EMPTY BUBBLES

August 18, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.–1 John 2:15-17

“The possession of the whole world, and all that it contains–will never make a person happy. Its pleasures are false and deceptive! Its riches, rank, and honors, have no power to satisfy the heart! So long as we have not got them–they glitter, sparkle, and seem desirable. The moment we have them–we find that they are empty bubbles, and cannot make us feel content.

And, worst of all, when we possess this world’s good things to the utmost bound of our desire–we cannot keep them! Death comes in and separates us from all our property forever! Naked we came upon earth, and naked we go forth–and of all our possessions, we can carry nothing with us.

Such is the world, which occupies the whole attention of thousands!

Such is the world, for the sake of which millions are every year destroying their souls!” (J. C. Ryle)

In other words that which we crave, “the lust thereof”, shall fade, “passeth”, away. So why should we waste our time and energy in the pursuit of bubbles, things of no eternal value, instead of things that are of no eternal worth? May we pass this day with that question in mind. In doing so we will make wiser decisions and be all the better for it. –HDS

KNOWING JESUS

August 13, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

The prayer and pursuit of Paul’s heart was expressed in these words–“That I may know Him…”(Phil.3:10). Keep in mind that Paul had been a Christian for many years when he penned those words. The old apostle wasn’t speaking about knowing Christ in the sense of salvation. He was talking about knowing Him more intimately by experience, knowing Him to the fullest extent possible. There is a big difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing the person.

I love this story told by Adrian Rogers that illustrates what I’m talking about. He said….

Years ago my wife gave me a little card to carry in my billfold. On it she had written her dress size, shoe size, glove size and more. That was nice to have so I could know all about her when I went to do some shopping. But it didn’t provide much companionship or encouragement when I was away from her.

It’s one thing to have the facts about Jesus, it’s another thing to have a relationship with Jesus.

Do you know Jesus…really know Him? Or are you just gathering facts about Him?

WHAT TO EXPECT

August 12, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

And David was greatly distressed—but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.–1 Samuel 30:6

There is not a person on earth who has not experienced disappointments. Some are minor matters, but some are of a major magitude–the kind that knocks you off your feet, stomps you, and leaves you feeling that recovery is impossible. How do we deal with these difficulties? In my case, I often have to start by asking myself this question, “What did you expect?”. In other words I have to remind myself that I live in a fallen world. I am a pilgrim travelling through enemy territory, enroute to my heavenly home. That being the case it isn’t realistic to expect a trouble free life. Instead of thinking, “Why is life so difficult?” I ought to wonder why I have any blessings at all–I don’t deserve any of them. This wicked world is a tough place to live and troubles, many troubles are to be expected (Job 14:1).

John Henry Jowett gave us this great reminder before he entered into the presence of the Lord:

Evil never surrenders its hold without a sore fight. We never pass into any spiritual inheritance through the delightful exercises of a picnic, but always through the grim contentions of the battle field. It is so in the secret realm of the soul. Every faculty which wins its spiritual freedom does so at the price of blood. Apollyon is not put to flight by a courteous request; he straddles across the full breadth of the way, and our progress has to be registered in blood and tears. This we must remember or we shall add to all the other burdens of life the gall of misinterpretation. We are not “born again” into soft and protected nurseries, but in the open country where we suck strength from the very terror of the tempest. “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

A CALL TO WORSHIP

August 11, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

I must confess, I get a bit perturbed by those who criticize others for getting exuberant in their worship. They dislike clapping, raising hands, shouting, etc. And they think everyone should do as they do, which is usually just sit and stare. I can’t help but wonder what Bible they’ve been reading! Belittling others for the way they worship is serious and dangerous. Folks like that confuse me. They sing “Shout to the Lord”, but they don’t. They sing, “Lift up holy hands”, but they won’t. They sing the “Amen Chorus”, but they’re quite as a mouse. I just don’t get it. But, here’s something I do get. This article in the daily devotional “A Good Thing” puts it all into perspective:

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable”– Psalm 145:3

God is great. In fact, He is so great that He deserves our praise. In fact, He deserves praise in proportion to His greatness — because He is so great, He is greatly to be praised.

How great is God? How much and how long is it appropriate for us to continue applauding Him? Does He deserve a half-hearted smattering of acclaim, or a standing ovation? How long should we stand and applaud? Can we quit clapping yet?

The psalmist says, “His greatness is unsearchable!” There is no end to His greatness and so there is to be no end to our ovation.

Does this sound like a long and dull and unfair obligation, or a joyful and fulfilling and wonderful pleasure? If you lean strongly toward the first description, then it means you have lost sight of just how great God is.

When you see how beautiful, how stupendous—how unspeakably august and loving and just and mighty—God is, then unending soul-praise is our inevitable response. Like having your breath taken away by a sunset at sea…or clapping till your hands hurt at the end of an unbelievable stage performance.

Praising God is like that only, the psalmist reminds us, infinitely more and better. Because His greatness is unsearchable: this sunset never ends, this performance goes on forever.

Unsearchably great is the Lord, and so He is unendingly and greatly to be praised. Let the joyful applause begin.

And, I might add–“Never let it end!” Never allow the critics to rob you of your freedom to express your praise for the Lord. His opinion is the only one that matters!

BEGINNING TO BE LIKE JESUS

August 10, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet–John 13:4-5

This is just one of many examples affirming what Jesus said in Luke 22:27″—I am among you as he that serveth.” Here we see the mark of true greatness. This is where likeness to Christ begins. We may talk much about Him and sing praise to Him, but until we love Him enough to serve others we have not begun to be like Him. Listen to these words from the pen of the late J. R. Miller:

Serving is not an easy lesson to learn. But it is a lesson we must learn—if ever we would become like our Master. He did not come to be served—but to serve. He served to the uttermost, just as He loved to the uttermost. Anything that needed to be done for another, He did as naturally and as simply as He breathed. He loved people, and was interested in them, and was ready always to be helpful to them. It never mattered what the service was, whether it was the saving of a soul, the curing of a grievous sickness, or the giving of a cup of water—He did the least as graciously and as divinely, as the greatest.

The washing of feet was the lowliest service any man could do for another. It was the work of the lowliest slave. Yet Jesus without hesitation, did this service for His own disciples. Thus He taught them that nothing anyone may ever need to have done—is unfit for the whitest hands. We begin to be like Christ—only when we begin to love others enough to serve them.

There is no surer test of the genuineness of Christian life, than in this matter of serving others. When we see the Son of God washing His disciples’ feet—no service is too menial for us to do. A king may do the lowliest kindness to the poorest peasant in his realm, and his honor will only be enhanced by it.

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”–John 13: 14-15

EMPTY BUBBLES

KNOWING JESUS

WHAT TO EXPECT

A CALL TO WORSHIP

BEGINNING TO BE LIKE JESUS

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