A LIFE WORTH LIVING

July 18, 2016 By Pastor David Stone

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”–Phil. 1:21

It seems mighty strange to me. A man, perhaps even a professing Christian, can spend his life in the pursuit of things that bring him pleasure, refuse to contribute to the needs of others, be unfaithful to the Lord’s church, wreck his marriage, love money, cheat others, and strive for popularity, then die and be called a “good”, “great”, or “wonderful” person. Really? Who are we kidding?

Point is–we shouldn’t live in such a way that people would have to lie in order to say something nice about us at our funeral. Rather we should invest our lives in things of eternal value rather than things that will perish. We should desire to please God rather than ourselves or others. And it will be evident when we do– no one will be wondering about what we value. Jim Elliot, martyred missionary to the Aucas in Ecuador, wrote in the flyleaf of his Bible, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” He’s talking about giving his life for Christ.

Adrian Rogers once said, “I’ll tell you, in these days the most dangerous thing you can do is to play it safe. You are safer out on the waves with Jesus Christ than you are in the boat without Him. These are desperate days, and we need to live like it. Don’t just sit there and let life pass you by! You’re going to die anyway. You can’t save your life. You’re not going to get out of it alive. And so you might as well invest it in something important.”

We need the attitude of William Carey who said, “I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter”. That’s good advice. Being a success in something that is unimportant doesn’t make you a success in life. Those who spend their lives majoring on minors are failures–regardless of what they accomplish, or how wealthy or popular they are. If the end result of my life doesn’t glorify God I have missed my purpose and failed miserably in life.

They can say all manner of nice things about you, erect a marble statue on your grave, and even establish a memorial to keep your name in the lime light for a while, but the truth is — you wasted your life. It is only by living in God’s grace and for God’s glory that it can truly be said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant“(Matt.25:21). Now that’s a life worth living! –HDS

STRENGTH TO SUCCEED

July 17, 2016 By Pastor David Stone

“The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32).

We live in troublesome times and we know it will get worse. Facing these difficulties can be discouraging and many find themselves in despair. But our text gives us these great words of encouragement and we would do well to think of them often and deeply. They shift our focus from our weakness to God– where it should be.

Spurgeon wrote, “The LORD is a man of war, Jehovah is his name.” Those who enlist under His banner shall have a Commander who will train them for the conflict and give them both vigor and valor. The times of which Daniel wrote were of the very worst kind, and then it was promised that the people of God would come out in their best colors: they would be strong and stout to confront the powerful adversary.Oh, that we may know our God: His power, His faithfulness, His immutable love, and so may be ready to risk everything in His behalf. He is One whose character excites our enthusiasm and makes us willing to live and to die for Him. Oh, that we may know our God by familiar fellowship with Him; for then we shall become like Him and shall be prepared to stand up for truth and righteousness. He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man. If we dwell with Him, we shall catch the heroic spirit, and to us a world of enemies will be but as the drop of a bucket. A countless array of men, or even of devils, will seem as little to us as the nations are to God, and He counts them only as grasshoppers. Oh, to be valiant for truth in this day of falsehood.”

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

July 16, 2016 By Pastor David Stone

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Revelation 5:12

This is an ascription of praise to Jesus, thy Jesus, as the Sacrifice for sin, the Atonement of the Church, the Saviour of His body. Jesus, who died for thy sins, is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. We never can ascribe too much to Jesus. But He is worthy also to be BELIEVED, in preference to Satan, unbelief, the world, or appearances; to be TRUSTED with all, for all, before all; to be LOVED, more than any other, in opposition to any other that would rival Him; to be obeyed, though He commands us to cut off a right hand, or pluck out a right eye; to be FOLLOWED, wherever He may lead us, through evil report and good report; to be PREFERRED, to ease, pleasure, wealth, health, to anything and everything. Jesus is worthy to be our Example, our Confidant, our King, and our All. He is worthy of all He requires, all we can give, all His people have done for Him, or suffered in His cause. Believe His word, trust His grace, love His name, obey His commands, and prefer Him before all others. Make it your daily business to endeavour to bring sinners to His feet. He is worthy of every effort you can make. (James Smith)

Jesus is worthy to receive
Honour and power divine;
And blessings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, for ever Thine.

GROWING OLD

July 15, 2016 By Pastor David Stone

” And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”—Isaiah 46:4

Lawrence Darmani said, “How are you today, Mama?” I asked casually. My 84-year-old friend, pointing to aches and pains in her joints, whispered, “Old age is tough!” Then she added earnestly, “But God has been good to me.”

“Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life,” says Billy Graham in his book Nearing Home. “I am an old man now, and believe me, it’s not easy.” However, Graham notes, “While the Bible doesn’t gloss over the problems we face as we grow older, neither does it paint old age as a time to be despised or a burden to be endured with gritted teeth.” He then mentions some of the questions he has been forced to deal with as he has aged, such as, “How can we not only learn to cope with the fears and struggles and growing limitations we face but also actually grow stronger inwardly in the midst of these difficulties?”

In Isaiah 46 we have God’s assurance: “Even to your old age and hoar (gray) hairs . . . I am he who will carry you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will carry you and I will deliver you” (v. 4).

We don’t know how many years we will live on this earth or what we might face as we age. But one thing is certain: God will care for us throughout our life. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”(See Psalm 90:12) Don’t be afraid to grow old; God goes with you!

Never forget— “to die is gain” and the best is yet to come! The older you get the closer you are to your inheritance as a joint-heir with Christ.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

July 14, 2016 By Pastor David Stone

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”–1 Sam. 30:6

Think you’ve got it good? David had it better! Think you’ve got it bad? David had it worse! His story serves to remind us that life is filled hills and valleys, blessings and burdens, delights and difficulties. Sooner or later, perhaps when you least expect it, troubles will come. One day things will be going great and the next will be full of grief. Be prepared. It’s important that we are alert as to the danger of times like these. The depression brought on by difficulties and disappointments can take us to a dark place where we don’t want to be. And, it can do a lot damage in a short time unless we are delivered.

In times like these it is wonderful to have someone come to our aid and encourage us– you don’t forget friends like that. However, there are times when nobody is there to help. We find ourselves mired down in a horrible pit of depression with no one who is able or willing to help us out. That’s why it is crucial that we learn to do as David did– “encouraged himself in the LORD his God”.

It is dangerous to just sit back and wait for someone to come to our aid and it doesn’t do any good to just complain. We must learn to take action and encourage ourselves. Under such conditions that’s the only way to conquer our circumstances and avoid defeat. If you are a Christian you have everything you need “in the LORD“, but you must avail yourself of what God provides. A good starting point might be to study 2 Pet. 1:2-10. Do it now.Delay is dangerous. Drop whatever you’re doing, open your Bible and prayerfully consider why you shouldn’t be cast down. Remember it was David who said, ” Why art thou cast down O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God..”(Ps. 42:11; 43:5). If you refuse to encourage yourself don’t complain because others won’t or can’t. Do you ever wonder how some people keep going year after year, even under great adversity? It is because they have learned to do as David did when he “encouraged himself in the LORD“. If he did you can! — HDS

A LIFE WORTH LIVING

STRENGTH TO SUCCEED

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

GROWING OLD

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

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