The Rapture of The Church

Devotional thought from the messages of Adrian Rogers


BIBLE MEDITATION:
1 Thessalonians 4:16 - “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Before Jesus can come, I believe there will be seven years of terrible tribulation. It will be a time of tyranny and persecution. It will be a time when all nature will be out of joint and when demon spirits will infest the world. It will be a time when the anti Christ will rule and reign. But before the tribulation comes, the Church is going to be raptured out. You might find it interesting to note that the word “rapture” is not found in the Bible, but the word “caught up” is, and that’s literally what the word “rapture” means. We will be “caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

ACTION POINT:
Do your loved ones know what the rapture means? Why not ask them what they think this next week and open the door for a candid discussion about the future?

"Why Is there Suffering in the World?"

Love Worth Finding - Adrian Rogers

Faithful to the Fellowship

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know what is happening in America today? People who claim to be Christians are not getting involved and becoming faithful to a church the local fellowship of believers. Such a thing was unheard of in the Bible. If you were a Christian, you were faithful to the fellowship. You attended when everyone gathered together. If you stopped attending, they assumed that you were an apostate. What is more important than the local visible expression of the body of Christ? It is the way we stay “plugged in” to the needs of the body of Christ. It is the way we show honor to Him in worship. It is simply the way.

ACTION POINT:
What do you have on your schedule this week that is more important than being a part of the blood-bought body of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Remembering Those Who Have Sacrificed for Us

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place.”Exodus 13:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Each year, Americans remember those brave-hearted souls who fought and gave their lives so that you and I would have the rights and privileges of living in a free country. Remembering is important. In fact, God instructs His people on many occasions in the Old Testament to remember from whence they came and to remember His providence. It is by the mighty hand of God that we are saved, we are protected, and we are free to live in the Land of the Brave. Never take that freedom for granted, my friend. It is a precious commodity for which the world hungers, and it is a powerful charge for you and I to protect.

ACTION POINT:
Do you know of someone in your life who has served in the armed forces of this country? Make it a point this week to express to them your gratitude for their service.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Watching to Find You Faithful

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
Luke 16:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There was a man who was going to be made a chief executive. The Board of Directors talked about it, and it was a “done deal.” In the company cafeteria one day, the existing CEO was behind this man in line. Unbeknownst to the man, the CEO saw him take a pat of butter that cost about 3 cents, then put a slice of bread over the butter so that no one would see it. The CEO went back to the Board and told them they had the wrong man. He told them that he didn’t have integrity, and for 3 cents the man lost a monumental promotion.

ACTION POINT:
Are you faithful in the little things? Let this be the beginning of a new day of faithfulness in your life. Remember the little things and that God is watching to find you faithful.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Being a Man of Your Word

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
In June, we take time to focus on fathers, and I’ve discovered in talking with teenagers that many harbor bitterness and resentment. Much of that resentment is directed toward their fathers over the serious matter of broken promises. If you’re a dad who wants to restore your relationship with your teenager, one of the best things you can do is to remember those broken promises. Then, go and say to them with a remorseful spirit, “I’ve asked God to forgive me, and I want you to forgive me.” Then ask this question, “Have I ever made a promise to you that I’ve failed to keep? If so, I want you to tell me because I want to repent. I want you to believe that your dad is a faithful man.”

ACTION POINT:
Are you a man of your word? If not, start fresh today and make a commitment that you will stand behind your word.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Faithful at All Times

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Are you faithful? When the times get tough, can you be counted on? Today there is a serious lack of genuine integrity and faithfulness among God’s children. This is a travesty. Man’s words mean little today, whether it’s a marriage contract or a business contract. Even a treaty between nations doesn’t seem to hold true. Our faithfulness is the fundamental basis of character. We will never know God’s blessing apart from faithfulness.

ACTION POINT:
When you are gone, will people say you were faithful? Faithful to your family? Faithful to your friends? And most of all faithful to God?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Purchsed at a Precious Price

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Matthew 26:28 says, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” The word “testament” is from the Greek word diatheke that means covenant. Christ has purchased us with His blood. We have entered into a covenant with Him. The church is the bride, He is the bridegroom. We are betrothed to Him in a covenant bought with His blood. Samuel J. Stone wrote these powerful words in a hymn we sing in our church, The Church’s One Foundation — “From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.”

ACTION POINT:
Let this powerful truth sink deep into your heart today. Meditate on what it meant that Jesus came and sought you, then bought you with His blood.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

...to Live is Christ... to Die is Gain

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I read about a man who was on an airplane in a bad storm. Even the flight attendant was nervous, but there was another little lady humming “Blessed Assurance.” She seemed to be at ease. This man said to her, “Lady, aren’t you afraid?” She replied, “Not at all. I’ve given my heart to Jesus Christ. Not so long ago, I had a daughter who died. She was a radiantly beautiful Christian and is now in heaven. I have another daughter who’s in Denver, where this airplane is going. But, I tell you the truth. It really doesn’t make much difference to me which daughter I visit.” Jesus told a man on a bloody cross, “Today you’ll be with Me in paradise.”

ACTION POINT:
If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity? Where would your family spend eternity?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Surely Goodness & Mercy Shall Follow Me...

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Psalm 23:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Goodness and mercy will pursue you all the days of your life. That’s what the word “follow” literally means in Psalm 23:6 — to pursue. Jesus pursued you with His call of salvation, and He will continue to pursue you. His goodness and mercy are like two sheep dogs that follow the flock to assure that there is safe journey to the Shepherd’s final destination. How many times have you questioned God’s provision in your life and wondered if He really cared for you? Well, there's no question here. It sayssurely, not hopefully. Yes, you and I will stumble, but He will pick us up.

ACTION POINT:
How would you live differently today if you knew that grace and mercy were going to follow your every step? How would you treat others?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Remembering What We've Learned

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” 2 Timothy 3:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
In the last days Satan is going to come, and there are going to be more miracles than you have ever seen. Most of them will not be done by God but will be done by the power of darkness — the power of Satan. The Bible says that you can look for an explosion of the occult. Thank God we don’t have to face these days without hope. God tells us what we must do in His Word. We are to remember what we’ve learned and to take His promises to heart. This will not be a time to doubt Him but to trust Him with all that we are.

ACTION POINT:
How is your personal study time in God’s Word going? Start this week to incorporate at least one hour of personal time in God’s Word to study its promises, prophecies, and applications.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Looking Unto Jesus

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does it mean to “look to Jesus” to have all of our needs met? Well, let’s say I borrow ten thousand dollars from Dan, a friend of mine, but then I discover that I can’t pay it back. Dan is on to me and says, “If you don’t pay it back, I’m going to foreclose on you.” So I go over to another friend, Tom, and tell him about my dire situation and ask for his help. Tom says, “That’s alright, Adrian, look to me.” Notice that he didn’t say, “Look at me.” He said, “Look to me.” In other words, “I’ll handle it.” That’s what the Bible means when it says “look unto Jesus.” It means look to Him for whatever you need.

ACTION POINT:
Who is looking to you to have their needs met today? Are you, then, looking to God or are you trying to do it on your own?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

A Merciful Delay

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever wondered why Jesus has not yet returned? I’ll tell you why — because our Lord is waiting on people to be saved. He’s waiting on your family member, your neighbor, your co-worker, or maybe you. But one of these days soon, and very soon perhaps, Jesus will come. You see, it is the mercy of God that holds back the Second Coming of Jesus, but the justice of God and the judgment of God require that one day He will come. Even now, the raging waters of God’s wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of His mercy. And one of these days, the dam of God’s mercy will give way to God’s judgment, and the day of the Lord will come. Our Lord is coming!

ACTION POINT:
Does the Lord’s return make your heart beat fast because youanticipate His coming or dread His coming?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Like a Thief in the Night

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2

DEVOTIONAL:
There was a man who went shopping and left his car and house keys in the ignition. When he returned, his car was gone. The next morning he discovered his car in the driveway with a note that said, “I was in an emergency. I’m very sorry. I needed your car. Here are two tickets for the Dallas Cowboys game.” The man went in and told his wife, “You won’t believe this! There’s our car, and look! We’ve got tickets to a Dallas Cowboys game!” They went to the game, and when they came home, their house had been cleaned out! And they never expected it. That’s how the Lord Jesus Christ is going to come — as a thief in the night.

ACTION POINT:
How would you live your life differently today if you knew Jesus were coming back in 24 hours?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

No One Knows the Day or the Hour

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Anybody who sets a date for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ may be crossing the line of blasphemy. The Bible teaches very clearly and very plainly and our Lord taught that no one knows the time — no one. Just before our Lord was taken up into glory the disciples asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:6-7). No one knows the day when Jesus Christ is coming again, but what a glorious day that will be!

ACTION POINT:
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. What encouragement do you need to share with someone today?

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Embracing God's Light by Faith

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”Matthew 4:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are two witnesses for the existence of God to all people. One is the objective witness of creation. The other is the subjective witness of conscience. God speaks to a man and the man responds, “God I want to know You, and I need to know You. I do believe that You exist.” That’s faith, and he goes from faith to faith as he steps in the light until he comes to the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe with all my heart there’s never been a man or woman who ever lived on the face of this earth who died without some opportunity to have received Christ had they lived up to the light that God gave them.

ACTION POINT:
Is there someone in your life that claims to be an agnostic or an atheist? Try to engage them in a conversation about creation this week.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

The Earth is the Lord's

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you remember when it was rare to hear of someone whose job was either threatened, or actually lost, due to changes or cutbacks? Well, that’s hardly news anymore. These days it seems that almost everyone is struggling with financial problems related to job security. You may be struggling and asking, “What good can possibly come from my financial problems?” They are wonderful opportunities to trust your Heavenly Father for your daily bread. I’ve always said that it’s better to have a Father who owns a bakery than to have a warehouse full of bread!

ACTION POINT:
Are you having financial woes? Do you know someone who is? Share with them the Good News of God’s provision and faithfulness.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Don't Try to Hurry the Harvest

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“. . . the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” James 5:7b

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Sometimes the things that count the most seem to take the longest to get here. Some giant sequoias in California are 300 feet tall. That’s the height of a 30 story building! Yet each one began with the smallest of seeds that began growing and maturing since before the time of Christ! That’s a long time. You may say that you’re going to serve God. Then, you start to do something for Him, but when you don’t reap a harvest immediately, you get discouraged. Don’t try to hurry the harvest. In due season, you will reap.

ACTION POINT:
Have you shared Christ with people and yet they haven’t been saved? Read Isaiah 55:11 and Romans 10:13 and receive His encouragement.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

The Just Shall Live by Faith

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Is God righteous? Yes, and how is the righteousness of God revealed? It is revealed from faith to faith. God gives you truth. You believe that truth; God gives you more truth. The more you obey the light, the more light you get. The reason that some of us don’t understand the Bible any more than we do is that we have not been living up to the light that God has already given us. It’s time we began taking God at His Word and obeying it. If we begin obeying the small things we understand, God will enlighten our path to help us understand the things we don’t understand.

ACTION POINT:
Ask God today to give you understanding into the depths of His Word so that you can begin to share His truth in greater ways with the lost around you.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

Born Again, Saved for All Time

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
John 3:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever known anyone who was physically born twice? Have you ever known someone who was spiritually born twice? Nowhere in the Bible will you find a passage that describes anyone being saved twice. Once you come into the family, you’re in the family. Now there were times when I disappointed my parents. There were times when my father had to chastise me, but I am a Rogers. I will be a Rogers for all eternity. It’s the same way with your spiritual life. When you are born into the family of God, your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. It is fixed. It is done.

ACTION POINT:
Do you know a brother or sister in Christ who is doubting his/her salvation? Encourage him/her with this Good News today.

Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding