THERE'S ONE THING THAT GOD WILL
NEVER ACCEPT FOR SIN AND THAT IS AN EXCUSE OR AN ALIBI. BUT OH,
WHEN THERE COMES A CONFESSION, THANK GOD. THE CLEANSING TIDES
OF CALVARY SWEEP ACROSS THE HUMAN SOUL AND EVERY BLOT, EVERY
BLUR, EVERY BLEMISH, EVERY STAIN THAT EVER CAME, JESUS' [THUMP]
BLOOD [THUMP] WASHES [THUMP] WHITER [THUMP] THAN [THUMP]
SNOW. THE PLAIN-SPOKEN BIBLICAL WISDOM AND TIMELESS TEACHING OF
ADRIAN ROGERS HAS GONE AROUND THE WORLD, AND HAS BEEN
DESCRIBED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HE HAS TOUCHED AS PROFOUND
TRUTH; SIMPLY STATED. TODAY, WE'LL BE HEARING SOME OF THAT
PROFOUND TRUTH THROUGH HIS MESSAGE SERIES, FOUNDATIONS FOR
OUR FAITH. WE HOPE YOU'LL HAVE YOUR BIBLES READY AND STAY WITH
US FOR THIS POWERFUL MESSAGE. AND IF YOU WERE ENCOURAGED BY
TODAY'S MESSAGE, REMEMBER, YOU CAN STREAM THIS MESSAGE AGAIN,
AND DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS' OUTLINE, NOTES, A COMPLETE
TRANSCRIPT AND OTHER RESOURCES TO GO ALONG WITH THIS MESSAGE,
ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW, LET'S JOIN ADRAIN ROGERS. BE FINDING ROMANS CHAPTER ONE.
WE'RE IN A SERIES OF BIBLE STUDIES ON THE BOOK OF ROMANS
ENTITLED, FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FAITH. AND, UH, THESE ARE SHAKY
DAYS IN WHICH WE LIVE, AND YOU NEED TO FIND SOMETHING SOLID TO
STAND ON, AND THE BOOK OF ROMANS IS SOMETHING SOLID TO STAND ON.
NOW MAY I SAY THIS, THAT THE BOOK OF ROMANS LITERALLY IS GOOD
NEWS. IT IS ABOUT THE GOSPEL. THE THEME IS THE GOSPEL, AND THE
WORD GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS, BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LISTEN TO
ME, BEFORE YOU WILL APPRECIATE GOOD NEWS, YOU'VE GOT TO HEAR
BAD NEWS. NOW THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. IT'S THE BAD NEWS
THAT MAKES THE GOOD NEWS GOOD. AND SO AS, AS THE APOSTLE PAUL
BEGINS THE BOOK OF ROMANS, HE TELLS US FIRST OF ALL ABOUT SIN
BEFORE HE TELLS US ABOUT SALVATION AND SANCTIFICATION AND
SERVICE. AND SO WE'RE IN THAT, WE'RE IN THAT PART NOW THAT
TALKS ABOUT SIN, AND PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT THE TERRIBLE,
HORRIBLE, AH, CONSEQUENCES OF SIN AND THE CAUSES OF SIN IN THE
HEARTS AND LIVES OF PEOPLE. NOW THIS NATION NEEDS TO HEAR THE
BOOK OF ROMANS BECAUSE, FOLKS, MOST AMERICANS ARE EGOMANIACS,
PEACOCKS, STRUTTING TO HELL, THINKING THEY'RE TOO GOOD TO BE
DAMNED. AND, UH, I'VE LEARNED IN PREACHING THAT IF YOU WANT TO
GET PEOPLE SAVED, FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO GET THEM LOST. NOW
THEY ARE LOST, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY
NEED THE GOSPEL. NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, AND LAST WEEK WE TALKED
ABOUT THE BAD NEWS THAT MAKES THE GOOD NEWS GOOD, WE'RE JUST
GOING TO CONTINUE THAT, AND THE TITLE OF THE MESSAGE TODAY IS,
THE LAST STEP ON THE WAY DOWN. NOW PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT
HAS HAPPENED TO HUMANITY WHEN THEY TURN FROM GOD. BEGIN
READING IN VERSE 24. IT SAYS, AND THESE ARE PERHAPS SOME OF
THE MOST CHILLING WORDS IN ALL OF THE BIBLE, WHEREFORE GOD ALSO
GAVE THEM UP. WELL, OH DEAR LORD, DO YOU MEAN YOU GIVE UP ON
PEOPLE? WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP. GAVE THEM UP TO WHAT?
TO UNCLEANNESS THROUGH THE LUST OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, TO DISHONOR
THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES. HE'S TALKING HERE
ABOUT SEXUAL SIN. AND THEN LOOK IN VERSE 26, FOR THIS CAUSE GOD
GAVE THEM UP UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS, FOR EVEN THEIR WOMEN
DID CHANGE THE NATURAL USE INTO THAT WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE.
AND LIKEWISE ALSO, THE MEN, LEAVING THE NATURAL USE OF THE
WOMAN, BURNED IN THEIR LUST ONE TOWARD ANOTHER, MEN WITH MEN,
WORKING THAT WHICH IS UNSEEMLY AND RECEIVING IN THEMSELVES THAT
RECOMPENSE OF THEIR ERROR WHICH WAS MEET. AND NOW NOTICE VERSE
28, AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR
KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND, TO DO THOSE
THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT, NOT FITTING. NOW WATCH THIS,
BEING FILLED WITH ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, FORNICATION,
FIRST THING ON THE LIST. IN EACH OF THESE INSTANCES WHERE IT SAYS
THAT, GOD GAVE THEM UP, GOD GAVE THEM UP, AND, GOD GAVE THEM
OVER, THE CONTEXT IS SEXUAL SIN; SEXUAL IMMORALITY. ARE YOU
LISTENING? SEXUAL IMMORALITY IS THE LAST STEP ON THE WAY DOWN.
WHEN A, A NATION LOSES ITS ABILITY TO DISCERN FROM BASIC
SEXUAL MORALITY, GOD SAYS, THAT'S THE LAST STEP! I GIVE UP!
YOU HAVE GOT IT. NOW AMERICA'S IN A CRISIS. AMERICA'S IN A
CRISIS, AND UNLESS WE HAVE A MORAL REBIRTH, WE WILL JOIN THE
GRAVEYARD OF THE NATIONS. PAUL IS WRITING TO ROME. THERE WAS
SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WROTE ABOUT ROME. HIS NAME WAS GIBBON. HE
WROTE ABOUT THE RISE AND THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND
THE ROMAN EMPIRE CAME CRASHING DOWN, AND GIBBON SAID NUMBER ONE
ON THE LIST OF THE THINGS THAT DESTROYED ROME WAS SEXUAL
IMMORALITY. ANOTHER SAID THAT, ROME DUG HER GRAVE WITH HER
TEETH, KILLED HERSELF WITH ILLICIT SEX, AND EMBALMED
HERSELF WITH ALCOHOL. AND I SAY AMERICA IS DOING THE SAME THING.
SOMEDAY SOME HISTORIAN MAY WRITE THE RISE AND FALL OF THE
AMERICAN EMPIRE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT BOTHERS ME? IS ALL THAT
WE'RE HEARING TODAY ABOUT IMMORALITY AND ADULTERY AND
FORNICATION AND HOMOSEXUALITY AND WITH MANY IT IS A BIG JOKE,
AND IF NOT A JOKE, A MATTER OF INCIDENT AND NOT REALLY
IMPORTANT. AMERICA TODAY IS TREATING ADULTERY WITH A CERTAIN
NONCHALANCE. JONATHAN RAUCH SAID THIS AND I QUOTE, IF THE
ADULTERER TAKES ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO BE DISCREET, IF HE
PERFORMS ALL OTHER DUTIES AS PARENT AND SPOUSE AND CITIZEN,
AND HIS MATE CHOOSES TO HANG ON, THEN NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS IS
NOT COVERING UP SO MUCH AS IT IS BEING GROWN UP. AND THAT
IMMINENT THEOLOGIAN ANN LANDERS [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] SAID THAT,
ADULTERY IS NOW LESS OF A SIN THAN IT USED TO BE. AND HERE'S
WHAT SHE SAID, THE SCARLET LETTER IS GONE. THE SCARLET
LETTER, THE A FOR ADULTERY. I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE
BRANDED ON YOUR FOREHEAD OR THAT YOU SHOULD SUFFER ALL YOUR LIFE
WITH THAT KIND OF STIGMA. AND TOM GETLAND, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
PROFESSOR, SAID QUOTE, AMERICANS HAVE GONE NUTTY WITH A KIND OF
PURITANICAL RECTITUDE NOTION THAT PRIVATE CONDUCT IS
AUTOMATICALLY THE SAME AS PUBLIC CONDUCT. I THINK THAT SOMEBODY
CAN BE, AND HE USES A WORD HERE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT. I
THINK THAT SOMEBODY CAN BE A, ëBLANK, ' IN PRIVATE LIFE AND BE
A GOOD PUBLIC SERVANT. I AM. AGAINST THESE RITUAL PURGATIONS
OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT WE DON'T MEET OUR EXALTED STANDARD
OF HONOR. DO YOU WANT TO; MAY I TELL YOU WHAT THE NEW VIRTUE IN
AMERICA IS? IT IS NOT MORAL PURITY, IT IS NOT FIDELITY, IT
IS NOT CHASTITY, IT IS NOT FAITHFULNESS. THE NEW VIRTUE IN
AMERICA IS TOLERANCE, TOLERANCE. DO YOU KNOW THE NEW SIN IN
AMERICA? THE NEW SIN IS TO CALL SIN, SIN. AND I'M WELL AWARE
THAT THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL BE HOSTILE WITH ME FOR WHAT
I HAVE TO SAY TODAY. THAT IS THE SIN TODAY, FOR ANYBODY TO STAND
UP AND SAY SIN IS SIN, RIGHT IS RIGHT, AND WRONG IS WRONG.
THAT'S BIGOTED, THAT'S NARROW; THEY CALL THAT JUDGING. YOU
KNOW, I'VE TRIED TO KEEP MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AWAY
FROM XRATED FILMS, BUT NOW, GOD HA, HELP US, WE HAVE XRATED
NEWS. I MEAN, YOU SAY, THE NEWS IS COMING ON, TURN THAT THING
OFF! I DON'T WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE TO LISTEN
TO THAT. WE'VE LOST A SENSE OF MORAL RESPONSIBILITY. BUT PEOPLE
SAY, BUT WAIT A MINUTE. DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THE AMERICAN PIP,
PUBLIC HAVE APPROVED THESE THINGS? WHY, IT'S, IT'S PROVEN
BY THE WAY THAT THEY VOTE. AND WE HAVE COME TO MORALITY BY
MAJORITY, AND WE'VE COME TO THE PLACE VERY MUCH LIKE THOSE IN
PLATO'S REPUBLIC, WRITTEN SO LONG AGO, WHO LOST THEIR
DIRECTION AND HAD, RATHER THAN STEERING BY THE CHART AND THE
STARS, THEY PUT THE LANTERN ON THE BOW OF THE SHIP AND STEERED
BY THAT. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, AND YET GOD'S WORD IS SO CLEAR.
DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER FIVE VERSE 18, NEITHER SHALT THOU COMMIT
ADULTERY. AND THEN GOD SAYS IN VERSE 29, GOD IS SPEAKING
CONCERNING HIS PEOPLE AND HE SAYS, OH, THAT THERE WERE SUCH
AN HEART IN THEM, THAT THEY WOULD FEAR ME AND KEEP ALL MY
COMMANDMENTS ALWAYS THAT IT MIGHT BE WELL WITH THEM AND
THEIR CHILDREN FOREVER. NOW I'M OLD AND GROWN. I'M NOT GOING TO
CHANGE MY WAYS. I'VE GOT SOME CHILDREN, FOUR OF THEM, WHO LOVE
THE LORD. I'VE GOT SOME GRANDCHILDREN. THUS FAR THEY ALL
LOVE THE LORD. BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORLD MY GRANDCHILDREN
WILL GROW UP IN, IF THE LORD TARRIES. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT THEY WILL SEE AND HEAR AND FEEL AND WILL ACCEPT IN THIS
WORLD TODAY. AND, AND, AND GOD SAYS, OH, THAT THERE WERE SUCH A
HEART IN THEM THAT THEY WOULD FEAR ME AND KEEP ALL MY
COMMANDMENTS ALWAYS, THAT IT MIGHT BE WELL WITH THEM AND WITH
THEIR CHILDREN FOREVER. WE DON'T BREAK GOD'S TEN COMMANDMENTS,
WE'RE BROKEN ON THEM. WE'RE TOLD TODAY THERE'S A SEXUAL
REVOLUTION. THE TRAGEDY IS THAT NOT ONLY WILL THOSE WHO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS SOCALLED SEXUAL REVOLUTION REA, REAP THE
BITTER FRUIT IN THEIR LIVES, BUT THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY IS THAT THEY
WILL MISS GOD'S BEST, GOD'S PLAN FOR THEM. WHEN PAUL SPEAKS HERE
IN ROMANS ABOUT FORNICATION, FORNICATION IS A BIG WORD. IT
INCLUDES ALL SEXUAL IMMORALITY. IT INCLUDES SODOMY. IT INCLUDES
PREMARITAL SEX OF ANY KIND. IT INCLUDES POST-MARITAL
INFIDELITY. IT INCLUDES BESTIALITY. IT INCLUDES ANYTHING
OTHER THAN WHOLESOME SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND
HIS MATE. MARRIAGE IS A LIFETIME MATTER, AND SEXUAL FAITHFULNESS
IS THE PRIMARY KEY THAT HOLDS A MARRIAGE TOGETHER. A NATION
CANNOT ENDURE; A NATION CANNOT ENDURE WITHOUT SEXUAL MORALITY.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
FRIEND, YOU'VE GOT IT BACKWARD. IT TAKES A HOME [THUMP] TO MAKE
A VILLAGE. WITHOUT THE HOMES THERE CAN BE NO VILLAGE. IT
TAKES A HOME TO RAISE A CHILD, AND IT TAKES HOMES TO MAKE A
VILLAGE, AND UNLESS OUR HOMES ARE SOLID WE CAN HAVE NO
VILLAGE. NOW THE LORD JESUS PUT THIS MATTER OF MARITAL
FAITHFULNESS RIGHT UP FRONT. THE LORD JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW
CHAPTER 19 AND VERSE FIVE, FOR THIS CAUSE SHALL A MAN LEAVE HIS
FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND SHALL CLEAVE UNTO HIS WIFE AND THEY
TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH. DO YOU KNOW WHAT OUR LORD IS SAYING?
OUR LORD IS SAYING THAT THE PRIME, THE MAJOR, THE
FUNDAMENTAL, THE UNDERLYING BASIS OF ALL SOCIETY IS THE HOME
AND THE UNDERLYING BASIS OF THAT IS SEXUAL FIDELITY. PARENTS ARE
NOT TO BE OUR SUPREME COMMITMENT. I'M TALKING ABOUT
EARTHLY COMMITMENTS. YOUR PARENTS ARE NOT YOUR SUPREME
COMMITMENT. NOW YOU'RE TO LOVE AND HONOR YOUR PARENTS AND TAKE
CARE OF YOUR PARENTS, BUT JESUS SAID, FOR THIS CAUSE SHALL A MAN
LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND SHALL CLEAVE UNTO HIS WIFE.
CHILDREN ARE NOT YOUR PRIME RESPONSIBILITY; THEY ARE YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY, BUT SIR, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR WIFE
COMES EVEN ABOVE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR CHILDREN.
FOR THIS CAUSE SHALL A MAN LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL
CLEAVE UNTO HIS WIFE. THAT IS, UH, HUSBAND/WIFE RELATIONSHIP IS
STRONGER THAN, AH, CHILD/PARENT RELATIONSHIP AND PARENT/CHILD
RELATIONSHIP. THAT'S WHY A WOMAN MAKES A TERRIBLE MISTAKE IF,
WHILE THE CHILDREN ARE SMALL, SHE POURS ALL OF HER LOVE, ALL
OF HER DEVOTION, ALL OF HER CARE INTO HER CHILDREN AND NEGLECTS
HER HUSBAND. AND THEN WHEN THE NEST IS EMPTY THEY FIND OUT THAT
THE MARRIAGE IS IN TROUBLE. NOW OF COURSE, OF COURSE WE'RE TO
CARE FOR OUR PARENTS. OF COURSE WE'RE TO CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
BUT OUR LORD SAYS THAT YOUR PRIME RESPONSIBILITY COMES
BEFORE PARENTS, BEFORE CHILDREN, BEFORE BUSINESS LIFE AND
POLITICAL LIFE. THE PRIME RESPONSIBILITY, THE SUPREME
COMMITMENT IS TO ONE'S WIFE. WE HAVE YOUNG EXECUTIVES TODAY WHO
ARE EXPECTED TO PUT LOYALTY TO THE BUSINESS AHEAD OF THEIR
FAMILY AND AHEAD OF THEIR WIFE. ABSOLUTELY NOT. YOU'D BETTER
MAKE UP YOUR MIND OF ALL EARTHLY RELATIONSHIPS, YOUR RELATIONSHIP
TO YOUR WIFE IS AN UNUSUAL RELATIONSHIP THAT THE BIBLE
CALLS, ONE FLESH. NOW HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, AND, AND PAUL
SAYING, FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE THEM UP, FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE
THEM UP, FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE THEM OVER. I WANT YOU TO SEE WHY
I HAVE ENTITLED THE MESSAGE TODAY, THE LAST STEP, THE LAST
STEP ON THE WAY DOWN. LET ME TELL YOU WHY ADULTERY IS NOT A
PROPER SOURCE OF HUMOR IN LATENIGHT TELEVISION SHOWS.
WHAT IS ADULTERY? WHY IS ADULTERY SUCH A HORRIBLE, SUCH A
TERRIBLE, SUCH A HEINOUS, SUCH A HURTFUL, SUCH A HELLISH SIN?
WHY? I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME REASONS. NUMBER ONE; ADULTERY IS
A SIN AGAINST ONE'S SELF, SELF. PUT IN YOUR MARGIN
FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER SIX AND VERSE 18. THE BIBLE SAYS,
FLEE FORNICATION. THAT IS, GET OUT OF THERE. EVERY SIN THAT A
MAN DOETH IS WITHOUT THE BODY, BUT HE THAT COMMITETH
FORNICATION SINNETH AGAINST HIS OWN BODY. HE SINS AGAINST HIS
OWN BODY. THERE IS NO OTHER SIN THAT WILL DO YOU MORE DAMAGE
SPIRITUALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND PHYSICALLY THAN THIS SIN.
YOU SAY, HOW CAN IT HURT ME PHYSICALLY? WELL, WE KNOW TODAY
THAT AMERICANS ARE BEING KILLED LITERALLY BY SEXUAL, UH, UH,
DISEASE. WHEN A MAN COMMITS THIS SIN, HE SINS AGAINST HIS OWN
BODY. WE HEAR A LOT TODAY ABOUT SAFE SEX. FRIEND, THE SEX THAT
GOD MADE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DANGEROUS, NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
DANGEROUS. LORD BYRON WAS WITTY, CHARMING, HANDSOME, FETED AND
PRAISED. HE WAS A MAN WITH A SILVER TONGUE, BUT HE THOUGHT HE
WAS SMARTER THAN GOD AND HE, HE SINNED AGAINST HIS OWN BODY. HE
CONSORTED WITH IMPURE WOMEN, AND ENGLAND'S GREATEST POET AND
PLAYBOY SAID AT THE END, MY DAYS ARE IN THE YELLOW LEAF, THE
FLOWER AND FRUIT OF LIFE ARE GONE, THE WORM, THE CANKER, THE
GRIEF, ARE MINE ALONE. HE'S JUST PROVING WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS,
WHEN A MAN SINS AGAINST HIM, HIS OWN SELF. BUT SECONDLY, NOT ONLY
IS ADULTERY A SIN AGAINST ONE'S OWN SELF, ADULTERY IS A SIN
AGAINST THE HOME. THE SAD THING ABOUT IT IS, THE LIVES OF
INNOCENT CHILDREN ARE TORN APART EVERY YEAR BY ADULTERY. AND IF
THERE'S ANYTHING THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT PAINS ME AND HURTS
ME, IT IS TO HEAR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING AN UNGODLY, IMMORAL
LIFESTYLE PRATE ABOUT FAMILY VALUES. READ ROMANS TWO VERSE
22, THOU THAT SAYEST A MAN SHOULD NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DOES
THOU COMMIT ADULTERY? THE WHOLE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF
ROMANS IS ABOUT HYPOCRITES, THOSE WHO CLAR, CARRY BIG BLACK
BIBLES AND PRATE ABOUT FAMILY VALUES. IT'S A SIN AGAINST THE
HOME. KENT HUGHES SAYS THIS, AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN, THE MAN
WHO COMMITS ADULTERY TELLS HIS CHILD, ëYOUR MOTHER IS NOT WORTH
MUCH AND YOUR FATHER IS A LIAR. AND A CHEAT. FURTHERMORE, HONOR
IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS PLEASURE. IN FACT, MY CHILD, MY
OWN SATISFACTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU ARE.' THAT'S
WHAT THE MAN WHO COMMITS THIS SIN TELLS HIS CHILD. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO HEAR THAT AGAIN? THE MAN WHO COMMITS ADULTERY TELLS HIS
CHILD, ëYOUR MOTHER IS NOT WORTH. MUCH AND YOUR FATHER IS A LIAR
AND A CHEAT. FURTHERMORE, HONOR IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS
PLEASURE. IN FACT, MY CHILD, MY OWN SATISFACTION IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN YOU ARE.' YOU SEE, GOD ESTABLISHED MONOGAMOUS
MARRIAGE TO MEET THE DEEPEST EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL,
PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF A CHILD. BECAUSE, YOU
SEE, A CHILD NEEDS THE CONTEXT OF A HOME AND THE GLUE, THE GLUE
THAT HOLDS THE HOME TOGETHER IS SEXUAL FAITHFULNESS. ADULTERY IS
A SIN AGAINST ONE'S SELF. ADULTERY IS A SIN AGAINST THE
HOME AND THE HOME IS THE FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY. THIRDLY,
ADULTERY IS A SIN AGAINST THE CHURCH. IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF
THIS CHURCH AND YOU'RE LIVING AN IMPURE LIFE, YOU HAVE SINNED
AGAINST THE REST OF US, BECAUSE WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER. FIRST
CORINTHIANS CHAPTER THREE AND VERSE 16, KNOW YE NOT THAT YE
ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN
YOU? PAUL SAYS IN ROMANS, UH, FIRST CORINTHIANS 12 THAT WE
ARE, MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER. FOLKS, WE'RE IN IT TOGETHER. AND
WHAT AFFECTS YOU AFFECTS ME. AND YOU CANNOT SAY, WHAT I DO IS
NOBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS. NOT IN THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP OF A
CHURCH. WHEN ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, EVERY MEMBER SUFFERS; WHEN A
PART OF MY BODY IS SICK, THE REST OF MY BODY FEELS IT. I
CANNOT ISOLATE ANY MEMBER OF MY BODY AND SAY, WELL, THAT DOESN'T
REALLY MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME. ADULTERY IS AN INFECTION IN
THE BODY. THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF THE LORD [TAP] JESUS [TAP]
CHRIST AND I BEG YOU, I BEG YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE, IF THERE'S
IMMORALITY IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR LIFE, GET RIGHT OR GET OUT!
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] DON'T HURT THE BODY OF CHRIST. DON'T SING IN
THE CHOIR. DON'T PLAY IN THE ORCHESTRA. DON'T SIT ON THE
PLATFORM. DON'T PREACH FROM THE PULPIT, IF THIS IS YOUR
LIFESTYLE. YOU SAY, PASTOR, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT I CAN'T COME
HERE FOR HELP IF I HAVE A PROBLEM? YES, FRIEND, THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE FOR. WE ARE A SOCIETY OF SINNERS WHO FINALLY REALIZED
IT AND HAVE BANDED OURSELVES TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT. CHURCH IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION I KNOW OF YOU HAVE
TO PROFESS TO BE BAD BEFORE YOU CAN JOIN, UNLESS IT'S HELL'S
ANGELS. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS; THAT IF
YOU THINK THAT THIS IS A MINOR SIN, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING YOU
INTEND TO PRACTICE, IF YOU'VE NOT COME FOR HELP AND
ENCOURAGEMENT AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A REPENTANT SPIRIT, YOU'RE
IN THE WRONG PLACE. YOU HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE CHURCH, AND
THE BIBLE SAYS, IF ANY MAN DEFILE THE TEMPLE OF GOD WHICH
TEMPLE YE ARE, HIM SHALL GOD DESTROY, BECAUSE YOU'VE DEFILED
SOMETHING THAT IS PURE AND HOLY. ADULTERY IS A SIN AGAINST ONE'S
SELF, ADULTERY IS A SIN AGAINST THE HOME, ADULTERY IS A SIN
AGAINST THE CHURCH, IT IS AN INFECTION IN THE BODY. AND
ADULTERY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS A SIN AGAINST THE NATION.
ADULTERY IS AN ACT OF TREASON. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, NOT THE
NEW TESTAMENT, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, ADULTERY WAS A CRIME
WORTHY OF DEATH. DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 22 VERSE 22, IF A MAN BE
FOUND LYING WITH A WOMAN MARRIED TO AN HUSBAND, THEN THEY SHALL
BOTH OF THEM DIE, BOTH THE MAN THAT LAY WITH THE WOMAN AND THE
WOMAN. NOW LISTEN TO THIS, SO SHALT THOU PUT AWAY EVIL FROM
ISRAEL. PUT THIS SIN NOT ONLY AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE OF GOD, BUT
FROM THE NATION ITSELF. PUT AWAY SI, EVIL FROM ISRAEL. MAY I TELL
YOU SOMETHING FOOLISH? IT IS FOOLISH TO SAY THAT CHARACTER
AND LEADERSHIP ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE]
NO MAN IS MORALLY FIT FOR LEADERSHIP WHO IS SEXUALLY
IMPURE. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] PROVERBS 14
VERSE 34 SAYS, RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION, BUT SIN IS A
REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE. CHARACTER COUNTS! NOW HERE'S
THE, HERE'S THE RUBRIC WE'RE LISTENING TO TODAY, HERE'S WHAT
PEOPLE WILL SAY TODAY. THEY'LL SAY, CHARACTER HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH IT; ABILITY IS WHAT MATTERS. IF YOU'RE ON AN
AIRPLANE, AND THE PILOT IS A GOOD PILOT, AND HE CAN FLY THE
AIRPLANE, IF HE CAN TAKE YOU OFF SAFELY, IF HE CAN KEEP YOU IN
THE AIR SAFELY, IF HE CAN LAND YOU SAFELY, THEN WHAT DIFFERENCE
DOES HIS CHARACTER MAKE? IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE
UNLESS YOU WANT THE BLESSING OF GOD ON THAT AIRPLANE. WHEN YOU
SAY THAT CHARACTER DOESN'T COUNT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING? YOU'RE SAYING GOD DOESN'T COUNT. YOU'RE SAYING, WE
CAN DO IT BY OURSELVES. WE DON'T NEED GOD. WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
WE DON'T WANT THE BLESSING OF GOD. YES, CHARACTER DOESN'T
COUNT, I AGREE, IF THERE IS NO GOD; BUT THERE IS A GOD AND WE
WANT HIS BLESSING. A SKILLED BUT AN UNGODLY LEADER IS DANGEROUS.
THAT WOULD BE LIKE A SKILLED SURGEON, A SURGEON WHO IS
SKILLED TO DO BRAIN SURGERY, BUT HE DOES NOT SCRUB BEFORE HE DOES
SURGERY. HE WILL INFECT EVERYTHING HE TOUCHES. I WANT
HIM TO BE CLEAN IF HE'S GOING TO DO SURGERY ON ME. PROVERBS 16
VERSE 12 SAYS, IT IS AN ABOMINATION TO KINGS TO COMMIT
WICKEDNESS, FOR THE THRONE, LISTEN, THE THRONE IS
ESTABLISHED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS. YOU SAY, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE
KINGS. WE HAVE LEADERS. YOU SEE, LEADERSHIP IS STEWARDSHIP. THE
LEADER, WHOMEVER HE MAY BE, THE CITY COUNCIL OR ANYBODY ELSE,
THEY ARE ACTING FOR GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS IN ROMANS 13, HE IS
THE MINISTER OF GOD. YOU ARE A STEWARD, YOU'RE ACTING FOR GOD.
THE MAN WHO COMMITS ADULTERY IS A LIAR. HE'S LIED AGAINST HIS
MARRIAGE VOWS, AND LIARS AND LEADERS ARE NOT THE SAME. THE
BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS 20 VERSE 28, MERCY AND TRUTH PRESERVE THE
KING. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WE CALL HIM HONEST ABE, ABRAHAM LINCOLN
SAID, YOU CAN FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE SOME THE TIME, AND YOU
CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME, BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL
ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. AND I WOULD ADD, MR. LINCOLN, YOU
CAN'T FOOL GOD ANY OF THE TIME. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] GOD KNOWS AND
GOD SEES. THERE WAS A KING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, HIS NAME WAS
LEMUEL. HE HAD A MOTHER WHO GAVE HIM SOME GOOD ADVICE. PROVERBS
31 VERSE THREE IS THE ADVICE. SHE SAID, GIVE NOT THY STRENGTH
UNTO WOMEN, NOR THY WAYS TO THAT WHICH DESTROYETH KINGS. NO MAN
IS FIT TO LEAD WHO IS MORALLY IMPURE. IMMORALITY WAS THE SIN
THAT LED TO THE DOWNFALL OF GREECE, ROME, EGYPT, AND
BABYLON, AND IT WILL BE THE RUIN OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE IF WE DO
NOT LEARN TO TAKE A STAND FOR THAT WHICH IS RIGHT AND THAT
WHICH IS HOLY, YOU CAN KISS AMERICA GOODBYE, BECAUSE GOD
WILL GIVE UP ON THIS NATION. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] JOSIAH
GILBERT HOLLAND, WHO WAS BORN IN 1819, WROTE THESE WORDS, BUT
THEY WERE NEVER MORE NEEDFUL, GOD, GIVE US MEN. A TIME LIKE
THIS DEMANDS STRONG MINDS, GREAT HEARTS, TRUE FAITH AND READY
HANDS. MEN, WHOM THE LUST OF OFFICE DOES NOT KILL. MEN, WHOM
THE SPOILS OF OFFICE CANNOT BUY. MEN, WHO POSSESS OPINIONS AND A
WILL. MEN WHO HAVE HONOR. MEN WHO WILL NOT LIE. MEN WHO CAN
STAND BEFORE A DEMAGOGUE AND DAMN HIS TREACHEROUS FLATTERIES
WITHOUT WINKING. TALL MEN, SUNCROWNED, WHO LIVE ABOVE THE
FOG IN PUBLIC DUTY AND IN PRIVATE THINKING. FOR WHILE THE
RABBLE WITH THEIR THUMBWORN CREEDS, THEIR LARGE PROFESSIONS
AND THEIR LITTLE DEEDS MINGLE IN SELFISH STRIFE, LO FREEDOM
WEEPS, WRONG RULES THE LAND, AND WAITING JUSTICE SLEEPS. YES, GOD
GIVE US MEN. ADULTERY IS A SIN AGAINST THE NATION, BUT I'll
TELL YOU WHAT ELSE IT'S A SIN. AGAINST. NOT ONLY AGAINST ONE'S
SELF, NOT ONLY AGAINST, UH, THE FAMILY, NOT ONLY A SIN AGAINST
THE NATION, BUT ADULTERY, MY FRIEND, IS A SIN AGAINST
ALMIGHTY GOD. THERE IS A GOD IN THE GLORY, AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY,
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? YOU MAY AS WELL ASK, WHAT
DIFFERENCE DOES GOD MAKE? EXODUS 20 VERSE 14 SAYS, THOU SHALT NOT
COMMIT ADULTERY. YOU SEE, THIS SIN IS AGAINST GOD BECAUSE GOD
SAYS IT IS WRONG. WHEN KING DAVID RECOGNIZED WHAT HE HAD
DONE, KING DAVID WROTE A PENITENTIAL PSALM. HE DID NOT
TRY TO COVER IT UP, BECAUSE WHAT WE TRY TO COVER GOD UNCOVERS AND
WHAT WE UNCOVER GOD WILL COVER. BUT DAVID SAID IN PSALM 51 VERSE
FOUR, PRAYING TO GOD, AGAINST THEE AND THEE ONLY HAVE I SINNED
AND DONE THIS EVIL IN THY SIGHT. DAVID REALIZED THAT HE BROKE
BOTH GOD'S LAW AND GOD'S HEART, AND SIN WAS AGAINST ALMIGHTY
GOD. ADULTERY, FRIEND, IS A SIN THAT GOD WILL JUDGE. IF YOU'RE
MAKING NOTES, JOT THESE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES. HEBREWS 13
VERSE FOUR, MARRIAGE IS HONORABLE IN ALL AND THE BED
UNDEFILED, BUT WHOREMONGERS AND ADULTERERS GOD WILL JUDGE. I
DIDN'T SAY THAT, GOD SAID THAT. GOD WILL JUDGE. PROVERBS CHAPTER
SIX VERSES 27 THROUGH 29, CAN A MAN TAKE A FIRE IN HIS BOSOM AND
HIS CLOTHES BE NOT BURNED? CAN A MAN GO UPON HOT COALS AND HIS
FEET NOT BE BURNED? SO HE THAT GOETH IN TO HIS NEIGHBOR'S WIFE,
WHOSOEVER TOUCHETH HER SHALL NOT BE INNOCENT. PROVERBS CHAPTER
SIX VERSE 32, BUT WHOSO COMMITETH ADULTERY WITH A WOMAN
LACKETH UNDERSTANDING. HE THAT DOETH IT DESTROYETH HIS OWN
SOUL. PROVERBS CHAPTER SEVEN VERSE 27, SPEAKING OF THE
ADULTEROUS WOMAN, HER HOUSE IS THE WAY TO HELL GOING DOWN TO
THE CHAMBERS OF DEATH. FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER SIX VERSE
NINE, KNOW YE NOT THAT THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE
KINGDOM OF GOD. BE NOT DECEIVED, NEITHER FORNICATORS, THAT'S SEX
BEFORE MARRIAGE, NOR IDOLATERS, NOR ADULTERERS, THAT'S ILLICIT
SEX WHEN MARRIED, NOR EFFEMINATE, THAT IS SEXUAL
PERVERSION, NOR ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND. GOD
SAYS, DON'T BE DECEIVED; THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HEAVEN UNLESS THEY
CHANGE. THANK GOD, HE GOES ON TO SAY, AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU.
HE DOESN'T SAY, THERE'S NO HOPE; HE DOESN'T SAY, THERE'S NO
FORGIVENESS. HE'S SAYING, IF THIS IS YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOUR
CHOICE, YOUR PRACTICE, YOU NEED TO GET SAVED. EPHESIANS FIVE
VERSE FIVE, FOR THIS YE KNOW THAT NO WHOREMONGER OR UNCLEAN
PERSON OR COVETOUS MAN WHO IS AN IDOLATER HATH ANY INHERITANCE IN
THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND OF GOD. AND THEN THE LAST BOOK IN
THE HOLY BIBLE, REVELATION CHAPTER 21 AND VERSE EIGHT,
HERE'S THE ROLL CALL OF THE, OF THE DAMNED, BUT THE FEARFUL AND
UNBELIEVING AND ABOMINABLE AND MURDERERS AND WHOREMONGERS AND
SORCERERS AND IDOLATERS AND ALL LIARS SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN
THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE WHICH IS THE
SECOND DEATH. YOU SEE GOD IS A HOLY GOD. GOD HAS GIVEN HIS
COMMANDMENTS, HIS LAWS. LAW WITHOUT PENALTY IS ONLY ADVICE.
