The Christ of God

Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." - Luke 9:20

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" - Luke 9:35

saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." - Luke 9:22

42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. Jesus Again Foretells His Death But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, - Luke 9:42-43

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" - Luke 23:35

But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. - Acts 3:18

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" - Revelation 12:10-12

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. - Matthew 1:17

Do you know The Christ of God and His miracle of salvation?

God is pleased in His Son!

His Son died in your place so that you could have ever lasting life!

He can heal your body but also heals your spirit!

His story was prophesied and fulfilled!

He has conquered death and Satan!!! 

Where will you place your faith???

God’s Large Down Payment—for You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 1:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does this mean, that God has given us the “earnest of the Spirit in our hearts”? When a man in Jesus’ day intended to buy something he couldn’t afford to purchase at that moment, he would put down “earnest” money. The greater the down payment, the greater the indication that full payment will be made.

For instance, if you’re selling your home for $100,000 and a prospective buyer gives you $5, don’t look for that person again. But if he gives you $50,000, he means business, and you know he’s coming back.

In today’s terminology, we would say that God has given us a down payment of the Spirit.

ACTION POINT:

Do you think God is going to forfeit His Holy Spirit? No. God is not going to forsake you! He has too much invested in you!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Voice Of Thanksgiving

Definition of thanksgiving:

A prayer expressing gratitude 

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!"  - Jonah 2:9

14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 

15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." 

16 But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? 

17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.  - Psalm 50:14-17

Do you praise God with thanksgiving? 

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. - Hebrews 13:15

O Lord, the blessings You shower man with are undeserved. We are wicked, there is none good! Forgive us as we strive to repent and obey You. Press Your word into our hearts as we study so that we may teach others. Amen 

Thankful When You’re Counting Pennies

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In Habakkuk’s day, there was an economic recession. There were no cows in the barn. “Yet…” he writes. Oh, how I love that “yet” in verse 18. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Where was his joy? In the Lord, not circumstances. 

If you depend on circumstances, you can’t say “rejoice always,” because circumstances change. You lose your job. You lose your health. You lose your friends. You lose your prestige. If that’s where you’re getting your joy, and that changes, you can’t say, “Yet will I rejoice.” But Habakkuk said, “Yet will I joy in the God of my salvation.”

Where are you getting your joy? From the Lord? I hope you are. There’s one way we can find out. If you’re getting your joy from your job, we can take your job and see if you still have your joy. Maybe you’re getting your joy from your health. You say, “No, it’s from the Lord.” If your health fails, see if you still have your joy. 

ACTION POINT:

The only joy anyone can have is in the Lord, because He never changes. Your joy can be threatened if you get it anywhere else. It’s not wrong to joy in your health or your job. But that kind of joy that can be threatened. You need a joy which supersedes that. Psalm 16:11: says, “Thou will show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy.” Rejoice in the Lord always.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Thanksgiving: The Highest Expression of Faith

BIBLE MEDIATION:

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If worry is the opposite of faith, then thanksgiving is the expression of faith—in fact, the highest expression. You say, “I don’t know if I have as much to thank God for as some other people.” Well, the apostle Paul was in a filthy Philippian jail waiting possible beheading when he wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” 

I’ve noticed that unthankful people are never happy people. They’re filled with bitterness, fear, negativism, selfishness and self-pity.

You see, God has blessed you. You may not think so because you’re measuring blessings by the barometer of health, wealth, and happiness. 

My friend, let me tell you what blessings we have. “Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits…” (Psalm 68:19). God has loaded your wagon. How often? Every day! “It is of the LORD’S mercies we’re not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning…” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Every day you wake up to blessings. 

ACTION POINT:

Thank Him for spiritual blessings and thank Him for simple blessings: good, clean water. Enough food. Shelter. The simple things. We are so blessed. Refuse to worry, but carry everything to God in prayer. Rejoice in the presence of the Lord. Rely upon the power of the Lord. Reflect on the provision of the Lord. Rest in the peace of the Lord. Do everything with thanksgiving. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Within the Holy of Holies

BIBLE MEDITATION: 

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:19-20 KJ

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Old Testament temple had three parts: the outer court, the inner court, and the innermost court. The innermost court was called the “inner sanctum” or the “Holy of Holies.” Only the priest could go in there. 

Once a year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people. He would lift up a corner of the heavy veil and slip under. Then, he would sprinkle blood upon the Mercy Seat. If anyone went in without the blood, there was sudden death.

When the veil of the temple was torn at Jesus’ death, it was torn from top to bottom so no one would think a person did this. By His death, Jesus was saying that there were no more animal sacrifices necessary. Now, every believer can enter the Holy of Holies. 

ACTION POINT:

Have you been there today?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Do You Have a Difficult Boss?

BIBLE MEDITATION: 

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” Colossians 3:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you work for a difficult person? 

“Yes! That slave driver, penny pincher, bully!” 

Well, let’s see what the Bible says about that slave driver.

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward [harsh]” (1 Peter 2:18). 

“You mean I’m supposed to submit to that two-legged devil?” 

That’s right. And you are to serve him.

ACTION POINT:

You can shut the mouth of criticism and bring that one to Jesus Christ when you practice the mightiest force upon the face of the earth—submission through obedience.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers