Christians Are We Shooting The Wounded

Why is it that we run from the ones who are the deepest in sin?

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." - Mark 2:17

You are a witness!!

Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." - John 9:39

Wicked people can be saved!!

Look at Paul!!

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,

13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Timothy 1:12-17

How can we share Christ without being present?

We have to be a community!

God has commanded it!!!

Invest in others!!

Pick your brother up when he falls and he will return the blessing to you when you fall!!

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken. - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  - Proverbs 17:17

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

5 For each will have to bear his own load. - Galatians 6:1-5

We are many members!!!

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. - Romans 12:4-5

God sees your potential!!!

But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? - Romans 8:31-32

Jesus invested time!

Encourage your brother!

Have fellowship!

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. - John 3:22

Be accountable!!

Support each other!!!

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:24-25

Thanks Pastor Kevin!!!

Pray to Be Heard of God, Not Men

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Matthew 6:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

One time a young professional was waiting for a meeting when he heard someone walking down the hallway. Thinking that this might be a potential client for him, he picked up his telephone and pretended to be having a high-powered conversation. 

Soon the footsteps stopped at his desk. Looking up he asked, “What may I do for you?” 

The man standing before him replied, “I’m from the telephone company. I’ve come to hook up your phone.” 

Prayer is the same way. The prayer that gets our Savior’s attention comes from the heart and not from the head, “to be heard by men.” Prayers to impress people are one-way conversations. 

ACTION POINT:

Find a quiet place in your home where you can be alone with the Lord every day for a special time of communion with Him. He is waiting for you there.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Why Is There Suffering in the World?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

“If there is a God, and that God is a good God, then why is there suffering?” 

“What kind of a God is it that has created evil?” 

Ever heard those comments before? Ever made them yourself? 

You’re not alone. Many people have thought the same thing. But that’s not straight thinking. Let me tell you the way it truly is. 

God did not create evil. God created perfection. God made man perfectly free. The freedom He granted man meant that he had to be free to choose to love. Then in order to choose to love, we must be able to choose not to love. This freedom of choice gave rise to evil, for man’s freedom meant he could make a wrong choice. 

ACTION POINT:

Which kind of love do you want from others? A forced love or a free love? Which sounds better, “I love you” or “I have to love you”?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Dead To Sin, Alive To Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A woman woke up one morning and noticed that she felt like she had just gone to sleep. She said, “It can’t be six o’clock in the morning!” 

But the radio said it was six. The clock said it was six. The sunrise said it was six. Now, I submit to you: it really didn’t matter how she felt, did it? 

Sometimes we respond the same way when it comes to our salvation. We need to get our salvation out of the realm of fickle emotions and begin to “reckon” (count on) God’s facts. 

Each morning when you wake up, begin by saying, “I am dead to sin. I am alive in Christ. I know it’s a fact. He died for me. Now I reckon it!” 

ACTION POINT:

Look up the word “reckon” in the dictionary. Are you “reckoning” yourself dead to sin and alive to Christ? If not, begin to do so today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Be Still and Know that He Is God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I read in the newspaper about a fighter plane that fired off a weapon and was moving so fast that it overtook the bullet and shot itself down. Literally! There are a lot of folks I know doing the same thing. They are shooting themselves down. 

They don’t take time to slow down and to be still and know that God is God. They don’t take time to experience His serenity and inner quietness. Isaiah 30:15 says, “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” 

How much time do we take to be quiet before the Lord? If you don’t have time to do this, you are too busy! You are going to miss life looking for it. 

ACTION POINT:

I have a question for you. Are you spending time alone with the Lord every day? If not, let this be your wake-up call.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Value of a Soul

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I was talking to a man who sold real estate and asked him, “What determines the worth of a piece of property?” 

He said, “What a person is willing to pay for it.” 

In other words, it doesn’t matter how much you paid for it yourself. It’s what another person is willing to pay to have it for himself or herself. 

That makes me want to shout! You and I must be worth something if Jesus would pay His life to have us for His own. Jesus is the proof of how much we’re worth. 

ACTION POINT:

Do you know how much you weigh? Call a jeweler or a bank today and ask how much your weight is worth in gold. Then realize there’s no comparison to your worth in blood…the blood of Jesus Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

When in Doubt, Let Jesus Be Your Peace

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” Matthew 14:31-32

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A man was in the back bedroom of his home getting dressed while his wife was in the living room talking to a friend. He called out to his wife, “Darling, is this shirt clean enough for me to wear?” 

Without hesitation she said, “No.” 

He said, “How did you know it wasn’t clean enough to wear? You didn’t even come back to look at it.” 

She answered, “If you had to ask, it wasn’t clean enough!” 

When it comes to the question of whether you should do something or not, if it’s doubtful, it’s dirty. Don’t. Unfortunately, most of us don’t give God the benefit of the doubt. We just go ahead and do it. 

ACTION POINT:

Are you in doubt about something today? If you have even the smallest doubt in your heart that it might be sin or lead to sin, be strong and choose to say “No.” He will be your peace.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers