Thankful in Trials

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.” 1 Chronicles 16:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you are a child of God, you ought to be able to thank God every moment of every day no matter what happens to you. 

Have you ever stopped to thank God for the water that you drink? Did you know that in some countries in the world, the majority of the population doesn’t have reasonably pure drinking water? Millions of people die annually just from water-related diseases. 

If you wear a hearing aid, do you ever thank God for that? Some people wish they had a hearing aid.

If you are a student in the midst of final exams, do you thank God that you have an exam to take? There are many who wish they could afford college. 

Do you thank God for your next breath?

ACTION POINT:

Take whatever it is that looks like a trial in your life today and thank God for it! Thank Him every time the thought enters your mind to grumble or complain.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

A "Know-So" or a "Hope-So" Salvation?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you think you’re going to get to heaven by your good works, I guarantee you will always wonder if you’ve done enough. You will not have a “know-so” salvation. You will have a “hope-so” salvation. Rather than standing up straight in confidence like an exclamation point, you will be bent over and wondering like a question mark. That is, until you understand that it’s all by grace. 

Suppose everybody who wanted to be saved had to run around the block. Some can’t run. What if you had to read a chapter in the Bible to be saved? Some can’t read. But there is one thing that can make the promise sure, and that is grace.

ACTION POINT:

Who can you share this Good News with today? Think of at least one person, and ask God to give you a bold love and a divine opportunity to do just that. We also invite you to read “You Can Be Sure” for more insights on the eternal security of the believer. Just visit us at: You Can Be Sure

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Inclining Our Ears to Hear

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Several years ago, the investment firm of E. F. Hutton had a slogan: “When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen.” If only people had this respect and reverence for God and His Word! That is the kind of ear we ought to have for the matchless Word of the living God.

If you do not incline your ear, you might miss something! It has been said that God will not only hold us accountable for what we hear but also for what we would have heard if we had listened.

ACTION POINT:
Do you take notes when your pastor teaches? Maybe it’s time you started. It’s a great tool for those teachable moments during the week with your friends and family. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Taming the Tongue

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Your tongue can get you into a lot of trouble. There is nothing that can do more damage to your relationships than your words.

Proverbs 17:27 says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words.” That is, if you’re smart, you won’t talk so much. When you do talk, keep your words warm and sweet because you may have to eat them later.

There’s an old saying I heard a Rabbi use once that reminds us:
“The ears are open and out. They’re unguarded, but the tongue is behind ivory bars.”

When you’re talking, you’re not learning.
When you’re not learning, you’re not communicating.
When you’re not communicating, there will be no intimacy in your relationships.

ACTION POINT:
In what ways has your mouth gotten you into trouble this week? Confess those times before the Lord and ask for strength and wisdom to be a better communicator. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Strangers To Me But Not to God

Why should we care about the eternity of people we don't know? 

Matt.12:12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Luke 12:7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Ps.139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

Ps.139:15-16 

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 

Rev. 7:9

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Acts 17:

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

Malachi 1:

For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.

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