NOW WHAT DAVID DID IN THIS
EPISODE WAS NOT TO WIN A VICTORY OVER SAUL. WHAT DAVID DID WAS TO
WIN A VICTORY OVER HIMSELF. MOST CHRISTIANS TODAY, AND I HATE TO
SAY IT, ARE INTO THE CULT OF SELF-REALIZATION, AND THE BIBLE
TEACHES SELF-SURRENDER. YOU SEE, IN SELF-REALIZATION ALL OF THE
ANSWERS ARE IN YOU; BUT IN, IN, IN, UH, SELF-SURRENDER ALL OF
THE ANSWERS ARE IN JESUS. 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 FROM
GOD'S WORD. AND IF YOU'RE 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. WOULD YOU TAKE GOD'S WORD AND BE
FINDING FIRST SAMUEL CHAPTER 24? AND IN A MOMENT WE'RE GOING TO
READ, UH, THE FIRST, UH, SEVEN VERSES OF THAT CHAPTER, BUT MORE
VERSES LATER ON. UH, THIS IS AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF DAVID.
UH, KING DAVID WAS A MIGHTY, MIGHTY WARRIOR, AND I BELIEVE
THAT HE WAS THE KIND OF A MAN WHO EXERCISED KINGDOM AUTHORITY.
HE WAS LITERALLY A KING, AND HE HAD GONE FROM VICTORY TO
VICTORY. WE REMEMBER READING ABOUT, UH, DAVID WHEN HE KILLED
A BEAR, AND DAVID WHEN HE KILLED A LION, AND DAVID WHEN HE KILLED
GOLIATH. HE WAS A MAN THAT WAS KNOWN FOR VICTORY, BUT THE
GREATEST VICTORY THAT DAVID EVER HAD IS GOING TO BE RECORDED IN
THIS CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE. IT WAS NOT A VICTORY OVER SOMEONE
ELSE; IT WAS A VICTORY OVER HIMSELF. HE GOT VICTORY OVER
SELF AND LEARNED THE LESSON THAT I WANT YOU TO LEARN, AND THAT IS
TO HAVE KINGDOM AUTHORITY, YOU MUST REMAIN UNDER AUTHORITY. I
WANT TO SAY IT ENOUGH SO YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IT. IT IS NOT
GOD'S PLAN FOR YOU TO BE DEFEATED BY THE WORLD, THE
FLESH, NOR THE DEVIL; FOR JESUS WHEN HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN HAS
GIVEN TO HIS CHILDREN AUTHORITY OVER THESE THINGS. BUT WE WILL
NEVER BE OVER THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT UNDER US UNTIL WE
ARE WILLING TO GET UNDER AND STAY UNDER THOSE THINGS THAT GOD
HAS PUT OVER US. NOW I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT'S WHAT THE
THEME OF THIS ENTIRE SERIES OF MESSAGES IS ALL ABOUT. NOW LET'S
READ THE STORY, AND LET ME EXPLAIN IT TO YOU FOR JUST A
MOMENT. AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN SAUL WAS RETURNED FROM
FOLLOWING THE PHILISTINES, THAT IT WAS TOLD HIM, SAYING, BEHOLD,
DAVID IS IN THE WILDERNESS OF ENGEDI.' THEN SAUL TOOK THREE
THOUSAND CHOSEN MEN OUT OF ALL ISRAEL, AND WENT TO SEEK DAVID
AND HIS MEN UPON THE ROCKS OF THE WILD GOATS. AND HE CAME TO
THE SHEEPCOTES BY THE WAY, AND THERE WAS A CAVE; AND SAUL WENT
IN TO COVER HIS FEET, THAT IS, TO RELIEVE HIMSELF, AND DAVID
AND HIS MEN REMAINED IN THE SIDES OF THE CAVE. AND THE MEN
OF DAVID SAID UNTO HIM, BEHOLD THE DAY OF WHICH THE LORD SAID
UNTO THEE, BEHOLD, I WILL DELIVER THINE ENEMY INTO THINE
HAND, THAT THOU MAYEST DO TO HIM "AS IT SHALL SEEM GOOD UNTO
THEE." THEN DAVID AROSE, AND CUT OFF THE SKIRT OF SAUL'S ROBE
PRIVILY. AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTERWARD, THAT DAVID'S HEART
SMOTE HIM, BECAUSE HE HAD CUT OFF SAUL'S SKIRT. AND HE SAID
UNTO HIS MEN, THE LORD FORBID THAT I SHOULD DO THIS THING UNTO
MY MASTER, THE LORD'S ANOINTED, TO STRETCH FORTH MINE HAND
AGAINST HIM, SEEING HE IS THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD.' SO DAVID
STAYED HIS SERVANTS WITH THESE WORDS, AND SUFFERED THEM NOT TO
RISE AGAINST SAUL. BUT SAUL ROSE UP OUT OF THE CAVE, AND WENT ON
HIS WAY. NOW YOU HAVE TO GET THE BACKGROUND. SAUL IS THE KING OF
ISRAEL, AND AS THE KING OF ISRAEL, HE IS GOD'S APPOINTED
AND GOD'S ANOINTED, THOUGH HE WAS A VERY UNWORTHY KING. NOW
GOD HAD, WAS GOING TO REPLACE SAUL WITH A YOUNG MAN WHOSE NAME
WAS DAVID, A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART. NOW SAUL IS GETTING WIND
OF THIS. HE SEES DAVID, THE RISING STAR. HE SEES THAT HIS
OWN SUN IS SETTING, AND HE NOW IS EATEN UP WITH ENVY AND
JEALOUSY AGAINST DAVID. AND SO HE MAKES, UH, DAVID PUBLIC ENEMY
NUMBER ONE, AND ALL OF THE ENERGIES OF, UH, THE KINGDOM NOW
ARE FOCUSED ON SAUL'S BURNING, MALEVOLENT AMBITION, AND THAT IS
TO KILL DAVID. AND, AND SAUL NOW IS INSANE WITH JEALOUSY, AND IN
HIS MIND HE REPEATS THESE WORDS, KILL DAVID. KILL DAVID. KILL
DAVID. NOW HE'S HAD A SKIRMISH WITH THE PHILISTINES, AND WHEN
HE GETS FINISHED WITH THAT, HE LEARNS THAT DAVID IS NOW HIDING
DOWN BY THE DEAD SEA UP IN THE MOUNTAINS IN A PLACE CALLED
ENGEDI, WHICH MEANS THE SPRING OF THE GOATS. I'VE BEEN THERE
MANY TIMES. I'VE SEEN THOSE CAVES. I'VE SEEN THAT SPRING,
THOSE WATERS CASCADING DOWN. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, AND EACH
TIME I GO I THINK OF THIS EPISODE OF DAVID UP THERE IN
THOSE CAVES HIDING FROM SAUL. SAUL TAKES THREE THOUSAND
HAND-PICKED MEN AFTER ONE MAN, DAVID. NOW DAVID IS IN A CAVE,
AND SAUL GOES IN THERE TO RELIEVE HIMSELF, INTO THIS CAVE.
IT'S DARK IN THE CAVE. DAVID'S EYES, AND HE, UH, HIS
COMPANIONS, THEIR EYES ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THE DARKNESS. BUT
SAUL CAN'T SEE THEM. THEY'RE BACK IN THE RECESSES OF THAT
CAVE, AND SAUL IS THERE IN THE CAVE. AND HIS MEN, DAVID'S MEN,
SEE SAUL, AND THEY SAY, DAVID, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY. ONE
ACT OF COURAGE, DAVID, JUST ONE STROKE OF THE SWORD, AND GOODBYE
TO POVERTY. GOODBYE TO PERSECUTION. GOODBYE TO DESPAIR.
GOODBYE TO HIDING IN THE CAVES. WELCOME RICHES! WELCOME HONOR!
WELCOME POWER! WELCOME AUTHORITY! YOU WILL BE THE NEXT
KING! JUST [SLAP] ONE STROKE OF THE SWORD! DAVID GOES OVER AND,
WITH HIS SWORD IN THE DARKNESS, HE CUTS OFF THE HEM OF SAUL'S
ROBE. THAT'S HOW CLOSE HE IS TO SAUL. SAUL DOESN'T KNOW DAVID IS
THERE, BUT DAVID CUTS OFF THE HEM OF HIS ROBE, BUT HE WON'T
KILL SAUL. LATER ON, AFTER SAUL IS GONE OUT OF THE CAVE, DAVID
SAYS TO SAUL, HE, HA, HA, LIFTS HIS VOICE ACROSS THE CHASM NOW;
DAVID'S ON ONE HILLSIDE, AND SAUL'S ON THE OTHER, HE SAYS,
SAUL, YOU SEE WHAT I HAVE? DO YOU SEE WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE
TO YOU? NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE WHOLE EPISODE A LITTLE
BIT MORE, BUT WE'VE JUST SET THE STAGE NOW. THAT'S WHAT ALL OF
THIS IS ABOUT. NOW WHAT DAVID DID IN THIS EPISODE WAS NOT TO
WIN A VICTORY OVER SAUL. WHAT DAVID DID WAS TO WIN A VICTORY
OVER HIMSELF. MOST CHRISTIANS TODAY, AND I HATE TO SAY IT, ARE
INTO THE CULT OF SELF-REALIZATION, AND THE BIBLE
TEACHES SELF-SURRENDER. YOU SEE, IN SELF-REALIZATION ALL OF THE
ANSWERS ARE IN YOU; BUT IN, IN, IN, UH, SELF-SURRENDER ALL OF
THE ANSWERS ARE IN JESUS. IN SELF-REALIZATION YOU ARE
CENTERED IN YOU; THERE IS A PREOCCUPATION WITH NUMBER ONE.
SELF MAY BE DEDICATED, BUT IT IS DEDICATED TO SELF. IT MAY BE
RELIGIOUS, BUT IT IS, UH, RELIGIOUS SELF. OURS IS A
GENERATION OF SELF-AHOLICS, AND WE ARE PICKLED IN OURSELVES. THE
GREATEST VICTORY THAT DAVID WON WAS NOT A VICTORY OVER SAUL. THE
GREAT VICTORY THAT DAVID WON WAS A VICTORY OVER HIMSELF. THE
BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS CHAPTER 16 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. HOW THAT WAS FULFILLED IN DAVID. NOW
DAVID REFUSED TO TAKE VENGEANCE ON SAUL, HE REFUSED TO DO WHAT
HE WAS ABLE TO DO BECAUSE HE GAINED A GREAT VICTORY. AS A
MATTER OF FACT, HE PRACTICED WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS IN
ROMANS CHAPTER, UH, 12 VERSE 21, BE NOT OVERCOME WITH EVIL, BUT
OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. IF I HAD A TITLE FOR THE MESSAGE, I
GUESS IT WOULD BE, HOW TO BEHAVE IN A CAVE. HOW YOU AND I OUGHT
TO LEARN TO BE UNDER THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER US
SO WE CAN BE OVER THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT UNDER US,
BECAUSE, VERY FRANKLY, THE PROBLEM IN THE WORLD TODAY IS
THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION. UH, THE BIBLE SAYS, JESUS WAS SPEAKING
ABOUT THE LOST, LAST DAYS, AND HE SAYS, BECAUSE INIQUITY SHALL
ABOUND, THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD. AND THE WORD FOR
INIQUITY THERE IS LITERALLY THE LERD, WORD FOR LAWLESSNESS, FOR
REBELLION. JESUS SAID IN THE LAST DAYS REBELLION WOULD
ABOUND, REBELLION WOULD ABOUND, AND WE SEE IT TODAY. UH, WE SEE
IT IN HOMES. CHILDREN TODAY ARE REBELLING AGAINST THEIR PARENTS
LIKE NEVER BEFORE. SOMEBODY SAID, EVERYTHING IN THE MODERN
HOME TODAY IS RUN BY SWITCHES EXCEPT THE KIDS. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] WE SEE IN CHURCHES A SPIRIT OF REBELLION. WE SEE
PEOPLE IN THEIR ARROGANCY IN THE, IN THE WORLD OF RELIGION,
WHO'VE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH AND REVISED AND REMODELED THE BIBLE
TO MAKE IT POLITICALLY CORRECT. I MEAN, WE HAVE NEW TRANSLATIONS
THAT ARE COMING OUT, NOT BECAUSE OF SCHOLARSHIP, BUT BECAUSE OF
PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. THAT'S SHEER
REBELLION. WE SEE REBELLION IN THE STREETS, UH, TODAY,
REBELLION AGAINST GOVERNMENT. ALL OF THIS IS THE POWER OF
SATAN, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TODAY IS TO LEARN HOW TO BE
UNDER THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER US SO WE CAN BE OVER
THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT UNDER US. THREE THINGS THEREFORE
I WANT TO WRITE UPON YOUR HEARTS THIS MORNING. FIRST OF ALL, LIKE
DAVID, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE KINGDOM AUTHORITY. WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE KINGDOM AUTHORITY. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES FIVE
AND SIX. AFTER DAVID HAD CUT OFF, UH, SAUL'S ROBE, THE BIBLE
SAYS IN VERSES FIVE AND SIX, AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTERWARD, THAT
DAVID'S HEART SMOTE HIM, BECAUSE HE HAD CUT OFF SAUL'S SKIRT. AND
HE SAID UNTO HIS MEN, THE LORD FORBID THAT I SHOULD DO THIS
THING UNTO MY MASTER, THE LORD'S ANOINTED, TO STRETCH FORTH MY
HAND AGAINST HIM, SEEING HE IS THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD.' DAVID
UNDERSTOOD THE PRINCIPLE OF KINGDOM AUTHORITY. DAVID
UNDERSTOOD THAT HE NEEDED TO BE UNDER SAUL EVEN THOUGH SAUL
SOUGHT FOR HIS LIFE. SAUL WAS STILL, THOUGH UNWORTHY, HE WAS
STILL AT THAT TIME THE KING OF ISRAEL. HE WAS THE APPOINTED AND
THE ANOINTED KING. LATER ON, THERE CAME ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY
FOR SAUL TO BE KILLED IN, AH, FIRST SAMUEL CHAPTER 26 VERSE
NINE, YOU MIGHT JUST TURN OVER THERE. THERE WAS A MAN NAMED
ABISHAI WHO FOUND SAUL ASLEEP. HIS HEAD WAS ON THE PILLOW, AND,
UH, ABISHAI SAID, LISTEN, DAVID, IF YOU'LL LET ME GO OVER THERE,
SAID, I CAN PUT A SPEAR THROUGH HIM RIGHT NOW. AND HE SAID, I
WON'T HAVE TO DO IT TWICE, BECAUSE I'll DO THE JOB RIGHT
THE FIRST TIME. AND HERE'S WHAT. DAVID SAID TO ABISHAI, DESTROY
HIM NOT; FOR WHO CAN STRETCH FORTH HIS HAND AGAINST THE
LORD'S ANOINTED, AND BE GUILTLESS? DON'T KILL HIM. NOW
HOW DOES THAT APPLY TO US TODAY, BECAUSE SAUL IS NOT OUR KING?
LET ME SHOW YOU HOW IT APPLIES TO US TODAY. JUST PUT IN YOUR
MARGIN ROMANS 13, VERSES ONE AND FOLLOWING, LET EVERY SOUL, NOW
FOLKS THAT INCLUDES YOU, LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE
HIGHER POWERS. THAT MEANS THE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES. FOR
THERE IS NO POWER BUT OF GOD, AND THE POWERS THAT BE ARE
ORDAINED OF GOD. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE RESISTETH THE POWER,
THAT IS, THE AUTHORITY, RESISTETH THE ORDINANCE OF GOD.
AND THEY THAT RESIST SHALL RECEIVE TO THEMSELVES DAMNATION.
WHEN YOU REBEL AGAINST THOSE AUTHORITIES THAT GOD HAS PUT
OVER YOU, YOU'RE NOT REBELLING AGAINST THOSE AUTHORITIES; YOU
ARE REBELLING AGAINST ALMIGHTY GOD. HE GOES ON TO SAY, FOR
RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR TO GOOD WORKS, BUT TO THE EVIL. WILT
THOU, UH, WILT THOU THEN NOT BE AFRAID OF THE POWER OF THE
AUTHORITY? DO THAT WHICH IS GOOD, AND THOU SHALT HAVE PRAISE
OF THE SAME. FOR HE, NOW HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENTAL
MAGISTRATE, FOR HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD TO THEE FOR
GOOD. BUT IF THOU DO THAT WHICH IS EVIL, BE AFRAID; FOR HE
BEARETH NOT THE SWORD IN VAIN; FOR HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD, A
REVENGER TO EXECUTE WRATH UPON HIM THAT DOETH EVIL. WHEREFORE
YE MUST NEEDS BE SUBJECT, NOT ONLY FOR WRATH, THAT IS, TO KEEP
HIM FROM DOING SOMETHING TO YOU, BUT FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE, TO KEEP
YOUR HEART RIGHT BEFORE GOD. NOW FOLKS, WE MAY SAY, WAIT A
MINUTE. YOU DON'T KNOW THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT WE HAVE. MAYBE YOU
DON'T KNOW THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THERE WAS WHEN PAUL
WROTE THIS, UH, WHEN NERO WAS ON THE THRONE. WE'RE GOING TO SAY
MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON. SOMETIMES IT MAY GALL US.
SOMETIMES WE MAY BE LIKE DAVID'S FRIEND, SAY, YOU GOT A CHANCE TO
GET HIM. GET HIM! BUT DAVID SAID, NO, GOD'S THE ONE WHO SETS
UP KINGS. GOD'S THE ONE WHO BRINGS THEM DOWN. I WILL BE
SUBJECT TO THOSE AUTHORITIES THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER ME. NOW
YOU SAY, WHAT IF I HAVE AN UNWORTHY AUTHORITY? WHAT IF MY
PARENTS ARE UNWORTHY? WHAT IF MY HUSBAND IS UNWORTHY? WHAT IF MY
PRESIDENT IS UNWORTHY? WHAT IF MY MAYOR IS UNWORTHY? WHAT IF MY
COUNCILMAN IS UNWORTHY? WHAT IF MY TEACHER IS UNWORTHY? WHAT DO
I DO? THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION. WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS
THAT QUESTION NEXT SUNDAY, BUT I'll TELL YOU ONE THING YOU
DON'T DO; YOU DO NOT HAVE A. SPIRIT OF REBELLION. AND, BY THE
WAY, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE WHO ARE, UH, GOVERNMENTAL
AUTHORITIES AND MAGISTRATES, DON'T YOU THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME
WE SAID A GOOD WORD FOR THE POLICEMAN? LET ME SAY SOMETHING
TO YOU. HERE'S SOMEBODY WROTE THESE WORDS, AND I WAS SO MOVED
BY THEM I WANTED TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. A POLICEMAN IS MANY
THINGS. HE IS A SON, A BROTHER, A FATHER, AN UNCLE, AND
SOMETIMES EVEN A GRANDFATHER. HE IS A PROTECTOR IN TIME OF NEED
AND A COMFORTER IN TIME OF SORROW. HIS JOB CALLS FOR HIM TO
BE A DIPLOMAT, A PSYCHOLOGIST, A LAWYER, A FRIEND, AND AN
INSPIRATION. HE SUFFERS FROM AN OVERDOSE OF PUBLICITY ABOUT
BRUTALITY AND DISHONESTY. HE SUFFERS FAR MORE FROM THE
NOTORIETY PRODUCED FROM UNFOUNDED CHARGES. TOO OFTEN
ACTS OF HEROISM GO UNNOTICED, AND THE TRUTH IS BURIED UNDER
ALL THE CRITICISM. THE FACT IS THAT LESS THAN ONE-HALF OF ONE
PERCENT OF POLICEMEN EVER DISCREDIT THEIR UNIFORM. THAT'S
A BETTER AVERAGE THAN YOU'LL FIND AMONG CLERGYMEN. A
POLICEMAN IS AN ORDINARY GUY WHO IS CALLED UPON FOR EXTRAORDINARY
BRAVERY FOR US. HIS JOB MAY SOMETIMES SEEM ROUTINE, BUT THE
INTERRUPTIONS CAN BE MOMENTS OF STARK TERROR. HE IS THE MAN WHO
FACES A HALF-CRAZED GUNMAN, WHO RESCUES A LOST CHILD, WHO
CHALLENGES A MOB, WHO RISKS HIS NECK MORE OFTEN THAN WE REALIZE.
HE DESERVES OUR RESPECT AND PROFOUND THANKS. A POLICEMAN
STANDS BETWEEN THE LAWBREAKER, THE LAW ABIDER AND THE
LAWBREAKER. IT'S THE PRIME REASON YOUR HOME HASN'T BEEN
BURNED, YOUR FAMILY ABUSED, AND YOUR BUSINESS LOOTED. TRY TO
IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THERE WERE NO POLICEMEN AROUND,
THEN TRY TO THINK OF WAYS TO MAKE THEIR JOB MORE REWARDING.
SHOW THEM THE RESPECT YOU REALLY HAVE. OFFER THEM A SMILE AND A
KIND WORD. SEE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE MAGICIANS TO RAISE
THEIR FAMILIES ON LESS-THAN-ADEQUATE SALARIES. WE
THINK POLICEMEN ARE GREAT. WE THANK GOD FOR ALL THE LITTLE
BOYS WHO SAID THEY WOULD BE POLICEMEN AND ALL WHO KEPT THEIR
PROMISE. WE HOPE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY, AND WE HOPE YOU WILL
SHOW IT, SO THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH GOOD POLICEMEN
TO GO AROUND. THAT'S GOOD. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] THE BIBLE
SAYS, THESE ARE MINISTERS OF GOD TO US FOR GOOD. THEY ARE A
TERROR TO EVIL WORKS. YOU SEE, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE
AUTHORITY THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER US. DO YOU KNOW WHAT MADE THE
DEVIL THE DEVIL? WHAT MADE THE DEVIL THE DEVIL WAS TO REBEL
AGAINST AUTHORITY. HE REBELLED AGAINST ALMIGHTY GOD. IN ISAIAH
CHAPTER 14 VERSE 13, FOR THOU HAST SAID IN THINE HEART, I WILL
ASCEND INTO HEAVEN; I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF
GOD. HE WANTED TO KICK GOD OFF THE THRONE AND PUT HIMSELF UPON
THE THRONE. HE SAID IN VERSE 14, I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH.
NOW SAUL, WHO WAS DAVID'S FOE, HAD THE SPIRIT OF THE DEVIL IN
HIM. DO YOU KNOW WHAT SAUL'S PROBLEM WAS? SAUL REBELLED
AGAINST ALMIGHTY GOD. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN SAMUEL TOLD SAUL TO
DO SOMETHING. SAMUEL WAS GOD'S PROPHET, AND THEREFORE HE SPOKE
FOR ALMIGHTY GOD, AND SAUL REFUSED, AND, UH, SAMUEL REBUKED
HIM WITH THESE WORDS, AND I WANT YOU TO PUT THEM DOWN BECAUSE
THEY ARE KEY WORDS TO ALL WE HAVE TO SAY. FIRST SAMUEL 15
VERSE 23. HERE'S WHAT SAMUEL HAD TO SAY TO THIS MAN SAUL, WHO WAS
THERE IN THAT CAVE, WHOSE LIFE DAVID COULD'VE TAKEN. SAMUEL
SAID TO SAUL, FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT. NOW
DON'T PASS THAT EASILY. REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF
WITCHCRAFT, AND STUBBORNNESS IS ASINIQUITY AND IDOLATRY. BECAUSE
THOU HAST REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HE HATH ALSO REJECTED
THEE FROM BEING KING. NOW GOD SAYS IF YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF
REBELLION, LISTEN, IF YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION, YOU ARE
PRACTICING A SIN LIKE WITCHCRAFT. REBELLION IS AS THE
SIN OF WITCHCRAFT. WHAT IS WITCHCRAFT? WITCHCRAFT IS
TRAFFETING, TRAFFICKING WITH THE DEVIL. JUST THINK ABOUT IT. WHAT
MADE THE DEVIL THE DEVIL? REBELLION. WHEN YOU HAVE
REBELLION IN YOUR HEART, YOU'RE OVER IN THE DEVIL'S TERRITORY.
YOU SEE, SAUL WAS A MAN AFTER THE DEVIL'S OWN HEART; DAVID WAS
A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART. SAUL HAD THE SPIRIT OF
REBELLION; DAVID HAD THE SPIRIT OF SUBMISSION. YOU WILL NEVER BE
MORE LIKE THE DEVIL THAN WHEN YOU'RE A REBEL; YOU WILL NEVER
BE MORE LIKE THE LORD JESUS THAN WHEN YOU SUBMIT. I HOPE YOU
BELIEVE THAT. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE SOME OF
US TODAY THINK, MAN, YOU'VE GOT TO REBEL. YOU'VE GOT TO STAND UP
FOR YOURSELF. IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, HUH, WHY YOU'RE A
WEAKLING! NO, YOU'RE NOT. YOU'RE STRONG. DAVID'S GREATEST VICTORY
WAS THE VICTORY HE WON OVER SELF WHEN HE SUBMITTED TO THOSE
AUTHORITIES, AND [SLAP] FOR THAT REASON GOD MADE HIM ISRAEL'S
GREATEST KING, AND YOU WILL NEVER BE OVER THOSE THINGS THAT
GOD HAS PUT UNDER YOU UNTIL YOU LEARN TO BE UNDER THOSE THINGS
THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER YOU. NOW FOLKS THAT'S A LESSON, AND, AND
TODAY WE ARE TEACHING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE THE SPIRIT OF
REBELLION, AND WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL. THAT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT WE APPROVE WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY DO ANY MORE THAN
DAVID APPROVED WHAT SAUL DID. WHAT SAUL DID WAS VERY, VERY
WRONG, BUT DAVID UNDERSTOOD A PRINCIPLE; AND THEREFORE DAVID
LEARNED TO RULE WITH GREAT POWER AND GREAT AUTHORITY. NOW FOLKS,
LISTEN TO, UH, THIS FACT THAT YOUR PREACHER'S TELLING YOU. WE
MUST RECOGNIZE KINGDOM AUTHORITY. HERE'S THE SECOND
THING WE MUST DO; NOT ONLY MUST WE RECOGNIZE KINGDOM AUTHORITY,
BUT WE MUST RESPECT KINGDOM AUTHORITY. NOW, BEGIN IN VERSE
EIGHT, DAVID ALSO AROSE AFTERWARD, AND WENT OUT OF THE
CAVE, AND CRIED AFTER SAUL, SAYING, MY LORD THE KING.' AND
WHEN SAUL LOOKED BEHIND HIM, DAVID STOOPED WITH HIS FACE TO
THE EARTH, AND BOWED HIMSELF. AND DAVID SAID TO SAUL,
WHEREFORE HEAREST THOU MEN'S WORDS, SAYING, BEHOLD, DAVID
SEEKETH THY HURT?' BEHOLD, THIS DAY THINE EYES HAVE SEEN HOW
THAT THE LORD HAD DELIVERED THEE TODAY INTO MINE HAND IN THE
CAVE. AND SOME BADE ME KILL THEE, BUT MINE EYE SPARED THEE;
AND I SAID, I WILL NOT PUT FORTH MY HAND AGAINST MY LORD; FOR HE
IS THE LORD'S ANOINTED.' MOREOVER, MY FATHER, SEE, YEA,
SEE THE SKIRT OF THY ROBE IN MY HAND. FOR IN THAT I CUT OFF THE
SKIRT OF THY ROBE, AND KILLED THEE NOT, KNOW THOU AND SEE THAT
THERE IS NEITHER EVIL NOR TRANSGRESSION IN MY HEART, FOR I
HAVE NOT SINNED AGAINST THEE; YET THOU HUNTEST MY SOUL TO TAKE
IT. THE LORD JUDGE BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AND THE LORD AVENGE ME
OF THEE. BUT MINE HAND SHALL NOT BE UPON THEE. AS SAITH THE
PROVERB OF THE ANCIENTS, WICKEDNESS PROCEEDETH FROM THE
WICKED; BUT MINE HAND SHALL NOT BE UPON THEE.' AND AFTER WHOM IS
THE KING OF ISRAEL COME OUT? AFTER WHOM DOST THOU PURSUE?
AFTER A DEAD DOG, AFTER A FLEA. THE LORD THEREFORE BE JUDGE, AND
JUDGE BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AND SEE, AND PLEAD MY CAUSE, AND
DELIVER ME OUT OF THINE HAND.' DEAR GOD, HELP US TO UNDERSTAND
THIS. I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THIS. I HOPE, SIR, MADAM, THAT
YOU WILL LIVE THIS, PRACTICE THIS, AND TEACH THIS TO YOUR
CHILDREN; BECAUSE IF NOT, YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL
AUTHORITY. HERE IS A MAN RESPECTING SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY.
THIS MAN WAS AN UNWORTHY AUTHORITY, BUT DAVID RECOGNIZED
THAT AUTHORITY, AND HE RESPECTED THAT AUTHORITY. I WANT YOU TO
SEE HOW HE TALKED TO, UH, SAUL WITH REVERENCE. HE BOWS HIS HEAD
DOWN. WITH RESPECT HE CALLS HIM, MY LORD THE [SLAP] KING. HE EVEN
GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. HE SAID, PERHAPS YOU'VE
BEEN MISINFORMED. AND THEN, DURING ALL OF THAT TIME, THAT
DID NOT MEAN THAT HE GAVE INTO SAUL'S WICKED WAYS, BUT HE SAID,
I AM TRUSTING GOD TO GET ME OUT OF THIS THING. I'M NOT TRUSTING
YOU, SAUL. I AM TRUSTING GOD. LOOK IF YOU WILL AGAIN IN VERSE
12, UH, THE LORD JUDGE BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AND THE LORD AVENGE
ME OF THEE; BUT MINE HAND SHALL NOT BE UPON THEE. LOOK IF YOU
WILL IN VERSE 15, THE LORD THEREFORE BE JUDGE AND JUDGE
BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AND PLEAD MY CAUSE, AND DELIVER ME OUT OF
THINE HAND. NOW THE POINT IS THIS, THAT NOT ONLY DID DAVID,
NOT ONLY DID DAVID RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY THAT WAS IN SAUL, BUT
HE RESPECTED THE AUTHORITY. AND, FOLKS, THIS IS THE HARD PART,
THIS IS THE HARD PART. IT'S ONE THING FOR US TO GRUDGINGLY GIVE
IN TO THAT AUTHORITY, BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING FOR US TO RESPECT
THAT AUTHORITY AND TO RESPECT THOSE LEADERS THAT GOD HAS PUT
OVER US. SOMETIMES, UH, CHILDREN HAVE PARENTS, AND THOSE PARENTS
DON'T DESERVE RESPECT, AND IF YOU HAVE PARENTS THAT DON'T
DESERVE RESPECT, RESPECT THEM ANYWAY. IF YOU HAVE TEACHERS
THAT DON'T DESERVE RESPECT, RESPECT THEM ANYWAY. IF YOU'RE
IN A CHURCH, AND YOUR PASTOR DOESN'T DESERVE RESPECT, RESPECT
HIM ANYWAY. OR IF YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOVERNMENT
DOES NOT DESERVE RESPECT, RESPECT THAT GOVERNMENT ANYWAY.
YOU'RE NOT RESPECTING THE INDIVIDUAL. YOU ARE GETTING
YOURSELF IN A PLACE UNDER AUTHORITY, AND WHEN YOU DO, WHEN
YOU GET TO THAT PLACE, THEN GOD IS GOING TO BEGIN TO WORK IN
YOUR LIFE IN AN INCREDIBLE WAY, AND GOD IS GOING TO SEE THAT YOU
DON'T HAVE THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION, AND GOD IS GOING TO
INFUSE YOU WITH GREAT, GREAT POWER AND MAKE YOU HAVE KINGDOM
AUTHORITY JUST AS DAVID ONE DAY SET UPON ISRAEL'S THRONE AND
BECAME ISRAEL'S GREATEST KING. BUT THAT IS VERY HARD. DO YOU
KNOW THE PROBLEM WITH MANY OF US IS THAT WE HAVE A SPIRIT OF
REBELLION. AND FOLKS I WANNA TELL YOU BY NATURE, I HAVE A
SPIRIT OF REBELLION. YOU KNOW I, I, I HAVE A GIFT FOR SMART
REMARKS. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] AND I, I, I FIND MYSELF MANY TIMES,
UH, NOT IN SHEER REBELLION, BUT I FIND MYSELF WITH A SPIRIT OF
REBELLION. I'M LIKE THAT LITTLE BOY WHOSE MOTHER SAID TO HIM,
SON, SIT DOWN, AND HE WOULDN'T SIT DOWN. SHE SAID, SON, SIT
DOWN. HE'S ABOUT A FOUR-YEAR-OLD, HE WOULDN'T SIT
DOWN AGAIN. SHE TOOK BOTH HANDS AND SET HIM IN A CHAIR. HE SAT
DOWN FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND LOOKED AT HER AND SAID, I'M
STANDING UP ON THE INSIDE. HA, HA. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] NOW I, I
THINK MANY OF US ARE THAT WAY. I, I THINK THAT WHILE WE MAY
GRUDGINGLY GET UNDER THOSE AUTHORITIES THAT GOD HAS PUT
OVER US, WE ARE STANDING UP ON THE INSIDE. AND MANY TIMES WE
SPEAK IN WAYS WE WISH WE HADN'T. IN JUDE VERSES EIGHT AND NINE,
JUST PUT THIS IN YOUR MARGIN, JUDE IS TALKING ABOUT APOSTATES,
AND HE SAYS, LIKEWISE ALSO THESE FILTHY DREAMERS DEFILE THE
FLESH, LISTEN TO THIS, DESPISE DOMINION, THAT IS, THEY DON'T
WANT ANYBODY OVER THEM, AND SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES. YET
MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, WHEN CONTENDING WITH THE DEVIL, HE
DISPUTED ABOUT THE BODY OF MOSES, DURST NOT BRING AGAINST
HIM, THAT IS, MICHAEL DID NOT BRING AGAINST THE DEVIL, A
RAILING ACCUSATION, BUT SAID, THE LORD REBUKE THEE. NOW
MICHAEL DID NOT GIVE IN TO THE DEVIL. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE
DISPUTED WITH THE DEVIL. HE STOOD AGAINST THE DEVIL. HE WAS
OPPOSED TO THE DEVIL. HE WAS GOING TO BRING SATAN'S KINGDOM
DOWN. MICHAEL WAS THE MIGHTY ARCHANGEL, AND YET BECAUSE OF
THE RESIDUAL DIGNITY THAT WAS IN SATAN, WHO WAS ONCE THE ANOINTED
CHERUB, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT EVEN MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL WOULD NOT
SPEAK DISRESPECTFULLY. HE WOULD NOT BRING A RAILING ACCUSATION
AGAINST THE DEVIL HIMSELF. I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING. AROUND
THE DINNER TABLE, WHEN YOU BEGIN TO CARP AND CRITICIZE THOSE
PEOPLE, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, POLICEMEN, PASTORS,
PARENTS, PRESIDENTS, WHATEVER YOU DO, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
BUILDING IN YOUR CHILDREN? A SPIRIT OF REBELLION, A SPIRIT OF
REBELLION. I'M GONNA TELL YOU IT'S GONNA COME BACK ON YOU.
IT'S GONNA COME BACK ON YOU. AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE
REBEL ON YOUR HANDS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WHAT HAPPENED? WHY
WILL NOT THIS PERSON SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY? THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE
GIVE IN TO WICKEDNESS. THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE APPROVE ERROR, ANY
MORE THAN DAVID APPROVED WHAT SAUL DID. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IT WAS DAVID'S SUBMISSION THAT BROUGHT SAUL'S KINGDOM CRASHING
DOWN AND MADE KING, AND MADE KING DAVID THE KING THAT HE WAS.
NOW FOLKS, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING
OR NOT, AND MAYBE YOU THINK IT DOESN'T APPLY, BUT I THINK
THERE'S HARDLY A MESSAGE THAT APPLIES MORE THAN WHAT I HAVE TO
SAY RIGHT NOW. I AM SAYING TO YOU THAT GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO
LIVE WITH KINGDOM AUTHORITY, BUT WE WILL NEVER BE OVER THOSE
THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT UNDER US UNTIL WE ARE WILLING TO GET
UNDER THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER US. AND THE BIBLE SAYS
WHETHER, UH, WHOEVER IT IS, WHETHER WE LIKE THEM OR NOT. PUT
THIS VERSE IN YOUR MARGIN, FIRST PETER CHAPTER TWO VERSES 18
THROUGH 20, FIRST PETER TWO, 18 THROUGH 20, SERVANTS, BE SUBJECT
TO YOUR MASTERS WITH ALL FEAR; NOT ONLY TO THE GOOD AND GENTLE,
BUT ALSO TO THE FROWARD. THAT MEANS TO THE EVIL. YOU WORK FOR
A BOSS, YOU WORK FOR A MAN THAT'S NOT A GOOD MAN, BE IN
SUBMISSION TO HIM IF HE'S THE BOSS. FOR THIS IS THANKWORTHY,
IF A MAN FOR CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD ENDURE GRIEF, SUFFERING
WRONGFULLY. YOU SAY, WELL, HE, HE, HE DOESN'T TREAT ME RIGHT.
AND GOD SAYS, YOU DO IT FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE. JUST SUFFER
WRONGFULLY. AND THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY, FOR WHAT GLORY IS IT,
IF, WHEN YE BE BUFFETED FOR YOUR FAULTS, YE TAKE IT PATIENTLY?
BUT IF, AND WHEN YOU DO WELL, AND SUFFER FOR IT, YOU TAKE IT
PATIENTLY, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD. WE NEED TO LEARN TO
RESPECT AUTHORITY. ONE OF MY HEROES, YOU MAY WELL KNOW, IS
JOSEPH TSON. JOSEPH TSON, THAT APOSTLE TO ROMANIA. HE'S SPOKEN
FROM THIS PULPIT A NUMBER OF TIMES. HE TOLD ME A STORY ONE
TIME, WE WERE IN A RESTAURANT, BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. HE
SAID, I WAS IN A, A VILLAGE THERE NORTH OF, UH, BUCHAREST. I
WAS A PASTOR, WAS BACK IN 1974. HE SAID, I WAS IN MY STUDY WHEN
SEVEN COMMUNIST SOLDIERS CAME, JUST BURSTING INTO MY STUDY.
THEY SAID, ARE YOU JOSEPH TSON?' I SAID, YES.' WE HAVE REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE AN INSURRECTIONIST AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH YOUR LIBRARY, AND IF WE
CAN FIND ONE BOOK IN YOUR LIBRARY THAT HAS, UH,
ANTI-COMMUNIST WORDS IN IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ARRESTED.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.' AND THEY STARTED
TAKING THE BOOKS OFF OF HIS LIBRARY SHELF. NOW YOU KNOW TO A
PASTOR HIS BOOKS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. BUT THEY BEGAN TO
CONFISCATE HIS BOOKS, AND THEY BEGAN TO MAKE HIM SIGN HIS NAME
IN THE FLYLEAF OF EVERY BOOK SO THAT THEY COULD USE IT AGAINST
HIM. PUT YOUR NAME HERE, AND, AND, AND PUT THE DATE HERE THAT
WE GOT THIS BOOK OUT OF YOUR LIBRARY. ONE BY ONE THEY WERE
TAKING DOWN HIS BOOKS. HE SAID, IT WAS A TERRIBLE DAY! SEVEN
COMMUNIST SOLDIERS IN MY HOUSE. BUT HE SAID, THEY'D ONLY TAKEN
DOWN A FEW BOOKS WHEN THEY HANDED ME ONE THAT SAID, JOY
UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY, THAT WAS THE TITLE. THE
SUBTITLE, ARE YOU EXPERIENCING IT NOW?' HUH. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] AND HE REALIZED THAT GOD SAYS, REJOICE IN THE LORD
ALWAYS; AND AGAIN I SAY, REJOICE! AND HE SAID, I CHOOSE
TO REJOICE. AND HE SAID, ELIZABETH, WE HAVE GUESTS IN OUR
HOME. MAKE THEM SOME COFFEE. AND HE SAID, FROM THAT TIME ON I WAS
IN CHARGE, THE LORD AND I, BECAUSE I LEARNED SOMEHOW NOT TO
HAVE THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION. JOSEPH AND OTHERS WERE THOSE WHO
BROUGHT THAT COMMUNIST, UH, DICTATOR CEAUSESCU CRASHING
DOWN, BUT HOW DID THEY DO IT? WITH A SPIRIT, A SPIRIT OF
SUBMISSION. THEY TOOK THOSE BOOKS. THEY COULD NOT FIND
ANYTHING IN THOSE BOOKS, BUT THEY TOOK ALL OF JOSEPH'S TAPES.
THEY BROUGHT THEM BACK TO THE MAJOR. AND THEY SAID, WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT'S IN THE TAPES. HE SAID, I'll LISTEN TO THE TAPES.
SO HE BEGAN TO LISTEN TO THOSE. TAPES, AND AS HE WAS LISTENING
TO THE MAN OF GOD PREACH, HE HAD A HEART ATTACK AND [SNAP] DIED,
JUST LIKE THAT. WORD GOT OUT ALL AROUND. ONE PERSON HEARD THESE
COMMUNISTS TALKING, AND IT GOT BACK TO JOSEPH. THEY SAID, BE
CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO WITH A MAN OF GOD. BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL.
DON'T TOUCH THE MAN OF GOD. NOW, FOLKS, WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN TO
DO IS TO EXERCISE SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY, BUT YET NOT
ACQUIESCENCE. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE AGREE, BUT WE MUST HAVE,
WE MUST HAVE A VICTORY LIKE DAVID HAD. NOW HERE'S THE THIRD
THING. NOT ONLY MUST WE RECOGNIZE, UH, KINGDOM
AUTHORITY, AND NOT ONLY MUST ME, WE RESPECT KINGDOM AUTHORITY,
BUT WE NEED TO REST IN KINGDOM AUTHORITY; NOT REST IN THE
GOVERNMENT, NOT REST IN THE SAULS, NOT REST IN THE
CEAUSESCU'S, BUT REST IN THE LORD. NOTICE WHAT DAVID SAID
AGAIN, UH, IN VERSE 15, THE LORD THEREFORE BE JUDGE, AND JUDGE
BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AND SEE AND PLEAD MY CAUSE, AND DELIVER ME
OUT OF THINE HAND. DAVID WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIMES. HE
UNDERSTOOD THE SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHICH SAYS, DEARLY
BELOVED, AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE UNTO
WRATH, FOR IT IS WRITTEN, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL
REPAY, ' SAITH THE LORD. THEREFORE, IF THINE ENEMY
HUNGER, FEED HIM; IF HE THIRST, GIVE HIM DRINK. FOR IN SO DOING
THOU SHALT HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD. BE NOT OVERCOME OF
EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. THIS IS CONTRARY, FOLKS,
TO HUMAN NATURE. YOU'RE IN CHAPTER 24, LOOK IN VERSE 19,
FOR IF A MAN FIND HIS ENEMY, WILL HE LET HIM GO WELL AWAY?
WHEREFORE THE LORD REWARD THEE GOOD FOR THAT THOU HAST DONE
UNTO ME THIS DAY. SAUL SAID, WHAT YOU DID TO ME, DAVID, WAS
NOT HUMAN NATURE. YOU DID SOMETHING THAT WAS BEYOND HUMAN
NATURE. AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MAN
WHOSE NATURE IS THE NATURE OF A REBEL. THAT'S ME. I, I'M TELLING
YOU, BEFORE I GOT SAVED I WAS A STREET FIGHTER. I REALLY WAS;
I'M A LOVER NOW. [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] SO ANYBODY WANNA
FIGHT, DON'T COME TO ME. GO TO BOB OR SOMEBODY. I DON'T, I
DON'T FIGHT. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] SORRY, BOB. FOLKS, I MEAN, BY
NATURE IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SUBMIT, AND THAT IS AGAINST
HUMAN NATURE. IT'S AGAINST HUMAN NATURE FOR ALL OF US, NOW ISN'T
IT? BE HONEST! WHEN THE BIBLE SAYS, HE THAT RULETH HIS OWN
SPIRIT IS HE, BETTER THAN HE THAT TAKETH A CITY. AND I'll SAY
AGAIN THAT DAVID KILLED A BEAR, DAVID KILLED A LION, DAVID
KILLED GOLIATH, BUT THE GREATEST VICTORY THAT DAVID EVER HAD WAS
THAT DAY IN THAT CAVE WHERE HE SAID, I'M GOING TO GET UNDER
THOSE PEOPLE THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER ME SO THAT I CAN BE OVER
THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT UNDER ME. NOW THAT DOES NOT MEAN
THAT WE BLINDLY OBEY UNGODLY GOVERNMENT. IF YOU THINK I
BELIEVE IN THAT, YOU ARE WRONG, AND I'll SAY MORE ABOUT THAT
LATER ON. THE PROPHETS IN GOD'S. WORD PREACHED AGAINST THE
WICKEDNESS IN THE KINGDOM. KING, UH, NATHAN WARNED DAVID WHEN HE
DID WRONG. ELIJAH WARNED AHAB. ELEAZAR SPOKE TO JEHOSHAPHAT,
DANIEL TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR, MOSES TO PHARAOH, AND GOD FORBID THAT
WE SHOULD HAVE PULPITS TODAY THAT ARE SILENT WHEN LITTLE
BABIES ARE BEING MURDERED [AUDIENCE: THAT'S RIGHT] AND
WHEN WICKEDNESS PREVAILS IN SO MANY WAYS. WE DO NOT ACQUIESCE,
BUT I AM TELLING YOU THERE MUST BE IN US A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY
AND SURRENDER OVER OURSELVES, AND WHEN WE GET UNDER THOSE
THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT OVER US, THEN GOD CAN TRUST US TO BRING
THESE WICKED KINGDOMS CRASHING DOWN. THE CHURCH, BELOVED, IS
NOT THE MASTER OF THE STATE, NOT THE SERVANT OF THE STATE; WE'RE
THE CONSCIENCE OF THE STATE TO PREACH GOD'S TRUTH. THAT'S HOW
TO BEHAVE IN A CAVE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO
PRACTICE IT PERHAPS THIS AFTERNOON. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS
IN PRAYER. HEADS ARE BOWED. EYES ARE CLOSED. NOW, FOLKS, YOU WILL
NEVER WIN A VICTORY OVER SELF, OVER ANYTHING ELSE, UNTIL YOU
YIELD TO JESUS CHRIST. YOU'VE GOT TO SUBMIT, FIRST OF ALL, TO
THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, JESUS HIMSELF. AND WHEN
YOU GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS, HE WILL CLEANSE YOU AND FORGIVE YOU
OF EVERY SIN. HE WILL SEND HIS HOLY SPIRIT INTO YOUR HEART TO
EMPOWER YOU, TO GIVE YOU PEACE AND COMFORT AND DIRECTION; AND
WHEN YOU DIE, HE'LL TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN. IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED,
YOU CAN BE SAVED RIGHT NOW BY RECEIVING CHRIST. HE HAS DIED
FOR YOU. HE'S PAID FOR ALL OF YOUR SIN. HE IS KNOCKING AT YOUR
HEART'S DOOR. HE WANTS TO COME IN TODAY AND MAKE YOU A NEW
PERSON AND TO HELP YOU TO BE ALL THAT YOU WERE CREATED TO BE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE SAVED? WOULD YOU PRAY A PRAYER LIKE
THIS, GOD, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I'M A SINNER, AND I ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT MY SIN DESERVES JUDGMENT, BUT I NEED MERCY. I WANT TO BE
SAVED. JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME, AND YOU'VE PROMISED TO SAVE
ME IF I WOULD TRUST YOU. I DO TRUST YOU, JESUS, RIGHT NOW LIKE
A CHILD. I RECEIVE YOU INTO MY HEART. COME INTO MY HEART.
FORGIVE MY SIN. SAVE ME, LORD JESUS. PRAY THAT PRAYER. SAVE
ME, LORD JESUS. DID YOU PRAY IT? THEN PRAY THIS, LORD, BECAUSE
YOU DIED FOR ME, GIVE ME THE COURAGE TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC.
HELP ME NOT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOU, LORD, TO DECLARE MY FAITH.
HELP ME TO DO IT AND TO DO IT NOW. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN. WELL, AMEN. THANK GOD FOR THESE
IN THIS BEAUTIFUL WORSHIP CENTER WHO PRAYED AND ASKED CHRIST TO
COME INTO THEIR HEART, AND MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE DONE THE SAME
THING. HERE'S THE WONDERFUL NEWS, THE BIBLE SAYS, FOR
WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, SHALL BE
SAVED, AND FRIEND, THAT INCLUDES YOU. AND IF YOU PRAYED WITH US
AND ASKED CHRIST TO SAVE YOU, WOULD YOU WRITE US AND LET US
KNOW SO WE CAN REJOICE? AND WE'LL SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE
TO HELP YOU TO GET STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE 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
OF THIS MESSAGE, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE, LWF.ORG. YOU CAN
ALSO CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE SERIES, AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR
ONLINE STORE. AT LWF.ORG YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR NEW,
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POWERFUL SERIES OF MESSAGES FROM ADRIAN ROGERS. THANKS FOR
JOINING US FOR TODAY'S PROGRAM, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. [MUSIC]
HOW CAN YOU KNOW THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD? HOW CAN YOU
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