Wednesday, August 3, 2016

When It Comes to the Devil…How to Think


BIBLE MEDITATION:
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are two mistakes people make about the devil. One, they get into demonology—always studying, wondering, and talking about demons. Their focus rests on Satan rather than on the Lord Jesus. The Bible says we’re to resist the devil; it doesn’t say we’re to chase him.

On the other hand, there are those who are flippant about the devil. They have nicknames for him and think he’s a cartoon or fantasy.

The truth is, we have a powerful adversary, the devil. Peter likens him to a roaring lion! A mature Christian recognizes that he has an enemy. He respects the power of the enemy. Then he clings to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to overcome this great adversary.

ACTION POINT:
Is the lion prowling around your life? Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and break free from his jaws of destruction.


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Carrying Our Own Burdens


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Psalm 55:22
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A man was carrying a heavy load of grain down a country road. Another man in a wagon being pulled by a horse saw the man walking and said to him, “Mister, you need a ride?” And so the man got in the wagon. But he kept the load of grain on his shoulder. The wagon driver said, “Man, put that down and relax!” The rider said, “Oh no. It’s enough for you to carry me without having you carry this too.”
Have you ever done that to the Lord? You say, “Lord, I’ll let You save me, but I’ll carry my own burdens.” How foolish we are to do this with the God who hung the stars and planets.
ACTION POINT:
If you can trust God to save you from hell, don’t you think you can cast your burden upon the Lord right now?


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Monday, August 1, 2016

One Body In Christ


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
My left hand is a member of my body. So is my right hand. The right hand cannot direct the left hand and vice versa. But both hands can receive instruction from the head. If one hand is connected to the head and the other hand is connected to the head, then it simply follows that our hands are going to submit one to another. They’re not going to fight one another.

It’s the same way in the Body of Christ—the church. Who is the head of the body? The Lord Jesus Christ. Who are the members of the body? You and I. God put us in the church together that we might have a spirit of submission in the fear of the Lord.

ACTION POINT:
Is there someone in the church with whom you’re having difficulties? Submit yourself to the Lord and allow Him to give you grace to submit one to another.


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Fear-Troubled Hearts and Minds


6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  - Psalm 46:1

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. - John 14:1

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. - Romans 5:8-11

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.  - Psalm 55:22




We all are subject to fear, anxiety, troubled hearts and minds because of the nature of the human condition. 
Sin tells us to be self-sufficient.
God tells us to be humble, pray and trust Him.
The bible says it in so many different ways!
Cast your cares upon Him!
Don't be afraid, let your hearts not be troubled!
My peace I give to you!
A very present help in times of trouble!
He is strong!
We are weak!
In Christ, we are forgiven.
In Christ, we are not guilty.
In Christ, we are reconciled to a holy God.
In Christ we have supernatural peace!
Where does that supernatural peace come from?
Prayer brings it to you straight from God!
The peace of God is a guardian to your heart and mind!
It's found in Christ!!!
God is our shield!
Pray often!
Give thanks!
God is sovereign!
Be in the Word everyday!!
Take one day at a time, God's mercies are new everyday!
Encourage one another!
Remember, God gave us the cross!
Remember, we have been adopted! 


Thanks Pastor Matt!!!

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Run

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2

The New Testament authors portray the Christian life as a race - not a sprint but a marathon.
We run the race through a grace-empowered pursuit of repentance and faith.

Repentance: "Let us run... laying aside every weight and sin". (vs. 1)
Can I identify consistent areas of temptation and struggle? 
Am I fighting against sin on a daily basis?
Are there weights which need to be laid aside-things that may not be sinful in themselves-that are keeping me from a fuller enjoyment of God?
Am I humble enough to invite others to help me cultivate a life of repentance?

Faith: "Let us run...looking to Jesus. (v.2-3)
Is my Christian faith fixated on my failures or successes?
Do I tend to live by a list of do's and don'ts?
Do I find it difficult to respect Christians or churches who don't see things as I see them?
Am I taking ten looks at Christ for every one look at self?


Thanks Pastor Matt!!!

What You Leave Behind


Life, physical life, has a time limit!
Life, spiritual life, is eternal!
Both are God given!
The really big question is, what are you leaving behind when your physical time is up?
Will your legacy be one of never ending benefits to those you know?
Do you stand on God's word?
Do you pass that word of hope through Christ on to those who seek Him?
There is no hope without Christ!!!!
God had ordained Him Lord of all!!!!
Tell the world!!!

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
17 For it is witnessed of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." 
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,
21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" 
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:11-28

How Do I Get More Light?



BIBLE MEDITATION:
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” Psalm 119:34

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Is God righteous? Yes! How is the righteousness of God revealed? “From faith to faith.” How does that work? God gives you truth…you believe that truth…God gives you more truth.

The more you obey the light, the more light you get.

The reason some of us don’t understand the Bible any more than we do is because we have not been living up to the light God has already given us! If you want to understand the part of the Bible you don’t understand, begin to obey the part you do understand and you’ll understand what you didn’t understand. Do you understand?

ACTION POINT:
Ask God for faith that will reveal to you the hidden truths of His Word that are hard for you to understand right now.


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers