Adrian Rogers Sermon Bundle

Contents 1. Conquering Through The Cross

Page 3

2. Six Positive Principles For Proper Practice

Page 16

3. Why Doesn’t God Heal All Sick Saints?

Page 26

4. The Triumph of Faith

Page 36

5. Tune In, Tone Down, and Sweeten Up

Page 49

6. If There Had Been No Easter

Page 62

7. The Lost Christ Of Christmas

Page 70

8. A New Year Without Fear

Page 79

9. The Only Hope For America

Page 90

10. The Grace Of Giving

Page 102

From The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection www.ARLC.org

Conquering Through The Cross By Adrian Rogers Main Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18 2XWOLQH Introduction  The Work of The Cross  The Word Of The Cross  The Way Of The Cross  Conclusion 

Introduction Now, would you open the word of God to First Corinthians chapter one and we will begin our reading in verse eighteen. I don’t know of a book that’s more applicable to our lives and to modern day Christians than the book of First Corinthians and so that’s what we’re going to be studying. Today our topic is and the title of our message is Conquering through the Cross. Now, First Corinthians chapter one, verse eighteen, “for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jew require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Off the south coast of China some pilgrims and some harbor settlers once built a massive cathedral and this cathedral was a place where they worshipped and enjoyed worshipping until a typhoon came through and destroyed that cathedral and proved that it was stronger than the work of men’s hands. Only the front wall of that great cathedral was left standing and on that front wall was a huge bronze cross. Sir John Bowring was shipwrecked off the coast of China and despaired for his life and as he was clinging to a piece of the ship he floated closer and closer to the shore until finally he saw that cross there, that standing © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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on the ruins of that old building. Silhouetted against the sky he saw the cross and that cross spoke to him of safety and spoke to him of security because he knew that he was nearing the shore. Later that same man wrote: In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time All the light of sacred story, gathered round its head sublime. And I want us today just to glory in the cross a little bit.

I. The Work of The Cross Three things I want you to learn about the cross of Jesus Christ. First of all, the work of the cross, secondly, the word of the cross, thirdly, the way of the cross. What is the work of the cross? Look in verse eighteen again, will you please. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Now, look at that phrase “unto us which are saved.” Look at it very carefully, because, may I tell you friend, that it could be and should be translated: unto us who are being saved, unto us who are being saved. Now, that’s very important that you understand that because if you don’t understand that I don’t think you’ll really understand what Paul is saying. So, the work of the cross is this, that through the cross we are being saved. Now, that may be confusing to some of you because you say now wait a minute pastor, I thought I already was saved when I received Jesus Christ. That’s right, you were. The Bible says believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. Well, yet the Bible says now is our salvation near than when we believed. Now, wait a minute, I thought I was saved when I believed. How could it be nearer than when I believed? And then Paul told Timothy, take ye to thyself and to the doctrine for and so doing thou shalt save thyself and them that hear thee. You mean he’s a preacher and he’s not yet saved? You say pastor, you’re confusing me. All right now, listen, salvation is in three tenses. I have been saved, that’s finished, I’ll never go to hell, bless God, hallelujah, it is done, ’tis done, the great transaction is done, it is settled, I’m a child of God, I’m born again, that is fixed. I have been saved, but wait a minute. I’m also being saved. I am being saved and I will be saved. Now, if you don’t understand that, you’re going to get in a lot of difficulty understanding the Bible. You see, there’s salvation in three tenses. I © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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From The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection www.ARLC.org

have been saved, that is, from the penalty of sin, I’ll never go to hell. I’m being saved, that is, from the power of sin, that’s my sanctification. I will be saved from the presence of sin, when Jesus comes again, you see. I have been saved. I’m being saved. I will be saved. Now, you need to understand what happened when Adam died. You remember God said to Adam, “In the day that you disobey me, in the day that you eat, you will surely die.” Well, Adam disobeyed God and did he die that day? Well, if you read the record he went on to live for eight hundred plus years. Well, did he die or didn’t he? Yes, he did, but he didn’t. Actually, the scripture says dying thou shalt die. You see, what happened to Adam? When Adam disobeyed God, he died immediately in his spirit. God moved out of Adam’s spirit and Adam became minus God. You see, the spirit of man is where God dwells. God dwells in your spirit. Now, when a man sins or when a man is a sinner, an unregenerate, unsaved sinner, he is minus God in the spirit and so the minute Adam died God moved out of Adam and Adam became minus God and he died immediately in his spirit. But he died progressively in his soul. The soul is the ego, the mind, the emotion, the will, the Greek word for soul is psyche—the word we get psychology from, psychiatry from. And so, Adam died immediately in his spirit, he died progressively in his soul and then he died ultimately in his body. You see, Adam was dead from the moment that God moved out of him, but he continued to function in his soul and in his body. There are a lot of dead people who go to work tomorrow morning in Memphis, Tennessee. Their soul is still functioning, their body is still functioning, but they are dead because they’re alienating from the life of God. Now, watch it. How did Adam die? He died immediately in his spirit, progressively in his soul, ultimately in his body. Adam was body, soul, and spirit. When you get saved God reverses all of that. When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior, when you repent of your of your sin, you open your hearts, you believe on Jesus, you receive Jesus, what happens? You are justified immediately in your spirit. You are sanctified progressively in your soul and you will be glorified ultimately in your body, you see. I have been saved, that is, I’m justified in the spirit. I am being saved, that is, I’m sanctified in the soul and I will be saved, that is, I will be glorified in my body. What I’m trying to say is friend, God isn’t finished with me yet. Amen, wouldn’t you be disappointed people, the enemy put the tares in with the wheat—and tares and wheat are hard to tell the difference—and the workman on the farm © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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said, “Master, do you want us to go and pull up the tares?” He said, “You be careful, you’d pull up some wheat, you’d pull up some wheat if I left it to you.” You can’t tell dear friend, who’s saved and who’s not by looking at them because God isn’t finished with yet. He hasn’t finished with me yet, but let me say the same thing is true in verse eighteen about those who perish. It says “unto them which perish it is foolishness.” The same thing is taught, it literally means to those who are perishing. You see, God isn’t finished with the unsaved man yet either. Here’s a guy sitting in church today says well, it’s not so bad being lost, he’s living high, wide and handsome. And he doesn’t worry about being lost, he says I’m getting along all right without God. Maybe he is. He reminds me of a man who jumped out of a ten-story building, as he passed each window he said he’s all right so far. He’s getting along all right now, but you see God isn’t finished yet. You read in James chapter one, and verse fifteen, this phrase: “and sin when it is finished.” You need to see the finished product of the devil’s art. You need to understand that sin is not yet finished yet. Salvation is not yet finished and neither is sin. People right now in this congregation who are saved and lost—some are in the process of being saved, and some are in the process of being perished, if you can put it that way, of being perished. That’s exactly what it means. They are in the process right now of perishing. “Sin when it is finished.” There was a television series that was on several years ago about a man who had an incurable disease and he knew he was going to die at a certain time. Do you remember that? And so, he was trying to get all the gusto he could, he was just living it up until you know, and the thing about that series is that that man, though he had an incurable disease, he didn’t look sick and he didn’t act sick, but he was dying and that’s the way it is with a man without the Lord Jesus Christ. He may not look sick, he may not act sick necessarily, but if he doesn’t have the Lord Jesus Christ, he is perishing and you need to see sin when it is finished. You see, God isn’t finished with me yet and if you’re not saved, the devil isn’t finished with you yet. You need to see the finished product of the devil’s art. You know it’s the end that really counts. Look for example at Proverbs chapter twenty three, Proverbs twenty three, let’s think for a moment about the sin of liquor, or the sin of drinking in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs chapter twenty three and verse thirty one. “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth it’s color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.” Do you know there’s nothing more beautiful to the sensual eyes than a glass of wine or, some of these liquor advertisements. What are the most beautiful © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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advertisements that you see around? Won’t it be liquor advertisements, you know, the frosty glass and the four roses and you know all this is so beautiful, you know, they make it look so appealing. You see, that’s the first, but you have to look beyond that, look beyond that, listen, what it says now. “At the last…” you see, when it is finished, sin when it is finished, “…at the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like adder.” You need to see it at the last, not at the first. You know, the liquor people don’t want you to see the end, brother. I wish I could put in the newspapers some of the things that I have to deal with as a pastor. One time when I was down in Fort Pierce, Florida, I had an artist in the church who painted a man in the alley, in the garbage and by the garbage can, there was a big old rat about that long running past, and this man had in his hand a bottle and he was dressed in rags lying up there in the alley with the vermin and so forth and underneath he wrote these words “the finished product of the brewer’s art.” It was a sign that was on a piece of four by eight plywood, I thought that was pretty good sign and so he said, “Pastor, you can do with this what you wish.” I said, “Well, I’ll just put it on our church parking lot.” So I put it up on the church parking lot, and after a while I got a phone call. It was from one of the local distributors. He said, “Mr. Rogers?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “I need to have a talk with you.” I said, “What is your name sir?” He told me. I knew who he was. I said, “I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.” Went right down to my study and met him there. I said, “Now, what do you wish to talk about?” He said, “It’s about your sign.” I said, “What about our sign?” He said, “That sign discriminates against my product.” I said, “Your product is thickened with blood, flavored with death, and brewed with tears.” He said, “Huh?” I said, “If I were you I would get on my knees right now and ask God to have mercy on me.” Well, he got a little incensed at that. He said well, “I think that’s grounds for a lawsuit.” I said, “So do I, I wish you’d sue me. I’d like to see this picture on the front page and I’d like for you to prove that’s not the finished product. I said you’ve got some kind of nerve. You bombard me day in and day out in magazines, newspapers, television, radio, telling everybody to drink, drink, drink, drink. I put up one sign to warn Sunday School boys and girls that there’s more to it, and you get incensed. I said, “I’ll make a deal with you. You take your signs down, I’ll take mine down.” Amen. “You take all yours down, I’ll take mine down.” Well, he walked out, didn’t have much more to say, but let me tell you, friend, you need to see when it is finished. You see, God isn’t finished yet, and the devil isn’t finished yet. At first the man takes a drink ,then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man. It’s the same thing with this sin of immorality. © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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Open your Bible again, you’re in the book of Proverbs, turn to Proverbs chapter five. Proverbs chapter five, verses three through five. The lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb and her mouth is smoother than oil. Ol’ Honey Lips. Oh boy, sure, she ought to get a centerfold, Ol’ Honey Lips, and boy, listen to the way she talks, seems to make sense, her mouth is smoother than oil, but listen, watch verse four. “But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword, her feet go down to death and her steps take hold on hell.” God says consider the end, consider the end. Look all the way through, see the finished product. You see, the devil is not finished yet. The bread of deceit is sweet, but afterward a man’s mouth shall be filled with gravel. Now, for example, turn to the book of Jeremiah chapter seventeen and verse eleven. Listen to this verse, those of you who perhaps say, “Well, liquor is not problem and immorality is not my problem.” Well, maybe materialism is. Listen to this. Jeremiah seventeen, verse eleven. “As the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not, so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.” Now, here’s a guy, he doesn’t care for God, he doesn’t care for the things of the spirit, his creed is greed, his God is gold, riches mean more to him than God. God says in the middle of his days he’s going to leave them and at his end he’ll be a fool, at the end. Sin when it is finished. That’s the reason when Billy Sunday was preaching to his congregation about ungodly riches he said you can’t take it with you and if you could it’d melt where some of you are going. You see, verse eighteen speaks of the work of the cross. The work of the cross is this. That it is to help us, not only to be saved in the past, but to be saved right now day by day from the power of sin. All right, what you will be you are now becoming through the power of Satan or the power of the cross.

II. The Word Of The Cross Now, the second thing I want you to notice, not only the work of the cross which is salvation in the present tense, those who are being saved, but the second thing I want you to notice is the word of the cross, the word of the cross. For this verse says for the preaching of the cross is to them that are perishing foolish. But unto us who are being saved it is the power of God. Now, the word that is translated preaching here is not the regular word for preaching. It’s simply the Greek word logos and it simply means word and it could be translated the word of the cross, the word of the cross and that doesn’t © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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mean therefore the preaching about the cross is power, that’s not what it’s saying. It’s not what I say about the cross, it is what the cross says to me. The cross has a message. There is the word of the cross, there is the preaching of the cross, and it is the preaching of the cross or the word of the cross what the cross teaches me, what the cross preaches to me that is power so that I can live victoriously day by day. And so, the message of the cross is how to get the power of God in my life now. Notice what it says. Not the preaching of the cross was the power of God, not will be, but is the power of God right now. You see, salvation is a decision followed by a dynamic. It is a crisis followed by a process. I believe on Jesus, I am saved, that is, it’s settled, I’m going to heaven, but that’s not all. Now the cross that saved me is the cross that is to empower me, it is the cross that is to energize meant to help me to live day by day right now in the power of God right now. And so, what is the word of the cross, what is the word that the cross preaches? All right, let me get back to First Corinthians 1, and look beginning in verse 18 again. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God, for it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world, for after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it please God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believed. Now watch verse twenty two. For the Jews require sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. Now, two words I want you to underscore in verse twenty four. Power and wisdom. You see, the two things that every may needs is the power to do right and the wisdom to know right. He needs to know what is right and he needs the power to do it. That’s the way to be saved, that’s the way to be saved. That’s what everybody needs, wisdom and power. Now, if you have the power without the wisdom that’s no good. If you know what is right and can’t do it, that’s no good so you need the wisdom to know right and the power to do right. Now, how are you going to get this wisdom and how are you going to get this power? Well, from time and memorial different people have been trying different ways to unlike the mystery of life to see what is right and to do what is right. For example, the Jews were very power conscience. Look in verse twenty two, verse © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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twenty two says for the Jews seek a sign. Now why is this? The Jews require a sign. You see, the Jews were looking for a Messiah who would be a powerful being, a very glorious Messiah. They were looking for a kingly person who would come in majesty and glory, a person who would dazzle them with his, his great l power. That’s the reason Jesus was tempted by the devil to jump off the pinnacle of the temple because if he were to just come floating down in the middle of the temple, everybody say look, how wonderful, oh hallelujah, but Jesus wouldn’t do that, you see. They required a sign, they said to Jesus, give us a sign from heaven and we’ll believe, that is, make the stars dance around, do a little cosmic magic if you will. Even when Jesus Christ was on the cross they said come down from the cross and we’ll believe. The Jews required a sign, but Jesus would not give them a sign. He said no sign will be given to this sinful and adulterous generation. And so, when the Jews saw Jesus hanging on the cross, they said what kind of a Messiah is that? What kind of a Messiah is that? Why, that’s a stumbling block to us, we can’t accept a crucified Messiah, someone who is crucified. Notice verse twenty three. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews, a stumbling block, what kind of a king, what kind of a leader who would die in agony and shame upon a cross. And oh, they said give us a sign, we want to see some power. Now, what about the Greeks? Look in verse twenty two. What did the Greeks want? Ha, look in verse twenty two. The Greeks seek after wisdom. Now the Greeks were a little more cultured than the Jews. They wanted a God they could intellectualize. They had Plato and Socrates, they had all of the great philosophers and, amid their idea of a Messiah, their idea of a spiritual leader would be sort of a double Socrates. They wanted someone who would explain God, to put god in concepts that they wanted someone who would do mental gymnastics with them. They were looking for wisdom and culture and again they said what wisdom is there in dying on a cross, of all things, to die, foolishness. And so, notice verse twenty two. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. The Jews were interested in power, the Greeks were interested in wisdom, but Christ is Doth the power and the wisdom of God. Christ crucified. Look verse twenty four. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Not Christ the conqueror for the Jews, not Christ the philosopher for the Greeks, but Christ crucified for everybody. And in the cross is seen the power of © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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God and in the cross is seen the wisdom of God. Now, how? It’s very simple. You see, man is very power conscience today, we think we’ve got so much power, we think we know so much, if we do, why are we in such a mess? The more we learn the deeper we get. There’s only one power that can change lives and it’s the power of the cross. I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. I have preached it long enough now, I have opened this book long enough now, I’ve given enough invitations now, I’ve dealt personally enough now, I’ve counseled enough now to know there is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the lamb. I believe that. Brother, that’s the only power that’ll do this old sin sick world any good. Atomic power is not the answer, and governmental power is not the answer and intellectual power is not the answer and physical power is not the answer, it’s the power of the cross or nothing, Mister. And what about wisdom, what about wisdom? Christ the wisdom of God. You know the thing I like about Christ the wisdom of God? Brother, you don’t have to be a high muckety muck, a PhD, an intellectual top water to understand Jesus Christ, for God hath hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and hath revealed them unto babes. You talk about wisdom, what about the kind of a wisdom that a child can understand? Isn’t that wisdom? Where God, the great God who made the universes, the God who scooped out the seas, heaped up the mountains, flung out the stars, that God has made himself known to a little child. That’s wisdom which none of the princes of this world knew. If they had they’d not of slain the Lord of glory. Mister, you’ll never come to the Lord headfirst, you better come heart first for God hath hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and God hath revealed him unto babes and to anybody who wants to know and wishes to know. And what is the word of the cross? The word of the cross is that power is in Jesus crucified, that wisdom is in Jesus crucified and all you need to know to live the victorious life is found in the power of the cross. Now, the work of the cross is salvation, the word of the cross is that Jesus is the wisdom and the power of God. Some of you say well, that sounds a little nonintellectual. I heard of Harry Ironside, a great preacher of yesteryear; used to pastor Moody church. He was traveling with some friends on a ferry, going across from San Francisco to Oakland, and they were Christians and they were singing choruses and praising the Lord. And a man was standing by there and he heard them and after a while he started to criticize. He said who are you people, what © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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are you doing? And Harry Ironside, a great preacher said well, we’re just some Christians, we’re having a good time, we’re just praising our Lord. And the man said you’re a bunch of fools. Ironside said you’re right, we are. We’re fools for Christ sake. Whose fool are you? Fools for Christ’s sake. To those that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved, it’s the power of God.

III. The Way Of The Cross Finally, I want you to notice the way of the cross. How does this power become real in your life? How do I appropriate it? I know that the work of the cross is that I’m being saved. I know that the word of the cross is that Jesus is power and Jesus is wisdom. Jesus shows me what to do and Jesus gives me power to do it, but now what is the role of the cross? How does it become real in my life? How do I get a handle on it? How can I bring it in tomorrow and take it to work with me? How can I carry it home with me? How can the cross become real in my life? The way of the cross is faith. Notice chapter two, verse one. “And I brethren, when I came to you came not with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God.” That is, Paul said I didn’t try to dazzle you with my intellectual powers. Do you know the problem in America today? In too many pulpits we have the flesh on parade, book review, culture, quoting this theologian and that theologian, Dr. Smell Fungus, Professor Tinkling Cymbal. Paul says, “When I came to you I came not with excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God, for I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified and I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.” He never would have won a better speakers tournament, that my, and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. And there it is, there’s the key. The way of the cross is faith, that your faith, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Conclusion You see, there are two responses that you can have toward the cross, foolishness or faith. To those that perish, it’s foolishness, to those of us who are being saved, we exercise faith and through that faith God’s wisdom and God’s power is released in us. Let me illustrate it from the Old Testament and we’ll be finished. © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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Do you remember in the Old Testament where the Israelites had rebelled against God, they were on their way from Egypt to Canaan, they were in the wilderness and they began to complain and to criticize and they said we’re sick and tired of eating this manna and there’s no water and we’re going to die in the wilderness and God sent fiery serpents among the people to bite them and many people of Israel were dying and they went to Moses and they said Moses, we’ve sinned, for we’ve spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to God that he’ll take away the serpents. Moses went to the Lord and the Lord said to Moses, Moses, make a brazen serpent and put it upon a pole and it should come to pass that if any man is bitten when he looketh upon the serpent he’ll live. Now, why a brazen serpent? Well, the serpent is a symbol of sin. Brass is a symbol of judgment. This was sin being judged and there are rapturous shouts of joy as instantaneous healing takes place, people from all over, poor snake bitten victims are looking to a twisted piece of metal on a pole and immediately they’re being made whole. This serpent lifted upon a pole represented Jesus Christ who took our sin upon himself and carried him to the cross. And so Moses said now, people, God’s plan is this. That if you want to be delivered from the hideous snakebite, from the fatal fangs of the fiery serpent, you must look and live. Now, let’s suppose that we’re back there in the desert, let’s suppose that the hideous reptiles are everywhere, faces are white with fear, eyes are red with weeping, hands are trembling, all over they’re hurried funerals as people are burying their loved ones who have died because of the venom of the poisonous snake which represents God’s judgment upon sin. Let’s imagine that here’s a mother who has taken her son and has place him there in her tent, she’s waiting for him to die, his temples are throbbing with pain, his hands and limbs are growing numb and cold, he’s being paralyzed and he’s dying very rapidly and she’s saying, “oh God, oh God, don’t let my boy die, oh God, save my boy,” and about that time someone comes into the camp of Israel and he’s shouting at the top of his voice and this is what he’s saying: “A cure, there’s a cure,” and everybody stops and they find this man and they say, “What is that sir, what did you say?” “I said there is a cure.” One of the elders of Israel takes him by the lapel and says, “I order by God tell me the truth. “Is there a cure?” He said “Yes, there’s a cure.” He says, “What is it?” He said, “Listen, man, I don’t understand it, I can’t explain it, but God told Moses if he would take a serpent and put it upon a pole, that whosoever would look upon that serpent would live.” “Tell me sir, does it work?” “Yes, it works.” “How do you know it © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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works?” “Because I was healed,” and all over the camp of Israel men and women begin to look and be healed. I want you to notice this mother as she goes back to her tent, she pulls back the flap of the tent, she goes in, and she says to her son, “My boy, Mother has wonderful news for you, you don’t have to die, God has prevented provided a remedy,” and she says, “Now son, Mama can’t explain it all, but you come to the door of the tent. You see that brazen serpent over there on that pole? Look son, look at it and you’ll be healed. He says, “I see it Mommy.” He says, “Oh, Mommy, something happened, ha, Mommy, the pain is gone, the throbbing has ceased, the swelling goes down.” He sits up, he stretches, he stands, he leaps, he says “Mother, ha, I’ve been made well.” And, oh, they embraced and praise the Lord God Jehovah! Now, that’s one scene that may have taken place. I want you to notice another one that might have taken place. Here’s a woman, she rushes to her tent, her husband lies dying. She goes in, her face is glowing like the noonday sun. She says to him, “Husband, husband, listen, I’ve got good news!” “What is it?” “You don’t have to die husband. God has provided a remedy, husband. I don’t know how to explain it, but let me tell you husband what it is. Listen, God told Moses that if he…” “Hold it right there. Are you talking about the brass serpent theory?” “Well, husband, I’m talking about the brass serpent, but it’s no theory, husband, are you…” “Hold it, hold it. I am a reasonable man. I have a philosophical bent of mind, and I’ve got enough sense to know that there is no possible connection between by poor wretched miserable condition and some silly, stupid twisted piece of metal on a pole. Don’t mention it again.” “But husband…” “I said be quiet, don’t you mention your foolish fanatical religion around this house one more time. Do you hear?” “Yes husband.” And so he died. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness, but unto us which are saved it’s the power of God. You see, what did that brazen serpent represent? Jesus said, “and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but should have ever-lasting life.” The way of the cross is faith. I want to tell you with all of the unction and function of my soul this morning that if you will believe that Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God and if you will put your faith in the blood of Jesus Christ and the Christ of the blood, God will reveal to you a wisdom that you’ll never get from books and God will give to you a power that no other source © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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can give and you will be saved from the penalty of sin, you will be being saved from the power of sin and one day bless God, you’ll be saved from the presence of sin. “In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time.” (John Bowring, 1825) COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom’s work.

© 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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Six Positive Principles For Proper Practice By Adrian Rogers

Date Preached: January 27, 1977 Main Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 10:23, 31–33

Outline Introduction  I.  The Principle of Expediency  II.  The Principle of Enslavement  III.  The Principle of Example  IV.  The Principle of Edification  V.  The Principle of Exaltation  VI.  The Principle of Evangelism  Conclusion 

Introduction Would you take your Bibles, please, and turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 6? We’re preaching through 1 Corinthians, and not every verse, but simply some of the more important factors of the book. And, today, we are in chapter 6. Now, we’re facing a New Year, and we trust that this New Year will be the very best ever. And, some of us have made some resolutions. The problem with too many resolutions is “they go in one year and out the other.” And, we need to carry them out. Somebody said that New Year’s resolutions are like babies crying in church: They need to be carried out. And, sometimes, it’s hard for us to carry out the resolution that we have made. But, isn’t it great, and isn’t it grand, and isn’t glorious that our God is the God of the new start. He came to my desk with quivering lips, The lesson was done. Dear teacher, he said, I want a new leaf, I’ve spoiled this one.

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And for the old leaf stained and blotted, I gave him a new one all unspotted; And into his sad eyes smiled. Do better now, my child. I came to the throne with a quivering soul, The old year was done. Dear Father, I said, Have you a new leaf? I have spoiled this one. For the old leaf stained and blotted, He gave me a new one all unspotted; And into my sad heart smiled. Do better now my child ~Kathleen Wheeler And, we want to do better. We’ve got a new year, and we, every one of us, I believe, want it to be the very best year it can be for His glory and for our good. But, in order to do better, we need to know how to do better. And so, I want us to think, this morning, on this subject: “Six Positive Principles for Proper Practice.” That’s hard to say: “Six Positive Principles for Proper Practice.” That is, six principles that will teach us how to decide between right and wrong. Now, you know that’s not as easy as it may sound. Sometimes, it’s easy to decide between right and wrong, because we have the Ten Commandments, and the Ten Commandments do not change. Men and women come and go, but the Ten Commandments are here for every age. And, men and women are broken, trying to break the Ten Commandments, but we thank God that they are here. However, there are many questions about right and wrong that are not covered, specifically, by the Ten Commandments. You see, the Bible is not a rulebook. The Bible is a guidebook. The Bible is not a book of minute laws; the Bible is, rather, a book of great principles. And, you ought to be glad. You see, God doesn’t write everything in the Bible that we need to… Well, He writes everything we need to know, but He doesn’t write it in a way that, sometimes, we’d like to have it. For example, God doesn’t say in the Bible, “Thou shalt not smoke pot,” or God does not say in the Bible, “Thou shalt not drive through a school zone at 110 miles an hour,” but God does put certain principles in the Bible. And, the principles are what we’re talking about. You see, if God were to make the Bible of minute laws rather than great principles, it’d take a boxcar to carry it around—probably take a railroad train. And, besides that, the principles that would be in it that would be applicable to us would not be applicable to Paul. Can you imagine somebody in Corinth reading and

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saying, “God says, ‘Thou shalt not attend X-rated movies,’” and he’d say, “What’s that?” Well, you see, it wouldn’t make sense to them. And, another thing—if God simply made the Bible a rulebook rather than a guidebook, you know, there are folks who can always find loopholes in laws, but you can’t find loopholes in God’s great principles. So, let’s notice what these six positive principles for proper practice are that are recorded in the book of 1 Corinthians.

I.

The Principle of Expediency

All right, first of all, 1 Corinthians chapter 6, and verse 12. Here’s the first of these principles: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient” (1 Corinthians 6:12). All right. Now, the first principle of proper practice is the principle of expediency. Paul says: “All things are lawful”—that is, no longer are we under the Mosaic Law—“but all things are not expedient” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Now, what does that word expedient mean? Well, when you think of expedient, you think of travel; an expedition is a journey somewhere. Now, what Paul is saying, when he says, “all things are not expedient,” is that not all things help me on my way (1 Corinthians 6:12). Now, ladies and gentlemen, a Christian is somebody who’s going somewhere. A Christian is somebody with a goal, a purpose in mind. He’s not just drawing his breath and drawing his salary, eating to live and living to eat. He has a purpose; he has a goal in his life. And, if you don’t have one, you ought to get one, because you won’t be worth much in this year, or any year, unless you are goal-oriented. I heard of a man, who went to some farms, and he noticed on every barn, on every tree everywhere, there was a bull’s eye-type target, and right in the center was a mark right dead eye in the center of the bull’s eye. He said, “Well, I don’t know who lives around here, but, evidently, the world’s best marksman. I’m going to look him up and talk with him.” He asked around, and they directed him to the town moron, and found out this was the man who’d been doing all of the shooting. He said, “I don’t understand it. How do you do it? How do you hit the bull’s-eye every time?” He said, “Well, I do it differently than other people.” He said, “You see, I shoot first and then draw the target, later.” And then, he explained it. He said, “I aim at nothing, and I hit it.” I will guarantee you that you will hit it every time. But, you are not to be aiming at nothing. You’re to be aiming at something; you’re to have some goals; and you’re to have some plans. And, these goals are to be God-directed, Holy Spirit-given goals. And, everything you do in word or deed—every action this year—you ought to ask yourself, “Is it expedient?” That is, does it help me toward my goal? You see, is it expedient? Does it help me, or does it hinder me? Now, there’s nothing wrong with a hundred-pound barbell, but, if I’ve got it on my

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shoulder when I’m running a hundred-yard dash, I’d better throw it away, right? You see, there’s nothing wrong with it, as such; there’s nothing wrong with a barbell. But, it’s not expedient to carry one on your shoulder, if you’re running a hundred-yard dash. And, some of the things in your life are wrong, simply because they are a waste of time—that’s all. They are a drag anchor that keeps you from arriving in God’s appointed harbor. So, the first test—the first principle for proper practice—is this: expediency. And, the question you should ask, before you do this or that, is this: Is it expedient?

II.

The Principle of Enslavement

All right. Number two: There is the principle of enslavement. Look in chapter 6, and verse 12, again; Paul says: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). That is, I am not going to be enslaved by anything. You see, Jesus Christ not only gives us goals, but Jesus Christ came to set us free. We’re to be free. And, the Bible says: “If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Those who talk the most about freedom are those who have the least of it. It’s seems to me, in this day and this age, people are talking about free speech, free sex, free love, and all of that, and they themselves are the slaves of sin. Now, they would deny that if I were to say that to them. They’d say, “I do what I want to do.” That’s the reason why he’s a slave, you see. Jesus Christ sets us free not to do what we want to do, but to do what we ought to do, you see. He is free to do what he wants, but he’s not free to do what he ought. He is free to sin, but he’s not free not to sin. Do you understand what I’m saying? It is only in Jesus Christ that we become free not to sin. It is only in Jesus Christ that we become free to do what we ought, rather than what we want. It is Jesus Christ who gives us that pure liberty. And, we are not to be enslaved by anybody or anything, and yet, many Christians, who have been set free by the Lord Jesus Christ, can again become entangled, if they fail to abide by it. There are many Christians who are free theoretically, but they are not free practically. There’s an old story I heard. During a war and a certain battle, one of the soldiers called to his commander and said, “I have taken a prisoner.” And, the commander said, “Wonderful, bring him with you.” And, the soldier said, “Well, he won’t come.” And so, the commander said, “Well, leave him, and you come on.” He said, “He won’t let me go.” Now, you wonder who has taken who. There are a lot of Christians who are talking about victory in the Lord Jesus Christ, but they themselves seem be enslaved.

III.

The Principle of Example

You want to know whether a thing is right or wrong? You may ask yourself this question: “Will this thing enslave me?” You’d be surprised what some people in this congregation

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may be enslaved by. Some say, “I can take a drink, and it doesn’t hurt me.” Friend, that’s a mighty selfish way of looking at it. Did you know that? May I say that again? You say, “I can take a drink and it doesn’t hurt me.” If that’s all you’re thinking about, you had better read chapter 8, verse 1: “love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1). And, if what you do may cause somebody else to stumble, then what you do is wrong, wrong, wrong. Moderation is not the cure to the liquor problem; it is the cause of it. It is the moderate drinker who can drink and hold his liquor that encourages the one who cannot drink and hold his liquor to drink. And, that’s the reason we’re in the mess that we’re in, because the magazine ads always show the man of distinction, rather than showing the drunk in the gutter. Now, go back to Romans chapter 14, for a moment; just keep one finger there in 1 Corinthians. There’s been a lot in the newspaper about social drinking. I’m warming up a sermon on it, and you’ll just get the front end of it, right now. All right now, look in Romans chapter 14. Look in verse 13. It’s not up to us to go around judging other people who may drink. It’s not up to us to go around judging other people who may smoke. It’s not up to us to go around judging other people who watch the wrong kind of films. Chapter 14, verse 13: “Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more”—oh, but it’s not finished yet, watch it—“but judge this, rather: that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Romans 14:13). As Christians, it’s not our job to go around judging other people; it’s our job to judge ourselves, and to see to it that we, as Christians, do nothing that would cause anybody else to stumble. And so, therefore, continue to read in Romans 14, verse 21; just put a big star by it: “It is good neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak” (Romans 14:21). Do you see it? The question is not “Would it hurt you?” The question is “Will it hurt somebody else? Will it cause somebody else to stumble?” If it will, then the principle is you leave it alone. No man lives unto himself; no man dies unto himself. And, the question that everybody must ask is not only “Will it hurt me?” Some of you older teenagers—you are addicted to rock music, and you say, “Well, I love Jesus.” And yet, you have in your family a little brother or sister, and all day long they’re listening to the records of yours. You say, “It doesn’t hurt me.” I wonder what you may be doing to your brother or sister. I wonder what kind of an influence you may be having on your little brother or your little sister by this so-called liberty of yours in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is time that Christians stop thinking simply of themselves and start thinking of each other. And, you may come to me with a big argument, and you say, “Well, I don’t see anything wrong with this; I don’t see anything wrong with that.” Yeah, you’re pretty smart: “Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Now, had you rather

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be smart or loving? You see, the question that we need to ask before we do anything is “What about my example? Would it wound somebody else’s conscience? Would it cause somebody else to sin? Would it drag somebody else down?” If it would, for their sake then, I’d leave it alone. First of all, expediency: Will it help me on my way? Secondly, enslavement: Does it enslave me? Thirdly, example: I can get by with it, but would it cause somebody else to be hurt? Would it cause somebody else to stumble?

IV.

The Principle of Edification

All right, the next principle—principle number four: the principle of edification. Look in chapter 10, and verse 23. Paul repeats again: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient”—we’ve dealt with that. Now, he gives another reason—“all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not” (1 Corinthians 10:23). The test of edification. What does it mean to edify? To edify means “to build up.” An edifice is a building. You see, by your life, you’re either building or tearing down. Everything that you do as a Christian should have a positive influence, or it will have a negative influence. If your word is not a positive word that encourages, it will be an idle word that discourages. Every conversation, every friendship, every joke, every television program, every friendship, should pass this test: Does it edify me? Am I a better person? Am I a stronger person for having done this? Are they better people? Are they stronger people for having done this? You see, there’s nothing wrong with entertainment; there’s nothing wrong with recreation. We’ve got some sourpusses around that are so negative that if they ever get into Heaven, they’ll back into Heaven. They think that anytime God sees anybody having fun, He moves in to break up the game. As I told my class, this morning, they think of God as a cosmic killjoy, but God is a good God, and God wants you to have plain, old fun. And, if you’re a blue-nosed, blackrobed Puritan, who believes it’s wrong to have fun, I’m sorry for you, because I’m having a glorious time going to Heaven, and a lot of fun. There’s nothing wrong with fun; there’s nothing wrong with recreation. But, you ought to ask yourself this question: Does this recreation—does this entertainment—edify? You put a test to your entertainment. Do you know, after you’ve had your entertainment, it ought to refresh you; it ought to relax you; and it ought to restore you. You ought to say, “Boy, I feel like going to work now; boy, I’m happy in the Lord. Where’s that Bible? Let me get at it.” You see? But, if it just kind of leaves you with a blue feeling and a dark brown taste in your mouth, and you just kind of feel defeated, and you watch some old story, and you say, “Oh, man, I feel depressed after watching that,” it just didn’t edify. You see, a Christian is to be somebody who edifies himself and

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who edifies someone else. That’s the reason we call it recreation. Now, I know I’ve got some folks—some of them are edifiers, and some of them are wreckers. I’ve got friends, boy, when I’m around them, it’s like a breath of fresh air; they just make me feel so good. I can think of several people. Boy, I just can’t be around them long before I just want to say, “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!” There’s just something about them. I’ve got other friends—they look like an accident going somewhere to happen. I mean, they’re like that guy who’s got that little cloud over his head everywhere he goes. They’re like a drink of water to a drowning man. They’re just gloom spreaders and depressive fault-finding people, who do not encourage, who don’t edify, and who don’t build up. I want to be the kind of a person, who, when somebody is around me and leaves me, they love Jesus just a little more. I want to do the kind of things that will make me a stronger person, a better person. All things don’t edify. Now, you can argue long and loud that it may be right or it may be wrong, or, “I don’t see any harm in this; I don’t see any harm in that.” But, ask this question: Has it built me up? Has it edified me? If it edifies—fine. All things don’t edify; all things may be lawful. You may come along like a Philadelphia lawyer, and back me into a corner, and say, “There’s nothing wrong with this.” I just want to know: Does it make you a better person? Does it build you up? Are you stronger in the Lord? If so, praise the Lord! Have at it!

V.

The Principle of Exaltation

All right. Now, the next principle—chapter 10, verse 31: “Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The next principle is the principle of exaltation. Does it exalt the Lord? Does it glorify the Lord? If it glorifies Him, if it exalts Him, you can do it. If it doesn’t, you have no business doing it. Isn’t that plain? Isn’t that simple? Would you do it if Jesus were with you? Well, folks, He is. You know, aren’t you glad we don’t live in the day and the age, boys and girls, where, when you went on a date, a chaperone went with you? Some dear lady with a face like a hatchet would sit right between you. They called her a chaperone. Well, I want to remind you, if you’re saved, you still have a chaperone: His name is the Holy Spirit. And, everywhere you go, He goes. You don’t say to the Holy Spirit, “Now, Holy Spirit, I’m going in here; You’ll have to stay outside.” You know, a little boy goes to school, he says, “Fido, you stay out here; I’ll pick you up on the way back out. A little dog can’t come in the school.” Can you imagine how the Holy Spirit of God must be grieved at some places some Christians go? Can you imagine how the dear Holy Spirit of God must be grieved at some things some Christians do, because those things dishonor the name of Jesus? One of the tests—one of the principles—that I can ask is “Does it exalt Jesus?” If Jesus were standing here, in His literal presence, with His literal eyes, and flesh,

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and blood, looking at me, would I do it? Can I say, “Jesus, I do this in Your name for Your glory, and give You the thanks?” Now, if you can’t, then, according to this verse, you ought not to do it. Look at it again. This is not just talking about the so-called churchy things; it’s talking about sitting at dinner: “Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). I haven’t got any business doing anything I can’t do to the glory of God. We’re not our own; we are bought with a price. Therefore, we are to glorify God in our body and in our spirit. In this New Year, you have not two goals, not three goals, but one goal: It is the glory of God. That: nothing more, nothing else, nothing but the glory of God. You’re bought with a price. And, if it does not exalt Him, you have no right whatsoever to participate in anything that does not glorify Him. You may call yourself a Christian. There’s an old story that’s come down through history about Alexander the Great, the great general who conquered the world at 33 and wept because there were no more worlds to conquer. It is said that in Alexander’s army there was a sneak thief. And, according to history, if there was anything that Alexander the Great hated, it was a thief, a sneak thief. Finally, they ferreted the man out. He was reported to the general. The general called him in, and before the general remonstrated with him, the general asked him this question: He said, “What is your name, soldier?” And, the soldier said, “Sir, my name is the same as your name; by coincidence, my name, too, is Alexander.” And, when Alexander heard that, he stood to his feet, looked him in the eye, and said, “Soldier, you had better change your conduct or change your name.” I’m sure that Jesus Christ has every right to say that to some who are here, today, who call themselves Christians. It is the name of Jesus Christ that is being dishonored—not your family name, and not Bellevue’s name. It is the name of your Sovereign—the name of your Savior—that is being dishonored. And, the Bible says, a principle of proper performance is this: Does it glorify God? (1 Corinthians 10:31). This is the test of exaltation, the principle of exaltation.

VI.

The Principle of Evangelism

The final principle: the principle of evangelism. Look at chapter 10, again, in verse 32: “Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Greeks, nor to the church of God; even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:32–33). Now, what does that mean? Paul said, “I don’t want to do anything that would offend anybody—that would keep them from coming to Jesus Christ.” And, one of the great questions that I must ask about anything I do is “Would it hinder my witness for Jesus Christ to them?” If it would, I have no right to do it. You see, I cannot go into a Jewish synagogue, or into a Jewish temple, and use bad manners, and be offensive, because, according to my Lord, that would be wrong for me

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to do. I can’t go out here, to the pagan world, and be rude and uncouth to the Gentile world, because, according to my Lord, that would be wrong. Did you know that a Christian should be a gentleman? Did you know that? Did you know, young ladies, that you ought to so dress that no one will think you’re a Christian by the way you dress, but no one will be surprised that you are, when they find out? Amen? You don’t go around with a black robe on; you’re to be fresh and pretty, feminine and sweet. But, you’re to be modest. You young men are to have manners; you are not to be offensive. You are to so live, and so act, and so talk, and so conduct yourselves that it will open the door for you to witness to Jesus Christ. That’s what Paul says: “Don’t offend people” (1 Corinthians 10:32–33). What a fine principle that would be for us, in this coming year, that we would so live that we would not be ashamed to witness for Jesus Christ, after we’ve lived before certain people! Some of you cannot witness on the job, because you have been so cranky. You’ve been so offensive. Some of you are worrywarts, and you worry, worry, worry, worry, and then you go to witness. What do you think that sounds like? You worry all the time, and then you tell them to trust Him. You tell a dirty joke, then. Do you think you can turn around and witness of the pure Jesus? You gossip about somebody else, and then, you think you can turn around and tell about His love for people? No. You see, a Christian is to so live that the way he has lived always leaves the door open for him to witness. We’re the only Bible the careless world will read. We’re the sinner’s gospel; we are the scoffer’s creed; and we are the Lord’s last message given in deed and word. What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred? They’re looking at us, and we’re to so live. The principle of evangelism: that we may be able to witness to Jesus Christ and for Jesus Christ. Look at it, again—1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 32: “Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Greeks, nor to the church of God; even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:32–33). There are six powerful principles for proper practice. I hope that you’ll carry them with you, into all of 1977.

Conclusion Now, having said that, and in conclusion, let me say this: Nobody can behave himself into the Kingdom of Heaven. And, even though these are ways that we’re supposed to live, if you think this is all there is, you’re dead wrong. You must first believe the gospel before you can behave the gospel. And, nobody is saved by being good; we’re saved by trusting Christ. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty. Salvation is not even a creed—believing the right thing; it is not even a code—doing the right thing; it is not a cause—serving the right thing; it is not a church—belonging to the

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right thing; but it is Christ. “He that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:12). Christianity is a vital, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is receiving Him. Not believing about Him, but believing Him, receiving Him, knowing Him, and inviting Him into your life, folks. He makes you a brand new creature; He gives you a new life. Do you know the trouble with so many folks, this New Year? They turned over a new leaf, but they needed a new life. That life is in Jesus Christ. Now, these are six positive principles for proper performance. But, before any of these, you must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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Why Doesn’t God Heal All Sick Saints? By Adrian Rogers Date Preached: March 13, 1977 Main Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 1:27, 2:3; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Outline   Introduction  I.  Power May Come Through Suffering and Sickness  A.  Your Strength May be Your Greatest Weakness  B.  Your Weakness May be Your Greatest Strength  II.  Productivity Often Comes Through Suffering and Sickness  III.  Purity Comes Through Suffering and Through Sickness  IV.  The Praise that Comes Through Suffering and Sickness  Conclusion 

Introduction Boy, I tell you, like a breath of Heaven blew through this place, as God brought these two wonderful men to minister to our hearts. I don’t believe that my life, your life, and our lives can ever be the same. But again, I want us to get our thoughts back on the Book of 1 Corinthians, and we’ll be, for quite a while, studying through this wonderful book. Say, I want to ask you a question: If the Apostle Paul were to stand up here today, what do you think he would look like? I want you just to use your sanctified imagination and see if you can visualize the Apostle Paul. What do you think he would look like? Well, he probably would not be at all handsome. He probably would not be large. As a matter of fact, he’d probably not be so nice to look at. He would probably be sickly, weak, and probably would have very poor eyesight—I imagine, hunched over a little bit. He would be scarred somewhat. He would be a very weak man, physically. Let me give you some verses here, and we’ll go all the way through 2 Corinthians also, but let’s look at a number of verses, and we’ll use them as sort of a quasi-text, because we won’t have a specific text. But look, if you will, for example, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 1, and verse 27—Paul himself said: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27); and I believe that Paul was speaking of himself, along with others, when he said that. Look in chapter 2, verse 3. He says of himself: “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much

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trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). He never would have passed a Dale Carnegie course, until he changed his manner of being a public speaker. “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). His hand would tremor, as he would speak. And then, if you would, turn to 2 Corinthians 1:5–6: “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,”—Paul was a man who not only suffered, but suffered abundantly—“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5). Look at verse 9: “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). Then look in 2 Corinthians 12:7: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,”—now, Paul was weak—“that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7–10). I want us to think today on this subject: “Why Doesn’t God Heal All the Sick People?” Now, there’s hardly anyone here who is not feeling pain somewhere, and there are some who are very sick who are listening to me, and some of God’s choicest of saints. May I remind you that the man who wrote the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians was a great spiritual giant, and yet he was a man, by his own admission, and by these scriptures, that we have just read who was sick and weakly. As a matter of fact, he was a man who had power to heal others, and yet he himself bore, in his body, a sickness. But, let me just give you three things, by way of introduction, that I believe, with all of my heart, about healing. I believe, with all of my heart and soul and function and unction that is within me, that God miraculously heals the sick. Secondly, I believe that, many times, it is God’s plan to use doctors and medicines. I thank God for the medical profession. And, I want to say that, thirdly, I believe with all of my soul that it is not always God’s will to heal. “But, what about those who love the Lord, and yet they are not healed?” I say, dear friend, that it is abundant in the Scripture that you can be right with God and still be sick. Paul was a great man of God, and yet he was sick. He asked God three times to take away this stake—what the Bible calls in the King James “a thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Actually, the Greek indicates that it was a figure of speech, which was a stake upon which he was impaled, and he had it for a long time—14 years. It was just not something that had come up overnight. If you read the

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context, 14 years ago, this thing came upon him; three times, he’d asked God to take it away, and thrice the answer had come, “No, I will not do it.” Now, why was Paul not healed? Was it because he was weak in the faith? No, he was strong in the faith. Was it because there was sin in his life? No, his heart was pure. Was it because he was out of the will of God? No, he was walking hand-in-hand with the Lord. I can give you other illustrations. For example, there was Trophimus. You can jot this down in your Bible: 2 Timothy 4:20; Paul said, concerning this dear brother: “Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick” (2 Timothy 4:20). Now, Paul had the power to heal, but evidently, he didn’t have the power to heal everybody. He certainly wasn’t able to heal Trophimus. I know that he would have had he been able to, but he said, “I left Trophimus, my dear brother, at Miletum sick.” And then, you remember what Paul told young Timothy? First Timothy 5:23: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). Now, I don’t believe that there’s a boozer who wants to mix water with his wine, so what Paul was saying here is, “Take fruit juice, put it in your water to cut down the alcohol content that is so prevalent in the water there, because of your stomach condition.” Now, I don’t want to get sidetracked on the liquor issue today, but I want to put another emphasis upon this verse of Scripture. Paul told Timothy, “Here’s something that you can do to help your constant sickness.” He was often sick, and yet he was a man of God who loved the Lord with all of his heart. I could give you another illustration from the Old Testament. As a matter of fact, let’s just mark this one, because it’s very good. Turn to 2 Kings 13:14: “Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died” (2 Kings 13:14). Now, why did Elisha die? Was he a sinner? Absolutely not, in the sense in which I’m speaking about. Of course, all men have sinned; but, as you read this Scripture, you find out that Elisha was in perfect communion with God, and, even on his deathbed, made one of the most remarkable prophecies in all of the Bible. And yet, here was a man of God—an eminent prophet—who got so sick that he died. Now, I’m just saying all of that to say this: It would be a very dangerous thing for us to point our fingers at someone who is sick and say, “You must not be right with God, or you wouldn’t be sick.” The man who wrote that—we’re preaching from 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians—was a sickly, weak man, who had a thorn in the flesh. And, many of God’s choicest of saints have had to suffer that kind of sickness. Now, God often has a loving purpose in sickness. God often has a loving purpose in sickness. I want to mention four of them. We’ll take them, basically, from these books of 1 and 2 Corinthians.

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I.

Power May Come through Suffering and Sickness

First of all, power may come through suffering and sickness. Go back to 2 Corinthians 12:9, for a moment, and notice, as God gave Paul wisdom concerning his sickness, what the rationale was: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9)—that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Power may come through sickness. Paul made an amazing discovery; Paul discovered that the weaker he became physically, the stronger he waxed spiritually. “That the power of Christ may rest upon me” is an unusual phrase. The words rest upon me may literally be translated “spread a tabernacle over me.” The power of God was spread over that weak, sickly body just like a tent. What a mighty baptism of power the Apostle Paul had. That little Jew shook the world for Jesus Christ in a little old, sick, weak, emaciated, hunchback, shriveled-up body. He stood up with his hands trembling, and with his knees knocking, and he said, “I know that my presence is contemptible.” But, he says, “The power of God is spread over me like a tent.” When he realized what God was doing for him, Paul just said, “Praise the Lord. Had God not done this for me,” Paul said, “I might have been tempted to have trusted in my own strength. But now,” he says, “I’m not trusting my strength—I am trusting the dear Lord.” You see, God wanted His strength, not Paul’s strength. Paul had a tendency toward pride—not that he was proud, but God had given Paul such an abundant revelation of Himself, that Paul could have been proud. And so, God gave him—graciously gave him—a thorn in the flesh. A.

Your Strength May be Your Greatest Weakness

Now, let me say that, sometimes, we may be sick so that God’s power can be released through us. Would you learn a lesson today? And, it not only applies to sickness—it applies to many areas. What we think makes us strong may be our greatest place of weakness. Many times, we say, “Oh well, I’ve got a good mind. God can use that.” That may be where the devil gets you. You say, “I’ve got a strong body.” That may become the devil’s tool. Let me tell you something, friend: Your strength may be your greatest weakness. Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, a great fortress-like building, built high on a rocky hill, has only been captured one time, and let me tell you how it was captured: They put sentries all around the important places in that castle, except for one place. On one particular side, there’s such a sheer rock cliff that it was thought impossible that the fortress could ever be attacked from that side; and so, no sentry was placed on that side. And, it was from there that the enemy came, and it was there that the castle was overtaken. It was at the strongest point that the castle fell, because there, the guard was

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let down. God is very wise to point out to us that sometimes our place of strength is really our place of weakness. B.

Your Weakness May be Your Greatest Strength

And then, let me say, conversely, that our place of weakness may be our greatest place of strength. We say, “I can’t do this. I can’t do that.” Well, wonderful, then you can let the Lord do it, can’t you? When you say, “I can’t,” then you say, “He can, and I’m going to let Him.” That’s exactly what God was doing with the Apostle Paul, and Paul said, “God allowed me to have weakness, that I might be strong.” And so, Paul said, “I glory in my infirmity.” Sometimes we get stoical and say, “What can’t be cured must be endured.” Paul said, “What can’t be cured, can be enjoyed.” Hallelujah! I glory in my infirmities. Have you ever thanked God for your sickness? Maybe there’s somebody watching today on television who couldn’t even be here—why don’t you just say, “Dear Lord, I glory in my infirmity.” I believe that it would praise the Lord and bless the Lord in everything to give thanks. Many times we say, “I am so weak.” It may be that we’re still not weak enough, and that is our problem. Watchman Nee told a story of a Chinese man who was drowning. He was out in a particular river, and many of the other Chinese people there did not know how to swim, and the man was begging for help. One man stood on the shore. Though he was a swimmer, he would not go in and rescue the drowning man. Finally, it seemed as though the man who was drowning went under for the last time, and the man on the shore finally jumped from the river bank and, with powerful strokes, went out to him, put his arms around him, and brought him to safety. But, they didn’t cheer him; as a matter of fact, they scolded him. One man said, “I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen a man so much in love with his own life that he waited so long to save this man’s life.” The other man said, “You don’t understand. I’m not that good a swimmer. Had I gone out there while this man was still fighting, he would have drowned us both.” He said, “I had to wait until he was weak enough for me to save him.” I wonder if we think that we’re going under for the last time, and that we are so weak; but we’re still not yet weak enough. We still have not bowed our heads and said, “O Lord, I can’t, but You can.” Now, the point I’m making, however, is this that power may come through sickness. It definitely did in the life of Paul, and that gives a new dimension and a new dignity to sickness.

II.

Productivity Often Comes through Suffering and Sickness

Secondly, not only may power come through sickness, but, following close on the heels of power, productivity often comes through suffering and sickness. How greatly the world has been blessed—not always through the ministry of healthy, wealthy, and happy people—but how greatly the world has been blessed through the ministry of

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those who have been sick and those who have suffered. Think of blind Fannie Crosby who became blind at six months of age and never saw the light, until she saw the light of Heaven. And yet, she wrote thousands of gospel hymns. She has touched the life of Christendom more so, perhaps, than any of us will ever touch the life of Christendom. And yet, I dare say, had it not been for her blindness, God would not have used her the way that he used her. Look in 2 Corinthians 1:6, and see what Paul said happened because of his ministry. He says: “And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation” (2 Corinthians 1:6). Paul is saying, “I have learned to trust the Lord, and when I trust the Lord, great things happen; that makes me productive.” Notice again, in 2 Corinthians 1:9: “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). Every day to Paul was a Resurrection Day. Paul said, “Lord, if You don’t do it, then it won’t be done. There is no way possible that I can take this old weak, sickly body of mine, and perform the ministry You don’t want me to perform unless You do it through me. But Lord, You’ve taught me a lesson. I no longer trust in me; I’m trusting in You, who raise the dead.” “My suffering,” said Paul to the Corinthian believers, “is for your salvation and for your consolation.” Sometimes sickness and sorrow cause us to be so very, very productive. Jesus said, in John 15:2, that, when He wants a branch to bear forth fruit, He’ll purge it: “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2)—that it might be more productive. Do you know what purging a branch is? That’s pruning it. Here, the gardener takes his pruning knife; and, he goes to the vineyard, and he starts cutting away. If the little old vine could talk, it would say, “Ouch! That hurts! Don’t do that! Why are you making me suffer like this?” And, the gardener, if he could talk to the branch, would say, “It’s not my purpose to make you hurt, but to make you productive.” A man was walking through an apple orchard in the Shenandoah Valley, and he saw a tree that was just laden with apples; so heavily fruited was it, that the caretaker had to prop up the limbs with sticks, lest they break. And, the man who was visiting the orchard asked the caretaker, “Why is this tree so productive?” He said, “Sir, you wouldn’t believe it, but this, at one time, was one of our least productive trees, until we deliberately split it wide open.” They had taken an axe and had split that apple tree in half. And, the man said, “Why?” And, the caretaker said, “We have learned that when a tree has nothing but branches and leaves, nothing but beautiful foliage and lumber, and no fruit—that if it is hurt and wounded, then it will bear fruit.” That was certainly true in the Apostle Paul’s life. When Joyce and I lost our little baby boy, I remember the dear pastor, brother Alan Watson, from West Palm Beach,

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Florida, put his arm around my shoulder, drew me up close to him, and said, “Adrian, when God wants to use anything, He always breaks it first. God will use this in your life. He is not cruel; but Jesus said, ‘Every branch in me that bringeth forth fruit, He prunes it that it may bring forth fruit.’” There was an evangelist named Paul Hutchens. He was used of the Lord in great citywide campaigns. Just when his ministry began to be the most useful, he found out that he had tuberculosis, and he had to be shut away for a long time. Paul Hutchens wrote this, and I think it’s great; I want to share it with you. He said, “If blind Milton could write Paradise Lost, if John Bunyan in Bedford Jail could write Pilgrim’s Progress, if Luther, imprisoned in Wartburg Castle, could translate the entire New Testament into the German language, if Robert Louis Stephenson, tubercular, suffering with sciatica, one arm in a sling, sentenced to absolute silence and darkness, could produce The Child’s Garden Of Verses, if Paul, confined to a Roman prison and chained to a guard 24 hours a day, could still proclaim the gospel—if these men, under such mighty handicaps, could and dared to make progress and history—then why should not we?” Sickness and suffering may not only mean power, but because it means power, it will mean productivity; and that causes it to have a dignity in our hearts and in our minds that it may not have.

III.

Purity Comes through Suffering and through Sickness

Now, the third reason: not only may there be that power, and not only may there be that productivity, but may I say also, that purity also comes through suffering and through sickness. I don’t believe that this was necessarily the case for Paul. I don’t believe that there was any sin in Paul’s life that God was trying to purge from him. I believe that there may have been something that God was trying to keep him from. But certainly, Paul understood this principle: that purity comes through suffering and through sickness. Let me give you an example of that—turn to 1 Corinthians 11:30: “For this cause”—their irreverence at the Lord’s Supper and other sins—“many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1 Corinthians 11:30). That is, many have already died because of sin in the church and sin in their personal lives. But then, Paul seems to give a reason for that sickness as we continue to read: “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:31). And here, he speaks of that sickness as a judgment from God, but he says that there’s a way that we can escape that judgment— and that is to judge ourselves before God has to do it. But then, notice, as we continue to read: “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32). Now, why are we chastened? The Bible says that we are chastened, that we

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might be made partakers of His holiness. So sometimes, when we are judged, we are made sick. And, why are we made sick? So that we might be chastened. And, why are we chastened? So that we might be purified. Sickness has a way, many times, of purifying. I’m not saying that everybody who is sick needs to be purified; but I am saying that is one of the benefits and the blisses of being sick. Purity may come through suffering and through sickness. Let me give you some other scriptures—1 Peter 5:10: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10). Suffering may perfect you, may establish you, may strengthen you, and may settle you. That’s what Job meant when he said, in Job 23:10: “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Do you know what the Psalmist said, in Psalm 119:67? “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have kept thy word” (Psalm 119:67). You see, there may be a purifying power to sickness, and I’m so grateful for that. I found a precious poem that I want to share with you. I’ll read it to you, and I want you to listen to it. This is talking about the purifying power of sickness: He sat by a furnace of seven-fold heat As He watched by the precious ore, And closer He bent with a searching gaze As He heated it more and more. He knew He had ore that could stand the test And He wanted the finest gold, To mold as a crown for the King to wear, Set with gems of price untold. So He laid our gold in the burning fire, Tho’ we fain would say Him, “Nay”; And watched the dross that we had not seen, As it melted and passed away. And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright, But our eyes were dim with tears, We saw but the fire—not the Master’s hand, And questioned with anxious fears. Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow As it mirrored a Form above, That bent o’er the fire, tho’ unseen by us, With a look of ineffable love. Can we think it pleases His Loving heart

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To cause us a moment’s pain? Ah no! but He sees thro’ the present cross The bliss of eternal gain. So He waited there with a watchful eye, With a love that is strong and sure, And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat Than was needed to make it pure. ~Irene Lindsay Oh, there’s the purifying power of suffering. Job said: “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). I thank God that He has a loving purpose—not only of power, and not only of productivity, but purity.

IV.

The Praise that Comes Through Suffering and Sickness

May I say that, finally, there is the praise that comes through suffering and through sickness. God gets glory many times through our suffering and through our sickness. There’s an abundance of Scripture that tells us that we learn to praise and glorify God when we’re sick—that is so true. In John 11:4, Jesus said: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” (John 11:4). Now, that’s clear, isn’t it? “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby” (John 11:4). You see, many times, God gets glory in a strange way. And certainly, if you’ll read the rest of that chapter, then you’ll find out that Lazarus’ sickness, subsequent death, and resurrection caused many to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Why, even our death ought to glorify the Lord. The Bible says: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). And, the Bible describes Peter’s death in John 21:19: “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God” (John 21:19). I want to tell you, friend, that you can glorify God with your health. You can glorify God with your sickness, and you can glorify God with your death. Isn’t it wonderful that in all things He can have the preeminence? Whatever we do, we should do all for the glory of God. You see, friend, the devil has a lie out about Christians. We know that the devil tells this kind of a lie, because it’s recorded in the Book of Job. The devil said to God, “The only reason ole Job serves you is that you bought him off. He’s just a fair-weather Christian; he doesn’t really love you. The only reason that Job serves you is because you’ve been so good to him. If you’ll make him real sick, then he’ll deny that he knows you—he will curse you to your face, God.” You know what the Lord says? He said, “You don’t know my servant Job. Job doesn’t love me because he’s healthy. Job doesn’t love me because everything is going his way. Job

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just loves me.” I’ll tell you: God got such great glory out of ole Job, who suffered sickness, but he didn’t deny his God. He glorified God. I believe that God has chosen some of you people who are watching right now from a sick bed to shut the devil’s mouth. And, when people see you there, praising the Lord, glorifying the Lord, and saying with Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Job 13:15), they’ll say that there’s a quality of life about you, sir, about you, lady, that’s different—different. Oh, the praise of God that can sometimes come through sickness and through suffering! Jesus made it plain: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” (John 11:4). Many times sickness may be for the glory of God.

Conclusion Andrew Murray was a great saint of yesterday, and Andrew Murray said something that I think is so good. He said, “In times of trouble, God’s trusting child may say first, ‘He brought me here. It is by His will that I’m in the straight place. Next, He will keep me here in His love and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial of blessing—teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time, He can bring me out again, how and when, He knows.” Isn’t that good? You see, He brought me here, and nothing comes to me except what comes through Him first. He will keep me here. He will teach me a lesson, and in His own good time, He will bring me out again. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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The Triumph Of Faith By Adrian Rogers Main Scripture Text: Joshua 5:13–15

Outline  

 Introduction  The Captain Of Our Faith The Compliance Of Our Faith The Continuance Of Our Faith The Confession Of Our Faith The Conquest Of Our Faith Conclusion 

Introduction Turn to the book of Joshua would you please? Now, Joshua is the book of victory. And, it’s the Old Testament book that describes the New Testament victory that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. For Joshua is a picture, a type, and an illustration of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, the name in the Old Testament, Joshua, is the Hebrew name of our New Testament name, Jesus. It’s very interesting isn’t it? That Joshua represents and pictures the victory that Jesus can give us. The Lord Jesus is our Heavenly Joshua who leads us into the land of promise, the land of fulfillment, the land of victory. And, didn’t God give us a victory last Sunday? Now, we praise God for Miracle Day and so many miracles that happened in so many ways. There were miracles of attendance. Some did not know what our attendance was last Sunday. We just praise the Lord. We’d asked the Lord to give us four thousand three hundred in Bible study by classes and departments, and we had over four thousand four hundred, and I just thank God for that. It’s a wonderful victory. You know, it was raining all around the city except in midtown. I don’t know whether the Lord did that just for us or not, but I sure did appreciate it that it wasn’t raining right here on this building while we were having these services so folks could get in and out. And, you know, I found out that part of the schools were out on the Friday before, miracle. And, some of them were out on the Monday after. Had we known that ahead a time we never would I have planned it on that day, but God did it, you did it anyway. And, there were miracles of physical healing, and oh, the great miracles of many precious souls coming to Jesus. And, how we thank God for the victory that our Lord has given us.

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Now, today we want to speak to you on The Triumph of Faith, The Triumph of Faith. And, turn to Joshua chapter 5, beginning in verse 13. Joshua chapter 5, beginning in verse 13. Now, remember the children of Israel have crossed the river Jordan. God performed the miracle as we saw last Sunday to get them through Jordan. They’re getting ready to possess their possessions, to take the land. And, so we begin reading in verse 13: “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13–15). Now, Joshua is out to look over Jericho because Jericho is a very formidable city, a great citadel fortress that stood before the children of Israel and the land of promise. It was a great city, great in antiquity, one of the oldest known inhabitant cities on the face of the earth. But, not only was it great antiquity it was great in iniquity. A wicked, godless, sensual city, but it was also great in fortification, great walls that chariots could ride abreast were encircling the city. It was in the eyes of men, and by military strategy an impregnable fortress, and it like looked there was no way that Israel could take Jericho. And, I want to say in each of our lives the devil has placed a very special Jericho and it looms before us as an impossible barrier that stands between us and the fulfillment that we feel that God wants for us in this life. There’s a Jericho that stands between us and the dreams of our youth. There’s a Jericho that stands before us and between us and the will of God for our lives. It seems as though there seems to be a Jericho that stands between us in the very best ambition of our hearts. And, there it stands, and there it shouts its defiance. And, that Jericho says to us, “You would have made it, had it not been for me. Ha-ha, but I’m here and all of my strength to keep you from entering into that land of promise.” You know what your Jericho is. For some of you it may be an unhealthy body. For others it may be an unhappy marriage. For others it may be an unholy life, for some it may be old age, for some a lack of education, for some past defeats, for some fear. There just seems to be something in our lives, insurmountable, something that we cannot overcome, some fortress that seems to keep us from conquering the land that our God has given us. And, when you face your Jericho you can do one of two things. You can turn around, and go back, and die in the wilderness of unbelief or else you can do as Joshua did and you can face that fortress by faith and conquer it. I want you to turn in the New Testament to Hebrews chapter 11 and I want you to see

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the New Testament interpretation. For you see ladies and gentlemen, the Bible says that what happened in the book of Joshua was not mere history. The Bible says, “…these things happened unto them for examples…” to us (1 Corinthians 10:11). That is, the Old Testament stories are illustrations of New Testament victory. Hebrews chapter 11 verse 30 we read these words. “By faith”—underscore that—“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days” (Hebrews 11:30). What was the victory of Jericho? It was a victory of faith and that’s the reason we’re speaking to you today on the triumph of faith. It is faith, ladies and gentlemen nothing more, nothing less that will achieve the victory in our lives. Here is the lesson in all of the book of Jericho, of Joshua, do you want to learn the lesson today? Do you want me to give you Joshua in a sentence? Victory is not achieved by fighting, it is received by faith. Learn that. That’s the lesson. Victory is not achieved by fighting. Victory is received by faith. You see, when God has a gigantic task that he wants performed he gives faith the contract. Faith is very wonderful because it is faith, ladies and gentlemen, that links our nothingness to God’s Almightiness, and that makes the difference.

The Captain Of Our Faith I want us to notice several things here in our study this morning. The first thing I want us to notice is the captain of our faith, the captain of our faith. Do you remember we read in Joshua chapter 5, beginning in verse 13 that Joshua is out looking at Jericho? He’s summing up his problems, he is on a reconnaissance trip, and he’s measuring the city. There it is, there the great walls, it just can’t be done. Say, when’s the last time you’ve been out to have a look at your problems? You say, “Just about five minutes ago, Brother Rogers.” Oh, you’ve been out walking around and you’re saying, “Oh, there’s my Jericho, it looms so big, so great in front of me.” That’s just what Joshua was doing when suddenly he was aware that there was another presence there. Have you ever been somewhere and just suddenly you, you felt that someone was standing near you? Joshua wheels around and he sees a man with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua slaps his side where his sword would be and starts to pull his sword from the scabbard and Joshua asked the question that we would ask under such circumstances. “Are you a friend or are you a foe?” “Are you for us or are you for them?” Look at it here in the Scripture and see the question because it’s a very important question. The Bible says in the last part of verse 13 that …Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5:13). “Say fellow,” he says, “Whose side are you on?” And, I want you to notice the strange answer that he gets. He says, “Are you for us or for them?” And, the answer is, “No.” “Are you for us, are you for them?” And, the answer is, “No.” Look at it. “And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host

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of the Lord am I now come…” (Joshua 5:14). He is saying, “I’m not for you and I’m not for them. I haven’t come to take sides. I’ve come to take over.” Oh, oh, oh, listen, he had a face-to-face confrontation with the Lord Jesus Christ. This was Jesus that he met. In the Old Testament what we would call a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus. He, the Lord Jesus, is the captain of all of the host of Heaven and Joshua had a preview of the coming of Christ. He saw the man, the conqueror with the drawn sword who’s not come to take sides. The one whose come to take over. Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, if you want victory in your life stop trying to get God on your side. Get on God’s side, get on God’s side. God hasn’t come to take sides, He is come to take over. And, you will never know faith, you will never know victory, and your Jericho will never fall until you do as Joshua did. You lay your sword at His feet, and bow yourself prostrate at His feet, and worship Him. And, when you do that, ladies and gentlemen, Jericho is no longer your problem, it becomes God’s problem, and that makes the difference. When you can turn that Jericho over to the one who has come to take over. You see, Joshua had been problem conscious, and now no longer is he problem conscious, he is God conscious. He lies in the dust before the Lord and he’s not thinking now of why it can’t be done. He knows that it must be done. It will be done. You know, there are lots of folks who are problem conscious. I mean, all they do is walk around and look at Jericho and say, “Can’t be done, can’t be done, can’t be done.” I heard of one man who’d never seen a railroad train back in the days when trains were just coming into their own. And, he went to a little county seat town and there was his first railroad train, a steam locomotive, he saw it. That big iron engine, that string of freight cars, he looked at it, he surveyed it. He was a cynic, he was a negative, he said, “It will never move, they’ll never get that thing going.” But, finally the engineer sitting there in the cab started to push the lever, and the steam went down into the cylinders, and the cylinders began to move, and they began to move the wheels, and the wheels started to move, and they caught hold, and that train started to move slowly at first, and then it gathered speed clickety-clack, clicketyclack. And, the first thing you know it was moving down the road, and those freight cars were shooting past him, and it disappeared into distance, and all he could see was the tail light on the caboose. He stood there and looked at it. He said, “They’ll never get that blamed thing stopped.” Now, you know there are people who are that way. They are just negative, they just see the problem, but they don’t see the victory. Now, ladies and gentlemen, it is time that we stopped looking so much at Jericho and started looking at Jesus, isn’t it? See, there’s the captain, He’s the captain of our faith, He, the Lord Jesus, is captain of our faith. And, so if you want to have faith, and if you want your Jericho to fall, you need to

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be God conscious and not problem conscious. You glance at your problems and you gaze at the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, Joshua laid his sword at the feet of Jesus. I want to tell you something. Are you listening? You want to be a conqueror? You want to be victorious like Joshua was? Before you can be a conqueror you must first be conquered. That’s what happened to Joshua. That’s what this is all about. Joshua who was the captain became the servant and there was a new Commander in Chief that took over that day. Has that happened to you, have you bowed your head before the Lord and worshipped Him? Have you given everything to Jesus Christ, I mean everything? If you haven’t, no wonder Jericho is still there. Learn the lesson in the last part of chapter 5.

The Compliance Of Our Faith The captain of our faith is Jesus. Now, the next thing I want you to notice is the compliance of our faith. Once Joshua met the captain of the host He gave him some instructions. Begin reading in chapter 6, verse 1: “Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in”—That is, they had shut the great doors that went around that city and nobody could get out and nobody could get in—“And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Joshua 6:1–5). This is what I call the compliance of faith. The compliance of faith, because God now gives Joshua some instructions and Joshua complies with those instructions. What strange instructions they were, my soul. It doesn’t sound like a military strategy to me. God doesn’t tell Joshua to build any catapults. He doesn’t tell Joshua to gather any battering rams. He doesn’t instruct Joshua to dig any trenches. He doesn’t tell him to get any ladders to storm the wall. He tells him to do something that sounds very silly. Start marching around the wall, round and round them, round and round the walls. Now, everybody knows that won’t work. Only trouble is it did, amen? Everybody knows that won’t work. You just can’t take a city that way. Why did God tell Joshua to do this? Well, I don’t know all of the reasons, but I believe I know two. Number one, just to test his obedience. Just to test his obedience. You see, it doesn’t have to make sense to you so long as it makes sense to God. Why

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do something if God says to, that’s enough, amen? It doesn’t have to make sense to us. You see, it’s not our job to understand, it’s our job to undertake, just to obey the Bible. You know the problem with so many people? They’re trying to understand the Bible without obeying the Bible. Let me tell you how to understand this book. You want to understand this book? You start obeying this book and you’ll understand it. But, as long as you don’t obey it you’ll not understand it. The Bible is not first and foremost a book to be explained. It is first and foremost a book to be obeyed. And, the reason that some cannot explain it is they’re unwilling to obey it, and they’re trying to sit around, and figure it out. Dear friend, it’s not up to you to figure out why God may tell you to march around your Jericho or whatever God may tell you to do. And, I’m sure it was ridiculous in the eyes of the people of Jericho. They’re up there on the walls—this is a little Adrianology—I don’t know it happened this way, but they’re up there on the walls, certainly bound to have looked at those people. “And, would you look at that. Look at them. There they go. That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard of. Hey fellow, what are you doing?” Well, they couldn’t say a word, for God said, “You keep silent.” “What are you doing down there? What’s the matter, the cat got your tongue? Ring around the rosy, what are you doing, stupid?” They just kept marching. Did you know that the world can’t understand us? The Bible says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Do you know where I believe that the great onslaught on the church is going to be in the last days? In the media, and especially in Hollywood and television, they’re going to take great delight at making fun of the people of God. And, what the devil has not been able to do in any other way, he’s going to try to stop the church of the living God by shear ridicule. And, you can get ready for Bible believing, fundamental Christians to be the brunt of the wickedness, most vile and lascivious insinuations and jokes that the world has ever known. And, it’s already happening, it’s already happening. Get ready for it. And, I wonder if you’re going to let the jeers of Jericho keep you from obeying the Word of God, if you’re going to let the devil take you away from a victory. There are some people who can stand almost anything, but to be laughed at. The time is coming, dear friend, when the world is going to try to make us look like fools and we may indeed look like fools. Sometimes in their sight, sometimes in our sight, but it’s up to us to obey the Word. And, if we’re fools we’ll be fools for Christ’s sake, for God does not have to justify His commands to anybody. God says, “Joshua, you march around the walls. Understand it or not this is the way it’s going to be done. And, don’t depend upon your feelings for feelings come, and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving. My warrant is the Word of God and naught else is worth believing.

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And, so what is our job? The compliance of faith is full, prompt, glad, unreserved, and unquestioned obedience. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. The captain of faith is Jesus. The compliance of our faith is obedience. And, now, I want to tell you another reason I believe, and we’re still talking about the compliance of faith. Not only did God have them march around the city to test their obedience, but also for their observation, to let them see certain things. Every time they walked around that city it seemed to get bigger in their minds. There was that great towering city, those walls of strength. And, every time they looked at it they saw what an impossibility it was. Did you know that God is keeping your problem before you until He brings you to the place where you say, “I can’t solve it”? You want to know why it hadn’t been solved yet? ’Cause you haven’t come to that place perhaps of utter desperation where you say, “God, I can’t.” I like what Ian Thomas had to say. He said, “We ought to say ‘God, I can’t.’ You never said I could. You can, you always said you would.” Oh, when we come to that place, when we understand that the Christian life is not hard, man, it’s impossible. Only God can do it and when we quit crying, and start trusting, when we walk around our Jericho long enough to bow our heads in desperation and say, “God, I can’t, if it’s done. Oh God, the captain of the host will have to do it.” Then He’ll take over. All right, now, the third thing I want us to see. Not only the captain of our faith who is Jesus, the compliance of our faith, which must be obedience, for “…faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). But, the continuance of our faith.

The Continuance Of Our Faith I want you to notice in verses 13 through 15 now of Joshua chapter 6: “And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually”—just underscore that—“and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on”—I like that—“and blowing with the trumpets. And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times” (Joshua 6:13–15). They continued, they continued. What a test of their faith it was. I mean, to them it looked like all they were doing was going around in circles. Why didn’t God do something, why do we have to go around seven times, why not one time? Why any time? But, God was teaching them another lesson, that waiting time is not wasted time. To wait on the Lord is one of the grandest lessons that anybody can learn. You see, God is never in a hurry, now, we are. We’ve heard about the man who

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prayed, “Lord, give me patience right now.” And, we get upset if we miss one section in a revolving door. But, we want everything, instant pleasure, instant coffee, instant gratification. Do it now, God. But, God is never in a hurry. But, I’ll tell you something else about God. He’s never late. He’s never late. God knows what He’s doing, and God didn’t get frantic. But, these people—and I’m glad that they did—they kept on keeping on. For the Bible says in Isaiah chapter 28 and verse 16: “…he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16). That’s a great verse. Let me give you another great verse while we’re in Isaiah. Look in Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 18. Oh, you ought to put a star by this one. “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you…” (Isaiah 30:18). Hmm. “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:21). But, Jesus tarried on purpose. Jesus waited on purpose. Jesus had a greater plan that they could imagine. Jesus was going to raise him from the dead. “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18). Isn’t that a good verse? Say, isn’t that a good verse? “…therefore will the Lord wait”—Why?—“that he may be gracious to you…” (Isaiah 30:18). You see, God’s delays are not denials. “…therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious to you…”—Why?—“…therefore will He be exalted…” (Isaiah 30:18). Because He has a plan that is beyond your plan and God is going to give glory to Himself that He may have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of judgment. You see, His thoughts are not your thoughts and neither are His times your times. The Lord knows what He’s doing. He’s a God of judgment. Blessed are all they that wait for Him. God is waiting for you to wait for Him. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31). The continuance of faith. You know the problem with some of you? You’ve been around your Jericho six times and you’re about to quit, you’re about to back off. You say, “Where is all this that the pastor is talking about? Where’s all this victory? God says, ‘If I’ll trust the Lord He’ll give me victory’ and I don’t have any victory.” “…wait upon the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:31). Rest in the Lord. “…be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). I’ll give another great verse. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 36. Listen to it. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36). Isn’t that great? “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36). We have so many who quit just before the victory comes. They run off, they go back into the wilderness. We’ve got a lot of Alka-Seltzer Christians, you dip them in water, they fizzle for a while, and disappear. The only difference is they give you headaches. They don’t stick it out.

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They don’t stay with it. They have not learned to “…wait upon the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:31). I’m so glad that they completed every circuit. God told Naaman to dip in the river Jordan and he’d be made whole of his leprosy. One dip, leprosy, two dips, leprosy, three dips, leprosy, four, five, six dips, and he still had leprosy, but the seventh dip he had victory. Amen, victory. Why obedience? The continuance of faith. Have faith in God; He’s on His throne. Have faith in God, He watches for His own, He cannot fail, He must prevail. Have faith in God, have faith in God. I want to let go, but I won’t let go. There are battles to fight by day and by night for God in the right and I’ll never let go. I want to let go, but I won’t let go. I’m sick, ’tis true, worried, and blue, and worn through, but I won’t let go. I want to let go, but I won’t let go. I will never yield. What? Lie down on the field and so, surrender my shield. No, I’ll never let go. I want to let go, but I won’t let go. May this be my song mid legions of wrong. Oh God, keep me strong that I may never let go. The continuance of faith, the continuance of faith.

The Confession Of Our Faith Now, I want you to notice a next thing. I want you to notice the confession of our faith. Begin reading here in verse 15. Joshua chapter 6, verse 15: “And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times”—only on that day they compassed the city seven times—“And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city” (Joshua 6:15–16). Oh, and they shouted and the walls came down.” What was this shout? Oh friend, if you read it, and don’t see it, I don’t understand why you don’t see it. This was the shout of victory, but it was the shout of victory before the victory came. Oh, it was the shout of victory so that the victory that had been promised would be there. It was a confession of faith that God would keep His word. You see, confession is but faith turned inside out. Joshua knew the whole time they were marching around the city that their march was nothing, but a victory that was taking place before the victory ever got there because God had already given them the victory. You see, Joshua was one of a small minority of people who refused to live dominated by the tyranny of the five senses. Sight, and hearing, and smelling, and touching, and tasting, he refused that. He was a man who marched to the beat of a different drummer. He was a man whose authority was not what his senses told him, but what his God had told him. And, he says, “God hath given the city.” And, the walls were still there just as strong as they ever were. And, Joshua didn’t say, “The Lord will give

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you the city.” He said, “God has given you the city.” Now, that’s poor English, but mighty good faith, amen. Now, why did he say that? I mean, the walls are still there. Nothing has happened and he told them to shout the victory before the victory that the victory would be real. There’s where faith comes, it’s a confession of faith. Let show you why Joshua said what he said. He wasn’t being presumptuous. He says in verse 16: “…Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city” (Joshua 6:16). All right, go back and look at verse 2: “And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho…” (Joshua 6:2). Now, why could Joshua say that? Well, he could say it because God had already said it. Amen? You see, listen, you want me to tell you what faith is? Faith is just your saying what God has already said. That’s all it is. It is just your confessing what God has already said. Now, I want you to go back to Hebrews. We’ve spent a little time in Hebrews so I want you to look at a great, great verse in Hebrews chapter 13, verse 5. Hebrews 13 and verse 5. And, you’ll learn right now one of the greatest spiritual principles in all of the Bible. This will keep you going when nothing else will. Hebrews chapter 13, beginning in verse 5: “Let your conversation”—that means “manner of living”—“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”—“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Now, just underscore this phrase, “he hath said.” Just mark it, just put a line under it. “He hath said.” Now, go down to verse 6—“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper…” (Hebrews 13:5–6). Now, let me just talk. Take a part out of each of those verses. “He hath said…so that we may boldly say” (Hebrews 13:6). Do you see it? Do you see it? That’s what faith is. Faith is boldly saying what God has already said. “He hath said…so that we may boldly say” (Hebrews 13:6). Now, friend if God had told Joshua He had given him the city then Joshua could say, “The city is ours” couldn’t he? You see, that’s faith, that’s a confession of faith, that’s when faith becomes real to you. Friend, ladies and gentlemen, listen to me. It is confession that brings possession. When you say it God ratifies it because He’s already said it. Confession is faith turned inside out. That’s the reason the Bible says, “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9–10). There are some of you who have been haunted by the ghost of guilt, but once you say, “God said that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses from all sin and I say, ‘Praise God, hallelujah on the authority of the Word of God, my sin is forgiven.’” And, that Jericho of guilt will fall when you began to confess by faith and say with God what God has already said.

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Sometimes we get a person at the altar trying to get him saved. And, we say, “Why don’t you pray and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart?” And, he prays and says, “Lord God, come in my heart, forgive my sins.” And, we say, “Did God save you?” He says, “Well, I don’t know whether He did or not, I don’t guess He did.” Well, I can tell you, friend, He didn’t. You get somebody else to come down there and you ask him to pray and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. And, he prays and says, “Lord God, I open my heart, I receive you as my Lord and Savior.” And, then we ask him, “Did He save you?” And, he says, “Yes, praise God, He did.” “How do you know He did?” “Well, He said He would, and He did.” And, I say, “That’s right, He did.” Amen. Whatever you say about it God will say too. Faith is just simply ratifying the Word of God. He hath said that we may boldly say. Well, you say, “I don’t dare say that.” Why not? God said it. Why can’t you say what God says? Why can’t you say, “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). And, you can take this principle and apply it to any promise in the Word of God that applies to you. He hath said that we may boldly say. There is the confession of our faith.

The Conquest Of Our Faith Now, I want you to notice the conquest of faith, the conquest of our faith. I want you to go back to Joshua chapter 6 again and notice what happened, verse 20: “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20). Now, that’s one part of the conquest of faith, victory. Victory in Jesus, hallelujah. Your Jericho will fall if you will follow God’s formula, if you’ll let the captain of the host of the Heavens take over. Opposition will crumble and enemies will be vanquished, glory to God for the victory. And, every Christian ought to be living on the sunny side of Hallelujah Avenue where glory roads intercept. You ought to be shouting the victory, praising the Lord day by day. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…” (2 Corinthians 2:14). And, oh, this doesn’t mean that you’re going to have no more problems. Why Joshua went from this battle to another battle, and from that battle to another battle, and the victorious life is not freedom from battles. It’s freedom in battle. We don’t fight for victory, we fight from victory, from victory unto victory. “His army shall He lead ’til every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.” Oh, there’s the conquest, but I want you to notice the dark side of this conquest. Look again if you will in verse 21: “And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the

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sword” (Joshua 6:21). You say, “My soul, Brother Rogers, why, why?” The way the Canaanites were living, they were unspeakably immoral. They were living in the grossest of sexual sin. They had gone into the occult. They were worshipping demon gods. They had all kinds of sexual perversion. They were even sacrificing and putting to death their little babies. Why, they were so bad, they were so evil, they were almost as wicked as modern day America, but not quite. Not quite because they did not have the light that our city has had. And, oh, it makes me shudder as I think of the murder of millions of little unborn babies, as I think of how pornography is in the city of Memphis, as I think of how blasphemy with George Burns playing the part of God in a movie, the blasphemy, the blasphemy, the blasphemy of it. I think of this. I think of homosexuality that’s brazen, and sin that use to slink down the back alley now struts down the main street. I want to tell you something, friend, there’s a dark side here. You need to understand something about God. God will bless the faithful, but God is a God of judgment. And, you can let the Hollywood stars get on their late night talk shows, and laugh, and mock, and make fun of God’s people, and all of the rest of it. And, they can talk from the walls, but one of these days those manmade walls are going to crumble at the judgment of God. And, I want to tell you something, ladies and gentlemen, there’s coming another day when another trumpet shall sound. There’s coming another day when another shout shall shave not only the earth, but the heavens also. And, the Lord of lords and the King of kings, the man with the drawn sword, the captain of the host of Heaven, Jesus is coming again. There’s the conquest of faith, yes. I want to say that unless America has a revival we’re in for some dark days. And, even now the raging waters of God’s wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of His mercy, and one-day mercy will give place to wrath. God had patience with Jericho and with the Amorites. He said in the Bible, “…the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16). But, one day the cup of iniquity would fill to the brim and God sent judgment.

Conclusion Are you ready? Have you bowed before the man with the drawn sword? Have you taken off your shoes for the place where you stand is holy ground? Have you laid your sword in the dust of His feet? If you have, if you will, I can promise you that your Jericho will fall when you begin to shout the victory, when you begin to say, “He hath said that we may boldly say.” Are you ready to trust Him today? Are you ready to receive Him as your Lord and Savior? He died on the cross to pay for your sins and I promise you on the authority of the Word of God, if you will repent of your sin and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, God will forgive your sins, come into your heart,

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make you a new creature, and one day take you to Heaven. I promise it on the authority of the Word of God. Let us pray. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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Tune In, Tone Down, and Sweeten Up By Adrian Rogers Date Preached: July 09, 1978 Main Scripture Text: James 1:18-20 Outline Introduction I. Tune In To What God Is Saying A. God Speaks Through The Bible B. God Speaks Through The Sermon C. God Speaks Through The Spirit II. Tone Ourselves Down III. Sweeten Ourselves Up A. Be Angry For The Right Reason B. Be Angry At The Right Thing 1. Anger Shows A Foolish Mind 2. Anger Shows A Poor Character Conclusion

Introduction Take your Bibles now, and turn to James chapter 1, the book of James. Now, you may know, and you should know, that we're preaching through the book of James Sunday morning and Sunday evenings. And, so tonight we're going to be talking about welcoming The Word—how to receive The Word of God—how to read the Bible and get something out of it for your life. And, it’ll be very important that you be here tonight. But, this morning I want us to look in James chapter 1, verse 19 and 20. James 1 verses 19 and 20: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:19–20). I want to speak to you today on this subject, “Tune In, Tone Down and Sweeten Up.” This is God's plan for born again Christians. Now, I read verses 19 and 20, but verse 18 speaks of the new birth: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). And, verse 18 speaks of the wonderful new birth that I have experienced, and every true Christian has experienced, and I trust that you have experienced. We're hearing a lot today about the new birth, and a lot of people are talking about being born again, however, who have not been born again. And, one of the ways that you can tell they have not been born again is there's been no change whatsoever in the way they live. Now, let me tell you something friend, if you've had a new birth there's going to be © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 49

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some new behavior. Just write it down, “If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). And, if your religion hasn't changed your life you better change your religion, because you don't have the Bible kind. And, so in verse 18, James speaks of the new birth. And, then beginning in verse 19 he speaks of the new behavior. Some men were standing around talking about different translations of the Bible, and some were talking about the Revised Standard Version, others talking about the King James Version, others talking about the New English Bible, others were talking about the Amplified Version. One man said, “I like my mother's translation best.” And, they said, “Oh, we didn't know that your mother was a scholar. How did she translate the Bible?” And, he said, “My mother translated the Bible into daily living.” Amen. That's the translation I think we all need, to translate what we know into life. And, so James talks about three very pertinent areas of our behavior. And, I want you to notice these three areas of instruction that James gives to us, because we have been born again. Look again in verse 19: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear”—that is tune in—“slow to speak”—that is tone down—“and slow to wrath” (James 1:19)—that is sweeten up.

I.

Tune into What God is Saying

Now, let's notice the first of these. Be swift to hear. Tune in to what God is saying to you. Some people don't have their ears on. They have ears, but they don't hear. Jesus spoke of those who had “…ears, but they hear not…” (Psalm 115:6; Psalm 135:17). Now, the Bible says we are to be “swift to hear,” that is, be ready to receive the things that God has for us. Now, the Bible doesn't teach that we're to hear everything there is to hear. There are some things we ought not to hear. Mark chapter 1 and verse 24 says, “…Take heed what ye hear…” (Mark 4:24). And, you don't need to be listening to everything that comes along. You don't have to listen to everything scrap of gossip, let people use your ears for garbage cans. You don't have to listen to every philosophy that comes along in all of these things. No, no, no, no. Jesus said, “be careful what you hear.” But, James says, “…be swift to hear…” (James 1:19) and what is James talking about? He is saying be swift to hear the impulses of the Spirit. Be swift to hear The Word of God. Hear what God is speaking to you. Are you ready to listen to God this morning? The problem with so many of us is that we're not listening. It is not that God is not speaking. God is speaking. But, our problem is that we don't listen. A.

God Speaks Through the Bible

I want to mention three ways this morning that God wants to speak to you. One way

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that God speaks is through the Scriptures, through the Bible. Do you know this book? Do you read this book? Do you study this book? Do you pray over this book? Do you love this book? If not, why not? You claim to be a Christian. This is God's Word to you. You're saying, “Oh, God, speak to me.” Well, God will speak to you if you will open this book and pray over it, and read it, and say, “O Lord, incline mine ear to thy testimonies.” This Bible is The Word of God as much as though Jesus Christ Himself were standing here in the flesh speaking to you. This book is The Word of God. Do you know it? Do you hear it? Do you receive it? So many people read the Bible and they get nothing from it because they’re not listening what God is saying. Let me give you five little things to put down in the flyleaf of your Bible, or somewhere to help you when you study a passage of Scripture. Five little questions to ask yourself. Very simple, number one is—you read any passage of Scripture—ask yourself this question: Is there a lesson to learn? As you read it—you read a chapter or a few verses—you say, “Is there a lesson to learn?” Number two: ask yourself this question: Is there a blessing to enjoy? Oh, dear friend, this book is full of blessings. And, you can just sit back and roll them around on your tongue and meditate in your heart and enjoy those blessings. Number three: Is there a command to obey? Number four: Is there a sin to avoid? Number five: Is there a new truth to carry with me? And, just as you read—as you read a passage of Scripture, keep asking yourself those questions over and over again, so that The Word of God will get off of the page and into your heart. B.

God Speaks Through the Sermon

One way that God will speak to you is through the Scripture. Another way that God will speak to you is through the sermon, through the sermon. You see, God calls his preachers to preach. The Bible says, “…how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). And, I'm not being vain or egotistical when I tell you that I know that God has empowered me to preach. If not, I would have no business being here, and I can say with the prophet Isaiah, “the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, for the Lord hath anointed me to preach” (Isaiah 61:1). And, God holds me responsible for what I preach. And, the Bible tells us to be very careful the way we preach: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Peter 4:11). And, it is incumbent upon me that I be prayerfully prepared to come and stand in this sacred place. But, it is also just as incumbent upon you that when you come to church on Sunday morning, that you be prepared to listen. And, I have as much right to expect you to be prepared, as you have to expect me to be prepared. Amen. You know, sometimes people can sit in church and look straight at the preacher, with eyes wide open, and figure up a business deal, or what they’re going to have for

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Sunday dinner, or what they’re going to wear this evening, or who's going to win the tennis match, and they can be figuring those things and looking straight at you as though they’re paying attention. And, sometimes they don't even look at you. They close their eyes. And, one man—you know, they call it meditation, meditation. One man said to his pastor, trying to impress the pastor, he said, “Pastor, could you give me a little prayer that I might pray upon entering the sanctuary?” The pastor said, “May I suggest now I lay me down to sleep.” Let me tell you something friend. You will learn something this morning if you'll take a notebook, and take some notes, and take an open Bible, and use your Bible in this service. You will learn some things. You ought to carry some things away with you when you come to church. I'm not the best preacher in the world, and I'm well aware of that. I want to tell you something though. While there are others who may be able to preach the gospel better than I, no one can preach a better gospel than I, because there is but one. And, as I've said before, God will hold you responsible for what you hear this morning. As a matter of fact, God will even hold you responsible for what you would have heard, had you listened. C.

God Speaks Through the Spirit

Now, God speaks through the Scriptures. And, God speaks through sermon. And, God speaks through the Spirit, through the Spirit. Again the Bible says, concerning the Holy Spirit, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the church” (Revelation 3:6). That's another way that God speaks. And, may I tell you that it is easier to hear God speaking in the Bible, and it is easier to hear God speaking from the pulpit than it is to hear God speaking with his Spirit to our spirit. Many of us have not learned to get quiet and let God speak to us in those quiet times, those times of meditation. The devil aims his heaviest artillery at that quiet place where you get alone with the Lord. How many of you have a quiet time? A time where you get alone and not say, “Listen Lord, thy servant speaketh,” but, “Speak Lord, thy servant heareth”—to be quiet before the Lord. The Bible says, “…in quietness and confidence…” (Isaiah 30:15), “possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19), “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And, the reason that God doesn't speak to some of us is that when we come to that time when we're to have fellowship with God, we do all of the talking. Do you like to hold a conversation with someone who does all of the talking? Somebody said, “An egotist is somebody that talks himself so much that you can't talk about yourself.” Many of us are egotists when we come to prayer, rather than listening to God and being quiet. You know, that's the reason many of us always want some

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noise going on. Have you ever noticed a teenager going down a road with a transistor radio held up to his ear? Now, they even make like earmuffs—you got one over each ear. So, go down the road always with this din, this racket coming on. Some people immediately, they come in the house, flick on the television. Someone's got to have some noise, something going on. They cannot bear to be quiet and alone with God. No wonder God has such a problem breaking through and speaking to the spirit. We just got back from Israel and our guide was saying, “You see those shepherds out there on the field? Just like they used to be 2,000 years ago, but with one exception.” Said, “They used to carry a flute with them, now they have a transistor radio.” I'm afraid if David had a transistor radio we might not have had the twenty-third psalm. Be still and know that I am the Lord. Be ready to listen. Can God get your attention? Do you know what the word amuse means? It means “not to think.” A-, meaning no; muse, meaning to think. A-muse. Most of us are amusing ourselves out of fellowship with God, because we do not allow God to speak to us, because we don't want to stop and think. Always keeping—you see, we're hearing so much that we can't hear. We have ears but we hear not. All right, so James number one says that a part of our new behavior that issues out of our new birth, is that we are to tune in, tune in to God. Be swift to hear.

II.

Tone Ourselves Down

But, number two, not only should we be swift to hear, we need to be slow to speak. Again, this is what James says in verse 19: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…” (James 1:19). Not only do we need to tune in, we need to tone down. The plain unvarnished truth is that most of us talk too much. Many things are opened by mistake, but none so frequently as the mouth. And, James says, “Don't talk as much as you are accustomed to talking.” Now, by this verse, verse 19, jot these verses in the margin, would you please. Proverbs chapter 10, verse 19: “In the multitude of words there lacketh not sin, but he that restraineth his lips is wise” (21st Century King James Version, Proverbs 10:19). “In the multitude of words, there lacked not sin,” the more you talk the more mathematical probability there is that you're going to sin with your lips. “In the multitude of words, there lacketh not sin, but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Then jot this verse down, Proverbs chapter 17, verse 27: “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23). Do you want to stay out of trouble? Keep your mouth shut. That's what The Word of God says. Many of us talk ourselves into trouble. “He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23). Listen to Ecclesiastes chapter 5 and verse 3 and jot this reference down: “For a dream cometh through the multitude of © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 53

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business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words” (Ecclesiastes 5:3). The more a person talks, the more he sometimes proclaims the foolishness of his heart. Somebody has well said that it's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. A fool's voice is known by the multitudes of his words. James says, “Be slow to speak.” Speech may be silver, but often silence is golden. Now, the rabbis used to say that man has two ears and one mouth. The ears are made always to be open. The mouth is made where it can be closed, and the tongue is enclosed in a den behind ivory bars, the teeth. And, what they meant by that is this: that we're supposed to be listening twice as much as we're to be speaking. But, most of us have gone just the other route. Jesus warned against speaking idle words. I want you to listen to what Jesus Christ said in Matthew chapter 12 and verse 16. Jesus, speaking to the Pharisee's said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). Did you hear that? Every idle word that men shall speak, they'll give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. This has frightened some people, because they’ve thought that they could not be talking, unless they’re talking in a serious thing. And, they’re afraid to have any kind of a conversation. They’re afraid of any humor. They’re afraid of any lightheartedness. They’re afraid of any jesting. That's not what this is talking about. That's not what this is talking about. Jesus here is not talking against pleasant conversation, even humor. This word idle means non-productive. An idle word. In this same chapter—or in this same book of James—James says in chapter 2 and verse 20: “…faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). And, that word dead is the same word in the Greek as the word idle. Faith without works is idle. What does that mean? It is non-productive. It doesn't contribute anything. It is hurtful, rather than helpful. And, what Jesus is saying is that any word that you speak that doesn't build up, that doesn't edify, that doesn't help—but words that are non-productive words, words that are destructive words, you're going to have to give an account in the day of judgment. Certainly humor can be productive. It can refresh. It can relax. Sometimes it can instruct and Jesus, on occasions, used humor. I'm sure when Jesus spoke of those “gagged at a gnat and swallowed a camel” (Matthew 23:24), they broke them up in the aisles. He talking about how ridiculous some people are in their pretenses. Someone asked Charles Haddon Spurgeon one time, one of the greatest preachers ever lived, “Mr. Spurgeon, why do you use humor in your messages, sometimes?” Spurgeon with his wit said, “I tickle my oyster until he opens the shell, and then I stick the knife in.” Humor can be used to disarm and refresh, and it can be sometimes profitable. But, there's jesting, which is not convenient. And, God didn't call us to be a bunch of back slapping, joke cracking, sanctified morons, sometimes talking about holy things with © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 54

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callous and profane hands. No, no. “Every idle word that a man speaks shall he give account thereof in the Day of Judgment” (Matthew 12:36). And, what Jesus was talking about when he said that, if you will read the Scripture here in this particular chapter of Matthew, the Pharisee's had just accused Jesus Christ of casting out devils by the prince of devils. And, it was then that Jesus gave this warning. Jesus was not warning against a wise word spoken playfully, but He was warning against a foolish word spoken seriously when they made this accusation. And, He said, “This is an idle word, a non-productive word,” and He warned them very seriously. How much harm is done by foolish talking? How many homes are broken? How many innocent people are sent to prison? How many hearts are crushed? How many families are divided? How many churches are split? How many souls are lost because people have not learned to set a guard at their mouth? Watch the words of your mouth. One of the marks that a man has been born again is that his tongue is now controlled. You see, when we're talking we can't be listening. And, so the same Bible that says, “Be ready to hear,” says, “Be slow to speak.” You see, the two are mutually incompatible. A wise ’ol owl lived in an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke The more he heard Why can't we be like that ’ol bird? A wise owl indeed, because he learned to listen. Most of us would be amazed if we knew just how much we rattle on. Most of us would be amazed if somebody were to follow us around with a tape recorder, and tape everything we say in entire day, and then reduce it to print and make us read it back at the end of the day. And If all that we say In a single day, With never a word left out, Were printed each night In clear black and white Would make strange reading no doubt. And, then just suppose Ere one's eyes he could close, He must read the record through Then wouldn't one sigh, And wouldn't one try a great deal less talking to do? And I more than half think That many a kink © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 55

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Would be smoothed in life's tangled thread If one half that we say In a single day Were forever left unsaid. And, we need to pray the prayer in Psalms 141 and verse 3: “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalms 141:3). And, if you want to put it a little more succinctly—look before you lip. Set a watch O, Lord before my mouth, keep the door of my lips.

III.

Sweeten Ourselves Up

And, so what is James saying? That the marks of a new Christian are a new man—a man who has been born again. Well, there are many of them but among them is he's going to be swift to hear. Number two: he's going to be slow to speak. And number three: he is going to be slow to wrath. Not only is he going to tune in and tone down, he's going to sweeten up. And, sweetening up will be the sum total of these other two things. When a man starts listening more and talking less it affects his temper, and he learns to control his heart, because when his thought life is controlled and his tongues are controlled, then his temper is controlled. Thoughts, tongue, temper, here it comes right on down the pike. And, so James says, “Be slow to wrath.” Now, the amplified version says, “Be slow to take offense and get angry.” Some of the boys and girls may not know what the word wrath means. But, it means be slow to lose your temper. Now—or be slow to get angry. You should never lose your temper. As a matter of fact, you don't lose it, what you probably do is find it. But, you see the Bible doesn't say never be angry. I want to make that crystal clear. The Bible does not say never have wrath, never be angry. The Bible doesn't say that. To the contrary, the Bible says in Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 26: “Be ye angry, and sin not…” (Ephesians 4:26). It is wrong when your anger becomes sin and it easily can. Jesus got angry, and Jesus was without sin. Some people never think of Jesus Christ as ever getting angry. They think of Jesus Christ as some sort of a man who wasn't truly a man at all. They think of him as though He's some sort of a heavenly IBM machine with milk for blood. But, Jesus did get angry. Mark chapter 3 and verse 5. Read this verse, “And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other” (Mark 3:5). Jesus did get angry, and what made Jesus Christ angry was hard hearts in the face of human hurts, and it made Jesus Christ angry. And, there's something wrong with you if some things don't make you angry. But, oh, © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 56

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how you need to be careful, for the Bible says, “Be angry and sin not.” (Ephesians 4:26). And, James says, “Be slow to wrath,” because it is so easy for you—so easy to let the line disappear between righteous indignation and personal irritation. A. Be Angry for the Right Reason And, oh, we're such creatures to rationalize. We call our vile tempers righteous indignation. Let me tell you how you can be good and mad, mad and good at the same time. All right, good and mad, good and mad. Make certain these three things are present. Number one: make certain that you’re angry for the right reason, the right reason. You see, most of us get angry when our toes are stepped on, when our rights are taken away, when somebody offends us, and somebody gets our parking place, to be more specific. Then we get angry you see. Now, you trust, you read the record through, and while the Bible speaks of Jesus being moved with anger, you will never find one angry word spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ at any time when He was personally mistreated. Not an angry word when they nailed Him to the cross. But, rather He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34). Most of our anger is when somebody has wronged us. Jesus got angry when somebody else was being hurt. You make certain that if you have anger that it's righteous anger, and that it is for the right reason. B. Be Angry at the Right Thing Number two: that you're angry at the right thing, at the right thing. Now, Jesus did not get angry with individuals. He got angry with institutions, and forms and sins, but not with individuals. He loved the individual. You see, dear friend, you can be angry with the wrong done, but not with the wrong doer. Most of us get angry at the wrong doer. We get angry at people. Jesus did not. Jesus loved people. And, while Jesus was moved with anger and hard hearts, and while Jesus burned sometime with the zeal of his Father's house, yet the Lord Jesus was kind, and compassionate, and tender and though they were sinners, Jesus was the friend of sinners. And, I want to say something to you preacher boys here. I hope that all of your ministry you'll preach against liquor. With every ounce, and every inch, and every nerve and every fiber. But, if you can't do it and love the bartender, you better keep your mouth shut. You preach against pornography, but you learn to love the pornographer. You can preach against homosexuality, but you'd better love the homosexual. Be angry and sin not. Not against persons. Jesus Christ became angry, but His anger was for the right reasons—at the right things—and then His anger, dear friend, was in the right way. Let His anger make Him a part of the solution, not a greater part of the problem. And, dear friend when you lose your temper, you're not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem—and the “wrath of © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 57

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man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). When it's God anger, when it's a righteous anger, then the righteousness of God is going to be worked. And, you'd better learn that when you raise your voice, you also better lift your hands to do something about the situation. It doesn't take a lot of sides to criticize, anybody can do that. 1. Anger Shows a Foolish Mind And, so there the Bible doesn't say be never angry, but it says be slow to wrath—be very careful because you see, there are few forms of dissipation that will hurt your testimony, and kill your influence, and reveal your character more than your anger and your quick temper. Do you want me to tell you what the Bible says your temper proves about you? If you're one that has a short fuse. If you're one of these persons always flying off the handle, number one: it shows that you've got a foolish mind. Listen to Ecclesiastes chapter 7 and verse 9. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 9: “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). Anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 2. Anger Shows a Poor Character Now, don't come around here with your vaulted intellectual superiority, for the Bible says that if you're given to anger, you sir, are foolish. But, not only does it show something about your mind, it also shows something about your character. Listen to Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 32: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Some people think that an anger, a temper—a violent temper—is a sign of strength. Some of you men are bullies in your house. And, you go throwing things around, slapping the kids around, driving like a maniac down the highway when somebody does something, and you think that's a sign of your strength. It's a sign of your babyhood. You're like a little baby, throwing a temper tantrum. Listen to what the Bible says: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32). And, I'll tell you something else about anger. When you get angry you lose control, and you open the door to all kinds of other sins that you would not normally commit. You say things that you ought not to say. You do things that you ought not to do. Listen to Proverbs chapter 29 and verse 22: “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression” (Proverbs 29:22). You just get furious brother and your sins are going to multiply just like that. Things will happen, things will be said that you would give a thousand worlds if you could take back. But, you lose your mind, you lose your control. Listen to that verse again, “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” Not only does he transgress, he just abounds in it. Somebody said that anger is a stone thrown into a wasp's nest. That's what it is, and you just stir up all kinds of transgressions. © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 58

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Now, how are you going to deal with this anger? Let me tell you one thing mister, and dear lady. You had better start treating it as it is, a sin. You know, you'd be surprised. Some people are actually proud of their temper. They really are. They say, “Well, we've got red hair in our family. And, I'm just a redhead. Redheads get angry.” I'm looking at a few of them, is that true? Others say, “You know, well, I just get from my dad. I've got my dad's temper.” Yea, you're of your father—the devil. “Oh,” you say, “well, it just lasts a little while.” Well, when a man with a hair-trigger blazes away with a shotgun, that just lasts a little while too. But, somebody else has to go in there and pick up the pieces, you see. We try to explain it away. We try to minimize it. We try to make jokes about it, like it's funny. But, I want to tell you, it is not weakness, it is wickedness. And, until you start treating that temper as what it is, a vile temper—you want me to tell you why those things spew out of you? Because they’re in you. If you want to see what you're made out of, if you want to see what you're full of, you see what spills out of you when you're jostled. And, if you're full of anger, when you're jostled, anger will spill out. If you're full of Jesus, Jesus will spill out. You cannot judge a person by what he is by his actions, ’cause he can plan his actions. You watch his reactions—the things he has not planned—and you'll know what that man is full of. And, the only way, ladies and gentlemen, to control your temper is to have a heart full of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, along with that James gives—James is so intensely practical. James gives some advice now, and I want you to notice the chain here. First of all: tune it. Secondly: tone down. Thirdly: sweeten up. You see, when I begin to listen, and when I stop talking so much, then I learn to control my temper because my thoughts and my words have a way of stirring up my spirit. Did you know that you can stir yourself up by your own words? Did you know that if you verbalize things, the right things, that you'll feel right. And, if you verbalize the wrong things you'll feel wrong. And, many of you, when you tend to get in an argument with your husband and your wife, if you'll just watch your words. You'll be surprised how your words will control your spirit. You say, “I thought my spirit made my words.” Well, many times we talk even before we think, but after we've said certain things then we tend to live by those things. You see, the Bible says, “Grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15, 1: “…grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). So, when you listen more, and when you talk less, you're going to find out that your spirit is more controlled.

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A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A bitter word may hate instill. A brutal word may smite and kill. A gracious word may smooth away. A joyous word may light the day. A timely word may lessen stress. A loving word may heal and bless. And, all of this is possible because we have been born again. It's all possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion Now, listen folks. Tune in right now and listen to me. Jesus Christ did not come to make us nice people. He came to make us new creatures. And, I'm not just giving you a lecture on manners this morning. These things that James is talking about, these are the fruits of being born again. Have you been born again? Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Savior? You might as well try to control gunpowder in Hell as to try to control your temper without Jesus Christ, or to control your tongue without Jesus Christ, or to control your thoughts without Jesus Christ. First of all, you need a new nature, you need to be born again. I want to tell you that God loves you today and God has a wonderful plan for your life, and Jesus Christ is knocking at your heart’s door. Jesus Christ wants to come into you and change your life. Years ago, on the Passaic River in New Jersey, there was a railroad trestle bridge, and that bridge had to be opened to let the ships pass through. There was a man there who had a very important job. He would sit at the control—the giant levers—and he would pull these, and push them, and make the huge gears turn. And, this bridge would swing on its hinges to let the ships go through. And, then he would have to move the bridge back very quickly for the passenger train to come through. On a particular occasion he had his ten-year-old son there with him. His son had come to see the father—rather it was an eight-year-old son. And, the son had come to watch his daddy work, and the son was standing out there near the river, and near the giant works there in the great gears. And, this father had opened the bridge to let a ship through, and then he had to close it quickly because a passenger train was coming. But, as he was in the business of closing the bridge his son fell into the swift moving waters of that river. And, he cried, “Daddy, daddy, help me, daddy.” And, the daddy knowing that he could not possibly leave those controls—if he did the train would plunge into the abyss, and plunge into the river. The father had to make a decision, and there doing as © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 60

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he felt God would have him do, he stayed at the controls and closed the bridge while his son disappeared in the murky waters. Later, of course, he was unable to find the boy—the boy was gone and drowned. And, when I heard that story, I thought about it, and I thought how many of those people who went by in that train saw the bridge-tender and waved at him, never realized the price that he paid for them. I hope today you'll not just give God a smile and a wave. I want you to know that He put His darling Son on the cross that you might go to Heaven. I want you to know that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16), and I want you to know that God loves you. Listen to me now—listen. God loves you. God wants to save you. God brought you here this morning to hear it, and God brought me here today to tell it. And, if you will receive Jesus Christ, He will forgive your sins, He will come into your heart and give you a new nature. And, one day He'll take you to Heaven to be with Him. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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If There Had Been No Easter By Adrian Rogers Main Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12–20

Outline Introduction I. Preaching Would Be Profitless II. Faith Would Be Foolish III. The Disciples Would Be Deceivers IV. Sin Would Be Sovereign V. Death Would Have Dominion Conclusion

Introduction This morning would you take God’s Word and turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15, and we’re going to be thinking on this subject: if there had been no Easter. In just a minute, I want to share with you from the Word of God, but before I share with you from the Bible, I want to ask you a question: Have you ever heard of a man named Harry Houdini? Many of you have. He died in October of 1926. But, his claim to fame was that he was a magician who specialized in spectacular escapes. As a matter of fact, he was said to have laughed at locks and to have sneered at fetters. They said (of Harry) that he had the flexibility of an eel. He had the lives of a cat. They did all kinds of things to try to incarcerate him: they would seal him in coffins—he would escape; they riveted him into a boiler—he escaped; they sewed him up in canvas bags—he escaped; they locked him in a milk can—he escaped; they sealed him in a beer barrel—he escaped; they put him in maximum-security prison, and old Harry somehow got out. But then, in October 1926, Old Man Death laid his hands upon Harry Houdini and put him in a grave, and he has yet to escape. As a matter of fact, he told his wife, “If there is any way out, I will find it. If there is any way out, I’ll make contact with you, and we’ll do it on the anniversary of my death.” For ten years she kept a light burning over his portrait. At the end of ten years she turned out the light. Death had Harry, and he couldn’t escape. Death laid his hands on the Lord Jesus Christ, also. And, Death put Jesus in a rockhewn tomb. And, there was a stone in the mouth of that tomb, and the seal of the Roman government was placed upon that tomb. But, on the third day, Jesus Christ stirred Himself. He rose from the sleep of death. And, He left those grave clothes that were wrapped around him like a butterfly would forsake a cocoon. And, Jesus Christ

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passed through the walls of that rock-hewn tomb. By the way, the stone wasn’t rolled away to let Jesus out—it was rolled away to let the disciples in to see that Jesus had come back. And Jesus Christ is alive. He is not behind us in a tomb. He is before us on a throne. We thank God for that. But, I want to ask you a question: Suppose that had not happened…suppose Death still held Jesus like it does Harry…then what? Suppose there had been no Easter? Well, the Apostle Paul talks about that, and I want you to see what he’s talking about here in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 12–20. The Apostle Paul asks a question: “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 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. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Now, the Apostle Paul mentions a thing unthinkable. The thing unthinkable is this— suppose there had been no Easter. Suppose Jesus Christ is still in that grave. If that is true, he says there are six tragic things that you need to consider if there is no Easter.

I.

Preaching Would Be Profitless

The very first of these is that preaching is profitless. Look, if you will, in verse 14: "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain." Now the word “vain” means empty, futile, with no purpose, a colossal waste of time. Listen, ladies and gentlemen, if there is no Easter, then you and I are wasting our time by being here. I’m wasting my time by preaching, and you are wasting yours by listening, and we all ought to do something else. Our preaching is vain. It is futile. It is worthless. It is profitless. There is no profit in it if Christ is still in the grave. Why is that? Because, ladies and gentlemen, the heart of the Gospel is this…do you want me to tell you what the Gospel is? You’ll find it in the first few verses of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15—it is that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And, the Apostle Paul says—friend, this is the gospel. And, there is no preacher who can preach the Gospel unless he preaches the resurrection of Jesus; and, without that, preaching it's profitless—a man might as well not preach. We’ll just close up shop and go home. One poor, misguided, benighted preacher stood in his pulpit and said, as some try to say

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today, that the body of Jesus Christ still lies in a nameless tomb grave, but His deathless Spirit marches onward. Do you know what that man ought to do? He ought to get out of the pulpit and get an honest job. That’s what he ought to do. If he doesn’t believe that Jesus Christ came out of that grave, then his preaching is vain, vacuous, empty, meaningless, and futile. If Christ be not raised, then our preaching is vain.

II.

Faith Would Be Foolish

And then he mentions something else in verse 14: Not only is preaching profitless, but faith is foolish if Christ is still in the grave. Notice he goes on to say in verse 14: “and your faith is also vain.” That is, you're trusting something that doesn’t deserve your trust. I mean, who wants to put his faith in Jesus if Jesus is dead? It’s not enough to believe that Christ died for your sins if you don’t believe that God raised Him, also, from the dead. Your faith is vain. The Bible says that if thou shalt believe with thy heart the Lord Jesus, confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, then thou shalt be saved. But, if you don’t believe that God raised Him from the dead, then your faith is foolish. You see, this is the difference between Jesus Christ and the other founders of the other religions. They lived. They died. They are dead. Jesus lived, He died, and He rose again. Friend, there is no need to follow a loser. Jesus has escaped death. And, the Bible says…the Apostle Paul said it in Romans 1:4: “[He is] declared to be the Son of God with power…by the resurrection from the dead.” How do I know He is the Son of God? How do I know that He can save me? How do I know the Bible is true? How do I know the promises of God are yea and amen in Jesus Christ? I’ll tell you how. God brought Him from the dead, and that was God’s stamp of approval on all that He said and did and taught. He was shown to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. We don’t serve a dead Savior. A dead Savior is nobody’s Savior. A little boy was in the classroom, and the teacher gave this assignment—write an essay on the world’s greatest living man. Some wrote about the president. Others wrote about members of Congress. Some wrote about people in the entertainment world. Some wrote about people in the sports world. Some wrote about scientists and philosophers. But, one little boy—this little boy—wrote about Jesus Christ…an essay on Jesus Christ. When the teacher received the paper she said, ”Son, that’s a nice paper, but you misunderstood the assignment. I said the world’s greatest living man.” He said, ”But teacher, He is alive.” He is alive. We don’t serve a dead Savior. But listen, if Christ be not raised, then preaching is profitless. If Christ be not raised, then faith is foolish—to trust somebody who is dead and can do nothing for you

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III.

The Disciples Would Be Deceivers

The third thing I want to say is, friend, that if Christ be not raised, then the disciples are deceivers. Look, if you will please, in this passage of Scripture as we continue to read in verse 15: Paul says, “Yea, and we are found…[now underscore this]…false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.” Now, I want you to catch the gist of Paul’s argument. Paul is not saying that if Christ is still in the grave, then we were mistaken. That’s not what he says. He has said that if Christ has not been raised, then we are false witnesses. Do you know what a false witness is? That’s somebody who gets in a courtroom and knowingly, willingly, deliberately perjures himself and becomes a liar. A liar! He commits perjury. He tells a lie. He is a false witness. He knows better. Now friend, I want you to understand what Paul is saying. Paul is saying we have testified that Jesus Christ is alive. We have seen Him. Many of the disciples talked with Him; they ate with Him; they fellowshipped with Him; they touched Him; they handled Him—all after His resurrection. “Well,” you say, “Pastor, how do you know they didn’t just make it up? How do you know that they didn’t just boast up a good story about Jesus Christ to save face?” I’ll tell you how I know—friend, most of these disciples paid with their very lives…blood for testimony and for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They suffered. They bled. They died, because they believed in Jesus Christ. Now, listen to me—hypocrites and martyrs are not made of the same stuff. A man may live for a lie, but few will die for a lie. But, these people testified. They said, “He’s alive…we know He’s alive.” And, they sealed their testimony—many of them—with their lives. But, you’re faced with this conclusion—that if Jesus Christ is still in that grave, then those disciples were liars and fakes and frauds and con artists. Are you going to tell me the Apostle Paul was a nave? Are you going to tell me that Peter was a rascal? Are you going to tell me that John was a liar and that these people have pawned off, onto the world, a colossal fraud? Common sense says “no,” but you’ll have to accept that as the conclusion if Christ is still in the grave.

IV.

Sin Would Be Sovereign

But now watch—fourthly, if there be no Easter, if Christ is still in that grave…here’s another tragic affect—sin is sovereign if Christ is still in the grave. Look in verse 17, if you will: “And if Christ be not raised your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” What does that mean? That means, ladies and gentlemen, that if Christ is still in the grave, then God did not accept the payment for your sin. Because, you see, when God raised Him up, that was the proof positive that full payment had been made. That’s the reason the Apostle Paul said, in Romans 4:25: “He was delivered up for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Now, what that means is that He died for our sins, but that was

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incomplete until God raised Him from the dead. “Delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ I wouldn’t give you half a hallelujah for your hope of Heaven. The fact that He died for you is not important unless He also rose from the dead, which was the stamp of approval and authenticity upon the full payment for your sins. No resurrection—no Savior. No Savior— no forgiveness. No forgiveness—no justification. No justification—no cleansing. No cleansing—the penalty of your sin is upon you. If the penalty of your sin is still upon you, then you are destined for death and Hell, and you’re still in your sins. Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely forever; One day He’s coming—O glorious day! ~ J. Wilburn Chapman Thank God that we’re no longer in our sins, because we have a risen Savior who has paid the price for our sins.

V.

Death Would Have Dominion

Now, I want to mention another consequence if there be no Easter: If Christ is still in the grave, then not only is sin sovereign, but, my dear friend, death also has dominion. Look, if you will please, in verse 18: “Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” Your mother, your father, your children, and your loved ones—they are dead and gone. You’ll never see them again. They are in the grave to rot…to decay. That’s it—it’s over; it’s ended. Death has won, and life is a colossal bad dream. Are you going to ask me to believe that the Intelligence that created this universe intends for it all to run down into the grave—that we are born crying, live complaining, and die disappointed? That’s it? I mean, all we can hope for—any of us—is to get sicker and sicker and sicker until we die; and, it all just ends in a veil of tears, and we rot and decay in the ground—that’s it. I’m supposed to believe that? That some great grand scheme of things—that made an entire universe and created something called man—is to cause us all just to die? And Death is a monster that has dominion? No friend, I can’t believe that. I can’t accept that. Yesterday, I went out to a home, because one of the members of our church…his wife of many, many years died suddenly this past week. And, I went out to put my arms around that good and godly man to pray for him; and, I want to tell you, though I saw sorrow on his face, I saw the light and the hope of Heaven in his eyes as we prayed and talked. We talked about that grand reunion there on the other shore.

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Conclusion I’m so everlastingly glad that I have that kind of a Gospel to preach. I’m so glad that it doesn’t all just end in a veil of tears, as we say goodbye—never, never, never, never to meet again…and our loved ones have perished and that’s it. Oh no, my friend. In Rome, the Christians were persecuted in the Coliseum and in the Roman circus and were made sport of—put to death, so that they had to move underground. Many times they met under the ground in the catacombs. There are miles and miles of tunnels dug underneath the surface of the city of Rome, and these catacombs are about four-, seven-, or eight-feet wide, and about eight-feet tall. I’ve walked through many of them. I’ve walked close to a mile in the catacombs. On the walls of the catacombs are niches, dug out, where they buried their dead. Not only did the Christians bury their dead there, but the pagans also buried their dead there. And, to read the inscriptions on those tombs—oh my, dear friend—then you’re going to find out the difference between hope and hopelessness. Listen to what some of those pagans said when they put inscriptions upon the tombs of those dead, departed loved ones: One said, ”Live for the present hour, since we’re sure of nothing else;” another—“I will lift up my hands against the gods who took me away at the age of twenty, though I had done no harm;” another— “Once I was not, and now I am not;” here’s another—“Traveler, curse me if you pass, for I am in darkness and cannot answer.” How different from the words placed upon the tombs of the Christians…words like this—“Here lies Marcy, put to rest in a dream of peace.” Or, here’s another— “Lawrence, to his sweetest son, carried away by the angels.” Here’s another—“He went away in peace.” And another—“Victorious in peace and in Christ.” What a difference it makes! What a difference—because Christ has been raised! A seminary professor lost his wife when she was a young woman. She died an untimely death. He had a little preschool boy with him. He went to take that preschool boy to the funeral home to see the body of his beloved wife. They had embalmed her beautifully. She was there…almost lifelike. The little boy looked at his mother, and the dad tried to explain to him this inexplicable thing called death and tried to tell the little boy that they would not see mommy again, until they saw mommy in Heaven. The little boy couldn’t understand death; he wasn’t familiar with death. He said, “No daddy, you’re wrong. Mommy is just asleep. I’ve seen her like that plenty of times. She’s asleep. She can wake up.” And then, he began to say, “Wake up mommy; wake up mommy; mommy, wake up; wake up mommy.” And, with tears, that professor put his hand on the shoulder of that little preschool boy and said, “Son, you can’t wake her up, but when Jesus comes, he’ll wake her up.” Friend, He will. He will. “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,” dear friend, “to meet the Lord in the air.” But, I’m telling you, dear friend, if there be no Easter, then Death has dominion—

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Death has conquered. I’ll tell you something else: Here’s the next tragic result if there be no Easter—not only does Death have dominion, but also, the future is futile. Notice in verse 19 what the Apostle Paul has to say: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” What does that mean? That means, folks, that if this is all there is, then it is just bad news. The good times are but for a moment, and it’s going to get worse. You’re going to get sicker. You’re going to have problems. You’re going to get infirm. Some greedy malady—some disease—is going to begin to gnaw away at your body. One by one you will see your loved ones stripped away by death. Ernest Hemingway said, “It’s as though we are a colony of ants living on one end of a burning log.” I mean, you think about the people who are without Jesus: I mean, what do they look forward to—a hole in the ground? I don’t believe you ought to drink and get drunk, but friend, if I didn’t know Jesus, then I think I might get drunk and stay drunk. I’m not recommending that. I’m recommending that you know Jesus. I am recommending that you come to Christ. Listen, without Christ, we are of all men most miserable. This whole thing of time and space is a bad joke—it makes no sense and it’s chaotic if Christ be not raised. The future is fearful and futile if Christ be not raised. But friend, I want to tell you—he has been raised. Notice verse 20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead,” and because he is, preaching is profitable, faith is feasible, the disciples are dependable, sin is subdued, death is defeated, and the future is fabulous—because Christ has been raised from the dead. He has taken the sting out of sin. He has taken the gloom out of the grave. He has taken the dread out of death, and He has given to us a hope that is steadfast and sure. Years ago, I heard a fable about a spider who saw a great massive lion go into a cave. The spider was envious of the great King of the Jungle, and the spider said to himself, “I will imprison that lion—that beast—in this cave.” So, while the lion was asleep in the cave, the spider began to spin a web across the mouth of that cave. Back and forth, and up and down, he spun and spun and spun until he almost spun himself away. And then, the little spider sat down by the side of the tomb—by the side of that cave, as it was—and said, “Now, the mighty beast is my prisoner. No longer will he seek his prey in the dark of the night in the jungle. No longer will he bask in the golden sunlight. Now, I have taken him captive. He is my slave.” But, the old lion awoke from his nap, shook the dust from his mane, gave a yawn, stretched himself, and then let out a roar that echoed through the valley and over the hill. Then, he walked out of that cave and never even knew that the spider’s web was there. Infidelity and hate wove a web of unbelief across the tomb of our Savior Jesus Christ. But, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has risen from the dead, and he’s never even known that the devil’s flimsy web was there. Jesus is alive. He’s alive, and He lives in my heart.

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Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified, freely forever; One day He’s coming—O glorious day! ~ J. Wilburn Chapman, 1911 COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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The Lost Christ Of Christmas By Adrian Rogers Date Preached: December 16, 2001 Main Scripture Text: Luke 2:41–50  2XWOLQH    Introduction  I.  In What Sense May We Lose Jesus?   II.  Who May Lose Jesus?   III.  Where Do We Lose Jesus?   IV.  How May We Lose Jesus?   V.  How Can We Find Jesus Again?   Conclusion 

Introduction I want you to take God’s Word and turn to Luke 2, the Christmas story. There’s an addendum to the Christmas story that we’re going to look at tonight. The title of our sermon tonight is “The Lost Christ.” You know, it’s been my observation that rather than Christmas drawing people closer to Christ, there’s a very real sense in which people are drawn away from the Lord Jesus in the midst of the celebration. Their eyes are turned to parties and gifts, and many times there’s a letdown in church attendance, there is a softening of the prayer life; there is sometimes a lessening of gifts and soul-winning and witnessing—not always, but many times. It seems like in the very midst of the celebration we lose the Lord Jesus. Now, we don’t find, as I said this morning, any record of the early church celebrating Christmas as such. Of course the wise men came, as we preached this morning, and paid homage to the child. And, of course, the shepherds came to the sheepfold or wherever it was that our Lord Jesus was born, and worshiped Him. But the church did not worship Him as such. I think the closest thing to what we call Christmas is Passover. I don’t mean that Passover and Christmas are alike, but I mean in the early church they had a celebration. It was a religious celebration. It was a time of gift-giving. It was a time of feasting. It was a time of trips. It was a time when people got together. It was a time of joy. It was a time of worship. It was a time of conviviality. It was a big thing. In Bible times, Passover was to those people what Christmas is to us, so far as celebration. And a very interesting thing happens here in the Book of Luke, right after the Christmas story, right after the events that took place around His birth. The Bible tells of Jesus who, being 12 years of age, went with His parents to Passover; and, while Jesus was with His parents there at Passover, after the celebration, His parents going back © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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home, had gone an entire day’s journey and recognized and realized that Jesus wasn’t even in the midst. They had lost Jesus in the midst of the celebration, Passover, which was all about Jesus. I wonder if the same thing might happen to you. So we’re going to ask and answer five questions tonight, and I want you to get these, not only in your head, but down in your heart. Number one: In what sense may we lose Christ? Number two: Who may lose Christ? Number three: Where may we lose Christ? Number four: How can we lose Him? And, number five: How may we find Him again? Now, let’s read the story here. I’m going to begin in verse 41—Luke 2:41: “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou dealt thus with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them” (Luke 2:41–50).

I.

In What Sense May We Lose Jesus?

Now, let me first of all ask this question: In what sense may we lose Jesus? Well, Mary and Joseph were related to Jesus. Joseph is His foster father. Thank God for the spirit of Joseph. Mary was His literal, actual mother. Now, how did they lose Jesus? They did not lose Jesus in the sense of relationship. Mary was still His mother; Joseph still His earthly father. It was not in the sense of relationship that they lost Jesus; it was in the sense of fellowship that they lost the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you’re saved, twice-born, you can never ever lose that relationship. Let me give you a verse for your margin—John 10, verses 27 and following—Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish…”—now, you don’t get eternal life when you die; you get eternal life when you believe. If you have eternal life, it can never end. Whatever you have, if you ever lose it, whatever it was, it wasn’t eternal. You had it for 10 years and lost it, then you had a 10-year life. Jesus said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never”—never—“perish…”—not, “every once in a while some will perish”— © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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“they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:27–29). And, actually, if you have a King James Version of the Scripture, the word man is in italics. That is, it’s not in the original; it’s italicized, so you know it’s not in the original. What He says: “Neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” Any what? Any man, any event, any thing. Some people have the idea that the devil can take you out of the hand of God. Ha ha, that’s ridiculous! If you’re still saved, and the devil could take you out, why hasn’t he done it? Hasn’t he been good to you? So, that would be a strange doctrine, wouldn’t it—you’re going to heaven by the goodness of the devil? No, the only reason he hasn’t, is, precious friend, he can’t. “Neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” Can you think of a power that is strong enough to open the mighty hand of Jesus—and encased in the mighty hand of God the Father—and take one of His out? You cannot lose the Lord Jesus Christ, in the sense of relationship. Another great verse corresponding to that is in the Old Testament—Psalm 37, verses 23 and 24—where our Lord says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 27:23–24). Now, if you’re trying to teach your child to walk, which many of us have had the experience to do, when that little toddler gets old enough to take a few steps, he may fall and get up, and fall again and get up. But, if you’re in a particular situation where you don’t want him to fall—suppose you’re crossing the street—you don’t just give him your finger, like you might do ordinarily, and let him hold your finger that’s just a handful for that chubby little hand. What you do, you put his entire hand in your hand. And, he’s not holding you this time; you’re holding him. And, you start across the street, and his little knees buckle, but he can only go so far. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” Has He ever done that for you? Friend, He’s done that for me many times. My knees have buckled, or whatever, but thank God I was not holding on to Him; He was holding on to me. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” So, there can be a loss of fellowship, not a loss of relationship. In this passage of Scripture, Mary and Joseph said, “We sought you sorrowfully.” Their hearts were filled with sorrow—sorrow. May I tell you that, if you are out of fellowship with the Lord, I’m absolutely certain that you have no joy tonight. You might have happiness; you may have fun; but, you don’t have joy. I’ve often said, and I believe this with all of my heart: The most miserable person in the world is not an unsaved person. The most miserable © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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person in the world is a saved person out of fellowship with Jesus—far more miserable than an unsaved person. Mary and Joseph said, “Look, we have sought thee sorrowfully.” You want to know tonight whether or not Christ is lost in your heart and in your life— not in the sense of relationship, but in the sense of fellowship? Take the joy test. Is there joy in your heart right now? “Joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8)? Well, Pastor, nobody’s supposed to be joyful all the time. I disagree with you. The Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again…Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). And the only way you can rejoice always is to rejoice in the Lord. He never changes. And so, in what sense may we lose the Lord Jesus? Not in the sense of relationship, but in the sense of fellowship. Mary was still His mother, Joseph still His foster father, but there was not that connectivity. Jesus was not in their midst.

II.

Who May Lose Jesus?

Number two: Who may lose Jesus? Who may lose Christ? Well, it may surprise us to see that it was Mary and Joseph that lost Him. Look in verse 23—the Bible says, “And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it” (Luke 2:23). Those, many times, that we least expect to lose the Lord Jesus may lose the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, you may be a deacon in this church. You may be sitting over here to my right hand, on the platform, or to my left hand, on the staff. Could be the man behind the pulpit who’s in danger of losing the Lord Jesus Christ? If you’ll study the Bible, you’ll find out that God’s choicest of saints got out of fellowship with Him from time to time. Noah, David, Moses, Samson, Peter—all of these, and others in the Bible, got out of fellowship with the Lord. The Bible says that, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Oswald Chambers has said this: “An unguarded strength is a double weakness.” Do you think you’re beyond getting away from God? Do you? Mary did. Joseph did. The great saints of the Bible have at one time or another gotten away from the Lord. Sometimes people think, “You know, if I were just a pastor like Pastor Rogers, if I just lived in a holy atmosphere, I’d never have any temptation. He just doesn’t know what I face out there in the dirty old world.” Friend, don’t you know that the devil aims his biggest guns at God’s servants? Don’t you know that, no matter who you are, you’ve never come to a place where you’re not in danger of slipping away from the Lord?

III.

Where Do We Lose Jesus?

Now, here’s a third question we want to ask and answer. In what sense may we lose Christ? Who may lose Christ? Number three: Where did they lose the Lord Jesus? Look, if you will, in verse 41: “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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of the passover” (Luke 2:41). They lost Him in the midst of a religious ceremony; they lost Him in a spiritual celebration. They didn’t lose Him in a dance hall; they didn’t lose Him in a nightclub; they did not lose Him in some den of iniquity; it was in the midst of a religious ceremony that they lost the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, Passover was all about Jesus, and it was there that they lost the Lord Jesus. Could it be this Christmas that, rather than you getting closer to Jesus, come New Year’s you have to repent and draw back to the Lord, because you’ve gotten away from Him? Do you know what I found out, when I was going to seminary? I found out that a great number of seminary students would backslide with a Bible under their arm, in seminary; I mean, in the midst of studying about the Lord Jesus, somehow they lost that fellowship with the Lord Jesus. As a matter of fact I was reading about that church at Laodicea in the Book of the Revelation, and our Lord remonstrated with them, and said, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). And then, He ends that passage of Scripture to that church at Laodicea saying, in Revelation 3:20—we use it as an evangelistic text; but it’s really not an evangelistic text—“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” Where’s He knocking? Friend, He’s not knocking at the sinner’s heart; He’s knocking at the door of the church. You know, we say, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20), but sometimes we’ve so forgotten His name that He’s out there on the outside, with His name, knocking, trying to get in. Will Christmas take you from Jesus? It could. The very Passover celebration was that which separated Mary and Joseph from Jesus. What a lesson that ought to be to us! What a warning that ought to be to us! They lost Him in the midst of a religious celebration. Year and years ago I heard a story—I don’t know where it came from, but I heard it over 40 years ago, I suppose—about a man who had a princess that he loved very much. He was a prince, fabulously wealthy; his beautiful princess died, and he was heartbroken. He determined that he would build for this princess the most glorious shrine—burial place—that had ever been built. It would make the Taj Mahal look pitiful in comparison. So, he got the architects of the kingdom, and drew the plans for this beautiful shrine, this temple. It was to be magnificent, because of the great love that he had for her. No plan was quite good enough, as he studied all the plans, until, finally, he thought he’d come to perfection. There was no amount of money that he would renege on, that he would not spend; and so, every day he would come to watch this building that was being built for his princess. And, the spires would go up, and the marble would gleam, and the gold overlay would flash in the sun. And, as it was coming together, it © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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was more and more beautiful. He would watch it; he was obsessed with it. It had to be perfect; it had to be just right. It was nearing completion. He was up in one of the high minarets there in that palace, and he looked down, and it was perfect, except for one thing. There was something there that just didn’t seem to fit. It seemed a little out of place; it seemed to mar the whole thing. He called the workmen and said, “Look, you see that down there; it just somehow doesn’t fit. Take that out and it will be perfect.” And the workmen went down and removed the tomb of the princess. I’ve thought about that story many times and I thought, you know, how we have this elaborate Christmas, supposed to be all about Jesus, and we say, you know, “He’s kind of messing it up a little bit; Jesus is kind of cramping our style a little bit at Christmas time.” I wonder if we’ve done that; I wonder if somehow we have let the very celebration of Christmas take us from the Christ of Christmas.

IV.

How May We Lose Jesus?

Next, how may we lose Jesus? How did they do it? Well, look, if you will, in chapter 2, and verse 44: “But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey” (Luke 2:44). “Supposing Him to have been in the company.” How did they lose Him? By presumption, by supposition; they just assumed He was with them, and they didn’t check up. Now, they didn’t lose Him by getting drunk; they didn’t lose Him by opposing Him or denying Him. They went a day’s journey; they went one step at a time. And, every step they took, they were getting further from Him, supposing the whole time He was with them. I wonder if that’s true about you. I had to ask myself this question before I preached this message: “Adrian, are you just supposing that you’re right with God? Are you just supposing that Jesus is a reality in your life?” That’s easy to do. I mean, you can preach, you can sing, you can be a deacon, you can come to church, you can teach your class, you can sing in the choir, you go from day to day, and say, “Well, I’m fine.” Read in the Old Testament about Samson. The Bible says the Spirit of the Lord departed from Samson and he never knew it—he never knew it (Judges 16:20). They went a day’s journey, a step at a time, just simply supposing that Jesus was with them. I wonder—and I’ve had to ask myself this question—I wonder, are you willing, tonight, to look into your own heart and see, Is the presence of Jesus a reality or mere supposition? Neglect is often the way to get away from Jesus, and that neglect is often based on supposition. It’s often the cause of backsliding. I mentioned the church at Laodicea a while back. That church said to itself, “I’m rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17). Do you know what a danger is tonight? The danger is that I could be preaching this message, supposing that Jesus is real in my heart. © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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There are times in my life when I shut myself up to God and I let God peel me like an onion. Everything that I tend to hold dear I offer to the Lord. I want my life to be absolutely transparent before the Lord. You know, the Bible says, when your eye is single, your body is full of light (Matthew 6:22). Have you ever come to that place where your eye is single? What does that mean—“when your eye is single”? That means that you have no side issues but Jesus Christ; you have nothing that you’ve withheld; there’s no unconfessed, unrepented of sin; there is no love that is greater than your love for the Lord Jesus Christ. And, that’s not an easy place to come to. The devil will try to keep you from coming to that place. Sometimes, I have to shut myself up and fight Satan, because he says—or some demon; I don’t think I’m worth the devil himself; he probably sent a little old weak demon to work on me—but I say, “Look, I’ve come to do business with God. I’m not going to get up off my knees, off my face, until my body is full of light, till I know that I know that I know it’s not a supposition, that Jesus Christ is real to me.” And, I can’t explain to you, but I know when I come to that place, it’s a wonderful place—your body’s just full of light. You can say it and mean it—it’s not a supposition: “I know there’s nothing between my soul and the Savior.” May I suggest you do that? May I suggest that we all do that from time to time—that we take a spiritual inventory; that we don’t go just one step at a time, every step further away from him, supposing He’s with us? It’s an easy thing to do. We may lose Him by supposition.

V.

How Can We Find Jesus Again?

Now, here’s the last question: How can we find Jesus again? Well, look, if you will again, in verses 45 and 46, “And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions” (Luke 2:45–46). Question: Where did they find Him? Right where they left Him—right where they left Him. They found Him by going back to where they first lost Him. If Jesus Christ is not real to you and He was once real to you, if you do not have that conscious awareness of His presence, just go back to where you first left Him. You say, “Well, I don’t know where that was.” I believe, if you open your heart to the Lord, He’ll show you where it was; if you pray that prayer we’ve been given in the Psalms—“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be some wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24). I heard about a man in a rescue mission one time who was trying to get right with God, and the worker said, “Get down on your knees and confess your sins.” He said, “Well, I don’t know what they are.” The worker said, “You don’t?” He said, “No.” The © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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man said, “Well, guess at it.” He said he guessed it right the first time. Friend, you know where you’ve gotten away from the Lord. Maybe you’ve just been neglecting your quiet time—no egregious sin. Maybe you’ve loved the newspaper and the television more than you’ve loved the Bible. Maybe you’ve stopped attending the worship services like you used to. Or, maybe you’ve gotten some bitterness, some grudge in your heart. Maybe there’s some inordinate affection, or maybe it’s just carelessness, going on day after day, without tuning your heart to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Where will you find Jesus? Right where you left Him. And you can’t plow around that error; you have to confess that sin. Another story that I heard many years ago was a father and a son who were living together. The wife and mother had died, and the father and the son had sweet fellowship as they lived in the little cottage. It was a chilly night, and the father said to his son, “Son, the fire’s going out. Will you go get another piece of wood and put it on the fire?” The son said, “Dad, I’m busy. You get the wood.” Father said, “Son, I’m asking you if you’ll go get the piece of wood to put on the fire. I’m your father; I’m older than you are. That’s not an unthinkable thing that I would ask you to do.” The son said, “I’m busy.” The father then said, “Son, listen. I’m sorry it’s come to this. I’m not asking you now; I’m telling you: “Would you go get another piece of wood and put it on the fire.” The son said, “Well, since you’re telling me, I’m going to give you the answer: “No, I will not do it.” It got cold in the room, not only physically, but there was that clash between two wills. Then the father said to his son, “Now, son, this is a serious matter, more serious than a piece of wood. You’ve defied me; you’ve refused to do what I’ve asked you to do, and then told you to do. Now, son, this is my house. You’re a grown man; you’re living under my roof. The least you could do would be to obey your father.” He said, “I’m not going to do it.” “Well, son, it’s come down to this: Either you obey me or you cannot stay here anymore.” “Very well,” he said, “I’ll not stay here anymore.” And he jumped up, walked out of the room into the night, and slammed the door behind him, and walked away from his father and from his home—a broken-hearted, perplexed father. The days came and went. The son began to think to himself: “I have been a fool. Why was I so selfish? Why was I so stubborn? How can I treat my own dear father that way? How can I fail to obey him? I’ve been wicked. I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but I want to be, and I’m going to humble myself and go back to my father.” And, he went back, very much like the prodigal son. He said, “Dad, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I’m sure it’s just sheer wickedness, sheer pride, sheer selfishness. Daddy, you’ve been a wonderful dad to me. Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for loving me. Forgive me, Dad, for my arrogance, for my selfishness. Dad, I’d like to come back and spend my days with you. Can I come in?” The father, with tears, reached out his arms, and said, “Son, that’s an answer to my © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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prayers. I’m so glad you came home. Thank you for doing that. Come on in. But, son, before you sit down, would you put another piece of wood on the fire?” You know where you left Him; you know where you got away from God. How, are you going to get back with Him? Just go right back to where you left Him. Whatever it was, go back to that spot; go back to that place; go back to that disobedience, and deal with it. Until you do, you cannot have that fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion Sermon is over. This point will be made. How tragic it will be this Christmas if you—a deacon, a preacher, a soloist, a missionary, a godly man or woman—let the very celebration of His birth draw you away from Him! And you may not even be conscious of it, just going one step at a time. It may be that you’ll want to say in the words of that old song, “I’ve wandered far away from God, and now I’m coming home.” Would you bow your heads in prayer? Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. Would you take inventory? Is Jesus Christ real to you? I’m not asking, “Are you saved?” That’s relationship. I’m talking about fellowship. Are you just assuming and presuming some things tonight? May I ask it another way? Was there ever a time when you loved Him better than you do now? If so, you’re backslidden. When you cease to be better, you cease to be good. Let’s spend a few moments in prayer and I’m going to stop talking for a while, and I’m going to ask one of these instrumentalists to play softly, and I want us to do a little inventory tonight. And I’m not going to ask you to do anything that I’m not going to do, and let’s just see if perhaps some way, somehow, that we might be supposing Him to be in the midst, and we’ve been walking step by step, in supposition, without Jesus being real this Christmas season. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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A New Year Without Fear By Adrian Rogers Date Preached: December 29, 1991 Main Scripture Text: Hebrews 13:5–6

Outline A New Year Without Fear  Outline  Introduction  I.  The Contentment Of His Provision  II.  The Companionship Of His Presence  III.  The Confidence Of His Promise  IV.  The Comfort Of His Protection  Conclusion 

Introduction Would you take God’s word and turn to Hebrews chapter 13, and in a few moments we’re going to read verses 5 and 6, which will be the basis of our study today. Actually, today we’re talking on this subject: “A New Year Without Fear.” Most of us are afraid of the unknown. And we don’t know what this year is going to bring. We really do not. I heard of some men years ago who were on a leaky old ship, in the middle of a rough and stormy sea, and they were actually fearful for their lives. They didn’t know whether they were going to sink or not. So one of them went in to see the captain, and said, “Captain, are we safe?” He said, “Well, I’ll put it to you this way.” He said, the boilers on this ship are very weak and may explode at any moment.” He said, “Also, the ship is very old, and she’s taking on water. So,” he said, “to be very honest with you, we may have an explosion, or we may sink.” He said, “We may go up, or we may go down, but at any rate, we are going on.” And, that’s the way we are, as we face this New Year, dear friend. Jesus may come; we may go up. We may die, and go down, and then up. But, at any rate, we are going on. Isn’t that true? We’re going on. We’re facing a brand new year, and we don’t know what it’s going to bring. You know, the old map makers, before they had the modern instruments that we have, when they would draw maps, they would draw maps as far out as they had been, as far out as they had explored; and then, when they reached the nether point of their exploration, they had not known what would be beyond, and you can see this on old maps—they would write on there: “Beyond this, there may be dragons.” Now, they’d never seen a dragon; but, they didn’t know what was out there. And so, they would © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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always think that what was in the future, “Beyond this, there may be dragons,” because they were afraid of the future; they were afraid of the uncharted; they were afraid of the unknown—beyond this, there’d be dragons. Well, actually, beyond this, there were golden beaches, verdant fields, and rivers of gold, and beautiful things. But, so far as they were concerned, it was uncharted and unknown, and, therefore, fearful. And, that’s the way many of us feel about the future. Folks, I’ve never seen things change like they have this past year. You know, it’s just incredible. Never in history, so far as I’m concerned, in my study of history, has there ever been a year like the year we’ve just come through—incredibly remarkable. And, who knows what 1992 will bring? With that in mind, look in God’s word—Hebrews chapter 13, verses 5 and 6: “Let your conversation be without covetousness;”—now, the word conversation there literally means “behavior”—“and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5–6). “The Lord is my helper, I will—I shall—not fear what man will do unto me.” “A New Year Without Fear.” And, in these two verses, there are four incredibly wonderful thoughts, as I face the New Year, and I want you to apply them to your heart. And I would like you to face this New Year by squaring back your shoulders, putting a smile on your face, and saying, “The Lord is my helper…I will not fear.”

I.

The Contentment Of His Provision

Now, first of all—and here’s the first thought: We have the contentment of His provision—the contentment of His provision. Look, if you will, in verse 5: “Let your behavior—your conversation—be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5). Discontentment is a disease, and it takes away your joy, and it takes away your peace. And, what is contentment? Contentment is not getting what you want, but it is wanting what you already have. You see, contentment will make a poor man rich. And discontentment makes a poor man poor. One poor man said to a rich man, “I’m richer than you are.” He said, “Why’s that?” He said, “Because I have everything I want, and you don’t.” You see, no matter how much you have, if you’re discontented, you’re really poor. Sometimes we want things we don’t need. Sometimes we need things we don’t need. And, we get all mixed up. I heard about two tears who met themselves along the river of life. Said one tear to the other tear, “Where did you come from?” “Oh,” this tear says, “I’m the tear of a girl who loved a man, and lost Him. And, where do you come from?” She said, “I’m the tear © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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of the girl who found him, and married him.” Now, many times, we think we want something, we need something, we really don’t. We get our luxuries and our necessities confused. Now, in the margin of you Bible, jot down this verse—we’re talking about contentment; our verse says, “Be content with such things as you have”; put this verse down—1 Timothy chapter 6 and verses 6 and following: “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Friend, let me tell you something: You are so rich today, if you know the Lord, and if you’re content. I am telling you, that is great gain—if you know Jesus Christ, and you have contentment. And then, he explains it: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. But having food and raiment let us therewith be content” (1 Timothy 6:7). If you’ve got something on your back, and something to eat, and you have Jesus Christ in your heart, my dear friend, you’re blessed. You see, material things can never bring contentment, and the reason they cannot bring contentment, is that material things can never satisfy the deepest need of your heart. That’s the reason the Bible says, in Ecclesiastes chapter 5 and verse 10, “He that loveth silver shall never be satisfied with silver” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Either you can’t get enough of it, or when you get it, you find out it doesn’t meet your need. Do you remember the story of the little boy who loved pancakes so much? One day, his mother thought she would satisfy him, so she put him down to the table, and decided she would cook all the pancakes he wanted. She served him pancakes, and he ate the first ones with relish. And then, the others—well, not literally “with relish,” but with delight—maybe he ate relish—and he ate the others, and then some more, and then some more, and then some more, and she just kept cooking them, and he kept eating them. Finally, she asked him, “Johnny, do you want another pancake?” He said, “No ma’am. I don’t even want the ones I’ve already had.” Now, that’s the way it is with silver. “He that loveth silver shall never be satisfied with silver.” When you get it all, it doesn’t satisfy. And, if you don’t get it all, you want more. You see, this round world will never fit in your three-cornered heart. I cannot satisfy the deepest longings of your soul. Why is this? Why can’t material things bring contentment? Well, Jesus explained it in Luke chapter 12 and verse 15—He said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). How true that is! Your deepest needs will never be met by material things. Nothing wrong with material things, they just simply cannot satisfy the deepest longing of your heart. Do you remember with the Bible says in Psalm 37 and verse 4? I love it. It says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desire of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Now, that doesn’t mean that you’ll have every surface need met—every whim, every © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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fancy—every lust of your eyes, and your flesh, satisfied. Oh, no! It means, when you find all in Jesus Christ, when you delight yourself in the Lord, what your heart has really been seeking for, it will find. That’s what that verse means. Delight yourself in the Lord, and you’ll have the desire of your heart. What your heart really yearns for is God. “Friends all around me are trying to find what the heart yearns for” 1—and only in Jesus can those things be found. The deepest need of your heart can be met. Now, he’s talking here about living a life without fear. Do you know why we have fear? We have fear, sometimes, because we think our needs are not going to be met; or, because we think that the things we think are meeting our needs are going to be taken away from us. Well, in this verse, he’s going to tell us that God will never leave us nor forsake us, and godliness with contentment is great gain; we have something that can’t be tampered with. We’re hearing a lot of talk today about the R word—recession. Back in 1929 and ’30, when the stock market crashed, there were men who jumped out of skyscrapers— committed suicide. Why? Because the things they were trying to satisfy their heart with, they lost. That’s where their security was. Well, friend, you’d better have your security, and your sufficiency, and your satisfaction, in something that can’t be tampered with. In this Book of Hebrews, that we’re reading from—chapter 10, verse 34—talking to these people, he said, “Why, you took joyfully of the spoiling of your goods...” (Hebrews 10:34). Suppose today soldiers were to come in, go into your house, and carry out all of your material possessions—could you still praise the Lord? If you’re delighted in the Lord, you could. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He’ll give you the desire of your heart.” “Be content with such things as you have.” Do you know the word content literally means “self-contained.” It’s used in Philippians chapter 4, and Paul says, in verses 11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Now, when Paul wrote this, he was in prison. But, he said, “I’ve learned, in whatsoever state I’m in, therewith to be content.” “I know…how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” And then, he said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11–13). And, that literally means, “I can do all things through Christ, who is pouring His life into me.” You see, learn a life of contentment. Have the contentment, dear friend, of His provision—Christ Himself. The deepest need of your heart can be met in the Lord Jesus Christ. You say, “Preacher, that’s just preacher talk.” Well, I’ll tell you this much: You’re looking at a rich man, because I would not sell the contentment that I have in Jesus Christ for any price that you can make—for anything. I am content in the Lord Jesus. 1 “All Things In Jesus” by Harry Dixon Loes © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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That doesn’t mean I’m satisfied with myself. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have any ambition. I am trying to tell you, my dear friend, that I, along with the Apostle Paul, can say it, gladly and surely: “I can do all things through Christ, who is pouring His life into me”; and, “I have learned that whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content.” Now, if you would face a new year without fear, if you want the source of your satisfaction, and the source of your sufficiency, and the source of your security steadfast, find it in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so, number one—number one—if you would face a new year without fear, know the contentment of His provision. Look at it again: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.”

II.

The Companionship Of His Presence

Second thing: Not only the contentment of His provision, but know the companionship of His presence—the companionship of His presence. Continue to read: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). I don’t know what I’m going to face next year. But there’s one thing I know: I know He will never leave me; I know He will not forsake me. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t that wonderful? In Him, I have all; and, He will never leave me nor forsake me. This may be the most encouraging verse in all of the Bible. Now again, we fear because we’re afraid we’re going to have to face something we don’t understand, and we’re going to have to face it alone. I’ve talked to some people over this holiday season who felt so alone. I went out on Christmas Eve to talk to a person who was hurting so much. And, I said to that person, “Why don’t you call a friend?” They said, “I don’t have a friend—I don’t have a friend.” Well, I said, “Oh yes, you do.” And I told her His name—and it is the One who said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Dr. Abraham Maslow, famed research analyst said, “The truth is that the average American does not have a real friend in the world.” That’s what this psychiatrist said— analyst said. And, psychiatrist Alfred Adler said, “All human failures spring from a lack of love”; and then, he named some of them: “alcoholism, workaholism, depression, suicide.” He said all of this springs from a lack of love. People need someone to love, and they need to be loved; and, without it, their lives are filled with fear and frustration. And so, our verse tells us that we can face a new year with the certainty of His provision, and with His companionship in our hearts and in our lives. Now, look at that verse—he says, “I will never leave thee.” Do you see it? “Never.” Now, the Greek scholars tell us this sentence, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” actually has five negatives in it. Now we say a double negative is bad English, but evidently it wasn’t bad Greek. And, here’s what it literally says, “I will never, no, not © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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ever, no, never leave nor forsake you.” Let me give that to you again: “I will never, no, not ever, no, never leave you nor forsake you.” One preacher was visiting an old grandmother in his church, trying to give her comfort in her old age. I believe she knew the Lord better than he did, however. And, he took out his Greek New Testament and was reading this to her, and explaining that there were five negatives there. The old grandma said, “Well, God may have to say it five times for you Greek boys, but once is enough for me.” “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Oh, my dear friend, there is the companionship of His presence. Look at the words “leave…nor forsake.” Do you see that—“I will never leave nor forsake you”? What it literally means is, “I will not abandon you.” It means, “I will not give up on you.” And, it literally means, “I will not leave you a helpless orphan. I will not forsake you. You will not be forsaken.” I’m speaking today to some women whose husbands have walked out on them. I’m speaking today to some children whose fathers have forsaken them. I am talking today to some men whose wives have left them; others who have felt abandoned and forsaken by whatever. But, there is one, my dear friend, who will never leave you. And so, what does that mean to me, as I face a new year? When I’m discouraged, I know that He sees me through, because He’s there. This Christmas season, I’ve been quite a bit in the hospital. I’ve been with those who are dying. I’ve been with those who are facing heartaches. Been to funerals, as you have, and I have watched those who know the Lord Jesus Christ, and I have seen a difference, my dear friend, in those who know Christ, and in those who do not know Christ. I spent some time in the hospital with a man who just in a few hours would step over on the other side. I held his hand. We prayed. I said, “Is everything right?” He said, “Pastor, everything is right.” He said, “I am ready. ‘For me to live is Christ, and for me to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21).” How do you answer that? My dear friend, by the word of one who has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Psalm 116, verse 8: “For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling” (Psalm 116:8). When I am discouraged, His presence sees me through. When I am lonely, His presence cheers me up. Now, you can be lonely; I believe that the holidays are the most lonely time of the year. People are told everywhere they’re supposed to be happy, and they realize they’re not. They see everybody else acting happy, and they feel so lonely. Death and divorce and desertion—even travel makes you lonely. Success can make you lonely. You often hear it’s lonely at the top. Old age makes you lonely. You can be lonely in a big crowd. You can be lonely in a mall. Loneliness, one of the chief maladies of our age—but, Jesus has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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What I am saying, my dear friend, is, when I am discouraged, His presence sees me through. When I am lonely, His presence cheers me up. And, when, my dear friend, I am worried, His presence just calms me down. Do you know what worry is? Worry is a mild form of atheism. It’s acting like God doesn’t exist. I was reading a report of David Livingstone, the great missionary of another century, who went to Africa and actually discovered and unlocked much of Africa—took the gospel to Africa. He lived a life of what some would call loneliness, and what others would call danger. And, he was there. He wrote this in his journal, January the 14th, 1856. He was there surrounded by hostile people, in the very heart of darkest Africa. They were beating the war drums like they were going to attack the next morning. And, this is what he wrote—and I quote: “Felt much turmoil of spirit in prospect of having all of my plans for the welfare of this great region and this teaming population knocked on the head by savages tomorrow.” Now, he’s sitting at his campfire, alone, in the heart of Africa. And, he knows what’s out there in the jungle beyond him. And then, he says this: “But I read that Jesus said, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world’ (Matthew 28:18– 20).” And then, David Livingstone wrote in his journal this word: “This is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor. So that’s the end to it.” He just simply said, “Jesus has said, ‘I’ll never leave you.’” And then, he wrote this—he said: “I will not cross furtively as I had intended. Why should such a man as I flee? I shall take observations for latitude and longitude tonight, though it may be the last. I feel quite calm now. Thank God.” I’m so glad he wrote that in his journal. There’s a man in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by wild animals and savage people, who has felt the presence of the Lord Jesus. This is what he’s saying—look at it: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” When I’m discouraged, His presence sees me through. When I’m lonely, His presence cheers me up. When I’m worried, His presence calms me down. And when I am tempted—and oh, I’m going to be tempted this coming year, and so will you be—His presence will help me out. You see, we need just to practice the presence of the Lord this coming year. You’re going to be tempted, and, my dear friend, you cannot close doors. There are no locked doors with God. The thing that I think helps keep us all straight is to know that Jesus Christ never leaves us, never forsakes us. And, when the devil comes and knocks at our heart’s door, we can just simply say, “Jesus, please go answer the door.” The Lord is there with us to take care of us.

© 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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III.

The Confidence Of His Promise

Now, here’s a third thing. Watch it, dear friend; I want you to see it. His contentment— His contentment—I have the contentment of His provision. I have the companionship of His presence. And then, I have the confidence of His promise. I love this. Now watch it: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Now, we’re going to zero in on that little phrase, “He hath said.” Just underscore it: “He hath said.” This, my dear friend, is the confidence of His promise. A promise is no better than the one who makes it. Again, in the Greek language, this is an intention. And, what it literally says is, “He Himself hath said”—“He Himself hath said.” Now, who is it that says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”? It is the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. This is the confidence of His promise. And so, His omnipotence answers to me. When I say, “God, I just don’t have the strength for next year,” the omnipotent God answers, and says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” And, when I say, “God, I’m afraid of what I have to go through the next year,” the omnipresent God says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” But, when I say, “God, I won’t know what to do,” the omniscient God says, “‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’; I am with you.” And, my dear friend, He Himself hath said it. Years ago, when I graduated from seminary, and was called to the first church after seminary, the first church I pastored—little Parkview Baptist Church, in Fort Pierce, Florida—on Mother’s Day, after I preached a message on the Christian home, our little baby boy Philip died. It was one of those sudden crib deaths—just an infant. And he died on Sunday afternoon of Mother’s Day. Joyce and I had never faced death before. We never had a brother or sister to die, father or mother to die—certainly not a child to die. And, our beautiful, beautiful baby—and what an incredibly beautiful baby he was— died suddenly. Well, we did the only thing we knew to do: that was turn to the Lord. But, as we left that church that Sunday afternoon to head to West Palm Beach where our parents live, our little church, which was absolutely right next door to the pastorium, decided they needed to meet and have a service, a prayer service. I can picture that in my mind’s eye, as Joyce and I backed our car out and went past the little church that had already met to worship. They were singing a song. And, I could see the light, the yellow light, as it came through the windows of that little white church. And I can hear, even now, my brothers and sisters in Christ inside, singing that song: I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll. I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which almost conquer my soul. I’ve heard the voice of Jesus, bidding me still to fight on. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone! © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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No, never alone, no, never alone. He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone. ~Ludie D. Pickett He promised. He promised. And friend, He kept that promise to us. Joyce and I, all the way to West Palm Beach, were able to sing songs like “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer!” This is what he is saying—look: There’s the contentment—“Be content with such things as ye have”; there’s the companionship—“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”; and, there’s the confidence—“For he hath said”—He Himself hath said—“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Friend, this is not just advice from a Baptist preacher; this is a promise from the Word of God—the Word of God: “He [himself] hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Friend, put it down big, and put it down plain, and put it down straight: You can go into a new year with this kind of a promise.

IV.

The Comfort Of His Protection

And then, last of all, you’ll know the comfort of His protection. Because, my dear friend, when you have His contentment, and you have His companionship, and you have His confidence, then you must have His comfort and His courage. Look in verse 6: “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper.” Now, look at it, put it together. Verse 5: “He hath said”; verse 6: “that we may boldly say.” “He hath said”—“He hath said…that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5–6). So, how do you face a new year without fear? Well, you find your contentment in Christ. You find your companionship in Christ. You find your confidence in Christ. And then, you’ll find your comfort in Christ: “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Now, you’re going face some things. These Hebrew Christians—these in the Book of Hebrews, to whom this book was addressed—they faced some heartaches, some trials. I’m not trying to tell you that it’s going to be all honey and no bees. Oh, no. My dear friend, this coming year may be a very horrendous year for you. But, I am telling you that you can stand upon the promises of the Word of God, and say boldly, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man shall do to me.” Those to whom this was written were facing opposition from family, from friends, and from foes, alike. They were facing mockery and brutality and robbery. And yet, they could say, “I will boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’” I hope you’ll say © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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that—I hope you’ll say that: “The Lord is my helper; I will not—I will not—by the grace of God, I will not fear.” We don’t know what’s going to happen. We don’t know what this coming year is going to be. I just don’t know. But, I do know that I can boldly say, “The Lord will be my helper.”

Conclusion Alexander Maclaren was a great Scottish preacher, and in one of his sermons, he told about something that happened to him. He lived in Glasgow. He told about what happened to him when he was a boy about 16 years of age. He had a job, away from home—the first time he had ever gotten a job, away from home. Actually, they lived on a farm outside of Glasgow, really. And, he went to Glasgow to work. And, he didn’t have a horse to ride to work, and he couldn’t go back and forth. It was about six or eight miles from the farm, so he walked to his job. First week away from home, and his dad said to him, “Alex, now, when Friday comes, I want you to walk home, because your mother and I will have missed you. This is the first time you’ve been away from home, and so, on Friday night, when you get off work, we want you to come home.” Between the city and the farm where they lived, there was a deep ravine, a chasm. And, it was a bad place; it was dark and foreboding looking. And, in there, robbers and muggers were known to exist. And, some people had actually been murdered down in that deep ravine. And, as a 16-year-old boy, he could imagine other things that had never happened. And, he knew that, coming from the city of Glasgow to his home, he would have to go through that ravine, Friday night, and he didn’t want to walk through it at nighttime. So, he said to his dad, “Dad, I’ll tell you what: I’ll be tired Friday night; so, I’ll just spend Friday night, and then, I’ll come Saturday morning.” And, his dad said, “No, Alex, your mother and I want you to come home Friday night.” He said, “Yes sir.” So, Friday night when he got off work, he began to walk toward his farmhouse. His heart was just beating, thumping within his bosom, because he knew he was going to have to go through that dark ravine, through that valley, and he said that he began to whistle to make himself feel better; and, that didn’t seem to help very much. And then, he said, he started talking to an imaginary companion, just, you know, trying to make out like someone was there with him. But, when he got to that ravine, and he looked down into that dark valley, he just paused there, and did not want to go down into that deep dark valley alone. And then, he said, he heard someone, something down there, stirring. And, he said he was so frozen with fear that he could not move. And, he said, out of that darkness, a form began to come toward him. And, he looked, and it was his own daddy, coming up out of that ravine. And, he said, “Alex, I came to meet you. I was so lonely for you. I came to © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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meet you; and, I just thought we’d walk home together.” And, Alexander Maclaren said, “You’ll never know the difference that made.” He said, “With my dad there by my side, we walked through that valley, and I had not a fear in this world, because my own dear father was there by my side.” Now, friend, I don’t know what you’re going to have to go through this coming year. I don’t know. I don’t know what sickness, I don’t know what heartache, I don’t know what trouble; but, I know that I know that I know that I know that you can say, “I can boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man shall do to me.’” When you face this New Year, I want you to find your contentment in Jesus. I want you to find your companionship in Jesus. I want you to find confidence in Jesus. Then, you’ll find your comfort and your courage in Jesus. With all of that in mind, listen to it just one more time: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear.” COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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The Only Hope For America By Adrian Rogers

Date Preached: July 2, 1995 Main Scripture Text: Proverbs 14:34

Outline The Only Hope For America    Introduction  Righteousness Is The Exaltation Of A Nation  Reproach Is The Humiliation Of A Nation  Revival Is The Restoration Of A Nation  Conclusion 

Introduction Take God’s Word, please, and be finding the Book of Proverbs, chapter 14, and we’re gonna read a verse that I believe is one of the most pertinent of verses that we could read on this weekend. I’m speaking today on this subject—The Only Hope For America. And the only hope and I want to underscore that with all of the unction and function and emotion and intellect and dynamism of my sole; the only hope is found in this verse: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” This is not merely what God has said, this is what God is saying to any people. It is universal. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Sadly, I must confess that America is number one, in divorce, in crime, in drugs, pornography, and perversion. The cast-a-way of little children as unwanted even while they are in their mother’s womb. Number one in violence and I wonder, I sincerely wonder what kind of a country am I leaving to my children and to my grandchildren. I believe in God. By God’s grace I’m gonna make it into heaven. But, I wonder about our children. I wonder about the values that our leaders hold today. We’re told, for example, that the great problem is economics—it’s the economy, stupid. But is that the problem? I’ve thought about it. I’d much rather leave to my children and my grandchildren a godly heritage sown by a godly nation than to leave to them great wealth to be squandered by a godless society. The great need in America today is righteousness. I have to ask myself another question. Are we really safer? Are we really better off after the implosion of Soviet communism? After we’ve seen the Iron Curtain come crumbling down do you have a better feeling of safety? Do you have a better © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 90

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feeling about America? I dare say you don’t, and I’ll tell you why. Because after we got rid of the demon of Soviet communism, we failed to have spiritual revival and now seven other more deadly demons have come to take up habitation in America today. America will be destroyed not because of some enemy without, but because of debauchery within. Alexander Hamilton said we get the kind of government we deserve. Now something very wonderful happened on July the 4th, 1776 in Philadelphia. A declaration was made and shortly after that a constitution was formed. I read recently about an episode that happened in Britain. They said that the British railways wanted to test the windshields on their very fast moving trains because they were afraid that birds flying into those windshields may crack them. They found out that British Airways had the same problem and had invented a device. They had a cannon that would shoot a dead chicken at the windshield of the airplanes to see if indeed the windshield was constructed with enough resiliencies to withstand such a blow. So the railroad asked the airline, “can we borrow that implement; can we borrow that cannon?” They said, “Certainly you may.” So, they had one of their fine locomotives lined up there, they sent someone out to buy some ammunition—a dead chicken. So they bought the ammunition, came back, loaded the cannon, aimed it, pulled the trigger, and fired it. It went through the windshield, through the engineer’s chair, hit the back wall, and made a dent in it. So they asked the British Airways, they said, “Something is wrong here, what happened?” They said nothing is wrong but next time; don’t use a frozen chicken. Now what they were doing, if indeed that story has any credibility to it at all, it sounds like a made up story, but, if indeed it has any credibility, they were using the cannon to do something it was not designed to do. Now what has happened is this; that we have a Constitution, the very wonderful instrument, I believe that certainly it’s not inspired like the Word of God. But, because of the inspired Word of God we have the Constitution; because the Constitution reflects, in many ways, the values of God’s Word. But today, were shooting frozen chickens. I mean today we’re doing something that our founding fathers did not intend for us to do. Now, on July the 4th, 1776, there was signed in the city of Philadelphia, a document we call the Declaration of Independence. Now, it was independence from Great Britain but what many people fail to understand is that this same document was a document of dependence upon Almighty God. Now, the politicos today, many of them seem to have forgotten that but it was clearly and plainly a declaration of dependence. I want you to listen to the closing paragraph. It says this, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights”. It begins that way but it closes this way, “With a firm reliance upon the protection of divine providence.” © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 91

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Now what is reliance—that’s dependence. “With a firm reliance upon the protection of divine providence.” What is divine providence—that’s God. We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor; all of that in the context of depending upon Almighty God. It was then that the cannons fired. It was then that the fireworks went off. It was then in the old statehouse, now called Independence Hall that the Liberty Bell began to ring out freedom. And on that bell inscribed these words from Lev. 25, verse 10: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land.” And in that document, they said that God created us. It isn’t what we can teach in schools today? In that document, they said that God gives us our rights, not the government. These are inalienable rights like life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These have come from the Almighty and not from government.

I. Righteousness Is The Exaltation Of A Nation Now there, three things I want you to see today as we look in our text in Proverbs chapter fourteen and verse thirty four: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” And the very first thing I want you to see is that righteousness which is the exaltation of a nation. The exaltation of a nation—“Righteousness exalteth a nation.” Learn this, that righteousness and liberty are inextricably interwoven. You cannot separate righteousness and liberty. You see what God hath married let no man put asunder. The reason that we are in danger of losing our liberties is we are losing our righteousness. Now what is righteousness? Righteousness is responsibility assumed and the more responsibility that you assume the more liberty you have. For example, a little baby doesn’t assume any responsibilities. He doesn’t have to go out and earn a living; he doesn’t have to mow the grass; he doesn’t have to do the laundry; and he doesn’t have to do the grocery shopping. The little baby assumes no responsibilities. He’s fed and bathed and carried from this place to that place. He doesn’t make choices about anything. He doesn’t have any liberties either because he assumes no responsibilities. But that child continues to grow and after awhile, he can learn how to clean up his own room; after awhile, to carry out the trash; after awhile, to do the dishes; after awhile, to cut the grass, after awhile, to come and go on time, and parents watch their child assume more and more responsibilities. And as that happens, the child is given more and more liberties. After awhile, he can walk to school by himself or herself. Then comes that day, “Daddy, can I use the car?” Well, you’ve been, you’ve shown to be a responsible child and you give, to this teenager, the keys to that automobile which in today’s age is the symbol of almost total liberty. I’ve got the car now; Momma’s not driving me anymore. I can go where I want and wish within the rules that my mom and dad have set down for me—because I have shown myself to be a responsible © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 92

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person. Now learn this about government, and this is taught in the Word of God. The more responsibility we assume—that’s righteousness—the more liberty we’re given. The less responsibility we are willing to assume, the less liberty we will have. We have more or less liberty therefore according to our character or according to our righteousness. When we lose responsibility, at the same time, or when we abuse responsibility, we lose liberty, and when there is demise in character there’s always a growth in government. Did that sink in? When there is demise in character, there’s always a growth in government. You cannot be irresponsible as an individual or as a society and, at the same time, expect to remain free. Now, our government, our Constitution began with a dependence upon Almighty God and the Constitution was written by people of character for people of character and it will work for no other people. If we lose our character in the United States, our Constitution will not work. We’ll be shooting frozen chickens. It wasn’t made for that kind of society. You see, this nation was born in the white heat of revival. From 1740 to 1770, Jonathan Edwards and George Woodby were preaching and America was aflame with revival. And other preachers were preaching up and down the seaboard of America and as a result, churches were built, institutions were formed, and character was placed in the heart and mind of the bosom of our founding fathers. Study the writings of our founding fathers and you will see that they were tincture and dyed and embodied with a great belief in God; in the Judeo-Christian ethic. And out of that; out of the fires of that revival; out of that character came the Constitution of the United States. And to our founding fathers, they believed in self-reliance; they believed in responsible lives; they believed in righteousness and therefore; they believed that the best government was the smallest government. The smaller government was the better; they believed it would be. And so our founding fathers formed a republic, “We pledge allegiance to the republic for which it stands”, which is a government of law with representative leadership and these representatives represent us. But they govern only with the consent of the governed. And it will not work, listen folks, it will not work apart from character. “Righteousness exalteth a nation.” You say, "Well, what do you know about it, you’re a Baptist preacher." What do you know about civics? What do you know about government? Well let me tell you what someone who did know said about it. His name was James Madison he was the architect of the federal Constitution; the fourth President of the United States of America. Let me give you a direct quote form James Madison. We have a Madison Avenue here in Memphis, Tennessee. Let me give you a quote from James Madison, he said, “We have staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government. Far from it. We have staked the future on © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 93

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the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” That’s what Madison said; he said we staked everything on this. What he is saying is this; it’s not that government is going to do it. We must govern ourselves; there must be this inward character. And what was the basis of that character? Not morality by majority but the Ten Commandments of God. That’s why I’ve just preached a series on the Ten Commandments of God. Which Ten Commandments our leadership in this nation must come down from the classrooms in America, because if they were to see those Ten Commandments they might begin to venerate them and obey them. So, the Ten Commandments are out, and x-rated humanistic literature is in. But Madison said we have staked the whole future upon the ability of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. What Madison, the architect of the Constitution, was saying it will not work, it will not work, unless you use it the way it was intended to be used. Don’t fire frozen chickens; that’s not the way we built this cannon. We built it; it was made for people of character by people of character and it will work no other way. What is liberty? Liberty is responsibility assumed. Liberty is responsibility assumed. License is not assuming responsibility; it is doing your thing. Now we think that we can have license and have freedom, but we cannot. Liberty is responsibility assumed. And real liberty therefore always comes from within. You have to take the policeman off the street corner and put him in our heart. The less God rules in your heart the more control your gonna have from without. Now, let’s go back to the little baby that we were talking about. He has no responsibilities, but he has no liberty. As he grows more and more, he gets more and more responsible; he’s given more and more liberty. But let’s say he gets to be an adult and as an adult he ceases to act responsible and becomes a criminal. Then what happens? He’s put in jail. He has no character; therefore his liberties are taken away. Now, he has no responsibilities; he doesn’t have to turn out the lights. He has no liberties; he can’t unlock the door. Because when he ceases to act responsibly, then his liberty diminishes. It follows as night follows day. The difference between slavery and freedom is this…where are the laws—in slavery, the laws are from the outside and we’ll make you do this; in liberty, the law is in the heart. It is righteousness that exalteth a nation. Now, when our founding fathers understood this…with a firm reliance upon divine providence, we’ll build this nation. And we’ve built a Constitution, as Madison says, that will not work apart from each of us governing ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. When we believed this; when we came as a nation out of the womb of a revival, what happened? Well friend, we had an industrial revolution and great wealth was produced. Why is that? © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 94

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Because Americans are bigger, better, brighter, smarter? No, we’re human; Homo sapiens like other people on the face of the earth. Why is it? Are there more minerals in our soil? Does it rain more on America? No, other nations are beautiful to travel to and see. What makes America different? God has blessed America. God has blessed America. That’s what makes America different. We have been the recipients of the beneficent blessings of Almighty God and God gave us wealth and God gave us military strength. Protect us by thy might, great God our King. But today the scream of the American eagle has become the twitter of a frightened sparrow. Our military is in a shambles, I’m told. No, we have the technology but do we have the will? Do we have the manpower? We have let people tell us, today, we need to put women in the front lines in combat. And the people say, “Yes, we’ve got to do that, it’s the only reasonable thing to do.” Did you know in the Bible, when God spoke of his judgment upon a nation, do you know what God said? God said, “I will make their solders like women.” That was God’s judgment. God said I will judge them; I’ll make their solders like women. Women are not made for combat in the front lines. Did you know that? But what’s happened? We had a time when we as Americans were respected around the world and we were people of culture and people of respect. Today, we’re laughed at, even by those nations where we have pumped money trying to buy respect. They cannot be bought with the Yankee dollar. Let this fasten itself upon your mind. Righteousness is the exaltation of a nation. “Righteousness exalteth a nation.” Righteousness is the exaltation of a nation.

II. Reproach Is The Humiliation Of A Nation Now, here’s the second thing I want you to learn. Reproach is the humiliation of a nation. Reproach is the humiliation of a nation. God says, “Sin is a reproach to any people.” America today is living in reproach. Now the American dream has begun to, dissolve. What happened is this. We came through an agonizing Civil War. We got ourselves back together and turned to God and then we had WWI and God gave us victory in WWI. But rather than giving God the praise we began to live. We wanted liberty without responsibility. The flapper rage came. The Roaring Twenties came. The Great Depression came. We had failed to understand that earlier blessings had come from Almighty God and when the Great Depression came, it came as a result of our debauchery; as a result of our loss of character. Then we began to turn to the government—to ask the government to help us out and great social programs began to come in America—government programs and everybody said this is wonderful. Look what the government is going to give us. But the government can’t give us anything that doesn’t take from us. And so what the government began to do was to begin to grow and redistribute the wealth and take theirs off the top. © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 95

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You know the government always assumes more and more authority when the people lose more and more character. And as character goes down control goes up and government begins to grow. And the government began to provide for people but when the government provides the government must, as night follows day, must control. I’ve told you before about a man who had some wild pigs that were rooting up his farm and he tried to capture them and he couldn’t. And a man said, “I can capture those pigs for you” and he went out and he put some food on the ground and withdrew and the pigs came out of the woods and ate the food. He did that several days and then he put a fence post up and the pigs came and ate the food. That fence post didn’t bother them. And then he put another and another and another. The pigs didn’t like it necessarily, but no harm done, they were getting fat and sleek being fed by someone else. No longer did they root in the woods for their own acorns. Somebody would feed them. And then after awhile a corral was built and the wire was strung and only a narrow gate and the pigs learned to go in and out that gate to get their food. And then the bar was dropped, the trap set; the pigs captured. And the man said, “That’s simple, anything that depends upon me for its food, I can control.” Now when the government gets people to depend upon them, the government says I will be a subsidy. It follows as night follows day when we lose character at the same time we lose freedom. And we have watched in America as one fence post after another has been set around us and were still eating out of the government trough. And yet the government is only giving to us what it has first taken from us. And now, folks we’ve turned into a welfare state. Now, not only does the government then begin to provide and the government begins to control but if you’re not careful the government can begin to oppress. You see government grows as strong as the weak character people will allow it to grow. And that’s what has happened in America today. Remember what Alexander Hamilton said, “People get the kind of government they deserve.” Now you say, but Pastor Rogers, we still have a lot of freedoms in America, that’s true. But be we’re living in the shadow of a constitutional government that was founded by our fathers and forefathers. And that shadow is quickly receding over the horizon. Now, if we don’t do something, if we don’t have a spiritual awakening in America, if there’s not a return to the first principles, which is really a return to the God that made us a nation, if we don’t return—here’s what’s gonna happen. There will be a disappearance of the middle class and you’ll have two classes in America; the very rich and the very poor. Travel around, go to third world countries and you’ll know what I’m talking about. You’ll have the very rich and the very poor. The very rich will be by-andlarge those who are in government or those who have governmental connections. And the rest will make up the masses that keep it all going. In 1930, there was one governmental worker for every 205 people. Today, the ratio © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 96

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is more like 1 out of 5. What has happened—as character diminishes, government grows. Today, there is one dependent and one bureaucrat for every three working people. As this continues, the middle class goes. There are the very rich and the very poor. What is the purpose of government? Read Romans 13; government is here for protection to punish evil doers to defend the land. He beareth not the sword in vain. But when you get the idea that the government is not here to protect but to provide, then you’re in difficulties. Our founding fathers knew this. Our founding fathers said that government is to provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare. Not provide the general welfare, provide the common defense. You and I can’t raise an army. We shouldn’t become vigilantes. We’re here to protect one another. That’s what the purpose is—to provide the common defense, to promote the general welfare. The Bible says, if a man will not work neither should he eat. We’re not talking about people that cannot work or people who are temporarily out of work—they ought to be helped, indeed they should. But when we had a welfare type of state, a form of socialism, then we have gotten away from the teachings, I believe, of the Word of God. One person has wisely said, we are in deep trouble when we look upon our government as a cow to be milked rather than a watchdog to be fed. Our government is here to protect us. Now, once the government begins to provide, then the government begins to control and they say if you’re getting government subsidy your gonna do as we do. Then the government wants to begin to oppress. Sometimes the government wants the minds of its adherents—to keep the rank and file; to do what big daddy government wants it to do. And so now the government has to control the minds and a how do you start with the minds? Well you start with the children. So, what do you do? You get a National Education Association and a Department of Education and you begin to take little children; you take the Ten Commandments out and your values clarification in. And say remember there are no fixed rules of right and wrong, we can’t say there’s a fixed rule of right and wrong—that’s mixing religion and politics. And so we take that down we put values clarification in and then we begin to talk about the glories of the welfare state and then we begin to talk about a one-world government and a new world order. And the little children grow up in a nation that our founding fathers did not know. Adolf Hitler said in 1920, “Give me the minds of the children and in one generation I will give you the fascist super state.” And he did it. Stalin in Soviet Russia did the same thing. You see out of our education system there with compulsory education the Bible is out, prayer is out, Ten Commandments out, creation out, humanism and its x-rated textbooks is in. Here’s an excerpt from an address given at a childhood educational seminar by a professor of educational psychiatry at Harvard University. Listen to this, every child in America entering school at the age of five is mentally ill. Because he comes to school with © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 97

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certain allegiances toward our founding fathers toward our elected offices, toward his parents, toward a belief in a supernatural being, toward the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity. Little children are sick, because they believe in America first, because they believe in God, because they have an allegiance to their parents, that’s sick. And then this professor from Harvard went on to say, “It’s up to you teachers to make all these sick children well by creating the international child of the future.” Now, the humanist organization’s very small, but very active and very powerful in the United States. Here is an excerpt from an article taken from a magazine called The Humanist , January/February issue, 1983, on page 26: “the battle for humankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith” let me read that over again: “the battle for humankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith. The classroom must, and will become the arena of conflict between the old and the new. The rotting corpse of Christianity and the faith of humanism.” They say we’ve got our Sunday school classes five days a week. And what we’re going to do is to we’re going to bring in a new society. The government provides, the government controls, the government oppresses. Why? Because of a lack of character on the part of people. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Now the truth of the matter is that God holds us as individuals, as parents responsible to teach our children. We need to teach our children our heritage; we need to teach them our history. And as we talked in this series on The Ten Commandments, it is to go from God to grandfather to father to children or grandfather; to be passed down that way.

III. Revival Is The Restoration Of A Nation Now here is the third and final thing. Righteousness is the exaltation of a nation. Reproach is the humiliation of a nation. Revival is the restoration of a nation. Now, the Bible says “blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.” The Bible says when the righteous they rule, the people rejoice. America needs a new birth of freedom, but America will never have a new birth of freedom until America has a revival of righteousness. And therefore, the key to America is not in the state house or the White House or in the Pentagon, but in the church house, and in your home. I hope you believe that. I hope you believe that is not mere rhetoric. You see, ladies and gentlemen, we are the salt and the light. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” What does salt do? Salt cleanses, salt purifies, salt preserves, salt penetrates. We don’t have to be a majority. We’re salt. People say we believe in the separation of church and state. Well, number one that phrase is not found anywhere in the Constitution. The first © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 98

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amendment teaches that there should be no state-church. No national denomination and all others would say amen. We don’t want our tax money subsidizing religion; we don’t want the national church to be a Baptist church or any other kind of church. As freeborn Americans we believe in freedom to worship God as we desire without it being subsidized by the government. We believe that, but our founding fathers, never for a skinny-minute believed in the separation of God and government. If you think they did, you better go back and do some historical study. Friend, we believe in the birth of this nation that there must be righteousness. You don’t put the fish in one barrel and the salt in the other. We’re the salt of the earth, not the pepper, not the sugar, the salt. And Jesus said, and He’s talking to this generation as well as to His, “If the salt loses its savor it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under the feet of men.” Do you know why the church is being trampled today? Do you know why we are the butt of so many jokes? And stand-up comedians laugh and talk about us and they make jokes about us…because we’re salt without savor. They don’t respect us. We’re cast out and trampled under the feet of men. I think it’s time to let the salt work. I think it’s time to let the light shine. I’m not talking about arrogance. I’m talking righteousness, “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.” Righteousness is the exaltation of a nation. Revival is the restoration of a nation and it can happen; it can happen in the darkest of days.

Conclusion In Romania, there was a megalomaniac, a communist dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu. Ceausescu was a tyrant; he was an anti-Christ. Going to the city of Oradea he saw a little building there. He had gone to inspect one of his factories. He asked one of his leaders, “What is that building over there.” They said, “Sire, that’s a Baptist church.” He said, “A what!” It’s a Baptist church. Ceausescu said, “Destroy that nest of insects.” They started to destroy that church and persecute the people, but then they came back and said, “Sire, these people are known in this community. If we destroy this church, word may get to the west, we may lose some of our benefits from the west.” Ceausescu said, “Then hide it, I don’t want to see it.” And, so they said, “How can we hide a church. Well, we’ll build apartment buildings all around it.” So they built apartment buildings all around it and it brought the people right to the church. And the church began to grow magnificently. Ceausescu was brutal. He began to repress pastors. There was a pastor in Timisoara. His name was Lazlo Tokes or Tokes the Pastor, he was a Hungarian pastor there in Timisoara. And he dared to ask, “Can we just have some hymnals, please?” “We don’t have any hymnals.” They saw that as his being too uppity, demanding things © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 99

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of the government. They said, “Tokes is a problem, let’s move him out. We’ll send the security cop there to take Tokes out of the way.” Lazlo got word of the idea, the notion they were coming for him. He told his people, his little church would seat maybe 150 people (Brother Bob, you and I visited that little church, little small church there in an apartment building, it would seat maybe 150 people). He told his people, “they’re coming for me; I want you to be here when they come.” His people surrounded the little church and began to pray for the pastor ’cause the security was coming for the pastor. When the people came for Lazlo Tokes, they said, well, ha, ha, we’ll wait ’til the people go away. But the next day, rather than hundreds, there were thousands. The word had spread and they were around that little church just praying. They began to pass food up through the window and logs for the fireplace, because the apartment was right there in the building near the church. The crowds grew and Ceausescu said, “Well, it’s getting out of hand. Now I’ll send my men with their guns and I’ll send the water cannon. I’ll disperse the crowd and take this renegade preacher.” And when they came, they came with their guns, and they began to move on that crowd with the water cannon. Somebody in that crowd, who had had it up to here with totalitarianism, said, “There is a God” and shouted it to the top of his voice. And other people around began to take up the chant, “There is a God—There is a God—There is a God!” They turned on that water cannon which can’t be destroyed and with their bare hands they destroyed that water cannon. With this, the police began to shoot, and the military men to shoot these individuals there in Timisoara. And they began to shoot. And men who had had enough began to unbutton their coat, unbutton their shirt, and stand in front of a man with a rifle and say shoot me. And they shot them in cold blood. They began to shoot little children from the rooftop they were shooting into the crowd. But the people began to shout all the more, “There is a God—There is a God—There is a God!” Ceausescu knew he was in trouble. He called for a great crowd there in Timisoara, got out on a platform, up on a balcony, to make an oration, a speech, to tell them how wonderful He is. And out in the crowd somebody shouted, “Murderer; you’re a murderer!” And others began to shout and he knew his day was done. Ceausescu fled back into his apartment, up on the roof, got in a helicopter and took off. He had it land by an armored vehicle, got in the vehicle to take him to safety, but he had told all of his people you can’t have more than ten liters of fuel in any military vehicle. He was afraid they would try to escape, themselves. And so here he is trying to escape and he runs out of gas. And this great vaunted dictator, who was building for himself a ten billion dollar palace; (I’ve been in the palace, a thousand rooms in his own personal suite.) since 1984, he had been building his palace; 24,000 slave laborers working around the clock. © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission. 100

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It is now 1989; five years they had been building this palace. It’s still about two-thirds built. He has a bunker underground, but it’s not quite finished. He runs out of gas. He has to get out and catch a taxi. Humiliated; they take him; they arrest him, on Christmas day. This mad man is put up against the wall and a firing squad of ten put 160 bullets in Nicolae Ceausescu. In a few days, I’m going to be preaching in that church where he said, "destroy that nest of insects." That church is now the largest evangelical church in all of Europe. They have a beautiful 3,000-seat auditorium. Souls are coming to Christ and the Sunday that I’ll be preaching there, we’re going to baptize more than 200 precious souls in that one service. Why? Because the people said, “There is a God.” There is a God that rules in the affairs of men and live or die, we’re going to stand up for what we believe. And it’s time for every red blooded American to say, “There is a God!” And Righteousness exalteth a nation: Sin is a reproach to any people. The righteousness that is the exaltation of a nation. The reproach that is the humiliation of a nation, the revival that is the restoration of a nation. I want to leave to my grandkids, a godly nation. Isn’t that what you want? God granted, God granted, God bless America, land that we love. Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. All heads are bowed and eyes are closed. May I ask you a personal question? Are you saved? Sooner or later America and all nations will join the graveyard of the nations, but there’s a Kingdom that endures forever and that’s the Kingdom of God. Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If you were to die right now are you absolutely certain that you’d go straight to Heaven? If you would like to receive Jesus, I want to help you to do that right now. Would you pray a prayer like this in your heart, dear God I’m a sinner, and my sins deserve judgment, but Lord I want to be saved. I need to be forgiven, Lord Jesus; I want you to be my Lord and my Savior. Come into my heart. Forgive my sin; cleanse me, save me Lord Jesus. Would you pray that prayer? Cleanse me and save me Lord Jesus, pray it and mean it. Save me Lord Jesus. If you prayed that prayer then pray this, thank you for saving me, I receive it by faith. I don’t ask for feeling, I don’t look for a sign. I stand on your Word. You’re now my Lord and my Savior and begin now to make me the person you want me to be. And Lord Jesus because you died for me, I will live for you. In Your Holy name I pray, Amen. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this database is protected by copyright and International Law, and is solely owned by its authors. The reproduction, or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, without the expressed written authorization from the contributing authors is forbidden. Remember, this database is to inspire the development of new messages to further the Kingdom's work.

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The Grace of Giving By Adrian Rogers Date Preached: November 8, 1998 Main Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 8–9  2XWOLQH  Introduction  I.  The Obligation of Grace Giving  A.  Grace Giving is Not Eliminated by Poverty  B.  Grace Giving is Not Energized by Pressure  C.  Grace Giving is Not Excused by Performance  D.  Grace Giving is Not Enforced by Power  II.  The Operation of Grace Giving  A.  Grace Giving is Marked by Performance  B.  Grace Giving is Measured by Providence  C.  Grace Giving is to be Managed by Prudence  1. By Men of Compassion  2. By Men of Consecration  3. By Men of Character  4. By Men of Competency  III.  The Opportunity of Grace Giving  A.  An Opportunity to Encourage the Saints  B.  An Opportunity to Enrich the Sower  C.  An Opportunity to Exalt the Savior  Conclusion 

Introduction If you would open your Bibles, please, to 2 Corinthians chapter 8, and then look up here, I want to ask you a question. I can preach on grace or I can preach on giving, this morning—which would you rather me preach on? Now, don’t answer the question out loud because I already know the answer: Grace or giving? Well, the truth of the matter is, I’m going to preach on both at the same time, all right? Because, you’re going to learn something wonderful and very exciting—that all giving is wrapped up in grace. We’re going to talk about, “The Grace of Giving.” Look, if you will, here in chapter 8 and verse 1: “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;”—now, that’s, roughly speaking, what we call Greece today—“how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:1–2). God poured out grace upon them, and, when God poured out grace upon them, even though they were in dire poverty, they became very, © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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very liberal in their giving. And now, Paul goes on, and he speaks to the church there at Corinth about giving. Now, go down to verse 7: “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us,”—aren’t these wonderful things? He says also—“see that ye abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). So, don’t get the idea that, on the one hand, there is grace, and, on the other hand, there is giving. These things go together. Now, let me tell you what Bellevue Baptist Church is all about. I want to put up on our screen, if we can, our purpose statement here in this church, and I want to show you why our church exists: “Bellevue Baptist Church exists for the purpose of magnifying Jesus through worship and the Word.” That’s what we’re doing here today: magnifying Jesus through worship and the Word. And then, number two: “We exist for the purpose of moving believers in Jesus toward maturity and ministry.” That is, we are here to help you to grow up to be mature, so you can minister to other people. God’s plan is not just for you to come on Sunday morning, to sit, soak, and sour; but to serve—“moving believers in Jesus towards maturity and ministry.” Have you grown up? Remember what we preached a Sunday or two ago? You can be young once, but you can be immature for a long, long time. All right now, here’s the third reason we exist: “Making Jesus known to our neighbors and to the nations.” That’s the third reason that we exist: to go to the man across the street, or to the people across the ocean, and tell them of the saving love of Jesus Christ. If you want to know why there’s carpet under your feet this morning, why you’re sitting upon a seat, why you’re here, why this choir’s here, why he’s sitting there, why I’m up here, why we’re together, that’s what it’s all about: magnifying Jesus through worship and the word; moving believers in Jesus toward maturity and ministry; and, making Jesus known to our neighbors and to the nations. That’s it. That’s what we’re all about. You could just put that in other words. You could just call it the Great Commission. That’s exactly what it is. We have taken the Great Commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and just simply rephrased it for our use in this day and this age. And, I want to tell you, my dear friend, that, if we are not obedient to the Great Commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are guilty of high treason against heaven’s King. Now, we’re living in a desperate age. I am telling you, we live in a world today that celebrates depravity. I don’t mean that they’re just depraved. They celebrate it. And we’re a generation that mocks traditional values. The result of broken homes—unwed mothers, sexual plagues, sexual perversion—it abounds. But, in the midst of all of this, God has given us a vision; and, Love Offering is a part of this vision. Again, somebody © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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will ask the question: What is more important—to strengthen the whole church, or to reach the whole world? You can’t answer that, because it is strong churches that will reach the world. Friend, our entire move out here to these facilities that we call Canaan has had the smile of God upon the move. We believe the vision was a God-given, Godgraced vision, and what we have done thus far has been a part of Love Offerings, and it will continue to be. Now, we’re talking about grace, and I want you to listen carefully, because, when it comes to giving, some people will stop at nothing. So, I want you to listen. We’re talking here about the grace—the grace of giving. Now I’m going to have a lot of little subpoints today. Don’t lose the thing in the sub-points. The sub-points are necessary, but there are three major points.

I.

The Obligation of Grace Giving

Number one, the obligation of grace giving. Now, listen to me carefully. You may be here thinking, “You know, Pastor, I’m not one of the big guys, one of the big gals; I don’t have much to give.” Now, look, if you will, in chapter 8, verses 1 and 2: “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:1–2). A. Grace Giving is Not Eliminated by Poverty Put this down: Grace giving is not eliminated by poverty. Grace giving is not eliminated by poverty. The people in Macedonia were in rock bottom destitution. On top of that, they had been persecuted. Their living and their goods had been taken from them; and, while their standard of living had changed, their standard of life had not changed. Your standard of living can change; just don’t let it get to your standard of life, because Jesus said, “A man’s life consisteth not of the abundance of the things that he possesses” (Luke 12:15). And, you know, we may have another recession; we may have another depression. We can change our standard of living, but that cannot change our standard of life, amen? Not if you have life in the Lord Jesus. And, when your standard of living changes, it cannot even change your standard of giving. These people continued to give. They had joy in the midst of all of this. Here’s the formula: Great affliction, deep poverty, plus grace equals abounding joy, and abounding liberality. Now, you want joy? A miserly man is a miserable man. If you want joy, learn to give. These people gave out of a time of economic distress, not because they had plenty, but because they had little. Do you know how the Love Offering began at Bellevue Baptist Church? The Love Offering began at Bellevue Baptist Church in the depth of the Great

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Depression, and there were people who came and they just emptied their pockets, and they said, “Lord, in the midst of all this, we’re just going to praise You with an offering.” They gave astounding offerings, and God blessed. “Well,” you say, “I don’t have much.” Well, come up here, and I want to ask you a question: If God cannot trust you with little, do you think he can trust you with much? You think about it. You know, the Bible says, “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). Now, if I were to ask you a question—If you have a million dollars, what would you do with it? “Well,” you say, “man, I’d make a big offering.” Do you know the test of what you would do with a million dollars is what you do with what you have? Jesus said, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in that which is much” (Luke 16:10). As a matter of fact, if you’re not faithful with that which is least, you would even have more difficulty being faithful with that which is much, because it would seem like you were giving much more. Of course you wouldn’t, proportionately. But, listen, folks—here’s the point—I want you to get it down in your heart and in your mind: Grace giving is not eliminated by poverty. Everyone can give something. B. Grace Giving is Not Energized by Pressure Here’s the second thing I want you to understand: Grace giving is not energized by pressure. Look, if you will, in verses 3 and 4—Paul speaks of them, and he says: “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power”—that means beyond their ability—“they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift” (2 Corinthians 2:3–4). Did you hear that? Ha ha, these folks in poverty said, “Paul, please take this gift.” They didn’t have to be pressured to give. That’s one thing I’ve learned here in this church, friend: We don’t pressure folks to give. And, you come up here again, and get real close, and I want to tell you something: We will never twist your arm and tell you what you ought to give. We are never going to give some psychological manipulation. We’re not going to come and try to maneuver you, and tell you, “Now, you ought to do this, and you ought to do that.” No. I’ve said it before; I want to say it again: Grace giving means that you give out of your heart, because you want to. And, the preacher is not reduced to some sort of a beggar using gimmicks, and tricks, and pressures, and all of these things; people having to be scolded, and shamed, and manipulated—threatened to give. These people begged Paul to take the gift. You find anybody putting pressure on you around here—you let me know, and I’ll tell Jesus on them. I’ll let Jesus put all the pressure, however, He wants upon you. Do you know why people get upset, when you talk about giving—almost have a spasm? I’ll tell you why: Jesus makes it very plain—He says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). That’s the reason some folks don’t like it in church. They want to get out of the church © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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building—out where the treasure is. But friend, if your treasure is here, your heart’s going to be here—just all depends upon where your treasure is. C. Grace Giving is Not Excused by Performance Listen to me. Grace giving is not eliminated by poverty. Grace giving is not energized by pressure. Number three: Grace giving is not excused by performance. Look, if you will, in verse 7—Paul says: “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). He’s talking about giving. Now, he’s saying, “Look, I’m excused from giving, because of my faith—I’ll just trust God so other people can give.” Or, “I’m excused because of my speech—I preach, and I teach, and I sing.” Or, “my knowledge—I’m one of the people who pour knowledge into this church. Or, “my diligence,” or “my love.” Paul says, “That’s fine—all of these things are graces; that’s wonderful—thank God that you have them. But,” he says, “now, there’s another grace—it is the grace of giving. And, there’s nothing you can do, there’s no performance that you can perform, that will excuse you from grace giving.” Grace giving is not excused by performance. There is no service, whether it be faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, or love, that is a substitute for grace giving. Say amen. D. Grace Giving is Not Enforced by Power All right now, listen. Grace giving is not eliminated by poverty. Grace giving is not energized by pressure. Grace giving is not excused by performance. And, grace giving is not enforced by power. Look, if you will, in verses 8 and 9—Paul says: “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for his sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:8–9). Now, notice how that begins there. Paul says, “I speak not by commandment.” Paul is saying, “I’m not commanding you to give.” Ha ha, every now and then, people say, “You know, the pastors of these big churches, they’re just dictators.” I always laugh, when I hear that. Man, if I were a dictator, you’d all come to prayer meeting. I am a leader. I am a pastor. I’m not a dictator. I can’t make you do anything. As a matter of fact, you could fire me, if you wanted to. Please don’t. I serve at your pleasure. I’m not a dictator. I can’t command you to give. I would not command you to give. Paul said to those Corinthians, “I speak not by commandment.” Grace giving, my dear friend—listen to me—grace giving is not enforced by power. Somebody said, “Well, you’re going to check up on me, and see what I give.” I don’t know what you give. I don’t know what anybody gives. I don’t know what he gives—he gives. I don’t know what he gives. I don’t know what they give. I don’t know what the © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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deacons give. I don’t know what anybody gives. Matter of fact, I’m not sure what I give, because Joyce writes the checks. I’m sincere about that. I don’t know. My job is to get you to love the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m not commanding you to do anything; I’m just simply telling you what the Bible says. Now, friend, listen. Do you know why we want to give? We’re motivated by love. Look, if you will, in verse 8 of this same chapter. Look at the verse—he says: To prove the sincerity of your love” (2 Corinthians 8:8). And, do you know where that love comes from? Look in verse 9: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might [become] rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9). In the light of Calvary, it’s nothing to ask. The person who gives is the person who’s been captured by Calvary. You talk to some people about giving, they have a nervous breakdown; the preacher’s called a beggar. Why do we give? Not to build a building; not to keep the church afloat; not, God forbid, for a tax deduction—though you ought to take those, so you can give more; not for appearances, but because of Calvary’s love— because of Calvary’s love. That’s what Paul says. “Look,” he says, “look, just prove your love; for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus—though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” All right, so what I’m trying to say here: I’m talking about the obligation of grace giving. Have you got that point? That’s the obligation. And, what we’re saying is there’s no excuse—there’s no excuse—if you’ve known the grace of God.

II.

The Operation of Grace Giving

Now here’s the second point: We’re going to talk about the operation of grace giving. That’s the second point: the operation of it—how is it to operate? A. Grace Giving is Marked by Performance Well, look, if you will, in verse 11, now. Number one is, to be marked by performance. It is not excused by performance—what you have done; but, it is to be marked by performance—what you will do. “Now therefore perform the doing of it” (2 Corinthians 8:11)—do it. It’s easy to talk about giving; it’s easy to preach about giving; but, grace giving is marked by performance. We sing, “Oh to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be.” Well, that needs to get translated into your life. I hear people always talking about what they aim to give—they’re aiming. I say, “Pull the trigger.” And, let me say this: that there are some of you who have a legacy, you probably don’t even realize you have as much legacy as you do. There’s going to be an enormous transfer of wealth in the next decade, and you’re doubting about making that money work for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me borrow a phrase from the tennis shoe

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people—just do it. Just do it, and do it so you can have the joy of giving it. Don’t let somebody else disburse it. Don’t miss the joy. And, as the wise man said, “Do your giving while you’re living, then you’re knowing where it’s going.” Why should you die and let somebody else divide up your estate, and spend that money for stuff you wouldn’t spend it on? Why should you leave too much to spoil and ruin your kids? Now, a wise man leaves an inheritance for his children (Proverbs 13:22); but, if he’s a wise man, he’s going to leave a wise inheritance. B. Grace Giving is Measured by Providence What is the operation of grace giving? It is marked by performance. It is measured by providence. Look, if you will now, in verses 12 through 15: “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted”—listen to this; this is a key verse—“according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” The great question is not what would you do with it if you had it; the great question is, What are you going to do with what you’ve got? Now, watch it: “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that they may be equality. As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack” (2 Corinthians 8:12–15). Now, what does he mean by that? He’s just simply saying, “Let’s just give according to God’s blessing, according to what you have. It is to be marked by performance. It is to be measured by providence. Now, some of you have providentially been blessed more than other people. Do you think you have more because you work more than other people, or because you’re smarter than other people, or because you’re more godly than other people, or you’re more honest than other people? No. Listen, I’m going to tell you. Some of you have money just by sheer providence. There are other people who have got just as much as you, just as smart as you; they work just as much as you do. And yet, God has been so good to you. Now, you give! You know, the Bible says, in 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verse 2: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.” Has God prospered you? Well then, be grateful for that. This is not communism. He’s not saying that everything should be put into one pot. No, that’s not what he’s saying. But he’s saying this: It’s not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice. Look again in verse 13 of this same chapter: “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye be burdened.” He’s not trying to say, “If you’ve got a lot, then you have to carry the burden of those who don’t have much.” He’s not saying that at all. He’s just simply saying, “Let there by equal sacrifice.” They may not be equal gifts. Sometimes there are people who have less who give © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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more. Jesus, one day, was watching the offering being taken in the temple. Now, I said I don’t know how much you give. I don’t, but I’ll tell you one who does—that’s Jesus, ha ha. He was watching the offering, and he saw a little widow, and there were many wealthy people there—and thank God for them—and they came and they put in much; and then, this little widow put in a couple of pennies. It was her whole living; it was everything that she had—a couple of pennies. And, Jesus said she gave more than all of them. He didn’t say she gave more than any of them. Ha ha, she gave more than all of them—all of them put together—a few pennies. You see, how does our Lord measure your gift? Not by what you don’t have, but by what you do have. Now, “Unto whomsoever much is given, of the same shall much be required.” Is the Bible against being rich? No! The Bible says it’s the Lord thy God that giveth thee power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). The Bible says that Abraham was very rich in silver and gold, in Genesis 13, verse 2 (Genesis 13:2). King David, a man after God’s own heart, “died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour” (1 Chronicles 29:28). Joseph of Arimathea, in whose tomb Jesus was buried, was called a rich man, Matthew 27, verse 57 (Matthew 27:57). Barnabas was a rich man. And, Mary and Martha were rich. Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead, lived in a home that had a guest room, and so forth. The Bible’s not opposed to any of that. But, I’ll tell you what the Bible is opposed to, my friend: ruthless greed and hoarding. You see, the Bible speaks of those who treasure up to themselves riches (Luke 12:21), and the word treasure is the word we get our word thesaurus from. It means, “a collection.” Some people just collect things. I mean, they don’t need them; they’re just sitting there, and they’re just collecting it; they’re hoarding these things up. Now, God wants you to enjoy the fruit of your labor; but, my dear friend, if you have quit making money and started keeping score, if you just have a collection of good things so that you can just look upon them, and there are people out there, and there’s a need, and there’s something that can be done for the Lord Jesus Christ, then for Jesus’ sake, get it in circulation, so you can be blessed. A bell is not a bell, until you ring it. A song is not a song, until you sing it. Joy is not joy, until you share it. Love is not love, till you give it away. Wealth is not wealth, unless it’s in circulation. If it’s sitting there in a bank, and it never does anything, or in a vault, it might as well be cardboard. C. Grace Giving is to be Managed by Prudence Now, listen. Grace giving is marked by performance; it is measured by providence according to God’s blessings upon you; and, it is to be managed by prudence. I want to say this: When you give your money through this church—I can’t speak about other churches; there are many other wonderful churches, and many other wonderful © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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organizations—but you know what the mission statement of our church is, and you know that our money is going to be handled with the utmost wisdom and integrity. Look, if you will now, beginning in verse 16 of this same chapter: “But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.” Now, who was Titus? Well, Titus was a church executive, a leader; he was Paul’s chosen ambassador. “For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother,”—so, Titus came to get the offering with a brother, because “from the mouth of two or more witnesses a thing shall be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15)—“whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches” (2 Corinthians 8:16–18). 1. By Men of Compassion Now, what kind of people ought to be handling the offerings? Number one, men of compassion, whose praise is in the gospel. God forbid—God forbid. If any pastor is listening to me right now, any of you embryonic theologues in seminary, listening to me right now—don’t you get on your finance committee any man, any woman who is not concerned with the saving of souls. Get men, women of compassion. Paul said, “Titus, and that brother—their heart, their praise is in the gospel. 2. By Men of Consecration Men of compassion, and men of consecration. I’m just saying what happens to your money when you give it—men of compassion handle it, and men of consecration. Look, if you will, in verse 19: “And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel of us with this grace, which is administered by us…”—“this grace”—he’s talking about the giving—“which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:19). Now, don’t you get on your finance committee any man who is not interested not only in the gospel, but in the glory of God. That’s what we’re all about, friend: to be men who handle everything to the glory of God. You know one of the things that happens, sometimes, in churches? People get the idea that the church is divided into the sacred and the secular, and that the pastor is to take care of the sacred, and the finance committee is to take care of the secular. There’s a Greek word for that—baloney. 3. By Men of Character I am telling you, my dear friend, that everything we do is to be for the glory of God— for the glory of God. You give to the glory of God, and, therefore, the money is to be managed by men of compassion, men of consecration, and men of character. Look, if you will, in verse 21—and I’m going fast now: “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21)—“providing for honest things.” Those who handle the funds must have absolute, impeccable integrity, and honesty, and full accountability—in the sight of God, he says, and also in the sight © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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of men. We would not for a moment allow what you give to be handled without honesty and accountability. 4. By Men of Competency And then, not only men of compassion, and men of consecration, and men of character; but men of competency. Look, if you will also, in verse 22—and it says: “And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things” (2 Corinthians 8:22)—diligent. You know what happens when you give? That your money is carefully counted, and nobody ever counts the money by themselves. Did you know it’s specially guarded, that not a penny can be spent without the authorization of the church? When the church adopts its budget, did you know that we have reports that we give to the finance committee, and through the finance committee to the deacons? Did you know that we have an annual audit here? Do you know that? I don’t know whether that makes you feel good or not; but, folks it ought to make you just feel good. Because, you see, we’re talking not only about the obligation of our giving, but we’re talking about the operation of our giving—how it is done here at Bellevue Baptist Church. And so, what is the operation? It is to be marked by performance; it is to be measured by providence; and, it is to be managed by prudence. That’s it.

III.

The Opportunity of Grace Giving

Now, here’s the third and final thing. I want you to listen in a hurry; we’re running out of time. We have talked about the obligation of grace giving. We’ve talked about the operation of grace giving—and, by the way, all of this is just coming right out of the Bible. Now, here’s the third thing I want you to see very quickly. I want you to see the opportunity of grace giving. What an incredible opportunity there is when we give by grace! A. An Opportunity to Encourage the Saints Number one—and we’re going to move right on to chapter 9 now. The chapter divisions are only there to keep preachers from preaching too long. They’re not in the original. So, we’re going to move into chapter 9 here. What do we do when we give by grace? Number one: We encourage the saints. Look, if you will, in the last part of verse 2: “Your zeal hath provoked very many” (2 Corinthians 9:2). You know what that means? When you’re on fire for Jesus, you just set other people on fire. I got a letter this past week from a little couple in our church, I mean, they were down; they, they didn’t have anything; they, financially—their job had gone from them. We had a Love Offering, Brother Bob. They had in their bank account 500 dollars, and that was it—I mean, 500 dollars. You know what they did? They gave all 500. You say, “They’re crazy!” Ha ha. Well, they were nuts, but they’re fastened to a good bolt. Let me tell you something. They said, “Pastor, I just want to share this testimony with you…” In © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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the days following that, God wonderfully and providentially placed in their hands 10 times, 10 times what they gave. Now, I’m not promising that to you, but I’m just simply saying this, folks. When I read that, you know what that did to me? It made me want to give. You see, when somebody gives like that, what has it done—what does it do? It encourages saints. I can remember one time when we were getting ready to come out here. One of our businessmen, I knew what had happened to him; I knew that he’d had a great reversal in his business. We were sitting around a table, and he said, “Now, gentlemen, I don’t want to say this in the wrong spirit, but I just want to tell you what God moved me to give.” And, when he said that, I said, “He can’t do that. That’s an impossibility.” But he did it. And friend, I’ve seen God’s hand upon that man’s life, and God’s hand upon that ministry. B. An Opportunity to Enrich the Sower You see, what is the opportunity? Number one, it is an opportunity to encourage saints. Number two, it is an opportunity to enrich the sower. And he calls giving “sowing.” Look, if you will, in verses 6 through 11 now—chapter 9, verse 6: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Have you ever seen a farmer go out here and just weep and weep and weep because he’s putting seed in the ground? No! He is sowing because he knows that God gives both bread to the eater and seed to the sower. That’s what he goes on to say. God wants you to eat; He knows you’ve got to eat. But what fools we are, if we don’t put seed in the ground. What somebody places in God’s hand is never lost. It is not a gift; it is an investment. Whether you believe that or not, you don’t change the truth where Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, shall men give unto your bosom” (Luke 6:38). C. An Opportunity to Exalt the Savior What is the opportunity? It is the opportunity to encourage the saints. It is an opportunity to enrich the sower. And, finally, it is an opportunity to exalt the Savior—to exalt the Savior. Look, if you will here, and we’re coming right to the end—verses 12 through 13 of chapter 9—look at it right now: “For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles by the experiment of this administration they glorify God” (2 Corinthians 9:12–13). Whew! That’s what we do in the Love Offering. You know, people come here and they say, “These folks are crazy. Look at them! They’re all delirious; they’re happy; © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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they’re giving money to God.” But, I’ll tell you one thing: They say, “They have something more than Sunday morning religion: They glorify God.” It is an opportunity to encourage the saints; to enrich the sower; to exalt the Savior.

Conclusion You know how he ends this thing? In verse 15, here’s what he says right at the end. He just closes it out, and here’s the way he closes it out. He says, “[And] thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)—“his unspeakable gift.” That’s Jesus! That’s the whole argument. He said over there in chapter 8, “For ye see the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, though he were rich yet for your sakes he became poor that through his poverty he might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Is he talking about a bank full of money? No, no, no, no. “For the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:12–13). Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. That’s it— “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” Now, let me just switch a little bit now, and stop talking about giving, and let’s talk about receiving. God has given you a gift. It is a gift that Adrian cannot describe; neither could Paul. He just said, “It’s unspeakable.” That’s the gift of grace. That’s the gift of salvation. That’s the gift where you say, “Lord Jesus, come into my poor old heart; forgive my sin; cleanse me; save me, Jesus.” Would you just, with your heads bowed and your eyes closed, kind of reach up by faith—the hand of faith—and take the gift of grace right now, and ask Jesus to save you? When He saves you, He will forgive every sin. When He saves you, He will cleanse every sin. When He saves you, He will put His Holy Spirit in your heart. That’s not an emotional feeling. I can’t describe it. But, He’ll be there. He’ll put His Spirit in your life to give you power. And, when you die, He’ll take you to Heaven. Would you pray a prayer like this? “Lord Jesus, my sin deserves judgment, but I want mercy. Thank you, Jesus, that You gave Your life for me. Thank You for that unspeakable gift. Come into my heart. Come into my heart; forgive my sin; save me, Lord Jesus.” Pray that prayer from your heart. “Save me, Lord Jesus.” Pray it. Mean it. “Save me, Lord Jesus.” Did you ask Him? Then just pray by faith this way: “Thank You for doing it. I receive it by faith. I don’t look for a sign. I don’t ask for a feeling. I just stand on Your Word. And, Lord Jesus, because You died for me, I will live for You. My life is no longer my own. All that I am and have and ever hope to be, I now place in Your hand. Begin now to make me the person You want me to be. Jesus, by Your grace, I’ll never be ashamed of You; and, by your grace, I’ll follow You wherever You lead me. Not in order to be saved, but because You have saved me, I’ll do this, Lord Jesus. I love You, Jesus. In Your name I pray. Amen. © 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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From The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection www.ARLC.org

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© 2010 Rogers Family Trust. Used by permission.

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