Is Jesus Your Stumbling Block or Your Stepping Stone?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Jesus Christ will be either a stepping stone into heaven or a stumbling stone into hell. No one can be neutral about Jesus Christ. Either you rise on Him, or you fall on Him. You cannot walk around Him. Either you’re saved by Him or you’re judged by Him.

ACTION POINT:

You will encounter Jesus Christ. He is inevitable. He is unavoidable. He is inescapable. What you do with Jesus Christ determines what Jesus Christ will do with you.  What are you doing with Jesus Christ today?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Saved, Sealed and Secure!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does it mean that you are sealed with the Holy Spirit?

First, it is a mark of authenticity. If the Holy Spirit is not in you, then you are a fake. First John 3:24 says, “And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.”

Second, the seal is a mark of ownership, like the branding of a cow. You are His. Romans 8:9 says, “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”

Third, the seal is a mark of security. Esther 8:8 tells about this type of seal, which “no man can reverse.”

ACTION POINT:

The way I am kept saved is because God sealed me. The way you are kept saved, is because God has sealed you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

One Who Sows To The Spirit

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

The flesh fades away.

The spirit is eternal.

Are your works of the spirit or the flesh?

Works of the spirit

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. - Galatians 5:22-26

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. - Romans 7:4

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. - Romans 8:6

(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), - Ephesians 5:9

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. - James 3:17-18

Works of the flesh

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21

 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. - Colossians 3:5-11

for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? - 1 Corinthians 3:3

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. - Ephesians 5:3-5

18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone." - Matthew 15:18-20

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. - James 3:13-16

Faith: Your Link To Promise And Victory

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The life of Joshua in the Old Testament is an illustration of Jesus. As a matter of fact, Joshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus. The Lord Jesus is our heavenly Joshua who leads us into the land of promise and victory. And what is this victory? It is a victory of faith.

There is nothing more, nothing less that will achieve the victory in our lives but faith. Victory is not achieved by fighting. Victory is received by faith.

ACTION POINT:

You see, when God has a gigantic task He wants us to perform, He gives the contract to faith. Your faith links your nothingness to God’s almightiness and victory is yours for the taking!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

We’re Only On The Threshold Of Knowing Him!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.” Psalm 102:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I have been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for more than fifty years, but I feel I’m just on the threshold of discovering Him. I want to move closer and closer to Him and learn more and more about Him.

Do you know what Paul said at the end of his ministry? That he may know God (see Philippians 3:10). Did he know God? Yes, but he knew so little about Him.

Let me ask you a question. Did Christopher Columbus discover America? Well, he touched on the shores of America. But even today there are thousands of unnamed lakes, forests, and more where no one has yet completely explored.

There is so much in Christ.

ACTION POINT:

You may have “touched on” Christ, but God’s plan is that you know Him more and more each day.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

My Plans My Desires My Goals

The story of Balaam teaches us to put God's plans, desires and goals above our own.

Actively listen to God.

There is a difference between hearing and actually listening to God.

8 And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"

10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

11 'Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

12 God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." - Numbers 22:8-12

Examine my ways.

Thoughts influence my talk.

My talk effects my walk with God.

You have already made your mind up to do something and God says no.

Ask yourself why you want it!

For God's glory or yours?

A strong why makes you grounded!

What is your price?

God knows your heart!

13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."

14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us." - Numbers 22:13-14

15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.

16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: 'Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'" - Numbers 22:15-17

But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more. - Numbers 22:18

Trust God's ways.

Do you keep going back to see if God has changed His mind?

Obey His will!

Seek His will!

Don't put a coma where God has put a period.

19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me."

20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you."

21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. - Numbers 22:19-21

Use spiritual discernment.

Don't have a rebellious state of mind.

Notice the unusual things.

God will give you a word!

And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. - Numbers 22:23

And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. - Numbers 22:25

When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. - Numbers 22:27

Be willing to admit my wrongs.

Repent!

God I have messed up!

God I ignored You!

Seek God first!!

Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back." - Numbers 22:34

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. There is nothing progressive about being pig-headed and refusing to admit a mistake.  C.S. Lewis

Have you missed God's warning signs?

Are you on the wrong road?

Thanks Pastor Draper!!

Which Grace Do You Need Most Today?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Bible speaks of the “manifold” grace of God. What does that mean? It means we can experience God’s grace in many ways. For instance, there is singing grace. When Paul and Silas were in prison, God gave them grace to sing (see Acts 16:25).

There is speaking grace. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” God will give you the ability to talk about your troubles with His grace.

God also gives us strengthening grace. Timothy was often sick with many infirmities. Paul told him to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

ACTION POINT:

Which do you need today? Singing grace? Speaking grace? Strengthening grace? All three? Spend time in the Word of God today and draw from the manifold grace of God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers