Respond While God Is Speaking

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.”

ROMANS 1:28

 

PONDER THIS

Three times in the first chapter of Romans, God speaks of giving people up: “God gave them up” (Romans 1:24); “God gave them up” (Romans 1:26); and “God gave them over” (Romans 1:28). The old‑time preachers used to call that, “When the lights go out on the road to Hell.” This is when the Holy Spirit of God no longer speaks to a man. In Genesis 6:3, God said before the flood, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” Don’t get the idea that the Holy Spirit’s conviction is going to stay in your heart and in your life if you continually reject Him. You may come to a place of sudden destruction in your spirit as well as in your mind, a place in which the Holy Spirit of God no longer speaks to you and God no longer draws you. God has given us this warning in advance as a means of His grace. We must respond while we can.

The idea of God giving us over to ourselves should give us fear, but that fear has a purpose. What is the goal of this godly fear?

What is the role of those who know Christ in warning others to listen to God’s conviction while they can?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask God today who He is calling you to speak with about the offer of His forgiveness. Ask Him for wisdom and next steps in obedience in this regard.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

How to Respond When You Falter

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. (Romans 7:19)

Christians do not live only in defeat. But neither do we live only in perfect victory over sin. And in those times when we fail to triumph over sin, Romans 7:13–25 shows us the normal way a healthy Christian should respond.

We should say:

I love the law of God. (verse 22)

I hate what I just did. (verse 15)

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (verse 24)

Thanks be to God! The victory will come through Jesus Christ my Lord. (verse 25)

In other words, no Christian wants to live in defeat. No Christian settles for living in defeat. But if we are defeated for a time, we shouldn’t lie about it.

No hypocrisy. No posing. No boasted perfectionism. No churchy, pasted smiles or chipper superficiality.

And even more, God save us from blindness to our own failures and the consequent quickness to judge others.

God, help us to feel worse about our own shortfalls than the failure of others.

God, give us the honesty and candor and humility of the apostle Paul in this text! “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24–25).

John Piper 

When God Wakes You Up

“Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: ‘You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of peoples; and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and your descendants with you, that you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.’”

GENESIS 28:1-4

 

PONDER THIS

Isaac was a man who was shaken. He was a man who came to his senses. He was a man who came back to the Word of God. God had brought great conviction to his heart, and he was shaken to the core.

Today, there are some of us who need a similar awakening. We should assess where we are and look at our families. We should ask where the path we are headed on will eventually take us. Ask, if your family is going to change, who’s going to change it? Where does God want to wake you up to be part of the solution? God knows how to discipline you, and He will for your good. First Corinthians 11:31-32 reminds us, “if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” God wants to wake you up, for your sake and the sake of those around you. Will you respond?

Where might God want to wake you from your spiritual slumber?

How might you best position yourself to receive this awakening?

PRACTICE THIS

Dedicate time today to sitting in silence and asking God to reveal the areas in which you have been spiritually asleep. Ask Him for next steps in response.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When the Holy Spirit Makes Truth Undeniable

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” ACTS 10:44

 
PONDER THIS

Do you know what Holy Spirit conviction is? It’s when the Holy Spirit of God speaks to you, and the Holy Spirit says, “That’s true.” How do you know Jesus is the Son of God? How do you know the Scriptures are true? How do you know those who say Jesus has transformed their lives are really transformed? Because the Holy Spirit of God convicts and confirms it.

I’ve had people tell me, “You would make a good salesman.” I don’t know whether I would or not. But I don’t want to be a salesman when it comes to the Gospel. I’m not just trying to argue you into signing on the dotted line. I want the Holy Spirit of God to convict you of these things that I’ve preached, and the Holy Spirit of God will. I’m not dependent upon eloquence, logic, or personal magnetism. All is in vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.

When have you experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
How does this give you boldness to share the truth with others?

PRACTICE THIS

Take some time to write down some of your experiences in being convicted by the Holy Spirit.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Let God’s Word Do the Convicting

“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." ACTS 10:43

 
PONDER THIS

When it comes to sharing your faith, not only is there the witness of the soul-winner, but there is also the witness of the Scriptures. The Scriptures give witness to the truth about Jesus. He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. There are more than 300 prophecies in the Old Testament that were directly fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ. There are some people who see these Scriptures fulfilled and say, “Well, that’s only because they’ve rigged it. Jesus and His apostles arranged for Him to fulfill these prophecies.” If we really dig into it, we find that theory is quite impossible. Yet, the reality is, we cannot convince others to believe. We must only be faithful to present the truth, and the Scriptures give witness to that truth.

What are some prophecies Jesus fulfilled that stand out to you?
How might you learn more about these fulfillments to share them with others?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time this week to research some of the prophecies Jesus has fulfilled and the historical evidence that supports these fulfillments.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Secret Faults Result in Moral Earthquakes

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”

PSALM 19:12-14

 

PONDER THIS

You don’t have what it takes to understand the things of God; only the Holy Spirit of God can help you understand. Who can convict you of sin? Your heart is not going to expose your heart. As a matter of fact, the Bible says of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8, “When He has come, He will convict the world of sin.”

Did you know that you have secret faults you don’t know anything about? In Memphis, Tennessee, there is a hidden fault called the New Madrid fault. Can you look down and see that fault in the ground? No, but it’s there. One of these days it may cause an earthquake. A lot of times, people have moral earthquakes because they have secret faults they fail to recognize are there.

We need to open ourselves up to God and let the Holy Spirit reveal our secret faults. The psalmist was not playing a cover-up game; he opened himself up before God because he wanted to be with God. Let’s do the same.

Why are we prone to hiding, even before God?

What are some of the faults you have hidden or tried to ignore?

PRACTICE THIS

You don’t have what it takes to understand the things of God; only the Holy Spirit of God can help you understand. Who can convict you of sin? Your heart is not going to expose your heart. As a matter of fact, the Bible says of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8, “When He has come, He will convict the world of sin.”

Did you know that you have secret faults you don’t know anything about? In Memphis, Tennessee, there is a hidden fault called the New Madrid fault. Can you look down and see that fault in the ground? No, but it’s there. One of these days it may cause an earthquake. A lot of times, people have moral earthquakes because they have secret faults they fail to recognize are there.

We need to open ourselves up to God and let the Holy Spirit reveal our secret faults. The psalmist was not playing a cover-up game; he opened himself up before God because he wanted to be with God. Let’s do the same.

Why are we prone to hiding, even before God?

What are some of the faults you have hidden or tried to ignore?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Whose Job Is It to Convict a Heart of Sin?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” Acts 2:37-39

 

PONDER THIS

A crucial thing that happened to the people at Pentecost was they were convicted by the Lord. I pray repeatedly, “Dear God, let the Holy Spirit of God convict people.” I can’t browbeat anybody into being a Christian. I can’t do a sales job on people. I want us to have such spiritual power in our hearts and in our lives that when the Word of God goes forth, it cuts the hearts of people. They were convicted by the Lord.

Secondly, they were converted to the Lord. Peter said to them, “Repent.” Now, that word “repent” means a change of mind, a turning around. There must be a change of mind about sin. There must be a change of mind about self. There must be a change of mind about God. When I turn to Jesus, in faith, I turn from sin. But nobody has ever been saved unless he or she has been converted. And nobody’s been converted except by repentance. They were convicted by the Lord. They were converted to the Lord. And then, there was a confession of the Lord.

What do you struggle to turn away from that God may be convicting you about?

How has your life changed since you were saved by Christ? How does your life reflect living for Him?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray for a person you know who is far from God and has not been convicted over their sin.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Lying to Yourself?

PRAY OVER THIS

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

 

PONDER THIS

Sometimes we hide sin in our hearts. It may be big, or it may be small, but it is there. We come to church, go to Sunday school, teach the class, sing in the choir, and do other things, but there’s a secret fault.

What happens when a person does that? He or she gets to believing his or her own lie. When you set out to deceive somebody else, do you know who you’re going to deceive most of all? You are going to deceive yourself. Many of you have convinced yourselves that, after you’ve stonewalled God for a while and moved in and out of fellowship, nothing seems to happen. You still sing in the choir, you still teach the Sunday School class, you are still in the congregation, you still shake hands, and you are still friends with all the people. But you say, “Maybe God doesn’t call that sin, and maybe I am a pretty good person.” So, you begin to smooth over your sin.

How does God bring us back? God will not bring us back unless we expose ourselves to the light. If you stay in the darkness, there’ll never be any conviction. But if you, as a child of God, will step back into the light, God will shine the light of His holiness on your life. And God will bring you under conviction.

When have you deceived yourself about your sin? How might you be doing that now?

Why is it important to be honest about our sin struggles with ourselves, God, and others?

PRACTICE THIS

Take some time in prayer and talk to God about the sin you have kept in the dark.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You See Your Sin as God Does?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph; does my father still live?’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said: ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.’”

Genesis 45:3-5

 

PONDER THIS

People are not saved until they see the sovereignty of God and recognize themselves as people who deserve judgment. There is no conversion without conviction. Sometimes people come forward to join churches like they’re doing God a favor, but they have never been terrified by their sin and realized the weight of their sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. I don’t think anyone has ever been saved until he or she has seen himself or herself as a Hell-deserving sinner. If you have little children, and you wonder if they are ready to be saved, I don’t think it’s good to berate them and say, “You’re a no good, unworthy sinner.” But the time will come when, through Bible teaching, they will come under a conviction of sin, and then they’re going to be ready for a Savior. Don’t just simply ask a little child, “Do you believe in Jesus?” Little children will believe whatever you tell them to believe. That’s not the point. Has that child understood sin in the sight of a righteous and holy God? If he or she has, then that child is ready for a Savior. The same is for adults—there must be conviction of sin before there is conversion.

When did you realize the gravity of your sin? What was that like?

What happens when we forget the weight of our sin? How does that affect our walk with Jesus?

PRACTICE THIS

Reflect on the weight of your sin and take time to praise Jesus for your 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Has God Given You Over?

PRAY OVER THIS

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” Romans 1:28

 

PONDER THIS

Three times in the first chapter of Romans, God speaks of giving people up: “God gave them up” (Romans 1:24); “God gave them up” (Romans 1:26); and “God gave them over” (Romans 1:28). The old‑time preachers used to call that, “When the lights go out on the road to Hell.” This is when the Holy Spirit of God no longer speaks to a man. In Genesis 6:3, God said before the flood, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” Don’t get the idea that the Holy Spirit’s conviction is going to stay in your heart and in your life if you continually reject Him. You may come to a place of sudden destruction in your spirit as well as in your mind, a place in which the Holy Spirit of God no longer speaks to you and God no longer draws you. God has given us this warning in advance as a means of His grace. We must respond while we can.

The idea of God giving us over to ourselves should give us fear, but that fear has a purpose. What is the goal of this godly fear?

What is the role of those who know Christ in warning others to listen to God’s conviction while they can?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask God today who He is calling you to speak with about the offer of His forgiveness. Ask Him for wisdom and next steps in obedience in this regard.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When the Holy Spirit Convicts You…

PRAY OVER THIS

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” Acts 10:44

 

PONDER THIS

Do you know what Holy Spirit conviction is? It’s when the Holy Spirit of God speaks to you and the Holy Spirit says, “That’s true.” How do you know Jesus is the Son of God? How do you know the Scriptures are true? How do you know those who say Jesus has transformed their lives are really transformed? Because the Holy Spirit of God convicts and confirms it.

I’ve had people tell me, “You would make a good salesman.” I don’t know whether I would or not. But I don’t want to be a salesman when it comes to the Gospel. I’m not just trying to argue you into signing on the dotted line. I want the Holy Spirit of God to convict you of these things that I’ve preached, and the Holy Spirit of God will. I’m not dependent upon eloquence, logic, or personal magnetism. All is in vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.

When have you experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit?

How does this give you boldness to share the truth with others?

PRACTICE THIS

Take some time to write down some of your experiences in being convicted by the Holy Spirit.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Difference Between Conviction and Accusation

PRAY OVER THIS

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

 

PONDER THIS

Many people do not know the difference between Holy Spirit conviction and satanic accusation. The devil is very clever. Before you sin, do you know what the devil tells you? The devil says, “Go ahead and do it. You can get away with it.” And after you sin, you know what the devil tells you? “You’ll never get away with it.” He will entice you to sin and then condemn you because you sinned.

When the Holy Spirit of God shines the light of conviction upon you, you will come under conviction as a child of God. If you will turn to the light and face up to the light, He will pull the veil of darkness from behind those lies that you’ve been telling others, telling yourself, and telling God. He will expose your sin and, as you respond in confession and repentance, He will restore you to Himself.

Think about times when you have recognized the difference between godly conviction and satanic accusation.

If you belong to Jesus, what response can you give to the devil when he accuses you?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of the differences between godly conviction and satanic accusation. Keep this list close to reflect on regularly.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Is Satan lying to you?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:7-8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The devil is the one who accuses you of sin. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts you of sin. Do you know the difference? The devil accuses you to drive you away from Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts to draw you to Christ.

The devil wants you under a load of guilt so you’ll say, “I’m no good. I can’t live the Christian life. There’s something wrong with me. God doesn’t hear my prayers. It doesn’t do me any good to go to church.”

On the other hand, the Holy Spirit pinpoints a sin and with laser focus, without condemnation, says: “You told a lie just then.” Or, “What you said wasn’t kind.”

The devil dumps a load of guilt on you: “You’re just a terrible person. You’re a failure.” It’s an overall sense of gloom, doom, and unworthiness. When you believe those lies, you let the devil drive you away from God. He accuses you to destroy you.

The Holy Spirit uses a scalpel to cleanly remove the problem. The devil grabs a bat and bludgeons you with it. You crawl away, condemned.

ACTION POINT:

The Holy Spirit convicts you to reclaim you. His desire is to correct you and bring you back, that you may know the fullness of joy. The Holy Spirit draws you to Christ that you may confess your sins and be cleansed. Confess, be cleansed, and go your way rejoicing!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are you going on?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

On this New Year’s Eve, you may be wondering what the future holds. What’s going to happen?

Years ago, some men were on a leaky ship in the middle of a rough sea. One of them asked the captain, “Are we safe?”  He said, “Well, the boilers are weak and may explode at any moment. The ship is taking on water. To be honest with you, we may go up, or we may go down. But at any rate, we’re going on.”

That’s the way we face this new year. Jesus may come; we may go up. We may die; we’ll go down and then up. But at any rate, we’re going on. Whatever the new year holds, as a child of God, we march on. For when He comes, we want to be found faithful. May it be said of us, as it was of Daniel, “…forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” Daniel 6:4. And to the early church, Paul said, “Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).

ACTION POINT:

Reflecting on this past year, allow the Holy Spirit to invade your heart, convicting and drawing you to Himself. Ask for wisdom, courage, and faith to continue on, whatever happens this next year!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Accusation vs. Conviction: Learn to Tell the Difference!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:7-8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The devil accuses you of sin. The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin. Do you know the difference? The devil accuses you to drive you from Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts to draw you to Christ.

The devil wants you to get under a load of guilt so you’ll say, “I’m no good. I can’t live the Christian life. There’s something wrong with me. God doesn’t hear my prayers. It doesn’t do me any good to go to church.”

When you believe those lies, you let the devil drive you away from God! He accuses you to destroy you.

The Holy Spirit convicts you to reclaim you. He is trying to correct you and bring you back, that you may know the fullness of joy. The Holy Spirit draws you to Christ that you may confess your sins and be cleansed!

ACTION POINT:

Confess, be cleansed, and go your way rejoicing!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Holy Spirit Conviction vs. Satanic Accusation

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

You will be a miserable Christian if you don’t learn the difference between Holy Spirit conviction and satanic accusation.

When the Holy Spirit convicts you of a sin, He will not make you just “feel bad all over.” He will put His finger right on the sore spot and push. He will convict you specifically and He will convict you legitimately.

Now if the devil doesn’t convict you of all your sins in general, he will try to accuse you of a specific sin for which you have already been forgiven. And he will fight a losing battle, because if you put your sin under the blood of Jesus Christ and it comes up again, it’s not God bringing it up.

ACTION POINT:

Are you under conviction or accusation today about an unconfessed sin? Read Revelation 12:9-11. Claim the powerful blood of Jesus to cover your sin. Repent and believe!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers