Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Holy through Hardship


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? ... hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him.” Psalm 42:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Here’s an anchor for your soul in the storms of life: “I am growing by His plan.” 

What is God’s plan for you? He wants to enlarge you, not indulge you. God is not so interested in making you happy and healthy as He is in making you holy. And so God will allow troubles to make you more like Christ. 

Think about the times when you have grown the most. It is when your friend “Trouble” came along. I have grown the most in my own life in times of deepest despair. 

ACTION POINT:
Can you look at the troubles in your life not as adversaries, but as friends? Take a second look and get a godly perspective of it. See how you can become holy through hardship.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Monday, April 28, 2014

For All Of Us Who Struggle With Sin

Ps.103:
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 
5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 
9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 
13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 
14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 
15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 
18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! 
22 Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! 

Governed by His Providence


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But He saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.” John 6:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When storms come into your life, I want you to remember this truth: “I am governed by His providence.” 

The storm did not take the wave walker, the Lord Jesus, by surprise. As a matter of fact, the Bible says He’s the one that “commandeth and raiseth stormy seas” (Psalm 107:25). 

Perhaps you’re in the eye of a storm right now. It looks like your boat is sinking. Maybe it’s so dark you cannot see your hand before your face. I want you to know there is nothing that comes to you that He does not cause or allow. Whether I can see it, whether I can understand it or not, it is a fact that God has not relinquished His rule upon His universe.

ACTION POINT:
Read Matthew 8:23-27. Does Jesus see the storm in your life? Bow before the One, the only One, who can calm your storm. Trust His ways. He’s in control.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

GOOD NEWS FOR THE POOR

The Fiftieth Year

The Year Of The Jubilee
Leviticus 25:8-55
8 "You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years.
9 Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land.
10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.
11 That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines.
12 For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field.
13 "In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property.
14 And if you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.
15 You shall pay your neighbor according to the number of years after the jubilee, and he shall sell to you according to the number of years for crops.
16 If the years are many, you shall increase the price, and if the years are few, you shall reduce the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you.
17 You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the LORD your God.
18 "Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.
19 The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely.
20 And if you say, 'What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?'
21 I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years.
22 When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives.
23 "The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.
24 And in all the country you possess, you shall allow a redemption of the land.
25 "If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold.
26 If a man has no one to redeem it and then himself becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it,
27 let him calculate the years since he sold it and pay back the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and then return to his property.
28 But if he does not have sufficient means to recover it, then what he sold shall remain in the hand of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property.
29 "If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may redeem it within a year of its sale. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption.
30 If it is not redeemed within a full year, then the house in the walled city shall belong in perpetuity to the buyer, throughout his generations; it shall not be released in the jubilee.
31 But the houses of the villages that have no wall around them shall be classified with the fields of the land. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the jubilee.
32 As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites may redeem at any time the houses in the cities they possess.
33 And if one of the Levites exercises his right of redemption, then the house that was sold in a city they possess shall be released in the jubilee. For the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the people of Israel.
34 But the fields of pastureland belonging to their cities may not be sold, for that is their possession forever.
35 "If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.
36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.
37 You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.
38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.
39 "If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave:
40 he shall be with you as a hired worker and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee.
41 Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own clan and return to the possession of his fathers.
42 For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.
43 You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.
44 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.
45 You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property.
46 You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever. You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly.
47 "If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger's clan,
48 then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him,
49 or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.
50 He shall calculate with his buyer from the year when he sold himself to him until the year of jubilee, and the price of his sale shall vary with the number of years. The time he was with his owner shall be rated as the time of a hired worker.
51 If there are still many years left, he shall pay proportionately for his redemption some of his sale price.
52 If there remain but a few years until the year of jubilee, he shall calculate and pay for his redemption in proportion to his years of service.
53 He shall treat him as a worker hired year by year. He shall not rule ruthlessly over him in your sight.
54 And if he is not redeemed by these means, then he and his children with him shall be released in the year of jubilee.
55 For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

What is the Year of Jubilee?
It involved...
The return of everyone’s land.
The restoration of everyone’s freedom.
It was...
Good news for the poor.
Sobering news for the wealthy.

What Was Its Purpose?
To acknowledge the holiness of God. 
To support healthy families.
To prevent hopeless poverty.
To promote holistic worship.
To foreshadow hope in Christ.

How Does This Apply To Our Lives?
God is the owner of all things. 
We are His stewards.
God is the Savior of His people. 
We are His servants.
God gives second chances to us.
We are recipients of extravagant grace.
God gives clear commands to us.
We now reflect His extravagant grace.
We work to give the poor a chance to succeed. 
We live to share the gospel with those in need.

Thanks Pastor David!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

True Friendship

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
True friends will put an edge on your life. They will make you a sharper person. Not all my friends do that for me, but my best friends do. Have you ever had a friend who loved you so much that he would even hurt you in order to help you? 

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” What truer words of love can be spoken than from the heart of a friend who is going to spend an eternity with you? Even if those words hurt, they are words that will heal.

ACTION POINT:
Do you have a friend who sharpens you as iron? It will only take you a moment to send that friend an encouraging note or postcard. Do it today.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Moving His Son Into King’s Row

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The kingdoms of this world are being moved around like checkers, but soon God is going to move His Son into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King of kings!” 

How many times have you prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”? 

Do you think God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven? Look around at the crime, rape, murder, child abuse, and blasphemy. Do you think that’s God’s will? Of course not. 

Do you think Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray a prayer that will not be answered? God is going to move Jesus into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King!”

ACTION POINT:
Read Psalm 2. What does the Psalmist tell the kings of this world to do? Pray now that God will work in the hearts of the world leaders.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Life-Giving Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” John 20:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The same Jesus who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. This same Jesus is still in the miracle working business. His business is the business of transformation.

And when we believe that Jesus is the Christ, we will receive life through His name. Someone has well said that nature forms us, sin deforms us, penitentiary reforms us, education informs us, the world conforms us, but only Jesus transforms us.

ACTION POINT:
What are you asking Christ for today? A miracle? Or for more of Him? Your very next breath is a miracle. Thank God for the miracle of life He has given you today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Standing for Peace and Righteousness

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One of the strangest verses that ever fell from the lips of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is this: “Think not that I have come to send peace on the earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword.” That’s incredible, because the Bible calls Him “the Prince of Peace.” What is He talking about, then? 

He is saying, “I came with a sword to put a line of demarcation between truth and error, between light and dark, between sin and righteousness.” 

When God’s standard of righteousness is set, there will always be division. Without righteousness there can be no peace. Peace can never come where sin remains. God will never make a peace treaty with sin, never! 

ACTION POINT:
Some people think when others act righteously that they are acting religiously, and sometimes not very peacefully. How can you stand in the gap for peace AND righteousness?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Trusting His Love to Provide

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.” Psalm 9:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
After World War II, a group of humanitarians placed orphan boys in tent cities to care for them. But the boys would wake up in the night from nightmares. A psychiatrist surmised that their fear was because they had such an uncertain future. 

He decided to feed the boys a big meal each night, then give them each a piece of bread. He instructed them to hold the bread in their hands so it could be their breakfast. Somehow just holding in their hand a piece of bread helped them to sleep all night.

When you go to bed tonight, I want you to have bread—not in your hand, but in your heart. He is the Bread of Heaven and His name is Jesus!

ACTION POINT:
Take a walk with the Lord today. Tell Him your fears. Confidently place them before the Lord. Trust in His love to provide.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

New Life, a New Creation in Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:
For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.” Psalm 36:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Jesus had a life that the grave could not keep. While He carried your sins to the grave and left them there, Jesus came out of that grave living, risen, and victorious! 

When Jesus rose, you rose with Him. Christians are not just nice people, they are new creatures. We have the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. We have come out of the grave of the old life. Our old master has no more hold on us. The old debt has no more penalty that we have to pay. 

When Jesus came out of that grave, we came out with Him and we have been raised to walk in newness of life.

ACTION POINT:
Are you walking around in the grave clothes of your old life? Shed them, my friend! Jesus came to give you new life! Believe that you are now a new creation in Christ!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Most Astounding Claim In All Of History


“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

In a world of many ways, Jesus claims to be the way.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36

Amidst a culture that questions truth, Jesus claims to be the truth.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

To all who long for peace and joy in life, Jesus claims to be the life.
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up
to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10

An important question: “Do you believe his claims?”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26

A more important question: “Will you receive his love?”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16

The most important question: “Will you call him lord?”
Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:27-28

Thanks Pastor David!!

