Praying for the Next Generation

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 JOHN 1:4

 

PONDER THIS

What is your purpose for your children? Why did you have children? Some people say, “I want someone to love, and I want someone to love me.” That’s fine. But what is the burning ambition you have for your child? Is it fame? Is it money? Is it power? Is it prestige? Is it notoriety? What do you want? What do you see as the purpose of your child?

Joyce and I have wonderful children whom we pray for regularly. Every day we join our hands and pray for our children, and we call them by name, along with our grandchildren. We prayed for them before they were born. We asked God to give them to us, and we pray for them as they grow and learn.

I do not pray that they will be successful in business. I am not praying for them to be famous. I don't even pray that they would be wealthy. I have prayed that God would keep them strong and give them joy. But do you know what the burning prayer of my heart has been for my children? That they would know and love God with all their hearts. That’s the desire of my heart. There is “no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.”

How do you pray for your children or for the next generation? How might you begin?

Who poured into you spiritually as you were growing up? How did their prayers and encouragement impact you?

PRACTICE THIS

Thank the people who poured into you. Encourage others in the next generation and pray for them.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Has a Way for Every Child

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.” HEBREWS 11:23

 

PONDER THIS

Every child is unique. Children do not come in standard packages. You have to read the label. God has a way for every child. Don’t see your child like a piece of marble or granite and believe you can make out of that child what you want. That will be a great mistake. God has given you the ability to see your own special child.

Every day we sit under electric lights. They are the invention of a brilliant man, a genius, Thomas Edison. But when Edison was in school, his teacher said to his mother, “He is unteachable. He doesn’t have enough intelligence to be in this class. I suggest that you take him out of school.” His mother said, “You don’t understand my child. My child is not stupid. My child is brilliant. I’ll teach him myself.” And she did. Parents can sometimes see what others cannot see. Here was a man who was absolutely brilliant. You need to see your children as God sees them and pursue His plan for them.

What are some special things that you see about someone in the next generation? How are you pouring into that individual?

What are some things that make us forget the uniqueness of individuals?

PRACTICE THIS

Encourage the uniqueness in your child or in someone else in the next generation.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Great Commission Army

“‘…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”  MATTHEW 28:20

 

PONDER THIS

Jesus was clear in His instructions; we are to teach others to observe all things He has commanded us. Every time someone is saved, we say, “Now you’re a part of the Great Commission army.” You see, we’re not simply makers of disciples; we’re makers of disciple-makers. We’re not just seeking for people to be saved but to be saved, baptized, discipled, become evangelists, and follow the call of God on their lives.

Maybe that sounds overwhelming but look closely at what Jesus says at the end of His instruction. He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” These two thousand years, the Lord Jesus Christ is still with us. You are called to share and equip others, but that is not something you do alone. You do it with God.

What is intimidating for you in following the Great Commission?

How should God’s presence with us change the way we view the challenges of the Great Commission?

PRACTICE THIS

Share your testimony with someone who does not know Jesus.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Follow Blindly?

“… there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you th what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

GALATIANS 1:7B-9

 

PONDER THIS

When we are listening to Christian leaders, we need to give them the subject test. In other words, we need to ask ourselves these questions: Is the primary source of their teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What is the subject of their teaching? What is their motivation? Do they want to talk to us about what they call kingdom truth, or is it the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? And are they teaching the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith or is it “salvation” by the law?

The Old Testament says somebody is coming; the New Testament says somebody has come; the Book of Revelation says somebody is coming again; and that person is the Lord Jesus. He is the hero of the Bible. The Bible has one theme: salvation; one hero: Jesus; and one villain: the devil. The Apostle Paul said, “If any man preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (v. 9). That literally means, “Let him be damned.” You might say that’s harsh, but it’s not harsh if Paul says to somebody, “You can’t teach something that’s going to lead people to Hell.” We’re not dealing with the preference of the color of the walls or whether you want more salt on the potatoes; we’re talking about the eternal destiny of people.

Why is it important to have a process of discernment when we are listening to ministers or leaders who are calling themselves Christians?

When have you practiced discernment and looked for the Gospel in the message someone was giving?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray for the Church, that Christians all around the world would grow in their ability to discern between truth and lies.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Teachable and Guidable?

PRAY OVER THIS

“And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.’” Matthew 13:10-13

 

PONDER THIS

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. In the story there is more than what meets the ear. Jesus often taught in parables. Why? He was sharing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but it wasn’t for everyone.

The mystery of Jesus’ teaching is this: There is hidden truth in the Bible that cannot be known by human wisdom. Man’s wisdom and intellect is not enough. You may be a PhD, but you’re not going to pry truth out of the Bible. I don’t care how smart you are, how intellectual you are, how many grams of gray matter are between your ears, you’re not going to be able to wrestle truth out of the Bible. Some people receive truth and others do not. Why would Jesus do that? Psalm 25:9 says, “The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.” There is a certain kind of person He is looking to guide. It is not the person who insists on his or her own way; it is the one who is humble, who will yield to God’s way. Is that you? Are you teachable and guidable? If you are, God wants to share His sacred secrets with you.

How are you teachable and guidable? Where do you need to grow in this area?

How has God’s Word and truth changed something in your life recently?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray and ask God to teach and guide you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Desire to Share Jesus?

PRAY OVER THIS

“And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42

 

PONDER THIS

You ought to share your faith. If you have no desire to share your faith, there is reason to assess if you have really been changed by Jesus. You’ve heard people say “keep the faith.” Not only should you keep it, but you ought also to give it away. And if you have no desire to give it away, perhaps you ought to give it up. If you knew the cure to cancer, you’d want to share that, wouldn’t you? The best news this world has ever known is the saving Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I can give you this testimony: from the day I gave my heart to Jesus Christ to this very moment, there has always been a desire in my heart to share Him. That’s one of the ways I know my faith is real. I’ve not always shared Him as I ought. I’ve not always been wise. I’ve not always been diligent. But there has always been, down in the recesses of my heart, a desire to share the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have this same desire?

How would you rate your own desire to share Jesus with others?

What obstacles make this difficult for you?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask God to show you your true heart for sharing Him with others. Ask Him to help you be honest with Him and with yourself, recognizing that it is of no benefit to try to convince yourself of falsehood in this area.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Share What You DO Know!

PRAY OVER THIS

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall Him as He is.”

1 John 3:2

 

PONDER THIS

One way to give a good witness for the Lord Jesus Christ is to tell what you know, not what you don’t know. So many of us are afraid to witness because we’re afraid somebody’s going to ask us a question we don’t know the answer to. Don’t worry about it! Let me give you the perfect answer. Just say, “I don’t know.” Isn’t that a good answer? If you tell people that you don’t know, maybe they’ll believe you when you tell them what you do know.

There are a lot of things about the future that we don’t know. But these things have been kept from us on purpose. When the apostle Paul was caught up into the third Heaven, he saw things not lawful for a man to utter. (See 2 Corinthians 12:4.) Jesus said: “I have many things to tell you, but you’re not able to bear them” (John 16:12). Daniel was told to seal up the prophecy; it’s for the time at the end. (See Daniel 12:4.) There are a lot of things we don’t know! What are we going to be like when we get to Heaven? What are we going to look like? What age will we be? What will we eat? We don’t have to know these things; we can trust God as the One who does know and we can be faithful to share what we do know through Him.

What are some questions about God or the world that you don’t know and are prone to get hung up on?

What are some things about God you can say you know with certainty?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out some questions you don’t know and are afraid of being asked about. Make a separate list of the things you do know about God for sure and are able to share confidently with others. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Teaching Children to Evaluate What Matters

PRAY OVER THIS

“…esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Hebrews 11:26

 

READ THIS

On the one hand, Moses had the reproach of Christ; on the other hand, the treasures of Egypt, and he evaluated which was greater. Now Moses, through the teaching of his parents, came to see that the riches of Christ—the treasures of Christ—were greater than the riches of Egypt. The word here is “esteemed.” The word esteemed is a bookkeeping term.

Moses was balancing the ledger. What he saw was this: the glories of the future would outweigh the pleasures of the present. He saw that to be a child of God was greater than to be a grandchild of Pharaoh. He saw that it was better to have favor with the King of kings than with the King of Egypt. Moses got his values straight. That is so important for our children. We must teach our children how to evaluate as Moses did.

CONSIDER THIS

How often do you take time to compare the promises of Christ with the offers of the world?

Why are the promises of God always better than the things of the world, no matter our current circumstances?

DO THIS

Make a list comparing the promises of God with the things of the world. Take time to meditate on the lasting promises of God that far surpass the temporal things of the world.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Leaving a Generational Legacy

 

BIBLE MEDITATION

“His descendants be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalm 112:2

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

A woman came to her pastor and said, “When should I start the religious training of my child? When will he be old enough? Is it too early to start at six years of age?” The pastor said, “No, that’s too late.” She said, “Well how about six months?” He said, “That’s too late.” She said, “Then when should I start?” He said, “With his grandparents.”

We can live for our grandchildren; we can live for our great-grandchildren. The greatest gift you can give your children is to teach them to worship the Lord, to love the Lord, and to serve the Lord at any age.

ACTION POINT

If you are a grandparent, share what God has taught you about His grace and faithfulness in your life. And share what God has taught you about worshiping Him and serving others.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Great People Don’t Sprout Up Magically

BIBLE MEDITATION

“So the woman [Moses’ mother] conceived, and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months” Exodus 2:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

A man came into a little village. As he drove around, he saw one of the villagers and asked, “This is a beautiful village—any great men born here?” The man said, “No…. Just babies.”

No one is born great; they have to be made, shaped, molded and guided. A great person is the result of Mama’s and Daddy’s prayers, faith and instruction.

At the time Moses was born, Pharaoh decreed that every baby boy under the age of two must be killed. Children are a gift from God, and we need to look at them as a great bundle of potentiality. That’s what Moses’ mother and father did. They saw he was a good little child with great potential. But he had to have the opportunity for training to develop to his full potential. They had a vision, and they protected Moses, so he could grow up and be used of God.

Some people spend more time training their hunting dogs than their kids. They tie up the dog at night and let the kids run wild—then wonder what went wrong. Train your children. A child who’s taught the way they should go, can hear other teaching and depart. But when they’re trained, it becomes part of their life.

ACTION POINT

Are you consistently setting aside one-on-one time to teach each of your children the ways of God? Proverbs 22:6 says “you are to train your children in the way they should go”—teach them to choose the right path and to live the right way, to make wise choices—"and when they are old, they won’t lose their way.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What you really believe, you’ll act on

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Fifteen college professors who taught in a certain field were asked to write a concise statement on human motivation. After hours of study, they said: “What the mind attends to, it considers. What the mind does not attend to, it dismisses. What the mind attends to continually, it believes. What the mind believes, it eventually does.”

How much of the Bible have you read? More importantly, how much are you applying to your life?

Many read the Bible like a math book rather than a love story. They get the words, but they don’t get the music.

ACTION POINT:

It is not enough to simply read the Word. You must ask God to teach you. Psalm 119:18 says, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” Go to Him today and ask for that.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Get off the Defense

BIBLE MEDITATION:

And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If I had to identify the major misconception about believers today, it would be that they spend too much time getting out of trouble with God, instead of getting into righteousness!

We are living on the defensive instead of the offensive. We need to move beyond the defensive line of Christianity, and move on to the offense—advancing the Kingdom, fulfilling the Great Commission, and telling others about Jesus. Our Shepherd will never lead us where His strength cannot keep us. He will never lead us down a path that He hasn’t first walked down Himself.

ACTION POINT:

Are you sharing His love and words of salvation with someone who’s lost? If not, begin today to move beyond your comfort zone and see the hand of God move.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You a “Peace Corps” Member?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Several decades ago, you were really somebody if you joined the Peace Corps. But all this time later, how much peace has been established between brothers and sisters around the world as a result?

Do you know how to bring peace to earth and goodwill to all men? Introduce men, women, boys, and girls to Jesus Christ. That is the only way.

Churches are filled every Sunday, yet where do people go during the week? Are they sharing God’s salvation story with the lost? It’s not your faithful attendance to church that is going to bring peace to earth but your faithful sharing of the Gospel.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus said His mission was not to be a diplomat, not to be a peacemaker, but to bring death to hatred, strife, and sin through His reconciling blood. There is no other way to a holy God, but through the cross. Are you living like a child of God and telling others about Jesus?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God's Mission Through Us

God saved you for His mission of sharing the gospel hope with the world.

How does this look?

Sharing God's word, medical and dental missions, building churches, teaching farming techniques, giving seeds, giving tools, showing God's love by being there, teaching Pastors, giving the gift of clean water, teaching the importance of cleanliness, fun street fairs for children, giving clothes and shoes and many other ways.

We must share the hope of Christ with those who sit in the darkness of sin!

His blood cleanses our sin, there is no other way!

How does God work through me?

Be ready for the opportunities God will supply.

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place. - Acts 8:26

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

Pay attention!

27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship

28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." - Acts 8:27-29

Get busy!

30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" Acts 8:30

And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. - Acts 8:31

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. - Acts 8:35

Jesus will save the lost!

God has a design for you.

You are a sinner.

You are broken.

You must repent.

He will forgive you

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:13

Why is it important for God to work through me?

Heaven is awesome.

Hell is awful.

Life is brief.

Judgement is coming.

Eternity is forever.

Thank you Pastor Kevin!!!

People Yet Created

From generation to generation we must pass down the glory that is God Almighty.

There is no salvation available to man except through Christ our Lord.

There are false gods.

There are false religions that teach empty doctrine.

There are people who twist the gospel and cause many to stray from the truth that Christ alone saves you from Hell.

Read, study, teach and share the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!

Nations full of unsaved people whose eternity is dependent on your willingness to share the gospel!!!!

30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 

31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.  - Psalm 22:30-31

9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 

10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 

12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 

13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.  - Psalm 86:9-13

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.  - Isaiah 60:3

The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,  - Psalm 24:1

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 

6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 

7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;  - Psalm 78:5-7

18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD: 

19 that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, 

20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, 

21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, 

22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.  - Psalm 102:18-22

A Legacy Of Love

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.” Psalm 112:2.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A woman came to her pastor and said, “When should I start the religious training of my child? When will he be old enough? Is it too early to start at six years of age?” 

The pastor said, “No, that’s too late.” 

She said, “Well how about six months?” 

He said, “That’s too late.” 

She said, “Then when should I start?” 

He said, “With his grandparents.” 

We can live for our grandchildren; we can live for our great-grandchildren. The greatest gift you can give your children is to teach them to worship the Lord, to love the Lord, and to serve the Lord at any age. 

ACTION POINT:

If you are a grandparent, share what God has taught you about His grace and faithfulness in your life. And share what God has taught you about worshipping Him and serving others.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Conversion of the Nations

"For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.  - Zephaniah 3:9

What does God want?

He wants the Nations!!

He wants repentance, worship, praise and His Son glorified!!!

He has given us a job to do.

18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 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,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, - Romans 1:5-6

This is what we are here for, obedience to His call!!!

Don't Try to Hurry the Harvest

“. . . the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” - James 5:7

Sometimes the things that count the most seem to take the longest to get here.

Some giant sequoias in California are 300 feet tall. That’s the height of a 30 story building! Yet each one began with the smallest of seeds that began growing and maturing since before the time of Christ! That’s a long time.

You may say that you’re going to serve God. Then you start to do something for Him, but when you don’t reap a harvest immediately, you get discouraged. Don’t try to hurry the harvest. In due season, you will reap.

Have you shared Christ with people and yet they haven’t been saved? Read Isaiah 55:11 and Romans 10:13 and receive His encouragement.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Sharing Jesus with Your Children

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever tried to take a tasty bone away from a dog? It’s a good way to get bitten! But what if you put a steak down on the ground? The dog will drop the bone to get that steak.

This is the mistake so many parents are making today. They spend their time telling their children “Don’t do this. Don’t do that. That’s wrong.” By such behavior, these parents are failing an entire generation. Many times, children are never shown the riches of Jesus Christ. In every 24-hour cycle, there are a multitude of teachable moments for sharing and modeling life in Christ.

ACTION POINT:

Children must be shown that what they have in the Lord Jesus Christ is so much better than what this world has to offer. But are they seeing that in your life?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Teach Them

Parents you are indeed accountable before the Lord for your instruction concerning the truth about God!!!

You teach them to read and study the words of the Lord just as you teach them to study math, English, science, social studies etc.

You teach them morals, not to steal or to lie, not to be promiscious, to flee fights if at all possible, respect of others, and respect of life etc.

5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:5-9

The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.  - Isaiah 38:19

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.  - Psalm 78:4

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." - Genesis 18:19