MORNING MANNA            7-18-24

EXAMINE YOURSELVES

 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” —2 Corinthians 13:5 

Merchants understand the importance of knowing what they have and what they need. In other words, they need to know where they stand. Assuming all is well is a big mistake. However, there is another inventory we need to take that is of far greater importance. I’m talking about the need to take an inventory concerning our relationship with God. As Paul says, “Examine yourselves”. 

Let’s face it–the chances are good that you don’t like to face the facts regarding your spiritual condition–most of us don’t. However, we need to give this some serious thought. We are commanded to do so. As unpleasant as it is, we need a spiritual check-up, and to do it we must keep some facts in mind. Here’s the facts– Believers in Christ are known as such by their affection for Him. That is an undeniable fact, clearly set forth in God’s Word. But there is more. Our new affections bring new appetities also. We long for what we love. When we truly love Christ we will have a desire to please Him. This desire is God-given. 

The moment we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit enters our heart and proceeds to transform us. He gives us new hungers, new hopes, and noticeable help. He doesn’t just engage us, He empowers us and enables us to do what was previously impossible. We, and others, begin to notice that we are different–we now will to do His will. It was with this in mind that Paul wrote, “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)

 While we aren’t perfect we are at least headed in the right direction. Salvation doesn’t just affect us in the sweet bye and bye, it affects us in the nasty here and now. As a result of our new nature we have new affections, new appetites, new attitudes, and new actions. It’s not just a matter of us changing, it’s a matter of us being changed. We are different because the Holy Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ. Now, here’s the sad thing–many presume they are saved and profess to be saved when there is absolutely no evidence that they are. They either refuse to examine themselves or they deny the unmistakable evidence–believing all will end well, when all the evidence is to the contrary. They are oblivious to the obvious. They are lost and unaware of it. What could be more sad than that?

 So, how is it with you? Have you honestly examined yourself in the light of God’s Word? Is there evidence that you have indeed been born again? Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you will go to heaven when you die? Can you truly say that you love Christ more than anything and want to please Him in everything? Is your love of Christ evident? Have you examined yourself lately? Will you do so today?- HDS 

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

MORNING MANNA               7-17-24
GOD PUT A RAINBOW IN THE SKY

“And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud”.  (Genesis 9:14). 

All of creation is the handiwork of God and can be used as a text book to teach us about Him (Romans 1:19-20). It’s a shame that we fail to fine delight in the simple things of nature. Take the rainbow for example. We all agree that it is beautiful, but we usually fail to appreciate it’s message as we should. I remember an old Southern Gospel song called, “God put a rainbow in the sky”. I loved to listen to that song, but I confess I was actually more impressed with the bass singer than with the message of the song. What a shame! Even so, it is also a shame when you see the rainbow and, for whatever reason, fail to consider its spiritual significance. We should not be like those who worship the creation of God rather than the God of creation.

Perhaps these words from the pen of Charles Spurgeon will help us regain the proper perspective:

Just now clouds are plentiful enough, but we are not afraid that the world will be destroyed by a deluge. We see the rainbow often enough to pre- vent our having any such fears. The covenant which the LORD made with Noah stands fast, and we have no doubts about it. Why, then, should we think that the clouds of’ trouble, which now darken our sky, will end in our destruction? Let us dismiss such groundless and dishonoring fears.

Faith always sees the bow of covenant promise whenever sense sees the cloud of affliction. God has a bow with which He might shoot out His arrows of destruction. But see, it is turned upward! It is a bow without an arrow or a string; it is a bow hung out for show, no longer used for war. It is a bow of many colors, expressing joy and delight, and not a bow blood-red with slaughter or black with anger. Let us be of good courage. Never does God so darken our sky as to leave His covenant without a witness, and even if He did, we would trust Him since He cannot change or lie or in any other way fail to keep His covenant of peace. Until the waters go over the earth again, we shall have no reason for doubting our God.

It might do you good to keep a copy of this and read it again when you are going through a storm in your life. Regardless of the nature or severity of the storm God is able to deliver you and turn your grief into glory. The power of His promise provides perfect peace”.- HDS ( revised from 1-11-12)

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

MORNING MANNA           7-16-24  

 SING PRAISE TO THE LORD

“When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments…and they were smitten” (2 Chron. 20:22).

I have preached from this text more than once, but this isn’t a sermon. This short article is taken from the devotional book “Streams in the Desert”- one of the first devotional books I ever owned.

“Oh, that we could reason less about our troubles, and sing and praise more! There are thousands of things that we wear as shackles which we might use as instruments with music in them, if we only knew how.

Those men that ponder, and meditate, and weigh the affairs of life, and study the mysterious developments of God’s providence, and wonder why they should be burdened and thwarted and hampered–how different and how much more joyful would be their lives, if, instead of forever indulging in self-revolving and inward thinking, they would take their experiences, day by day, and lift them up, and praise God for them.

We can sing our cares away easier than we can reason them away. Sing in the morning. The birds are the earliest to sing, and birds are more without care than anything else that I know of.

Sing at evening. Singing is the last thing that robins do. When they have done their daily work; when they have flown their last flight, and picked up their last morsel of food, then on a topmost twig, they sing one song of praise.

Oh, that we might sing morning and evening, and let song touch song all the way through.”

I have often said, “I can’t sing”, but strictly speaking that’s not true. Everyone can sing and should. It’s true that we can’t all sing the proper notes as they are written, but it’s the words and the attitude of the heart that matters most. Nearly everyone sings sometimes as they drive, but we ought to sing throughout the day. I keep a hymnal on my desk and often read or sing to myself. I believe we all benefit from singing and should make it a habit. It can do wonders. Try it see for yourself!- HDS  

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble, TX

MORNING MANNA            7-15-24
WINNING OVER WORRY
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.”- Philippians 4:6

MORNING MANNA                 7-14-24