Revealed In the Last Time

He must be coming soon.

I see the signs.

Terror on every front.

Earthquakes, disasters of all sorts, trying to warn people they must be ready!

Make that choice, you know the one that is eternal, your soul's place of rest or torment.

Christ is our ONLY hope!!!

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. - 1 Peter 1:3-5

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

CONFESSIONS OF THE PRIESTHOOD

1 Peter 2:4-10

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." 

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," 

8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

As a kingdom of priests...

1. We are united with Christ.

2. We serve our God.

• We host His presence. (1 Peter 2:5; cf. Acts 7:48; 17:24; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:6)

• We offer Him sacrifices. (1 Peter 2:5; cf. Psalms 51:16-17; Romans 12:1; Philippians 2:17; 4:18; Hebrews 13:15-16)

Examples of sacrifices:

A yielded heart

A pure life

Being a servant

Giving the tithe

Praising God

Sharing God

• We proclaim His praises. (1 Peter 2:9)

3. We believe the gospel.

• Jesus is the only way of salvation. (1 Peter 2:6; cf. Isaiah 28:16; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5)

• Faith is the only way to Jesus. (1 Peter 2:7; cf. Psalm 118:22; John 3:16, 36; Romans 9:30-33; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:21-23)

• Unbelief is the only criteria for judgment. (1 Peter 2:8;

cf. Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 21:42-45; John 3:16-20, 36; Acts 4:5-12; 1 Pet. 1:22-25)

4. We receive God’s grace.

• He called us out of darkness into His light.

(1 Peter 2:9; cf. Is. 9:1-2; 42:6-7; Mt. 4:15-16; Lk. 1:79; 2:32; Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:13)

• He made us His people when we weren’t. (1 Peter 2:10; cf. Hosea 1:4-9; 2:23-25)

• He gave us His mercy when we didn’t deserve it. (1 Peter 2:10)

CHRIST

“living stone” (4)

“rejected by men” (4)

“chosen” (4)

“precious” (4)

BELIEVERS

“living stones” (5)

rejected by the world

“chosen race” (5)

“people for his own possession” (5)

Thanks Pastor Jim!!

Serve Him and Let Him Take Care of It

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:17-18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A certain minister served a church for many years, then one day the church asked him to leave. He was talking to another preacher friend and said, “What they did to me was dirty. After all I did for them, and they treat me this way.” The preacher friend listening to him thought to himself, “It’s a shame he didn’t do it for God.”

If you’re serving God in any way, don’t do it for people; do it for the Lord. Serve Him. If you’re doing right, people may mistreat you, but what difference does it make if you are serving the Lord? God will prove Himself faithful and will reward you for your obedience.

ACTION POINT:

Don’t bow to bitterness. Tell God what has happened. Let Him deal with it in His time. He’ll take care of it.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

In a Nook with the Book

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Speaking about the Bible a saint once said, “I have no greater pleasure than to be in a nook with the Book.” Do you think that way?

The Bible is the book that the martyrs held to their bosoms as the flames crept closer and closer. This is the book that the saints put their head upon as they went from this world into the next. This is the book that gives bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, life to the wayfarer, strength to the weak, and a weapon to the warrior.

God’s book rejoices the heart. It is completely trustworthy. There are over 6,000 promises in the Bible and not one has ever been broken.

ACTION POINT:

What would happen in the life of the church—and in your life—if you spent as many minutes in your Bible as in the newspaper? The television? Your cell phone? 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

A Prescription for Loneliness

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee.” Ps. 25:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
You may be saved today and yet feel incredibly lonely. Here is a practical pointer for overcoming your loneliness: Quit dwelling on it. Reach out and try to help someone who is lonely.

Luke 6:38 promises that when we give, it shall be given to us. There is a locked-in likeness to what we give. It is the law of the harvest. If you want friendship, you must show yourself friendly (see Proverbs 18:24).

ACTION POINT:
Why don’t you keep a stack of cards and a pen handy to write a little note of encouragement to a shut-in? Get a prayer list and intercede for others. Travel around the world by means of prayer. Jack Hyles, a great preacher, said, “There is no life so empty as a self-centered life, and there is no life so centered as a self-emptied life.” As you pour out yourself to others, the Holy Spirit will continually pour Himself into you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Your “Mission Possible”

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Many of us talk a good religion. We’re like the young man who called his girlfriend and said, “Sweetheart, you are so precious to me. I love you so much I’d fight wild beasts to be by your side. I’d tread on broken glass to hold your hand….And if it doesn’t rain, I’m going to come over and see you tomorrow night.

Many believers are high on sentiment and low on sacrifice. We don’t know what it is to fight for the Lord Jesus Christ. If you’re looking for an easy way to serve the Lord, you can forget it.

ACTION POINT:

We’re called upon to endure hardness as a good soldier of the cross. How much hardness would you endure?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

High on Sentiment, Low on Sacrifice

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Many of us talk a good religion. We’re like the young man who called his girlfriend and said, “Sweetheart, you are so precious to me. I love you so much I’d fight wild beasts to be by your side. I’d tread on broken glass to hold your hand….And if it doesn’t rain, I’m going to come over and see you tomorrow night.

Many believers are high on sentiment and low on sacrifice. We don’t know what it is to fight for the Lord Jesus Christ. If you’re looking for an easy way to serve the Lord, you can forget it.

ACTION POINT:

We’re called upon to endure hardness as a good soldier of the cross. How much hardness would you endure?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers