Salvation

FEBRUARY 1 Bible Reading: I John 5:13-21

Key Verse: 13- These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the
Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Key Words: Believe on the name of the Son of God The most important decision that anyone makes in life is the decision in regard to their eternal destiny. Which raises the question of how can we be saved? The answer is found in Gods Word: I John 5:11-12 says: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. How do we have the Son? One of the most popular verses in the Bible tells us. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Salvation only comes by believing in Jesus Christ. There is a story I love to tell about Dr. Lee Roberson. It seems as though one Sunday morning a young boy went down to get saved. That night he was baptized. The next Sunday, here comes the same little fellow down the aisle again, telling Dr. Roberson he needed to get saved. That night after making a profession of faith, he was baptized again. The next Sunday, you guessed it: here he comes again. That night at the baptismal service Dr. Roberson dunked him under the water and held him there. After a few seconds, he brought him up and asked him what he wanted. The little fellow said, Air, please, air! Dr. Roberson said, Wrong answer! and dunked him again. After a few seconds he brought him up and asked again, What do you want? The little fellow cried, Mother, save me! To which Dr. Roberson said: Wrong answer, and dunked him again. A few seconds later he brought him up and again said, What do you want? To which he replied, Dear Jesus, please save me! To which Dr. Roberson said, Now youve got it, son. Now youve got it! Salvation comes by believing in Jesus Christ- nothing else and no other way. Thats it. That is a foundational truth! What to do: Read and study the following verses: John 3:16, 18, 36; John 5:27; John 1:11-13; Romans 10:9,10; Romans 1:16

Assurance of Salvation
FEBRUARY 2 Bible Reading: I John 5:1-3
Key Verse: 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the
Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Key Words: that ye may know that ye have eternal life. The Book of I John was written in order that you and I could have full joy (I John 1:4). John goes on to write about this particular subject. In I John chapters 1 & 2 he writes about our fellowship with God, and in chapters 3-5 he writes about the assurance of our salvation. He gives us two primary ways of knowing that we are saved. First, we love the brethren; and second, we love God. Loving the brethren means that we dont use or abuse them (see Romans 13). Loving God means we desire to keep His commandments-not to be saved but because we are saved. There is no joy in not having assurance in ones salvation. Sometimes when you are in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, I dont know what God is going to saywill it be Welcome home, child, or will it be Depart from me; I never knew you? Do you have assurance of your salvation? You can, you know! What to do: Read the following verses on assurance of salvation. John 10:28-30, Romans 8:16 & 28-35, John 6:37. If you are unsure and want to talk to someone, you can contact someone on our staff by e-mail: admin@mountainviewbaptist.org or by phone: (205) 854-2741.

Security of the Believer

FEBRUARY 3 Bible Reading: II Timothy 1:1-12
Key Verse: 12- For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Key Words: he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him The Bible teaches once saved always saved. Let me be clear: You cannot lose your salvation. Salvation is not based upon what you do but what Jesus did. We read in John 19:30 where Jesus said, It is finished. Jesus was not talking about his life being finished; but Gods plan of salvation was finished. In I Peter 1:5 we read, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In I John 10:28-30 we read that once you are saved you are in the hand of God. Therefore, if you can lose your salvation, it is not you that loses it but God. And that is not possible. In Ephesians 1:13 & 4:31 we are sealed unto the day of redemption. The word sealed means secure. Watchman Nee tells about a new convert who came in deep distress to see him. No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think Im losing my salvation. Nee said, Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes; he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. You are Jesus Christs heir because it is for you that he died. We are Christs heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His grace. Need I remind you that David did not say, Restore unto me my salvation, but restore unto me the JOY of my salvation. (emphasis added) Also, Peter denied the Lord. Jesus didnt ask Peter if he was saved but, Do you love me? I would encourage you to examine yourself to see if you are saved, but I also remind you that once saved, always saved. (II Corinthians 13:5) What to do: Read the following verses: John 5:24; 10:28-30; Romans 8:35-39; and Hebrews 13:5. Think about it: As a believer you are in the hand of God; you are covered by the blood of Christ; you are sealed by the Holy Spirit- sounds pretty secure to me!

The Trinity
FEBRUARY 4 Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-15
Key Verse: 4- Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Key Words: The LORD, our God What does the Bible say about the Trinity? The truth is that the word trinity is not in the Bible, but the concept of the Trinity most definitely is. So just what is the Trinity? The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. That is the essence of the Trinity. God the Father is God, God the Son (Jesus) is God, and God the Holy Spirit is God. Yet there is only one God. Advocates of other religions who do not believe in the Trinity will immediately object at this point and say that this is impossible. But the truth is that God is so much greater than us and so far beyond our understanding that it is not for us to say what is or is not possible for God. As we shall see, the Scriptures very clearly tell us that the Father is God, that Jesus is God and that the Holy Spirit is God; and yet that God is one God. Some have tried to compare the Trinity to water. You see, water can be a gas, a liquid or a solid-and yet it is still water. That metaphor is quite imperfect, but it can be helpful to an extent. The reality is that no metaphor is going to be fully able to describe God, but God has revealed Himself in His Word, and when we turn to the Scriptures, we find all the answers that we need. In I Corinthians 8:4 we read the words There is no God but one. In Galatians 3:20 it says: Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Other reference verses are: I John 5:7, I Timothy 2:5 & Isaiah 45:5. What to do: Let Gods Word guide you. Remember the words of Jeremiah 29:13 which states, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

The Inspiration of the Scripture

Bible Reading: II Timothy 3
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

FEBRUARY 5

Key Verse: 16- All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for Key Words: all scripture is given by inspiration of God Believing in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures is the very foundation of the Christian faith. If the Bible was not divinely inspired, then it is subject to error and all

we believe is unreliable. But thanks be to God we can know that the Bible is Gods Word divinely inspired by Him. The word inspired means God breathed. When men were used to write the words God spoke, they were merely vessels for Gods use. Because the Bible is the divinely, inspired Word of God, it is profitable for doctrine (teaching us what is right), for reproof (teaching us what is not right), for correction (teaching us how to get right) and for instruction (teaching us how to stay right). I believe every aspect of Gods Word is inspired even down to the punctuation marks which are vital as well. Maria Fedorovna, wife of Czar Alexander III and empress of Russia, once used a comma to save a prisoner from Siberian exile. Alexanders warrant had read, Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia. Maria intervened and moved the comma so that the note read, Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia. The prisoner was subsequently released! Today, you can trust Gods Word because it came from God--not man! What to do: Read the following verses that teach the verbal inspiration of Scripture: II Peter 1:20-21; I Corinthians 14:37; John 14:10,24; Psalm 12:6; Romans 10:11; Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 11:7,9; II Samuel 23:1-3.

What A Book
FEBRUARY 6 Bible Reading: Psalm119:1-8
Key Verse: 1- ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of
the LORD.

Key Words: who walk in the way of the Lord Every verse of Psalm 119 mentions Gods Word. For example, in verse 1 His Word is called the Law; verse 2--His Testimonies; verse 3--His Ways; verse 4--His Precepts; verse 5--Thy Statutes; verse 6--His Commandments; verse 7--His Judgments. Robert Hastings writes: I remember vividly the first day of English literature when I was in the eighth grade. Our teacher, Winifred Perry, walked to the chalkboard and wrote, What is a book? Then she said, Bring me your definitions tomorrow.

To ourselves, at least, we snickered. Doesnt this woman even know what a book is? But the next day we discovered she was serious as each of us took turns reading our definitions. Then she quoted John Miltons classic definition, which I shall never forget: A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a Life beyond Life. In the years since, I have often applied this to the Bible, that Book of books, which truly is the spirit of God Himself, preserved with paper and ink. This does not mean the Bible is to be venerated, but rather, it is the teachings of the Bible that have meaning for our lives. A pastor visiting a sick lady asked if she had a Bible handy from which he could read to her, Oh yes, she responded, reaching under her pillow, I keep it here for good luck all the time! During the Vietnam War, a news photo showed a soldier holding his bullet riddled helmet. Inside was a Bible his mother gave him before he left for overseas, and it had helped deflect the bullets. A few days later another news story described a soldier whose life had been saved by letters from his girl friend, which he, too, had stuffed in the liner of his helmet. In honesty, was it the Bible as a good luck charm that deflected the bullet, or simply the fact that it was made up of so much protective paper, much like the letters from the girl friend? We cheapen the Bible to use it like a rabbits foot. Only when its precious lifeblood becomes our guide and rule does it have any real meaning. Bibles are to be loved and studied. Its the God of the Blessed Book that makes the difference. What to do: Use the Bible as Gods Word for you, not as a good luck charm.

Giving
FEBRUARY 7 Bible Reading: II Corinthians 5:12-21
Key Verse: 17- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Key Words: he is a new creature Do you realize that everything created by God gives? God created the sun, and it gives. God created the moon, and it gives. God created the grass and herbs, and they give. God created the animals, and they give.

 God created the fowls of the air, and they give. God created the fish in the sea, and they give. God created water, and it gives. God created air, and it gives. God is the Great Giver, and everything created by God gives. Not only does it give, it was created to give and give not of necessity but willingly and freely. The point being one way we know that we are a new creature (born again) is that we freely and willingly give. Giving is a part of being a child of Gods. When you go to the doctor for your annual check-up, the doctor will often begin to poke, prod, and press various places, all the while asking, Does this hurt? How about this? If you cry out in pain, one of two things has happened. Either the doctor has pushed too hard, without the right sensitivity; or, more likely, there is something wrong. And the doctor will say, We had better do some more tests. Its not supposed to hurt there! So it is when pastors preach on financial responsibility, and certain members cry out in discomfort, criticizing the message and the messenger. Either the pastor has pushed too hard, or perhaps, there is something wrong. In that case, I say, My friend, we are in need of the Great Physician because its not supposed to hurt there. Giving, it comes with being created in God (born again). What to do: Remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

God Is Love
FEBRUARY 8 Bible Reading: I John 4:1-8
Key Verse: 8- He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Key Words: God is love There is nothing that God does or allows that does not spring from His love. God is Love. Often people will question Gods love and ask how could God? A thorough study of Gods Word would reveal that God protects His own, an example being the Egyptian army drowning in the Red Sea was to protect His people--Israel. Just as you would protect your family out of love, God protects His own as well. But we certainly cannot question Gods love for us: For God so loved the world, that he

gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. A certain medieval preacher announced that he would be preaching the next Sunday evening on The Love of God. As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the preacher lit a candle and carried it to a crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns next to the two wounded hands, then the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the church. There was nothing else to say. He had just illuminated the demonstration of Gods love. Oh, how He loves you and me! What to do: Demonstrate your love for God by living for Him!

Fundamentalism Part 1
Bible Reading: Titus 3
that they be not unfruitful.

FEBRUARY 9

Key Verse: 14- And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, Key Word: necessary In recent years the term fundamentalism has received a bad reputation because of extremists like Muslim terrorists and others who call themselves fundamentalists. These groups and individuals are not fundamentalists. They are terrorist murderers, fierce depraved rebels who are not fundamentalists at all. A fundamental is an essential, or a necessity. It is something that is basic. For instance, there are some things that are fundamental to the operation of an automobile. Without these things the automobile will not operate. The battery is fundamental. You can have the most expensive automobile in the world, but without the battery, it will not operate. As a matter of fact, you may as well not have an automobile. You would be better off with a tricycle than an automobile without a battery. It simply will not run without it. The battery is necessary to the operation of the car. That is fundamental. The engine is also fundamental. You can have the nicest, plushest seats, airconditioning, power windows, AM/FM radio, a beautiful paint job, tinted windows, and everything else they offer with modern-day vehicles; but without the engine, it is useless. It is simply a beautiful piece of junk. The car wont move an inch without the

motor. So the engine is fundamental. It is necessary to the operation of the automobile. If it is a gasoline-powered automobile, then gasoline is a fundamental. The car will not run without it. On the other hand, there are things that are not fundamental to the operation of the automobile. For instance, the air-conditioner is not fundamental. One can make a trip without air-conditioning. It makes the trip more comfortable to have it, but you can make the trip without it. It is not necessary to the operation of the automobile. The AM/FM radio is not essential. The car will operate, and one can travel in it without the radio. The same is true of Christianity. Certain doctrines are fundamental to the Christian faith. I believe everything in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, but everything mentioned in the Bible is not essential to my salvation. For instance, I could go to Heaven without being baptized. I am a Baptist, and I have always practiced baptism by immersion. Sprinkling or pouring is not baptism. I believe in baptism almost as strongly as the man who preached on baptism every service. Several weeks went by, and the deacons approached the preacher and said, Dont you know anything but baptism? Oh, yes, he replied. I can preach on anything in the Bible. One deacon suggested that he preach on the text, The axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire, thinking that the preacher surely could not get baptism from that verse. The next Sunday morning the pastor stood and said, I am preaching this morning from the deacons text: The axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. After a few preliminary remarks, he raised his voice and shouted, And what do you think they were cutting those trees down for? God bless your heart! They were clearing out a path to get to the river so they could have an old-fashioned baptizing! Now, that man believed in baptism! And I believe in it almost that strongly. However, one can be saved and go to Heaven without being baptized. As a matter of fact, you can be baptized, capsized, and simonized and still miss Heaven unless you have been born again. So baptism is not a fundamental, not an essential, not necessary for salvation; but it is certainly emphasized for spiritual growth. What to do: Make sure you are fundamental in your beliefs.

Fundamentalism: the Resurrection Part 2

FEBRUARY 10 Bible Reading: I Corinthians 15:1-11
Key Verse: 4- And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
to the scriptures:

Key Words: that he rose again According to I Corinthians 15, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the Gospel. And that is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. The doctrine of the resurrection of Christ is the keystone in the arch. Remove it and the arch collapses. There are some doctrines that stand or fall together. For instance, disprove His resurrection and you destroy His deity. Romans 1:4 says He was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Disprove His resurrection and you destroy His substitutionary death. The resurrection of Christ is a declaration of God that He is satisfied with the payment Jesus Christ made for our sins. The fact that God raised Him and took Him back to Heaven shows that His atoning work was complete; the job was finished; the sinners debt was paid. Disprove the resurrection of Christ and our faith is vain; we are still in our sins, and our hope of resurrection is perished. In I Corinthians 15:17, 18 the Bible says, And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. No resurrection equals no salvation. Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. The literal, physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus is a fundamental of the Faith. A small girl was talking about Jesus. A skeptic who overheard the conversation said, Little girl, there are many christs. Which one do you believe in? She replied, I believe in the One Who rose from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fundamental doctrine of the faith. What to do: Believe the fundamentals of the faith, of which the resurrection is an essential.

Fundamentalism Part 3
FEBRUARY 11 Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
Key Verse: 23- Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and
they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Key Words: a virgin shall be with child Fundamentalism means an essential. For the Christian faith this is something essential for salvation. The Virgin Birth is essential. Someone asked, What difference does it make whether or not Jesus was born of a virgin? It makes all the difference between Heaven and Hell! If Jesus Christ is not the virgin-born Son of God, then Jesus is a sinner just as we are sinners. Romans 5:12 says, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. According to this verse, sin entered the human race by one man, Adam; and all the offspring of Adam are sinners. Romans 5:19 states, For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. There is a difference between sin and sins. Sin is what we are, and sins are the things we do because we are what we are. Sin is the root; sins are the fruit. Every child was born with a sin nature. In Psalm 51:5 David states, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. The Bible warns in I John 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. For a man to deny that he has a sin nature is self-deceit. Now if Jesus Christ had an earthly father, then He is the offspring of Adam and inherited the same sin nature we inherited. And if He inherited the sin nature, then we do not have a sinless Substitute to die in our place; and without a sinless Substitute there is no plan of salvation. There is no way to be saved. Our only hope of Heaven is the substitutionary death of our sinless Substitute, Jesus Christ. You see, the virgin birth of Jesus is not something you can take or leave. It is a fundamental of the Christian faith. If Jesus Christ is not the virgin-born Son of God, all of us may as well close our Bibles, burn our churches, close down our ministries, and go about our merry way because the whole world is going to Hell. We have no plan of salvation. The virgin birth is not negotiable; it is a fundamental of the Christian faith.

That is one of the reasons I am a fundamentalist. I believe in the virgin birth, and if you believe, as I do, you are also a fundamentalist. What to do: Remember that faith does not require that we explain the virgin birth. It simply requires that we believe it.

Fundamentalism Part 4
FEBRUARY 12
Bible Reading: Isaiah 53 Key Verse: 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Key Words: his soul offering for sin In our doctrinal statement we say that we believe in the vicarious sufferings of Christ. Two thousand years ago God took every sin that I have ever committed or ever will commit and laid those sins on Christ. The Bible plainly states in Isaiah 53:6, the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. I Peter 2:24 says, He bare our sins in his own body on the tree. And II Corinthians 5:21 states, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Jesus Christ bore the sins of the whole world. The Bible says in I John 2:2, And he is the propitiation [atoning sacrifice] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. The sinner owes a penalty. God said to Adam, for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. In Romans 6:23 the Word of God states, The wages of sin is death. That death is described in the Bible as the second death. Revelation 20:14, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. If sinners pay what they owe, then they must die, go into Hell, and stay there forever. That is the price for sin. But Jesus Christ died for sinners. Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. His death paid in full what I owe as a sinner. He suffered my Hell and satisfied the just demands of a Holy God. God looked down from Heaven and was satisfied with the payment. The Bible states in Isaiah 53:10, Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he that put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin The word pleased in this verse means satisfied. God looked down from Heaven, saw Jesus

die in our place, and was satisfied. He accepted the death of Jesus as payment for our sins, and we must either accept the satisfaction that Jesus made to God for our sins or satisfy God ourselves. And the only way we can satisfy Him is to die, go into Hell, and stay there forever. That is the price He demands for our sin. My only hope of Heaven is the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross. The substitutionary death of Jesus is a fundamental of the Christian faith. If He did not die for sinners, then no one can be saved. What to do:

Believe that Jesus is your only hope of Heaven.

Creation
FEBRUARY 13
Bible Reading: Genesis 1:1-8 Key Verse: 1-In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Key Words: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. There it is! No explanation needed, and none given. For without faith it is impossible to please Him. We simply accept Gods Word by faith. Some say that creation was the result of chance. Others say it was God. Those who rely on chance have some big explaining to do. Here is one simple illustration of the improbability of man just happening. Take ten pennies and mark them 1 through 10. Put them in your pocket and give them a good shake. Now try to draw them out of your pocket in order, from 1 to 10, returning each coin to your pocket after each try. Your chance of drawing number 1 on the first try is 1 in 10. Your chance of drawing 1 and 2 in succession would be 1 in 100. And the chance of your drawing out 1, 2, and 3 in succession is 1 in 1,000. Your chance of drawing 1, 2, 3, and 4 in succession is 1 in 10,000 and so on. Now listen to this. Your chance of drawing the pennies in perfect succession from 1 to 10 would be one chance in ten billion! And yet there are some who say that all the complex and essential conditions for life on our earth as we know it could have occurred in the proper sequence just by chance. The French mathematician, Lecompte de Nouy, examined the laws of probability for a single molecule of high dissymmetry to be formed by the action of chance. De Nouy found that, on an average, the time needed to form one such

molecule of our terrestrial globe would be about 10 to the 253 power, or billions of years. But, continued de Nouy ironically, let us admit that no matter how small the chance it could happen, one molecule could be created by such astronomical odds of chance. However, one molecule is of no use. Hundreds of millions of identical ones are necessary. Thus we either admit the miracle or doubt the absolute truth of science. But it doesnt really matter what we say. God clearly said it for us: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. That settles it for me. How about for you? What do to: Remember men do not reject creation because it is unbelievable but because they do not like to acknowledge God in their lives.

Knowing the Will of God

FEBRUARY 14
Bible Reading: I Thessalonians 4:1-12 Key Verse: 3- For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should
abstain from fornication:

Key Words: For this is the will of God Many of our Christian young people (even adults) are living in perplexity. They are concerned about knowing the will of God for their lives and knowing the will of God is of the utmost importance. To be out of Gods will results in lost joy, peace and victory in our lives. It would be simple if we could do as Gideon did in Judges 6 and put out a fleece at eventide, go to sleep, wake up the next morning and have the will of God lying before us. A great deal has been written on knowing Gods will, and the over abundance of literature proves the interest of the subject by Gods people. But I am afraid all the literature on knowing Gods will still leaves most Christians looking for answers, still asking the question, How can I know Gods will? Well, let me see if I can be of any help on this particular subject by suggesting the following three things. Suggestion #1: If I am to know the will of God, I first must be willing to do the will of God. In John 7:15-17, Christ is speaking about truth that He sought to impart and He said that an unwillingness to receive truth precludes a man from understanding

the truth that is being taught. A man must be willing to learn before you can teach him anything. Discovering the will of God is determined by this principle (read Romans 12:1,2). So before I can know Gods will I must be willing to do Gods will. Suggestion #2: Knowing Gods will does not come from man, pastor, mom or dad. It comes from the Word of God. Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Gods will comes from Gods Word. Let me show you. 1. Adam and Eve knew not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. How did they know? Genesis 2:16, And the Lord commanded the man, saying 2. Achan knew the will of God. He knew not to take the spoil from Jericho because God had commanded them not to do so. 3. Elijah knew Gods will by Gods Word, I Kings 17,18. 4. Moses knew to lead Israel. How? God commanded him through His Word. 5. Jonah knew to go to Ninevah because Gods Word told him to go. So I know Gods will by Gods Word. I am afraid that is why we have so many ignorant of Gods will. It is because they are ignorant of Gods Word. Suggestion #3: It is not my responsibility to find Gods will but rather it is God Who is responsible to reveal His will to me. So much is made of seeking Gods will. Gods will is not so much to be sought as it is to be caught (or received). 1. Paul did not seek Macedonia. God sought Paul for Macedonia, Come over into Macedonia and help us. Acts 16:9 2. Jonah was called by God to Ninevah. He, of himself, never sought Ninevah. 3. God revealed to Elijah to stand before Ahab and the prophets of Baal. So the cry should be, Wherever you lead, Ill go. Lets close by reviewing: Suggestion #1: Before I can know Gods will, I first must be willing to do the will of God. Suggestion #2: I know Gods will because I know Gods Word. (Gods will comes through Gods Word.) Suggestion #3: Gods will is not so much to be sought as it is to be caught. What to do: Remember: in order to know Gods will it helps to be willing to do it.

Hell
FEBRUARY 15
Bible Reading: Mark 9:38-50 Key Verse: 46- Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Key Words: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched How can one look on a volcano spewing forth the coals of the earth and still deny the reality of Hell? Below is what Christian leaders of the past have said in regard to Hell: There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than this [hell] if it lay in my power. But it has the full support of Scripture and, especially, of our Lords own words; it has always been held by Christendom, and has the support of reason. ~C.S. Lewis Wisdom directs us to admit that there is no Biblical alternative to the Biblical doctrine of eternal punishment; to settle in our minds that Jesus, chief exponent of the doctrine, surely knew what he was talking about, and never to forget or conceal the inevitability of hell for those who will not lay hold of eternal life. ~ J.I. Packer As the Lord liveth, sinner, thou standest on a single plank over the mouth of hell, and that plank is rotten. Thou hangest over the pit by a solitary rope, and the strands of that rope are breaking. ~ Charles Spurgeon Once you fall into hell, after millions of ages are elapsed, you will be as far from coming out as you were at going in. ~Reverend Williams Secker That which makes hell so full of horror is that it is below all hopes; and that which makes heaven so full of splendor is that it is above all fears. ~Reverend Williams Secker A hard look at this doctrine should first change our view of sin. Most believers do not take sin as seriously as God does. ~John Thomas As hell was becoming for many no more than a swear word, sin was also an accepted way of life If people can ignore what the Bible calls sin, then they can quite logically discount what it says about the reality of hell. ~Billy Graham The last sermon on hell I heard I preached myself. And that was nearly thirty years ago. ~Kenneth S. Kantzer My congregation would be stunned to hear a sermon on hell. ~Reverend Mary Kraus, pastor of Dumbarton United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. We cannot, of course, form any adequate notion of hell, any more than we can of heaven, and no doubt it is good for us that this is so; but perhaps the clearest notion we can form is that derived from contemplating the cross. ~ J.I. Packer

Hell is a real place! Not because man says so, but because God says so. Matthew 5:22, Mark 9:42-48, Revelation 9:1-2,11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1,3,10,14. Hell is a real place for real people who reject Jesus Christ as Savior. My prayer is that thats not you! What to do: Read all the Scriptures in the devotional and then ask, Is this where I want to spend eternity?

Heaven Part 1
FEBRUARY 16
Bible Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 Key Verse: 3- Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Key Words: theirs is the kingdom of heaven The word heaven is found 550 times in the New Testament alone, and it is never in a fictional sense. In other words, heaven is real. In a recent news survey, 81 percent of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die. However, many of them hardly ever pray, read the Bible or attend church. They admit that they live to please themselves instead of God. I wonder why these people would want to go to heaven. In an article titled, Are We Ready for Heaven? Maruice R. Irwin points out that only 34 percent of the American people who call themselves Christians attend church at least once a week. He says, We sing When all my labors and trials are oer, and I am safe on that beautiful shore, just to be near the dear Lord I adore will through the ages be glory for me. However, unless our attitudes towards the Lord and our appreciation of Him change greatly, heaven may be more of a shock than a glory. What to do: Live for heaven on earth and youll be ready for the heavenly in heaven.

Heaven Part 2
FEBRUARY 17
Bible Reading: Revelation 22:1-12 Key Verse: 1- And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Key Words: proceeding out of the throne of God While 85 percent of the people surveyed by the Fox News Media believe there is a heaven, only 34 percent of the people surveyed by Marice R. Irwin say they are ready for heaven. This raises an interesting question as to why so many which believe in heaven say they are not ready to go to heaven. I read an interesting story in the Moody Anecdotes which, in all likelihood, reveals why so few people are ready. There is an old legend of a swan and a crane. A beautiful swan alighted by the banks of the water in which a crane was wading about seeking snails. For a few moments the crane viewed the swan in stupid wonder and then inquired: Where do you come from? I come from heaven! replied the swan. And where is heaven? asked the crane. Heaven! said the swan, Heaven! Have you never heard of heaven? And the beautiful bird went on to describe the grandeur of the Eternal City. She told of streets of gold, and the gates and walls made of precious stones; of the river of life, pure as crystal, upon whose banks is the tree whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations. In eloquent terms the swan sought to describe the hosts who live in the other world, but without arousing the slightest interest on the part of the crane. Finally the crane asked, Are there any snails there? Snails! repeated the swan. No! of course there are not. Then, said the crane, as it continued its search along the slimy banks of the pool, you can have your heaven. I want snails. This fable has a deep truth underlying it. How many a young person to whom God has granted the advantages of a Christian home has turned his back upon it and searched for snails! How many a man will sacrifice his wife, his family, his all, for the snails of sin! How many a girl has deliberately turned from the love of parents and home to learn too late that heaven has been forfeited for snails! Is that not what the masses are doing? They are forfeiting heaven for snails! What to do: Do not forfeit an eternity with God for a few snails on the earth.

The Resurrection
FEBRUARY 18
Bible Reading: Acts 26:1-8 Key Verse: 8- Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should
raise the dead?

Key Words: that God should raise the dead I often ask myself how it is even possible that men should doubt the resurrection from the dead. It is far more incredible that there should be no resurrection. The question of Paul to King Agrippa was, Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? If there is no resurrection, this life really has no meaning, it becomes hollow and empty. Then God who created us is a God of sheer sorrow...is this life all there is? Just a few years of alternating between crying and laughing, mostly crying, and then death? Then we must say with the Apostle Paul, If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But the resurrection should not be incredible to us, for all things around us remind us of the resurrection. The buds on the trees, the flowers in the garden, and the emerging of life after a long winter of inactivity, all point to the resurrection. In an ancient tomb in France, buried under the debris, archaeologists found flower seeds which had been there for 2,000 years! The explorers took the seeds and planted them and to no ones amazement, they grew. Egyptian garden peas which had been buried for 3,000 years were brought and planted, and you guessed it, within a few days, they had germinated and broken groundburied 3,000 years and then resurrected to life! Why then should it be thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead? If God can cause a lump of clay to become alive at the creation of man, then again, I ask, why can man not believe in the resurrection? To me, the most incredible thing would be for Jesus to live the life He lived and then remain dead. Hallelujah! Christ arose! Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph oer His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign: He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose! Amen and amen! And because He lives, I too can and will live for eternity. So can you, by believing that Jesus is the Christ, your Savior. What to do: Make sure you are ready for the great Resurrection Day!

Angels
FEBRUARY 19
Bible Reading: Matthew 28:1-10 Key Verse: 2- And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Key Words: the angel of the Lord The word angel comes from the Greek word anggelos which means a messenger. The matching Hebrew word is malak which means messenger as well. Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New. Now, there is much we can know about angels without stretching the imagination. Here is a brief look at what we do know: The Bible does not give the number of angels. It simply describes the number as great. Daniel 7:10; Matthew 26:5-3; Hebrews 1:4 Angels are described as being ministering spirits. Hebrews 1:4 Angels have appeared before men. Matthew 28:5; Hebrews 13:2 Angels are not omnipotent (all powerful). Proverbs 103:2; II Peter 2:11 Angels are not omnipresent. They come and go. See Acts 1:11 and Matthew 28:2,5. There are three types of angels: Seraphim. They appear to guard the throne of God. (Isaiah 6:2,6). Cherubim. They appear to have led in worship. (Ezekiel 28) And they also are used to protect the things of God. (Genesis 3:24) There are also guardian angels, as little children have guardian angels. Matthew 18:10. I read a story about missionary John Paton who was serving the Lord in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers had left. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise Who were all those men with you there? Paton knew no men were present, but the chief said he

was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station. Now, while angels do exist, we do not worship angels. We worship God! Amen! What to do: Worship God not the angels He created.

Fallen Angels
FEBRUARY 20
Bible Reading: II Peter 2:1-10 Key Verse: 4- For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to
hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Key Words: spared not the angels that sinned The fallen angels are angels that sided with Satan in an attempt to overthrow God. We are told they are kept in prison according to Peter in II Peter 2:4. The prison is described as darkness and is full of smoke. Psalm 9:2 They are also evil angels, which are free to roam the earth. They are usually mentioned in connection with Satan as their leader. Matthew 25:4; Revelation 12:7-9 These fallen angels are called principalities, powers, rulers of darkness. They are spiritually wicked. A brief review of fallen angels reveals the following: 1. all of them lost their original holiness and became corrupt in nature and conduct (Matthew 10:1; Ephesians 6:11,12; Revelation 12:9). 2. some of them were cast down into hell and are held in chains until the day of Judgment. (II Peter 2:4) 3. Some remain free and engage in opposition against God. (Romans 12:7-9; Daniel 10:12,13,20) But praise God that He that dwelleth in us is greater than he that opposes us. To God be the glory! What to do: Stand in the power of God instead of not standing at all.

Evil Spirits
FEBRUARY 21
Bible Reading: Luke 22:21-34 Key Verse: 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to
have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Key Words: that he may sift you as wheat There has been some who have questioned the very existence of demons, but their existence is verified by the Scriptures. Jesus recognized their existence in Matthew 12:27-28. The word devils comes from the Greek word daimon or demon which is bad spirit or nature. The seventy to whom Jesus appointed and sent out two by two acknowledged the existence of demons. (Luke 10:17) Even the apostle Paul recognized the existence of demons. (I Corinthians 10:20-21) Demons are subjects of Satan and servants to him. Their mission seems to be to carry on his warfare with God and to do his work. (Matthew 12:22-30) Demons are spirits of low moral character. They are vile and vicious in conduct. Demons have knowledge and discernment. (Matthew 8:29; James 2:15) Demons seem to cause dumbness (Matthew 9:32,33), blindness (Matthew 12:22), and suicidal mania (Matthew 9:22).That is not to say, that all dumbness and blindness is the result of demon activity, but we do know that according to Scripture, demons operate in that manner. We also know some blindness and dumbness comes upon people for the glory of God. There is a debate among some who believe in devils that fallen angels are demons while others think not. To me, it matters not. They both oppose God and His Word. They both attack Gods servants and desire to see the servants of God suffer. (II Corinthians 12:7,8) They both do the work and will of Satan, which means they are both the enemy of God and thus my enemy as well. I challenge you to stand fast, for Satan desires to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. What to do: Stand fast or you will fall fast.

The Church
FEBRUARY 22
Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:18-27 Key Verse: 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it;

Key Words: as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it In his book on Christian theology Emery Bancroft writes the following in regard to the church: There is great danger of losing sight of the church in the endeavor to emphasize the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven or Christendom. We are prone to think it a small thing to speak of the church; the Kingdom and Christendom seem so large in comparison. We are tempted to distinguish and contrast Churchism, as it is sometimes called, and Christianity, to the disparagement of the former. It is well to remember: 1- Jesus Christ positively identifies Himself with the Church (Acts 9:1-5) and not with Christendom; 2- He gave up His life that He might found the church (Ephesians 5:25); 3- The apostle Paul sacrificed himself in his endeavors to build up the church, not Christendom (II Timothy 2:10; II Corinthians 11:2,23-28); 4- Paul speaks of his greatest sin as consisting in persecuting the Church of God (I Corinthians 15:9); and 5- The supreme business of God in this age is the gathering of the Church. {To take out of them [nations] a people for His name. Acts 15:13-17. See also Ephesians 4:12.}

What to do: Remember: There are four main bones in every organization: the wish bones: wishing somebody would do something about the problem. the jaw bones: doing all the talking but very little else. the knuckle bones: those who knock everything. And the back-bones: those who carry the brunt of the load and do most of the work.

The Mission of the Church

FEBRUARY 23 Bible Reading: Acts 20:17-32
Key Verse: 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a
man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Key Words: the church of God The word church means an assembled body of believers. The church is Gods plan today for carrying out the Great Commission. The importance of the church can be seen by the fact that 25 of the 27 books of the New Testament were written to local churches and in the 26th book, Matthew refers to the church. Never doubt Gods love for the local assembly. He died for the church. (Acts 20:28) What makes a church a church? There are several things: 1. The church is commissioned to go in Matthew 28:18-20. The church then must be a place where soul winners hear, and then go and win others. 2. It is a place of teaching. (Matthew 28:18-20) 3. The church is commissioned to baptize. (Acts 2:41; 8:36-37) 4. It is a place where the ordinance of the Lords Supper is observed. (I Corinthians 11) 5. A church must have officers. (Acts 6; Titus 1:5-8) 6. A church must stand against the gates of hell. (Matthew 16:11) 7. The church must glorify God (Ephesians 3:20-21) and edify its members. (Ephesians 4:11-13) Many say the church is dead. I say, Not so. Growing up on the Gulf Coast, I spent long hours working on intricate sand castles; whole cities would appear beneath my hands. One year, for several days in a row, I was accosted by bullies who smashed my creations. Finally, I tried an experiment: I placed cinder blocks, rocks, and chunks of concrete in the base of my castles. Then I built the sand kingdoms on top of the rocks. When the local toughs appeared (and I disappeared), their bare feet suddenly met their match. Many people see the church in grave peril from a variety of dangers: secularism, politics, heresies, or plain old sin. They forget that the church is build upon a Rock (Matthew 16:16), over which the gates of hell itself shall not prevail. What to do: Find a good Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, God-fearing church and get involved.

The Power of the Local Church

FEBRUARY 24
Bible Reading: Matthew 16:13-20 Key Verse: vs.18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Key Word: I will build my church We are told in Matthew 16:18, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Have you ever considered the power of a church united together to stand for right and against evil? Dr. Louis Evans tells the story of a man from Boston who in the early days was riding next to the driver of a Western stagecoach. Being very adept with the use of the whip, the driver began to demonstrate his ability. Pointing to a thing lying in the road, he said, See the twig? Watch it. He cracked the whip and broke the twig in two. A butterfly flew ahead of the coach. See the butterfly? Now, watch it. The whip cracked and the butterfly became nothing more than powder and paste on the end of the whip. After a moment he said, See the hornet on the harness? Watch it! He snapped the whip and the hornet was no more. Quite impressed, the passenger rode on in silent wonder. Suddenly he said to the driver, See that gray thing hanging from the big oak tree? Ill bet you cant hit that!! The driver carefully looked and said, I certainly could, but I wont. Dont you know thats a hornets nest? But, protested the passenger, you had no trouble with the other hornet. I know, I can handle an individual, but those boys are organized. Now, the moral of the story is that powers of evil can play fast and loose with an individual believer, but they cannot withstand the strength of human hearts standing shoulder to shoulder in a church of like believers organized and ready to stand for right. People often ask, Why should I be a member of a good Bible-believing church? Well, one reason is there is power in organized numbers. What to do: Be a part of the power of the church because if you are not you will become a part of the reason it is weak.

The Rapture
FEBRUARY 25
Bible Reading: I Thessalonians 4:14-18 Key Verse: vs.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Key Words: caught up The word rapture is not found in the Scriptures, but the words caught up come from the Latin word rapture. That is where we get the word rapture. The rapture is the next event to take place on Gods prophetic calendar. This is when those who have died before the rapture occurrence will have their spirit and body reunited. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:8 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. At our death, the body goes to the grave, but our spirit goes to heaven to be with the Lord. Thus, at the rapture both body and spirit will be reunited. For the believers who are still living at the rapture, both body and spirit will go up to glory; and, according to Paul in I Corinthians 15:51-58, its here we receive our glorified body. The time of the rapture, I believe anyway, is rapidly approaching. I encourage you to live everyday as if this is the day of the rapture. The word maranatha is a Syriac expression that means our Lord comes. It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they did not say hello or goodbye but Maranatha! If we had the same upward look today, it would revolutionize the church. O that Gods people had a deepening awareness of the imminent return of the Savior! While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go! They replied, We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, The boss may come today. The hymn writer Horatius Bonar exhorted us to be ready for the last moment by being ready at every moment so attending to every duty that, let Him come when

He may, He finds the house in perfect order, awaiting His return. The trump may sound anytime. How important for us as Christians to be packed and ready to go! As you leave home today, do not say goodbye. Say Maranatha. What to do? Live today and everyday ready to leave this old earth and be with the Lord.

The Anti-Christ
FEBRUARY 26
Bible Reading: II Thessalonians 2:1-12 Key Verse: 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Key Words: the man of sin After the rapture takes place confusion and destruction will be rampant upon the earth. This is when the Anti-Christ makes his dramatic entrance. The term anti-Christ means one who pretends to be the Messiah but in reality is just the opposite of Christ. The anti-Christ will oppose Christ. *Christ comes from above. (Job 6:38) Anti-Christ ascends from the pit. (Revelation 11:7) *Christ comes in His Fathers name. (Job 5:43) Anti-Christ will come in his own name. (Job 5:47) *Christ humbled Himself. (Philippians 2:8) Anti-Christ exalts himself. (II Thessalonians 2:4) *Christ was despised. (Isaiah 53:3; Luke 23:18) Anti-Christ will be admired. (Revelation 13:3-8) *Christ came to do His Fathers will. (John 6:38) Anti-Christ will come to do His own will. (Daniel 11:36) *Christ came to save. (Luke 19:11) Anti-Christ will come to destroy. (Daniel 8:24) *Christ is the True Vine. (John 15:1) Anti-Christ is the vine of the earth. (Revelation 14:18) *Christ is the Holy One. (Mark 1:24) Anti-Christ will be the lawless one. (II Thessalonians 2:8)

*Christ is the Son of God. (Luke 1:38) Anti-Christ will be the son of perdition (II Thessalonians 2:3) John warns us in I John 2:18 that the spirit of Anti-Christ existed in his day and so even the more today. Today there is a spirit of open opposition to Jesus Christ. Do not let that discourage you. Occupy until He returns for it shall not be long! What to do: Keep the faith and march on. Remember that we are in a war that is real.

The Tribulation
FEBRUARY 27
Bible Reading: Daniel 9:20-27 Key Verse: 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy
city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Key Words: to finish the transgression Most born again believers are at the least familiar with the seven-year tribulation period that begins at the time of the rapture, but are you familiar with the purpose of the tribulation period? There are reasons given for the tribulation in our key verse. First, it is to finish the transgression. This refers to the transgression of Israel. It is to turn Israel to God permanently. Second, it is to make an end of sin. There will be no more sin. This is the final judgment of sins upon the earth. Third is to make reconciliation for iniquity. The word iniquity carries the idea of moral injustice. Israels rejection of Jesus as the Messiah is being dealt with finally. Fourth is to bring in everlasting Righteousness. Finally, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth. (Habakkuk 2:14) Fifth is to seal up the vision and prophecy. Israel will no longer need a vision or prophecy. They will rejoice in the true and living Messiah. Sixth is to anoint the Most High. He will be anointed the King of kings, the Lord of lords. It is at this point that all men will fully understand then their responsibility was and is to God.

Daniel Webster, when Secretary of State under President Fillmore, was dining once with twenty gentlemen at the Astor House in New York. Unusually reticent and aloof from the course of conversation, he sank into a reverie. In order to draw him out, one of the men asked him this rather unusual question for a dinner table, or anywhere else: Mr. Webster, will you tell me what was the most important thought that ever occupied your mind? Webster passed his hand over his forehead and said in a low tone to the one next to him, Is there anyone here who does not know me? No, said the man, all are your friends. Then Webster said aloud so that all could hear, The most important thought that ever occupied my mind was that of my individual responsibility to God. He discoursed upon this theme for twenty minutes, and then rose from the table and retired to his room. To God be the Glory! What a day that will be. What to do: Do not wait until then to understand that your most important responsibility is to God. P.S. Pastors note: Today is the day of salvation while there will be some saved in the tribulation period, it will not be those who could have and should have accepted Christ before the tribulation.

The Second Coming

FEBRUARY 28
Bible Reading: John 14:1-14 Key Verse: 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Key Words: I will come again At the close of the seven-year tribulation period, Christ will return to earth. We read about His promised return throughout the Word of God: Acts 1:11, Daniel 7:13, Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; I Thessalonians 2:10; II Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 1:7- just to list a few of the verses that tell us about the Second Coming of Jesus. A 2008 survey by the Pew Forum research center is very revealing about what people think in regard to the Second Coming of Christ. Do you believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ? Yes: 79%, No: 17%

Do you believe that Jesus will return to Earth in your lifetime? Yes: 20%, No: 39%, unknowable: 14% Is the time of the second coming revealed in Biblical prophecies? Yes: 33%; No: 40% Before the second coming, the world situation will: worsen: 34%; improve: 4%; unknowable: 37% Can peoples and nations affect when Christ returns? Yes: 23%; No 50% While no one knows the time of the Lords return, we do know that He will return. You can count on that. What to do: Occupy until He comes!

The White Throne Judgment

FEBRUARY 29
Bible Reading: Revelation 20 Key Verse: 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Key Words: great white throne There are a number of judgments that have taken place. First, there was the Judgment of the Son, which took place at Calvary. There is self-Judgment. This is what each believer should do on a continual basis. There is the Judgment of the believers work. This takes place after the rapture at the Judgment Seat of Christ. There is Judgment of the lost, those who rejected Jesus as their Savior. This takes place at what the Bible calls The Great White Throne Judgment. The Judgment will take place at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. Those who stand before the Great White Throne will be cast into the lake of fire. But let me hasten to say, it is not too late. You do not need to stand before Jesus at the Judgment. He came, died, was buried and rose again so you can have everlasting life. A pastor was dealing with a young lady who was arguing that she had plenty of time to decide about her eternal destiny. So the pastor handed her a piece of paper and said, Would you sign a statement that you would be willing to postpone salvation for a year? No, she said. I will not.

How about six months? asked the pastor. Again she said, No. Then she began to see the folly of her argument because she had assurance of only the present now. So it is with all those who are not born again. Today is the day of salvation as well. None of us is assured of having tomorrow. So today, now, yes, this very moment, if you are unsaved, will you ask Jesus Christ to save you from your sin? What to do: You can bow before Him today as your Savior or you will bow before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment.

I deeply appreciate the help of

Laurie Blankenship Trisha Bookout Kathy Endicott Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Cathy Lang Marie Moore Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt Reba Pontbriand And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.

Dr. Mike Rouse