The Undeniable, Living Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“...we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:69

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Jesus Christ is a fact of history. All secular historians who have any merit admit that, regardless of what they believe about Him, Jesus lived! There’s no way to explain that the Christian Church exists apart from the fact that Jesus Christ was here.

What did the early church preach? Not only that Jesus was here, but that He walked out of the grave. How do you explain that? Somebody said, “Well, they must have made up the story. They said they touched Him, they said they ate with Him.” Oh? We’re talking about men who died for their faith. Do you think they would willingly, knowingly die for a lie? A man may live for a lie, but few would die for one.

ACTION POINT:
Are you willing to die for the cause of Christ? This man who died for you...are you willing to die for Him?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Sunday, April 20, 2014

He is Risen!

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He is not here: for He is risen.” Matthew 28:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
It is a disturbing truth that Jesus Christ literally came out of the grave. You just can’t be neutral about the resurrection. If you are a thinking person, you’re going to have to face the fact of the resurrection. 

Either it is true or it is not true. Either He came out of that grave or He did not. Now which side are you on? 

You can’t just ball it all up and say, “It doesn’t really make any difference. Let’s just put our arms around everybody. We all believe the same thing.” No, no, no! When you take a stand for truth, you’re going to have a head-on collision with the darkness that doesn’t want the light shining in!

ACTION POINT:
Pray for those in fulltime ministry as they proclaim the truth to a lost world. Pray for God’s protection as they go to the frontline and battle for souls!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

NEW COVENANT COMMUNITY

Leviticus 16
1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died,
2 and the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.
5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 "Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.
9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering,
10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
11 "Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
13 and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.
14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.
16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.
17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.
18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.
20 "And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat.
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
23 "Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there.
24 And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.
25 And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.
26 And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. Their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned up with fire.
28 And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
29 "And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.
30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins.
31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.
32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments.
33 He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins." And Aaron did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Two truths to consider...
These Old Testament laws represent God’s covenant relationship with
His people.
These Old Testament laws are not our testament laws.
Unless an Old Testament law is somehow restated or reinforced in the New Testament, it is no longer directly binding on God’s people.
These Old Testament laws are the Word of God for us even though
they are not the commands of God to us.
Three pieces of counsel...
Read these Old Testament laws carefully within their context.
Observe what these Old Testament laws reveal about the gospel
of God.
Imagine the effects of these Old Testament laws collectively within a community.
Four implications for the church...
We stand in awe together before the God who reigns over us.
We cannot be a casual community before God.
We must be a contrite community before God.
We fight in battle together against the sin that remains within us.
Our propensity to sin is strong.
We need help from one another.
The punishment for sin is severe.
We want help from one another.
We unite together around the cross of Christ.
God’s provision in the Old Testament: An annual sacrifice on
the Day of Atonement.
God saw the sins of Israel.
God was satisfied by the sacrifice of a substitute.
God’s provision in the New Testament: An abiding sacrifice
in the death of Christ.
God sees the sins in our lives.
God is satisfied by the sacrifice of His Son.
Our guilt is gone.
Our conscience is clear.
We work together in the mission of God.
We want to show God’s law through the way we share our lives.
We want to spread God’s gospel for the sake of God’s glory.

Thanks Pastor David!!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Peace with God—Because of the Cross

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“... having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
How can a cross bring peace if Jesus is the One hanging there? 

At the cross, wickedness was not appeased. Wickedness was confronted. 

At the cross, sin was not overlooked. Sin was atoned and paid for. 

God’s greatest righteousness confronted man’s greatest wickedness, and righteousness won! Peace was attained through the blood of the cross. 

Thank God for the cross! Thank God for Jesus!

ACTION POINT:
During this time of year, as you celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord, take a few moments to praise Jesus for the power and hope you have because of His resurrection.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Only One Who Conquered Death

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Harry Houdini was an escape artist. They tried all kinds of ways to keep Harry Houdini locked up. They would bury him in a coffin, but he would get out. They would sew him up in canvas bags and throw him in the river, but he would come out. His biographer said he could escape from anything, except your memory. 

Yet there came a day when Harry Houdini died and he did not escape. No trickery there. Harry Houdini did not escape the iron-clad clutches of death. But I want to tell you there was another who died. His name was Jesus, and He made the great escape. Jesus came out of the grave and He arose. Praise God, Jesus is alive!

ACTION POINT:
Who in your circle of friends doesn’t know Jesus? Pray for them right now, that they would hear the Good News, repent and believe upon Jesus as Lord and Savior.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Jesus in All Sixty-Six


BIBLE MEDITATION:
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The thing I love about the Old Testament is the thing I love about the New Testament. The Old Testament and the New Testament both are the inspired Word of God. Don’t get the idea that the Old Testament has a message different from the New Testament. All of the Bible is about Jesus. If you read the Bible and you don’t find Jesus, you better go re-read it.

Somebody may ask if you have read the four gospels, and you can answer them, “I’ve read all sixty-six!” 

From Genesis to Revelation, 

It has the same villain Satan. 

It has the same hero Jesus. 

It has the same purpose to present salvation in no other name but Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Read Isaiah 53. What are the prophecies that were fulfilled in the life of Christ?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

In The Blood


Lev.17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Matt.26:28
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 14:24
And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Romans 3:25
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 5:9
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Eph.7:1
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Hebrews 13:12
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

1 John 1:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Rev.1:5
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 

Hebrews 9:22
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Jesus Was Perfect


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What an amazing life the Lord Jesus lived. Do you realize that Jesus never corrected, withdrew, or amended any statement He ever made? I wish I could say that! Jesus Christ never apologized for anything He ever did or said. Jesus Christ never sought advice from anyone, never had to ask for forgiveness. 

Jesus Christ doesn’t have any strong points. For Him to have strong points, He would have to have weak points. Robert Clark has rightly given this assessment of his character: 

“There was meekness without weakness, tenderness without feebleness, firmness without coarseness, love without sentimentality, holiness without sanctimoniousness, lowliness without lowness, truth without error, enthusiasm without fanaticism, passion without prejudice, heavenly mindedness without forgetfulness, carefreeness without carelessness, service without servility, self exaltation without egotism, judgment without harshness, seriousness without somberness, mercy without softness.” 

What a person was the Lord Jesus Christ! 

ACTION POINT:
The greatest question that can be asked was the question Pontius Pilate asked the crowd when Jesus stood before him: "Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ?" Now I'm going to ask that question of you. What will you do with Jesus? No greater question could be asked. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Surprising Qualities of a Peacemaker


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I remember reading about a preacher boy who was in a class in a liberal college, and the professor said, “Christians ought never to have any enemies. We ought never to be controversial.” Then he said, “What we need to do is to follow the example of Jesus.” 

The boy lifted his hand and asked, “If Jesus Christ was so beautifully tactful and diplomatic, how did He manage to get Himself crucified?” 

Peace is not appeasement. It is a right relationship with God that leads to a right relationship with self and guides us into right relationships with others. Literally, peace is a fruit of righteousness. It is the righteousness of God ruling and reigning in your heart. 

ACTION POINT:
Read Hebrews 12:14. Are there conflicts which you can resolve by becoming a peacemaker? If so, confidently place your hand in His and bring peace.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Seeing Him Who is Invisible


BIBLE MEDITATION:
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Let me tell you how to experience God: Get your heart pure, and you will see God with the eyes of faith. 

You see, Jesus is not talking about your physical body. You get your spiritual heart right and your spiritual eyes will see. 

Hebrews 11:27 says that Moses “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” You get your heart right and you’ll see the invisible God…

...in circumstances

...in nature

...in the face of your spouse, your child, your grandchild. 

You’ll see Him in the Scriptures. God will become a bright, living reality to you.

ACTION POINT:
Put on the eyes of faith today and find God creating and sustaining life. Maybe there is a garden newly abloom with spring flowers. Do you see the hand of God?

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Mourning with Purpose

BIBLE MEDITATION:
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
We’ve done all we can do to keep ourselves from feeling any pain. We have psychologists who numb our neurosis. Counselors who absolve us of guilt. Doctors to sedate our pain. Insurance agents to take away our worries. And even at death we have the mortuary to try to beautify death for us. 

But Jesus was a man of sorrows. He saw the sin around Him and it broke His heart. In Matthew 23:34-39, we read how Jesus’ heart ached for Jerusalem and the destruction sin had wrought in the hearts of men.

ACTION POINT:
Do the things that break the heart of Jesus, break yours? Do you have a dry eye in a hell-bent world? It’s time to be like Jesus.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Saturday, April 12, 2014

What Is Meekness?


BIBLE MEDITATION:
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" Matthew 5:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does it mean to be meek? First, let me tell you what it is not before I tell you what it is. 

Meekness is not weakness. The word “meek” means yielded. It literally has the idea of strength under control. When an animal, especially a horse, is domesticated, it is trained so a rider can sit on its back or so it can pull a plow. The proper term for this process is that the animal has been ”meeked.” It has been broken. Now it yields to the rider or the yoke. Now the animal exhibits strength under control. That’s what meekness is. 

ACTION POINT:
Read Matthew 11:29 and 21:5. What does Jesus say about Himself and how can you emulate Him?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Friday, April 11, 2014

Aftermath

I was watching a show on TV about lawyers. It's a good show, well as good as one can be now days! It's definitely a show about the wickedness of man, his sinful ways and the way the world is! It's full of the things the world deems acceptable, spouses not honoring their marriages, lots of people consuming alcohol, business men cheating clients, unnatural sexual relations and in general the way the world rolls! This episode was different in that one of the main characters was murdered. Doing just an everyday thing, he was at work, defending a client, then it all went bad, just as in real life, unexpected, everything changed.
I was reminded how unpredictable everyday is! We go off to jobs, to school or shopping, thinking we will return home but sometimes that's not the case! Sometimes you don't come home!! Don't trust in what the world tells you! Search scripture and pray!

John 3:
35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Acts 2:38
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 9:
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.
17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.
19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
20 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you."
21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,
26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Are you ready for eternity? 

I listened to one of the characters trying to explain that the murdered lawyer was in heaven with God. Another character asked how she knew this and she said because he was a good man. Nothing could be further from the truth!! No one is good but God! You can not get to heaven by being good! You can only get to heaven through the blood of Christ which was shed for the forgiveness of sin! You must repent! Christ is the only acceptable payment God has deemed worthy for our debt payment! Christ died so that we might live! Salvation is a gift of grace, freely given to those who will believe in the power of Christ. This gift was bought with a price that man can never fully know or understand! A total innocent, crucified, scourged and beaten. 
God's Son, being obedient to His Father, endured our punishment. 

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Phil.2:
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.


We are called to be the salt of the earth! What does this mean? Everything around us is decaying from sin! We are to share the gospel to stop this certain death and eternal destruction! We are commanded to be a light in a dark and evil world!

Lev.2:13
You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

Col.4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

1 Peter 3:15
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Lord, have mercy on us! Help us teach You in truth! Let us sting with Your word of truth as Your word brings people to humble repentance! Amen

Poor in Spirit What Does It Mean?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Jesus is talking about being a beggar. He is saying, “Blessed are the beggars.” He’s not talking about finances here. He’s talking about a person being poor spiritually. 

Before a person can enter into the kingdom of heaven, he must first admit that no matter how much he may have in the material realm or psychological realm, he is absolutely and totally spiritually bankrupt and a beggar before God. If he doesn’t see that, he will never, ever get into the kingdom of heaven. 

ACTION POINT:
I’ve often said that I am just one beggar showing another beggar where to find food. Do you see yourself as a beggar in need of the Bread of Heaven?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Blessed Is the Man Who Trusts in the Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The Lord Jesus Christ gives us beatitudes—attitudes that ought to be. They are not platitudes. They are attitudes that deal with Christian character. 

Your reputation is what others think about you, but character is what God knows about you. 

The beatitudes do not say, “Blessed are what you have,” or “Blessed are what you do,” but “Blessed are what you are.” Most of the people in the world are doing what? They are seeking happiness. If you seek happiness you’ll never find it. But if you get right with God, blessedness will find you. 

ACTION POINT:
Have you been finding your self-worth in what you have or what you do? Confess it before the Lord and meditate on the attitudes you ought to have in Matthew 5:3-11.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Letting Your Shepherd Set Your Pace

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.” Ps.23:2
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Sometimes I hear folks tell young people, “Make all the money you can, just so you make it honestly.” That’s not good advice.

If you make all the money you can, you are going to be making money when you should be doing something else. You are going to be making money when you ought to be alone with God.

I’m not against making money. I’m simply saying that we need to stop and prioritize our lives. Do you know what I think God does with some of us? He makes us to lie down. We won’t do it unless He makes us.

ACTION POINT:
Why not stop right now and pray, “Lord Jesus, You don’t have to make me lie down. I’d rather slow down. I want to be still and know that You are GOD! Show me how.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Happiness, the Byproduct of Righteousness

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Happiness is something you stumble over on your way to serving Jesus. 

When you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, happiness is the byproduct of righteousness. People who are trying to be happy are focusing their energy at the wrong target. If you will seek after righteousness, then you will be happy. 

What you need is to drink of the Spirit. 

What you need is to feed on the Word of God. 

The deepest need of your heart will be met only in Jesus. 

ACTION POINT:
Ask the Lord to fill you with His presence, to fulfill the deepest need of your heart in Him and Him alone. Now trust Him to do it.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Monday, April 7, 2014

The Reason You Are Stressed

BIBLE MEDITATION:
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Matthew 6:30

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know the reason we’re stressed? Because we think our needs are not going to be met. We say, “Oh my goodness, I’m not going to have what I need!” 

Jesus tells us not to worry about what you are going to eat. And don’t worry about what you are going to wear. He’s saying only one thing is important His righteousness. These things don’t even take significance until your deepest needs are met. You are to find your satisfaction in Him. If you don’t find your satisfaction in Him, you’re going to be stressed. 

ACTION POINT:
Are you stressed out about something today? Turn it over to Jesus and turn your focus to Him. Let Jesus meet your needs and transform your heart today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Praying in Secret

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What did our Lord mean when He said, “Enter into your closet to pray?” The word “closet” simply means somewhere where you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven. 

As you study the life of Jesus, you’ll discover that Jesus sought times to be alone. Sometimes He would go on a mountain, sometimes into the wilderness, and sometimes into a garden. It is the secret place that is the sacred place. The mark of your prayer life is not really how well you pray in public, but in private.

ACTION POINT:
When you enter your closet to pray, spend some time in silence. Clear your mind. Then listen for His Words of edification, encouragement, and exhortation.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Biblical Hope, a Firm Certainty

BIBLE MEDITATION:
For Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth.” Psalm 71:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does the word “hope” mean in the Bible? It doesn’t mean “maybe.” We may use it that way in modern English, but that’s not what the word “hope” means when used in Scripture.

“Hope” means certainty, but not just any certainty. When the Bible says “hope,” it means a rock-ribbed assurance with anticipation, based on the Word of God. 

When I was a little boy, my dad would take us out for a ride on Sunday afternoon. We kids would be in the back seat, getting into squabbles. If things got too heated, my dad would turn around and say, “When you boys get home, I’m going to whip you.” With my dad, I knew this was a rock-ribbed truth! We could anticipate it, but not with gladness!

Our hope, however, our rock-ribbed assurance, comes with glad anticipation!

ACTION POINT:
Share the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ with someone today. Maybe there’s someone at the hospital who needs a word of hope. Maybe it’s a member of your family!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Wake-Up Call


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Romans 13:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know what Napoleon said about China? “There lies a sleeping giant, and let him sleep, because if he awakens, he will shake the world.”

I believe the devil says that about the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe the church is just that: a sleeping giant. We’re asleep because we have been chloroformed by the spirit of this age. 

We’re bombarded on every side by all kinds of amusement. Do you know what amuse means? It’s a combination of two words. Muse means to think, and the alpha prefix in front of it means “not to.” 

We are a generation that is amusing ourselves into oblivion. And it’s time to wake up!

ACTION POINT:
Are you taking the Christian life seriously? If this were your last day on earth, how would you spend it? In amusement? Or in evangelism?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Making Your Bible Come Alive


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Why is it that sometimes when we read the Bible, we leave our common sense at the door? You don’t just pick up a book, open it at random, and start reading in the middle of a paragraph. The book wouldn’t make any sense! In order to understand and get the full appreciation for the book, we read it sequentially and in paragraphs or units. 

When you read the Bible, read for quality not quantity. Don’t see how much of the Bible you can read. See how much of the Bible you can assimilate and apply! Maybe what you need to do is spend a week studying one verse.

ACTION POINT:
In your Bible reading today, stop and ask yourself, “What is God telling ME?” Not “What does this say?” But “What is God saying to me?” Then seek to put that into practice today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

He Is…

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever noticed that the title God chose to describe Himself is an incomplete sentence? Now, most people would finish that sentence, “I am… [something].” But not our Lord. He purposefully did not complete the sentence “I AM.” He is.

Are you hungry? He is the bread. Are you in the dark? He is the light. Are you searching? He is the truth. Are you lost? He is the way. Are you in need? He is your Shepherd.

ACTION POINT:
What are you looking to God to meet today? Trust Him right now to meet you there.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers