Yielding Yourself to Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “…yield yourselves unto God…” Romans 6:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I heard about a man who entered an interstate out of a side road and did not even slow down. A big eighteen-wheeler pulled over, almost wrecking him. 

The truck driver leaned out of the window and yelled, “Hey, didn’t you see that sign?” 

The man said, “What sign?” 

The trucker said, “That sign that said, Y–I–E–L–D.” 

“Oh,” he said, “I opened the window and yield as loud as I could.” 

In the matter of victory, it is not your ability or your responsibility that counts. It is not even your response to His ability. You must choose to yield to Christ. You are to yield with all of your heart to the power, the presence, and the provision of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT:

Look up the definition of “yield.” What does it say about the right of way? Who has the “right of way” in your life? Bow before the Lord and surrender all of you to all of Him today.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

CHRIST AND CHILDREN IN A CULTURE OF DEATH

Matthew 19:13-15

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Christ cherishes children.

Our culture (and our country) murders children.

The Simple Reality...

The Devastating Realization...

God and a Culture of Death... (Ps. 139:13-16)

Abortion is an affront to God’s sovereign authority as Creator (Is. 40:28). 

He is the Giver of life (Job 12:9-10; 33:4).

He is the Taker of life (Deut. 32:39; Job 1:21).

Abortion is an assault on God’s glorious work in creation (Ps. 104:24). 

The way God creates people compels praise (Ps. 104:27-34).

The womb contains a person formed in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-28). 

If the unborn is not human, no justification for abortion is necessary. 

If the unborn is human, no justification for abortion is adequate.

Though the unborn is visibly hidden from man, he/she is never hidden from God (Job 10:8-13). All of God’s works are wonderful.

Even (or especially) in the case of disability (Job 9:1-3).

Even (or especially) in the midst of difficulty (Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28). 

Abortion is an attack on God’s intimate relationship with the unborn.

He fashions them (Job 31:15) and values them (Exodus 21:22-25). 

He knows them (Jeremiah 1:5) and relates to them (Psalm 22:9-10). 

He calls them (Galatians 1:15), names them (Isaiah 49:1), and

anoints them (Luke 1:15, 44).

The Gospel in a Culture of Death... (Titus 3:3-7)

God is the Judge of sinners (Gen. 18:25; Ps. 139:17-24; Rom. 2:6-8).

Mothers who have aborted babies, fathers who have encouraged abortion, grandparents

who have supported abortion, and friends who have recommended abortion.

Doctors who have performed abortion.

Leaders who have permitted abortion (Rom. 13:1-4).

Government is given by God for the good of people.

Government is given by God for the legislation of morality. 

Christians who have done nothing about abortion.

God is the Savior of sinners.

He was born to save us from ourselves. 

He died so that we might have life.

He forgives entirely (Ps. 103:11-12; Is. 43:25; 1 Jn. 1:9) and heals deeply (Lk. 7:47-50).

He restores completely (Rom. 8:1) and redeems fully (Rom. 8:28).

Our Lives in a Culture of Death... (Eph. 5:7-11; Jms. 1:22-25)

Look around...

Learn the facts about abortion.

See the pictures of abortion.

Listen to the victims of abortion.

Step forward...

Share your burdens from the past with brothers and/or sisters. 

Share your struggles in the present with brothers and/or sisters.

Speak up...

Before God.

Before the government. l Reach out...

Through giving to pro-life causes and ministries. 

Through serving unwed and under-age mothers. 

Through volunteering at pregnancy centers.

Through supporting abortion alternatives.

Through adopting unwanted children.

Thanks Pastor David!

Truly Living the Christian Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” Colossians 3:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The sign over the church door where I attended as a boy read, “The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silent.” I mistakenly took that to mean that I had just entered the holy temple and had better start acting religious. 

We are the temple of God, not a building made of brick and mortar. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we are to be doing all in the name of Jesus. The secular is to be sanctified so that Jesus will be glorified in everything. 

Because He lives in you, every day is a holy day, not just Sundays. The spiritual life is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all eternity.

ACTION POINT:

Have you ever had a home appraised? Get a trusted friend or loved one to give you an appraisal of the home where the Holy Spirit dwells—you! Are there areas that need repair, restoration, or removal?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Flourishing in Body, Soul and Spirit

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “…dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves….” 2 Corinthians 7:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

You were created to know three worlds—the spiritual, psychological, and material worlds. These can be considered the world above us, the world within us, and the world around us. These worlds are related to the three parts of our human nature—spirit, soul, and body. 

When you are rightly related to the material world with your body, you are healthy. When you are rightly related to the psychological world with your soul, you are happy. And when you are rightly related to the spiritual world in your spirit, you are holy. 

God’s aim is that ultimately you are to experience all three realities: health, happiness, and holiness.

ACTION POINT:

Take a snapshot inventory of your life. Where do you need to start making changes to live a healthier lifestyle? What is your emotional barometer telling you about how you see others and yourself? Do you know of any area in your life where you are not living in obedience to the call of holy living?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Devil’s Most Prized Tool

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord…” Psalm 25:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There’s a story about the devil auctioning off his tools. He had a high price on pride, laziness, arrogance, hate, envy, and jealousy. But there was one tool that had a sign under it, “Not For Sale.” 

Someone said, “What is that tool and why isn’t it for sale?” 

“Well,” he said, “I can’t afford to get rid of that one. It’s my chief tool, discouragement. With this tool, I can pry open a heart, and once I get in I can do most anything I want.” 

Do you want me to tell you why you get discouraged? I’ll give it to you in a nutshell—you’ve taken your eyes off God!

ACTION POINT:

Are you discouraged? If not, praise God! And find someone who is so that you can give them the encouragement they need in Jesus Christ. Maybe it’s your next-door neighbor, maybe it’s a co¬worker, maybe it’s your spouse.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

In the Face of Discouragement and Ridicule

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “…He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

One evening I overheard my father and a friend of our family talking. 

“What’s Adrian going to do when he gets out of high school?” 

My dad replied, “Well, he wants to go off to college and study to be a preacher.” 

That man just laughed and said, “He won’t make it. He’ll never stick it out. He’ll quit.” 

This was a man that I admired and respected very much. I almost felt like crying. That’s what the world says about Christians, “They won’t stick it out. They won’t make it.” 

You see, the devil hasn’t changed his tactics. He’s still mocking and throwing cold water on our walks with the Lord. Get ready. If you don’t feel the flames of ridicule now, just wait.

ACTION POINT:

Have you ever told someone that they wouldn’t amount to anything? Has anyone ever told you? Send those lies back to the pit of hell and rest in the promises of His Word that you are deeply loved and bought with the price of the Savior’s own blood.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The First Step to Setting Things Right

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Lord Jesus said, “Moreover if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault” (Matthew 18:15)

You say, “He’s the one that did wrong. If he wants forgiveness let him come and ask for it.” 

But Jesus said, “No, you go to him.” 

Whether you are in the right or whether you are in the wrong, as a child of God, you are to go to that individual. Isn’t that what God did in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve sinned against God and the Bible tells us that God came looking for them: “Adam, where art thou?” 

That was not the voice of a detective. That was the voice of a God Who pursues us to forgive us.

ACTION POINT:

Stop right now and ask God to show you if you have an unforgiving spirit toward someone. Then, in His power and strength, call that person and ask his/her forgiveness. It’s going to be impossible in your strength, but remember, God does the impossible.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers