FAITH IN TIME OF CRISIS

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.”– Psalm 61:1–4

The idea that a Christian will only receive good things from God and coast through life on a bed of blessings sounds good and draws large crowds and television audiences. But it is not the reality of life presented in Scripture. David, who was known as a man after God’s own heart, spent years running for his life. He was the number one target on Saul’s list, singled out for death not because he had done wrong, but because of Saul’s jealousy. Yet even on days when it seemed that everyone on Earth had turned against him, David clung to his faith in God.

Faith is not a barrier that prevents trouble from coming; it is a shield that keeps those troubles from conquering us. In the moments that challenge us the most, we sometimes feel that we must be strong. But victory is not found in our strength; it is only found in the power of God. Even the apostle Paul, to whom we look as a great example of the Christian life, knew what it was like to be pushed to the edge. He wrote, “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears” (2 Corinthians 7:5).

We sometimes think that if our faith were stronger we wouldn’t worry at all. But David was overwhelmed and Paul was troubled. We must understand that faith is not the absence of fear, but the continuance of trust and obedience. Faith in times of trial provides the strength to trust God until the victory comes. ( Daily in the Word)

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

THE PERSISTENCE OF PRIDE
“Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.” Luke 9:46
“And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.“ Luke 9:48 

As astonishing as it may seem, this little company of fishermen and publicans was not beyond the plague of a self-seeking and prideful spirit. Such is the heart of man. There is something very instructive in this fact. It ought to sink down deeply into the heart of every Christian reader.

Of all sins, there is none against which we have such need to watch and pray, as pride. It is a pestilence that walks in darkness–and a sickness that destroys at noon-day.
No sin is so deeply rooted in our nature as pride! It cleaves to us like our skin! Its roots never entirely die–they are ready, at any moment, to spring up, and exhibit a most pernicious vitality.

No sin is so senseless and deceitful as pride. It can wear the garb of humility itself. It can lurk in the hearts of the ignorant, the ungifted, and the poor–as well as in the minds of the great, the learned, and the rich. 

Of all creatures, none has so little right to be proud as man–and of all men, none ought to be so humble  as the Christian! 

Is it really true that we confess ourselves to be “miserable sinners,” and daily debtors to mercy and grace? Are we the followers of Jesus, who was “meek and lowly of heart,” and “made Himself nothing” for our sakes? Then let that same mind be in us, which was in Christ Jesus. Let us lay aside all proud thoughts and self-conceit. In lowliness of mind, let us esteem others better than ourselves. Let us be     ready, on all occasions, to take the lowest place. And let the words of our Savior ring in our ears continually, “He who is least among you all–he is the greatest.”

Let a prayer for humility form part of our daily supplications. —(J.C. Ryle)

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

GUEST AND HOST
“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”–Psalms 81:10-12

I hope you will read this entire Psalm and then consider the following comments by J. H. Jowett–

This is an unutterable mystery, that a man can close his life against God. “Israel would have none of Me.” We can shut out God as we can shut out the pure air. We can bar His entrance just as we can exclude the light from the chamber. And then the pity is, we can deceive ourselves into believing that the air is perfectly fresh and that the room is flooded with light. We lose our fine discernment, and we call evil good, and the darkness we call day. If we “refuse to have God” in our thoughts God gives us over to a “reprobate mind.” 

And it is an equally unutterable mystery that a man can open his life to the entertainment of Almighty God. “I will dwell with them!” That is my supreme honour, that the Lord will be my guest. I can “hearken” to Him, and “talk” to Him, and “walk” with Him. And He offers me protection. He will “subdue my enemies.” And He offers me unfailing provision. The Guest becomes the Host! I put my little upon the table, and lo! I find that “the cruse of oil fails not, and the meal in the barrel is not consumed!”

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

Strength in Unity
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.“–Ephesians 4:3

 Trouble threatens unity. It happens in families and in churches. When  the first church in Jerusalem was under intense pressure, immediately  after Christ’s ascension to heaven, they let the pressure drive them  closer together instead of breaking them apart.

 Their first task after Christ’s ascension was to choose a replacement  for Judas Iscariot. Peter led the group of 120 in an orderly process of  nominating two candidates (Acts 1:15). They prayed that God would guide the casting of lots and Matthias was  chosen. (Casting lots was the Old Testament means of finding God’s  leading [ Proverbs 16:33 ]. Lots are not mentioned again in the New Testament once the Holy  Spirit came as the Church’s Guide and Helper.) What could have been a  contentious process, with factions uniting around the two candidates,  appears to have been simple, unified, submissive, and united.

 From that example of unity has sprung two millennia of debate and  division within the Church. In this day of criticism and antagonism  against Christians, we need each other more than ever. Be a source of  unity and mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21) wherever you worship.

 In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.–Richard Baxter
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346