What Do You Love More than Jesus?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The rich man asked Jesus, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Then Jesus asked him if he had kept the law. He said yes. In love Jesus responded, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mark 10:21b). But the rich man was “sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

Jesus let him go. Jesus didn’t run after him. And there’s another thing I want you to notice: Jesus didn’t lower His standards.

ACTION POINT:

Is there anything you love more than Jesus? You must willingly lay it down to be saved.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Not to Decide Is to Decide

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Years ago I was witnessing to a young lady in Florida. I asked her if she had received Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She became teary-eyed and said, “I just don’t seem…no…I can’t do it today.” I asked her, “Don’t you realize that if you don’t receive Him, that you’re going to deny Him?” She said, “Oh, I wouldn’t deny Him for anything.” I said, “But there’s no middle ground.” And yet she refused.

I said, “Before you go, would you shake hands with me?” And she said, “Well, certainly.” And so I said, “If you’ll take Christ as your Savior, take my right hand. If you’ll take hell and refuse Christ, take my left hand.” She refused to take either of my hands.

ACTION POINT:

Every person has a choice. There is no neutral ground. You are either crowning Jesus as Lord of your life or you are not. Which is it my friend?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Shaking Hands or Saving Lives?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There was a preacher who kept a painting in his study of a shipwreck. There were sailors in lifeboats reaching out their hands to people floating on debris from the ship. A little boy looked at the painting and asked his daddy, “Are those in the lifeboats trying to save those people or are they just shaking hands?”

I wonder about us. It is all right to have friends; in fact, I encourage you to do that. But are you doing more than just socializing? Wouldn’t it be a shame if all you did was shake the hands of those around you, when you could be serving and showing them the way to God through Jesus Christ?

ACTION POINT:

We don’t pray, live, and witness as if people are dying and going to hell or heaven every day around us. May God have mercy on us. The need of the hour is for men and women to have a servant’s heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Hidden from the Wise, Revealed to the Humble

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What wisdom is there in dying on a cross? The Greeks couldn’t understand it, and yet that is the wisdom of God.

God is so wise that the person with the highest IQ cannot figure Him out. If you could come to God with your intellect, then God is not fair because all of the smart people would have a head start and the rest of us would be left standing in the shadows. Your spirituality would be based upon your intellect.

I’m so glad that God has “hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25).

ACTION POINT:

It’s not that God is so high that few can figure Him out; it is that God has placed Himself at such a level that few of us will get down low enough to see God revealing Himself to us.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Blessedness Of Secondness

6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me.

7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

8 But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.'

10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.

11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.

12 So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said."

13 Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. - Joshua 14:6-14

Those whom God has joined together let not man separate.

Joshua and Caleb were united by God for His purpose.

They grew up together.

They spied together.

They fought together.

But God appointed Joshua as leader.

Caleb had to learn to be second.

To work under Joshua as his helper.

Just as we are under Christ who is the head of  the church.

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant,

2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. - Joshua 1:1-3

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. - 3 John 1:9

We want to be first.

We must be content to be second, following Christ.

We must serve as Christ served.

We must give Him the glory.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

So be content to be second obeying Christ in His mission.

Thanks Pastor Smith!

Perfect in His Sight

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Romans 4:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God has imputed His righteousness to every believer. That means that instead of your sin being on your account, it is His righteousness instead. Not only has He forgiven us. Not only has He covered our sins. But He gives us His righteousness.

I fail, but God will not impute that to me. If God were to impute sin to me, then when I fail I would be lost again. How much sin would it take to make me lost? Just one-half of one sin.

You see, I’m not going to heaven because I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. You’re not perfect. No one is perfect. But we have received Christ as our righteousness. And in His eyes, we are perfect.

ACTION POINT:

Stop now and thank God for imputing to you His own righteousness.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Sees Both the End and the Beginning

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God’s wisdom is supreme. Now, we know after the fact, but God knows before the fact. The word “foreknow” is from the Greek word proginosko. God’s foreknowledge can best be illustrated like the viewing of a parade.

If you watch a parade from the ground level, you will see the floats as they come past one at a time. But suppose you could go up in a 30-story building and look down upon the parade? Then, you would not only see the float directly in front, but quite possibly the first and last float. You now have a different vantage point.

ACTION POINT:

We live in history. We see events as they come by one at a time. But God dwells in eternity. And He sees the beginning, the end, and everything in between. And God knows everything.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Be Vigilant—You Have an Enemy

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Your adversary the devil is prowling about like a roaring lion. Don’t underestimate his power.

Satan is an enemy you need to respect like an electrician who has respect for the wires that carry deadly voltage. He knows where the insulation is and he knows how to handle electricity. If an electrician loses his respect for this power, he is going to be in serious trouble.

ACTION POINT:

Everything may be going great for you right now. You’ve got money in the bank, a good job, good health. You’re dancing through the forest and picking wildflowers. But behind a bush is a lion so deadly, he can pounce on you and swallow you whole. You’ve got to be vigilant.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Names Of God

Abba Father

Our father, our daddy, warm affectionate names, names that endearing, respectful and intimate, names used when you are related.

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" - Galatians 4:6

And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." - Mark 14:36

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" - Romans 8:15

Alpha and Omega

These are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. 

It also is how God refers to himself.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. - Revelation 21:6

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." - Revelation 22:13

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. - John 1:1-3

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14

Attitq Youm

The Ancient of Days

Only God is the all knowing Ancient of Days.

There is nothing He does not know, past, present or future.

9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 

10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'  - Isaiah 46:9-10

"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.  - Daniel 7:9

13 "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 

14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.  - Daniel 7:13-14

Christos The Anointed One

Jesus Christ-Fully man, fully God 

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, - 1 John 4:2

El Chuwl

The God who gave you birth.

God made you for His purpose and He will not leave you.

Sin marred His creation but God who is rich in mercy didn't leave us.

1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 

3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.  - Isaiah 43:1-3

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.  - Psalm 139:13-18

El Deah

God of knowledge.

God is all knowledge.

God is omniscient.

"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"  - Romans 11:34

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

El Elyon

The God Most High

Above all, strongest of the strong and highest of the high

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. - Colossians 1:16-17

El Olam

The everlasting God

God never changes!

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  - Psalm 90:1-2

For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.  - Psalm 90:4

But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.  - Hebrews 1:8

El Roi

The God who sees!

So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing," for she said, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me." - Genesis 16:13

El Shaddai

God Almighty 

This promise has changed the world.

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." - Genesis 17:1-2

Elohim

The Creator

Strength and unlimited power, one who keeps promises

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1:1

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  - Isaiah 40:28

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!  - Psalm 95:6

Yahweh

Jehovah 

The self-existent One

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" - Exodus 3:14

Yahweh Bore

The Lord Creator

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.  - Psalm 33:6

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 

29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 

30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 

31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  - Isaiah 40:28-31

Yahweh Nissi

The Lord my banner.

To be raised 

Victory in all things is the Lords!

And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, - Exodus 17:15

Yahweh Raah

The Lord My Shepherd

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  - Psalms 23

Yahweh Rapha

The Lord that healeth

Miraculous healing

Wisdom of God given to man with which he made medicine 

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. - Matthew 10:1

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Yahweh Shalom

The Lord is peace

God's grace of peace

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.  - Psalm 4:8

Yahweh Shammah

The Lord is there

God is a circle whose center is everywhere.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?  - Psalm 139:7

23 "Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away?

24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. - Jeremiah 23:23-24

Yahweh Tsabbaoth

The Lord of host

Lord Almighty 

Sovereign God of the universe 

And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"  - Isaiah 6:3

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

Yahweh Tsidkenu

The Lord of our righteousness 

Our righteousness comes from God alone.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- - Philippians 3:9

Yahweh Yireh

The Lord will provide

11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." - Genesis 22:11-14

Thanks Pastor Rogers!!!

Submitting to One Another

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If we are going to survive in the tough times of our lives, we must learn to submit. That’s right. Now, I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but let me explain.

The Word of God teaches us that no one is inferior to anyone else. We are one in Jesus Christ. Submission is something we do to one another “in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:21). Through submission comes power and victory.

Do you want to know a good definition of submission? Here it is: Submission is one equal willingly placing himself under another equal that God may therefore be glorified.

ACTION POINT:

We are never more like Jesus than when we submit. And never more like the devil than when we rebel.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Two Days that Will Steal Your Joy

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There are two days that can steal your joy and the fulfillment of today. One is tomorrow and the other is yesterday. Both are days in which we as Christians should refuse to live.

So many of us have never learned how to separate ourselves from yesterday. We are still dragging it around with us and it is stealing our joy. Paul could have lived there in the realm of guilt, but he refused.

ACTION POINT:

Maybe you, like Paul and countless others, have committed some horrible sins. But friend, what God has called cleaned, let no man call unclean. If you have confessed that sin and given it to God, it is buried in the depths. Don’t let it contaminate your day. Learn to live in the present.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Name Above All Names

Names reveal who you are.

These are some of the names of God.

Elohim 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1:1

You will find this name over 2000 times in the Bible.

It's Hebrew in origin.

It's plural not singular.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." - Genesis 1:26

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13:14

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, - Matthew 28:19

What do you learn from God's name Elohim?

1. God is eternal!

He is different than us.

Before there was a beginning, there was God.

He will have no end.

He is infinite!

In the midst of trials, troubles, illness and death, God is there.

By faith, we declare God is with us!

God the Father offers eternal life through Christ His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit through all who will believe.

68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." - John 6:68-69

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. - Romans 10:9-10

2. God is Creator

He is sovereign Creator of all things.

1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 

2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.  - Psalm 24:1-2

Look at the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.

Who can deny the power of the one true living God?

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.  - Psalm 14:1

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!  - Psalm 95:6

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  - Psalm 139:13-14

God has a plan for your life.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."  - Jeremiah 1:5

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,  - Psalm 17:8

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!  - Psalm 90:17

the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.  - Jeremiah 31:3

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. - 1 John 4:4

Thanks Pastor Kevin!!