How can it be gloriously dark?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

We’re living in strange days, are we not? When I see what's happening to this world, if I didn't know the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m not sure what I would do. Yet, knowing the Bible and Bible prophecy, when I see all these things coming to pass, they do not shake me. Sometimes they grieve me, sometimes they sadden me, but they do not shake me. That’s because I know God's Word. I know they’re a fulfillment of prophecy. I can say with all the saints, “Praise God, it's getting gloriously dark.”

The book of Revelation is known as “the blessing book” because it’s the only book out of the 66 books in the Bible that promises in chapter 1, verse 3, a blessing to those who study it.

Our hope is not found in studying science books. There’s no eternal blessing in books of politics or sociology. Friend, the blessing is in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the book, the Bible—the Word of God, the Book of the Ages.

But how are you going to know this? You've got to know prophecy. God gave us the book of Revelation to show us the “things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev. 1:1). You're not supposed to be in the dark. You're to be informed. You are to know, so “that day will not overtake you as a thief” (1 Thess. 5:4).

ACTION POINT:

Next time you read something in the paper that shadows the end times, use it as an open door to share the Second Coming of Jesus with someone.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

7 Reasons Not to Worry, Part 1

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25–26)

We are going to spend three days on this part of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus is dealing specifically with anxiety about food and clothing. But, in fact, it relates to all anxiety.

Even in America, with its extensive welfare system, anxiety over finances and housing and food and clothing can be intense. Not to mention Christians who live in situations where much greater poverty threatens life. But Jesus says in verse 30 that our anxiety comes from little faith in our Father’s promise of future grace: “O you of little faith.”

These verses (25–34) contain at least seven promises designed by Jesus to help us fight the good fight against unbelief and be free from anxiety. (Today we look at Promises 1 and 2 — then over the next two days at the rest.)

Promise #1: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

Since your body and your life are vastly more complex and difficult to provide than food and clothing are, and yet God has, in fact, created and provided you with both, then surely he will be able and willing to provide you with food and clothing.

Moreover, no matter what happens, God will raise your body someday and preserve your life and body for his eternal fellowship.

Promise #2: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

If God is willing and able to feed such insignificant creatures as birds who cannot do anything to bring their food into being — as you can by farming — then he will certainly provide what you need, because you are worth a lot more than birds. You, unlike the birds, have the amazing capacity to glorify God by trusting, obeying, and thanking God.

John Piper 

Pop Quiz: Which 2 books does Satan hate most?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When I was in seminary, my wife, Joyce, told me, “You’re going to flunk if you don’t start hitting your school books.”

Instead I was reading books on prophecy. I told her, “I’ve got to find out what this is all about. They’re not teaching it in school.” And as I would study these, I felt something growing in my heart. My life was being transformed. God was giving me spiritual strength and building me up. There’s a blessing to be found in studying prophecy—especially the book of Revelation.

Incidentally, the devil doesn’t want us to study it. The two books the devil hates most are Genesis and Revelation. Why? 

• In Genesis the devil's doom is pronounced. 

• In Revelation it’s carried out.

Satan would tell us Genesis is myth and Revelation is mystery—don't pay attention to either one! Did you know there's no devil in either the first two or last two chapters of the Bible?

But there’s a special blessing in the book of Genesis, because it’s the seed bed of all theology. And Revelation is the culmination of all theology.

Revelation is the golden clasp that binds the volumes together. What we see as an embryo in the book of Genesis, we see in completion and fulfillment in the book of Revelation.

Nothing fuels the flames of evangelism like a proper understanding of prophecy.

ACTION POINT:

When was the last time you read the book of Revelation? Maybe you can start on it today!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

How to Fight Anxiety

[Cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Notice: it does not say, “I never struggle with fear.” Fear strikes, and the battle begins. So the Bible does not assume that true believers will have no anxieties. Instead, the Bible tells us how to fight when they strike.

For example, 1 Peter 5:7 says, “[Cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” It does not say, you will never feel any anxieties. It says, when you have them, cast them on God. When the mud splatters your windshield and you temporarily lose sight of the road and start to swerve in anxiety, turn on your wipers and squirt your windshield washer.

So my response to the person who has to deal with feelings of anxiety every day is to say: that’s more or less normal. At least it is for me, ever since my teenage years. The issue is: How do we fight them?

The answer to that question is: we fight anxieties by fighting against unbelief and fighting for faith in future grace. And the way you fight this “good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7) is by meditating on God’s assurances of future grace and by asking for the help of his Spirit.

The windshield wipers are the promises of God that clear away the mud of unbelief, and the windshield washer fluid is the help of the Holy Spirit. The battle to be freed from sin — including the sin of anxiety — is fought “by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The work of the Spirit and the word of truth. These are the great faith-builders. Without the softening work of the Holy Spirit, the wipers of the word just scrape over the blinding clumps of unbelief on the windshield.

Both are necessary: the Spirit and the word. We read the promises of God and we pray for the help of his Spirit. And as the windshield clears so that we can see the welfare that God plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), our faith grows stronger and the swerving of anxiety straightens out.

John Piper 

In a storm? Check your boat!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  Mark 4:39

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Remember when Jesus was with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee and a storm came upon them? Lightning began to play in the wind. The sea churned and gentle winds turned into a cruel gale. The little ship was tossed and turned like a cork. The disciples despaired and said to the Lord Jesus Christ who was asleep, “Don’t you care if we perish? Do something!” Jesus spoke to the storm, “Peace, be still.” The winds ceased and the sea calmed.

This world is headed into a storm and the spiritual barometer is dropping. Our world will not know peace until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, comes and says, “Peace, be still.”

ACTION POINT:

Read the full account of what happened to the disciples in Mark 4:36-41. What application can you give to your life?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What Does God Expect From Me Part 2

Act justly!

Love Mercy!

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  - Micah 6:8

Look for opportunities to show mercy or kindness. 

Mercy - Greek word, Eleos - to show compassion - loving kindness - passion from the heart

Grace - receiving what you don't deserve

Heaven - salvation

Mercy - not receiving what you do deserve

Judgement - Hell - Discipline 

God's covenant with you!

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. - Revelation 21:3

And you shall be my people, and I will be your God."  - Jeremiah 30:22

Mercy and grace from God changes you!

You are free indeed!

Two practical reasons to love mercy

1. What goes around comes around.

Remember life happens, hurts, addictions, job loss, deaths, sickness and a kind word heals.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. - Matthew 5:7

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  - Matthew 6:12

12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. - James 2:12-13

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.  - Proverbs 11:17

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.  - Proverbs 3:27

2. Life is too brief not to make a difference.

What is your priority in life? 

Is it you or others?

You are a walking Testament of Christ.

See - Act - Give

Jesus healed those in need.

Jesus ate with Zacchaeus the tax collector who was despised by everyone.

Jesus set the demon possessed man free.

Jesus spoke the words of life to the woman at the well.

Jesus loved mercy!

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"

27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

28 And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"

37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise." - Luke 10:25-37

Thank you Pastor Kevin!

The Key To Eternal Life

In Christ alone!

That is the key leading you to repentance!

The scriptures lead to Him!

His blood, His death, and His Resurrection!

Atonement, forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, this was your debt paid by Christ.

God's wrath was satisfied by Christ alone.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, - John 5:39

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you";  - Hebrews 5:5

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 5:7-10

30 "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,

38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. - John 5:30-38

40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

41 I do not receive glory from people.

42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" - John 5:40-47

For you: Repent!

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."

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this."

33 So Paul went out from their midst.

34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. - Acts 17:23-34