DON'T GET THE SENTIMENTAL IDEA
THAT, UH, THAT ALL THE WORLD RELIGIONS ARE SOMEHOW CONNECTED.
OH NO. JESUS CHRIST SAID IN JOHN CHAPTER 14 VERSE SIX, I AM THE
WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NOW LISTEN TO THIS, AND NO MAN
COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME. NOW IF SOMEBODY CAN COME
SOME OTHER WAY, THEN WHAT DOES THAT MAKE JESUS? THAT MAKES
JESUS A LIAR. [MUSIC] 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
PROGRAM. AND AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND
CHECK OUT PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINES, NOTES AND TRANSCRIPTS
ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW, LET'S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. WOULD YOU TURN TO ROMANS CHAPTER
ONE TODAY? TODAY I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I
TRUST WILL ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BECAUSE THERE IS A
QUESTION THAT IS A PROBLEM TO MANY SINCERE BELIEVERS, AND THIS
SAME QUESTION, UNANSWERED IN THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, HAS BEEN
AN EXCUSE TO KEEP THEM FROM COMING TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
NOW HERE IS THE PROBLEM SIMPLY STATED; IS GOD A RIGHTEOUS GOD?
IS GOD A JUST GOD? IS GOD FAIR, IF WE PUT IT IN OUR TERMINOLOGY,
TO LET A PERSON DIE AND GO TO HELL WHO HAS NEVER EVEN ONCE
HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS? LET ME GIVE THE QUESTION AGAIN. IS GOD
RIGHTEOUS, IS GOD FAIR, IS GOD JUST, WHO WOULD LET A PERSON DIE
AND GO TO HELL, WHO NEVER EVEN ONCE HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS?
NOW YOU'LL HAVE TO ADMIT THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, ISN'T IT? OR,
SOMEBODY MAY SAY, AS AN ANCILLARY TO THAT QUESTION,
WELL, THEN PERHAPS IS THERE SOME OTHER WAY? CAN THESE WHO'VE
NEVER HEARD OF JESUS, DON'T KNOW ABOUT JESUS, CAN THEY GO TO
HEAVEN SOME OTHER WAY? THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS, AREN'T THEY?
WELL LET ME SAY THIS, NUMBER ONE; GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND GOD IS
JUST. NUMBER TWO; THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO HEAVEN APART FROM
JESUS CHRIST. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] NOW I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.
DON'T GET THE IDEA, DON'T GET THE SENTIMENTAL IDEA THAT, UH,
THAT ALL THE WORLD RELIGIONS ARE SOMEHOW CONNECTED. OH NO. JESUS
CHRIST SAID IN JOHN CHAPTER 14 VERSE SIX, I AM THE WAY, THE
TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NOW LISTEN TO THIS, AND NO MAN COMETH UNTO
THE FATHER BUT BY ME. NOW IF SOMEBODY CAN COME SOME OTHER
WAY, THEN WHAT DOES THAT MAKE JESUS? THAT MAKES JESUS A LIAR.
AND IF JESUS CHRIST IS A LIAR, NOT ONLY IS HE NOT, UH, THEIR
SAVIOR, HE'S NOT MY SAVIOR, BECAUSE A LIAR IS NOBODY'S
SAVIOR. AND WHAT DID THE APOSTLE PAUL, OR WHAT DID THE APOSTLES
SAY IN, IN ACTS CHAPTER FOUR AND VERSE 12 WHEN THEY SAID THIS,
NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER, FOR THERE IS NONE
OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE
SAVED. IF JESUS CHRIST IS NOT THE ONLY WAY, HE IS NONE OF THE
WAYS. WELL THAT KIND OF PUTS US ON THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA,
DOESN'T IT? CAN A RIGHTEOUS, A GOOD, A LOVING, A HOLY GOD LET A
MAN DIE AND GO TO HELL WHO NEVER ONCE HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS?
HA, HA, WELL HOW ARE WE GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? WELL, THE
APOSTLE PAUL IS GOING TO ANSWER IT FOR US IN ROMANS CHAPTER ONE.
SO THEREFORE I PRAY THAT YOU WILL LISTEN AND LISTEN
CAREFULLY, BECAUSE, FOLKS, WE DON'T HAVE TO BE ASHAMED OF THE
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. NOTICE HOW PAUL BEGINS IN VERSE 16, FOR
I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. AND LOOK UP HERE AND
LET ME GIVE YOU A GOOD LOOK AT A MAN WHO ALSO IS NOT ASHAMED OF
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. I'VE BEEN PREACHING IT NOW FOR MANY YEARS.
THE MORE I PREACH IT, THE MORE I MARVEL IN IT, THE MORE I THANK
GOD FOR IT, THE MORE I STAND BY IT, THE MORE I BELIEVE IN IT. I
AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, FOR IT, THE GOSPEL, IS
THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH, TO
THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK, FOR THEREIN IS THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD REVEALED. FROM FAITH TO FAITH, AS IT IS
WRITTEN, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH, FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS
REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
OF MEN WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE THAT
WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM, FOR GOD HATH
SHOWED IT UNTO THEM, FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM FROM THE
CREATION OF THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD
BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND
GODHEAD, NOW HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE, SO THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT
EXCUSE. JUST UNDERSCORE THAT, SO THEN THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO'VE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL, THOSE
WHO ARE LOST, ETERNALLY LOST, WHO'VE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL?
IS GOD JUST, IS GOD RIGHTEOUS, IS GOD GOOD, IS GOD LOVING, WHO
COULD LET SUCH A THING HAPPEN? I WANT TO WRITE FOUR THINGS UPON
YOUR HEART THIS MORNING AS WE LOOK INTO ROMANS CHAPTER ONE AND
CHAPTER TWO. I WANT TO GIVE YOU FOUR FACTORS THAT WILL HELP YOU
TO UNDERSTAND THIS, I BELIEVE, AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. FACTOR
NUMBER ONE IS THE REVELATION FACTOR, THE REVELATION FACTOR.
AND WHAT IS THAT FACTOR? ALL MEN HAVE SOME LIGHT. DO YOU HAVE
THAT? THE REVELATION FACTOR; ALL MEN HAVE SOME LIGHT. NOW I WANT
YOU TO IMAGINE THAT THE END OF TIME HAS COME. IT'S THAT TIME WE
KNOW AS THE FINAL JUDGMENT. AND I WANT YOU TO SEE OUT THERE
WHAT, UH, WE WOULD CALL THE HEATHEN, THOSE WHO'VE NEVER
HEARD THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. AND, UH, THE, THE
ACCUSATION IS MADE; THE INDICTMENT IS GIVEN, FOR THE
WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS
OF MEN WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. AND, UH, THE
HEATHEN, THE PAGANS, THEY SAY, YOUR HONOR, NOT GUILTY, NOT
GUILTY! WE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL; WE NEVER KNEW HOW TO BE
SAVED. WE ARE INNOCENT BY REASON OF IGNORANCE. WE NEVER HEARD; WE
NEVER KNEW. AND THE APOSTLE PAUL BECOMES THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY. AND THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS TO THE FATHER, YOUR HONOR,
I WILL PROVE THAT THEY ARE GUILTY. I WILL PROVE THAT THEY
ARE NOT INNOCENT BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE. I WILL SHOW THAT THEY
CANNOT SAY THEY NEVER HAD A FAIR AND AN EQUAL CHANCE. AND I CALL
TWO WITNESSES TO TESTIFY AGAINST THESE WHO SAY THEY NEVER KNEW,
THEY NEVER HEARD. WITNESS NUMBER ONE, WILL YOU TAKE THE STAND?
WITNESS NUMBER ONE; GIVE THE COURT YOUR NAME. HE SAYS, MY
NAME IS CREATION. OH, CREATION, YOU'RE THE WITNESS THAT GOD
EXISTS? YES, I AM THE WITNESS THAT GOD EXISTS. I WANT YOU TO
READ IT HERE, IN, UH, ROMANS ONE VERSES 19 AND 20, BECAUSE THAT
WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM, FOR GOD HATH
SHOWED IT UNTO THEM, FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM FROM THE
CREATION OF THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD
BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND
GODHEAD, SO THAT THEY ARE, LISTEN, THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.
CREATION TESTIFIES TO THE FACT OF GOD. PSALM 19 VERSE ONE SAYS,
THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD. NOW IF YOU HAVE A CREATION,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CREATOR. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IT, THAT THE
CREATOR, IS CLEARLY SEEN BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE. WHEN I SEE
A PIANO HERE AND IT'S FINELY TUNED, I KNOW THAT SOMEBODY
CRAFTED IT. WHEN I SEE A WATCH THAT RUNS WITH PRECISION, SOME
OF THE TIME, HA, I SAY THAT SOMEBODY CRAFTED THAT WATCH.
WHEN I SEE A BUILDING PUT TOGETHER IN SYMMETRY AND BALANCE
AND PURPOSE, I SAY THAT HERE IS AN ARCHITECT. AND WHEN I SEE
THIS MIGHTY UNIVERSE PUT TOGETHER, WHEN I SEE, UH,
CREATION, I SAY, CREATOR. WHEN I SEE ORDER AND SYSTEM, I SAY,
INTELLIGENCE. THAT'S THE REASON THE BIBLE SAYS, THE FOOL HATH
SAID IN HIS HEART, THERE'S NO GOD.' BECAUSE WITNESS NUMBER ONE
SAYS, [CLAP] WITNESS NUMBER ONE IS CREATION. BUT THEN, UH,
CREATION STEPS DOWN FROM THE WITNESS STAND, AND THE APOSTLE
PAUL SAYS, NOW I CALL MY SECOND WITNESS. WOULD YOU TAKE THE
STAND? WILL YOU TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT
THE TRUTH? I WILL. WILL YOU GIVE YOUR NAME? WITNESS NUMBER TWO
SAYS, MY NAME IS CONSCIENCE. SO THERE'RE TWO WITNESSES. NUMBER
ONE IS CREATION; THAT IS THE OUTWARD, OBJECTIVE WITNESS. THE
SECOND IS CONSCIENCE; THAT IS THE INWARD, SUBJECTIVE WITNESS.
NOW LOOK IN ROMANS ONE VERSE 19, IF YOU WILL. HE SAYS HERE,
BECAUSE THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM, FOR
GOD HATH SHOWED IT UNTO THEM. UNTO THEM IS CREATION, IN THEM
IS CONSCIENCE. NOW GO OVER TO CHAPTER TWO AND VERSE 14 AND
LOOK AT THAT IF YOU WILL, PLEASE, FOR WHEN THE GENTILES,
NOW ANOTHER WORD FOR GENTILES IS PAGANS, THOSE WHO'VE NEVER HEARD
THE GOSPEL. FOR WHEN THE GENTILES, WHICH HAVE NOT THE
LAW, THE LAW HERE MEANS THE, UH, OLD TESTAMENT LAW, FOR WHEN THE
GENTILES, WHICH HAVE NOT THE LAW, WATCH THIS, DO BY NATURE
THE THINGS CONTAINED IN THE LAW, THESE HAVING NOT THE LAW ARE A
LAW UNTO THEMSELVES WHICH SHOW THE WORK OF THE LAW WRITTEN IN
THEIR HEARTS, THEIR CONSCIENCE, ALSO BEARING WITNESS, AND THEIR
THOUGHTS THE MEANWHILE ACCUSING OR ELSE EXCUSING ONE ANOTHER. SO
THERE'RE TWO WITNESSES THAT ALL PAGANS, ALL HEATHEN, ALL PEOPLE
ON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH HAVE. ONE IS THE OUTWARD,
OBJECTIVE WITNESS CALLED CREATION; THE OTHER IS THE
INWARD, SUBJECTIVE WITNESS CALLED CONSCIENCE. THERE IS A
BUILT IN KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. AUGUSTINE SAID, THE SOUL OF MAN
IS RESTLESS UNTIL IT RESTS IN GOD. GOD MADE MAN TO SERVE HIM,
TO KNOW HIM, AND UNTIL HE DOES HE'S LIKE A ROUND PEG IN A
SQUARE HOLE, OR HE IS OUT OF FELLOWSHIP. NOW, WHAT IS AN
ATHEIST? THERE'S NO REAL INTELLECTUAL ATHEIST. ALL, ALL,
UH, ATHEISTS ARE NOT IN, ARE ATHEISTS BECAUSE OF INTELLECTUAL
PROBLEMS. THEY'RE ATHEISTS BECAUSE OF MORAL PROBLEMS. AH,
YOU SAY, BUT I KNOW SOME BRILLIANT PEOPLE WHO ARE
ATHEISTS. WELL, SO WHAT? I KNOW SOME BRILLIANT PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT. YOU SAY, WELL, I KNOW SOME, UH, FOOLISH PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE
IN GOD. WELL, I KNOW EVERYBODY WHO DOESN'T IS FOOLISH. YOU SEE,
IT'S, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF INTELLIGENCE. THE BIBLE SAYS,
PROFESSING, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE HERE IN A MOMENT, PROFESSING
THEMSELVES TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS. WHY? BECAUSE, YOU
SEE, ALL OF US HAVE A GODCONSCIOUSNESS. IT IS NOT A
MATTER OF INTELLECTUALISM; IT IS A MATTER OF MORALITY. THE FOOL
HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, THERE IS NO GOD.' AND SO, AN ATHEIST IS
SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE IDEA OF GOD, IT MAKES HIM UNCOMFORTABLE.
