Is It Really A Surprise?

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" 

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. - 1 Peter 4:12-19

This world is not our home!

We are sojourners, only here but a short time, but have we become too comfortable in what we are accustomed to? 

This is what we are used to, our beloved comfort zone!

We have lost sight of our real home!

It's coming!

Fiery trials!

Persecutions, trials of all kinds, and yes possibly even death.

We are warned!

Christ suffered!

Christ was persecuted!

He was thrown out of the temple, despised, reviled, beaten, stabbed, spit on, slandered, falsely accused, shamed, mocked and crucified. 

Settle it in your mind and heart, trials are coming.

Stand firm in the knowledge of a Lord who is able!

Our Creator has you!

He has shown you by His example.

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. - Luke 23:46

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:22-24

No shame!

No shame in persecution, no shame in being ridiculed, no shame in being mocked, or despised, or snubbed, or the endless sarcasm we face.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, - 1 Peter 2:4

"Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. - Luke 6:26

Remembering this:

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

Rejoice!

Can we see the beauty in suffering?

Can we see the beauty in Christ suffering death on the cross?

We know the cost.

We know what His death conquered!

We know what His Resurrection did and all the glory it has brought!!!

We give our life as a witness!

11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:11-12

40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. - Acts 5:40-41

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. - Romans 5:2-6

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. - James 1:2-3

Good deeds!

Hope in the Lord!

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, - 1 Peter 3:14-18

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. - 1 Peter 3:9 

In good, in bad, whatever the circumstance, glorify God!

By God's grace, glorify God in your refining judgement.

Show the world that God satisfies!!!

Thank you Pastor John!!!

Holding Back—Nothing!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.” Mark 14:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Mary loved Jesus so much that she gave all she had. She didn’t just pour out a little perfume to anoint Him, she gave it all (see Mark 14:3-9). She couldn’t put that perfume back in the bottle. She had broken it! Maybe it was her inheritance or hope chest. She didn’t hold back any for a rainy day or her retirement.

Most of us would have said, “Lord, I would like to give You a little of this perfume. It cost me a year in wages, so I can’t give it all to You. But I want You to have some of it to show You how much I love You.”

ACTION POINT:

Does this speak to your heart as much as it does mine? Confess, “Lord, I’m not willing to break the alabaster box. Forgive me. Enable me to give my all. Here I am. Take all of me.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Secret of Effectual Prayer

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. - Romans 11:36

The Divine Triangle 

Sovereign God

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

It's of Him-the origin

It's through Him-the operation

It's to Him-the objective

The origin of effectual prayer roots in the purpose of God.

The prayer that gets to heaven starts in heaven.

God allows man to pray.

Why should you pray?

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. - James 4:3

God gives us the privilege to work with Him.

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. - 2 Corinthians 6:1

Prayer bonds us with God.

Prayer disciples us.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  - Psalm 66:18

Prayer finds the will of God.

1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."

6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,

10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. - Luke 5:1-11

The operation of effectual prayer relies on the power of God.

Our desire to pray comes from God.

10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 

11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.  - Romans 3:10-11

God gives the desire to pray.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. - Romans 8:5-7

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" - Romans 8:15

God gives you the direction to pray.

So you can find the will of God.

Look into heaven.

Present yourself as a holy sacrifice to be consumed by God.

So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. - John 5:19

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. - Romans 12:1

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2

God causes you to pray in faith.

Be alone with Him.

Speak Lord we are listening.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:17

The objective of effectual prayer is the praise of God.

To God be the glory with our thanksgiving.

Prayer is the Holy Spirit finding a desire in a follower, putting that desire in your heart, and then sending it back by the power of the cross in the name of Jesus for the glory go God.

Thank you Pastor Adrian Rogers!! 

God's Mission Through Us

God saved you for His mission of sharing the gospel hope with the world.

How does this look?

Sharing God's word, medical and dental missions, building churches, teaching farming techniques, giving seeds, giving tools, showing God's love by being there, teaching Pastors, giving the gift of clean water, teaching the importance of cleanliness, fun street fairs for children, giving clothes and shoes and many other ways.

We must share the hope of Christ with those who sit in the darkness of sin!

His blood cleanses our sin, there is no other way!

How does God work through me?

Be ready for the opportunities God will supply.

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place. - Acts 8:26

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, - 1 Peter 3:15

Pay attention!

27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship

28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." - Acts 8:27-29

Get busy!

30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" Acts 8:30

And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. - Acts 8:31

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. - Acts 8:35

Jesus will save the lost!

God has a design for you.

You are a sinner.

You are broken.

You must repent.

He will forgive you

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:13

Why is it important for God to work through me?

Heaven is awesome.

Hell is awful.

Life is brief.

Judgement is coming.

Eternity is forever.

Thank you Pastor Kevin!!!

What God Wants Most

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you asked a Christian brother or sister why God made us, they would probably say that we were made to serve God. But don’t you believe it. If God wanted servants, He could do a lot better than mere mortals.

When the scribes asked Jesus what was the first commandment, He said, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strengthl: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30).

The first commandment is not to do something for God, but to love God. He made you and me in the likeness of His image, that He might have fellowship with us and that we would praise Him.

ACTION POINT:

Meditate throughout the day on this wonderful thought: God isn’t asking for your performance. He wants your love.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

No Longer Hungry, But Satisfied

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever.” Psalm 22:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever wondered why people stumble into pornography? Perhaps you even struggle in that area. It’s because they are not feeding on Jesus. They are seeking satisfaction in the evil pleasures of this world, rather than the eternal promises of eternity.

Suppose you just finished a wonderful meal and somebody knocks on your front door. You answer it, and they hold forth a plate full of stale crumbs saying, “Take this. Eat.” You would say, “No thank you, I don’t need that. I’m already satisfied.”

ACTION POINT:

When you feast on the goodness of Jesus, you won’t be down a dark alley eating tin cans with the devil’s billy goats. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that  on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What You Really Believe, You Will Act Upon

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Fifteen college professors who taught human motivation were asked to write a concise statement on human motivation. After hours of study, they said: “What the mind attends to, it considers. What the mind does not attend to, it dismisses. What the mind attends to continually, it believes. What the mind believes, it eventually does.”

How much of the Bible have you read? More importantly, how much are you applying to your life?

Many read the Bible like a math book rather than a love story. They get the words, but they don’t get the music.

ACTION POINT:

It is not enough to simply read the Word. You must ask God to teach you. Psalm 119:18 says, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” Go to Him today and ask for that.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers