The Gospel and The Rich

Mark 10:21-22

21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Ten Truths to contemplate...

Jesus’ call to salvation demands radical surrender.

Jesus’ call to salvation includes radical commands.

Jesus’ call to salvation involves radical love.

Followers of Christ prioritize sacrificial care for the poor.

We need to understand our use of money and possessions in the context of redemptive history.

We need to realize the dangerous, deadly nature of desire for possessions.

Jesus does not want to take away our pleasure; He wants to satisfy us with His treasure. Jesus desires to free us from bondage to ourselves and bondage to our stuff.

The cost of discipleship is great, but the cost of non-discipleship is greater.

Our lives will count on earth only when our eyes are fixed on heaven.

Ten Questions to consider...

Have you turned from your sin and yourself and trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord? Are you daily surrendering to the lordship of Jesus over your lifestyle and your possessions?

Does your way of life (and use of money) reflect a priority on sacrificial care for the poor?

Have you set a God-glorifying, Christ-centered, self-denying cap on your standard of living that frees you up to increase your pattern of giving?

In what ways might you live more simply for the sake of Christ and the spread of the gospel?

In what ways might you give more sacrificially for the sake of Christ and the spread

of the gospel?

What specific steps might the Lord be leading you to take to abandon or use your money and possessions on earth for the sake of treasure and reward in eternity?

This week?

This month?

This year?

Thanks Pastor David!

Secrets Only the Holy Spirit Can Give

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me.” John 16:8-9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What would you think of someone who gave you the secret of life? Do you think you might instantly call him your best friend? You bet! 

That’s what the Holy Spirit did for you. The Holy Spirit gave you the secret not only to life, but to eternal life! He convicted you of your sin. He drew you to Christ (John 6:44). 

Don’t get the idea that anybody can simply come of his own will and his own volition to Jesus Christ. No one could come. No one would come, except by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has given you the secret of life. And He has drawn you there Himself! That’s some best friend, wouldn’t you say?

ACTION POINT:

Don’t keep quiet about your Best Friend today. He wants to be known and He’s given you the privilege to be His messenger. Share Him with those you care about today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Theology for Unexpected Storms

Mark 4:35-41

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."

36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Two problems...

Physical: A raging storm (Mark 4:37)

Spiritual: A resting Savior (Mark 4:38) 

One reaction...

Frustration with Jesus (Mark 4:38)

JESUS DOES WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO!

(Mark 4:39; cf. Mark 2:1-12; Job 38:8-11;

Psalm 65:5-7; 104:5-7; 107:29-30)

Two questions...

“Why are you so afraid?” (Mark 4:40)

“Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

One response...

Jesus is God and, therefore, worthy of your trust, obedience and worship. (Mark 4:41) 

P – Praise Jesus as the God of the universe, Lord over all creation.

R– Repent of any failure to believe who Jesus is or what He has said.

A – Ask Jesus to help you in a current crisis, acknowledging His deity.

Y– Yield yourself afresh to Jesus’ lordship over your current crisis.

Thanks Pastor Jim!

The True Way to Happiness

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.” Psalm 119:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever thought that if you lived according to God’s laws, you were going to miss out? Truth is, if you don’t live according to God’s laws you’re going to miss out! God’s laws are for your welfare. 

God is not a tyrant in heaven making a bunch of laws to make you squirm like a worm in hot ashes as you try to keep those laws. God loves you. Every time God says “Thou shalt not,” God is simply saying, “Don’t hurt yourself.” And every time God says, “Thou shalt,” God is saying, “Help yourself to happiness.” God has something so wonderful for you.

ACTION POINT:

Write the following down on some sticky notes and post them everywhere … 

“God loves me.” 

“God knows better than I do.” 

“God is in control.” 

“God is good.”

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Cancer Cannot Do

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What if you had an appointment with the doctor and found out that you had cancer? Maybe you have heard this news or heard it on behalf of a loved one. I want to tell you some things cancer cannot do. Cancer cannot shatter hope. Cancer cannot corrode faith. Cancer cannot eat away peace. Cancer cannot place a limit on eternal life. Cancer cannot quench the Spirit of God and cancer cannot lessen the power of the resurrection. That’s how limited cancer is!

ACTION POINT:

Is there someone in your life that is suffering from cancer? Give them the Good News that you’ve read today. And pray that they will know the Savior.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

When We Don’t Understand

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I read about a farmer who had a big brush pile of debris he was going to burn. He noticed a little bird had built a nest in that brush pile, so he destroyed the nest. When he came back days later, he found the bird rebuilding the nest. The farmer destroyed the nest again. But the bird built again, and again the farmer destroyed it. Finally, the little bird gave up. I can just imagine that little bird going home and saying to his family, “I just don’t know why all our good plans of building a home are not working.” Well, there was an unseen hand doing something the bird may have thought was bad, but was really good.

ACTION POINT:

Read Romans 8:28. Notice the verse is not saying that all things are good. All things are not good. There are some terrible things in this world. The point is that God is good!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Is Good

John 7:

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Revelation 22:

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

As she lays in her hospital bed, her eighty something mind racing wondering if she will ever go home, she clings to the knowledge "God is good".

She has an earthly family who loves her, a husband of 64 years she has shared life with, a blessed life! 

Things she knows well, but none compare to the knowledge of a Savior who" while she was a sinner, died for her"!

He took her as she was, sin and all, and made her a new creation! 

She stands on the promise from sweet Jesus" I will never leave or forsake you". 

Even while she is uncertain of what tomorrow holds, she can rest in the trust of a eternity purchased by the death and resurrection of a holy Savior! 

Not something she earned, but a precious gift given through mercy!

What indescribable mercy The Lord has shown us! 

Do you know the definition of indescribable? 

It is too extraordinary for description!

Eternity, yes there is one! 

Tomorrow will not come forever!

Death is certain for all!

Where have you put your trust?

There is an open invitation for you!

Repent and know the joy of everlasting salvation through Christ!

Romans 5:8

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 5:32

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Matthew 26:26-28

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,

28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for 
many for the forgiveness of sins.