AND SO HE SAYS, IF I CAN GET RID OF THIS IDEA OF GOD, I CAN GET
RID OF THIS UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING. BUT HE REALLY DOESN'T
GET RID OF IT, NOT DOWN DEEP. HE'S LIKE A MAN WHO BOUGHT A NEW
BOOMERANG AND KILLED HIMSELF TRYING TO THROW THE OLD ONE
AWAY. HA, HUH, THE IDEA OF GOD IS JUST THERE, AND THE MORE HE
TRIES TO GET RID OF IT, SUBCONSCIOUSLY THE MORE HE KNOWS
THAT GOD EXISTS BECAUSE DOWN IN HIS HEART IS THAT CONSCIENCE.
AND SO WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE FIRST FACTOR? IT IS THE
REVELATION FACTOR. PUT IT DOWN, ALL MEN HAVE SOME LIGHT. AND YOU
MIGHT PUT IN YOUR MARGIN, JOHN ONE VERSE NINE, CHRIST IS THAT
TRUE LIGHT THAT LIGHTETH EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD.
YOU CAN'T GET AROUND THAT. CHRIST IS THAT TRUE LIGHT THAT
LIGHTETH EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD, JOHN 1:9. TWO
WITNESSES: CREATION AND CONSCIENCE; TESTIFY THAT THE
HEATHEN, THE PAGAN, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY ARE,
THEY HAVE SOME LIGHT. I DIDN'T SAY ALL LIGHT, JUST SOME. NOW,
HERE'S THE SECOND PROPOSITION. THE FIRST FACTOR IS THE
REVELATION FACTOR. THE SECOND FACTOR IS THE REFUSAL FACTOR.
AND WHAT IS THIS FACTOR? LIGHT REFUSED INCREASES DARKNESS. LOOK
IF YOU WILL NOW IN VERSES 21 AND 22. AND HE SAYS HERE, ROMANS
CHAPTER ONE VERSE 21, VERSE 20 SAYS, THAT THEY'RE WITHOUT
EXCUSE. VERSE 21 SAYS, BECAUSE THAT, WHEN THEY KNEW GOD, THAT
IS, THEY KNOW BY CREATION AND CONSCIENCE THAT GOD EXISTS, THEY
GLORIFIED HIM NOT AS GOD, NEITHER WERE THANKFUL BUT BECAME
VAIN IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS AND THEIR FOOLISH HEART WAS,
UNDERSCORE THIS, DARKENED. DARKENED. ALL MEN HAVE SOME
LIGHT. LIGHT REFUSED INCREASES DARKNESS. NOW, YOU SEE, YOU
CANNOT JUST SIMPLY TAKE LIGHT OR TRUTH AND PUT IT ON ICE. YOU
CANNOT PUT TRUTH IN YOUR POCKET AND SAY, THAT'S VERY
INTERESTING, I'll SPEND IT SOME. DAY IF I NEED IT. NO, WHEN GOD
GIVES YOU LIGHT, WHEN CREATION AND CONSCIENCE SPEAK TO THE
HEART OF ANY PAGAN OR ANY INDIVIDUAL ANYWHERE ON THE FACE
OF THIS EARTH, WHEN GOD GIVES HIM SOME LIGHT, IF HE DOES NOT
GLORIFY GOD, IF HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN GOD, IF HE DOES NOT
TRUST GOD, HE DOES NOT REMAIN STATIC. HE BEGINS TO REGRESS.
AND HE LOSES EVEN THE LIGHT THAT HE HAS. HIS FOOLISH HEART WILL
BE DARKENED. NOW HERE'S SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO LISTEN
TO VERY CAREFULLY, AND I PRAY THAT YOU WILL NOT MISS WHAT I'M
ABOUT TO SAY. IN THE BIBLE, THE OPPOSITE OF TRUTH IS NOT ERROR,
IT IS SIN. NOW THE ERROR IS THE BAGGAGE THAT COMES WITH THE SIN.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT, UH, THAT A MAN, UH, DOES NOT HAVE ERROR IF
HE REFUSES TRUTH, BUT WHY DOES HE REFUSE TRUTH? HE REFUSES
TRUTH BECAUSE OF THE SIN THAT IS IN HIS HEART. NOW LOOK IN
REVELAT, I, EH, ROMANS CHAPTER ONE VERSE 18. LISTEN TO IT, FOR
THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL
UNGODLINESS, NOW UNDERSTAND THIS, AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN
WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. NOW LOOK AT THE
WORD HOLD. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WORD HOLD MEANS? IT LITERALLY
MEANS; WHO RESIST THE TRUTH; WHO SMOTHER THE TRUTH; WHO, WHO, WHO
HOLD BACK THE TRUTH. AND HOW DO THEY HOLD BACK THE TRUTH? NOT IN
ERROR, BUT IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. WHY DOES A MAN NOT BELIEVE IN
GOD? BECAUSE THE BELIEF IN GOD MEANS THAT HE HAS TO ADJUST HIS
LIFESTYLE. HIS LIFESTYLE OVER HERE IS HIS UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
OVER HERE IS CREATION AND CONSCIENCE. AND SO CREATION AND
CONSCIENCE TELL HIM THERE'S A GOD. HIS LIFESTYLE SAYS, IF I
ADMIT THAT, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THIS. SO HE'S IN A
QUANDARY BETWEEN THE TWO. IF HE TURNS THIS WAY, HE TURNS FROM
THAT; BUT IF HE TURNS THIS WAY, HE TURNS FROM THAT. SO WHEN HE
SAYS, I WILL RESIST THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, THEN WHEN HE
TURNS THIS WAY, HE GETS FURTHER FROM THAT. AND HE GOES AWAY INTO
THE DARKNESS, AND HIS FOOLISH HEART IS DARKENED. THE UNBELIEF
IS THE BAGGAGE THAT COMES WITH HIS SIN. NOW, I, I DON'T THINK
IT'S MORE GRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATED THAN IN THE BOOK OF
SECOND THESSALONIANS CHAPTER TWO VERSES NINE THROUGH 12. I WANT
YOU TO LISTEN TO IT. I THINK SOME OF THE MOST TERRIFYING
SCRIPTURE IN ALL OF THE BIBLE. IT SPEAKS OF THE ANTICHRIST
WHO'S COMING, AND IT SAYS, EVEN HIM WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE
WORKING OF SATAN WITH ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS AND
WITH ALL DECEIVABLENESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEM THAT
PERISH BECAUSE, NOW LISTEN, THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE
TRUTH THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. NOW LISTEN TO VERSES 11 AND 12,
FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION. HOLD IT,
PASTOR, HOLD IT! GOD DOESN'T SEND ANYBODY DELUSION. WELL, YOU
BETTER GO BACK AND READ THE BIBLE. SECOND THESSALONIANS
CHAPTER TWO VERSE NINE SAYS THAT, GOD WILL SEND THEM STRONG
DELUSION. WELL, WHY ON EARTH WOULD GOD SEND THEM STRONG
DELUSION? WELL, JUST CONTINUE TO READ, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A
LIE. HEH. IT GETS WORSE, DOESN'T IT? GOD SENDS DELUSION, AND WHY
DOES GOD SEND DELUSION? THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE. WELL,
WHY WOULD GOD SEND A LIE? UH, WELL, LET'S CONTINUE TO READ,
AND GOD, AH, SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION THAT THEY SHOULD
BELIEVE A LIE THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED. SEEMS TO GET
WORSE, DOESN'T IT? HUH, HERE GOD SENDS DELUSION; THEY BELIEVE A
LIE THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED. WHY? WHY WOULD GOD DO
THAT? WELL, CONTINUE TO READ, THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED
WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, THEY HAD THE TRUTH, THEY BELIEVED NOT
THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. THEY HEARD THE
TRUTH! THEY KNEW THE TRUTH! THEY TURNED FROM THE TRUTH! THEY HAD
PLEASURE IN THEIR FILTHY, DIRTY, ROTTEN SIN! AND GOD SAYS, ALL
RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. YOU WANT YOUR SIN, AND WITH [CLAP]
THAT SIN, THE BAGGAGE IS DELUSION, A LIE, AND DAMNATION.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND IT? MAYBE I CAN ILLUSTRATE IT THIS WAY.
HERE'S A MAN WHO COMES TO CHURCH LAST SUNDAY. NEVER BEEN HERE
BEFORE, AND WE'RE TAKING A LOVE OFFERING FOR JESUS. HE GOES AWAY
AND HE SAYS, HA! ALL THEY EVER TALK ABOUT IS MONEY. AND HE GOES
AWAY ALL STEAMED, HOT UNDER THE COLLAR. IT'S THE LAST TIME I'M
EVER GOING TO GO DOWN TO THAT CHURCH. ALL THEY TALK ABOUT IS
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. THAT'S A LIE. WE TALK ABOUT JESUS HERE,
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND WE TALK ABOUT GIVING TO JESUS AND WE'RE
GLAD TO DO IT. BUT YOU SEE, THIS MAN'S PROBLEM IS NOT THE TRUTH.
HE DOESN'T STOP TO ASK ARE WE PREACHING THE TRUTH. THAT'S NOT
HIS PROBLEM AT ALL. HE KNOWS IF HE'LL OPEN THE BIBLE AND LISTEN
TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT THE TRUTH IS THERE, BUT HIS PROBLEM
IS HIS ROTTEN GREED, HIS GREED! THAT'S WHY HE GOT SO, UH, UPSET
TO BEGIN WITH. SO HE LEAVES AND HE SAYS, I [CLAP] AM NEVER GOING
BACK TO THAT CHURCH AGAIN. NOW, HIS PROBLEM THERE IS BETWEEN
TRUTH, AND NOT ERROR, BUT TRUTH, AND GREED. AND SO HE CHOOSES HIS
GREED. NOW WHAT HAPPENS? HE'S HOME ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
SOMEBODY KNOCKS AT THE DOOR. HE'S SITTING THERE, UH, WATCHING
TELEVISION, READING THE SPORTS PAGE. HE'S GOT A SIXPACK OF
EMBALMING FLUID OVER THERE BY HIS SIDE. AND HE'S, HE'S
UNSHAVEN, JUST SITTING THERE ON SUNDAY MORNING, WIFE AND KIDS
ARE OFF AT CHURCH. HE'S BY HIMSELF. THERE'S A KNOCK AT THE
DOOR. [KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, [KNOCK] AND HE SAYS, WHAT DO YOU
WANT? AND TO CUT TO THE CHASE, THEY SAY, WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU
THERE IS NO HELL. HE SAYS, COME IN. COME IN. AND HE LISTENS TO
THEM. THEY TELL HIM A LIE! HE BELIEVES A LIE! HE'S DAMNED AND
LOST AND ON THE ROAD TO THE VERY HELL HE SAYS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE
IN! WHY? HE RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH. HE HATH
PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. FOR THIS REASON GOD SHALL SEND THEM
STRONG DELUSION THAT HE SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE THAT HE MIGHT BE
DAMNED. NOW, FOLKS, YOU LISTEN TO ME. ALL PEOPLE HAVE SOME
LIGHT. THAT'S THE REVELATION FACTOR. THE REFUSAL FACTOR IS
LIGHT REFUSED INCREASES DARKNESS. YOU DON'T JUST PUT
TRUTH ON ICE. TO HIM THAT HATH SHALL BE GIVEN AND TO HIM THAT
HATH NOT SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY, EVEN THAT WHICH HE HATH. NOW,
HERE'S THE THIRD FACTOR. THE FIRST IS THE REVELATION FACTOR.
THE SECOND IS THE REFUSAL FACTOR. THE THIRD IS THE
RECEPTION FACTOR. NOW LISTEN TO ME. ALL MEN HAVE SOME LIGHT,
THAT'S THE REVELATION FACTOR. THE REFUSAL FACTOR IS LIGHT
REFUSED INCREASES DARKNESS; THEIR FOOLISH HEART WAS
DARKENED. THE RECEPTION FACTOR IS THIS; LIGHT OBEYED INCREASES
LIGHT. NOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THIS,
BECAUSE YOU SAY, NOW PASTOR, THERE'S A FLAW IN WHAT YOU'VE
BEEN SAYING THUS FAR. YOU'VE BEEN SAYING, THAT NO MAN CAN GO
TO HEAVEN APART FROM JESUS.' AND NEITHER CREATION NOR CONSCIENCE
TELLS YOU ABOUT JESUS. AND SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT ALL MEN HAVE
SOME LIGHT, THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE THEM, ACCORDING
TO WHAT YOU'VE SAID, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. CREATION AND
CONSCIENCE ONLY BRING US TO THE FACT OF GOD. BUT YOU SEE THIS;
THAT IF A MAN IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE FACT OF GOD, HE'S
CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN THE WAY TO GOD.
AND GOD IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO SHOW ANY MAN THE WAY TO GOD
WHO'S NOT EVEN INTERESTED IN THE FACT OF GOD, WHO IS NOT THANKFUL
BUT BECOMES VAIN IN HIS IMAGINATIONS AND HAS HIS FOOLISH
HEART DARKENED. BUT WHAT IS THE RECEPTION FACTOR? THE RECEPTION
FACTOR IS THIS; THAT LIGHT OBEYED INCREASES LIGHT. LIGHT
REFUSED INCREASES DARKNESS. LIGHT OBEYED INCREASES LIGHT.
LOOK IF YOU WILL NOW AGAIN IN VERSE 16, FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED
OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, THIS IS ROMANS 1:16, FOR IT IS THE POWER
OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH, TO THE JEW
FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK, FOR THEREIN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
GOD REVEALED FROM FAITH TO FAITH. NOW HERE'S THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. IS GOD RIGHTEOUS? YES! AND HOW IS THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD REVEALED? FROM FAITH TO FAITH. THAT'S THE
REVELATION FACTOR. GOD GIVES YOU TRUTH; YOU BELIEVE THAT TRUTH,
GOD GIVES YOU MORE TRUTH. YOU SEE, TO HIM THAT HAS SHALL BE
GIVEN. UH, THE MORE YOU OBEY THE LIGHT, THE MORE LIGHT YOU GET.
HERE'S A MAN; GOD SPEAKS TO HIM, CREATION AND CONSCIENCE. HE
SAYS, GOD, I WANT TO KNOW YOU, I NEED TO KNOW YOU, I BELIEVE THAT
YOU EXIST. THAT'S FAITH, AND HE GOES FROM FAITH TO FAITH. GOD
GIVES HIM MORE LIGHT. HE SAYS, I BELIEVE THAT. AND HE GOES FROM
FAITH TO FAITH. AND HE GOES STEPPING IN THE LIGHT UNTIL HE
COMES TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WHEN A MAN IS READY TO RECEIVE
THE GOSPEL, GOD WILL GET THE GOSPEL TO THAT MAN IF HE HAS TO
WRECK AN AIRPLANE AND PARACHUTE A MISSIONARY IN. I BELIEVE WITH
ALL OF MY HEART THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MAN WHO EVER LIVED ON THE
FACE OF THIS EARTH OR A WOMAN WHO DIED WITHOUT SOME
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST HAD THEY LIVED UP TO THE
LIGHT THAT GOD GAVE THEM. WHILE ALL MEN DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LIGHT
TO SAVE THEM, ALL MEN HAVE ENOUGH LIGHT TO DAMN THEM. HAD
THEY LIVED UP TO THE LIGHT THAT THEY HAD, THEY WOULD HAVE
RECEIVED MORE LIGHT, AND, THEREIN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
GOD REVEALED FROM FAITH TO FAITH. AND YOU CAN FIND
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THIS IN HISTORY, AND YOU CAN FIND
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THIS IN THE BIBLE. WHAT ABOUT THAT ETHIOPIAN
EUNUCH THERE IN ACTS CHAPTER EIGHT? HE'D BEEN TO JERUSALEM,
THE MOST RELIGIOUS CITY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. WHY HAD HE
GONE THERE? HE HAD GONE THERE TO WORSHIP. HE'D COME ALL THE WAY
FROM NORTHERN AFRICA, FROM ETHIOPIA, IN THAT DAY WHEN, UH,
THERE WERE NO AIRPLANES. HE'S TRAVELING NOW BY CHARIOT, CAN
YOU IMAGINE THAT, ALL THE WAY TO JERUSALEM. AND WHY HAD HE GONE?
THE MOST RELIGIOUS CITY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. HE WAS
SEEKING FOR GOD, BUT THE WELLS OF RELIGION WERE DRY. HE'S
COMING BACK, HE'S READING THE PROPHET ISAIAH, HE'S TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND. DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD DOES? THIS MAN WHO'S LIVING UP
TO THE LIGHT THAT HE HAS? GOD GOES DOWN TO SAMARIA. HE GETS A
PREACHER NAMED PHILIP, WHO'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG REVIVAL
CAMPAIGN. HE SAYS, SON, LEAVE THAT REVIVAL CAMPAIGN. I WANT
YOU TO GO OUT IN THE DESERT; I'VE GOT ONE MAN OUT THERE, AND
I WANT YOU TO TELL HIM HOW TO BE SAVED. YOU REMEMBER THAT STORY
IN ACTS CHAPTER EIGHT? THAT ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH, THAT
OPPORTUNITY ON WHEELS, GOT SAVED, AND GOD BROUGHT A
MISSIONARY TO THAT MAN TO TELL HIM HOW TO BE SAVED. THERE WAS
ANOTHER MAN IN ACTS CHAPTER 10; HIS NAME WAS CORNELIUS. THE
BIBLE SAYS HE, HE WAS A GENTILE; HE WAS NOT OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF
ISRAEL. BUT CORNELIUS, AN ARMY OFFICER, HAD A HUNGER TO KNOW
GOD. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GOT THAT HUNGER. HE LOOKED UP IN THE
STARRY HEAVENS ONE NIGHT, PERHAPS, AS A PRIVATE ON SENTRY
DUTY, AND HE SAID, ALL THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN. OH, GOD,
WHOEVER YOU ARE, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER YOU ARE, I WANT TO
KNOW YOU! AND GOD GAVE CORNELIUS A VISION. AND THEN GOD GOT SIMON
PETER OVER HERE IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE TANNER AND SAID, SIMON
PETER, I WANT YOU TO GO OVER THERE; THERE'S A MAN NAMED
CORNELIUS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM IN A VISION. YOU GO TELL HIM AND
HIS HOUSE HOW TO BE SAVED. AND GOD GOT THE TWO TOGETHER. WHEN
YOU OBEY THE LIGHT THAT YOU HAVE, GOD'LL GIVE YOU MORE
LIGHT. NOW I WANT TO SAY THIS TO ALL OF THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
SAVED. THE REASON THAT SOME OF US DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE
ANY MORE THAN WE DO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE IS; WE HAVE NOT BEEN
LIVING UP TO THE LIGHT THAT GOD HAS ALREADY GIVING US. WHY
SHOULD GOD SHOW YOU MORE IN THE WORD OF GOD UNTIL YOU OBEY WHAT
YOU ALREADY KNOW? ISN'T THAT A GOOD QUESTION? SOME OF YOU HAVE
NEVER PRESENTED YOURSELF FOR BELIEVER'S BAPTISM. YOU KNOW
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES. YOU SAY, WELL I'VE GOT A FORTY DOLLAR
HAIRDO I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP. AND THEN YOU'RE READING A
PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE, AND YOU'RE SAYING, I WONDER WHY I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THIS. GOD SHOW ME WHAT THIS MEANS. GOD SAYS, WHY
SHOULD I SHOW YOU WHAT THAT MEANS? YOU HAVEN'T OBEYED WHAT
I'VE ALREADY SHOWN YOU. TO HIM THAT HATH SHALL BE GIVEN, TO HIM
THAT HATH NOT SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY EVEN THAT WHICH HE HATH.
WHAT I, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, LIGHT OBEYED INCREASES
LIGHT! AND IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PART OF THE BIBLE
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, BEGIN TO OBEY THE PART YOU DO UNDERSTAND,
AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND! DO YOU
UNDERSTAND? NOW LISTEN, OBEY WHAT GOD TEACHES YOU. AGAIN, THE
PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE HEAD. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE HEART. ONE OF
THE GREATEST P, PROMISES IN ALL OF THE BIBLE IS IN JOHN CHAPTER
SEVEN VERSE 17. THEY WERE WONDERING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST;
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? THE PHARISEES WERE TESTING HIM,
TAUNTING HIM, PICKING AT HIM. AND JESUS THREW OUT THIS
CHALLENGE, ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES IN ALL OF THE BIBLE.
JESUS SAID, MY DOCTRINE IS NOT MINE, BUT HIS WHO SENT ME. AND
THEN JESUS GAVE THIS CHALLENGE. HE SAID, IF ANY MAN WILL DO HIS
WILL, HE SHALL KNOW OF THE DOCTRINE, WHETHER IT BE OF GOD
OR WHETHER I SPEAK OF MYSELF. WHETHER I'M JUST SOME
MEGALOMANIAC, SOME PEASANT PROPHET WHO HAS A MESSIANIC
COMPLEX, OR WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE COME FROM GOD. DO YOU WILL
TO DO THE WILL OF GOD? THEN YOU'LL KNOW. MANY YEARS AGO I
SHARED THIS STORY WITH YOU; IT BEARS SHARING AGAIN. WHEN I WAS
IN THE S, SPACE CENTER DOWN AT MERRITT ISLAND BEFORE I CAME TO,
UH, BELLEVUE, I WAS IN MY OFFICE ONE DAY AND A MAN CAME UP IN A
BIG CADILLAC OUT FRONT OF MY OFFICE, PARKED HIS CAR, CAME IN,
SAID, MR. ROGERS, I NEED TO TALK WITH YOU. HE WAS ONE OF THE BIG
SHOTS OUT AT THE SPACE CENTER, HELPING TO PUT A MAN ON THE
MOON. I SAID TO HIM, WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT? HE
SAID, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY WIFE. SHE WANTS TO COMMIT
SUICIDE AND I DON'T WANT HER TO. WELL, I THOUGHT THAT WAS NICE;
HE DIDN'T WANT HER TO COMMIT SUICIDE. SO HE SAID, UH, WOULD
YOU TALK WITH MY WIFE? I SAID, WELL, I WILL IF YOU'LL COME WITH
HER. SO THE TWO OF THEM CAME AND SAT DOWN AND, AND, AND, UH, I
SAID, TELL ME, LADY, WHAT YOUR PROBLEMS ARE. AND HER PROBLEMS
WERE THIS MAN! [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] THIS MAN WAS A LIAR,
HE WAS A DRUNKARD, HE WAS AN ADULTERER, HE WAS A GAMBLER,
HE'S A BLASPHEMER, A WIFE ABUSER. I MEAN, HE WAS, HE WAS,
HE WAS, HE WAS ROTTEN. AND THAT'S MILDLY PUT. AND SO, I
JUST STOPPED TALKING TO HER AND I STARTED TALKING TO HIM, THIS
MAN IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY. I SAID, SIR, I WANT TO ASK YOU A
QUESTION. ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? NOW I WASN'T ASKING FOR
INFORMATION, HUH, BUT I SAID, ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? I WAS JUST
GETTING THE, THE, THE, THE CONVERSATION STARTED. HE LAUGHED
A SCORNFUL LAUGH AND SAID, NO! I'M NOT A CHRISTIAN; I'M AN
ATHEIST. I SAID, OH, AN ATHEIST. I SAID, AN ATHEIST IS A MAN WHO
SAYS THERE'S NO GOD, AND HE KNOWS THERE'S NO GOD. DO YOU
KNOW THERE'S NO GOD? HE SAID, YES. I SAID, WELL THAT'S
INTERESTING. I SAID, OF ALL THERE IS TO KNOW, HOW MUCH DO
YOU KNOW? WOULD YOU, DO YOU KNOW HALF OF EVERYTHING THERE IS TO
KNOW? HE SAID, OF COURSE NOT. BUT YOU SAID YOU KNOW THERE'S NO
GOD. WOULDN'T YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THE POSSIBILITY THAT GOD MIGHT
EXIST IN THAT HALF OF THE KNOWLEDGE YOU DON'T HAVE?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] WELL, HE SAID, I, OK, SAID, YOU GOT ME,
I'M NOT AN ATHEIST; I'M A AGNOSTIC. I DIDN'T TELL HIM THE
LATIN EQUIVALENT OF AGNOSTIC IS IGNORAMUS. IT'S THE SAME WORD
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] IN LATIN OR GREEK; AGNOSTIC IN GREEK, LATIN
IGNORAMUS. IT MEANS JUST: I DON'T KNOW, I'M, I'M IGNORANT. I
SAID, WELL, I SAID, THAT'S JUST A FANCY WORD FOR A DOUBTER. ARE
YOU A DOUBTER? HE SAID, YES, AND A BIG ONE. I SAID, I DON'T CARE
WHAT, WHAT SIZE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND. HE SAID, WHAT DO YOU
MEAN? I SAID, WELL, THERE'RE TWO KINDS OF DOUBTERS. THERE ARE
HONEST DOUBTERS AND DISHONEST DOUBTERS. WHICH KIND ARE YOU? HE
SAID, WELL WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? I SAID, AN HONEST
DOUBTER DOESN'T KNOW, BUT HE WANTS TO KNOW, AND THEREFORE HE
INVESTIGATES. A DISHONEST DOUBTER DOESN'T KNOW BECAUSE HE
DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW, AND HE CAN'T FIND GOD FOR THE SAME
REASON A THIEF CAN'T FIND A POLICEMAN. HMMM. JESUS SAID THEY
HATE THE LIGHT, AND THEY WILL NOT COME TO THE LIGHT BECAUSE
THEIR DEEDS ARE EVIL. HE SAID, WELL. I SAID, SIR, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOU'RE AN HONEST DOUBTER OR A DISHONEST
DOUBTER? HE SAID, YES. I SAID, WOULD YOU SIGN THIS STATEMENT;
GOD, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU EXIST OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW
WHETHER THE BIBLE IS YOUR WORD OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR SON OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WANT TO
KNOW. AND BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW, I WILL MAKE AN HONEST
INVESTIGATION. AND BECAUSE IT IS AN HONEST INVESTIGATION, I WILL
FOLLOW THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION WHEREVER THEY LEAD
ME, REGARDLESS OF THE COST. I SAID, WOULD YOU SIGN THAT
STATEMENT? HE SAID, GIVE IT TO ME AGAIN. GOD, I DON'T KNOW
WHETHER YOU EXIST OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE BIBLE IS
YOUR WORD OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR SON
OR NOT, BUT I WANT TO KNOW AND BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW, I'll
MAKE AN HONEST INVESTIGATION. AND BECAUSE IT IS AN HONEST
INVESTIGATION, I WILL FOLLOW THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION
WHEREVER THEY LEAD ME, REGARDLESS OF THE COST. HE SAID,
I'D LIKE TO BE HONEST. I SAID, WONDERFUL! I GAVE HIM AN
ASSIGNMENT. I SAID, I WANT YOU TO BEGIN TO READ THE GOSPEL OF
JOHN, BECAUSE, I SAID, THERE'S ONE BOOK WRITTEN, THE PURPOSE OF
THAT BOOK IS WRITTEN THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE
CHRIST AND BELIEVING, THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS
NAME. HE SAID, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE. I SAID, THAT'S ALL
RIGHT. YOU JUST MAKE AN HONEST INVESTIGATION. YOU SAY TO GOD,
GOD I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS YOUR WORD OR NOT. IF THIS IS
YOUR WORD, SHOW ME, AND I MAKE UP MY MIND BEFORE THE FACT THAT
I WILL OBEY YOU ONLY IF YOU SHOW ME THIS IS YOUR WORD AND SPEAK
TO MY HEART.' HE SAID, THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. WHAT HAPPENED? IN A
FEW WEEKS HE CAME BACK. SAID, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE
SON OF GOD. GOT ON HIS KNEES LIKE A B, LITTLE CHILD AND WEPT
HIS WAY TO THE ARMS OF JESUS. THAT WAS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. I
GOT A LETTER FROM HIM A WHILE BACK. HE'S UP IN, UH, BANGOR,
MAINE, NOW. HE'S, HAS A TAPE MINISTRY, AND TEACHING THE
BIBLE. AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID TO ME. HE SAID, MR. ROGERS, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH THIS GENERAL IN THE
DEVIL'S ARMY. WHERE WAS THAT MAN'S PROBLEM? HE THOUGHT HIS
PROBLEM WAS INTELLECTUAL. HIS PROBLEM WASN'T INTELLECTUAL; HIS
PROBLEM WAS HIS WILL. [AUDIENCE: [THAT'S RIGHT] WHEN A MAN
SURRENDERS HIS WILL, GOD WILL SPEAK TO HIM. LIGHT OBEYED
INCREASES LIGHT! LIVE UP TO THE LIGHT THAT YOU HAVE, AND GOD
WILL GIVE YOU MORE LIGHT. NOW HERE'S THE FINAL OF THESE FOUR
FACTORS. FACTOR NUMBER ONE, UH, IS THE REVELATION FACTOR. FACTOR
NUMBER TWO, THE REFUSAL FACTOR. FACTOR NUMBER THREE, THE
RECEPTION FACTOR. FACTOR NUMBER FOUR, THE RECKONING FACTOR. WHEN
GOD COMES TO JUDGE US, WHAT IS GOD GOING TO JUDGE US BY? DO YOU
THINK THAT GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE US BY THE SIN WE HAVE COMMITTED?
NO! GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE US BY THE LIGHT WE'VE REJECTED. GOD IS
GOING TO JUDGE US BY THE LIGHT WE HAVE REJECTED! I WANT YOU TO
SEE THIS; IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THE WORD OF GOD. LOOK IN ROMANS
CHAPTER TWO VERSE FIVE. HE SAYS HERE, BUT AFTER THY HARDNESS AND
IMPENITENT HEART, TREASUREST UP UNTO THYSELF WRATH AGAINST THE
DAY OF WRATH AND THE REVELATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF
GOD. AGAIN, SPEAKING OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. NOW SKIP
ON DOWN TO VERSE 11, FOR THERE IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH
GOD, FOR AS MANY AS HAVE SINNED WITHOUT LAW SHALL PERI, SHALL
ALSO PERISH WITHOUT LAW, AND AS MANY AS HAVE SINNED IN THE LAW
SHALL BE JUDGED BY THE LAW. NOW WHAT'S HE SAYING? HE'S JUST
SIMPLY SAYING THIS; THAT GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH LIGHT YOU HAVE.
MANY OF US, AND SOME IN THIS AUDITORIUM, HAVE FAR MORE LIGHT
THAN OTHER PEOPLE, NOT BECAUSE YOU NECESSARILY SOUGHT IT; YOU
JUST HAPPEN TO LIVE IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, WHERE THERE'S A
CHURCH ON EVERY STREET CORNER. IT'S JUST SIMPLY BY THE
PROVIDENCE OF GOD YOU HAVE MORE LIGHT THAN OTHERS. NOW WHAT IS
GOD GOING TO DO? GOD IS GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE MORE SO
THAN THE PERSON WHO'S NEVER HEARD. PUT THIS VERSE DOWN IN
LUKE CHAPTER 12 VERSE 48, BUT HE THAT KNEW NOT, THIS IS TALKING
ABOUT THE PAGAN, BUT DID COMMIT THINGS WORTHY OF STRIPES SHALL
BE BEATEN WITH FEW STRIPES. FOR UNTO WHOMSOEVER MUCH IS GIVEN,
OF HIM SHALL MUCH BE REQUIRED, AND TO WHOM MEN HAVE COMMITTED
MUCH, OF HIM WILL THEY ASK THE MORE. NOW YOU SEE, YOU'VE HAD
MORE THAN OTHER PEOPLE. NOW FOLKS, IT WOULD BE BAD ENOUGH
FOR THE PAGAN IN DARKEST AFRICA TO DIE AND GO TO HELL, WHO NEVER
HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS, WHO REFUSED TO LIVE UP TO THE LIGHT
THAT EVEN THAT HE DID HAVE. BUT HOW MUCH MORE FOR A PERSON WHO
WOULD SIT IN AN AUDITORIUM LIKE THIS, AIR CONDITIONED, LISTEN TO
MUSIC LIKE THIS, WITH A BIBLE [CLAP] IN THEIR HAND, HEAR A
PREACHER TEAR HIS HEART OUT AND BEG PEOPLE TO BE SAVED, AND SAY,
NO. IF I HAD TO GO TO HELL, I'D MUCH RATHER GO TO HELL AS A
PAGAN NEVER HAVING HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS, THAN TO GO TO
HELL FROM MEMPHIS, TN, AND FROM A SERVICE LIKE THIS. LISTEN TO
ME. THE BURNING QUESTION, THE BURNING QUESTION IS NOT WHAT IS
GOD GONNA DO WITH THE HEATHEN WHO NEVER HEARD. THE BURNING
QUESTION IS WHAT IS GOD GONNA DO WITH YOU, WHO HEARD THE GOSPEL
OF JESUS, WHO HAVE HEARD, YOU'VE HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT JESUS
DIED IN AGONY AND BLOOD UPON THE CROSS, AND YOU SAID, NO! TO THE
LORD JESUS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT OUR LORD SAID? OUR LORD SAID TO A
SOUL WINNER, HE SAID, WHEN YOU GO OUT SOUL WINNING, YOU KNOCK
ON A DOOR. AND HE SAID, WHEN YOU KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND THE PEOPLE
WON'T HEAR YOU, HE SAID, [TAP, [TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP] SHAKE THE
DUST OFF YOUR SHOES. [TAP, TAP, [TAP] SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR
SHOES. WELL, WHY WOULD HE DO THAT? GOD SAYS BECAUSE THERE'S
COMING A JUDGMENT, AND IN THAT DAY, IN THAT JUDGMENT, YOU MAY
STAND BEFORE GOD AND YOU SAY, OH GOD, OH GOD, HAVE MERCY. OH,
PLEASE, GOD, HAVE MERCY. I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE. OFFICER,
WOULD YOU BRING THE EVIDENCE INTO THE COURT? WHAT IS THAT
EVIDENCE? WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, SIR? WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S
THE DUST OFF ADRIAN'S SHOES. THOSE WERE THE SHOES HE WAS
WEARING THAT MORNING WHEN HE PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO YOU. HE
SAYS, SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR FEET! IT'LL BE USED AS A
TESTIMONY AGAINST THEM IN THE JUDGMENT. DON'T EVER SAY YOU
DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE. UNTO WHOMSOEVER MUCH IS GIVEN, OF THE
SAME SHALL MUCH BE REQUIRED. AND JESUS SAID TO CAPERNAUM, HIS
HEADQUARTER CITY, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR SODOM AND GOMORRA IN
THE JUDGMENT, THAN FOR THAT CITY WHERE HE PREACHED AND TAUGHT AND
YET THEY TURNED THEIR BACK ON HIM AND NEVER RECEIVED HIM. ALL
MEN HAVE SOME LIGHT. LIGHT REFUSED INCREASES DARKNESS.
LIGHT OBEYED INCREASES LIGHT. AND MEN ARE JUDGED ACCORDING TO
THE LIGHT THAT THEY HAVE. THE REVELATION FACTOR, THE REFUSAL
FACTOR, THE RECEPTION FACTOR, AND THE RECKONING FACTOR. BUT
I'll TELL YOU THIS MUCH, FOLKS, GOD IS RIGHTEOUS, AND I AM NOT
ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, [AUDIENCE: AMEN] FOR, IT IS THE
POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVES. AND I
PROMISE YOU ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD, IF YOU BELIEVE
IN JESUS TODAY, HE'LL SAVE YOU, BECAUSE HE SAVED ME AND HE'LL
SAVE YOU. BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER. HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES
ARE CLOSED. NO ONE STIRRING, NO ONE LOOKING AROUND. IF YOU'RE
CERTAIN THAT YOU'RE SAVED, I WANT YOU TO BEGIN TO PRAY FOR
OTHERS WHO MAY NOT KNOW THAT THEY'RE SAVED. FATHER, I PRAY
TODAY THAT MANY IN THIS BUILDING WILL OBEY THE LIGHT THAT THEY'VE
RECEIVED EVEN TODAY. LORD, THAT THEY WILL NOT LEAVE THIS PLACE
WITHOUT SAYING, YES! TO YOU, BECAUSE, LORD, I BELIEVE IF THEY
DO, THEY'LL GET FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH, THEIR HEART WILL BECOME
DARKER. OH, GOD, HELP PEOPLE TO LIVE UP TO THE LIGHT THAT THEY
HAVE. AND MY FRIEND, IF THERE'S JUST A GLIMMER OF LIGHT RIGHT
NOW, COME TO THE LIGHT. OBEY WHAT YOU DO KNOW, AND GOD WILL
TEACH YOU WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. BUT DON'T LET SOME INTELLECTUAL
PROBLEM KEEP YOU FROM JESUS. YOU'LL WAKE UP IN HELL AND YOU
STILL WON'T HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT. JUST COME LIKE A CHILD AND
TRUST CHRIST. WHY DON'T YOU PRAY THIS WAY, LORD JESUS, JUST PRAY
IT RIGHT NOW, LORD JESUS, I NEED YOU, I WANT YOU. RIGHT NOW I
OPEN MY HEART. I RECEIVE YOU BY FAITH AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. AND
NOW, LORD, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT PUBLIC, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT
PUBLIC RIGHT NOW. SAVE ME AND HELP ME NOT TO BE ASHAMED OF
YOU. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN. WELL, AMEN. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL
FOR THESE WHO PRAYED AND ASKED CHRIST TO COME INTO THEIR HEART;
WHAT A GLORIOUS SERVICE THIS HAS BEEN. BUT, MANY OF YOU WANT TO
MAKE THE SAME DECISION, YOU WANT TO PRAY AND ASK CHRIST TO COME
INTO YOUR HEART. PERHAPS YOU PRAYED WITH ME IN THE SERVICE OR
PERHAPS YOU'LL PRAY RIGHT NOW AND SAY, LORD JESUS, COME INTO
MY HEART. AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THESE OTHERS, DO FOR ME! I
WANT TO BE SAVED, I WANT TO BE A PART OF YOUR FAMILY, I WANT A
HOME IN HEAVEN, I WANT YOUR PRESENCE IN MY HEART. PRAY AND
ASK JESUS TO SAVE YOU. AND IF YOU DO, WOULD YOU WRITE TO US
AND LET US KNOW THAT YOU'VE DONE IT? WE'LL REJOICE AND WE'LL SEND
YOU SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU TO GET STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN
LIFE. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR TODAY'S PROGRAM. YOU CAN LISTEN
TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN OR SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH A FRIEND WHO'S
HURTING, AT LWF.ORG. YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS'
OUTLINE, NOTES AND A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MESSAGE AT
LWF.ORG. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT ARTICLES, DEVOTIONALS, BOOKLETS
AND OTHER MATERIALS FROM ADRIAN ROGERS ON THIS SERIES. YOU CAN
ALSO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE DAILY DEVOTIONALS FROM ADRIAN ROGERS
DELIVERED EACH DAY TO YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE. AND
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME INSPIRATION OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO
GET YOU THROUGH THE WEEK, BE SURE TO CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL,
@LWFMINISTRIES. AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN CATCH UP ON OUR
PROGRAM, EACH WEEK, ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR OUR PROGRAM. WE'LL SEE
YOU NEXT TIME. UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID, A
SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST, THE LORD. SHARE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL
WITH A DARK WORLD, WITH THIS NEW CHRISTMAS CARD FROM LOVE WORTH
FINDING. THIS BEAUTIFUL NATIVITY SCENE, PAINTED BY LOCAL ARTIST
LACEY HANCOCK, IS ACCOMPANIED BY A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FROM ADRIAN
ROGERS, AND WILL HELP YOU SHARE SOME TIMELESS HOPE WITH YOUR
FRIENDS AS WE NEAR THE END OF A STRESSFUL YEAR. THIS CHRISTMAS
SEASON, FOR YOUR GIFT TO LOVE WORTH FINDING, WE WANT TO SEND
YOU A PACKAGE OF 10 CARDS AND ENVELOPES. REQUEST YOUR PACKAGE
WHEN YOU CALL 1-800-647-9400, OR ORDER YOUR CARDS ONLINE AT
LWF.ORG. ALSO THIS MONTH, LEARN ABOUT GOD'S PURPOSE AND PLAN
FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION WITH THIS NEW COLLECTION OF EIGHT
POWERFUL MESSAGES FROM ADRIAN ROGERS, HIS STORY, AVAILABLE NOW
THROUGH OUR ONLINE STORE AT LWF.ORG.
