The Impending Great Tribulation

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” - Matthew 24:21

General Omar Bradley said this about our generation:

We know more about war than about peace.

We know more about killing than about living.

This is our 20th Century’s claim to progress – knowledge of science outstrips capacity for control.

We have too many men of science, too few men of God.

The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience.

We are a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.

I think he said a mouthful. Jesus said there’s coming a time like never before seen in history – the Great Tribulation – when all our progresses and advances will come down to one thing – Jesus Christ.

Where will you be on the day of Tribulation?

Where do you want to be?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Are You Afraid Of?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In Matthew 25, we read the parable of the talents. When the master who had distributed the talents came to see the stewardship of those talents, one man had taken his talent and hidden it in the ground.

You may have a buried talent, but you’ve been covered up by the sinister minister of fear, who keeps you from achieving your dreams. You say, “But what if I fail?” You can be so afraid of making a mistake that your entire life will be a mistake. The fear of failure keeps so many from competing that they never even get in the race. They just lose by default!

ACTION POINT:

Sir Walter Scott was called a “dunce” by his teachers. Napoleon Bonaparte was next to last in his military class. Walt Disney was fired as a cartoonist because the newspaper said he couldn’t draw! It’s not bad to fail. We all will fail. But may God deliver you from the spirit of failure, which is a spirit of fear.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Is Courtesy a Way of Life for You?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great.” Psalm 18:35

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you know what our churches could use a little bit more of? Courtesy among the brethren—love in the little things, love that says “please” and “thank you,” love that steps back and gives the other person first place. The gentleness of our Lord.

It never ceases to amaze me how people so quickly lose their religion when they leave church on Sunday morning. They go to their cars in the parking lot, then cut people off in traffic. And don’t ever take someone’s “regular” seat in church. You’re seen as stealing their “rightful” place in the worship service!

ACTION POINT:

May God cleanse our churches of self-righteousness and pride. May He purify us from anything that seeks to elevate self over others. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Ready to Make an Honest Confession?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does it mean to “confess your sins”? It doesn’t mean to simply admit your sin. There are a lot of people who have admitted their sins, who have never confessed their sins.

I’ve spoken to people many times and asked, “Do you know that you’re a sinner?” And they respond, “Yes, I know. We’ve all sinned.” But those people aren’t confessing; all they’re doing is admitting. There is a difference. 

The word “confess” is a compilation of two words, “con” and “fess,” which mean “to agree with.” To confess your sins is “to say with” God what God says about them.

ACTION POINT:

As you go before the Lord in prayer today, rather than just admitting you’ve sinned, agree with God about your sin. Then ask for His grace to overcome. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Welcome to the Priesthood

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Christians are a kingdom of priests, so in order to understand what that means, let’s look at what someone had to do to become a priest in the Old Testament.

The first thing the priest did was bathe from head to toe. This symbolized that he was saved (see Titus 3:5). When we are saved, we are bathed from head to toe in Christ’s cleansing blood.

After his bath, the priest received a linen garment, which symbolized the righteousness that is provided by our Lord. 

Then he was anointed with oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

How encouraging to discover God’s Word flowing from the Old to the New Testament to describe such essential details of the believer.

ACTION POINT:

Have you been bathed in the cleansing blood? Are you aware you’re wearing a robe (the righteousness of Christ)? The Holy Spirit lives within you. As you go through your day today, be ever mindful: you are a priest—chosen, royal, holy, set apart for Him. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Will God Be Enough…?

Will God Be Enough…?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever read God’s Hall of Fame in Hebrews chapter 11? These men and women of faith did miraculous things. “Who through faith subdued kingdoms.” Hallelujah! “Wrought righteousness.” Praise the Lord! “Obtained promises.” Amen! “Stopped the mouths of lions.” Glory! 

And how did they do it? Faith.

“And others [men and women of faith] had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder...” (Hebrews 11:36-37). “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise” (Hebrews 11:39).

ACTION POINT:

Some had faith to escape; others had faith to endure. If it is God’s will for you, faith to endure may be the kind of faith God wants you to have. Will God be enough if He lets you walk through the fiery furnace?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Power of Self Deception

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. - 1 Corinthians 10:12

Man's thought on sin:

This is man's thinking about his own sin, my sin is small and yours is great.

We judge without the slightest hint of shame!

Man's take charge attitude:

We think we take charge and get it done.

When failure comes, we can't understand why because we forget God is working things out for His purpose!!

God is indeed in charge!!

God's forgives, restores, and reconciles man:

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. - Colossians 1:15-20

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. - 1 Peter 5:8-10

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. - 1 John 1:9-10

Supreme God:

4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. 

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 

6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. 

7 I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.  - Isaiah 45:4-7

Jesus, the only Savior:

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

God wants man to repent:

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. - 1 Timothy 2:3-6