PRAYING FOR THE BODY
Jesus said we should pray “Give us day by day our daily bread” ( Luke 11:3). It is perfectly proper to pray about the needs of our body. I’m convinced that we could avoid a lot of physical problems if we did as the Lord commands. I suspect that we bring a lot of pain and suffering on ourselves because we fail to pray until after the fact. But today I want to talk about something different. I want to speak about another body for which we ought to pray– the church.

One of the main metaphors used to describe the Lord’s church is the word “body“. The entire twelveth chapter of 1 Cor. speaks of the church as a body. There Paul reminds us that “the body is not one member, but many” (vs. 14). Each member of the body is to serve a distinct purpose. And all “the members should have the same care one for another” (vs. 25). To do that demands that we pray one for another (Ja. 5:16). That’s something we are commanded to do throughout the new testament.

The needs of a church are many and great, everything depends on prayer. The surest way for a church to fail and fall is for the members to neglect prayer. And there is no excuse for it. Prayer is something every member can do– so there is never a reason for any member to feel unimportant. If you can’t do anything else you can pray and nothing else anyone does is any more important than that. Those who pray don’t get the attention they deserve, and they aren’t looking for it. They love the Lord and His church, and they understand the importance of prayer. I wish every member felt the same. Sadly, prayer is something a lot of people talk about but seldom do. When they do it is usually something personal or a dire need that drives them to their knees. The fact is, we need prayer when all is well as well as when everything is falling apart.

I’ve often said  and I firmly believe that the outcome of a service is often determined before the service begins. If we haven’t been praying all week I doubt that the prayers on Sunday will be of much value. Without prayer we can’t expect anything great to happen in the service. To be brutally honest, I suspect that sometimes we preach more about prayer than we pray about preaching. Then we get discouraged because nothing happens. Even a well delivered sermon isn’t enough without prayer. We would all get upset if someone intentionally did harm to the church ( or the church building), but in some ways a lack of prayer can be the most harmful thing a person could do. God forbid that we be guilty of such sin! Are you?– HDS

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

THE GREATEST DANGER
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”– 2 Pet. 2:1

Having recently preached about “Troublesome Times” we seem to be constantly reminded that these are dangerous days in which we live. You can’t let your kids out of your sight without putting them in danger. You can’t honk your horn at a rude driver without fear of getting shot. You can’t go to school or church without thinking about an active shooter. At night we lock the doors, load the guns, and turn on the alarm for fear of an intruder.

Yet none of these things pose the greatest danger. Our greatest danger comes dressed in the garb of a friend and protector – it’s called religion. It is far more dangerous than those things that threaten our physical well-being or our financial security, because it deceives us spiritually. Of all the dangers we face none are so deceitful and deadly as religion. Millions have a fraudulent faith because they have been deceived by this foe. They believe they have a saving relationship with God when all the evidence is to the contrary.

These endangered souls are in this sad situation because they have depended on the wrong source of information. Again and again God warns us (2 Cor.11:13-15; 2 Pet.2:18-22; Jude 1:16-25), but the average person pays no heed and embraces a helpless hope. Satan is the ultimate con artist and they are snared in his trap.

Many who take every precaution when it comes to their physical safety and financial security take no such measures when it comes to their spiritual state, which is far greater importance. Dear friends, the only sure source of information is the Word of God, and the only safe place is in the Son of God. Trust Him to be saved, safe, secure, and satisfied. He never fails! – HDS

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

GREAT GRACE

“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”- ACTS 4:33

The Book of Acts describes the mighty power of the Holy Spirit working in, through, and for the saints, and it is amazing. Keep in mind that all this was done in the face of adversity. Yet, although severely persecuted, the church prospered.

It’s easy to look at this and heap praises upon those who were used so mightily, but the greater praise belongs to God. The key to everything good about that early church is found in the phrase “and great grace was upon them all.” They had been touched by the grace of God and testified of the grace of God. It was the motivation for their ministry and the means of their miracles. Grace was the power that made them productive. They were blessed and a blessing because of the grace of God.

Some take this phrase to mean that great grace was shown to them by those to whom they ministered, but even if that was the case it doesn’t rule out or lessen the fact that it was God’s grace that brought them such grace. He is the God of all grace. The grace of God preserved them in their persecution and prompted them to provide for others. So, however you look at this, it was God’s grace that brought them their blessings. It is the same with us. The recipients of grace should respond with grace, and they will receive grace.

Success in God’s work is never due to the magnificence of our mind, the amount of our ability, or the power of our persuasion. It is the greatness of God’s grace that enables us. And it is always greater than our need. Whatever great trial you are going through it is sufficient. It is amazing grace! – HDS

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

BE NOT TROUBLED

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”- Matt. 24:6

As if it wasn’t hard enough following the Lord during His time on earth, Christ paints a word picture of even more difficult days to come. While many keep hoping that man will come up with a means to create a utopia on earth, the prophecies of Christ tell us it won’t happen. Man is powerless to stop the time of tribulation. Even those who live godly “shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12), and temptations are “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13).

So how are we to respond to such sad news? Amazingly Jesus said “be not troubled.” Every child of God has the responsibility to “be not troubled“. In fact we are told to “Rejoice in the Lord always” ( Phil. 4:4). At first thought that might seem impossible, but considering it is Christ who speaks we must conclude that it can be done. We don’t have to allow world conditions to frighten us. We can find peace in the storm. Knowing Christ is in control and that He makes no mistakes we can rest assured that even in the worst of times we are safe in His will. But He doesn’t just keep up safe He also makes us useful. We never have a better opportunity to witness for Christ than when things are at their worst. Living with the awareness of these things we should “be not troubled.” And if that’s true when we’re going through the worst of times it’s also true of whatever trial we’re going through at this moment. When the situation seems impossible, stop and think about what He has promised to do and it will give you hope, and a reason to rejoice. As the old song says “Jesus Never Fails”. He hasn’t, He won’t, and He can’t! – HDS

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

DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENTS

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”- 1 Cor. 15:58

It is heart-breaking to see good people get in a bad place due to discouragement. It doesn’t have to happen. By taking great care we can avoid becoming a drop-out. But we have to start by dealing with our disappointments. We put ourselves in great danger if we don’t. If we allow our disappointments to discourage us it will deter us from our duty.

As servants of God we do what we do with the hope of success. We want to be fruitful as well as faithful. We want to see souls saved, lives changed, needs met, and God glorified. When our efforts seem to fail we are disappointed. We tell ourselves that even Jesus could do no mighty works in Nazareth, but we hope for better results. When it doesn’t happen the battle begins and we must defeat our disappointment lest it develops discouragement and ends in disaster.

Winning this battle is sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes we let our disappointment drain our energy, dash our hopes, and derail our progress. If we fail to fight through it our work comes to a screeching stop. The solution is not to decrease our desires. We wouldn’t be worth a plug nickel without a desire to do. But we must not expect every desire to be fulfilled immediately.

In times like these we must remember that it is God who gives the increase – we only plant the seed. Even our very best efforts will not always meet with the success we hope for, but we must press on. We must focus on being faithful and leave the results in God’s hands. One way or another, some day. Some how God will bless our efforts. Our labor in the Lord will not be in vain (I Cor.15:58). – HDS

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