WHAT JESUS DOES WITH YOU DEPENDS
UPON WHAT YOU WILL DO WITH HIM. YOU CAN ACCEPT HIM OR YOU CAN
REJECT HIM, YOU CAN CROWN HIM OR YOU CAN CRUCIFY HIM BUT YOU
CANNOT IGNORE HIM. HE IS THE CHRIST OF DESTINY. ADRIAN ROGERS
WAS A MOTIVATOR, AN ENCOURAGER AND A LEADER OF THE FAITH WHO
PRESENTED A CLEAR INVITATION TO FOLLOW JESUS AT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY. HE WAS ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT PRESENTING
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION TO EVERYDAY LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES AND
YOU’LL SEE THAT IN TODAY’S MESSAGE. HAVE YOUR BIBLE READY
AND JOIN US FOR THIS STUDY. AND IF YOU ARE ENCOURAGED BY TODAY’S
MESSAGE, REMEMBER, YOU CAN STREAM THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND
DOWNLOAD OUTLINES, NOTES, A TRANSCRIPT AND OTHER RESOURCES
TO GO ALONG WITH THIS MESSAGE ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW LET’S JOIN
ADRIAN ROGERS. AMEN. AS THE CHOIR IS FINDING
THEIR PLACES, UH, WOULD YOU FIND YOURS PLEASE IN THE GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO LUKE, THE SECOND CHAPTER. YOU KNOW THAT LUKE
CHAPTER ONE AND TWO IS THE CHRISTMAS STORY. TODAY WE’RE
TALKING ABOUT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND, “HIS UNBLEMISHED
LIFE.” DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD AND IT WAS NEAR
CHRISTMAS? PERHAPS THE CHRISTMAS TREE WAS IN THE FAMILY ROOM AND,
AH, IT WAS DECORATED. MAYBE YOUR FAMILY HUNG STOCKINGS BY THE
CHIMNEY. THERE WERE PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE, AND YOU COULD
HARDLY WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS MORNING. AH, WELL, I’M GOING TO
GIVE YOU A STORY TODAY ABOUT A MAN WHO WAS ANTICIPATING
CHRISTMAS. HE WAS WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS, THE VERY FIRST
CHRISTMAS; THE VERY BEST CHRISTMAS EVER. HIS NAME WAS
SIMEON. HE WAS LOOKING, HE WAS WAITING, HE WAS LONGING, HE WAS
ANTICIPATING THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST INTO THIS WORLD. NOW
LET’S LOOK IF WE WILL IN LUKE CHAPTER TWO VERSE 25, “AND,
BEHOLD,” DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, CONGREGATION, BEHOLD? IT
MEANS PAY ATTENTION, HA, HA, LISTEN, “AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS
A MAN IN JERUSALEM, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON; THE SAME MAN WAS
JUST AND DEVOUT, WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL,” THAT’S
JUST ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH, “AND
THE HOLY GHOST WAS UPON HIM. AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM BY THE
HOLY GHOST, THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH, BEFORE HE HAD SEEN
THE LORD’S CHRIST,” LITERALLY, BEFORE HE HAD SEEN MESSIAH. “AND
HE CAME BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE; AND WHEN THE PARENTS
BROUGHT IN THE CHILD JESUS, TO DO FOR HIM AFTER THE CUSTOM OF
THE LAW. THEN TOOK HE HIM UP IN HIS ARMS AND BLESSED GOD, AND
SAID, ‘LORD, NOW LETTEST THY SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE,
ACCORDING TO THY WORD; FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THY SALVATION,
WHICH THOU HAS PREPARED BEFORE THE FACE OF ALL PEOPLE; A LIGHT
TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES, AND THE GLORY OF THY PEOPLE, ISRAEL.’
AND JOSEPH AND HIS MOTHER MARVELED AT THOSE THINGS WHICH
WERE SPOKEN OF HIM. AND SIMEON BLESSED THEM, AND SAID UNTO
MARY, HIS MOTHER, ‘BEHOLD, THIS CHILD IS SET FOR THE FALL AND
RISING AGAIN OF MANY IN ISRAEL; AND FOR A SIGN WHICH SHALL BE
SPOKEN AGAINST. YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH THY SOUL
ALSO, THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS MAY BE REVEALED.’” NOW
LOOK UP HERE AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. THERE WERE MANY WHO
MISSED THE FIRST COMING OF JESUS, THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS
MORNING, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND OR THEY DID NOT
BELIEVE THE CLEAR BIBLE PROPHECIES OF HIS FIRST COMING
INTO THE WORLD. IT WAS CLEAR. IT WAS PLAIN. IT WAS THERE IN THE
WORD OF GOD! AND YET THEY MISSED IT, EITHER THROUGH IGNORANCE OR
UNBELIEF. NOW THAT JESUS WHO CAME BEFORE IS COMING AGAIN,
RIGHT? [AUDIENCE: AMEN] HE IS. YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL LEST YOU
MISS THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST BY IGNORANCE OR UNBELIEF,
BECAUSE THE SAME SCRIPTURES THAT CLEARLY PROPHESIED HIS FIRST
COMING, THOSE SAME SCRIPTURES HAVE PROPHESIED HIS SECOND
COMING. AND AS HIS FIRST COMING WAS LITERALLY FULFILLED, FRIEND,
HIS SECOND COMING WILL BE LITERALLY FULFILLED. YOU NEED TO
BE READY FOR CHRISTMAS BY BEING READY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF
OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. AND IF YOU’RE NOT READY
FOR HIS SECOND COMING, HIS FIRST COMING CERTAINLY IS GOING TO BE
YOUR CONDEMNATION. SO I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO BE READY
FOR CHRISTMAS, HOW TO BE READY FOR THE COMING OF OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. NOW LET’S JUST CHECK UP RIGHT NOW AND SEE
IF YOU’RE READY. YOU WANT TO MAKE A, A LIST? YOU READY FOR A
CHECKLIST? NOD YOUR HEAD. OKAY. I WANT TO MENTION SOME THINGS
THAT WERE TRUE ABOUT SIMEON THAT SURELY OUGHT TO BE TRUE ABOUT
EVERY MAN, WOMAN, BOY AND GIRL IN THIS PLACE TODAY IF YOU’RE
READY FOR CHRISTMAS. FIRST OF ALL, MAY I ASK YOU THIS
QUESTION; ARE YOU SAVED? NOW, HUH, HUH, I DIDN’T ASK IF YOU
WERE BAPTIST, METHODIST, OR A NICE PERSON. I DIDN’T ASK, AH,
DO YOU GIVE TO THE RED CROSS? I DIDN’T ASK ARE YOU GENEROUS,
KIND, AND COMPASSIONATE? I SAID, ARE YOU S-A-V-E-D, SAVED? YOU
KNOW, JESUS CAME TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE, “THOU SHALT CALL HIS
NAME JESUS, FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SIN.” LOOK
NOW IN LUKE CHAPTER TWO AND VERSE 25, “AND, BEHOLD, THERE
WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON; THE SAME MAN
WAS JUST.” HE WAS JUST. THAT MEANS HE WAS RIGHT WITH GOD. WE
ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. YOU SAY, “NOW, WAIT A MINUTE. HOW COULD
SIMEON BE SAVED IF JESUS HAD NOT YET DIED ON THE CROSS? IF JESUS
IS JUST A LITTLE BABY, HOW COULD THIS MAN BE A SAVED MAN?” THE
OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WERE SAVED BY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMING
OF JESUS. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH.
