small sin. Surely it won’t do that much harm in my life.” Watch out. Dynamite comes in small packages.

We are told in Hebrews 3:12–14, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

We must be careful and not let sin harden our hearts.–Greg Laurie

ARE YOU A CONVERT?

July 10, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. “–2 Cor. 5:17

I miss the old word “convert”. Many years ago it was common to hear people speak about “converts”. After a meeting folks would ask “How many converts did you have?”–meaning ‘How many souls were saved?”. But things have changed. People no longer look for or expect change. We live in a day when professing Christians live just like the world, and hardly anyone is surprised or disappointed. But the truth is you can’t receive Christ as your Lord and Savior without being changed.

Notice, I said “being changed”, not “changing”. We aren’t saved by changing our conduct, but we are changed when we are saved. Change is the result, not the reason, of salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, not of works (Eph. 2:8-9), but the faith that brings salvation produces works. If you claim to be a Christian and have no desire in your heart to please Christ it is cause for alarm.

It’s strange that some people are so determined to dismiss the matter of good works and change in character. Why would you do that unless you’re trying to excuse or justify your faults? We need to face the facts and the truth is that when we receive Christ we become a “new creature“. If there is no change there is no evidence of conversion. Believing works are expected does not mean we believe they are essential to salvation. Works are an evidence of salvation, not the cause. The moment God saves us the Holy Spirit starts to dwell within us and we receive a new nature that desires to please God. Salvation is a matter of transformation, not reformation. So, are you truly a convert? Can you sing this grand old hymn and really mean it? –HDS

Since Jesus Came into My Heart
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

Refrain
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Floods of joy o’er my soul
Like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

I have ceased from my wandering and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins, which were many, are all washed away,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain

I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain

There’s a light in the valley of death now for me,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain

I shall go there to dwell in that City, I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And I’m happy, so happy, as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain

THE TRUTH ABOUT VICTORY

July 9, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by. “–1 Sam. 18:30

We often sing “Victory in Jesus”, but too often we then try to take credit for ourselves. That’s why J. H. Jowett said, “The hour of victory is a more severe moral test than the hour of defeat”. Indeed it is. While we might hang our head in shame after suffering a defeat, we tend to strut like a peacock when we win. Sinful man craves attention and desires credit for his deeds, whether he deserves it or not. He loves to exaggerate the truth and embellish the story so as to get a pat on the back– although he deserves a kick in the seat of his pants.

But here’s the truth. Even your greatest victory (accomplishment or success) was in no wise due to your greatness. Whether it required wisdom, strength, courage, or patience, it was God who gave it to you. He alone deserves the credit and praise. Were it not for Him we would neither “will” nor “do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). It is only because He “worketh in you” that you are able or willing. Why then do we drown out the praise to Him by shouting about our accomplishments?

Pride is a terrible thing. Pride produces more problems than you can imagine. We dare not use what God has done as an evidence of what we can do. Without Him we could do nothing! The only thing that makes any man good or great is that he does the will of God for the glory of God, by the means supplied by God. And a man like that would never make his boast in anything save the grace of God. Indeed there is victory in Jesus–it is found no place else.–HDS

THE TEST OF VICTORY

July 8, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.”— 1 Sam. 18:14
John Henry Jowett wrote, “The hour of victory is a more severe moral test than the hour of defeat. Many a man can brave the perils of adversity who succumbs to the seductions of prosperity. He can stand the cold better than the heat! He is enriched by failure, but “spoilt by success.” To test the real quality of a man, let us regard him just when he has slain Goliath! “David behaved himself wisely”!

He was not “eaten up with pride.” He developed no “side.” He went among his friends as though no Goliath had ever crossed his way. He was not for ever recounting the triumph, and fishing for the compliments of his audience. He “behaved wisely.” So many of us tarnish our victories by the manner in which we display them. We put them into the shop-window, and they become “soiled goods.”

And in this hour of triumph David made a noble friend. In his noonday he found Jonathan, and their hearts were knit to each other in deep and intimate love. It is beautiful when our victories are so nobly borne that they introduce us into higher fellowships, and the friends of heaven become our friends.”

Doing what’s right might not bring you the most “friends”, but it will bring you the best. One friend like Jonathan is worth more than a thousand who glad-hand you when it’s to their advantage, but stab you in the back when it isn’t. The sad thing is that because of our foolish pride we often invite such people into our lives with open arms. Winning will result in losing when pride enters the picture. Gaining the admiration and applause of others might thrill you, but it poses a great temptation. Don’t allow your victory to cause your defeat! –HDS

AN EASY QUESTION

DANGEROUS ASSUMPTIONS

ARE YOU A CONVERT?

THE TRUTH ABOUT VICTORY

THE TEST OF VICTORY

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