Letting God Work In and Through You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

One of the greatest secrets I have ever learned is this: God doesn’t want me to do anything for Him. He wants to do something through me. 

People say, “Well, I just serve God in my poor, little, old weak way.” 

I feel like saying, “Well, quit it.  He doesn’t want you to serve Him in your poor, little, old weak way. He wants you out of the way, so He can flow through you!”

We need to make ourselves available to God and say, “God, I’m tired of being inhibited. I want to be inhabited by You. I want You to live Your life through me.”

ACTION POINT:

Where have you been standing in the way of God instead of surrendering to God and letting Him live through you? 

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Grateful—for We Are Blessed!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Sometimes we complain when we shouldn’t. 

I remember one time driving across the country with a gentleman. At the time, all of our children were in private schools and Joyce and I were “dying of maltuition.” I began complaining a little bit to the man about the great cost of sending a son to college.

He looked at me and said, “I’d give anything in the world if my son would go to college.” 

I thought, “Oh, what an ungrateful spirit I have!” 

Do you ever complain about dirty dishes? There are lots of folks in Third World countries that would like to have some dirty dishes. We are to be thankful in all things.

ACTION POINT:

Rejoice in God’s blessings in your life. Nip that temptation in the bud to complain and grumble about your life today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God on the Move

Psalm 68

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 

2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 

3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! 

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! 

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 

6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 

7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 

9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; 

10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 

11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: 

12 "The kings of the armies-they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide the spoil- 

13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds- the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold. 

14 When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon. 

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 

16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the LORD will dwell forever? 

17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 

18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. 

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 

20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. 

21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. 

22 The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 

23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe." 

24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary- 

25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: 

26 "Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!" 

27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. 

28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. 

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you. 

30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war. 

31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God. 

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 

33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 

34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 

35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel-he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! 

The Portrait of God...

• He is awesome.

• He is active.

• He subdues all who rebel against Him.

• He satisfies all who trust in Him.

• He is the one true God.

• He is the covenant keeping Lord.

• He is Father of the fatherless.

• He is Protector of the widow.

• He loves the lonely.

• He rescues the captive.

• He provides for the needy.

• He is sovereign over nature.

• He is sovereign over nations.

• He is powerful above us.

• He is present with us.

• He commands a heavenly army.

• He conquers in earthly victory.

• He bears our burdens.

• He saves our souls.

• He is my God and King.

• He is our God and King.

• He draws peoples to Himself.

• He deserves praise throughout the earth. • He is the Divine Warrior.

• He speaks a dependable Word.

The Implications for Us...

• Give glory to this God.

• Give your life to His mission

Thanks Pastor David!

The Ultimate Disconnect

Psalm 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 

2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 

6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 

7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! 

One Truth...

• God blesses His people for the sake of His praise among all peoples.

one danger...

• We are prone to disconnect God’s blessing in our lives from God’s purpose for our lives.

Realize Who God is...

• He is the Gracious Savior.

• He is the Righteous Judge.

• He is the Sovereign King.

Realize Why God Blesses...

• He aims to be known among all peoples.

• He aims to be enjoyed by all peoples.

• He aims to be feared by all peoples.

Realize What This means...

• This prayer must be constant on our lips.

• This purpose must captivate our lives.

• This promise must compel risk-taking, life-giving, death-defying confidence in our Lord.

Thanks Pastor David!

The Cosmic Cause of Christ

Psalm 66

1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 

2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 

3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 

4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah 

5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 

6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 

7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations- let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 

8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 

9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 

10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 

11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 

12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. 

13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 

14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 

15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah 

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 

17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. 

18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 

19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 

20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! 

Eleven couplets...

• Singing and Shouting

• Worshiping and Witnessing

• Invitation and Admonition

• General Revelation and Special Revelation

• Deliverance from Death

• Trust amidst Trial

• Past and Present

• Universal and Personal

• Speaking with our Lips and Surrendering our Lives 

• Humble Dependence and Holy Desire

• Praise and Prayer

One challenge...

• Spend your life spreading God’s praise among the peoples of the earth.

Thanks Pastor David!

The Mind vs. the Brain

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:

Did you know there is a difference between your mind and your brain? The brain is what the mind thinks with. The relationship of the mind and the brain is very similar to the relationship of a pianist and a piano. The piano is the brain and the pianist is the mind. 

The most dangerous thing in the world is a man with a bad mind and a good brain. He is a clever devil. 

When you get saved, you don’t get a new brain. You get a new mind. And the god of this world will do all he can to distort your mind. Why? Because Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  

ACTION POINT:

Dwell today on the true, the honest, the just, the pure, the lovely—think on virtue and praise.  Pray for missionaries serving the Lord in other countries—that they will dwell on the truths of the Lord and that their walks will be strong and undeterred from the Lord’s mission.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Has Not Forgotten You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A preacher was in a church where he felt God had led him. But nothing seemed to be working out, so he wanted to go to another church. 

He told a friend, “I know where God put me, and I know God put me here, but I just wonder if He remembers where He put me.” 

Yes, God remembers! He has not forgotten. He is never late. Don’t rush God. Don’t think He has abandoned you because your prayers are not answered. He will turn your midnight into a sunrise and your mourning into dancing.

ACTION POINT:

Read Psalm 37:4-7 and rejoice in the hope of God’s providence and provision in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers