The Mayor of Moscow

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

MATTHEW 6:19-21

 

PONDER THIS

Where do you turn for life satisfaction? Do you to turn to materialism? If not atheism or philosophy, is it materialism? Do you think things can satisfy you?

I went into the office of the mayor of Moscow. I went up the red carpet, walked across those marble floors, went into that big conference room, and sat down with the leadership of the heart of Moscow. I looked across the table from those men, and I said, “Sirs, I want to tell you something. The Soviet empire has dissolved as such. Communism has come crumbling down.” But I said, “If you follow the West with economic ideas and that’s all, and you say, ‘Capitalism is the answer rather than communism.’ Because capitalism and communism are both two forms of materialism, they will never satisfy the deepest longing of your hearts. God made you for Himself. And even if you have material things, you will still find your hearts and lives empty.” It is of no use to trade one form of idolatry for another. We need Jesus.

What are some ways you have been told earthly things will bring you happiness or satisfaction? What makes that message enticing?

What are some ways you can build your life on Christ instead of on material things?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of some material things that are important to you. Ask God to help you be a good steward of the things you have instead of being consumed by materialism.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

We Become What We Worship

“But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?”

GALATIANS 4:8-9

 

PONDER THIS

The ancients worshiped a god whose name was Mammon, the god of wealth and possession. We have people today who still worship that god. They don’t call him Mammon, but they are committed to riches, wealth, success, and achievement. People’s ambitions shape what they do. An idol is really just a magnified sinner. Man deifies himself and then because he deifies himself, he worships himself through worshiping his idol. If a man can make a god out of sex and then he worships sex, well, he’s got to give himself to it. If a man makes a god out of money, he worships money and nothing is too good for his god, so he gives himself to that cause.

The man molds the idol and then the idol molds the man. A man takes his own worst desires and so magnifies them that he makes gods out of them—his lust, his greed, his fears, his hates, his desires—and then he begins to worship them. We become like what we worship. When you worship God, you become like God. You worship Jesus, you behold His face, you’re changed to the same image. But if you worship an idol, you become like your idol.

How have you been affected by the idols you have worshiped?

Why is idol worship so dangerous? Why is it not tolerable in the life of a Christian?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray against idol worship in your home and in your church.

 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Is Not an Idolater

When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)

Paul says that Christ is coming precisely to be glorified and to be marveled at. That is why he is coming.

People stumble over the teaching that God exalts his own glory and seeks to be praised by his people because the Bible teaches us not to be like that. For example, the Bible says that love “does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5, NASB).

How can God be loving and yet be utterly devoted to “seeking his own” glory and praise and joy? How can God be for us if he is so utterly for himself?

The answer I propose is this: Because God is unique as an all-glorious, totally self-sufficient Being, he must be for himself if he is to be for us. The rules of humility that belong to a creature cannot apply in the same way to its Creator.

If God should turn away from himself as the Source of infinite joy, he would cease to be God. He would deny the infinite worth of his own glory. He would imply that there is something more valuable outside himself. He would commit idolatry.

This would be no gain for us. For where can we go when our God has become unrighteous? Where will we find a Rock of integrity in the universe when the heart of God has ceased to value supremely the supremely valuable? Where shall we turn with our adoration when God himself has forsaken the claims of infinite worth and beauty?

No, we do not turn God’s self-exaltation into love by demanding that God cease to be God.

Instead, we must come to see that God is love precisely because he relentlessly pursues the praises of his name in the hearts of his people. Our praise for his greatness is the capstone of our joy and his greatness.

John Piper 

Do You Have Divided Devotion to God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

Isaiah 45:5-6

 

PONDER THIS

What is an idol? Anything you love more than God is an idol. What is an idol? Anything you fear more than God is an idol. What is an idol? Anything you serve more than God is an idol. Anything you trust more than God is an idol. Is there something that you love more, fear more, serve more, or trust more than almighty God? If there is, no wonder God’s presence is not real in your heart and in your life. You have divided devotion.

If the glory of God is gone in your life, if God is not real to you, ask this question: Is there anyone or anything that takes precedence over God in my life? You say, “Well I give God a place in my life.” God doesn’t want a place in your life. You say, “Well I give God prominence in my life.” But God demands preeminence in your life. He will take nothing less. God’s throne is not a duplex. Is there anything that is a greater controlling factor of your behavior? Is there a relationship that means more to you? Is there treasure that means more to you? Is there anything that gets more of your attention than almighty God? Then it should not come as a surprise to you that because of that golden calf in your life, God says, “I’m not going with you. I’ll not be in the midst of you. I just won’t do it.” God will not accept divided devotion.

.

If you are honest, what is God’s place in your life?

How can you give God preeminence in your life? Why is that important?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray and surrender authority of your life before God. Confess where you have been holding onto control.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Are You Worshiping Any Idols

 Are You Are You Worshiping Any Idols

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

(Galatians 5:19-21)

 

PONDER THIS

There are all kinds of false idols, each one we need to be aware of and guard against. For example, you can make an idol of yourself. When we do that, we go from theology to me-ology. We are worshiping the creature instead of the Creator. Anything or anyone that you love more, fear more, and serve more than God is an idol.

Others have made a god of money. The reason some won’t come to church is they say, “All they want down there is my money.” But the truth of the matter is, that kind of attitude can be a sign of greed. Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and [money]” (Matthew 6:24). Either God is God, or money is god. And there are many who worship money.

There are some who worship the family. You will make a terrible mistake if you put your family before your relationship with Jesus. Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). The best thing you can do for your family is not to put them first. Joyce doesn’t mind being second place in my heart, and she is second; God is first. I love her so much more because God is first place in my heart and in my life. Don’t make a god of your family.

Where are you most tempted to devote yourself to someone or something else more than to God?

What would it look like to give God first place in your heart?

PRACTICE THIS

Put into practice one habit that will help you remember to keep God first place in your heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Is Not an Idolater

When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)

Paul says that Christ is coming precisely to be glorified and to be marveled at. That is why he is coming.

People stumble over the teaching that God exalts his own glory and seeks to be praised by his people because the Bible teaches us not to be like that. For example, the Bible says that love “does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5, NASB).

How can God be loving and yet be utterly devoted to “seeking his own” glory and praise and joy? How can God be for us if he is so utterly for himself?

The answer I propose is this: Because God is unique as an all-glorious, totally self-sufficient Being, he must be for himself if he is to be for us. The rules of humility that belong to a creature cannot apply in the same way to its Creator.

If God should turn away from himself as the Source of infinite joy, he would cease to be God. He would deny the infinite worth of his own glory. He would imply that there is something more valuable outside himself. He would commit idolatry.

This would be no gain for us. For where can we go when our God has become unrighteous? Where will we find a Rock of integrity in the universe when the heart of God has ceased to value supremely the supremely valuable? Where shall we turn with our adoration when God himself has forsaken the claims of infinite worth and beauty?

No, we do not turn God’s self-exaltation into love by demanding that God cease to be God.

Instead, we must come to see that God is love precisely because he relentlessly pursues the praises of his name in the hearts of his people. Our praise for his greatness is the capstone of our joy and his greatness.

John Piper 

Have You Turned from Idolatry?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’ But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:21-22

 

READ THIS

Many people try to live outwardly good lives without ever finding a new life in Christ. Mark 10 tells the sad story of the rich young ruler who, when given the opportunity to follow Jesus, turned away. This story offers insights to help us avoid striking out at the opportunity to follow Christ.

Jesus taught no man can serve two masters, but he must serve one.

When Jesus asked the rich young ruler to sell everything he had, give it to the poor, and follow Him, the reality of the man’s depravity was exposed. He was unwilling to do this because he loved his money more than he loved God and his neighbor. Jesus showed him the futility of trying to behave himself into Heaven; all he had was a superficial knowledge of his own goodness.

In order to follow Jesus, we must turn from our idols to serve the living God. This turning is called repentance, which means to change our minds and change our lives.

Jesus taught the rich young ruler that whatever master a man chooses will master that man. Faith is not merely nodding a head to a series of theological facts about Jesus; it is enthroning Jesus.

CONSIDER THIS

What would be most difficult for you to give up if Jesus asked you directly?

What problems might this indicate about your relationship with this person or thing?

DO THIS

Determine what needs to change in your life for you to give proper honor and authority to Jesus. Take steps toward making that change.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Is Not an Idolater

When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)

Paul says that Christ is coming precisely to be glorified and to be marveled at. That is why he is coming.

People stumble over the teaching that God exalts his own glory and seeks to be praised by his people because the Bible teaches us not to be like that. For example, the Bible says that love “does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5, NASB).

How can God be loving and yet be utterly devoted to “seeking his own” glory and praise and joy? How can God be for us if he is so utterly for himself?

The answer I propose is this: Because God is unique as an all-glorious, totally self-sufficient Being, he must be for himself if he is to be for us. The rules of humility that belong to a creature cannot apply in the same way to its Creator.

If God should turn away from himself as the Source of infinite joy, he would cease to be God. He would deny the infinite worth of his own glory. He would imply that there is something more valuable outside himself. He would commit idolatry.

This would be no gain for us. For where can we go when our God has become unrighteous? Where will we find a Rock of integrity in the universe when the heart of God has ceased to value supremely the supremely valuable? Where shall we turn with our adoration when God himself has forsaken the claims of infinite worth and beauty?

No, we do not turn God’s self-exaltation into love by demanding that God cease to be God.

Instead, we must come to see that God is love precisely because he relentlessly pursues the praises of his name in the hearts of his people. Our praise for his greatness is the capstone of our joy and his greatness.

John Piper 

Is God Optional to You?

BIBLE MEDITATION

“…for I [God] will not go up in your [the Israelites] midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people:” Exodus 33:3

… Then he [Moses] said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” Exodus 33:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

Moses is saying, “God, if You’re not going, I'm not going.”

St. Augustine once asked:

If God were to come to you and say, “I’ll give you anything you want. Nothing will be withheld. You can have whatever you want with one exception: you will never see My face,” would you take that proposition? If a chill went over your soul when you heard that phrase, “You will never see My face,” thank God for that chill.

God offered to send the Israelites along their way with the protection of an angel. He promised them victory in the Promised Land. But Moses said: “I don’t want Canaan without you. I don’t want an angel to guide us. I don’t want victory. I don’t want milk and honey. I want You, God.”

ACTION POINT

Is there anything today you want more than God’s presence? Think carefully. If so, then that thing—whatever or whoever it is—is an idol. Abandon it. Dismantle that idol’s altar in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Years from now, what will remain?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A thousand years from now, some of the things you think are so important are not going to be so important—your meticulously groomed lawn, who won the Super Bowl, your date for the Senior Prom, the make and model of your car.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with these things, but I want to ask you: What is there about your life that will remain when the mountains have crumbled? When the stars have fallen from their sockets?

Wood, hay, and stubble are going up in flames! But “if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14). Things are going to look much different in the light of eternity.

I don’t intend to discourage you—I want to inspire you. Examine your life and think about what you can begin doing now to build into your life, your actions, your decisions, your activities, that which will last forever.

ACTION POINT:

As you move through your day today, ask yourself: what are you doing, what are you building upon, that will remain? In the light of eternity, is it of any consequence?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The place in your life God doesn’t want

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What is an idol? Anything that keeps you from loving God, knowing God, serving God. Anything that comes between you and God. A man takes his own ideas and puts them into the work of his hands, and then he begins to worship it. What he is really worshiping is himself.

You may say, “Well, I’m not guilty of idolatry.” Let’s just see...is there anything that you love more than God? Anything you fear more than God? Anything you serve more than God? Anything you trust more than God? Am I getting hot?

You say, “Well, I give God a place in my life.” God doesn’t want a place in your life. Then, you say, “Well, I give God prominence in my life.” God despises prominence in your life. God demands preeminence in your life. He will take nothing less.

ACTION POINT:

Is there anyone or anything in your life that takes precedence over God? Confess it and repent of it. Now, put on the throne the rightful Master—the Lord Jesus!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Is Not an Idolater

When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)

Paul says that Christ is coming precisely to be glorified and to be marveled at. That is why he is coming.

People stumble over the teaching that God exalts his own glory and seeks to be praised by his people because the Bible teaches us not to be like that. For example, the Bible says that love “does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5, NASB).

How can God be loving and yet be utterly devoted to “seeking his own” glory and praise and joy? How can God be for us if he is so utterly for himself?

The answer I propose is this: Because God is unique as an all-glorious, totally self-sufficient Being, he must be for himself if he is to be for us. The rules of humility that belong to a creature cannot apply in the same way to its Creator.

If God should turn away from himself as the Source of infinite joy, he would cease to be God. He would deny the infinite worth of his own glory. He would imply that there is something more valuable outside himself. He would commit idolatry.

This would be no gain for us. For where can we go when our God has become unrighteous? Where will we find a Rock of integrity in the universe when the heart of God has ceased to value supremely the supremely valuable? Where shall we turn with our adoration when God himself has forsaken the claims of infinite worth and beauty?

No, we do not turn God’s self-exaltation into love by demanding that God cease to be God.

Instead, we must come to see that God is love precisely because he relentlessly pursues the praises of his name in the hearts of his people. Our praise for his greatness is the capstone of our joy and his greatness.

John Piper 

Making Your Own Idol

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What is an idol? A man takes his own ideas and puts them into the work of his hands, and then he begins to worship it. What he is really worshiping is himself.

You may say, “Well, I’m not guilty of idolatry.” Let’s just see...is there anything that you love more than God? Anything you fear more than God? Anything you serve more than God? Anything you trust more than God? Am I getting hot?

You say, “Well, I give God a place in my life.” God doesn’t want a place in your life. Then, you say, “Well, I give God prominence in my life.” God despises prominence in your life. God demands preeminence in your life. He will take nothing less.

ACTION POINT:

Is there anyone or anything in your life that takes precedence over God? Confess it and repent of it. Now, put on the throne the rightful Master—the Lord Jesus!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Sexual Sin / A Form of Idolatry

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. - Romans 1:24-28

As with all sin, we turn away from God placing ourselves in God's place as Master. 

He is your Lord Almighty.

Fornication, homosexuality, lust, predatory sex, and adultery are forms of man and his brokenness. 

So we can't say one is worse than the other because they are all bad and will separate you eternally from God.

When we indulge in these acts, we are essentially saying, I don't care what God thinks or says, "I" want to do it.

We emphasize "I" instead of God.

From the beginning, God declared His creation man and woman.

God created the sexual union as a beautiful thing between His creatures He called male and female.

Man has perverted this because of his wickedness.

There is a way that is natural, ordained by God and full of goodness.

There is a way that is unnatural created by wicked man leading to destruction.

God has given us free will.

It comes down to a choice.

God on the throne.

You on the throne.

Choose carefully, the choice has eternal implications.

Thanks John for the great teaching!!!

Making the First Thing the First Thing

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” Psalm 19:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I believe in church attendance, but if your relationship with the Lord and with others is suffering, then you need to stay at home and get on your face before God. 

Sometimes a businessman will get very prosperous in his business—and at first it seems a good thing. He tells his wife, “Honey, you know how I couldn’t give you much when we got married? Well, now I can.” But soon the pursuit of a nice home and nice things consume him. A sadness descends upon his wife and children, and they lament, “Oh, Daddy….Oh, Husband…what we would give to just have you spend time with us.” 

ACTION POINT:

What tragedy it would be if what you do for Jesus keeps you from Jesus. Stop the cycle today. If you know you’re a workaholic, stop it. If you know your walk is far from God, get it right.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Will Remain?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A thousand years from now, some of the things that you think are so important are not going to be so important—your meticulously groomed lawn, who won the Super Bowl, your date for the Senior Prom, the make and model of your car.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with these things, but I want to ask you: What is there about your life that is going to remain when the mountains have crumbled? When the stars have fallen from their sockets?

Wood, hay, and stubble are going up in flames! But “if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14). Things are going to look much different in the light of eternity.

ACTION POINT:

In your day today, ask yourself what are you doing, what are you building upon, that will remain? 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Questions About The Lord’s Day

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  Exodus 20:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Is it okay to watch television on Sunday? Is it okay to go to a ball game on Sunday? Is it okay to eat out on Sunday? Is it okay to read the newspaper on Sunday? Can I play softball on Sunday? Can I go out on a boat on Sunday? Can I go to the grocery store if we’re out of milk on Sunday? 

We hear questions like these all the time. But do you know what’s wrong with them? You’re asking the wrong man. It’s not my day—it’s the Lord’s day. Ask Him. 

ACTION POINT:

Ask God, “How can I honor You on the Lord’s Day so at the end of the day I can know that it was indeed Your day?”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Praying To A god Who Can Not Save

Is.45:20
"Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. 

Is.44:18
They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

Jer. 10:5
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good." 

Is.44:17
And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!"

Is.45:22
"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 

Is.45:23
By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.' 

Is.46:8-10
8 "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 
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,' 

Do you understand? There is but one true God! He is the maker of all things! He has given me an opportunity to teach His gospel to all who will listen. He will open your eyes and heart if you seek Him and want His eternal salvation. Satan is here to distract all of us from the truth! But Satan is defeated by the cross and he knows it! Some of our teams went to a remote village to love on the people there. They were very receptive to the gospel. One man said" this place was like hell before you came with the gospel". We do not live in a remote place where the gospel is not shared but still people are blinded because they do not seek God!

Romans 1:20 

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

A Christian friend recently told me that she had a dull heart and that she did not know who she was in Christ anymore. This is an attack by Satan on Christ and His church. We are the church, Christ is the head, Satan wants to destroy the church but knows he can not. So, what does he do? He puts doubt in the heart of a Christian! What does the Christian do? Pray, assemble ourselves together and go to the Word! We remember that the word is sharper than a two edged sword!!!

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

God's Word convicts us! Christ is our living priest, He died for our sin, He intercedes for us before God, He offers mercy and grace, and when we are drawing our last breath, He will comfort us with the knowledge that we have been forgiven! He has given us a new heart!

Ephesians 5:26 

to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

1 Thessalonians 2:13 

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe

1 Peter 1:23 

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Lord, this is my prayer;

Ps.51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Amen