“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” – Rev. 3:15-16

I would be deeply troubled if I knew our church had embraced some heresy. I would be greatly concerned if I knew some source outside the church was intent on destroying us. But there is something I fear more than either of these things. In the first place, I am confident that our church is established in the faith and not likely to cast it aside. Secondly, no outward force can destroy the Lord’s church, although it can trouble it. Far more than these things I fear the possibility of becoming a lukewarm church such as we see in our text.

This is a sickening picture, depicting the Lord vomiting a lukewarm church out of His mouth- the worst thing that could happen to a church. Had the church been cold the Lord might have been longsuffering due to the fact that their condition might have caused them to see their need. But He is disgusted with them because they are lukewarm and think they “have need of nothing” ( vs. 17). Blinded by their pride they do not see themselves as “wretched, and poor, and blind, and naked ” (vs. 17). Being in that horrible spiritual condition they are indifferent toward God.
The ideal, the divine desire, is that they be “hot“- zealous, on fire for God. There is no excuse for it being otherwise. The church should be a place where the disciple’s devotion is on display. It should be a place where people find warmth, refreshment, and healing. And each member has a responsibility to do their part.

Sadly this is a perfect picture of what can be seen today. Yet few seem to be disgusted by it- except the Lord, the One who matters most. That is very telling. That which disgust the Lord should disturb us. We should consider His concerns. When the state of a church is such as this it becomes its own worst enemy. And that is a problem God will not tolerate – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” ( vs. 19). We had best heed His warning or we will suffer the consequences. – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;” – 2 Cor. 3:5

Like a lot of Houstonians, we recently flooded – again! By now we know the drill, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’ll be honest, I don’t like discomfort! Does anyone? So it was a great day when the recovery was finally finished. But there was a problem.
Last on the list was getting the computers running again and the internet back on. So we plugged everything in and hoped for the best. But there was a problem! From all indications the wireless modem and/or some of those other little boxes had been fried by lightning during the storm. So they were returned and replaced, but there was a problem! It still wouldn’t work.

Next we called the cable company and their guy came out and seemed to fix everything. Sweet relief at last! But there was a problem. The low battery light came on, at a critical time, and we were about to lose the connection. Why was it running on the battery – it was plugged in? Fortunately we have an expert in our church and he rushed to our rescue – but there was a problem! We couldn’t get power to the computer, so we thought something else, maybe the power strip, had been fried by the lightning. However, after a bit of trouble shooting our man discovered that rather than being plugged into the outlet, the power strip was plugged into itself!

My first thought was, “That’s a great commentary on life”. Man goes from one problem to another, but is never able to solve them because he depends on himself as the source of power. Try as we may, our efforts are in vain. Our problems are too complex. The load is too heavy. The enemy is too strong. The flesh is too weak. Whatever the nature of the problem, we need help – divine help! Every person has needs that God alone can meet and problems that He alone can solve. Whether we live in victory or defeat depends upon what (Who) we depend upon. To prevail we must trust God. We must live by faith of fail. It’s that simple and it’s that serious! Therefore we should never forget that it is ” Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” ( Zech. 4:6) – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor.” – Deut. 3:29

We often think of being in the valley as a bad or sad place to be, but sometimes it is the best place to be. Having been denied his desire to enter the promised land Moses was assigned the task of helping others get there ( vs.28). Thankfully, rather than getting bitter and quitting he did as he was told, fulfilling his duty. Notice his response to God’s directive – “So we abode in the valley“. That little word “So” is very telling. He was longing for the land, but his desire was denied “So” he “abode in the valley”.

That might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is. There are many details about this of which I could speak, but I want to keep your focus on the main thing. Rather than selfishly quitting the project or stubbornly forging ahead in defiance toward the land, Moses stayed in the valley. In other words, he did what he could and should. He submitted himself to the will of God without complaint. He did not look at this as a valley of defeat or despair, but rather of divine design. In the denying of his desire he put himself on the path to pleasing God.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all put ourselves in the place God has purposed for us? There is great peace in accepting what God appoints. Knowing God knows what is best enables us to rest with the assurance that He will provide our needs. Moses was not in the valley just so he could be punished, as it might seem, but rather for his protection and provision. That’s a good place to be! But it is your choice. God was not forcing Moses to stay there, but he would have wished he had if he didn’t. The same is true of us. You can choose as you please, but when you choose the course you also choose the consequences. Sadly, some get what they want, but then don’t like what they’ve got. Choose wisely my friend! _ HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.” – Deut. 3:25-26
Moses was a faithful servant of God and a great leader of the people, but not perfect. His imperfection showed through in a fit of anger when he smote the rock rather than speaking to it as God told him to do ( Num. 20:7-13). That act of disobedience caused God to ban him from the promised land that he longed to see. That, however, didn’t stop Moses from begging that God would change His mind. Our text describes God’s response to his request. It is blunt and clear – “speak no more unto me of this matter”. And you can mark it down, God isn’t in the habit of spoiling His children because they keep whining. When He says, “No” He means no! And we are wise to accept that answer.
There is a time to speak and “a time to keep silence” ( Ecc. 3:7), a time to ask and a time to accept what God appoints or allows. Were we as wise as God we would thank Him for what we call “unanswered prayers”. When God told David he wasn’t allowed to build the temple he would have been foolish to keep asking, and even more foolish to do it anyway, or to get bitter about it. When God says, “No” we should cease complaining, refrain from requesting, and quit questioning God. Enough is enough, as we say, and when God says “No” he means no. We ought to drop it, leave it there, and stop talking. Keep in mind that God had already told him “No” – so it’s not like he didn’t know what God wanted. Prayer is one thing, pouting is another.
Indeed we ought to persist in prayer, pray without ceasing, ask, seek, and knock. But there are times when God would have us to stop praying about certain things. And our persistence won’t stop God’s purpose. When He has made His answer obvious we should stop speaking about the matter. Desiring something doesn’t always mean we ought to ask for it. What if God gave everyone everything they desired? He is too wise to do that. God denied his request because He knew what was best and wanted what was best. The good news is that God still had a work for him to do ( Deut. 3:27-28) and Moses did as commanded ( Deut. 3:29). We would be wise to do the same! -HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” – Job 23:10

Are you feeling the weight of some crushing burden or heartache? Job’s words speak immeasurable comfort in the midst of any trial.

First, remember he knows the way that I take. God is not unaware of your difficulty, nor is he insensitive to the pain you are feeling. He knows. He is intimately acquainted with your situation and your condition.

And if the all-wise, all-powerful, loving God is allowing one of his people to pass through affliction, you can rest assured that there is a purpose behind it. You may not as yet see it; you may not now even agree with it. But rest assured that when he has tried you, you will come out of the trial as refined, purified gold.

He hath tried me. The source of the fire may be cruel or malicious intentions on the part of others, but ultimately God is the one who is controlling the temperature and allowing you to pass through it. In Job’s case, the Bible reveals that the devil himself was the author of his sufferings; and yet Job correctly affirmed that the trial was coming through the hand of the Lord (2:10).

Believer, rest in this wonderful assurance, that God is at once next to you in your trial and on his throne in heaven. He knows the way you are taking, and is ruling over every detail of your difficulty until you are sanctified to his glory. (Baptist Bible Hour)

In dealing with our present problems it helps to ponder our prospects – seen by looking at God’s precious promises. A child of God in the will of God can live with assurance that his suffering is serving a purpose. As we pass through the fires of affliction God uses the experience to purify our lives and to conform us “to the image of his Son” ( Rom. 8:29). The finished product will not be seen until He is finished with us here on earth, but every experience here will have an effect there. No blow from the hammer of tribulation will be wasted, and the temperature of the refiners fire will never be greater than what grace will enable us to bear. – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346