GOD IS NOT GIVING ADVICE, AND NO MATTER HOW IMMORALITY IS LAUGHED
AT, GLAMORIZED, RATIONALIZED, LEGITIMATIZED BY THE SOCIAL
ENGINEERS AND THE PUNDITS, GOD BROUGHT ME HERE TO TELL YOU, AND
I'VE PRAYED ABOUT THIS MESSAGE, THIS IS A SIN THAT GOD WILL
JUDGE. DO YOU KNOW THE REASON THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT
GOD'S NOT GOING TO JUDGE THIS SIN? LOOK IN CHAPTER TWO AND
VERSE FIVE, ROMANS TWO VERSE FIVE, BUT AFTER THY HARDNESS AND
IMPENITENT HEART, TREASUREST UP UNTO THYSELF WRATH AGAINST THE
DAY OF WRATH, WRATH AGAINST THE DAY OF WRATH AND THE REVELATION
OF THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD. YOU SEE, PEOPLE ARE JUST
TREASURING UP WRATH; EVERY DAY THEY PUT A NEW DEPOSIT IN THE
BANK. AND THE SUN COMES UP AND THE SUN GOES DOWN AND THEY SAY,
WELL, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, LOOK, I DID IT AGAIN. NO
JUDGMENT. AFTER THY HARDNESS AND IMPENITENT HEART TREASUREST UP
WRATH AGAINST THE DAY OF WRATH, ONE MORE DEPOSIT IS PUT IN THE
BANK. WELL, WHAT MUST WE DO? QUICKLY, WE CANNOT CHANGE THE
HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS. AND REVIVAL IS NOT GOING TO COME TO
THIS NATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, THE STATE HOUSE, OR THE
SCHOOL HOUSE. IT'S GOING TO COME FROM THE CHURCH HOUSE. AND IT'S
GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD. ONE BY ONE WE NEED TO
TAKE OUR NATION BACK, AND LET ME TELL YOU YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
HERE, LISTEN TO GOD'S WORD, DON'T SACRIFICE THE ULTIMATE,
THE ETERNAL, ON THE ALTAR OF THE IMMEDIATE. DON'T BE SO FOOLISH!
QUICKLY, FIRST OF ALL, MAKE A DECISION. GIVE YOUR HEART TO
ALMIGHTY GOD, BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS ABLE TO GUIDE
YOU. AFTER YOU MAKE THAT DECISION, DEPEND UPON HIM, LOOK
TO HIM. HE WILL DELIVER YOU FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY IF YOU TRUST
HIM. NUMBER THREE, AFTER DECISION AND DEPENDENCE,
DEVOTION. LOVE GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND LOVE YOUR OWN
WIFE, LOVE YOUR OWN MATE, YOUR OWN HUSBAND, WITH A SUPERNATURAL
LOVE. WHEN THE BIBLE SAYS, HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES,
THAT'S NOT A SUGGESTION, THAT'S NOT A REQUEST, IT IS A COMMAND,
AND ANYTHING GOD COMMANDS YOU TO DO, YOU CAN DO. NUMBER, UH,
FOUR; DEVELOPMENT. LOOK, DECISION, DEPENDENCE, DEVOTION,
AND DEVELOPMENT. FEED YOUR LOVE; HELP YOUR LOVE TO GROW. LOVE IS
NOT LIKE A DIAMOND, SOMETHING THAT YOU FIND, HARD AND BRITTLE
AND BEAUTIFUL [THUMP] AND YOU KEEP IT TO SAVE IT. LOVE IS LIKE
A FLOWER; IT'S GOT TO BE CULTIVATED AND WATERED AND CARED
FOR AND NURTURED. IF YOU DON'T LOVE YOUR WIFE MORE TODAY THAN
YOU DID WHEN YOU MARRIED HER, YOU PROBABLY LOVE HER LESS.
CONTINUE TO FEED THAT LOVE FROM DAY TO DAY. NEVER FLIRT WITH
ANOTHE, ANOTHER WOMAN. AND NEVER FAIL TO FLIRT WITH YOUR OWN
WIFE. UH, JUST, JUST DEVELOP THAT LOVE. AND THEN DISCIPLINE.
GUARD YOUR COMPANY. WATCH WHAT; GIVE ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU READ
AND WHAT YOU SEE. DECIDE THERE'RE CERTAIN THINGS YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO WATCH. DISCIPLINE YOUR LIFE. YOU WOULDN'T PUT
GARBAGE IN YOUR MOUTH, DON'T PUT GARBAGE IN YOUR MIND. GUARD YOUR
COMPANY. A COMPANION OF FOOLS WILL BE DESTROYED. LAST OF ALL,
DETERMINATION; DETERMINE. JOSHUA SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT COURSE
OTHERS WILL TAKE, BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE
LORD. I LOVE WHAT THE PSALMIST SAID WHEN HE SAID, MY HEART IS
FIXED, OH GOD. IF YOU'LL MAKE UP YOUR MIND ABOUT ONE BIG
DECISION, YOU WON'T HAVE TO KEEP MAKING UP YOUR MIND ABOUT A LOT
OF LITTLE DECISIONS. YOU WON'T HAVE TO DETERMINE EVERY TIME YOU
GO TO THE HOLIDAY INN WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO WATCH A FILTHY
MOVIE OR NOT. BECAUSE YOUR HEART IS FIXED, YOU HAVE DETERMINED,
OH GOD, MY GOD, I WILL SERVE YOU. NOW YOU SAY, PASTOR, YOU
MADE ME FEEL BAD TODAY, BECAUSE, VERY FRANKLY, MY LIFE HAS BEEN
TOUCHED BY IMMORALITY. WELL I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,
THAT'S WHAT THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT. GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS,
GOOD NEWS! IT'S THE BAD NEWS THAT MAKES THE GOOD NEWS GOOD.
FOR THE BIBLE, EH, SAYS THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST, IT [THUMP] IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. GOD IS A
GOD OF GRACE, AND GOD [THUMP] IS A GOD OF FORGIVENESS, AND GOD
[THUMP] IS A GOD OF ANOTHER CHANCE, AND GOD IS A GOD THAT
SAYS, THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE
AS SNOW. THOUGH THEY SHALL BE AS RED LIKE CRIMSON THEY SHALL BE
AS WOOL. HALLELUJAH FOR SUCH A GOSPEL. THANK GOD FOR THAT, IF
ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST JESUS, HE IS A NEW CREATURE, OLD THINGS
ARE PASSED AWAY, BEHOLD ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. BUT
THERE'S ONE THING THAT GOD WILL NEVER ACCEPT FOR SIN AND THAT IS
AN EXCUSE OR AN ALIBI. BUT OH, WHEN THERE COMES A CONFESSION,
THANK GOD. THE CLEANSING TIDES OF CALVARY SWEEP ACROSS THE
HUMAN SOUL AND EVERY BLOT, EVERY BLUR, EVERY BLEMISH, EVERY STAIN
THAT EVER CAME, JESUS' [THUMP] BLOOD [THUMP] WASHES [THUMP]
WHITER [THUMP] THAN [THUMP] SNOW. [AUDIENCE: AMEN]
HALLELUJAH. AMEN AND AMEN. NOW WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK TODAY IS
THIS; THAT YOU GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS, NOT BECAUSE YOU'VE
DONE THESE THINGS. IF YOU'VE NEVER DONE THESE THINGS, IT'S
ALL THE MORE REASON TO GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS, SO HE WILL KEEP
YOU AND PRESERVE YOU. AND IT'S ALL THE MORE REASON ALSO THAT
YOU WANT TO FIND A CHURCH, AND I DON'T THINK BELLEVUE IS THE ONLY
ONE, BUT YOU WANT TO FIND A CHURCH WITHOUT STUTTER OR
STAMMER OR APOLOGY THAT WILL OPEN THE WORD OF GOD AND WILL
SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND IF YOU'D
LIKE TO BE A PART, IF YOU NEED TO BE SAVED, I WANT YOU TO COME
AND SAY, YES, I NEED JESUS. PASTOR, IF I WENT DOWN THERE
THIS MORNING, EVERYBODY'D THINK I'M AN ADULTERER. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] NO. [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] NO. BUT YOU MAY BE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THAT'S NOT THE POINT, WHETHER YOU ARE OR
WHETHER YOU'RE NOT, THAT'S NOT THE POINT. WE NEED JESUS.
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND YOU NEED TO GET YOUR LIFE IN A CHURCH, THIS
ONE OR SOME CHURCH THAT GIVES A STANDARD IN THIS UNSURE [TAP,
TAP, TAP] AGE. WE NEED FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FAITH, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] FATHER GOD, BLESS IN THE INVITATION AND I
PRAY, DEAR GOD, THAT MANY TODAY WILL COME AND SAY AN
EVERLASTING, YES, TO JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR.
LORD, JUST GRANT REPENTANCE TODAY AND FATHER JUST HELP
PEOPLE OPENLY AND PUBLICLY TO TRUST YOU. HELP LITTLE BOYS AND
GIRLS TODAY TO SAY, YES, TO JESUS. TEENAGERS, HUSBANDS,
FATHERS, MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, BUSINESS PEOPLE. LORD, COLLEGE
STUDENTS, MAY THEY SAY, YES, TO JESUS TODAY. IN HIS NAME, AMEN. FRIEND, ONE MORE TIME I WANT TO
TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BORN TWICE AND NEVER DO GET BORN
TWICE, THE DAY WILL COME WHEN YOU WILL WISH THAT YOU HAD NEVER
BEEN BORN AT ALL. NOW REMEMBER, BEING BORN AGAIN IS REALLY
RECEIVING CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR. AND
YOU CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW. MAY I LEAD YOU IN A PRAYER? PRAY THIS
PRAYER FROM YOUR HEART IF YOU CAN AND YOU CAN, PRAY AND ASK
CHRIST TO SAVE YOU. PRAY LIKE THIS, LORD JESUS, I AM A SINNER,
I AM LOST, I NEED TO BE SAVED AND I WANT TO BE SAVED. JESUS,
YOU DIED TO SAVE ME, YOU SHED YOUR BLOOD TO SAVE ME, YOU ROSE
TO SAVE ME, YOU PROMISED TO SAVE ME IF I WOULD TRUST YOU. I DO
TRUST YOU, JESUS. TELL HIM THAT AND MEAN IT. I DO TRUST YOU,
LORD JESUS. SAVE ME, LORD JESUS. PRAY IT, SAY IT AND MEAN IT. AND
IF YOU DO THAT AND YOU'RE SINCERE, WOULD YOU WRITE TO US
AND LET US KNOW SO WE CAN REJOICE WITH YOU? AND WE'LL SEND
YOU SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU TO GET STARTED IN THE CHRISTIAN
LIFE. WE HOPE THAT TODAY'S MESSAGE HAS BEEN AN
ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU AS WE LOOK AT THE FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR
FAITH. 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. AT LWF.ORG, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP TO
RECEIVE OUR DAILY HEARTBEAT EMAILS. EACH HEARTBEAT CONTAINS:
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TO OUR DAILY RADIO PROGRAM AND OTHER RESOURCES, ALL IN ONE
PLACE, DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE
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MEDIA @LWFMINISTRIES. JOIN US NEXT TIME AS ADRIAN ROGERS
CONTINUES HIS SERIES ON FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FAITH HERE
ON LOVE WORTH FINDING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TODAY'S
MESSAGE, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE
VALLEY IN THE DARK SEASONS OF LIFE, IT'S NORMAL TO ASK, WHY
GOD? AT LOVE WORTH FINDING, WE WANT TO HELP YOU ANSWER THAT
IMPORTANT QUESTION WITH THIS COLLECTION OF FOUR BOOKLETS FROM
ADRIAN ROGERS. THEY'LL EMPATHIZE WITH YOUR PAIN AND POINT YOU TO
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THE MIDST OF THE DARKEST STORMS. REQUEST THE WHY BOOKLET
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ON-LINE AT LWF.ORG. FIND THE FATHER THROUGH THE STORMS OF
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