Wednesday, July 19, 2017

The Father's Wealth



BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I remember reading a story about a wealthy Roman who had a lavish estate, and he had a servant named Marcellus. When the wealthy Roman died, he wrote his will and left everything to his slave. The wealthy Roman also had a son, and for some reason he had had a disagreement with him, so in his will he said, “I have left my entire estate to my slave Marcellus. To my son, I leave him only one thing. He can choose any one thing from my estate he wants, but that's all.” The son said, “Very well, I choose Marcellus.”

Here at the end of Revelation 2, our Lord gives another sweet promise to those who overcome (v. 28):  "And I will give him," that is, the overcomer, "the morning star." Jesus is that morning star.  What He's saying is, “You'll receive the greatest reward of all, you'll receive Me, the morning star.”  Do you know what the morning star is? It’s the star that appears just after the darkest hour of the night. 

ACTION POINT:
It's getting very dark. Praise God, it's getting gloriously dark, and before long that morning star is going to appear.  Jesus is the morning star. If you choose Jesus, with Jesus comes all the Father's wealth.


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Set Free and Redeemed

The battle is won.
Victory is His.
You are set free by the Lamb of God !


According to the mercy of God and by His power bestowed on His Son to be the only worthy sacrifice to satisfy your sin guilt, you have been redeemed!

So what will you do with this gift?
Will you call on Jesus? 
Declare your sin, ask for mercy and repent! 
But this gift goes far beyond your gift. 
You have a command from Jesus to share this gospel with the world.
God alone is sovereign over all things.
He will accomplish His purpose!

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,  - Revelation 5:9

I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here I am, here I am," to a nation that was not called by my name.  - Isaiah 65:1

9 "For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. 
10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.  - Isaiah 48:9-11

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.  - Habakkuk 2:14

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. - Ephesians 1:4-6

6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 
7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."  - Isaiah 43:6-7

7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 
8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.  - Psalm 106:7-8

15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." - Romans 9:15-17










  

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Characteristics Of A Godly Troublemaker


1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."
8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. - Acts 17:1-9

Are you turning the world upside for Jesus?

You must have integrity.

Thessalonica was like our present time world.
Full of all matter of sin, including sexual sin, slavery, homosexuality, prostitution, pornography, paganism, idolatry, thievery, murder etc.
The Christians of that time lived among them but were set apart by their integrity. 
They find themselves in the flesh yet not living after the flesh.
Even in the midst of sin, God raised up His people who ran from sin.

Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.  - Proverbs 29:10

Evil sinful men will seek to destroy you!
They take their road into sin but we run.
We follow Jesus no matter the cost.
For us, there is no turning back.
It is your decision.
God is faithful.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.  - Proverbs 10:9

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.  - Proverbs 11:3

Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.  - Proverbs 13:6

We may slip to sin but we repent and God forgives.
Live as if the whole world and God sees you in your darkest moment and you do the right thing.

Living with integrity
Attend church-regularly
Read your bible-regularly
Pray-regularly
Handle your money generously in tithing 
Love your children/grandchildren unconditionally 
Fight for your marriage fiercely 
Live for Jesus aggressively 


Thanks Pastor Kevin!

















Those Who Hold Fast Will One Day Rule



BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” Revelation 2:25-27

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
In these days there will be more temptation to get away from the Word of God, the blood atonement, and salvation by grace through faith. Churches will be under attack by seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Here in Jesus’ message to Thyatira He says, “You hold fast till I come.” 

Even though it seems to be tough, remember this, dear friend—the saints are going to have their day.  Look in verse 26.  One of these days Jesus is going to come and rule this world, and we are going to rule with Him. 

If we suffer with Him, we'll also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). We are even going to judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). It may not be long before Jesus comes and His millennial reign begins here on this earth. The Bible clearly says that it's going to be a powerful reign (v. 27).

ACTION POINT:
Don't give up, don't let down. Hold fast, stick to it, stay with the Word of God.  Hold fast that old truth. Hold fast to this old Book and don't let go.


LWF Dr . Adrian Rogers

Monday, July 17, 2017

Not Fearful but Faithful



BIBLE MEDITATION:
“…and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10b

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If others in past centuries—and some even today— have reddened the mouths of lions, languished in prisons, and been scorched in the flames, can we not go out today, back to the school, back to the office, and live for Jesus Christ?  God help us that we shall.  In this evil hour, we’ll have revival when there are men and women, Christians with burning hearts, brimming eyes, and bursting lips, who fear nothing but sin and who love nothing but Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT:
Who among us will be faithful unto death? We’re not to be fearful; we’re to be faithful.


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Worthy to Die, Living for Jesus



BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried…” Revelation 2:10a

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Polycarp was the pastor of the early church in Smyrna. He was asked to renounce his faith in Christ and offer a pinch of incense to Caesar. He refused and said, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and in nothing hath He wronged me; and how, then, can I blaspheme my King, Who saved me?” When they heard that, they clamored to burn him at the stake. They brought their wood and heaped it around his feet. And then Polycarp prayed, ““I count it a blessedness to be thought worthy of a place among the martyrs of Jesus Christ.” And when that fire was kindled around his feet, he was heard singing and praising the Son of God.

ACTION POINT:
Most of us will not die at the stake, be carried to the wall and shot, or be imprisoned for the Lord Jesus Christ. We may not have a chance to die that way, but can we not die to this vile world?  Can we not die to our plans and our ambitions?  And can we not say that Jesus Christ is Lord?


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Sin Salt Judgement Grace Forgiveness Reconciliation


What is sin?
Anything that is against God's teaching.
He gave us a guide, the bible.
He gave us laws or you could say commands to make us aware of our sin.
When we don't obey, we become lawbreakers.
The good news is " while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
We start out in sin, then the gospel is spoken and eyes are opened.
They repent, when the salt of the earth (Christians) speak the words of hope found in Christ.
We teach them that judgement will come.
We teach them the pitfalls of sin and how grace and forgiveness were bought with the only acceptable ransom.
Christ death and His resurrection are the ransom.
We teach them that Christ is the only way to be reconciled to a Holy God.
God will not withhold His wrath from those sinners who remain in sin.
So, how can we teach Christ to sinners if we don't engage in conversations with them? 
Did Christ shy away from sinners?
No he did not.
He spoke the words of life to those who are perishing.
Let us speak the words in love, not sparing the truth.
Let Christ bring about the new creation through the power that is The Cross.
Be careful you are truly grounded in His word and His power for sin will stain. 


4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
9 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.
10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. - 1 John 3:4-10

7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."
8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.
11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. - Romans 7:7-25

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. - Romans 3:19-20

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

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. - 1 John 2:1-3

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:48

16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:16-17

For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.  - 2 Corinthians 6:2

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:11-15

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 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 5:11-21

Will you repent?