The Will Of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.” Mark 3:35

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Major Ian Thomas, English author and founder of a worldwide missionary fellowship, once wrote, “Which of these things in the life of Jesus is more spiritual?  When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount? When He raised Lazarus from the dead? When He washed His disciples’ feet? Or when He spat on the ground and made clay to anoint the blind man’s eyes? None was more spiritual than the other. Jesus did not divide His life up into little segments of spirituality. He was simply available to do whatever His Father willed.” The will of God is not a road map. It is a relationship! You just simply set yourself apart to do the will of God.

ACTION POINT:

Are you segregating your life into activities that are more spiritual than others? Surrender all you are to Him and make yourself available for whatever He calls you to do today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Dare To Care

1 With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. 

2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 

3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 

4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. 

5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." 

6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! 

7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.  - Psalms 142

25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things."

26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?"

28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people,

29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"

30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."

33 So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?"

34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

35 Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.

37 For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.'

38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.

41 And many more believed because of his word.

42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." - John 4:25-42

No one cares for my life. 

We have all felt this.

Do we have a passion for those who suffer?

Just open your eyes, they are there waiting for you to show them the love of Christ.

Do you share the hope we have in Christ?

You have many opportunities, where you work, where you live, where you shop, just to name a few.

What about those kids who come from abusive homes?

What about the abusers?

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. - Mark 10:13-16

We are a hospital for sinners!

They are sick!

God has the cure!

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

God cares for the lost!

He sent His Son to offer forgiveness and redemption!

He sent you to make sure they know!

17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 

18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  - Psalm 34:17-19

Are you doing life without caring for others!

36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? - Mark 8:36-37

Do you look down on sinners?

Remember you were once a sinner!

You were delivered by grace through faith!

That is the good news of the gospel!!!

Christ alone saves!

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:17

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. - Romans 3:22-25

Thanks Pastor Kevin!!!

Bridging the Stress Gap

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Stress is nothing new. Noah had it when he was building the ark with no rain in sight. Martha had it when she was preparing a meal for our Lord. Stress is the gap between the demands placed on us and the strength we have in meeting those demands. It is not a sin to be stressed, nor a sin to be weary. It is a sin, though, not to seek a lessening of that stress which tears down the temple of the Holy Spirit, your body. Where is your answer? In waiting upon the Lord — waiting in the midst of demands. When you learn to wait on Him, God steps in to bridge the stress gap with His mighty strength.

ACTION POINT:

Ask God to equip you to be a stress-buster today. Perhaps it will be your boss or your spouse that is “stressed out.” Rejoice in the opportunity you have to share God’s love.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Breaking Free From the Comparison Trap

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever noticed that we buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t even like? We try to keep up with the Jones family, but when we finally catch up with them, they refinance! Let me exhort you to get off that comparison treadmill and onto the pathway of serenity. You are accepted right now in Christ. God does not change you so He can love you. He loves you so He can change you! God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. If you are saved, you are in Christ. And where is He? He is seated in the heavenlies. You are also seated in those heavenly places, even though you still have your address on planet Earth. You are enthroned with Him.

ACTION POINT:

When was the last time you compared yourself with someone else? It’s time to get yourself unharnessed from the comparison yoke and break free as a child of the King!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

King of King Lord of Lords

Definition of King 

Male sovereign who has authority over kingdoms

Definition of Lord

Someone having authority and power

Definition of power

Possessing control, authority or influence over others

Definition of authority

Power to enforce obedience, right to judge

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. - Revelation 19:16

13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,

14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 which he will display at the proper time-he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. - 1 Timothy 6:13-16

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." - Revelation 17:14

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:45

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11

18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20

28 So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him." - John 8:28-29

to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. - Jude 1:25

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. - 1 Corinthians 15:19-28

What is your relationship with The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords?

I hope God's word will drive you to repentance!

Your eternity depends on your decision!

God has given you free will to make a choice for His mercy through your repentance or to live and die in rebellion against Him!

You were bought with a price!

Jesus paid it on the cross!

What Is True Humility?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever wondered what humility is all about? True humility is not thinking negatively about yourself. It is agreeing with what God says about you. The grace of God will exalt a person without inflating him and humble a person without debasing him. I am what I am because of Christ. In this life, you are not going to be sinless, but as you deal with sin in your life, you can come closer to being free from sin. Sinless? No. Blameless? Yes. As you confess and stay prayed up, you can be blameless.

ACTION POINT:

Do you have a concordance in your Bible? Do a study on the subject of “humility.” Start with Philippians 2:5-11.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Understanding the Spirit of Adoption

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

It is tragic, but many will never accept their sainthood. A while back, it was in vogue for believers to make comments like “I’m saved, but I’m not a Christian.” Then the person would explain, “Well, I’m not worthy to call myself a Christian because I’m not living like one.” Let me nail this down for you. Have you believed upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and repented of your sins? Have you called upon Him to save you from the judgment of hell? If so, then you are the next of kin to the Trinity. You are a child of the King! Since you are part of God’s family, Jesus is not only your Lord and Savior, but He is your Friend and Brother.

ACTION POINT:

Have you felt like you couldn’t call yourself a Christian because of your sin? Then get on your knees and repent of the sin of unbelief that keeps you from knowing you are a child of the King!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers