HOW TO HELP YOURSELF
“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. “–Job 42:10

A great many people who try to be comforters, only lay  thorns under aching heads. No art needs a more delicate touch, than the comforter’s. The hands of most of us are too rough to be laid on throbbing hearts. No wonder Job felt that his friends were miserable comforters, or that he was not at first in a mood to pray for them. But until he could pray for them–blessing could not come to him.

The lesson is for us. Others may have injured or grieved us in some way, and we may not be ready to forgive them. But while we feel so, we are shutting out divine blessing from ourselves. Job’s praying at length for his friends, showed that his heart was now softened toward them, that he had forgiven them. Then blessing came to him. When we can pray for one who has wronged us, misjudged us, or said unkind things of us or to us, hurting us in some way–we are in a condition to receive blessing from God.

Job was also ready now to come out of his own sorrow–to try to help others. We do not find comfort by staying in the darkness of our own grief, by thinking only of it; we must forget ourselves, and begin to serve others and seek their good, before we can find the light of God’s comfort. Selfishness in sorrow is selfishness, and selfishness in any form misses God’s blessing.(J. R. Miller)

When we are in need or troubled we often think of our need for help, but seldom do we look where we should. We usually think about how others could help us, when we actually should be helping ourselves. One of the best lessons we could ever learn is this– when you are good to others you are best to yourself.- HDS

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

IT’S NOT ABOUT US

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”–1 Corinthians 2:1–4

Just a few years before the event described below by Paul Chappell, I had the privilege of spending a week with Dr. Lee Roberson and Parker Daily. Every day as we talked I “picked their brain” trying to learn all I could. But we never learn it all. Even Dr. Roberson had a lesson to learn as you can see in this story.–HDS

In 1973, after decades of preaching the gospel, Dr. Lee Roberson woke up one morning unable to speak above a whisper. He had to cancel all of his meetings, and for an entire year he was unable to preach in his church. He traveled all over the country to see various specialists, but none of them could help. Finally a local surgeon operated, and after a few week’s recovery, Dr. Roberson was preaching again, which he continued until he was almost ninety-seven years old.

Looking back later, he remarked how greatly God had blessed the church during the year when he could only sit silently on the platform while someone else filled the pulpit. He said it was one of the most blessed years of ministry he had ever known. Attendance, offerings, and conversions increased. Dr. Roberson said, “That just showed this preacher something. It didn’t depend so much on what I was doing. It depended on the working of the power of God through our lives.” 

Too many times we rely on our talent and efforts rather than depending on God. The results of our labor for the Lord are not on our shoulders. If we want God’s power and blessing, we must abandon self-reliance. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). We must rely on God’s strength rather than ours if we hope to accomplish anything lasting for Him.

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

MY GREATEST DISCOVERY
“O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”–Ps. 119:97
When I was a boy I loved to wander through the woods to see what I could discover. And in the Ozarks you never knew what you might find—arrowheads, caves, springs, sink holes, remains of an old homestead, etc. It was exciting. However, as soon as I became a Christian I found something even more exciting. My greatest interest became the Word of God.
Since I wasn’t raised in church or familiar with the Bible I discovered something new every time I opened God’s Word. Now, more that half-a-century later I’m still looking and discovering precious treasures from that blessed old book. The thrill has never left me and if I lived a 1000 years I couldn’t exhaust that vast storehouse of truth. How could you not be interested in what the Creator of the universe has to say?
But it is more than interesting. Not only does it give me information and inspiration, it imparts what I need to live the life it demands. It informs, and transforms. I would give every penny I have if I could pass this desire on to those I love. I feel that way because I know what they are missing when they fail to study God’s Word. It tears my heart out to see them depriving themselves of this great gift to man. If you have the slightest doubt about your need of this please meditate on Psalms 119. That ought to give you some idea as to the importance of God’s Word in your life. I can tell you about it but nothing takes the place of actually experiencing it for yourself. As Job 23:12 says, “…I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.--HDS

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

WELL DONE
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”–Matt. 25:21
Multitudes are obsessed with the idea of success. Numerous books, seminars, programs, etc. promise to make you successful. The problem is that most people don’t know what true success is. In their mind it is getting what they desire– especially when it impresses others, as they love being admired. God, however has a very different opinion. Success in His sight is faithfulness to His will. He isn’t impressed with the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Success is more than fortune, fame, or fulfillment. It is the faithful discharge of our God-given duties. That is our main purpose, greatest pursuit, and highest prize. It is the only thing required to please God and the only thing that truly satisfies self.
Nothing better could be said of a person than they are faithful. That embraces all their duties. It goes beyond what they do. It includes what they are. Both conduct and character are involved. We are not truly faithful if we are faithful only in certain areas. Excelling in one thing does not justify failing in another. Knowing we shall stand before the Lord who gave His all for us, let us give our best to Him. Hearing Him say “Well done thou good and faithful servant” will be reward enough! One of my favorite songs is “When I hear Him say well done”, by the Perrys. I couldn’t resist posting the lyrics below. HDS
Verse 1
Weary pilgrim, fellow traveler, wounded soldiers just be strong.
We are only passing through this world; we really don’t belong.
So don’t let the heat of battle keep you from your just reward.
There’ll be cause for celebration when we stand before the Lord.

CHORUS
When we hear Him say well done (my child well done)
A crown of life (a bright and shining crown of life) you’ve won (you’re soul has won)
It will be worth (ev’ry trial) ev’ry tear and ev’ry mile
When we hear Him say well done (my child well done)

Verse 2
There are many hills and mountains left to climb before we’re Home.
There are enemies attack the redeemed who will not roam.
But there’s comfort in the Spirit; there is power for the fight.
There’s a promise for the faithful if we stand up for the right.

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

“IF CHILDREN“
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”–Rom. 8:17

Since, Lord willing, I will be preaching a message entitled ‘From grief to glory” from this verse this morning, I encourage you to pay close attention to this article. Here Paul speaks about who we are and what we have in Christ. But before we talk about that we need to consider the little word “if”, it is of huge importance. The glorious truths of which he speaks all hinge upon us being “the children of God“(vs. 17). There will no glory unless God is our Father.

He doesn’t say, “If we are church members, Baptist, good neighbors, etc. He speaks of us being a child of God. The “if” comes before the “then“. Only “if” we are children of God are we “heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ”. The blessings follow the believing, by which we become the children of God ( Gal. 3:26). We must have faith in the Son before we are children in the family. Until we enter God’s family we have no hope of glory. As Paul said to the Colossians, it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory:” ( Col. 1:27).

Pretending you are a child of God isn’t good enough. Hoping you are a child of God won’t help. And making a wild guess at how we become children of God won’t save you. Whether or not you are a child of God is something you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt (1 John 5:13). It is something you will know because it is the result of believing. It is not a think so, hope so, maybe matter. If you truly believe you know it. Do you?

Knowing Christ as your Savior is not only the hope of glory, it opens the storehouse door to all we need while we groan with grief in this present wicked world. Were there no heaven or hell the Christian life would still be far better than anything else. It’s my prayer that you will avail yourself of this opportunity to become a child of God! — HDS

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