The Destroyer's Prey or The Abundant Life Lived In Christ

Satan uses many mental or physical ailments to torment!

In light of the epidemic of depression, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse and sexual sin, theft, love of self and love of money. 

I began searching the Bible for the role Satan might play in this torment. Could it begin with man's rebellion toward God? 

As I began to read the Bible and articles, I was reassured of the consequences that come from denying God and the power given to Christ to bring salvation to the nations!

I began to see how, even when you've repented from sin, Satan still will remind you, that in the past, you were indeed a sinner!

We tend to forget that, in His mercy through our faith in Christ, Almighty God forgave us!

What is the more excellent way, mercy or torment?

In the words of Job, "shall we accept only good from God?"

No, the trials of this world are to build our faith by the realization that God alone gives His strength in our weakness!

By our rejection of God, our lack of knowledge of His precious Word, and a will bent to sin, it's no surprise that sin leads to bondage and that in turn leads to emptiness that we try to fill to no avail!

Our unbelief is the reason for our broken hearts!

Acts 10:38

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Job 2:10

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Is.53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 

1 Sam.16:14

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.

John 5:14

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."

Matt.9:2

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

Ps.29:11

May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! 

Matt.5:44

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

John 1:9

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Is.61:3

to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. 

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Prov.4:20-23

20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 

21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 

22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 

Phil.4:

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Prov.18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. 

Is.58:10

if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 

1 Peter 5:7

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Believe in Christ for God has given Him all power and authority!

You will not live forever!

God has numbered your days!

We must not hold onto anger, the feeling of getting even, bitterness, or fear.

You choose to forgive just as God forgives!

Repent!

Study God's word!

Share God's word!

Rejoice in God's word!

Count your blessings!

Thanks Deb and Duane for your insight!

The Mystery That Is God

Dan.2:22

22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 

Ps.139:12

12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 

While a saint of The Lord lays in a hospital bed, whether dying or not, we don't know! 

But God knows! 

She waits, for God's call of life or death!

She is resting in total peace!

Her broken body hurts!

Her spirit sings hallelujah!

By God's design, we know the moment we are born, we begin to die! 

He alone determines our time here! 

We have a clock ticking, a breath and heartbeat counter that is set for a certain number of breathes and beats and cells that will renew only so many times!

Man, in all his God given knowledge, hasn't a clue! 

God alone knows!

We want that knowledge, but it remains hidden waiting for The Master's call of life and death!

God gives life!

God takes it back again!

Christ has been given the power of salvation!

To every man woman or child who will believe.

He paid the price, He lived the perfect life, He was obedient, yes even unto death on the cross!

Don't you see how everything we do in the name of religion will fail?

It's Christ alone that saves!!

There is nothing else!

No deed, no prayer to a false god, no tithe, no sacraments of religious elements, only the blood of Christ!  

The world is blinded by the darkness of Satan!

We are commanded to bring light through the Word of Christ to a sinful world!

They wait for the light!

Luke 4:18 

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 

John 9:

31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.

32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.

33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

34 They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

36 He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"

37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you."

38 He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."

Ps.146:

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 

2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 

3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 

4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 

6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 

7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 

8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 

9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 

Acts 13:

16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 

17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.

18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.

20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'

23 Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.

24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

26 "Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.

29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

30 But God raised him from the dead,

31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.

32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,

33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.' 

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' 

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.' 

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,

37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

41 "'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'" 

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.

43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.

46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus as Lord and Savior

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever thought that salvation was like a cafeteria where you can pick and choose the aspects of Jesus you want? “I’ll have a little Saviorhood, but please, no Lordship today.” If Jesus is not your Lord, Jesus is not your Savior. What’s the difference? 

Well, suppose I perform a wedding ceremony and say to the young man, “Would you take Susan to be your lawfully wedded wife?” And he responds, “Well, I’ll take Susan as housekeeper.” And then I say to her, “Would you take John to be your lawfully wedded husband?” And she says, “Well, I’ll take him as provider.” We can’t pick and choose what we want from Jesus. We take Jesus as Lord over all!

ACTION POINT:

Is Jesus Christ Lord of every area of your life? Take time to today to examine your life—your finances, your relationships, your hopes and dreams.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Making Sense of What We Don’t Understand

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” Psalm 139:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A little boy had a jigsaw puzzle that on one side had a map of the world and on the other side had a picture of a man. His mother asked him to try and work it and before long the little fellow had put the puzzle together. The mother was surprised to find that the little fellow knew so much about geography. She asked him, “How on earth did you do that?” 

“Oh,” he said, “I worked the other side first. When I got the man right, the world was right.” 

How true that is! We will never fix this world until we get the man right the man Jesus Christ, that is.

ACTION POINT:

Are things in your world confusing you these days? Turn to Jesus and trust Him to make sense of what you don’t understand.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Voice of Conscience from Within

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

After David had sinned and done the terrible thing that he had done by committing adultery, he said in Psalm 51:3, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” Can you imagine what it would be like for your sin to “ever” be before you? The deed would reverberate through your consciousness unendingly. You see, the conscience is an inner judge that God puts in you that accuses or excuses you. It cannot make you do right, but it shows you what is right or what is wrong. And when your conscience is right, you have tremendous freedom. A good conscience will do something for you that a sleeping pill could never do.

ACTION POINT:

What is your conscience “telling” you this morning? Are you right with God?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Evaluating True Riches

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you want to know how rich you are? Add up everything you own that money cannot buy, that death nor disaster cannot take away, and then you’ll know just how rich you are. What did you discover? Hopefully, you discovered that it’s time you started laying up true riches. Because all the rest will burn away. If you are putting all of your labor in this world, it’s like rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship.

ACTION POINT:

Read Matthew 6:19-21. Where is your heart? Where is your treasure?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Keeps the Score

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I read something that deeply touched my heart about a PGA golfer named DiVensenzo. As he was leaving a golf course with his winnings, a woman approached him and said, “I have a baby who is dying.” Moved with compassion, he endorsed the check and gave it to her saying, “Take this, and try to buy some happiness for yourself and your child.” 

A week later he was in the clubhouse having lunch, and one of the PGA officials came up to him and said, “Did you know that the woman who approached you last week didn’t have a baby dying of an incurable disease!” And DiVensenzo said, “There’s no baby dying? That’s the best news I’ve heard all week!” What an attitude! 

ACTION POINT:

Do you ever feel like people are going to take advantage of you? Be thankful today that God keeps the score. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers