MORNING MANNA            6-3-21

FROM WORTHLESS TO WORTH
“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 Tim. 1:15

I just read some strange news. Newsweek just announced “Fishermen Find $1.5 m worth of ‘Whale Vomit’, Lifting Them Out of Poverty“. My first thought was “Really?” I had no idea! Who would have thought that whale vomit would be worth anything? Not me – so I read on. The whale vomit “has been highly prized by humans.. as a medicine..and aphrodisiac..by perfumers as the substance helps scents last longer”. One of the fishermen said, “If you find whale ambergris it’s a treasure”. 

MORNING MANNA          6-2-21

GOD’S GIFTS

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”– 1 Cor. 12:4-6

Every believer has been equipped by God to serve the Lord in some way, and that should result in us serving others. As 1 Peter 1:10 says,“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

We are all different for a reason. Just as the various members of our body serve different functions each member of the church has a job to do. That being the case it behoves us to discover our gifts and discharge our duties. That’s what enables a church to fulfill its ministry. Although each member functions in a different way they are to labor in harmony with the entire body. And when we do that there won’t be any divisions in the body and each member will “have the same care one for another” ( 1 Cor. 12:25).

Every member needs to serve and to be served. Not only do you meet the needs of others, you meet a need in your own life – the need to serve. When you are good to others you are always best to yourself. But best of all, when you serve others you are serving God- fulfilling the role for which He designed you. And that makes it all worthwhile. When you fail to use your gift and meet the needs of others you deprive yourself of a need in your own life, as well as the reward you could have had. Don’t waste your gift. Use it for the glory of God and the good of others and you will be blessed. -HDS

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

MORNING MANNA             6-1-21

WHAT CHURCHES NEED TODAY

“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance” 1 Thessalonians 1:5

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx. 

MORNING MANNA   5/31/21

EACH GENERATION’S RESPONSIBILITY 

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?”–Proverbs 27:23-24

In his farewell speech at West Point, General Douglas MacArthur praised the courage and willingness to sacrifice of the American soldier: “His name and fame are the birthright of every American citizen. He needs no eulogy from me, or from any other man. He belongs to history as furnishing one of the greatest examples of successful patriotism. He belongs to posterity as the instructor of future generations in the principles of liberty and freedom. He belongs to the present, to us, by his virtues and by his achievements.

“In twenty campaigns, on a hundred battlefields, around a thousand campfires, I have witnessed that enduring fortitude, that patriotic self-abnegation, and that invincible determination which have carved his statue in the hearts of his people. From one end of the world to the other, he has drained deep the chalice of courage. I do not know the dignity of their birth, but I do know the glory of their death. They died unquestioning, uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them: Duty, Honor, Country.”

The freedom we enjoy as Americans was purchased at great cost—but it is not a once-for-all purchase. The price must continue to be paid if the freedom is to continue. The same is true in the spiritual realm. Jude said we must “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). The faith has been delivered, but we must still be willing to stand and fight for it. Let it never be said that we allowed the flame of faith to go out.—-

As we thank God for the freedom we enjoy and remember its cost, let us commit to stand in our day and do our part to maintain it.– copied

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA            5-30-21

THE HOLY SPIRIT

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”- Acts 1:8

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” – 1 John 2:27

Of all the needs in churches today none are greater than the need to rediscover our need of the Holy Spirit. Living the Christian life requires strength far beyond what man can do. As Zech. 4:6 says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts”.

Paul Chappell wrote: “Every Christian receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. It is not something that happens later on after we have started to grow in grace or reach a certain level in the Christian life. He is there from the beginning. Yet while every believer has that anointing and powerful presence, not every believer lives from day to day under the filling and control of the Holy Spirit. This is not something just for preachers or missionaries or other Christian workers, but for everyone who is part of God’s family. A. W. Tozer said, “The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.”

The Holy Spirit never leaves us. His presence is the assurance that our eternal destiny is settled. But our choices determine the extent to which He is in control of our lives. There is a constant battle taking place between the new nature and the fleshly nature we had at birth. We are not passive bystanders or observers to that battle. We have a responsibility to yield the control of our lives to the Holy Spirit and follow His direction. There is no way for us to fulfill God’s purpose otherwise.

The ultimate direction of our lives is determined by who controls us. Paul asked, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). As we yield to the direction and control of the Holy Spirit, we will produce His fruit in our lives and accomplish the work God has given us to do. The power of the Holy Spirit is only displayed in the lives of those who have yielded control to Him.” 

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.