Thanksgiving: The Highest Expression of Faith

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“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 to possibly be beheaded 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

True Joy and Peace Come from the Lord Alone

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

You may admit that God is necessary, but do you honestly know that God is enough and that He is, in fact, more than enough? To find out if God is enough for you, let me ask you a couple of questions. Where do you obtain your joy? Is it from the Lord or from somewhere else? If your joy is from your health and it goes, then your joy will fly out the window. Many a believer has lost his health, his business, his family, his reputation, but has still maintained his joy because the source of genuine contentment and peace is in God. Indeed, one may not know that God is enough until God is all one has.

ACTION POINT:

When was the last time you visited a hospital waiting room and shared Christ with those who are hurting? Maybe you could do that sometime this weekend.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Set Free

Set Free

There is no God like our God!!!

For some the holiday season brings distress.
For whatever reason, death of loved ones, job issues, health issues, mental illness etc.
Be in prayer for God to change their hearts and minds.

25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it."

26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.

27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."

28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.

29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down.

31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name,"

32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."

34 And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time.

35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God." - 1 Kings 18:25-39

Set free from your depression

Find Godly friends who will build you up.

Stay away from negative people.
Love and encourage them but keep your distance.

24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 

25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.  - Proverbs 22:24-25

Analyze the reactions to depression.

Elijah ran from his problems.

Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. - 1 Kings 19:3

Elijah forgot who he was.

God sustains you.

Stop and listen.

Know who you are

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." - 1 Kings 19:4

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

10 He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." - 1 Kings 19:9-10

Trust the Lord.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

Apply the remedy for depression.

Maintain your physical health.

5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat."

6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. - 1 Kings 19:5-6

Eat.

Rest.

Revive.

God rested!

2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. - Genesis 2:2-3

Eat a balanced diet.

Exercise a little.

Stay close to the presence of God and His people.

11 And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. - 1 Kings 19:11-12

God is in the whispers.

Be still, and listen.

Don't give up on church.

Don't give up on God!

You are precious to God!

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.  - Isaiah 49:16

Thanks Pastor Kevin!!!

Just Keep Praying

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There’s an old song with the refrain “Just keep on praying ‘til light breaks through.” When you don’t feel like praying, that’s when you need to. You need to pray until you do feel like praying. You see, you’re not praying by yourself. The Spirit is praying through you and for you, helping to present your petitions to the Father — petitions that perhaps you yourself are not even capable of expressing. Do not approach God with your hands full of the brass of your emotions. Rather, approach Him with hands and heart full of the sweet incense of His worth. Just keep praying.

ACTION POINT:

How’s your prayer life? Do you say grace before meals and squeeze in a quick prayer before you drop off to sleep each night? Take some time today to talk to the Lord.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

It Is Not Ours to Ask "Why?"

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.” 2 Samuel 22:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When bewilderment enshrouds you and despair looms at your door, when trials storm the beaches of your life, you may want to ask God, “Why? Why? Why?” Friend, you may never understand why things are happening the way they are in your life, but that’s not your job. You see, it is not necessary for you to know why. That is God’s question. Your response is all that matters. When we can’t feel His hand, we must trust His heart. Our job is to simply trust and obey.

ACTION POINT:

Is there something happening in your life for which you have no explanation, but long for answers? Ask God to give you peace and grace to trust Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Subtlety of Sin

What does this word subtle mean?

It means things that are hard to see, indirect and clever, or not showing their real purpose.
Some sin is subtle!

Some sin is blatant!

We know murder is wrong, stealing also but what about the things society as a whole seem to accept that are sin?

I'm speaking of sex outside marriage, unnatural sex, misrepresenting the truth of God's word, not loving your neighbor, and a host of many more.

You see, Satan has a plan is to break down our morals, whispering it's not so bad.

His aim is to destroy our compass of right and wrong leading us deeper into a world of me and what I want.

Forget God and I'll give you your hearts desire!

Sound familiar?

Didn't he temp Jesus with I'll give you the world?

Wake up people! 

Sin is real, people of the world are guilty!

I am guilty, you are guilty!

Repent!

Stop excusing your sin!
Stop excusing others sin!

Sin brings judgement!

Sin used to be something you kept hidden.

Now it is worn like a medal!

You see the way things have changed?

Through subtlety!!!

We, as Christians are a light meant to deliver people from darkness.

We must speak the truth, that is why the world hates us.

The world belongs to Satan.
But God has the final say!!!

There is no God but Jehovah!! 

All other gods are idols!

There is a choice, to repent from your sin or to embrace sin and follow the way of the lost world.

6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 

7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 

8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. 

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 

11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.  - Psalm 107:6-11

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."

10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"  - Matthew 4:8-10

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14

5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 

6 "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 

7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 

8 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.  - Isaiah 42:5-8

For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.  - Isaiah 3:9

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

Heartfelt Soul Winning Brings a Bountiful Harvest

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you know what you’re doing in the morning when you have a quiet time? Weeding your garden. You’re weeding the garden of your mind, so that the good seed of the Word of God can multiply. Now, the next step is to plant the seed and cultivate His harvest. And when you go out to win souls, water the crop with your tears. Read how the Lord’s heart broke over the people He longed to embrace and love unto Himself (see John 17). Learn this same sort of compassion in the garden God has given you to harvest for His kingdom.

ACTION POINT:

Ask God to put you into His fields of service today. Ask Him to make you bold, yet compassionate and wise to share His Good News.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers