MORNING MANNA          10-16-22

BLEEDING TO DEATH OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL

“ And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”- Acts 5:42

The following story illustrates the great need of getting the gospel to those who are lost.

 “Christopher Sercye was playing basketball with his friends on May 16, 1998 when he was shot in the chest, and a bullet perforated his aorta. His friends helped him get to within forty feet of the entrance to Ravenswood Hospital and then went inside and asked for help. The hospital staff refused to help Christopher saying that it was against the hospital’s policies to administer aid to those outside the hospital. Eventually a policeman was able to get a wheelchair and wheeled Christopher into the hospital where he was helped by the hospital staff. It was too late, however, and Christopher died about an hour later.

Many times it seems that churches are surrounded by people that desperately need to hear the Gospel, yet Christians are content to share it only with those that manage to come inside their church.”

We need to do more than sing “Rescue the perishing”. The Bible doesn’t command the lost to attend church, but it does command the church to go to the lost with the gospel. – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA           10-15-22

ONLY ONE LIFE

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.- Matt. 6:10

Nearly every Christian has heard a preacher quote one line from this poem by C. T. Studd, but few have ever read the entire poem. Here it is:

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;
 Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
 Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
 Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
 Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
 Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
 Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
 Each with its days I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
 Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
 When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
 Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
 Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
 Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
 Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
 Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
 And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ’twas worth it all”;
 Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

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

THINK ABOUT IT           10-14-22

A. W. Tozer, who wrote the following, died shortly before I started preaching. I can’t help but wonder what he would say about what we see today. More importantly, my great concern is what God thinks about what He sees today. If you have read His Word you already know.

 

Here is what Tozer wrote:”The only power God recognizes in His Church, is the power of His Spirit.    Whereas the only power actually recognized today by the majority of evangelicals, is the power of man. God does His work by the operation of the Spirit–while Christian leaders attempt to do theirs by the power of trained intellect. Bright personality, has taken the place of the divine influence. But only what is done through the Eternal Spirit, will abide eternally. 

   
    For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was:
      a device for wasting time,
      a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience,
      a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability.

    But of late she appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god entertainment–she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his power.
   
      Christianity is so entangled with the world, that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere!
   
    Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the       New Testament standard.
    Worldliness is an accepted part of our way of life.
    Our religious mood is social, instead of spiritual.
    We have lost the art of worship.
    We are not producing saints.
    Our models are successful business men, celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities.
    We carry on our religious activities after the methods of the modern advertiser.
    Our homes have been turned into theaters.
    Our literature is shallow, and our hymnody borders on sacrilege.
    And scarcely anyone appears to care!”

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist ChurchHumble, Tx. 

MORNING MANNA           10-14-22

LOVE’S LOYALTY

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.’ – 1 Cor. 4:2

Every child of God should be faithful to God. Not because the preacher says so, but out of love for the Lord. The following true story illustrates love’s loyalty:

” When Louis Lawes became warden of Sing Sing Prison in 1920, the inmates existed in wretched conditions. This led him to introduce humanitarian reforms. He gave much of the credit to his wife Kathryn, however, who always treated the prisoners as human beings. She would often take her three children and sit with the gangsters, the murderers, and the racketeers while they played basketball and baseball. Then in 1937, Kathryn was killed in a car accident. The next day her body lay in a casket in a house about a quarter of a mile from the institution. When the acting warden found hundreds of prisoners crowded around the main entrance, he knew what they wanted. Opening the gate, he said, “Men, I’m going to trust you. You can go to the house.” No count was taken; no guards were posted. Yet not one man was missing that night. Love for one who had loved them made them dependable. Christ has revealed the Father’s grace to us “while we were yet sinners” (Rom. 5:8). Because of what He did on Calvary, we have been freed from sin’s bondage and the condemnation of the law. Unlike those prisoners, we don’t have to return to confinement. Yet the same motive that kept them from running away should also account for our faithful service for Christ. May our love for Him, more than fear, shame, or even duty, be the reason we want to do what’s right.”

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

MORNING MANNA          10-12-22

“YE WOULD NOT”

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.“- Matthew 23:37-39

Anyone who has presented the gospel to a number of people has experienced a complete rejection of the message of the truth. It may have been polite, or it may have been rude, but the person responding made it clear that they had no interest in considering their eternal state. We should not allow that to discourage us, for Jesus Himself experienced the same thing. He lamented the rejection of His offer by the people of Jerusalem. He knew what awaited those who rejected Him, and it grieved Him to think of their fate.

It is hard for us to understand how someone could reject Jesus in person. He knew what people were thinking and feeling, and He presented the truth to them in the way that He knew would most resonate with them. He was loving and kind, merciful and gracious, open and inviting. Yet with all of that, the majority of people did not accept Him as the Messiah and Savior that they needed. He offered them salvation, hope, and eternal life, but they refused to take Him up on that offer.

This is such a powerful indictment of the condition of the lost world. Even when they are presented with the truth, some reject it willfully and intentionally. Thankfully, others receive the Word of God gladly and believe on Christ. Paul reminded the Christians at Thessalonica that when he had first come to preach the gospel, “when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). God has given each person a free choice to receive Him or reject Him. Our part is to faithfully share the gospel with everyone.(Daily in the Word)

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