Do You Understand the Things of God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:11

 

PONDER THIS

What does it mean to have your mind opened by God? It means that the average man, the average woman, the average boy, and the average girl in the pew, who is obedient and diligent, can understand the Word of God. Look back at 1 Corinthians 1:26-27: “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”

What does that mean? It means God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things through those people. It means you can get your Bible and you can pray over it. And you can get your heart right with God, and you can ask, “Spirit of God, make Yourself known to me.” And God will reveal Himself to you supernaturally out of the Bible.

When have you felt that God revealed Himself to you through His Word?

How much desire would you say you have for God to reveal Himself on a daily basis? What contributes to that for good or bad?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time today to study your Bible. Begin by asking God to open your mind and give you an understanding of the things revealed in His Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Lion and the Lamb

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:18–21, quoting Isaiah 42)

The Father’s very soul exults with joy over the servant-like meekness and compassion of his Son.

When a reed is bent and about to break, the Servant will tenderly hold it upright until it heals. When a wick is smoldering and has scarcely any heat left, the Servant will not pinch it off, but cup his hand and blow gently until it burns again.

Thus the Father cries, “Behold, my Servant in whom my soul delights!” The worth and beauty of the Son come not just from his majesty, nor just from his meekness, but from the way these mingle in perfect proportion.

When the angel cries out in Revelation 5:2, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” the answer comes back, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).

God loves the strength of the Lion of Judah. This is why he is worthy in God’s eyes to open the scrolls of history and unfold the last days.

But the picture is not complete. How did the Lion conquer? The next verse describes his appearance: “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6). Jesus is worthy of the Father’s delight not only as the Lion of Judah, but also as the slain Lamb.

This is the peculiar glory of Jesus Christ, God’s incarnate Son — the stunning mingling of majesty and meekness.

John Piper 

Bible Study

Isaiah 11:1-4

    [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

        and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 

    [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

        the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

        the Spirit of counsel and might,

        the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 

    [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

        or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 

    [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

        and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

    and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

        and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Genesis 49:9-10

    [9] Judah is a lion’s cub;

        from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

    He stooped down; he crouched as a lion

        and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 

    [10] The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

        nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

    until tribute comes to him;

        and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Hebrews 7:14-16

[14] For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

[15] This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, [16] who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.

Revelation 22:16-17

[16] “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

[17] The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Human Wisdom is Not Enough

PRAY OVER THIS

“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4

 

PONDER THIS

Human wisdom is superficial. You could take a course in systematic theology and learn all of the facts about God. You could get out a notebook and write them all down. You could say God is omnipotent, God is omniscient, and many other facts that are true about God. Yet, you wouldn’t know God. The teacher could use all kinds of compelling speech and clever phraseology but that wouldn’t help you know God. In 1 Corinthians 2:4, the Apostle Paul said that when he came and preached, he didn’t come with human wisdom. The people at Corinth had been swept away by worldly philosophy. Now the Apostle Paul, if he had wanted to, could have taught with mighty intellect. He had a great amount of knowledge. But he was terrified at the thought that their faith should stand in human wisdom because it is so superficial. It is the supernatural wisdom of God that gives us true knowledge of Him. Nothing else will do.

What are some ways you might have tried to know God through human wisdom?

How would it look different to know Him through His wisdom?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess before God the ways you have sought to know Him through human wisdom and ask Him to give you supernatural knowledge of Him through His Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Gift of Days

James 4:13-16

[13] Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—[14] yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. [15] Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” [16] As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Luke 12:19-23

[19] And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ [20] But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

[22] And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. [23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

Matthew 16:26

[26] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Psalm 39:6-7

        [6]     Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

    Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;

        man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

    [7] “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

        My hope is in you.

Things we take for granted during our short time on Earth.

Seconds into minutes.

Minutes into hours.

Hours into days.

Days into months.

Months into years.

Years into eternity.

Sunrise and Sunset.

The wind, the rain.

The rising and falling of ones chest signifying the breath of life.

The thumping of each beat of a heart given life by God alone.

Being able to step, placing a foot, one before the other ending in walking.

To talk, making a choice to be kind or hateful.

To hear words of encouragement or to hear speech that rips into someone leaving them a shattered soul.

Lord, teach us to pay attention to our days.

Psalm 90:9-12

    [9] For all our days pass away under your wrath;

        we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 

    [10] The years of our life are seventy,

        or even by reason of strength eighty;

    yet their span is but toil and trouble;

        they are soon gone, and we fly away. 

    [11] Who considers the power of your anger,

        and your wrath according to the fear of you?

    [12] So teach us to number our days

        that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Church Growth God’s Way

It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (Romans 9:8)

Picture the Old Testament Abraham as a pastor. The Lord says, “I will bless you and prosper your ministry.” But the church is barren and bears no children.

What does Abraham do? He begins to despair of supernatural intervention. He is getting old. His wife remains barren. So he decides to bring about God’s promised son without supernatural intervention. He has sex with Hagar his wife’s handmaid (Genesis 16:4). However, the result is not a “child of the promise,” but a “child of the flesh,” Ishmael.

God stuns Abraham by saying, “I will give you a son by her [your wife Sarah]” (Genesis 17:16). So Abraham cries out to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” (Genesis 17:18). He wants the work of his own natural, human effort to be the fulfillment of God’s promise. But God says, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son” (Genesis 17:19).

But Sarah is 90 years old. She has been barren all her life, and she has already passed through menopause (Genesis 18:11). Abraham is 100. The only hope for a child of promise is stunning, supernatural intervention.

That is what it means to be a “child of the promise” — to be born “not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). The only children that count for children of God in this world are supernaturally begotten children of promise. In Galatians 4:28 Paul says, “You [Christians], like Isaac, are children of promise.” You are “born according to the Spirit,” not according to the flesh (Galatians 4:29).

Think of Abraham as a pastor again. His church is not growing the way he believes God promised. He is weary of waiting for supernatural intervention. He turns to the “Hagar” of mere human devices, and decides he can “attract people” without the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.

However, it will not be a church of Isaacs, but Ishmaelites — children of the flesh, not children of God. God save us from this kind of fatal success. By all means work. But always look to the Lord for the decisive, supernatural work. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31).

John Piper 

Bible Study

Romans 15:13

[13] May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

1 Thessalonians 1:5

[5] because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

2 Peter 1:16

[16] For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

1 Corinthians 4:20

[20] For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

How Do You Know You’re Saved?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” 1 John 3:24

 

PONDER THIS

Do you know the reason some Christians doubt their salvation? They don’t have the witness of the Spirit. How do you know you’re saved? Is it because a pastor or another person has told you that you’re saved? Or does God’s Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you’re a child of God? The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to give you joy, peace, understanding, wisdom, power, and grace to make Jesus Christ real to you. This goes beyond what we hear about God from others. This is God in your heart, bringing you into communion with Himself. This communion in the Greek is koinonia, which is used throughout 1 John.

Have you experienced the assurance of your salvation through the Holy Spirit? If you haven’t, how is God calling you to respond to Him today?

How does the Bible help us know what it looks like for the Holy Spirit to give us assurance of our salvation?

PRACTICE THIS

Read John 3:36; 5:24; and Romans 8:16-17 about assurance of belonging to God. Ask God to make it clear to you whether you belong to Him or not and to help you respond accordingly. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Six Things It Means to Be in Christ Jesus

[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

Being “in Christ Jesus” is a stupendous reality. It is breathtaking to be united to Christ. Bound to Christ.

If you are “in Christ” listen to what it means for you:

In Christ Jesus you were given grace before the world was created. Second Timothy 1:9, “He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

In Christ Jesus you were chosen by God before creation. Ephesians 1:4, “[God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world.”

In Christ Jesus you are loved by God with an inseparable love. Romans 8:38–39, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Christ Jesus you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins. Ephesians 1:7, “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”

In Christ Jesus you are justified before God and the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed to you. Second Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

In Christ Jesus you have become a new creation and a son of God. Second Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Galatians 3:26, “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

I pray that you will never grow weary of exploring and exulting in the inexhaustible privilege of being “in Christ Jesus.”

John Piper 

Bible Study

John 3:36

[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.

John 5:24

[24] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Romans 8:16-17

[16] The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

John 6:56-57

[56] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [57] As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.

Are You Approaching God Unhindered?

PRAY OVER THIS

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22

 

PONDER THIS

How do you get your prayers answered? Begin by having a good conscience—one that is clear before God. What does that do? It gives you a great confidence, and you can come to God and ask in His name for your prayer to be answered. Answered prayer is not for rebels. Answered prayer is not for those whose hearts are filled with hate. The Bible says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18). That’s a prayer promise we don’t like to quote. Here’s an illustration. Have you ever read in 1 Peter 3:7 where Peter told husbands and wives how to dwell together as heirs of the grace of life? Peter went on to say the reason for this was so that their prayers may not be hindered. This is one example of what it looks like to live in such a way that our prayers are not hindered. All of God’s people are called to live this way, whatever their circumstances.

What needs to change for you to live with a clear conscience before God?

How does living with a clear conscience give you the confidence to come before God?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time today to confess before God anything you have held back from Him so that your conscience might be clear, and you might approach Him unhindered.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Forgiven for Jesus’s Sake

For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (Psalm 25:11)

In knowing what is right, God does not consult any authority higher than himself. His own worth is the ultimate value in the universe. Therefore, for God to do what is right means acting in a way that accords with this ultimate value.

The righteousness of God is the infinite zeal and joy and pleasure that he has in what is supremely valuable, namely, his own perfection and worth. And if he were ever to act contrary to this eternal passion for his own perfections, he would be unrighteous — he would be an idolater.

How shall such a righteous God ever set his affection on sinners like us who have scorned his perfections? But the wonder of the gospel is that in his divine righteousness lies also the very foundation of our salvation.

The infinite regard that the Father has for the Son makes it possible for me, a wicked sinner, to be loved and accepted in the Son, because in his death he vindicated the worth and glory of his Father.

Because of Christ, we can pray with new understanding the prayer of the psalmist, “For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great” (Psalm 25:11). The new understanding is that, because of Christ, instead of only praying, “For your name’s sake, pardon my guilt,” we now pray, “For Jesus’s name’s sake, O God, pardon my guilt.”

First John 2:12 says, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake,” referring to Jesus. Jesus has now atoned for sin and vindicated the Father’s honor so that our “sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.”

God is righteous. He does not sweep sin under the rug. If a sinner goes free, someone dies to vindicate the infinite worth of God’s glory that the sinner defamed. That is what Christ did. Therefore, “For your name’s sake, O Lord” and “For Jesus’s name’s sake” are the same. And that is why we pray with confidence for forgiveness.

John Piper 

Bible Study

Job 36:21

    [21] Take care; do not turn to iniquity,

        for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

John 9:31

[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.

James 4:3

[3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Isaiah 59:2

    [2] but your iniquities have made a separation

        between you and your God,

    and your sins have hidden his face from you

        so that he does not hear.

Predestined to Be Like Jesus

PRAY OVER THIS

“…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…”

(Ephesians 1:5)

 

PONDER THIS

This verse says that we’re chosen before the world and then predestined to be like the Lord Jesus. Predestination is not saying from eternity that this man will go to Heaven and this other man goes to Hell; predestination says that those who trust the Lord Jesus are going to be like the Lord Jesus. Predestination teaches me on the authority of the Word of God that because He chose me and because I have trusted Him, it is settled forever that I'm going to be like the Lord Jesus Christ and that settles the question of my security. If I am predestined for adoption into the family of God, what can stop it? What can stand in the way? Nothing. I am predestined; I have been chosen to be like the Lord Jesus. God’s plans for me will never be thwarted, no matter the schemes of the devil.

Does it bring you comfort to know God has purposed for all who trust in Him to be made like Jesus?

In what ways has God already made you more like Jesus?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out three to five ways you know you need to grow to be more like Jesus. Take these to God, asking Him to make you like His Son in these specific ways.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Jesus Will Trample All Our Enemies

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)

How far does the reign of Christ extend?

The next verse, 1 Corinthians 15:25 says, “He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” The word all tells us the extent.

So does the word every in verse 24: “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.”

There is no disease, no addiction, no demon, no bad habit, no fault, no vice, no weakness, no temper, no moodiness, no pride, no self-pity, no strife, no jealousy, no perversion, no greed, no laziness that Christ will not overcome as the enemy of his honor.

And the encouragement in that promise is that when you set yourself to do battle with the enemies of your faith and your holiness, you will not fight alone.

Jesus Christ is now, in this age, putting all his enemies under his feet. Every rule and every authority and every power will be conquered.

So, remember that the extent of Christ’s reign reaches to the smallest and biggest enemy of his glory in your life, and in this universe. It will be defeated.

John Piper 

Bible Study

Daniel 7:14

    [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 7:27

    [27] And the kingdom and the dominion

        and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven

        shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;

    his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,

        and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

Ephesians 1:21

[21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Colossians 2:8-10

[8] See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. [9] For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, [10] and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Let God Argue with the Devil

PRAY OVER THIS

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”

1 John 5:7

 

PONDER THIS

A little boy was in a revival meeting. The pastor preached from John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” The little boy listened, believed, and was saved. But you know, the devil always counter attacks, doesn’t he?

On the way home, the little fellow said the devil began to whisper to him, saying, “You’re not saved. You don’t feel just right. You don’t deserve it. You’re not good enough.” And all the way home, the devil was condemning that little boy. When he got home, the boy sat on the couch, trying to get it all sorted out. By then, it seemed to the boy like Satan was under the couch. He said, “I took the Bible and stuck it under the couch, and I said ‘Devil, read it for yourself.’” When the devil gets on your trail, don’t argue with him. He’s not worth it. Point him to the Word; let him argue with God Himself.

What are the common ways the devil seeks to make you question your standing with Jesus?

How can we know the difference between Satan’s condemnation and the Holy Spirit’s conviction?

PRACTICE THIS

Name the ways Satan commonly accuses you. Next to these, jot down a Scripture that answers these accusations.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Shadows and Streams

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 104:31–34)

God rejoices in the works of creation because they point us beyond themselves to God himself.

God means for us to be stunned and awed by his work of creation. But not for its own sake. He means for us to look at his creation and say: If the mere work of his fingers (just his fingers! Psalm 8:3) is so full of wisdom and power and grandeur and majesty and beauty, what must this God be like in himself!

These are but the backside of his glory, as it were, darkly seen through a glass. What will it be to see the glory of the Creator himself! Not just his works! A billion galaxies will not satisfy the human soul. God and God alone is the soul’s end.

Jonathan Edwards expressed it like this:

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. . . . [These] are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the ocean.

This is why Psalm 104 comes to a close in verses 31–34 with a focus on God himself. “I will sing praise to my God while I have being. . . . For I rejoice in the Lord.” In the end it will not be the seas or the mountains or the canyons or the water spiders or the clouds or the great galaxies that fill our hearts to breaking with wonder and fill our mouths with eternal praise. It will be God himself.

John Piper 

Bible Study

1 John 5:4-6

[4] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

[6] This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

John 15:26

[26] “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

Acts 5:32

[32] And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

John 14:17

[17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 16:13

[13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.