“The Devil After the Dove” Principle

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever gotten into an argument with a family member on the way to church? Don’t look so pious! Every preacher knows that the devil will try to attack God’s children right before church, after church—on the way home in the car! There is a spiritual principle here that we need to learn. It is what I call “the devil after the dove” principle.

Just as when Jesus was baptized and a dove descended, then right after He was led into the wilderness and tempted, so it will be with you.  When God does something great or when you get the approval of God about something, you can expect the attack of the enemy.

ACTION POINT:

Leonard Ravenhill said, “When God opens the windows of heaven to bless us, the devil is going to open the doors of hell to blast us.” Have you had a wonderful spiritual experience recently? Then you better not start coasting. If the devil tempted Jesus, be sure he will tempt you as well.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Blessed When Persecuted?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Before you can really understand what Matthew 5:10 means, you have to understand and be living the rest of the Beatitudes. 

If you are living a life that is poor in spirit, that mourns over your sin, that lives meekly through His strength, that hungers and thirsts after righteousness, that is merciful, pure in heart, and making peace…then you will be exceedingly glad for the persecution that comes your way.

You see, the world is going in the opposite direction and they are trying to push you into their mold. Yet you are a twice-born man among once-born people, and you are going to go against the tide.

ACTION POINT:

It costs to serve Jesus Christ—every day and every step. But you are blessed! When was the last time you took some flack for Jesus? Great is your reward in heaven.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Are You a True “Peace Corps” Member?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Several decades ago, you were really somebody if you joined the Peace Corps. But all this time later, how much peace has been established between brothers and sisters around the world as a result? 

Do you know how to bring peace to earth and goodwill to all men? Introduce men, women, boys, and girls to Jesus Christ. That is the only way.

Churches are filled every Sunday, yet where do people go during the week? Are they sharing God’s salvation story with the lost? It’s not your faithful attendance to church that is going to bring peace to earth but your faithful sharing of the Gospel.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus said His mission was not to be a diplomat, not to be a peacemaker, but to bring death to hatred, strife, and sin through His reconciling blood. There is no other way to a holy God, but through the cross. Are you living like a child of God and telling others about Jesus?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What Does It Mean to Be “Pure in Heart”?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

This beatitude narrows our focus into one rich goal—to be pure in heart. Now, “pure in heart” doesn’t just mean you don’t look at pornography or think vile thoughts. That will be a result of being pure in heart. But to be pure in heart really means to have an undiluted heart. That is, there is no substance in your heart that is adulterated. You have a singleness of mind. You are undivided in your devotion. . .all of the issues of your life are brought down into one burning focus—to be pure in heart before God.

ACTION POINT:

Is Jesus Christ the burning focus of your life? Then the promise is that you will see God. “Now, wait a minute,” you say. “No one has seen God.” You’re right. You will see God not with your physical eyes, but with your spiritual eyes. He will become all the more clear!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Are You Merciful?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Those who have received mercy are those who show mercy. And only those who show mercy will be those who continue to receive mercy. Showing others mercy isn’t just sentiment or softness. It is sympathy that serves. Jesus doesn’t merely save us from something, He saves us for something. He wants to express His life through us as we serve others.

I thank God for our beautiful churches, but I believe the thing that is going to touch the lives of our communities are not our buildings but our merciful acts of kindness.

ACTION POINT:

One by one, we can make a change as we go out and show the love of Christ to our neighbors. People do not care how much we know, until they know how much we care.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

“Happy” Without Christ?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt.5:6
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Jesus tells us that when we seek after righteousness, we will be filled. Sounds like we’ll be happy, don’t you think? But happiness is not something we find by hungering for it, it is something we receive by serving the Lord.

God doesn’t want us to be happy without Christ. God allows us to experience unhappiness in our lives in the same way we experience pain when we step on a nail. The pain tells us something is wrong.

ACTION POINT:
Now, for us to seek happiness without seeking righteousness would be like breaking our arm and then not taking a pain killer and getting it set. Blessing comes when we find the Deliverer. When you hunger for Him, you will have Him. How much of God do you want today?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

True Meekness Is Strength Under Discipline

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Meekness is one of the most confused adjectives in all of the Beatitudes because most people confuse meekness with weakness. Jesus said He was “meek and lowly” (see Matthew 11:29). but He wasn’t weak. 

The word “meek” means “strength that is brought under control.”

When horse trainers “break” horses, they describe what they do as “meeked.” They don’t cripple the horses or take away their strength. They train them to use their strength in control.

In the same way, God doesn’t come into your life to cripple you. Why would He follow with “for they shall inherit the earth”? God did not make this world for the devil’s crowd. He made the world for you.

ACTION POINT:

Ask your heavenly Father today to break the strongholds in your life, break your strong will, and replace it with His strength under discipline. He will do it, if you give Him permission. This is the heart of true meekness.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers