Saturday, August 30, 2014

Imputing Righteousness to Your Account

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.” Romans 4:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God imputes righteousness to you through His Son. What does “impute” mean? To put on your account. At the moment you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God makes you righteous. Romans 4:8 says, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” A woman was asked one day what it felt like to be saved and she replied, “It feels as though I am standing in Jesus’ shoes and He is standing in mine.” A scholar or theologian couldn’t have said it any better. 

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

ACTION POINT:
Thank God that though you are a sinner, He doesn’t impute it to you, and though you are not righteous, He imputes—puts into your account— that to you!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Friday, August 29, 2014

Fidelity, a Multi-Faceted Trait of Character

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I’m continually amazed at the apathetic responses to surveys where people are asked, “Does it make any difference to you whether a candidate is faithful to his wife or not?” Or, “Would you vote for a man that was unfaithful to his wife?” And they say, “It doesn’t matter.” 

Well, friend, it makes a difference to me. And more importantly, it makes a difference to God. When couples break solemn vows—unless they repent with every ounce of their hearts—trust is broken. Put it down big, straight, and plain: People who treat sex lightly will treat other people lightly.

ACTION POINT:
Are you married? Find some time today to express to your spouse your love and faithful commitment to him or her.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Is Your Best Purity


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“. . . it is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Premarital sex always endangers future marital happiness. It follows as night follows day. Surveys have shown that those who were sexually pure when they went to the marriage altar have the greatest opportunity to have a happy marriage. 

You can understand why. Suppose a man says to a woman “I love you so much, I just can’t wait.” He talks her into giving in to his desires. Now think about a man who loves and respects a woman by keeping her pure. Do you see the trust that this builds? God has a wonderful plan for you. Sex is so bad outside marriage because it’s so good inside marriage.

ACTION POINT:
Are you single? Take courage from knowing God’s best is your purity. Though it may be hard to wait, God will honor your obedience.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Take It to the Lord in Prayer


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.” Job 22:27

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever disagreed with someone and felt you were in the right? I have. What started out as a conversation turns into a confrontation. And the tension becomes so thick you can cut it with a knife. At that point, it’s time to separate before things disintegrate. 

And when you separate, it’s time to communicate with the Lord. It’s when you get alone with God that the communion of conviction comes, and what seemed to be confusion becomes crystal clear in His light. More often than not, the Holy Spirit has shown me that I was in the wrong and needed to ask forgiveness.

ACTION POINT:
Have you had a disagreement with someone lately? It’s time to retreat, reflect, and receive what the Lord wants to tell you. Enter your prayer closet today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

More Than We Can Ask or Think

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
To be found in Jesus, Paul says, is worth more than all of his religion, race, and ritual. It is a relationship with the Almighty God. It is Jesus. Paul says, “I’m tired of trying. I’m going to start trusting.” 

Basically, Paul lived a life of working his way to heaven before he met the Lord on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9). Legalism is a terrible thing. It is a harsh task master under which no one can succeed. 

Liberty, not legalism, is what the Lord Jesus Christ offers. Freedom, not bondage. Relationship, not religion. We give up nothing for which Jesus will not abundantly offer more than we could ever hope or dream.

ACTION POINT:
Read Colossians 3:11. What does it mean for Christ to be your “all in all”?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Monday, August 25, 2014

To Be Found in Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Paul thought it was the greatest of blessings to be found “in Him” (see Philippians 3:9). Paul exchanged a set of rules for a friend. 

Hadn’t you rather have a friend than a set of rules? Before this, Paul had the law. Now, he has the Lord. And what a difference! What a safe place—to be found in Jesus Christ. 

You’re not just a church member if you are saved, you are in Christ. You are in His body and He is in you. Talk about fellowship divine! You may be alone, but you’ll never be lonely again because the Lord Jesus Christ is in you and you are in the Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT:
If you have a hymnal in your home, find the hymn “In The Garden” and meditate on its truth, that “He tells me I am His own.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Sunday, August 24, 2014

That I May Know Him


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” Philippians 3:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One day I was making a call on a businessman with a friend of mine. This dear man of God began giving his testimony of how the Lord saved him. But then he said something that really shocked me. I was speechless. He said, “I used to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and that He was buried and rose again. But I don’t believe it anymore.” 

I was stopped dead in my tracks. Then with a smile on his face he said, “I don’t believe it anymore. Now, I know it!” 

Oh, to go from believing to knowing the Savior! What a change of thought. What a change of heart. What a glorious revelation and transformation!

ACTION POINT:
Do you know Him? Really know Him today? Or do you just believe that He died, was buried, and rose again?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

How Passionate Is Our Love for the Lord?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When I was a little boy and I found something that didn’t belong to me, I’d say, “Finders keepers, losers weepers!” 

But do you know what the apostle Paul said? “Keepers weepers, losers finders.” 

He said, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:7). 

Religion does not save us. Jesus saves us. And He’s calling us to not only turn from our sins, but to turn from our righteousness.

ACTION POINT:
What are you holding onto in your life that brings you security? Let it go to the glory of God! You can trust Him to provide for all your needs.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Peace, Be Still


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Keep me as the apple of the eye…hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.” Psalm 17:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Charles Wesley was walking through the woods on a stormy day when a lightning storm broke out and the rain began to come down in torrents. A bolt of lightning flashed, and a little bird was so frightened that it flew down to Wesley and it tried to hide in his coat. 

He was so moved by the scene that he wrote a song we often sing: “Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly, while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high. Hide me, O my Savior, hide, ‘til the storm of life is past; safe unto the haven guide me, O receive my soul at last.” That’s what our Lord does. He hides us, sustains us, and keeps us.

ACTION POINT:
Are the storms of life raging around you? Hide yourself in the dark clouds—they are just the shadow of His wing.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When These Things Begin to Come to Pass

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto Thy name.” 2 Samuel 22:50

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If we get into an auto accident and come out alive, we typically thank God for sparing our lives. But do you ever just thank God for saving your life as you drove home from work and didn’t have an accident? Isn’t that even better? 

I heard a story that poignantly illustrates this. One Sunday a husband and wife heard that a person in their church whose son died on the battlefield gave a significant love offering in his memory. On the way home, the wife asked her husband, “Why don’t we give an offering for our son?” 

“Why?” he answered. “Our son wasn’t killed.” 

She said, “Don’t you think that’s a good reason?” 

ACTION POINT:
What should you do in all things? Whether you are safe or sorry?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Sacrificial Quotient of Giving

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” Ephesians 5:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A little boy was looking through the family picture album, and he came to a picture of his mother when she was a very young girl. It was taken just after they’d gotten married. The boy asked his father, “Is that when Mother came to work for us?” 

Does this ring true in your home? Let me set the record straight. The husband, if he loves his wife as Christ loves the church, is going to love his wife sacrificially. He is going to love her in such a way that he would be willing to lay down his life for her. He’s going to protect her. He’s going to provide for her. He’s going to do what he can to present his wife and family as holy vessels for the Lord’s use.

ACTION POINT:
Are you married? Then how are you doing on the sacrificial quotient of giving to your spouse? If you had to, would you be willing to lay down your life for your spouse?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

True Freedom in Christ


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When Jesus Christ comes into your life, He changes you. Maybe you have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Maybe you struggle with lust, fear, doubt, or self- pity. Maybe you’re a slave to public opinion or perfectionism. But I want to tell you that the Jesus Christ who set Adrian Rogers free is the Jesus Christ who will set you free. 

Our freedom in Jesus Christ isn’t the privilege to do what we want. Instead it is the glorious, abundant, supernatural power to do what we ought. 

It is saving grace that sets us free. It is sustaining grace that keeps us free.

ACTION POINT:
Bow before the Lord and thank Him for the freedom you’ve been given through the great price of Calvary.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Monday, August 18, 2014

Exercise Discernment with Entertainment

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The most dangerous thing on television in my estimation today is the sitcom. Do you know what they’re doing? They’re getting you to laugh at sin. In fact, a Christian television and film writer attended a producers’ workshop one day. One of the keynote speakers was one of TV’s most successful producers of sitcoms. In his address, he stated that in order to have a commercially successful production, the characters in a sitcom must violate at least three of the Ten Commandments. How tragic. But what an opportunity for people like you and me to take a stand for the truth and for the glory of God in the film and television industry.

ACTION POINT:
Pray Joshua 1:7 for those who are in the television and movie industries—that they will be strong and courageous.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Casting Our Burdens at His Feet


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I read about a man who had a very fine dog who loved the water. One day the dog was playing in the lake and the man decided to leave. He called the dog, but the dog wouldn’t come. He called him several times; he wouldn’t come. It was a well-trained dog, but he just would not come. The man finally threw a stick out in the water. When the dog saw it, he swam over, got the stick, and came back and laid it at his master’s feet. 

It just may be that God has given you a burden because He can’t get your attention. He wants you to come and lay it at your Master’s feet.

ACTION POINT:
Is your heart aching today? Cast your burden at His feet and allow His peace to fill your heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Are They Afraid Of?

Every since Jesus died on the cross, wicked men have continued to persecute believers! 
What are they afraid of? 
Why are they so against the teachings of Christ? 
Christ blood bought our forgiveness! 
Christ blood bought our eternal life in paradise! 
Christ blood bought our freedom! 
The price paid was His life's blood, freely given to sinful man! 
Are these things to be feared? 
No, these are the things that make us sing praise songs of thanksgiving to God for His Son!
These are the things that drive us, even during persecution to proclaim His name with love!
These are the things that set the captives free!
We know why the Pharisees hated the Christ. 
They did not want to loose their standing as religious leaders and were filled with hate and jealousy!
They did not listen and hear the word of God being delivered!
Christ did not force God's word, nor a religion on anyone!
What He did was to confront us with our sin! 
Is that what people are afraid of?
Yes!
Confront the child abuser, the homosexual, the murder, the adulterer, the thief, the liar, the drug addict, the alcoholic, the swindler, the extortionist, or any other sinner and he will be in rebellion to you because you exposing his enjoyment as sin.
Never mind it's sending him to hell, he wants it regardless of the cost.
There are those who will keep you in the bondage of sin because it's lucrative for them.
The prostitutes are in bondage to pimps.
The addicts are in bondage to their suppliers.
Sin is bondage!

Listen to these verses:
Acts 16:
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."
22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Our job is to preach the gospel. 
The word changes hearts!
God has set a time for forgiveness, a time for judgment, a time for repentance but God will leave you in your sin if you don't turn from it!
Sin forever separates you from Him!
Choose life and repent!
Choose death and love your sin!
Choose eternal life by trusting Christ for your salvation!
Choose eternal destruction by living in your sin!

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

2 Cor.4:
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Romans 1:
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

1 Peter 4:
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" 
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Be Merciful to Me, A Sinner

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation.” Psalm 85:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There’s a story about a lady who went to a photographer to have her picture made. When she saw it, she didn’t like it. She took it back and told the photographer, “You’ll have to take this over.” 

He asked, “What’s wrong with it?” 

She said, “It doesn’t do me justice.” 

He looked at it and looked at her and said, “Lady, you don’t need justice, what you need is mercy.” 

God is just, but we need mercy. If you have never come to a place where you have seen yourself as a sinner lost before Almighty God and cried out to Him for mercy, you’ve never been saved.

ACTION POINT:
You may have joined a church, but have you thrown yourself on the mercy of the court? Have you said, “Lord God be merciful to me, a sinner?”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Friday, August 15, 2014

Faithful in Little and Much

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” Luke 16:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What would you do if you had a million dollars? Well, let me tell you a good test of what you would do—it’s what you’re doing with that hundred dollars you have right now. Are you saving it? Spending it? Sharing it? 

The test of what you would do in the spiritual realm is seen by what you do in the physical realm. Many of us do not have spiritual blessings because we simply haven’t been faithful with the small things in our lives.

ACTION POINT:
Are you hoping for something in your life? How could you be faithful in something little so that you’ll be faithful when the other comes along?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

The Law of Life in Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I’ve always found airplane flight amazing. They are so heavy, yet they fly! The pilot gets behind the controls, moves the throttle, and those great engines begin to roar. And the first thing you know, you’re flying. 

Has the law of gravity been canceled? No, but there’s another law that comes into effect called the law of aerodynamics, which is a greater law than the law of gravity. When you get right with God, the law of sin and death is still there. But there’s a new law. It’s the law of life in Christ Jesus that sets you free from the law of sin and death. As long as you abide in Jesus Christ, then you are free from the law of sin and death.

ACTION POINT:
Have you been set free? Then, it’s your turn to set another captive free with the Good News. Go out and share this free gift with someone today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Love That Turns The World Upside Down

Acts 17:1-9
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."
8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

1 Thess. 2:1-20
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed-God is witness.
6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children,
12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind
16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved-so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,
18 because we wanted to come to you-I, Paul, again and again-but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
20 For you are our glory and joy.

Four expressions of our Love for God...

Love for God’s Word
In our conversation (Acts 17:2) 
In its completeness (Acts 17:2) 
In our confidence (Acts 17:3)

Love for God’s Gospel
The simplicity of the message (Acts 17:3) 
The supremacy of the measure (Acts 17:4)

Love for God’s Purpose
Focused on the praise of Christ (Acts 17:6)
Filled by the power of Christ (1 Thess. 2:2)
Fueled by the pleasure of Christ (1 Thess. 2:4, 6)

Love for God’s People
Gentle in our conduct (1 Thess. 2:7)
Genuine in our connection (1 Thess. 2:8)
Generous in our care (1 Thess. 2:7-8)
Gracious in our confrontation (1 Thess. 2:11-12) 

Grateful for our community (1 Thess. 2:17-20)

Three exhortations as We Love...
Love with Abandon (Mark 12:30)
Love with Assurance (1 John 4:7-12) 
Love with Action (1 John 3:18)

Thanks Tate!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Knowing Jesus


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Years ago my wife gave me a little card to carry in my billfold. On it she had written her dress size, shoe size, glove size and more. That was nice to have so I could know all about her when I went to do some shopping. But it didn’t provide much companionship or encouragement when I was away from her.

It’s one thing to have the facts about Jesus, it’s another thing to have a relationship with Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Do you know Jesus...really know Him? Or are you just gathering facts about Him?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Destroyer's Prey or The Abundant Life Lived In Christ


Satan uses many mental or physical ailments to torment!
In light of the epidemic of depression, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse and sexual sin, theft, love of self and love of money. 
I began searching the Bible for the role Satan might play in this torment. Could it begin with man's rebellion toward God? 
As I began to read the Bible and articles, I was reassured of the consequences that come from denying God and the power given to Christ to bring salvation to the nations!
I began to see how, even when you've repented from sin, Satan still will remind you, that in the past, you were indeed a sinner!
We tend to forget that, in His mercy through our faith in Christ, Almighty God forgave us!
What is the more excellent way, mercy or torment?
In the words of Job, "shall we accept only good from God?"
No, the trials of this world are to build our faith by the realization that God alone gives His strength in our weakness!
By our rejection of God, our lack of knowledge of His precious Word, and a will bent to sin, it's no surprise that sin leads to bondage and that in turn leads to emptiness that we try to fill to no avail!
Our unbelief is the reason for our broken hearts!


Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Job 2:10
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Is.53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 

1 Sam.16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.

John 5:14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."

Matt.9:2
And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

Ps.29:11
May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! 

Matt.5:44
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

John 1:9
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Is.61:3
to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. 

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Prov.4:20-23
20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 
21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 
22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 

Phil.4:
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Prov.18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. 

Is.58:10
if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 

1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Believe in Christ for God has given Him all power and authority!
You will not live forever!
God has numbered your days!
We must not hold onto anger, the feeling of getting even, bitterness, or fear.
You choose to forgive just as God forgives!
Repent!
Study God's word!
Share God's word!
Rejoice in God's word!
Count your blessings!



Thanks Deb and Duane for your insight!










Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Mystery That Is God


Dan.2:22
22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 

Ps.139:12
12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 

While a saint of The Lord lays in a hospital bed, whether dying or not, we don't know! 
But God knows! 
She waits, for God's call of life or death!
She is resting in total peace!
Her broken body hurts!
Her spirit sings hallelujah!
By God's design, we know the moment we are born, we begin to die! 
He alone determines our time here! 
We have a clock ticking, a breath and heartbeat counter that is set for a certain number of breathes and beats and cells that will renew only so many times!
Man, in all his God given knowledge, hasn't a clue! 
God alone knows!
We want that knowledge, but it remains hidden waiting for The Master's call of life and death!
God gives life!
God takes it back again!
Christ has been given the power of salvation!
To every man woman or child who will believe.
He paid the price, He lived the perfect life, He was obedient, yes even unto death on the cross!
Don't you see how everything we do in the name of religion will fail?
It's Christ alone that saves!!
There is nothing else!
No deed, no prayer to a false god, no tithe, no sacraments of religious elements, only the blood of Christ!  
The world is blinded by the darkness of Satan!
We are commanded to bring light through the Word of Christ to a sinful world!
They wait for the light!

Luke 4:18 
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 

John 9:
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.
33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
34 They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
36 He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"
37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you."
38 He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."

Ps.146:
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 
3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 
7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 

Acts 13:
16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 
17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.
18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.
20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
23 Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
26 "Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
30 But God raised him from the dead,
31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,
33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.' 
34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' 
35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.' 
36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,
37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:
41 "'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'" 
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.
43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus as Lord and Savior


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever thought that salvation was like a cafeteria where you can pick and choose the aspects of Jesus you want? “I’ll have a little Saviorhood, but please, no Lordship today.” If Jesus is not your Lord, Jesus is not your Savior. What’s the difference? 

Well, suppose I perform a wedding ceremony and say to the young man, “Would you take Susan to be your lawfully wedded wife?” And he responds, “Well, I’ll take Susan as housekeeper.” And then I say to her, “Would you take John to be your lawfully wedded husband?” And she says, “Well, I’ll take him as provider.” We can’t pick and choose what we want from Jesus. We take Jesus as Lord over all!

ACTION POINT:
Is Jesus Christ Lord of every area of your life? Take time to today to examine your life—your finances, your relationships, your hopes and dreams.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Monday, August 11, 2014

Making Sense of What We Don’t Understand

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” Psalm 139:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A little boy had a jigsaw puzzle that on one side had a map of the world and on the other side had a picture of a man. His mother asked him to try and work it and before long the little fellow had put the puzzle together. The mother was surprised to find that the little fellow knew so much about geography. She asked him, “How on earth did you do that?” 

“Oh,” he said, “I worked the other side first. When I got the man right, the world was right.” 

How true that is! We will never fix this world until we get the man right the man Jesus Christ, that is.

ACTION POINT:
Are things in your world confusing you these days? Turn to Jesus and trust Him to make sense of what you don’t understand.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Sunday, August 10, 2014

The Voice of Conscience from Within


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
After David had sinned and done the terrible thing that he had done by committing adultery, he said in Psalm 51:3, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” Can you imagine what it would be like for your sin to “ever” be before you? The deed would reverberate through your consciousness unendingly. You see, the conscience is an inner judge that God puts in you that accuses or excuses you. It cannot make you do right, but it shows you what is right or what is wrong. And when your conscience is right, you have tremendous freedom. A good conscience will do something for you that a sleeping pill could never do.

ACTION POINT:
What is your conscience “telling” you this morning? Are you right with God?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Evaluating True Riches

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you want to know how rich you are? Add up everything you own that money cannot buy, that death nor disaster cannot take away, and then you’ll know just how rich you are. What did you discover? Hopefully, you discovered that it’s time you started laying up true riches. Because all the rest will burn away. If you are putting all of your labor in this world, it’s like rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship.

ACTION POINT:
Read Matthew 6:19-21. Where is your heart? Where is your treasure?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Keeps the Score

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I read something that deeply touched my heart about a PGA golfer named DiVensenzo. As he was leaving a golf course with his winnings, a woman approached him and said, “I have a baby who is dying.” Moved with compassion, he endorsed the check and gave it to her saying, “Take this, and try to buy some happiness for yourself and your child.” 

A week later he was in the clubhouse having lunch, and one of the PGA officials came up to him and said, “Did you know that the woman who approached you last week didn’t have a baby dying of an incurable disease!” And DiVensenzo said, “There’s no baby dying? That’s the best news I’ve heard all week!” What an attitude! 

ACTION POINT:
Do you ever feel like people are going to take advantage of you? Be thankful today that God keeps the score. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Abiding in the Vine


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
You’ll never see a fruit factory. Now, you’ll see factories for making clothing, cars, and computers, but not a fruit factory. Instead fruit is grown in an orchard. It is dependent upon life. 

There is no fruit without life. The only way that fruit is going to ripen and grow is in the right climate and with the right nutrients. Just like we can’t grow bananas in Alaska, we can’t grow and produce the fruit of the Spirit unless we’re in the place where the Spirit can produce His fruit in us. And that place is walking and abiding in the Spirit. 

ACTION POINT:
Read Galatians 5:22-25 today and ask God to help you abide in the Spirit to produce the fruit He desires in your life. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Trying of Faith Works Patience

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does God want out of you? He wants you to experience the fullness of Christ. And the way to this is through trials and tribulations. Can you be patient during this process? If you’re like most people, probably not. We become like children who don’t know the difference between “No” and “Not yet.” If you say, “Wait a while,” to them that is, “No.” They want it now. But God is interested in maturing you. A Danish proverb says, “Give to a pig when it grunts and give to a child when it cries, and you will have a fine pig and a bad child.” Tribulation brings patience, and patience makes us mature. 

ACTION POINT:
What are you waiting for? What are you struggling with? Give it to Jesus. Trust in His timing and His provision. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Peace in the Midst of the Storm


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
In Florida where I was raised, we had a lot of hurricanes. Even as a child I learned that in the center of the worst hurricane, there’s a calm called the “eye” of the storm. When the storm passes over, there is a calm like a mill pond on a summer evening. 

Friend, in your storm today there is a center that is calm. It’s the heart of God. He is there. He is the “I AM” in the midst of your storm. 

As someone has well said, “God gives peace that the world can’t take away.” It is supernatural peace. 

ACTION POINT:
Do you have the peace of God in your heart? Claim the promise of Psalm 29:11, Isaiah 26:3, and Romans 5:1 today. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Monday, August 4, 2014

Happiness vs. Joy


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Happiness comes from outside circumstances. Joy comes from within. So it’s cruel to say to people who are in sorrow, “Smile and be happy.” Better to come alongside and mourn with them than to try to force the square peg of happiness into a round hole of sorrow. 

The human life is a life of tragedy, sorrow, heartache, and pain. Yet in every difficulty, you can find joy. Happiness is an outside job. Joy is an inside job. 

ACTION POINT:
There is someone in a nursing home that longs for that joy. Find some time this week to bring the joy of the Lord to them. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Sunday, August 3, 2014

When It Comes to the Devil…How to Think

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are two mistakes people make about the devil. One, they get into demonology—always studying, wondering, and talking about demons. Their focus rests on Satan rather than on the Lord Jesus. The Bible says we’re to resist the devil; it doesn’t say we’re to chase him. 

On the other hand, there are those who are flippant about the devil. They have nicknames for him and think he’s a cartoon or fantasy. 

The truth is, we have a powerful adversary, the devil. Peter likens him to a roaring lion! A mature Christian recognizes that he has an enemy. He respects the power of the enemy. Then he clings to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to overcome this great adversary. 

ACTION POINT:
Is the lion prowling around your life? Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and break free from his jaws of destruction. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Carrying Our Own Burdens

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Psalm 55:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A man was carrying a heavy load of grain down a country road. Another man in a wagon being pulled by a horse saw the man walking and said to him, “Mister, you need a ride?” And so the man got in the wagon. But he kept the load of grain on his shoulder. The wagon driver said, “Man, put that down and relax!” The rider said, “Oh no. It’s enough for you to carry me without having you carry this too.” 

Have you ever done that to the Lord? You say, “Lord, I’ll let You save me, but I’ll carry my own burdens.” How foolish we are to do this with the God who hung the stars and planets. 

ACTION POINT:
If you can trust God to save you from hell, don’t you think you can cast your burden upon the Lord right now? 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Friday, August 1, 2014

One Body in Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
My left hand is a member of my body. So is my right hand. The right hand cannot direct the left hand and vice versa. But both hands can receive instruction from the head. If one hand is connected to the head and the other hand is connected to the head, then it simply follows that our hands are going to submit one to another. They’re not going to fight one another. 

It’s the same way in the Body of Christ—the church. Who is the head of the body? The Lord Jesus Christ. Who are the members of the body? You and I. God put us in the church together that we might have a spirit of submission in the fear of the Lord. 

ACTION POINT:
Is there someone in the church with whom you’re having difficulties? Submit yourself to the Lord and allow Him to give you grace to submit one to another. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers