Success In The Kingdom

Success is faithfulness.

Faithfulness to God and Jesus.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. - Acts 20:24

18 And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 

19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;

20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,

21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,

23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. - Acts 20:18-23

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

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 8:34-37

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:1-3

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. - 2 Timothy 4:7

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

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58

15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." - Acts 9:15-16

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,

31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. - Acts 28:30-31

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"

61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?

62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

64 But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

65 And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. - John 6:60-66

8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 "'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.' - Revelation 2:8-11

Faithfulness 

1. Selflessness 

Christ gave His life on the cross so that you may receive forgiveness. 

2. Steadfastness 

So that you may finish your race with joy

Yearn for knowing the Lord.

Yearn for obedience.

3.  Service

The ministry I received from the Lord.

Carry the gospel to the world.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Make disciples.

Men love your wives and children by loving Jesus and being faithful to both.

Wives love your husband by loving Jesus and being faithful to both.

Thank you Pastor Madison!!!

A Challenge For Fathers

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders.” Proverbs 31:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Once a year, we celebrate fathers. Maybe you are one. Let me give you a challenge. One father said, “If I had it to do all over again. I’d love my wife more in front of my children. I’d laugh with my children more. I’d listen more, even to the youngest child. I’d be more honest about my own weaknesses and stop pretending perfection. I would pray differently for my children. I would be more encouraging and bestow more praise. And finally, if I had it to do all over again, I would use every ordinary thing that happened in every ordinary day to point them to God.”

ACTION POINT:

Praise God for the impact of godly fathers in our lives!

Celebrate the dad in your life today!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Three Things You Must Have

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalm 97:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Years ago the Reader’s Digest published an article which said that in order for a person to be happy and have fulfillment, three things were necessary:

First, they needed something to believe.

Second, they needed someone to love.

Third, they needed something worthwhile to do.

That’s true, not because Reader’s Digest said it, but because God’s Word affirms it. There must be more to life than your next breath or your next step. And His name is Jesus Christ. He is indeed the fulfillment of all three of those needs.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus is the One to believe in, He is the Someone to love, and His cause is the something worthwhile for you to do. Do you yearn for happiness? Every need can be met in your life through Jesus Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

It’s Essential For Your Growth

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

1 Corinthians 1:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Word of God is indispensable for salvation. We are conceived by it. 1 Peter 1:23 says that we are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

The Word of God is indispensable for sanctification. We are cleansed by it. 1 Peter 1:22 says, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren.”

The Word of God is indispensable for sustenance. We are completed by it. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

ACTION POINT:

Do you want to grow? Then you’d better get into the Word of God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

He Has Called You By Name And You Are His

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

J. Sidlow Baxter once said, “Your emotions are the shallowest part of your nature. Salvation is the deepest work of God. He is not going to do His deepest work in the shallowest part.”

Someone may think he knows me because he hears my voice or read my words, but he cannot look deep down into my spirit. From the time I gave my heart to Jesus Christ, there has been a stamp of authenticity upon my heart saying, “Adrian, you belong to Me.”

It is not an emotional feeling, because emotions have nothing to do with salvation. It is also not an intellectual thing, because salvation is not an act that a man can rationalize. Salvation is a God thing.

ACTION POINT: 

You need not look for a sign or a feeling. Your trust is not in your emotions but in the Savior who has called you by name, and you are His.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Jesus Defeated the Enemy And So Can You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, He was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1). He did not overcome Satan as God, but as man anointed by the power of God.

He could have said, “Satan, I want you to know that because I am God, I will obliterate you this moment.” Had He asserted His power as God, then when He asks us to overcome the devil, we could respond, “Sure, it’s easy for you to say it. You’re God. Don’t expect me to do what You did.”

Jesus didn’t pull rank on us. Instead, God anointed Jesus as a man to do what we, as humans, can also do by His anointing. You and I have what we need to face any temptation. For we are in Christ, and He is in us.

ACTION POINT:

You have the same Father to call upon and the same Word of God to use against the enemy. You do not have to yield, give up, or give in. Instead, you can have the victory over him, just as Jesus did. Remember, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What Jesus Finds verses What Jesus Seeks

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.

13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

14 And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.

17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."

18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.

19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

21 And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."

22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.

23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." - Mark 11:12-25

This passage meddles with the discrepancy between what is seen on the outside and what is really on the inside.

What Jesus finds: leaves but no fruit.

A fig tree that only has leaves in April was a fig tree that was diseased or dying.

Mark is drawing a connection between Jesus' evaluation of the tree and His evaluation of the Temple.

Jesus isn't looking for foliage . 

He's looking for fruit.

What Jesus sees: formal rituals undermining genuine worship.

The Temple has become an end in itself. 

Empty religion is shallow, prayer-less and ingrown. 

It grieved Jesus to see Gentile worship spaces but no Gentile worshipers.

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD.

3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.

4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.'

5 "For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,

6 if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,

7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

8 "Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.

9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,

10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'-only to go on doing all these abominations?

11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD. - Jeremiah 7:1-11

23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

28 for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.' 

29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." - Acts 17:23-31

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

What Jesus Seeks:

The fruit of faith, prayers, and mercy.

Jesus is not merely cleansing the Temple, 

He's closing it.

Jesus isn't seeking a people who will busy themselves with religion.

Jesus wants nothing less than whole-hearted, upward looking, outward-reaching faith.

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. - Hebrews 10:19-23

Jesus is great high Priest.

Jesus is Sacrifice.

Jesus is the Temple.

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. - 1 Timothy 2:5-6

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:14-16

Thanks Pastor Matt!!