THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

July 22, 2012 By Pastor David Stone

—whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.—Luke 14:33

Since some people are always looking for ways to save more I thought I would pass on this idea—–
HOW TO INSTALL A SOUTHERN HOME SECURITY SYSTEM

1. Go to Goodwill and buy a pair of size 14-16 men’s work boots.
2. Place them on your front porch, along with an old, well-read copy of Guns
& Ammo Magazine.
3. Put four giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.
4. Leave a note on your door that reads “Bubba – Bertha, Duke, Slim, & I
went for more ammo. Be back in an hour. Don’t mess with the pit bulls. They
got the mailman this morning and messed him up bad. I don’t think Killer
took part, but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all
four of ‘em in the house. Better wait outside. Be right back.”

Well, I think that might work. However, there are some things that you can’t cut corners on. At the top of that list is discipleship. There are no bargain basement sells when it comes to discipleship. It demands that we give all. And it is the same for all. There isn’t one standard for some and another for others. It requires all us to give all for Christ sake. A little humor now and then is good, but make no mistake about it,discipleship is no laughing matter– it’s serious. God expects every believer to be a disciple, and it’s not cheap and easy. While salvation is free, discipleship demands everything.Christ gave all to purchase us, shouldn’t we give all to please Him? God demands and deserves our very best.

TRUST IN THE LORD

July 21, 2012 By Pastor David Stone

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding– Proverbs 3:5

The more you know God, the more you will trust God. What is there not to trust? He is completely loving, wise, powerful, and good.

But it is one thing to express a belief in God, and another to actually trust in Him with all your heart. Trusting the Lord with all your heart means walking out, by faith, on His Word, no matter what consequences or opposition you may face.

Trusting God wholeheartedly also means resolutely refusing to lean on your own understanding. This, of course, does not mean that we are to give up the sound mind and reasoning spirit that God has given us. But it does mean that we are not to rely on our limited knowledge, experience, and emotions to guide us safely through life.

The question to ask yourself is this: do you trust God in precisely those places where your natural inclination is strongest against His leadership or direction or commandments? When the Bible clearly spells out His counsel, will you take it regardless of your personal preferences or preconceptions?

It is precisely at those places where we are least inclined to listen to or follow God that we are most able to show our devotion to Him and our trust of Him. Is there an area of your life today in which you have opportunity to trust in the Lord, rather than in your own understanding?–From “A Good Thing”

CONTENT OR COVETOUS?

July 20, 2012 By Pastor David Stone

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.–Luke 12:13-15

I read about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley in the Appalachians when the plane passed overhead. One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?” The pilot replied, “See that stream? Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish. Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and wish I were flying… Now I look down and wish I were fishing.”

An ancient philosopher said that if all of the troubles in the world were placed in one pile so that everyone could see what burdens others bore, each person, given the choice, would take home the same problems with which he arrived.

It is always tempting to think that others have it better than we do, and that if we just had “a little more” everything would be fine. But contentment cannot be achieved by increasing possessions. Nothing will ever be enough.

Covetousness—a driving desire for more and more and more—is a snare that leads many people away from the truth. In fact Paul wrote that covetousness “is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). When we are not content with what God has given us, we are placing something else on the throne of our heart. While we are too sophisticated to carve idols of wood or stone and bow to them, many in our society worship cars, homes, bank accounts, and clothing. This false worship leads inevitably to disappointment and often to ruin.— Rather than wishing for what you don’t have, give thanks for what you do have, and covetousness will not take root in your heart.-From “Daily in the Word”

POWER SUPPLY

July 19, 2012 By Pastor David Stone

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.–Acts 17:10-11

A lot of Christians talk about wanting “power” as though it was some magical dust to be sprinkled on their heads, transforming them into some sort of super-saints. But it doesn’t work that way! Power comes by using the means God has provided which enables Him to operate through us. The devotional “Daily in the Word” reminds us of the source of power:

Evangelist R. A. Torrey said this about the importance of the Word of God. “You may talk about power; but, if you neglect the one Book that God has given you as the one instrument through which He imparts and exercises His power, you will not have it. You may read many books and go to many conventions and you may have your all-night prayer meetings to pray for the power of the Holy Ghost; but unless you keep in constant and close association with the one Book, the Bible, you will not have power.

“And if you ever had power, you will not maintain it except by the daily, earnest, intense study of that Book. Ninety-nine Christians in every hundred are merely playing at Bible study; and therefore ninety-nine Christians in every hundred are mere weaklings, when they might be giants, both in their Christian life and in their service.”

Imagine someone training for an athletic competition by never eating. Picture a solider preparing for battle by skipping all his meals. That would be ridiculous, yet while the Bible tells us that we are in a race and a battle, many Christians ignore their need for the spiritual food found in the pages of the Word of God. It should not come as any surprise that such people find themselves struggling to win their battles—they have cut themselves off from their power supply. It is vital to be part of a good Bible preaching and teaching church, but that is not enough. You must be a student of the Word yourself to become a powerful and victorious Christian.– Nothing can substitute for time spent reading and studying the Word of God.

WHEN LIFE KNOCKS YOU DOWN

July 18, 2012 By Pastor David Stone

For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.– Hebrews 10:36

A story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent, but never succeeded like little “Andy” did.

One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown was not only smarter, but he could beat Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.” Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say three times and you’re out in wrestling?”

“Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat. Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andy would always beat him.”

Picking up on that idea, it’s been said, “The thing that counts is not how many times you are beat, but whether you are willing to stay that way.” In life, you will face setbacks, but what really matters is whether or not you take courage and go forward in faith despite the challenges and even defeats you will encounter.

The real battle is the Lord’s. So when it comes to facing life’s struggles, get back up when you get hit because in Christ, your victory is already won! Ask God to give you the strength to get back up when life knocks you down and remind you that your victory is already won! — Senior Living

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

TRUST IN THE LORD

CONTENT OR COVETOUS?

POWER SUPPLY

WHEN LIFE KNOCKS YOU DOWN

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