AN ELASTIC PROMISE

July 21, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. “–2 Cor. 12:9

The first five words tell us something great is in store–“And he said unto me“. To think that the One who spoke all of creation into existence would speak to us is thrilling. Here we see the Creator communicating with the creature. He speaks out of love, as our Father, with infinite wisdom. We would be fools to not listen.

Here we see a sufficient supply. George Everard wrote, ” It has been spoken of as an ‘elastic’ promise. The word ‘sufficient’ may not sound great, but it stretches according to a man’s necessity. A Christian’s need may be great today–and the word ‘sufficient’ reaches it still. The grace is still sufficient for the greater need–as for the lesser”.

Here is a promise that will help you get up in the morning, keep going through the day, and give you rest at bedtime. It is a promise for all seasons, able to assist with every need. It will give you a peace that passeth all understanding, joy unspeakable and full of glory, and a hope that is steadfast and sure. There are no words to describe the greatness of its value. The more I think about it the more I think of it. It is as a well that never runs dry.

This precious promise reveals a reason for my suffering, a remedy for my weakness, and rejoicing in my trials. I know of nothing that is its equal when it comes to help in time of trouble. It is assurance of aid from the One who is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think” ( Eph. 3:20) ). It is when we are at our lowest and weakest that this grace is given. When we have no resources of our own we can rely upon the abundant supply of God’s resources that are never diminished ( Phil. 4:19)–HDS

DON’T QUIT

July 20, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”–Jer. 20:9

Jeremiah was devoted to his calling although the work was difficult. One of the worst things was that it seemed futile. Although God had told him it would be that way it is hard to keep going when it seems you are getting nowhere. We all want to see some fruit from our labor. When you think you are wasting your time, you’re unappreciated, and persecuted it’s difficult to remain faithful–but he did. And because he could we can. God hasn’t changed one bit. Knowing that is encouraging, but that doesn’t mean life will be easy.

Pouring out your heart to people you love, wanting what’s best for them, warning them of judgment, and watching them turn a deaf ear is heartbreaking. That’s why motive matters so much. Why we do what we do makes the difference between success and defeat. When the goal is the glory of God it will keep you going like nothing else. It is our job to be faithful not to make things happen. But regardless of how dedicated you are there might be times when you feel like quitting. It happened to Jeremiah and it can happen to you. But you must not quit. The cause is more important than your comfort or your cheerfulness. We never have the right to desert our duty because it is difficult– even if every fiber of our being is screaming “Stop!”. Don’t do it.

We all have shot-comings and sometimes we fail, but we have a great God who is able to enable us, and He will if we are willing. That’s why Paul said, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”(Gal. 6:9). Time, place, and circumstances make no difference. God never changes. He lifted Jeremiah up out of the pit of despair and restored him to usefulness. He can do the same for you. None of us are strong enough on our own. We all need what God alone can provide.–HDS

Don’t Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

– Edgar A. Guest

THE PATH TO PEACE

July 19, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer…let your requests be made known unto God” – Philippians 4:6

Prayer is the means God has given us for unburdening our souls. This is important to consciously, biblically affirm. Otherwise, we may feel weighed down with anxiety, with guilt, with discouragement, or with sorrow and yet have no solution for these soul burdens.

Does that perhaps describe you? As a Christian, you have a vague awareness in the back of your mind that we should not be constantly walking around with 1000-pound weights on our souls, but honestly you have forgotten lately what the biblical answer to this problem is.

Paul tells us give our burdens to God in prayer. Now let’s do a quick self-diagnostic here. When we hear Paul’s instruction, does it just sound to us like escapism or positive thinking? If so, then we have accepted our secular culture’s idea of prayer. It is blind faith in faith itself.

The secular idea of prayer is basically just throwing all your garbage up in the air and hoping it does not fall right back down on your head again; because, in the end, there is no one up there to catch it, and hold it, and help you with it! But this is a far cry from the biblical view of prayer, which is taking real problems to a real God, who really does have more strength than us and more wisdom than us. And this God really does care about our difficulties.

Prayer is the way we take our cares to God, the means God himself has given us for unburdening our souls. This is not just escapism or ill-founded optimism. No, this is resting in the concrete assurance of your Creator God that he will save, will deliver, will hear and answer those who come to him in prayer. (Baptist Bible Hour)

TRUSTING GOD

July 18, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”–2 Corinthians 5:5–8

I read about a new pilot who had just received his instrument rating and was excited to fly by himself. But when the clouds closed in, he was extremely nervous about making an instrument landing on a runway he couldn’t see. He was beginning to panic when a stern voice came over the radio, “You just obey instructions, and we’ll take care of the obstructions.”

We do not have to see the path in front of us to walk in the way God commands. He knows the future. He knows what will happen to you tomorrow and next week and next year. He knows every event that will be part of the rest of your life. He knows the exact place and moment of your death (or if the Rapture will come first). He knows every trial you will face, and how you will respond. We do not need more information; we need more faith so that we will do what God says no matter what we see.

Corrie ten Boom, who knew a great deal about trusting God through great trial, once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” The Bible tells us everything God knew that we needed to know in order to live lives that are pleasing to Him. Rather than trying to understand all about the future, we should trust that doing what God says will produce the results that He promises. We can trust Him whether we see His plan or not.

You will never go wrong by following what God has spoken in His unfailing Word.(Copied)

STORMY SEAS

July 17, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea,..”Mark 6:48

Jesus always sees our toils and distresses in this world. We do not see Him, and sometimes we think He has forgotten us; but that is never true. He is never indifferent for a moment. Christ looks down upon our struggles in this world. He sees us toiling; all our battles and strifes He beholds. He sees us in the waves and in the storm. He sees us, not with the eye of the calm spectator merely, but with the eye of tenderest love. This is a great thought; if we can only get it into our hearts, it will give us wondrous courage in the hour of toil, sorrow, or struggle. Jesus knows when the battle is hard, when the night is dark, when the temptation is more than we can bear.

Here the winds were contrary, though Christ sent His disciples out to sea. We learn that even when we are doing the things God has bidden us do, we may encounter opposition and sore difficulty. We may even be beaten back, and find the resistance too great for our strength. Many of the Lord’s disciples have to make their voyage over very stormy seas on their way to glory. For some people duty is hard; indeed, a true, noble, positive, aggressive life must always be in the face of opposition and contrary winds. “The law of head-winds in life is doubtless in the secret love of God. When the voyage is over, perhaps we shall be let see the charts, and know why it had to-be.”–J. R. Miller

Make no mistake about it, whatever fearful storm you are in today, the Lord sees you, loves you, desires to help you, has the power to calm the storm, and will do so when His purpose is achieved. The storms are not intended to destroy us, but to discipline us and draw us to the Lord for help. Knowing He is the Master of the sea gives us peace in the storm.–HDS

AN ELASTIC PROMISE

DON’T QUIT

THE PATH TO PEACE

TRUSTING GOD

STORMY SEAS

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