SUBMIT YOURSELVES

January 12, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. “James 4:7

Shortly after the Civil War, General William T. Sherman’s army was scheduled to march in a victory parade… The night before the parade, Sherman called General Oliver Howard to his room and said, “General, you were at the head of one of the divisions that marched with me through Georgia, and you should rightfully ride at the head of your division in the parade tomorrow. However, I’ve been asked to let the general who preceded you in command represent the division.”

General Howard replied, “With all due respect, sir, I think I am entitled to represent my division, since I led them to victory.”

Sherman said, “Yes, you are. But I know you’re a Christian, and I was wondering if you would yield your rights for the sake of peace.”

Quickly, Howard responded, “Of course I’ll yield.”

“All right,” General Sherman said, “I will arrange so, and I want you to report to me in the morning at 9:00 a.m. You will be riding with me at the head of the parade.”

General Howard’s willingness to yield his position to his commander led to an even greater position of honor. Just the same, God blesses those who are completely submitted to Him. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Pray that God would give you a submissive spirit, so that you can fully be used by Him.-( Senior Living)

The biggest troublemaker in the church is pride– it is the cause of contention. The first step in getting things right is humility– the willingness to admit we are guilty.–HDS

PRESSING ON

January 9, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12-14

While the dawn of a new year prompts us to think about things we should or desire to do, the passing of the old also reminds us of what we have done–or, as the case may be, haven’t done. In other words, not only do we think about the challenges ahead, we also are reminded of our past failures– thus the resolutions. I guess you could say that is good and bad news. Most of us don’t like to be reminded of our short-comings. Yet the hope of improvement depends on exactly that. There must be a willingness to take a good long hard look at ourselves.

If we break our arm patting ourselves on the back and refuse to acknowledge that we’ve failed the possibility of progress comes to a screeching halt. When we deceive ourselves into believing all is well when it isn’t growth stops. Seeing ourselves as we really might not be pleasurable, but it is profitable.

A. W. Tozer wrote, “Some Christians hope in a vague kind of way that time will help them to grow better. They look to the passing of the years to mellow them and make them more Christlike. This is such a tender and pathetic thought that one hesitates to expose its essential error. But we had better know the facts now while we can do something about them rather than go on moist-eyed and dreamily hopeful–and wholly wrong. A crooked tree does not straighten with age; neither does a crooked Christian.”

Paul was a wise man. He didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t. He was honest enough to admit that he had not arrived and humble enough to acknowledge his need to advance. Wherever you are in your spiritual life there is still room for growth. Until that glorious day when we stand in the presence of the Lord in the likeness of the Lord we will have a need to grow. But before it can happen we must admit it needs to happen. Press on my friend! —HDS

HE IS FAITHFUL

January 9, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

1 Kings 8:54-61

As we face the new year, wherein we are sure to encounter many difficulties, we need to be mindful that God is trustworthy. He has given us many exceeding great and precious promise and not a single one will ever fail. Regardless of the circumstances we can rely on the Lord because He is faithful and true! Confidence in that fact gives us courage to face any challenge. J. H. Jowett described it like this:

“There hath not failed one word of all His good promise.” Supposing one word had failed, how then? If one golden promise had turned out to be counterfeit, how then? If the ground had yielded anywhere we should have been fearful and suspicious at every part of the road. If the bell of God’s fidelity had been broken anywhere the music would have been destroyed. But not one word has failed. The road has never given way in time of flood. Every bell of heaven is perfectly sound, and the music is full and glorious. “God is faithful, who also will do it.”

“God is love,” and “love never faileth.” The lamp will not die out at the midnight. The fountain will not fail us in the wilderness. The consolations will not be wanting in the hour of our distresses. Love will have “all things ready.” “He has promised, and shall He not do it?” All the powers of heaven are pledged to the fulfilment of the smallest word of grace. We can never be deserted! “God cannot deny Himself.” Every word of His will unburden its treasure at the appointed hour, and I shall be rich with the strength of my God.