JESUS SAID, “ABRAHAM SAW MY DAY AND WAS GLAD.” WE, IN THIS
DISPENSATION AND TIME, ARE SAVED BY LOOKING BACKWARD TO THE DEATH
OF CHRIST. BUT ALL ARE LOOKING, WHETHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD,
WE’RE ALL LOOKING UPWARD TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. ARE YOU
SAVED? ARE YOU, LISTEN, ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN, BEYOND THE
SHADOW OF ANY DOUBT OR PERADVENTURE, THAT IF JESUS
CHRIST, WHO CAME THE FIRST TIME, WERE TO COME AGAIN THIS TIME,
ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT YOU’RE SAVED? NOW, MY FRIEND, IF
YOU DON’T GO TO HEAVEN BEFORE YOU DIE, YOU’RE NOT GONNA GO
THERE AFTER YOU DIE. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE
CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD, YOU’RE NOT READY FOR
CHRISTMAS NOR ARE YOU READY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS
CHRIST. ALL RIGHT; FIRST QUESTION; ARE YOU SAVED? SECOND
QUESTION; ARE YOU SURRENDERED? BECAUSE THIS SAME VERSE SAYS
THIS MAN WAS DEVOUT, DEVOUT. HA, HA, HA, THAT’S AN ADJECTIVE WE
DON’T USE A WHOLE LOT THESE DAYS. ARE YOU DEVOUT? THAT MEANS
DO YOU HAVE A BURNING, PASSIONATE LOVE IN YOUR HEART
FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? HE WAS WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION
OF ISRAEL, AND THAT’S WHY HE WAS DEVOUT. YOU KNOW, THE MARK THAT
YOU’RE REALLY READY FOR JESUS TO COME AGAIN IS THAT YOU’RE
DEVOUT. THE APOSTLE JOHN SAYS, “WHEN WE HAVE THIS HOPE IN US,
WE’RE GOING TO PURIFY OURSELVES.” NOW IF YOU’RE
DABBLING IN THE WORLD, LIVING IN SIN CARELESSLY, RECKLESSLY,
YOU’RE NOT READY FOR THE FIRST COMING OR THE SECOND COMING.
YOU’RE NOT READY FOR CHRISTMAS. YOU’RE NOT READY FOR JESUS
CHRIST TO COME AGAIN. BLESSED HOPE LEADS TO BLESSED HOLINESS.
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? ARE YOU, ARE YOU DEVOUT? ARE YOU
HOLY? WHAT IS THE PASSION OF YOUR LIFE? ANSWER THAT QUESTION;
WHAT IS THE PASSION OF YOUR LIFE? IT OUGHT TO BE THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST. ARE YOU SAVED? ARE YOU SURRENDERED? NOW LET ME ASK
YOU ANOTHER QUESTION; ARE YOU SPIRITUAL? THE BIBLE SAYS THERE,
“AND THE HOLY GHOST WAS UPON HIM.” IS THE HOLY GHOST UPON
YOU? I MEAN, IS YOUR LIFE IMBUED WITH THE SPIRIT OF ALMIGHTY GOD?
ARE YOU FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD? NOW IF YOU’RE SAVED, YOU
HAVE THE SPIRIT, BUT DOES HE HAVE YOU? CAN YOU SAY THAT YOUR
BODY IS A SURRENDERED VESSEL? DOES HE HAVE ALL OF YOU? THAT,
MY FRIEND, IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAGGING OR SOARING. HERE
WAS A MAN WHO WAS SPIRITUAL. HE WAS SPILL, FILLED WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT OF GOD. NEXT QUESTION; ARE YOU SENSITIVE? I ASK, ARE
YOU, ARE YOU SAVED, ARE YOU SURRENDERED, ARE YOU SPIRITUAL,
ARE YOU SENSITIVE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE NAME SIMEON MEANS? IT
MEANS, “ONE WHO HEARS.” IT MEANS, “LISTENING ONE.” LOOK IN
VERSE 26, “AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM BY THE HOLY GHOST, THAT
HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH, BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S CHRIST.”
HERE WAS A MAN WHO WAS IN CONTACT WITH GOD, AND GOD COULD
LEAD HIM, AND THE LORD SPOKE TO SIMEON SPECIALLY AND SAID,
“SIMEON, SIMEON, LISTEN! YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DIE UNTIL YOU SEE
MESSIAH.” NOW HERE WAS A MAN WHO WAS HARD-WIRED TO GOD THROUGH
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SAME SPIRIT THAT
LED SIMEON TO THE TEMPLE SO LONG AGO TO MEET THE LORD JESUS AND
HOLD JESUS IN HIS ARMS IS THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT WHO WANTS TO
GUIDE YOU? “AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE
THE SONS OF GOD.” AND THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT THAT REVEALED TO
SIMEON THE FIRST COMING OF JESUS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WANTS TO
REVEAL TO YOU THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? ARE
YOU SENSITIVE? CAN GOD SPEAK TO YOU? HOW ‘BOUT YOUR PRAYER LIFE?
SO OFTEN IN OUR PRAYER LIFE, WE’RE TELLING GOD THESE THINGS.
WE THINK GOD’S SOME SORT OF HEAVENLY SANTA CLAUS, AND WE
COME WITH A SHOPPING LIST OF THE THINGS WE WANT, AND WE SAY,
“NOW, LISTEN, LORD, YOUR SERVANT SPEAKS,” WHEN WE OUGHT TO SAY,
“LISTEN, AH, AH, SPEAK, LORD, I’M LISTENING. I AM THE
LISTENING ONE.” NOW HERE WAS A MAN, LISTEN, HE WAS GETTING
READY FOR CHRISTMAS. HE WAS SAVED. AH, HE WAS SURRENDERED.
AH, FRIEND, HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS SPIRITUAL. HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS
SENSITIVE. AND HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS SATISFIED. LOOK IN VERSES 28
AND 29, “THEN TOOK HE HIM UP IN HIS ARMS.” THAT IS, SIMEON TAKES
THE BABY JESUS UP IN HIS ARMS, BECAUSE MARY AND JOSEPH HAD
COME, AH, FOR CERTAIN PURIFICATION RITES TO THE
TEMPLE. OLD SIMEON, OLD SIMEON HAS BEEN WAITING FOR MESSIAH.
SIMEON IS LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE. HE SEES THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD SAYS TO SIMEON,
“THAT’S THE ONE. THAT’S THE BABY.” AND SIMEON TAKES THIS
BABY IN HIS ARMS, HOLDS THIS BABY TO HIS CHEST, AND SAYS, HA,
HA, HA, “NOW, LORD, NOW I’M READY. LET ME DEPART IN PEACE
BECAUSE, FATHER, YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO ME.” LOOK IF YOU WILL IN
VERSES 28 AND 29, “THEN TOOK HE HIM UP IN HIS ARMS, AND BLESSED
GOD, AND SAID, ‘LORD, NOW LETTEST THY SERVANT DEPART IN
PEACE,’” NOW LISTEN TO THIS, “‘ACCORDING TO THY WORD.” NOW
THIS IS JUST SO WONDERFUL. HERE WE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD AND THE
SPIRIT OF GOD AND THE SON OF GOD COMING TOGETHER THAT BRINGS THE
PEACE OF GOD IN A HEART. DO YOU HAVE PEACE? IF YOU DON’T HAVE
PEACE, YOU’RE NOT READY FOR CHRISTMAS. ARE YOU READY TO DIE?
IF YOU’RE NOT READY TO DIE, YOU’RE NOT READY FOR JESUS TO
COME. YOU’RE NOT READY TO LIVE UNTIL YOU’RE READY TO DIE.
HERE’S A MAN THAT SAYS, “LORD, AH, JUST TAKE ME ON HOME. TAKE
ME HOME. I AM READY TO DEPART IN PEACE, FOR, “BLESSED IN THE
SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS.” NO MAN, NO WOMAN
IS READY TO LIVE UNTIL THEY’RE NO LONGER AFRAID TO DIE. NOW,
THANK GOD THAT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST MAY DELIVER US
FROM DEATH, BUT WE MAY DIE BEFORE HE COMES. BUT ONE THING
WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW; WE’RE READY FOR CHRISTMAS
AND WE’RE READY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST IF WE
MEET THESE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WERE IN THE LIFE OF THIS MAN
SIMEON. NOW HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, THAT’S JUST THE FRONT
PORCH. LET’S GO IN THE HOUSE, OKAY? THAT’S JUST AN
INTRODUCTION TO THE MESSAGE. NOW, HERE’S THE MESSAGE. WE’RE
TALKING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, HIS INCOMPARABLE LIFE. AND SIMEON
SAYS SIX THINGS ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE SAYS THESE BY
DIVINE PROPHECY. HE SAYS THESE BECAUSE HE’S A MAN ANOINTED AND
FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST OF GOD, AND THERE’RE THINGS THAT I
WANT YOU TO LEARN ABOUT OUR DEAR SAVIOR WHO STEPPED OUT OF HEAVEN
AND CAME TO EARTH. WHO IS THIS BABY THAT SIMEON HELD IN HIS
ARMS? NUMBER ONE; HE IS THE ONE WHO BRINGS DELIVERANCE. HE IS
THE ONE WHO WILL BRING YOUR DELIVERANCE. CHAPTER TWO, LOOK
IN VERSES 30 AND 31. HE SAYS, “I’M READY TO GO. I’M READY TO
GO TO HEAVEN.” “FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THY SALVATION, WHICH
THOU HAST PREPARED BEFORE THE FACE OF ALL PEOPLE.” WHY DID
JESUS COME? TO DELIVER US. AH, THE BABY THAT MARY DELIVERED WAS
THE ONE WHO WOULD DELIVER US. AS THE SONG SAYS, “HE IS OUR
DELIVERER.” THIS IS A HELL-BOUND WORLD. THIS IS A SIN-BOUND
WORLD. THIS IS A WORLD THAT NEEDS A SAVIOR, AND THAT’S THE
REASON THAT JESUS CAME TO EARTH. HE WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN THAT WE
MIGHT BE BORN AGAIN. NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE’RE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO GET ALL EXCITED ABOUT A, A BABY. THE MERCHANTS GET EXCITED
ABOUT BABIES THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, AND THE CHRIST CHILD AND
THE MANGER SCENES. WHY? BECAUSE, AH, IT, THE JINGLE BELLS TO THEM
ARE THE BELLS OF THE CRASH, CASH REGISTER. RIGHT NOW IT’S, FOR
YOU IT’S JINGLE BELLS. IN A LITTLE WHILE IT WILL BE JUGGLE
BILLS. HUH, HUH. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] BUT, AH, THEY, THEY,
THEY, THEY’RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT A BABY. WELL, ANYBODY CAN LOOK
AROUND AND DANCE AROUND A, A CRIB LIKE THAT. BUT THESE PEOPLE
DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME AS A SAVIOR TO
SAVE THEM FROM THEIR SINS. THAT SAME GIDDY CROWD THAT IS DANCING
AROUND THE MANGER, GIVE THEM ONE WEEK AND THEY’LL BE IN A DRUNKEN
STUPOR SINGING, “AULD LANGE SYNE.” SAME CROWD. LISTEN,
FRIEND, GET AWAY FROM THIS SENTIMENTALITY ABOUT A BABY
BEING BORN AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT BABY IS THE SAVIOR OF THE
WORLD. WHEN SIMEON HELD HIM IN HIS ARMS, HE SAID, “I’VE SEEN
YOUR SALVATION.” HE IS THE CHRIST OF DELIVERANCE. NUMBER
TWO; HE IS THE ONE WHO DISPELS DARKNESS. NOT ONLY DOES HE BRING
DELIVERANCE, HE DISPELS DARKNESS. LOOK IF YOU WILL NOW,
VERSES 32 AND 33. SIMEON SAID HE IS, “‘A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE
GENTILES, AND THE GLORY OF THY PEOPLE, ISRAEL.’ AND JOSEPH AND
HIS MOTHER MARVELED AT THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN OF
HIM.” JESUS IS THE LIGHT. THERE’S NO REASON FOR YOU TO
STUMBLE IN DARKNESS WHEN YOU CAN WALK IN THE LIGHT. YOU WILL
NEVER UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LIFE UNTIL YOU KNOW THE LIGHT OF
THE WORLD, WHOSE NAME IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND YOU KNOW,
THERE’S SOME PEOPLE WHO’RE AFRAID OF JESUS. WE LAUGH AT
CHILDREN BEING AFRAID OF THE DARK. I THINK MORE RIDICULOUS
THAN THAT IS AN ADULT AFRAID OF THE LIGHT. MEN HATE THE LIGHT
AND THEY WILL NOT COME TO THE LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS ARE
EVIL. BUT HE IS THE LIGHT AND HE IS A DELIGHT, AND THERE’S NO
GREATER JOY THAN TO KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE IS THE ONE
WHO DISPELS DARKNESS. IF YOU’RE STUMBLING IN DARKNESS, IF YOU
WANT TO KNOW THE WAY, HE IS THE WAY. IF YOU NEED LIGHT, HE IS
THE LIGHT. IF YOU’RE SEEKING FOR UNDERSTANDING, HE IS THE TRUTH.
“FRIENDS ALL AROUND ME ARE TRYING TO FIND, WHAT THE WORLD
YEARNS FOR, BY SIN UNDERMINED; I HAVE THE SECRET; I KNOW WHERE
‘TIS FOUND, ONLY TRUE PLEASURES IN JESUS ABOUND.” FRIEND, JESUS
IS ALL THIS WORLD NEEDS TODAY. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] “BLINDLY THEY
STRIVE, FOR SIN DARKENS THEIR WAY, OH, TO PULL BACK THE GRIM
CURTAINS OF NIGHT; ONE LOOK AT JESUS AND ALL WILL BE LIGHT.” HE
IS THE ONE WHO DISPELS DARKNESS. NUMBER THREE; HE, JESUS, IS THE
ONE WHO DETERMINES DESTINY. LOOK AGAIN IF YOU WILL IN VERSE 34,
“AND SIMON BLESSED THEM,” THAT IS, MARY AND JOSEPH, “AND SAID
UNTO MARY HIS MOTHER,” NOTICE HE DOESN’T SAY “AND TO JOSEPH, HIS
FATHER.” MARY, HIS MOTHER, HE BLESSED THEM, BUT HE DIDN’T SAY,
“FATHER AND MOTHER,” BECAUSE JESUS WAS THE EARTHLY CHILD OF A
HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE HEAVENLY CHILD OF AN EARTHLY MOTHER. AND,
“HE BLESSED THEM, AND SAID UNTO MARY HIS MOTHER, ‘THIS CHILD IS
SET FOR THE FALL AND THE RISING AGAIN OF MANY IN ISRAEL.’” I’M
GONNA STOP READING RIGHT THERE. HE’S THE CHRIST OF DESTINY.
LISTEN. YOU WILL FALL OR RISE ON JESUS. JESUS WILL BE TO YOU A
STEPPING-STONE OR HE WILL BE A STUMBLING BLOCK. BUT YOUR
DESTINY IS DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU WILL DO WITH THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST. WHEN I WAS STUDYING THIS PASSAGE, A SCRIPTURE CAME TO MY
MIND, FIRST PETER TWO VERSES SIX THROUGH EIGHT. PUT IT DOWN.
PETER SAYS, “WHEREFORE ALSO IT IS CONTAINED IN THE SCRIPTURE,
‘BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS;
AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE CONFOUNDED.’” THAT
IS, SHALL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME. “‘FOR UNTO YOU, UNTO YOU
THEREFORE WHICH BELIEVE HE IS PRECIOUS; BUT UNTO THEM WHICH BE
DISOBEDIENT, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS DISALLOWED, THE SAME IS
MADE THE HEAD OF THE CORNER AND A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK
OF OFFENSE, EVEN TO THEM WHICH STUMBLE AT THE WORD, BEING
DISOBEDIENT; WHEREUNTO ALSO THEY WERE APPOINTED.’” WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN? CHRIST IS THE SOLID ROCK. CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION STONE.
CHRIST IS THE CORNER STONE. AND HE’S BEFORE YOU TODAY. YOU CAN
BUILD ON HIM OR STUMBLE OVER HIM, BUT YOU CANNOT GO AROUND
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO DETERMINES DESTINY.
EITHER JESUS CHRIST WILL BE YOUR SAVIOR, OR JESUS CHRIST WILL BE
YOUR JUDGE. HE WILL BE A STEPPING STONE OR A STUMBLING
STONE, BUT YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH JESUS CHRIST.
HE IS INESCAPABLE. HE IS INEVITABLE. HE IS UNAVOIDABLE.
YOU HAVE A DATE WITH JESUS. YOU’RE GOING TO MEET HIM AS
SAVIOR OR JUDGE. BUT AS I LIVE, AS I STAND HERE TODAY, I’M
TELLING YOU WITH ALL THE EMPHASIS, FUNCTION, UNCTION, AND
EMOTION OF MY SOUL, PLEASE LISTEN TO ME. THIS BABY THAT
SIMEON HELD IN HIS HANDS IS THE CHRIST OF YOUR DESTINY, ONE WAY
OR THE OTHER. HE IS EITHER THE DOOR THAT LETS YOU IN OR THE
DOOR THAT KEEPS YOU OUT, BUT YOU HAVE A DATE WITH THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST. AND WHAT JESUS CHRIST WILL DO WITH YOU IS DETERMINED
BY WHAT YOU WILL DO WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. LET ME GIVE
IT TO YOU VERY CLEARLY AND VERY PLAINLY. JOHN CHAPTER THREE
VERSE 36, “HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE;
AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE
WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.” IF YOU TODAY ARE NOT A BELIEVER, IF
YOU HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, IT’S NOT ONE DAY
THAT YOU’RE GOING TO FACE THE WRATH OF GOD; THE WRATH OF GOD
IS ABIDING ON YOU RIGHT NOW. THIS BABY, THIS BABY IS THE ONE
WHO DETERMINES DESTINY. NOW, NEXT, I WANT YOU TO SEE; HE IS
THE ONE WHO PROVOKES DERISION. HE IS THE ONE WHO PROVOKES
DERISION. LOOK IF YOU WILL AGAIN IN VERSE 34, “AND SIMEON SAID
UNTO THEM, AND UNTO MARY HIS MOTHER, ‘BEHOLD, THIS CHILD IS
SET FOR THE FALL AND RISING AGAIN OF MANY IN ISRAEL;’” THAT,
FRIEND, IS DESTINY. AND LISTEN TO THIS, “‘AND FOR A SIGN WHICH
SHALL BE SPOKEN AGAINST.’” JESUS, THIS BABY, IS GOING TO
FACE DERISION. HE’S GOING TO FACE MOCKERY. HE’S GOING TO FACE
BLASPHEMY. WHEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS HERE ON EARTH, SOME
SAID, “YOU’RE MAD!” OTHERS SAID, “HE HAS A DEMON!” OTHERS SAID,
“HE’S A WINE BIBBER AND A GLUTTON.” OTHERS INFERRED THAT
HE WAS BORN OUT OF FORNICATION WHEN THE PHARISEES SAID, “WE BE
NOT BORN OF FORNICATION. WE KNOW WHO OUR FATHER IS.” DO YOU GET
THE SLY PUTDOWN, THE SLUR THAT THEY PUT UPON THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST? HE IS, “A SIGN THAT WILL BE SPOKEN AGAINST.” IF HE IS NOT
SPOKEN AGAINST, YOU CAN BE SURE THE GOSPEL IS NOT BEING
PREACHED. NOW I KNOW HOW TO PREACH, IF I WANTED TO, WITHOUT
ANY DERISION FROM THE WORLDLY CROWD. JUST PREACH A JESUS, NOT
VIRGIN BORN, NOT SINLESS, NO DEITY, NO DEMAND FOR THE NEW
BIRTH, NO STANDARD OF RIGHT AND WRONG, NO JUDGMENT, NO
DISCIPLESHIP, AND ESPECIALLY THIS; NO ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN, NO
ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN. JUST PREACH THAT. NOW, TODAY, WE’RE ALL
UN-AMERICAN IF WE DON’T PUT OUR ARMS AROUND EVERYBODY ELSE AND
SAY, “YOUR FAITH IS JUST AS GOOD AS OURS.” THAT IS NOT SO. THAT
IS A LIE OUT OF HELL. “NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER.
THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY
WE MUST BE SAVED,” THAN THE NAME OF JESUS. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] NONE!
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] YOU SEE, IF JESUS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY, HE
CAN’T BE ANY OF THE WAYS. IF JESUS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY, HE’S
A LIAR, FOR HE SAID, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,
AND NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.” EITHER THAT’S
TRUE OR IT’S NOT TRUE. NOW IF IT IS TRUE, HE’S THE ONLY WAY. IF
IT IS NOT TRUE, HE IS A LIAR AND HE IS NONE OF THE WAYS. YOU
CAN’T JUST TIP THE HAT TO JESUS; YOU MUST BOW THE KNEE TO JESUS.
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS COULD HAVE ESCAPED MARTYRDOM HAD THEY
OFFERED A PINCH OF CAE, A PINCH OF INCENSE TO CAESAR AND SAID,
“CAESAR IS LORD AND CHRIST IS LORD,” BUT THEY SAID, “NO!
KRISTOS KURIOS. HE IS THE LORD. HE IS THE ONLY ONE.” YOU SEE,
THIS IS THE CHRIST OF DERISION. HE IS THE ONE WHO IS SPOKEN
AGAINST. THE BIBLE SAYS AT ONE TIME, ONE OCCASION IN THE BIBLE,
“THEY LAUGHED HIM TO SCORN.” CAN YOU IMAGINE THEM HOLDING THEIR
SIDES? AND, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, POINTING TO JESUS, LAUGHING HIM
TO SCORN. MORE OF THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY.
JESUS IS THE ONE WHO IS DERIDED. HE’S THE ONE WHO’S SPOKEN
AGAINST. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THIS WORLD HATES JESUS
CHRIST? THEY USE HIS NAME IN VAIN. YOU EVER HEARD A PERSON
CURSE AND SAY, “OH, BUDDHA!” OR, “OH, CONFUCIUS!” OR, “OH,
MOHAMMED!” NO, THEY SAY, “OH, JESUS! OH, CHRIST!” THEY TAKE
THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, AND MIX IT IN THE MUCK AND MIRE
AND SLIME OF THEIR PROFANITY, AND TAKE THAT HOLY NAME UPON
THEIR LIPS. THERE’RE PEOPLE WHO MOCK JESUS, AND THEY MOCK HIM
MORE AND MORE, FOR HE IS A SIGN THAT IS SPOKEN AGAINST. NOW COME
UP CLOSE, I WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING. IF YOU ARE HIS
DISCIPLE, YOU ALSO WILL BE SPOKEN AGAINST. [AUDIENCE:
THAT’S RIGHT] THE BIBLE SAID, “BEWARE WHEN ALL MEN SPEAK WELL
OF YOU.” AND CONTRARIWISE, JESUS SAID, “BLESSED ARE YE WHEN MEN
SHALL PERSECUTE YOU AND REVILE YOU AND SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL
AGAINST YOU FALSELY FOR MY SAKE. REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD.”
AND IT IS TIME THAT PREACHERS IN AMERICA STOP TRYING TO WIN
POPULARITY CONTESTS AND PREACH JESUS CHRIST, WHO MAY BE THE
CHRIST OF DERISION, BUT HE’S THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WORLD,
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE
WORLD, THE ONLY ONE. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] HE IS THE CHRIST OF
DERISION. NOW NUMBER FIVE; HE IS THE ONE WHO CAUSES DIVISION. YOU
SAY, “PASTOR ROGERS, YOU’RE, YOU’RE, YOU’RE DIVIDING FOLKS.”
THAT’S TRUE, THAT’S TRUE. LOOK AGAIN IN CHAPTER TWO VERSE 35,
“‘YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH THY OWN SOUL ALSO.’” NOW
HE’S SPEAKING TO MARY. HE’S SAYING, “MARY, A SWORD IS GOING
TO PIERCE THROUGH YOUR OWN SOUL ALSO, “‘THAT THE THOUGHTS OF
MANY HEARTS MAY BE REVEALED.’” JESUS IS THE MOST DIVISIVE FORCE
THAT HAS EVER COME INTO THIS WORLD. JESUS DIVIDES HUMAN
HEARTS. LET ME GIVE YOU AH, A, AN ANCILLARY SCRIPTURE HERE. PUT
IN YOUR MARGIN HEBREWS FOUR VERSE 12, “FOR THE WORD OF GOD
IS QUICK AND POWERFUL, SHARPER THAN A TWO-EDGED SWORD, DIVIDING
ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT AND OF THE JOINTS AND MARROW, AND IS
A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART.” SIMEON
SAID, “MARY, THIS BABY IS GOING TO BE LIKE A SWORD IN YOUR
HEART. IT’S GOING TO DIVIDE BETWEEN YOUR NATURAL EMOTIONS AS
A MOTHER AND YOUR DESIRE FOR THE WILL OF GOD. AND YOU’RE GOING TO
FIND THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN NATURAL EMOTIONS AND THE
SPIRITUAL LIFE, BETWEEN THE, YOUR SOUL AND THE SPIRIT.” ALL
OF US, ALL OF US WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD FEEL THAT SWORD ON THE INSIDE,
DO WE NOT? THE PULL OF THE OLD LIFE AND THE DESIRE OF THE NEW
LIFE. DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT CONFLICT? YOU SAY, “PASTOR
ROGERS, I, I DON’T HAVE ANY CONFLICT. I’M JUST DOING JUST
FINE.” HA, HA, YOU’RE NOT DOING AS FINE AS YOU THINK YOU’RE
DOING. IF YOU AND THE DEVIL, IF YOU’VE NEVER MET THE DEVIL, IT’S
‘CAUSE YOU AND THE DEVIL BEEN GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. YOU
TURN AROUND, YOU GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS CHRIST, YOU BECOME
TWICE-BORN, YOU LET THE SPIRIT OF GOD COME INTO YOU, AND YOU’RE
GOING TO FIND THAT OLD NATURE AND THAT NEW NATURE, THERE’S
GOING TO BE A DIVISION IN YOUR LIFE. AH, THE LORD JESUS DIVIDES
AN INDIVIDUAL. I’LL TELL YOU WHAT ELSE HE DOES. HE DIVIDES
FAMILIES. YOU SAY, “OH, OH, NO, NO. JESUS UNITES FAMILIES.”
WELL, WHY DON’T YOU GET YOUR BIBLE AND READ IT? LET ME GIVE
YOU A VERSE, MATTHEW 10, BEGINNING IN VERSE 34, “THINK
NOT THAT I AM COME TO SEND PEACE ON EARTH; I CAME NOT TO SEND
PEACE, BUT A SWORD.” WHO SAID THAT? JESUS. HA, HA, HA, HA,
WELL, HOLD ON NOW. BUCKLE YOUR PEW BELT. “FOR I AM COME TO SET
A MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND THE DAUGHTER AGAINST
HER MOTHER, AND THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER
MOTHER-IN-LAW. AND A MAN’S FOES SHALL BE THEY OF HIS OWN
HOUSEHOLD.” NOW LISTEN TO THIS, FOLKS. YOU WANT TO BE A DISCIPLE
OF JESUS CHRIST? “HE THAT LOVETH FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN ME,
IS NOT WORTHY OF ME; AND HE THAT LOVETH SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN
ME, IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. AND HE THAT TAKETH NOT HIS CROSS AND
FOLLOWETH AFTER ME, IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. HE THAT FINDETH
HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT; AND HE THAT LOSETH HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE
SHALL FIND IT.” NOW, JESUS IS THE UNIFIER OF FAMILIES THAT ARE
BUILT ON HIM. JESUS IS THE UNIFIER OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN
HIM. HOW SWEET IT IS TO HAVE THIS FELLOWSHIP, BECAUSE WE ARE
ONE IN THE BOND OF LOVE. BUT AMOS 3:3 ASKS THIS QUESTION,
“CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER EXCEPT THERE BE, EXCEPT THEY BE
AGREED?” NOW, WHEN JESUS SAID THAT, “IF WE LOVE FATHER OR
MOTHER, CHILDREN, OR ANYONE ELSE MORE THAN HE, WE’RE NOT WORTHY
OF HIM,” THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE’RE NOT TO LOVE OUR FAMILIES.
I’M MARRIED TO A LADY THAT I WOULD LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR.
SHE’S ABSOLUTELY INDESCRIBABLY PRECIOUS. BUT SHE KNOWS SHE’S
NOT NUMBER ONE. SHE KNOWS THAT. SHE KNOWS SHE’S NUMBER TWO. SHE
KNOWS THAT I LOVE JESUS MORE THAN I LOVE HER, AND SHE KNOWS
BECAUSE I LOVE JESUS MORE THAN I LOVE HER, I LOVE HER MORE THAN I
COULD WITHOUT JESUS. SHE KNOWS THAT. SO SHE DOESN’T MIND BEING
NUMBER TWO, AH, TO JESUS CHRIST, NOR SHOULD YOU. BUT THERE CAN BE
NO ONE OTHER, UH, WHO IS NUMBER ONE, OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST,
AND JESUS CHRIST CAN DIVIDE FAMILIES. AND THERE MAY BE SOME
OF YOU WHO, WHOSE PARENTS DON’T WANT YOU TO COME TO JESUS. THERE
MAY BE SOME OF YOU WHO WOULD SAY, “I WOULD HAVE TO DISALLOW
THE, AH, TRADITION OF MY FAMILY IF I COME TO JESUS.” THERE’RE
SOME OF YOU WHO WOULD SAY, “MY PARENTS WOULD NOT LIKE IT IF I
CAME TO JESUS.” COME ANYWAY. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] COME ANYWAY.
GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS CHRIST. HE IS THE CHRIST WHO DIVIDES THE
HUMAN, AH, SPIRIT. HE IS CHRIST WHO DIVIDES FAMILIES. HE IS
CHRIST WHO MAY DIVIDE A CHURCH. NOW YOU ALL, OH, YOU LOOK SO
BEAUTIFUL THIS MORNING. YOU, YOU, EVERY ONE OF YOU LOOK SO
HOLY. BUT YOU’RE NOT ALL HOLY. YOU SAY, “PASTOR, YOU DON’T KNOW
WHO’S WHO.” YOU’RE RIGHT, BUT GOD DOES. AND I’VE BEEN
PREACHING LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW IN A CROWD LIKE THIS NOT
EVERYBODY’S SAVED, NOT EVERYBODY WHO HAS THEIR NAME ON THE CHURCH
ROLL IS SAVED. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] NOW THERE ARE HUSBANDS AND WIVES
SITTING HERE TOGETHER, BUT THERE IS A DIVISION BETWEEN HUSBANDS
AND WIVES AS FAR AS EAST IS FROM THE WEST, AS FAR AS HEAVEN IS
FROM HELL, BECAUSE ONE IS SAVED AND THE OTHER IS LEFT. AND YOU
[SLAP] MAY BE TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER RIGHT NOW, BUT SHOULD
THE RAPTURE COME OR SHOULD YOU DIE, YOU WOULD BE SEPARATED FOR
ALL ETERNITY. THE LORD DIVIDES CHURCHES. THE LORD LOOKS AT THIS
CHURCH THIS MORNING AND THE LORD SEES THE CHOIR SING. THE LORD
KNOWS HOW MANY OF THOSE CHOIR MEMBERS UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE
WHAT THEY’RE SINGING, AND THOSE WHO MAY NOT. THE LORD SEES WHEN
THE OFFERING IS TAKEN AND YOU PUT YOUR MONEY IN. BUT THE LORD
KNOWS WHO ARE, IS GIVING THIS MORNING INSTEAD OF HIMSELF
RATHER THAN HIMSELF. THE LORD KNOWS WHEN A PREACHER IS
PREACHING, WHETHER THAT PREACHER IS PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD OUT
OF A HEART THAT IS PURE AND CLEAN, OR WHETHER THAT MAN IS
JUST MOUTHING SOMETHING, WHETHER HE’S A HIRELING. THE LORD KNOWS
ALL OF THAT. THE LORD KNOWS WHEN THE CONGREGATION SINGS, “OH, HOW
I LOVE JESUS,” WHETHER THEY LOVE JESUS OR NOT! AND I’M TELLING
YOU THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO DIVIDES THE
PROFESSING CHURCH. HE IS THE GREAT DIVIDER. NOT ALL
PROFESSORS ARE POSSESSORS. JESUS SAID, “AT THE JUDGMENT MANY
SHALL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY, ‘LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT
PROPHESIED IN THY NAME AND IN THY NAME CAST OUT DEVILS, AND IN
THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?’ AND THEN WILL I PROFESS
UNTO THEM, ‘DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY. I NEVER KNEW
YOU.’” WHAT A SAD DIVISION THERE WILL BE WHEN JESUS, THEREFORE,
COMES AGAIN. JESUS IS DIVIDING, AND HE WILL DIVIDE FOR ALL
ETERNITY. AT THE JUDGMENT HE WILL DIVIDE BETWEEN THE SHEEP
AND THE GOATS, THE SAVED AND THE LOST. AND WHEN HE LOOKS, HIS
DECISION IS NOT GOING TO BE ON THE, MADE ON THE BANKBOOK OF
FINANCE, OR THE BLUE BOOK OF SOCIETY, BUT THE LAMB’S BOOK OF
LIFE. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] WE DIVIDE PEOPLE IN STRATA’S. WE SAY UPPER
CLASS, MIDDLE CLASS, AND LOWER CLASS. BUT GOD DIVIDES RIGHT AND
LEFT: SAVED OR LOST. HE IS THE CHRIST WITH THE SWORD IN HIS
HAND. I’M TALKING ABOUT SERIOUS BUSINESS NOW. YOU GET PAST THIS
SENTIMENTALITY ABOUT A LITTLE BABY. HERE SIMEON IS HOLDING
THIS BABY IN HIS ARMS. NOW HERE’S THE SIXTH THING AND THE
FINAL THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS BABY; HE IS THE ONE WHO
REVEALS DECISIONS. LOOK AGAIN IF YOU WILL IN VERSE 35, UH, “‘YEA,
A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH THY OWN SOUL ALSO,’” NOW WATCH THIS,
“‘THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS MAY BE REVEALED.’” DO YOU
KNOW WHAT THE PREACHING OF THIS WORD IS DOING TODAY? IT’S
REVEALING YOUR THOUGHTS. IT’S EXPOSING YOU TO YOURSELF AND TO
GOD. HE’S THE ONE WHO IS REVEALING DECISIONS. YOU SEE,
THE GOSPEL IS A SAVOR OF LIFE UNTO LIFE OR DEATH UNTO DEATH.
WHEN I’M PREACHING, YOU MAY SAY, “I DON’T AGREE WITH THAT. I WILL
NOT ACCEPT THAT. I REFUSE THAT. I REPUDIATE THAT. I WILL NOT
YIELD TO THAT.” HE’S REVEALING YOUR HEART. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO
SAY, “THAT IS TRUE. WHAT HE SAYS IS TRUE. I NEED A SAVIOR. I NEED
TO BE SAVED. I NEED TO LOVE HIM, KNOW HIM, AND FOLLOW HIM.” HIS
WORD IS REVEALING YOUR HEART. YOU SEE, WHAT MAKES THE
DIFFERENCE IN INDIVIDUALS? IT’S NOT EDUCATION. IT’S NOT SOCIAL
S, STATUS. IT IS NOT ENVIRONMENT. PEOPLE CAN BE
RAISED IN THE SAME FAMILY, CHILDREN. ONE CHILD LOVE GOD AND
THE OTHER CHILD NOT LOVE GOD. CAIN AND ABEL HAD BASICALLY THE
SAME ENVIRONMENT. TWO THIEVES ON THE CROSS, ONE CRUCIFIED ON
JESUS’ RIGHT HAND, ONE ON THE OTHER. ONE OF THOSE THIEVES
CURSED AND BLASPHEMED AND SPIT BLASPHEMIES IN THE FACE OF
JESUS; ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE DYING THIEVES SAID, “‘LORD,
REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM.’” I’LL PREACH THIS
MORNING AND SOME WILL SAY, “YES,” TO JESUS AND SOME WILL
SAY, “NO,” TO HIM, AND THE PREACHING OF HIM WILL DECIDE AND
DETERMINE AND REVEAL WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART, THE SAME PREACHING.
IT’S A SAVOR, UH, IT’S A SWORD, AH, THAT CUTS LIFE UNTO LIFE OR
DEATH UNTO DEATH. THE SAME SUN THAT MELTS ICE HARDENS CLAY. THE
SAME SERMON THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO JESUS CAN HARDEN PEOPLE AND
TURN THEM AWAY FROM JESUS. BUT IT’S NOT THE SERMON THAT REALLY
DOES IT. THE SERMON ONLY REVEALS THE HEART. WHAT IS REALLY IN YOU
IS DETERMINED BY HOW YOUR HEART RESONATES TO THE PREACHING OF
JESUS. LOOK AT THE VERSE AGAIN, “‘YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE
THROUGH THINE OWN SOUL ALSO, THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS
SHALL BE REVEALED.’” NOW, WHAT YOU DO WITH JESUS IS GOING TO
DETERMINE WHAT JESUS DOES WITH YOU. DO YOU KNOW WHAT SIMEON
DID? SIMEON TOOK THIS BABY, HELD HIM IN HIS ARMS, BROUGHT HIM TO
HIS BREAST AND SAID, “LORD GOD, HA, I’M READY TO GO. LET ME
DEPART IN PEACE! I HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION.” TODAY, YOU CAN
EMBRACE JESUS WITH THE ARMS OF FAITH. TODAY, YOU CAN RECEIVE
HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, SURELY AS I STAND HERE THIS
MORNING, THE JESUS WHO CAME THE FIRST TIME IN LITERAL
FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE IS COMING AGAIN. AMEN? [AUDIENCE:
AMEN] A MAN TOLD A STORY, I READ, I CAN HARDLY EVER FORGET
IT. HE SAID HE WENT DOWN TO THE TRAIN STATION AND PEOPLE WERE
GETTING OFF THE TRAIN AND MEETING LOVED ONES. AND THERE
WAS EMBRACING AND KISSING. BUT THIS MAN SAID THERE AT THE TRAIN
STATION, HE SAW SOME MEN WALK UP, AND THEY HAD A MAN WITH
THEM, AND THAT MAN HAD HANDCUFFS ON, AND THEY WERE LEADING HIM
AWAY ON THAT TRAIN. EVIDENTLY, HE WAS GOING TO THE
PENITENTIARY. AND HIS CHILDREN WERE THERE. AND HIS WIFE WAS
THERE. AND THEY WERE WEEPING AND WAILING AS THIS MAN WAS BEING
LED AWAY. AND THEN THAT MAN SAID, “YOU KNOW,” HE SAID,
“THAT’S SO MUCH LIKE THE COMING OF JESUS. WHAT JOY IT WILL BE TO
THOSE OF US WHO KNOW HIM. WHAT JOY IT WILL BE WHEN WE HAVE THAT
GRAND REUNION, WHEN WE MEET OUR LOVED ONES, WHEN JESUS COMES.
BUT HOW SAD IT WILL BE FOR SOME, WHO’LL BE BOUND AND CAST INTO
OUTER DARKNESS.” WHAT JESUS DOES WITH YOU DEPENDS UPON WHAT YOU
WILL DO WITH HIM. YOU CAN ACCEPT HIM OR YOU CAN REJECT HIM. YOU
CAN CROWN HIM OR YOU CAN CRUCIFY HIM. BUT YOU CANNOT IGNORE HIM.
HE IS THE CHRIST OF DESTINY. BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER. IF YOU’RE
NOT CERTAIN THAT YOU’RE SAVED, I WANT YOU TO GET IT CERTAIN,
RIGHT NOW. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SAVED, HE’S KNOCKING AT YOUR
HEART’S DOOR. HE BROUGHT YOU HERE TO BE SAVED, AND YOU CAN
EMBRACE HIM WITH THE ARMS OF FAITH. WOULD YOU PRAY A PRAYER
LIKE THIS, “DEAR GOD, I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ME. I KNOW THAT
YOU WANT TO SAVE ME. JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME. YOU PROMISED TO
SAVE ME IF I WOULD TRUST YOU. I DO TRUST YOU, JESUS. I BELIEVE
YOU’RE THE SON OF GOD. I WELCOME YOU INTO MY LIFE. I RECEIVE YOU
NOW BY FAITH AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. THANK YOU THAT YOU DIED
ON THAT CROSS AND SHED YOUR BLOOD FOR ME. THANK YOU THAT YOU
PAID MY SIN DEBT WITH YOUR BLOOD. AND NOW, BY FAITH, I
THANK YOU FOR MY SALVATION. I DON’T LOOK FOR A FEELING, I
DON’T ASK FOR A SIGN. I JUST STAND ON YOUR WORD. YOU CANNOT
LIE. NOW, LORD JESUS, I’M VERY WEAK, SO BEGIN NOW TO MAKE ME
THE PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE. AND, JESUS, HELP ME NEVER TO BE
ASHAMED OF YOU. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” YOU HAD BETTER BE GRATEFUL FOR
THE SINLESS, UNBLEMISHED LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE
HAD THERE BEEN ONE SIN IN HIS LIFE, JUST ONE, HE COULD NEVER
HAD BEEN THE SACRIFICE FOR MY SIN AND YOUR SIN. BUT THE BIBLE
SAYS, “HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN, GOD HAS MADE TO BE SIN FOR US.” HE
TOOK OUR SINS, CARRIED THEM TO THE CROSS AND WITH HIS PRECIOUS
BLOOD, PAID THE SIN DEBT. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE CAN PUT OUR
FAITH WHERE GOD HAS PUT OUR SINS, ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
AND THEREFORE, IN GOD’S EYES BE SINLESS. PRAISE GOD, HALLELUJAH
FOR THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE THAT? WOULD YOU LIE TO BE SAVED? WOULD
YOU LIKE GOD TO PUT RIGHTEOUSNESS ON THE ACCOUNT
CONCERNING YOUR LIFE? THEN PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS, “DEAR GOD, I
AM A SINNER BUT JESUS, THE SINLESS SON OF GOD, PAID MY SIN
DEBT; THANK YOU FOR THAT. LORD JESUS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHED
BLOOD. THANK YOU THAT YOU DIED IN MY PLACE. AND NOW, NOW, RIGHT
NOW I RECEIVE YOU INTO MY HEART AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR.” FRIEND,
PRAY IT, MEAN IT, SAY IT, PRAY IT FROM YOUR HEART, “LORD JESUS,
SAVE ME.” AND IF YOU DO, WRITE TO US AND LET US KNOW, WE WILL
REJOICE. AND WE’LL SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU TO GET
STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK. WE HOPE THAT TODAY’S MESSAGE HAS
BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU AS WE’VE STUDIED GOD’S WORD
TOGETHER. FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM ADRIAN ROGERS, INCLUDING
COPIES OR DOWNLOADS OF THIS MESSAGE, AS WELL AS PASTOR
ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES OR A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT PLEASE VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT LWF.ORG. AT LWF.ORG YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP TO
RECEIVE DAILY DEVOTIONALS FROM ADRIAN ROGERS DELIVERED DIRECTLY
TO YOUR COMPUTER OF MOBILE DEVICE EACH MORNING. AND IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO JESUS IS WE HOPE YOU’LL
VISIT THE DISCOVER JESUS LINK ON OUR HOMEPAGE. OR IF YOU’RE
LOOKING FOR SOME INSPIRATION OR ENCOURAGEMENT TO GET YOU THROUGH
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NEXT TIME AS ADRIAN ROGERS BRINGS US MORE PROFOUND TRUTH,
SIMPLY STATED, WITH ANOTHER POWERFUL MESSAGE FROM GOD’S
WORD. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR TODAY’S PROGRAM. WE’LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME. LOVE WORTH FINDING IS A VIEWER SUPPORTED MINISTRY. TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT THIS MONTH WE WANT TO SEND YOU THE
“DAYBREAK JOURNAL.” A 365-DAY DEVOTIONAL, FEATURING PROFOUND
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INTERACTIVE JOURNAL AS YOU PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
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