What Is Salvation?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” 1 John 5:1.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What is salvation? Not a creed. You say, “Well, I believe the plan of salvation.” You can believe the plan of salvation and go straight to hell. You’re not saved by the plan of salvation, you’re saved by the man of salvation. 

Salvation is not a creed. It’s not a code. You say, “Well, I believe if you live right you’ll go to heaven.” If you could be saved by living right, then Calvary was a blunder. It’s not a cause. You say, “I’m a member of a good, fundamental, Bible believing church.” It’s not any of these things. It’s Christ. 

Salvation is not believing something, it is receiving Someone. The true gospel is one that centers in Jesus Christ. 

ACTION POINT:

Ask God to give you a divine opportunity to boldly share Jesus with someone today. Maybe it’s a co-worker, maybe it’s your child. Maybe it’s a stranger that sits next to you at a restaurant. Be strong and of good courage, God will go before you to prepare the way.

LWF  Dr. Adrian Rogers

The True Gospel

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  Ephesians 2:8.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

How can you tell whether or not you have the true gospel? Paul gives you three tests. 

First, the source of the gospel. Where did it come from? God gave it. It is direct and divine revelation. The gospel is authenticated by its source. 

Secondly, by its salvation. Any gospel that is not the gospel of grace is not the true gospel. You can’t beg it. You can’t buy it. You can’t borrow it. You can’t steal it. You can’t earn it. It was bought by Christ on the cross. It is the supernatural work of God. 

The third test is its subject. It is the grace of Christ. Jesus is the subject. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus. 

ACTION POINT:

Take an hour or two this week and find the prophecies about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. Take comfort in knowing that Jesus is the One Who was, Who is, and Who is to come!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Anchored

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” - Isaiah 41:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I was raised in South Florida, in what you might call hurricane alley. When we knew a hurricane was coming, my dad would say, “Boys, go out there in the back yard and tie things down,” patio furniture and things like that. Sometimes we would go out after a hurricane, and the thing we tied down was gone and the thing we tied it to was gone!

ACTION POINT:

Friend, you’d better be tied to Jesus. He won’t blow away.  Where is your hope?  Where is your security?  What have you anchored your hope to?  I hope it’s in the solid rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Your Adversary, The Devil

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Ephesians 6:12.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There is a ruthless, cruel underworld system that wars against you. The crime bosses are but amateurs compared to this syndicate, ruled by the Master of Deception. He’s called the “destroyer,” “liar,” “accuser,” “tempter,” and “prince.” Satan is indescribably wicked, brilliantly stupid, and hideously beautiful. If he can’t convince you that he does not exist, then he tries to spread the lie that he is only in hell. He is not in hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, but he is not there yet! 

Be warned . . . Satan comes against you to obsess, depress, and possess. But, be encouraged . . . Jesus has purchased your victory by His blood! 

ACTION POINT:

Satan is portrayed as a roaring lion in 1 Peter 5:8. Put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18) and claim the victory that only faith in King Jesus can achieve.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Controlling Your Thought Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There was a sign in a business that said, “We are not what we think we are; what we think—we are.” 

What are you allowing into your mind and thereby controlling your heart, your actions, and your words? God made you where you can’t think two thoughts at one time. If you’re thinking what’s right, you can’t be thinking what’s wrong. And as you think, you will become. Guard your mind. Center your mind upon the Lord Jesus. Don’t let the devil take away your pure-hearted devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Stay in love with Jesus and there won’t be any room for those filthy, dirty, wicked, lascivious, lustful, and prideful thoughts that bombard us all.

ACTION POINT:

Start today to become more active in marshalling your thoughts and bringing them into obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Use Phil. 4:8 as a sieve through which you pass each thought.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Expressing Our Praise to the Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” Psalm 100:1.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There’s nothing wrong with getting excited in church. I heard about a man who came to a cold church. The preacher said something he agreed with and he said, “Amen.” Everybody turned around and looked at him. 

After awhile he said, “Praise the Lord.” Then people arched their eyebrows. 

Next time he said “Amen” an usher tapped him on the shoulder to quiet him down. 

The usher said, “What is wrong with you?” 

He said, “Well, nothing. I’ve just got religion.” 

To which the usher curtly replied, “Well, mister, you didn’t get it here.”

It’s easier to cool down a zealot than it is to warm up a corpse. 

ACTION POINT:

What does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord? How do you make a joyful noise to Him . . . not just on Sundays in church, but all week long? Sing one of your favorite hymns throughout the day today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Do You Do When You Don't Know What To Do

Remember The Battle Belongs To The Lord

In the Face of Danger

Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. - 2 Chronicles 20:3

and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. - 2 Chronicles 20:6

Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? - 2 Chronicles 20:7

7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, - 2 Chronicles 20:7-8

'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you-for your name is in this house-and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.' - 2 Chronicles 20:9

A Response of Faith

O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." - 2 Chronicles 20:12

The Reply From Heaven

O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." - 2 Chronicles 20:12

You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." - 2 Chronicles 20:17

Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. - 2 Chronicles 20:18

The Result of Worship

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever."  - 2 Chronicles 20:21

23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. - 2 Chronicles 20:23-24

The Rejoicing of Victory

26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.

28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD.

29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. - 2 Chronicles 20:26-30

Persecution

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra-which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. - 2 Timothy 3:10-13

Worship God before disaster

God's Encouragement

Be strong and courageous 

God gives wisdom to His worshippers 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. - James 1:5

God will punish 

saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"  - Psalm 105:15

Worship God after deliverance 

Thank God 

God gives joy to His worshippers

God gives honor to His worshippers 

Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. - 1 Samuel 2:30

God gives protection to His worshippers 

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  - Proverbs 30:5

God gives peace

So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. - 2 Chronicles 20:30

Thank You Steve Gaines!!