Single-mindedness

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.” 1 Peter 1:13-14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

“Gird up your loins” is a figure of speech mentioned a few times in God’s Word. Here’s a phrase we use today to say the same thing: roll up your sleeves. It means to get serious about what you’re doing.

We need to get serious about being Christians and living for God. One aspect of that is to have “a single mind.”

Have you ever heard the expression “Don't put all your eggs in one basket”? I believe Peter would tell us to do just that, then label that basket, “Jesus is coming back!”

We need to be single-minded, living with a passionate, burning focus upon His return.

ACTION POINT:

What are you doing today in anticipation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? Are you living with the understanding that Christ could return at any moment?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Will Remain?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A thousand years from now, some of the things that you think are so important are not going to be so important—your meticulously groomed lawn, who won the Super Bowl, your date for the Senior Prom, the make and model of your car.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with these things, but I want to ask you: What is there about your life that is going to remain when the mountains have crumbled? When the stars have fallen from their sockets?

Wood, hay, and stubble are going up in flames! But “if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14). Things are going to look much different in the light of eternity.

ACTION POINT:

In your day today, ask yourself what are you doing, what are you building upon, that will remain?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

A Desire for Holiness

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God expects us to be holy. But when most people talk about holiness, they get a little nervous. They’re interested in heaven and the hereafter but not holiness in the here and now. They’re interested in health, happiness, even helpfulness, but not holiness.

I had the privilege years ago to spend a day in prayer with Dr. Billy Graham and some other men. As we were sitting around a table sharing, Billy Graham said something I shall never forget. He said, “Gentlemen, I long to be holy. I want to be a holy man. Pray for me, that I will be holy.”

ACTION POINT:

Can you say, “More than anything in this world, I long to be holy”? If you can’t, then spend some time today asking God to turn your heart to His and give you the desire to live a holy life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

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!!!