MORNING MANNA         4-28-22

MEN OF FAITH

Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said…Now therefore give me this mountain…if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out– Joshua 14:6,12

Are there any challenges, or trials, or ambitions in your life that seem to be insurmountable or unachievable? If so, then listen to the spirit and wisdom of Caleb’s words.

Understand, first, that Caleb is 85 years old when he makes this declaration. Secondly, “this mountain” is not some green-pastured, undefended plot of land; it is positively swarming with enemy combatants. But God had promised this land to Caleb and so he courageously claims it: “Give me this mountain.”

Such confidence might at first seem admirable, and yet naïve or unrealistic, in an 85-year-old man. But Caleb’s courage was based upon the wise realization that “if the Lord is with me, then I will be successful.”

All my excuses and fears are wiped away by this aged man’s faithful example. Is there anything in my life that seems insurmountable or unachievable? Then may Caleb’s faithful battle cry become my own.

If it is a sin against which I am striving, then I have been promised victory, with the Lord’s help — give me this mountain! If it is a life endeavor that I am being led to undertake for the cause of Christ, then I have been promised success — give me this mountain! If it is a particular grief that threatens to overwhelm me, then I have been promised the comfort and strength to overcome it by God’s grace — give me this mountain! –  Baptist Bible Hour

Far too often we complain about not getting what we want or need, but we refuse to trust God for it. We might mumble a prayer yet fail to actually believe that God will answer. So, the blame goes to us, not to God. Remember, “.. without faith it is impossible to please him–“– Heb. 11:6 – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA         4-27-22

THE NECESSITY OF SALVATION

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”- Acts 4:10–12

The evangelist D. L. Moody told of going into a business on the East Coast and seeing a telegram framed on the wall behind the counter. When he asked about it, he was told this story. One of the owners of the business had been on a ship that wrecked off the coast of Newfoundland. In the first reports, he was listed among those who had perished in the wreck. The store was closed in mourning, and a sign posted that shared the sad news. But the next day his partner received a telegram with a single word: “Saved.” The store reopened with great rejoicing and the telegram was framed and permanently displayed in celebration.

Every one of us was born as a sinner. While our society may go to great lengths to deny that men and women need a Saviour, God’s Word makes it clear that we are hopeless without Him—as Peter put it: “we must be saved.” To meet that need, God sent Jesus into the world. After living a perfect life, and thus not owing a penalty for sin, Jesus died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. By coming to Him in faith and trusting Him alone for salvation, we too can be saved. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). We are powerless to save ourselves, but Jesus freely offers us salvation through His sacrifice.(Copied)

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

MORNING MANNA          4-26-22

THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING GOD

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” – 1 Timothy 1:12-15

These verses have been precious to me since I became a Christian. Everyday I thank God for the gift of eternal life, the gift of life, the gifts of life, and the privilege to serve God. Serving God is a blessing rather than a burden. 

I feel like the little boy in this story told by Paul Chappell. He said “I read about a family who were planning to go on an extended vacation. They asked the nine year old neighbor to take care of the dog while they were gone. They carefully explained all that would be involved—feeding, watering, grooming, walking, and lots of play—and what their expectations were. After all of that, they asked the boy what the job would be worth to him. He replied, “I’ll give you ten bucks.” Instead of getting paid for doing something he very much wanted to do, he was willing to pay to do it.”

Service for God is often costly, difficult, and sometimes even brings suffering. And yet it is a privilege, not just a duty. Getting to be part of His work is an honor rather than a burden. If we view it as such, then we will not be deterred by the cost of serving God, but instead will gladly pay it. Paul told the Christians at Corinth, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15).

God does not need our help to accomplish His purposes. We are not doing Him a favor when we serve Him, we are accepting a very high privilege He has given us. When the Queen of Sheba met Solomon she said, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (1 Kings 10:8). We serve One much greater than Solomon. We should serve God with an attitude of cheerful joy, recognizing the privilege He has given us to do so.

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

MORNING MANNA          4-25-22

AND NOT FAINT

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” – Isaiah 40:29-31

Most of us have experienced the deep weariness that comes from extended periods of work without a break. There are times when we work and work and work, only to find out that when we have reached what we thought was a stopping place, there is still more to do. We remember the story of Jesus telling the disciples it was time to come apart and rest. Yet when they reached the other side of the lake, they found that a crowd of people had gathered. Rather than sending them away so He could get the rest He needed, Jesus ministered to them. “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

God does not promise that when we come to Him for help He will make the burdens go away and stop the race we must run. What He promises instead is that He will give us the strength and endurance to keep going and to do what we must for Him. Those who ask for ease and nothing to do are not seeking the right thing. God calls us to work for Him, not because it is easy or without pain, but because it is necessary, meaningful, and important. He will equip us and strengthen us and uphold us if we seek His help. There is nothing we can do apart from His power, and there is nothing we cannot do with His power. Those who labor for Him will never find His strength lacking for the task. God will never fail to give us the strength to do His work if we rely on Him.(Daily in the Word)

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

MORNING MANNA           4-23-22

NEVER TURN BACK

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” – 2 Corinthians 11:24-28

The life of the Apostle Paul was anything but easy. Being faithful to God’s calling put his life in danger over and over. He suffered intense persecution, dire hardships, lack, and danger—not for doing wrong, but for doing right. There were many reasons for Paul to quit, but he never did. The hardships made some of his companions turn back. Mark quit the first missionary journey. Demas decided the things of the world were more to be desired than the suffering of following Christ. Yet despite all that Paul endured and the fact that others were turning back, he continued. He refused to allow anything to deter him from serving God.

Paul declared, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). There are times when difficulty comes as a result of something we have done wrong. But many times the opposition and hardship we experience are because we are doing right, and the devil is trying to get us to stop serving God. Whatever the source, we must not allow anything to stop our service to God. Edgar Guest wrote, “It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.” Our love for Christ should be so great that nothing can deter us from serving Him.

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