MORNING MANNA             9-19-22

Faith without Works Is Dead 

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

Some folks just don’t get it! They boldly declare their faith, but they fail to demonstrate it. They don’t realize that it is dead. James condemns profession without practice. He tells us that true saving faith will manifest itself in works. We are saved through faith, not works, but the faith that saves works! I love the way the late Adrian Rogers put it. He said–

“When you ask God for something, do you just sit back and do nothing and say, “Well, I’m going to show my faith by doing nothing.” To the contrary, you will show your faith by doing something. For faith without works is what? Dead! (see James 2:20) 

Do you want a house? Pray for it. Then say “Amen” with a hammer and saw. 

Do you want a wife? Pray for one. Then go shave, put on some cologne, learn some manners, and learn how to be thoughtful and loving. 

What have you been praying earnestly about the last week? What is your heart’s desire? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can put feet to that prayer. Then, walk the talk!”  

So, are you walking in faith? Do you really believe that God will do what He has promised? Do you even know what He has promised? Is your faith in faith, or in God? Are you a part of the “Name it claim it crowd”? Remember, faith is believing that God will do what He promised and responding appropriately–in obedience. “Faith” without works is worthless, “dead“. If that is the case with you, get to know God by turning to His Word and accepting what He says as the truth. He never fails! “–faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”(Romans 10:17).- HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA              9-17-22

ESCAPE FROM EMPTINESS
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”- Ecc. 1;14

MORNING MANNA             9-16-22
TOT
“For to me to live is Christ”—Philippians 1:21
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

 “Post-it-notes” have been popular ever since their invention. It seems that man has always had a problem with his memory, and he does some strange things to overcome it–like “tie a string around your finger”,etc. By the way, it usually doesn’t get any better with age! The fact of the matter is that God knows we have difficulty remembering things that are important. An example of this is found in Deuteronomy 6:3-12, where God instructed Israel to write His words in various places around the house. I guess you could say that it was God who invented the post-it-notes. I thought about this when I recently read an article by the late Adrian Rogers, entitled “Staying Focused on God’s Plan for Your Life”. Here’s what he wrote:

“The devil would love to get you distracted and get you off the course on which God has placed you. God has something He wants you to do and you had better not substitute the good for the best. Find out what God wants you to do and refuse to be distracted by the devil. You need to say as the apostle Paul said, “This one thing I do!” Know what it is that God wants you to do and do it with all your strength for His glory! Take a few minutes to write out a mission statement about your life focusing on “that one thing” (TOT) that you think God has called you to do. Then, post the letters TOT everywhere to remind yourself to stay focused on the calling of God in your life.”

That’s a pretty good idea. We need all the help we can get when it comes to keeping our focus on the main thing. Some seem to have forgotten the purpose for which they exist and they waste their life in pursuit of things that are of secondary importance. Paul said,”For to me to live is Christ”. What is it for you? What is “TOT” for you? – HDS

MORNING MANNA                9-15-22
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST
“I will instruct thee and teach thee—“. Psalm 32:8

“Here is a precious promise! The all-knowing God will teach us–and we are in desperate need of the lessons. As one said,”At best we know but little–and we are slow to learn. But the Lord has promised to instruct us. The Lord’s teaching always produces humility, self-loathing, confidence in God, zeal for His glory, and heart devotion to Christ! The Lord’s teaching always brings us to the feet of Jesus, and delivers us from this present evil world. Under Divine instruction we learn the true nature of sin, the vanity of the world, the emptiness of creatures, and the fullness and preciousness of Christ!”(James Smith,1840).

Seeing that God is willing to instruct us, should we not be eager to learn? Considering that our problems are so large and our abilities are so small, should we not be found early and often sitting at the feet of Jesus – with our Bible open, our body rested, and our mind clear, soaking up the rich treasures of His Word? Since the great God who designed, created, and controls this vast universe bids us to come, should we not be found continually at the throne of grace praying, as the Psalmist, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”(Psalm 25:4-5).

In the school of Christ, Jesus is both the teacher and the theme. It is for that reason He said,”Come unto me–and learn of me-“(Matthew 11:28-29). Have you? Is He your teacher? Have you enrolled in the class of Christ, by trusting Him as Lord and Savior? If so, sit at His feet, soak up His words, surrender to His demands, show forth His praise. If you know Him–love Him, learn of Him from Him, leave all to follow Him, live for Him, lean upon Him for support, and look to Him always. Make this your daily prayer–“Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path–“(Psalm 27:11).-HDS

THINK ABOUT IT

No wonder our nation is like it is. So sad! 

At least a third of senior pastors in the United States believe one can earn a place in Heaven by simply being a good person, according to a nationwide survey.

The American Worldview Inventory 2022 examined more than three dozen beliefs held by pastors. Researchers found that in addition to believing that people can merit salvation based solely on their good works, one-third or more of senior pastors surveyed also believe the Holy Spirit is not a person but rather “a symbol of God’s power.” Others said that moral truth is subjective; sexual relations between two unmarried people who love each other is “morally acceptable” and biblical teaching on abortion is “ambiguous.”

At least a third of those surveyed also said they believe “socialism is preferable to capitalism and that allowing property ownership facilitates economic injustice,” which researchers say could point to the “increase of cultural and political influence into the church.”

The current report focuses on roughly half of those beliefs, revealing that a shockingly large percentage reject biblical teaching on some of the most basic Christian beliefs.

Among Evangelical pastors, for example, personal accumulation of wealth is provided by God for the individual to manage those resources for God’s purposes.

Another 39% of Evangelical pastors surveyed said there is no absolute moral truth and that “each individual must determine their own truth.” Roughly the same percentage (38%) didn’t answer in the affirmative when asked if “human life is sacred,” while 37% said having faith, in general, is more important than in what — or more specifically, Whom — one has faith.

Perhaps most startlingly, three in 10 Evangelical pastors (30%) didn’t answer in the affirmative if their salvation is based on having confessed their sins and accepting Jesus Christ as their savior.

George Barna, CRC’s director of research, said the results could be linked to another trend he observed in the data.

“While studying the spiritual behavioral patterns of pastors, it became evident that a large share of them do not have a regular spiritual routine,” Barna said. “There was a correlation between possessing biblical beliefs and a consistent regimen of Bible reading, prayer, worship and confession.

“In some of the denominational groupings, a majority of pastors do not engage in those foundational spiritual practices on a regular basis,” he added. “Yet, among the pastors who have the most consistently biblical beliefs, there is also a daily routine that incorporates all of those disciplines.”

The data from this latest report came from a nationwide study of about 1,000 Christian pastors across several segments of churches and/or denominational families and was conducted between February and March of 2022.

Sent from my iPad – HDS