RESCUE THE PERISHING

January 9, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”—James 5:19-20

After hearing/saying “Happy New Year” over and over again, I can’t help but think about those who are miserable. It is especially painful when it has to do with your loved ones.You want what is best for them and it grieves your heart when you see them short-changing themselves. You pray and you plead, but nothing seems to work. It is as though they are on a mission to destroy themselves and have no interest in changing. What do we do?

The fact of the matter is that some will never change regardless of what we do. Even God doesn’t force people to conform to His will. However, we must not let this cause us to give up hope and to cease all effort to reach them. That puts us in a pitiful position. Yes, it’s true that we can’t help everybody, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Although the chance for change might be slim there is no chance at all if we don’t make an effort.

I am ashamed to say that I haven’t always given my best effort in this regards. It’s not like I haven’t made any effort. I tried and I failed, and I finally came to the conclusion that they will never change. They have spurned love, ignored counsel, resented rebuke,laughed at warnings, and responded to kindness with cruel deeds. And when that happens over and over it becomes more and more difficult to keep trying, because it seems a waste of time. You would do anything within reason to help them, but when you begin to believe that it is impossible you stop trying.

Making things sadder still is this– when we quit trying they usually start accusing. They accuse us of not loving them, not caring about their happiness, not respecting their opinions, etc. Although it isn’t true it hurts. More importantly, it also hinders. It reduces our chances of ever being able to steer them in the right direction and get them back on track. So, by the grace of God, let us never give up. Let’s keep trying even when it seems all our efforts are in vain. We ought to do what we should and leave the results to God. We might not reach everyone, but we won’t reach anyone if we don’t try. When we do our best we will reach someone and it just might be the very one we care about the most.

Please don’t give up! The last chapter hasn’t been written and as long as there is life there is a chance that it can be the happiest chapter in someone’s life. I marvel that some people never gave up on me and, even when it seemed impossible, God changed me completely. I owe it to others to never give up on them. It’s not my job to make them change, but to help them to the best of my ability, and that requires unconditional love.— HDS

WHAT CAN’T BE CURED — SHOULD BE ENDURED

January 6, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. ” Proverbs 15:15

There is a class of little annoyances such as we make for ourselves by a complaining, or an overly fastidious temperament. There are some who make such a fuss about trifles, tormenting themselves, and worrying others by a perpetual fault-finding and discontent — as every trifling irritation is magnified to a mountain — that all pleasure is spoiled by their presence!

It is a good rule in little things, as well as great things, that “what can’t be cured — should be endured” — and endured cheerfully!

I am not advocating slovenly and careless endurance of little vexations which may be remedied — let them be set right by all means, and the more quietly as well as quickly, the better. But I have observed people who were most ludicrously discomposed by trifles which neither they nor anyone else could remedy, and which should have been overlooked with a smile, if noticed at all.

There are many overly finicky people in the world, who groan over such trifling irritations. It is really ludicrous to hear the gravity with which some people will allude to the fact of the road being dusty, even alleging that as a reason for not going a walk; others are as much afraid of a shower; others of too much sunshine; some are terrified at the idea of being over-heated.

There is no end to these idle fancies and fears! If you laugh at these miserable people — then they think you are unfeeling. If you sympathize with them — then they multiply and increase their petty annoyances!

Let us all beware of making much of little irritations. Let us learn to laugh at them, remembering how very annoying such complaints are to others, as well as bothersome to ourselves.

A cheerful person who refuses to notice trifles or be aggravated by them — soon ceases to feel them! While to those who seem to find a perverse pleasure in dwelling on, and being daunted by them — these little discomforts will actually become real cares, and will eat out half the comfort of their lives!–(Henrietta Wilson, “Little Things” 1852)

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

SUBMIT YOURSELVES

PRESSING ON

HE IS FAITHFUL

RESCUE THE PERISHING

WHAT CAN’T BE CURED — SHOULD BE ENDURED

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