That You May Know

Eph. 1:18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Christ is the Head and we are His Body!

Our hope in Christ is certain! 

Not maybe but infallible!!

Definition of infallible: never failing

We are God's resources for God's purpose!

We are instruments of God!

FIRST TEAM DISCIPLESHIP”

Ephesians 1:15-23

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Key Truth:

Spiritual illumination leads to our realization of God’s restoration.

• This is why this text is in the Bible.

• This is God’s will for you.

• This is God’s way of accomplishing his will.

Understanding who you are and why you’re here...

• Spiritual Illumination. (Ephesians 1:15-18)

God gives you intimate knowledge of Him. 

God gives you spiritual insight into

His plan.

• Our Realization (Ephesians 1:18-20) 

God includes you intentionally.

God treasures you immensely.

God resources you immeasurably.

• God’s Restoration (Ephesians 1:20-23)

God raised Jesus from the dead.

God put Jesus in charge of everything forever. 

God gave Jesus to us to make

everything right.

Applying God’s truth to your life...

1. Pray for God’s Spirit to help you get this.

2. Stop believing lies about your inadequacy.

3. Give this mission everything you’ve got.

Thanks Pastor Jim!

God’s Plan for the Man

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God gave women a nurturing instinct, but God gave men a different gift and task—to dress the garden. God equipped men with a hard exterior to be the providers and protectors, and because of this, men want to be admired by women. I want to be admired by my wife. I get more blessing when she admires me and says, “You are wonderful,” and she gets a blessing when I am romantic, loving, and tender toward her. 

1 Peter 3:7 says, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

ACTION POINT:

How can you show your wife a little tender loving care today? Now that you’ve thought of something, go do it!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

True Beauty

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“. . . even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:4b

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you a woman struggling with the way you look? We all know that women want to be beautiful, especially to their husbands and boyfriends, but so often women think that beauty is found at a cosmetics counter, on a dress rack, or in a jewelry box. Those things are corruptible, and what’s in vogue today is out of fashion when next year’s supermodels hit the runway. 

The only thing that will make you more beautiful, day after day, is what you nurture within yourself - serenity. 

The ornament of a meek and a quiet spirit is worth far more than even the most expensive jewel you can wear around your neck.

ACTION POINT:

Stand in front of the mirror today. Imagine Jesus by your side, and ask Him to create in you a gentle and quiet spirit of love.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Patience Worketh Perfection

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

“Patience worketh perfection.” When was the last time you asked God to make you perfect? Maybe you should have asked for patience as well, because it is only through patient, abiding faith and trust in the Lord that we become “perfect.” 

A lot of people confuse this word “perfect” with “sinless.” The Greek word for perfect in James 1:4 is teleios, and it refers to a maturing growth. For example, an oak tree is the teleios of an acorn. It is the perfection of an acorn. 

So when you are discouraged and feeling a little blue, 

Take a look at a mighty oak and see what a nut can do.

ACTION POINT:

Take a walk this week enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and ask Him to give you the patience and faith that can turn a little acorn into a mighty oak.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Greatest Event of All Ages

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“. . . and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”Revelation 17:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Second Coming of Jesus is going to be the greatest event of all of the ages. It is one of the grand theological truths taught in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. 

The New Birth is vitally important, but it is mentioned only nine times in the New Testament. 

Baptism is vitally important, but it is mentioned only 20 times in the New Testament. 

Repentance is mentioned only 70 times in the Bible, as important and needful as that is. 

But the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned in God’s Word at least 380 times. 

One out of every 25 verses points with an eager finger to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

ACTION POINT:

How are you getting ready for His Second Coming? What if He came this very hour? 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

CHECKING THE CHURCH’S VITALS

Galatians 1:1-5

1 Paul, an apostle-not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-

2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Checkup #1: Where’s Your Authority? (1:1, 6-9, 11-12)

• The gospel is God’s message. Therefore, it carries God’s authority.

• What truth claims rest at the bottom of your life, words, and actions?

• What do Christians do with words that come from the mouth of God? We believe them. We live on them.

Checkup #2: What Makes You Acceptable to God?

(1:3-4; 2:15-16, 21; 3:10-14)

• The Galatian problem: they flattered themselves. • Where we place obedience in the salvation

formula makes all the difference in the world.

m Trust in Christ’s Death + My Obedience => Salvation

(Galatian False Gospel)

m Trust in Christ’s Death => Salvation + My Obedience (Biblical Christianity)

• The moment we think, “Once I do X, God will accept me,” we’re no longer talking about grace.

• Legalism actually stems from a low view of the law.

• Gospel: We need heaven to come all the way down to pick us all the way up and bring us all the

way home.

Checkup #3: How Do You Grow? (1:4; 5:16-26)

• Just as Christ’s death on our behalf really reconciles us to God, so the Holy Spirit really brings hope, help, and power.

• Christians cannot grow unless we are leaning fully on two realities: the righteousness of Christ and the power of the

Holy Spirit. (resource: Bookends of the Christian Life, Bridges/Bevington)

• Christ-followers, indwelt by the Spirit, are to increasingly manifest evidence of the Spirit’s control of our lives,

minds, hands, feet, and words.

• No one and nothing is more relevant to your health

and growth as a Christian than the third Person of the Trinity.

Thanks Matt!

Humbly Grateful, Not Grumbly Hateful

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” James 1:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Sometimes we have to admit that it’s hard to “count it all joy.” Sometimes we complain and rather than being humbly grateful, we become grumbly hateful. 

Oh, how I wish that, beginning today, we would emulate the faith of the saints that have gone before us—saints like Fannie Crosby, the great hymn writer. 

For most of her life Fannie Crosby was blind, and yet, at the tender age of eight, Fannie wrote: 

“Oh! What a happy soul am I, although I cannot see, 

I am resolved that, in this world, contented I will be. 

How many blessings I enjoy, that other people don’t. 

To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot and I won’t.”

And do you know what? .... She didn’t.

ACTION POINT:

How can you apply this truth to your life today? 

How can you share this truth with someone else?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers