In The Shelter of His Wings

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings.” Psalm 61:3-4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Of the 6500 hymns written by Charles Wesley, surely none is considered finer than the one titled “Jesus, Lover Of My Soul.” Many accounts have been shared as to the inspiration behind this song, but whether any are true, indeed the song’s lyrics are a poignant picture of a young man’s journey into discovering the love of his life—Jesus.

The third verse of this great hymn begins, “Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find.”

ACTION POINT:

Where is your heart today? Are you suffering from a broken relationship or the loss of a loved one? Run, don’t walk, into His waiting arms of love. He wants to bind up your hurt and bring hope to your heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Head-Belief Is One Thing—Action Is Another!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.” Colossians 1:21-22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A man stretched a tightrope across Niagara Falls and pushed a wheelbarrow across it. Next, he filled the wheelbarrow with 200 lbs. of cement and pushed it across. The onlookers were astounded.

Then the tightrope walker asked the crowd, “How many of you believe I could do this with a man in the wheelbarrow?” The hands flew into the air. He pointed to a man who had his hand up and he said, “All right sir. You get in first.” Well, you couldn’t see the man for the trail of dust he left behind.

ACTION POINT:

It’s not enough for you to say you believe in God. Are you willing to act upon your belief? God is calling you to a relationship with Him. Will you answer His call?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Never Takes His Eyes from You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.” Psalm 139:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God sees everything you do. God knows all about you. God loves you. It is an amazing thing that the Lord would feel this way about any of us, when we are about the size of a grain of sand compared to the universe that He created.

There is no more reason for God to be interested in us than for the President of the United States to be interested in an ant floating on a piece of cheesecake in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. And yet God is interested...very interested.

The sun that stays in the sky and warms the earth will ripen a bunch of bananas like it has nothing better to do. In the same way, Almighty God runs the universe and is concerned about you as though you were His only concern.

ACTION POINT:

Don’t close this page until that sinks deep into your heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Our Loss and Gain

Strength through authority!

Adam gave us:

Sinfulness rather than God's standard.

We are weak, ungodly and full of sin.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6-8

Sin is the transgression of the law.

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. - 1 John 3:4

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. - James 2:10

Sin is failing to do what we should have done.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. - James 4:17

Sin is not believing God or a lack of faith.

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. - Romans 14:23

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. - John 3:18

Sin is human goodness.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.  - Proverbs 21:4

Adam brought wrath rather than approval.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. - Romans 5:9

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. - Romans 5:18

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. - 1 Corinthians 15:22

There is no reincarnation.

There is no chance after death.

Not all will be saved.

Christ is the only way, there is no other.

Sin brought warfare instead of peace.

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. - Romans 5:10

Sin is high treason against the King.

It's a clinched fist shaken toward God.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. - Matthew 12:30

All are in sin and death through Adam but all are alive in Christ through salvation.

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. - 1 Corinthians 15:22

Jesus brought much more than justification.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. - Romans 5:9

The cross brought 

Justice-God giving what we deserve 

Mercy-God giving what we don't deserve

Grace-Made righteous through Christ

Jesus brought much more than reconciliation.

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. - Romans 5:10

Jesus brought much more than regeneration.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. - Romans 5:15

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

Jesus brought much mote than righteousness.

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:17

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, - Romans 4:5

God has put it on your account, you didn't earn it!!!

just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: - Romans 4:6

We are in Christ, He covers our sin!

7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 

8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."  - Romans 4:7-8

Jesus brought much more of our reign

20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 5:20-21

We have a heavenly kingdom!

Christ was obedient unto the cross, taking our sin, paying our debt and given us eternal life.

You can stay under Adam and sin or you can choose Christ and life!

Thank you Pastor Adrian!!!

The Captain Comes to Take Over

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Joshua had an encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament near Jericho (see Joshua 5). His first words to Him were, “Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (v.13). Joshua was on his guard, not wanting anyone to harm God’s people. Notice the Lord’s response, “Nay; but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come” (v. 14). Basically, He didn’t come to take sides, He came to take over.

Jesus is the Captain of the host of heaven, and this Conqueror with the drawn sword came to give Joshua a message of victory.

ACTION POINT:

You will never know victory until you lay your sword at His feet, bow yourself prostrate before His Mighty Throne, and worship Him. Before you can be a conqueror, you must be conquered. I pray you will soon be on the sunny side of Hallelujah Avenue where the glory roads intersect!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rigers

Why I Believe In the Bible

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! 

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 

3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 

4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 

5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 

6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 

7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 

8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! 

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 

10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 

12 Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! 

13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. 

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 

15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 

16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119

The abundance of God and His word!

Confidence in the word.

God's word is accurate!

We were once taught that the world was flat.

It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;  - Isaiah 40:22

God's power.

He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.  - Job 26:7

Over 3200 prophecies have been fulfilled.

Over 400 about Jesus have been fulfilled.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.  - Micah 5:2

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.  - Psalm 41:9

Timeless, tested and true!

God's word is alive!

It's God's heartbeat!

It's supernatural!

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

God's word is available!

Are you available to God's word?

God will speak to you!

Will you obey?

Properly align your heart and life to Christ!

Thank you Pastor Kelly Knouse!!!

The Seed

God's seed!

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. - 1 John 3:9

Eternal seed!

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

24 for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.  - 1 Peter 1:23-25

By God's power!!

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. - 2 Corinthians 9:10

10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  - Isaiah 55:10-11

God's harvest!

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. - Galatians 6:8

35 But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?"

36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. - 1 Corinthians 15:35-37

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. - John 12:24

God's supernatural power!

And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." - Ezekiel 37:3

4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD." - Ezekiel 37:4-6

28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice

29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. - John 5:28-29

The mystery of the seed!!

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 

55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15:51-57