NOW, FOLKS, TRUTH IS SO VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT. AH, WE HAVE SOME WHO HAVE COWARDICE; UH,
THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE TRUTH. WE HAVE SOME WITH LAZINESS;
HUH, THEY ACCEPT HALF-TRUTH. WE HAVE SOME WITH ARROGANCE; THEY
THINK THEY KNOW ALL TRUTH. I PRAY GOD THAT YOU’LL HAVE
HUMILITY TODAY AND ASK GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK TO YOU THE
TRUTH. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] ADRIAN ROGERS HAD A UNIQUE ABILITY TO
APPLY BIBLICAL TRUTH TO EVERYDAY LIFE. IT WAS ONE OF
THE MANY THINGS THAT MADE HIM SUCH A REMARKABLE PASTOR, BIBLE
TEACHER, AND WRITER, AND YOU’LL HEAR THAT IN TODAY’S MESSAGE.
HAVE YOUR BIBLES READY AND JOIN US. BEFORE WE BEGIN, REMEMBER,
YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH PASTOR ROGERS’ OUTLINE, NOTES
OR A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY’S MESSAGE AT LWF.ORG OR
THE MYLWF APP NOW, LET’S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. TAKE YOUR BIBLES, TURN TO JOHN,
CHAPTER 16, AND IN JUST A MOMENT WE’RE GOING TO BEGIN
READING IN VERSE SEVEN. THE TITLE OF THE MESSAGE, “WHEN THE
SPIRIT SPEAKS.” THERE’RE SOME THINGS THAT YOU WILL NEVER
LEARN IN SCHOOL, SOME THINGS THAT YOU WILL NEVER FIGURE OUT
INTELLECTUALLY, THE THINGS YOU WILL NEVER, NEVER, EVER KNOW
UNTIL YOU LAY YOUR INTELLECTUAL PRIDE IN THE DUST AND LET GOD
THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAK YOU, SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THESE THREE
TREMENDOUS TRUTHS. NOW, FOLKS, TRUTH IS SO VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT. AH, WE HAVE SOME WHO HAVE COWARDICE; UH, THEY ARE
AFRAID OF THE TRUTH. WE HAVE SOME WITH LAZINESS; HUH, THEY
ACCEPT HALF-TRUTH. WE HAVE SOME WITH ARROGANCE; THEY THINK THEY
KNOW ALL TRUTH. I PRAY GOD THAT YOU’LL HAVE HUMILITY TODAY AND
ASK GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK TO YOU THE TRUTH. NOW
HERE ARE THESE THREE TREMENDOUS TRUTHS. BEGINNING IN VERSE
SEVEN, JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HIS GOING TO HEAVEN AND THE
HOLY SPIRIT COMING TO EARTH, AND HE SAYS, “NEVERTHELESS I
TELL YOU THE TRUTH; IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR YOU,” NOW, BOYS
AND GIRLS, THAT MEANS IT IS BETTER FOR YOU, NECESSARY FOR
YOU, “THAT I GO AWAY; FOR IF I GO NOT AWAY, THE COMFORTER WILL
NOT COME UNTO YOU; BUT IF I DEPART, I WILL SEND HIM UNTO
YOU.” NOW THE WORD COMFORTER IS THE WORD THAT MEANS PARACLETE
OR ADVOCATE OR LAWYER, SOMEBODY WHO IT, COMES ALONGSIDE OF YOU
TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. JESUS SAID, “I’M GOING TO HEAVEN, BUT
I WILL SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO YOU.” NOW NOTICE VERSE EIGHT,
“AND WHEN HE IS COME, HE WILL REPROVE THE WORLD,” NUMBER ONE,
“OF SIN,” NUMBER TWO, “OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,” NUMBER THREE,
“OF JUDGMENT.” THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT YOU WILL
NEVER UNDERSTAND APART FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT: SIN,
RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT. YOU SAY, “WELL, ADRIAN, THEY
SOUND SIMPLE TO ME.” HANG ON AND LISTEN NOW. JESUS GOES ON
TO DESCRIBE WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT IN VERSE NINE, “OF SIN,
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE NOT ON ME; OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE I GO
TO MY FATHER, AND YE SEE ME NO MORE; OF JUDGMENT, BECAUSE THE
PRINCE OF THIS WORLD IS JUDGED.” NOW I WANT US TO LEARN
THOSE THREE THINGS TODAY, AND I PRAY GOD THAT HE WILL GIVE ME
THE MIND OF CHRIST, THE TONGUE OF THE LEARNED. I PRAY GOD THAT
HE WILL OPEN YOUR HEART. I PRAY GOD THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD
WILL SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AND HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND THESE
THINGS, BECAUSE I CAN ARTICULATE, BUT ONLY GOD THE
HOLY SPIRIT CAN WRITE THEM UPON YOUR HEART. WHAT ARE THESE
THREE TREMENDOUS TRUTHS THAT YOU WILL LEARN WHEN THE SPIRIT
OF GOD SPEAKS? NUMBER ONE; THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SINNER’S BASIC
PROBLEM, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SINNER’S BASIC PROBLEM. WHAT IS
THE SINNER’S BASIC PROBLEM? LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSE NINE,
“OF SIN, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE NOT ON ME.” NOW WHAT IS MAN’S
BASIC PROBLEM? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, A MAN IS A SINNER BECAUSE
OF WHAT HE IS. HUH, HE, HE, HE’S A BORN SINNER. PUT IN YOUR
MARGIN EPHESIANS TWO VERSE THREE THAT SAYS, “WE ARE BY
NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH.” MAN IS BORN WITH A SINFUL
NATURE. HE COMES INTO THIS WORLD WITH A SINFUL NATURE.
AND, THEREFORE, UNLESS THERE’S A CHANGE, HE’S HOPELESSLY LOST
BECAUSE HE HAS A NATURE THAT’S GIVEN TO SIN. AH, SOMEWHERE I
READ ABOUT A MISSIONARY WHO WENT TO THE MISSION FIELD. AND
THEY SHOWED HER WHERE THE MISSIONARY RESIDENCE WAS, AND
IT WAS A KIND OF A NICE LITTLE COTTAGE, BUT THE FLOOR WAS
FILTHY. AND SO SHE, BEING A, A, A GOOD HOUSEKEEPER, DECIDED SHE
WOULD SCRUB THE FLOOR. AND SHE SCRUBBED THE FLOOR, BUT SHE
DIDN’T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET THE DIRT UP. SHE PUT ON MORE
WATER, MORE SUDS. FINALLY, SHE GOT DOWN ON HER HANDS AND KNEES
AND JUST KEPT SCRUBBING, BUT IT WAS DIRTY. SHE’D SCRUB; IT WAS
DIRTY. SHE’D SCRUB; IT WAS DIRTY. SHE WOULD RINSE IT,
SCRUB AGAIN; STILL DIRTY. HA. SOMEBODY SAID, “MADAM, I HATE
TO TELL YOU, BUT THAT IS A DIRT FLOOR.” HA, HA, HA, HA. WHAT
SHE WAS DOING, AH, WAS JUST SIMPLY SCRUBBING A DIRT FLOOR,
AND THE MORE SHE SCRUBBED THE MORE DIRT CAME UP. NOW, FOLKS,
YOU CAN NEVER TAKE YOUR SINFUL NATURE AND CLEAN IT UP BECAUSE
YOUR SINFUL NATURE IS LIKE THAT DIRT FLOOR. MAN IS A SINNER,
BASICALLY, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS. NOW, YOU MAY NOT HAVE, AH,
YOU MAY NOT HAVE DONE SO MANY BAD THINGS, BUT GOD LOOKS AT
YOUR NATURE. IF YOU WERE TO SEE A DOG, AH, HUH, FOAMING AT THE
MOUTH AND A DOG ACTING, AH, STRANGE, AND YOU COULD TELL THE
DOG WAS RABID, AH, THAT DOG WOULD BE CAGED AND DESTROYED,
NOT FOR WHAT THE DOG HAD DONE. HE MAY NOT HAVE BITTEN ANYBODY.
BUT WHAT HE IS CAPABLE OF DOING. FRIEND, WE ARE SINNERS
NOT ONLY FOR WHAT WE’VE DONE, BUT WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF
DOING. SO, MAN IS A SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS.
SECONDLY, MAN IS A SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE.
ROMANS THREE VERSE 23 SAYS, “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME
SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” THINK, FRIEND, OF THE DEEDS
THAT YOU’VE DONE. NOW WE SIT HERE IN CHURCH THIS MORNING,
WELL DRESSED, SING THESE HYMNS, BUT THINK OF THOSE THINGS THAT
HAVE COME OUT OF OUR HEARTS. THINK OF THE LIES THAT HAVE
BEEN TOLD. THINK OF THE CURSING THAT HAS BEEN DONE. YOU SAY,
“WELL, I DIDN’T MEAN ANYTHING BY IT. YES, I TOOK GOD’S NAME
IN VAIN. BUT, HUH, I DIDN’T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING BY IT.”
THAT, FRIEND, THAT’S A PART OF YOUR GUILT THAT YOU COULD TAKE
THE NAME OF GOD AND NOT MEAN ANYTHING BY IT. GOD SAYS, “THOU
SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN, FOR GOD
WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN.”
ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU’LL MEET EVERY CURSE WORD. THINK OF THE
GOSSIP THAT YOU’VE TOLD; WHERE YOU HAVE USED YOUR TONGUE TO
SLANDER SOMEBODY ELSE’S, AH, AH, CHARACTER. THINK OF THE
DISOBEDIENCE TO YOUR PARENTS. THINK OF THE DISHONESTY. THINK
OF, AH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS YOU’VE DONE. YOU SAY, “WELL, I
HAVEN’T DONE THAT MUCH.” DID YOU EVER STEAL A TOY OUT OF
YOUR NEIGHBOR’S YARD? DID YOU EVER STEAL A NICKEL OFF YOUR
MOTHER’S DRESSER? DID YOU EVER CHEAT IN SCHOOL? YOU SAY,
“THOSE ARE SMALL SINS.” FRIEND, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT GOD
DOESN’T GRADE ON THE CURVE. WE ARE SINNERS FOR WHAT WE ARE. WE
ARE SINNERS FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE. THINK OF YOUR THOUGHT
LIFE. YOU HATED; GOD WROTE DOWN MURDER. YOU LUSTED; GOD WROTE
DOWN ADULTERY. MAN IS A SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS. MAN IS A
SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE’S DONE. MAN IS A SINNER BECAUSE
OF WHAT HE HAS NOT DONE. WHY DID GOD MAKE YOU? TO KNOW HIM,
TO LOVE HIM, AND TO SERVE HIM, THAT’S WHY GOD MADE YOU. IF
YOU’VE NOT KNOWN HIM, LOVED HIM, AND SERVED HIM, AH, THEN
YOU’VE BEEN WALKING ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH, EATING GOD’S FOOD,
USING GOD’S SUNSHINE, BREATHING GOD’S AIR AND NOT RETURNING TO
GOD THAT WHICH IS HIS, WHICH IS GLORY TO HIM. MAN IN A SINNER
BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS NOT DONE. MAN’S BASIC PROBLEM IS
NOT THAT HE’S A SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS. MAN’S BASIC
PROBLEM IS NOT THAT HE’S A SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS
DONE. MAN’S BASIC PROBLEM IS NOT A SINNER, AH, DEAR FRIEND,
BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS NOT DONE, THAT IS, GIVING GOD
GLORY. MAN IS A SINNER, ACCORDING TO VERSE NINE, FOR
NOT BELIEVING, FOR NOT BELIEVING. THAT’S SOMETHING
THAT ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD CAN CONVICT YOU OF. JESUS
SAID, “WHEN HE IS COME,” WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS COME, “HE
WILL REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE NOT.” NOW
YOU SAY, “OH, WELL, THAT’S, THAT’S NOT A BIG SIN.” NO,
FRIEND, THAT IS THE GREAT SIN. THAT IS THE MOTHER SIN, THE
FATHER SIN, THE PARENT SIN, THE SIN OF SINS. THE GREATEST SIN
IS NOT BELIEVING. NOW, YOU SAY, “WELL, IT, IT DOESN’T SEEM SO
BAD. MURDER IS WORSE THAN THAT. RAPE IS WORSE THAN THAT.” NO,
GOD SAYS UNBELIEF IS THE GREATEST SIN. YOU SAY, “WELL, I
DON’T AGREE WITH IT.” I WOULDN’T EXPECT YOU TO AGREE
WITH IT UNLESS THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD TEACHES YOU. WHEN THE
HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD TEACHES YOU, YOU’RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND WHY
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WILL COME AND HELP YOU TO SEE THAT
THIS IS THE GREAT SIN. NOW IT MAY NOT SEEM AS GREAT. OVER
HERE IS A, IS A MOUNTAIN OF GARBAGE. OVER HERE IS A
TEASPOONFUL OF TASTELESS, BUT DEADLY, POISON. NOW THIS MAY
SEEM GREATER THAN THIS, BUT THIS IS THE DEADLY PART. THE
GREAT SIN IS THE SIN OF UNBELIEF. IT IS THE CROWNING
SIN. IT IS THE PROOF OF MAN’S WICKEDNESS. AND IT, MY FRIEND,
IS THE SIN THAT WILL DAMN YOU FOREVER; NOT BELIEVING. NOW,
BUT YOU SAY, “I DON’T AGREE WITH THAT.” THINK WITH ME FOR A
MOMENT. AND I PRAY GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WILL TEACH
YOU AS I PREACH, THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE
GREATEST SIN, AND WITH IT YOU PAY THE GREATEST PRICE. AS A
MATTER OF FACT, THIS GREATEST SIN IS NOT OFTEN COMMITTED IN
THE HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION, IT’S NOT COMMITTED IN THE TAVERN’
IT’S COMMITTED IN THE CHURCH HOUSE WHEN THE GOSPEL IS
PREACHED. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAYS, “WELL, YES, I, I ADMIT I
TOLD A LIE. YES, I ADMIT I STOLE AN ANSWER IN SCHOOL. YES,
I’LL ADMIT THAT, AH, I HAD LOST MY TEMPER, OR A READ A, A
GIRLIE MAGAZINE. BUT ADRIAN, ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME THAT
GOD WOULD SEND ME TO HELL FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER
BECAUSE OF THAT? I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE LIKE PUTTING A MAN IN
THE PENITENTIARY FOR LIFE BECAUSE HE STOLE A LOAF OF
BREAD. THE PUNISHMENT DOESN’T FIT THE CRIME. I MEAN, AFTER
ALL, ISN’T GOD JUST?” FRIEND, HERE’S THE WHOLE POINT. GOD IS
NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO TO HELL BECAUSE YOU STOLE A LOAF OF
BREAD, BUT BECAUSE YOU AIMED THE GUN OF UNBELIEF AT HIM AND
PULLED THE TRIGGER. DO YOU KNOW WHAT UNBELIEF IS? UNBELIEF IS
WICKEDNESS, CONSUMMATE WICKEDNESS. UNBELIEF IS THE
REFUSAL OF ALMIGHTY GOD. UNBELIEF IS SAYING, “GOD, YOU
GO YOUR WAY; I’LL GO MINE. IT IS MY LIFE. I WILL NOT TRUST
YOU WITH IT. I WILL NOT GIVE IT TO YOU. AH, I AM MY OWN
PERSON.” YOU SEE, UNBELIEF IS THE PARENT SIN. IT IS THE SIN
OF WHICH ALL OTHER SINS COME, FROM WHICH ALL OTHER SINS COME.
WHY DID ADAM AND EVE SIN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN? BASICALLY, IT
WAS UNBELIEF. WHY DOES A MAN TELL A LIE TODAY? UNBELIEF. HE
CAN’T TRUST GOD TO GET HIM OUT OF THE MESS THAT HE’S IN. ONLY
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD CAN CONVICT YOU THAT THERE IS NO
GREATER SIN THAN UNBELIEF. UNBELIEF SAYS, “GOD, YOU’RE NOT
WORTHY OF MY FAITH, YOU’RE NOT WORTHY OF MY TRUST, YOU’RE NOT
WORTHY OF MY LOVE. I DON’T WANT YOU IN MY LIFE!” “WELL, ADRIAN,
HA, HA, I CAN’T HELP IT. I’M JUST NOT SUPERSTITIOUS. I’M NOT
RELIGIOUS. I CAN’T HELP IT IF I CAN’T BELIEVE.” FRIEND, THAT’S
WHERE YOU’RE WRONG, THAT’S WHERE YOU’RE WRONG. THE HOLY
SPIRIT OF GOD WILL ENABLE YOU TO BELIEVE. THAT’S THE REASON
THE BIBLE SAYS IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS, THE THIRD CHAPTER,
“BEWARE LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU AN EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF.”
UNBELIEF DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE HEAD; IT COMES OUT OF THE
HEART. IT IS A PREDISPOSITION AGAINST ALMIGHTY GOD. IT IS NOT
TRUSTING THE GOD WHO LOVES YOU. NOW, I CAN PREACH THAT, BUT ONE
OF THESE DAYS YOU’LL UNDERSTAND THAT THE GREATER SIN, THE
MOTHER SIN, THE PARENT SIN, THE SIN OF SINS, THE CROWNING SIN
IS TO REFUSE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR,
THAT HE SUFFERED, BLED, AND DIED FOR YOU, REACHED OUT HIS
HAND TO YOU, SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD TO CONVICT YOU,
SENT THE WORD OF GOD, BROUGHT YOU HERE TODAY, AND YOU REFUSED
TO BELIEVE IN HIM. A COURTROOM MAY CONVICT YOU OF CRIMES.
CONSCIENCE MAY CONVICT YOU OF WRONGDOING. BUT ONLY THE HOLY
SPIRIT OF GOD CAN TRULY CONVICT YOU OF SIN. YES, MAN IS A
SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS. YES, MAN IS A SINNER BECAUSE OF
WHAT HE’S DONE. BUT THE GREATEST SIN, THE SIN OF SINS,
THE MOTHER SIN, THE FATHER SIN, THE PARENT SIN, THE DAMMING
SIN, IS THE SIN OF NOT BELIEVING. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SAID AND I WANT YOU TO PUT THIS
SCRIPTURE DOWN IN YOUR BIBLE. LISTEN TO IT, “HE THAT
BELIEVETH ON HIM,” ON WHOM? ON JESUS, “IS NOT CONDEMNED; BUT
HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE
HATH NOT BELIEVED.” NOT BECAUSE HE TOLD A LIE, NOT BECAUSE HE
STOLE, NOT BECAUSE HE COMMITTED ADULTERY; THOSE SINS HAVE BEEN
PAID FOR, BUT, “BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED,” IN THE NAME OF
THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. HE THAT BELIEVES IS NOT
CONDEMNED. YOU COME WITH FAITH AND PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST AND, “THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION
OF THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.” REFUSE THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST, AND YOU ARE CONDEMNED BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT BELIEVED!
YOU HAVE REFUSED HIM. THAT IS THE GREATEST SIN, AND WITH IT
IT BRINGS THE GREATEST PENALTY. NOW, THERE’S A SECOND TRUTH
THAT YOU’LL NEVER UNDERSTAND UNTIL GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
TEACHES. NOT ONLY THE, THE, THE TRUTH ABOUT MAN’S BASIC
PROBLEM, WHICH IS UNBELIEF, HIS BASIC PROBLEM, BUT NUMBER TWO,
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SAVIOR’S BOUNTIFUL PROVISION. WHAT IS
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SAVIOR’S BOUNTIFUL PROVISION? THE HOLY
SPIRIT IS COME. WHEN HE SPEAKS, HE SPEAKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
JESUS SAID, “BECAUSE I GO TO MY FATHER AND YOU SEE ME NO MORE.”
WHAT IS THE SAVIOR’S BOUNTIFUL PROVISION? YOU SAY, “HE CAME TO
HEAL.” NO. “HE CAME TO TEACH.” NOT PRIMARILY. YOU SAY, “HE
CAME, AH, TO DO, AH, TO HELP THE POOR.” NO. “HE CAME TO SEEK
AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH IS LOST.” HE CAME AS A SAVIOR, AND
HE CAME TO PROVIDE RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE CAME TO
PROVIDE RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WHEN HE HAD, AH, WAS VIRGIN BORN,
LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, TOOK MY SIN, YOUR SIN, OUR SIN UPON
HIMSELF, HUNG UPON THAT CROSS, AND WITH HIS BLOOD PAID THE SIN
DEBT, THEN WENT INTO THAT DARK TOMB, CAME OUT THE THIRD DAY,
ASCENDED TO HEAVEN, IT WAS DONE. ALL THAT HE CAME TO DO
WAS DONE. HE SAID, “I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK.” HE’S
SPEAKING TO THE FATHER, “I’VE FINISHED THE WORK THOU GAVEST
ME TO DO.” “AND NOW I AM GOING BACK HOME. I’VE DONE THE WORK
THAT GOD TOLD ME TO DO. NOW I AM ASCENDING THE HIGH HILLS OF
GLORY. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS GOING TO COME, AND HE
WILL CONVICT YOU OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT YOU CAN HAVE
THROUGH ME.” NOW, THE WORLD’S IDEA OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS JUST
AS WARPED AS THE WORLD’S IDEA OF SIN. NOW, THE WORLD’S IDEA
OF SIN IS, A MAN IS A SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DOES. NO, HE
DOES WHAT HE DOES BECAUSE HE’S A SINNER. A MAN IS NOT A LIAR
BECAUSE HE TELLS LIES; HE TELLS LIES BECAUSE HE’S, HE’S A LIAR.
AH, THE SIN IS IN THE HEART. BUT THE WORLD’S IDEA OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS JUST AS WARPED. THE WORLD THINKS THAT A
MAN IS A SINNER IF HE DOES WRONG. HE THINKS THE MAN IS
RIGHTEOUS IF HE DOES RIGHT. AND SOMEHOW THAT GOD IS LIKE, EH,
SANTA CLAUS, MAKING A LIST, CHECKING IT TWICE, GOING TO
FIND OUT WHOSE NAUGHTY OR NICE. AND ONE OF THESE DAYS WE’RE
GOING TO DIE, AND OUR BAD WORKS ARE GOING TO PUT ON THE SCALES
ON THIS SIDE AND OUR GOOD WORKS ON THE SCALES ON THIS SIDE, AND
GOD’S GOING TO WEIGH IT ALL OUT. AND IF OUR GOOD WORKS
OUTWEIGH OUR BAD WORKS, THEN HE’S GOING TO SAY, “YOU MADE
IT.” IF OUR BAD WORKS OUTWEIGH OUR GOOD WORKS, HE’S GOING TO
SAY, “YOU MISSED IT.” THAT’S THE WORLD’S IDEA OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS. BUT I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THESE SCRIPTURES
HERE. GOD TALKED ABOUT HIS ANCIENT PEOPLE, ISRAEL, AND
HERE’S WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THEM IN ROMANS CHAPTER 10 AND VERSE
THREE. PUT IT DOWN. THE BIBLE SAYS, “THEY, BEING IGNORANT OF
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN
RIGHTEOUSNESS, HAVE NOT SUBMITTED THEMSELVES UNTO THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.” NOW, IGNORANCE IS TERRIBLE, FRIEND,
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HEAVEN OR HELL IT, IT IS, UH, IT IS
TRAGIC. “THEY, BEING IGNORANT OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND
GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, HAVE NOT
SUBMITTED THEMSELVES UNTO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.” MOST OF
THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE SELF-RIGHTEOUS, STRUTTING THEIR
WAY TO HELL, THINKING THEY’RE TOO GOOD TO BE DAMMED. NOW,
YOUR ONLY HOPE OF EVER APPEARING RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD
IS IN THE FINISHED, UH, WORK OF THE ASCENDED CHRIST. WHEN JESUS
WENT TO HEAVEN, WHEN HE SAID, AH, “I, I’M GOING TO HEAVEN.”
WHAT DID HE DO WHEN HE WENT TO HEAVEN? HE WENT AND PRESENTED
HIS BLOOD ON THE MERCY SEAT THERE IN HEAVEN BEFORE THE
FATHER AS AN ATONEMENT FOR OUR SIN. NOW THINK WITH ME FOR A
MOMENT. IF YOU COULD BE ACCOUNTED RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD
BY DOING GOOD DEEDS, BY GIVING YOUR MONEY, BY HELPING THE
POOR, BY BEING RELIGIOUS, BEING KIND, IF YOU COULD BE COUNTED
RIGHTEOUS FOR DOING THAT, LISTEN TO ME NOW, WHY DID JESUS
DIE? WHY DID HE SUFFER ON THAT CROSS IF YOU COULD BE SAVED BY
YOUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS? I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IF YOU COULD
BE SAVED BY DOING GOOD, THEN CALVARY WAS THE BLUNDER OF THE
AGES. NOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT. LET ME GIVE YOU A VERSE OF
SCRIPTURE. PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS CHAPTER TWO VERSE 21,
“FOR I DO NOT FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD; FOR IF
RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN.”
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHEN YOU TRY TO EARN YOUR SALVATION, YOU
FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD. “FOR IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY
THE LAW, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN.” IT MEANS HE DIED FOR
NOTHING. IF YOU COULD, BY KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS,
THAT’S WHAT HE MEANS BY THE LAW. IF YOU COULD WORK YOUR WAY
TO HEAVEN, TELL ME, FRIEND, WHY DID JESUS DIE? WHAT IS THE
PURPOSE OF THE CROSS? ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT GOD WOULD ALLOW
HIS DEAR, DARLING, PRECIOUS SON TO DIE IN UNMENTIONABLE AGONY
UPON THAT CROSS WHEN YOU COULD BE SAVED WITHOUT IT? HE JUST
LET HIM DIE. FRIEND, IF THAT IS TRUE, I HATE TO MEET THAT GOD
IN A DARK ALLEY. I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR A GOD WHO WOULD
ALLOW JESUS CHRIST TO DIE THAT WAY UPON A CROSS, TO BE
BUTCHERED ON A ROMAN CROSS, WHEN YOU COULD BE SAVED BY JUST
BEING GOOD. LOOK AT THAT VERSE AGAIN, “IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME
BY THE LAW, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN.” BUT MOST OF THE
PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE EGOMANIACS, STRUTTING TO HELL,
THINKING THEY’RE TOO GOOD TO BE DAMMED. ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF
GOD WILL CONVICT YOU THAT THE GREAT SIN, THE BASIC SIN, IS
UNBELIEF. ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD CAN CONVICT YOU THAT YOU
DO NOT HAVE HALF A HALLELUJAH OF A CHANCE TO GO TO HEAVEN
APART FROM THE SHED BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU SAY,
“WELL, I’M A GOOD PERSON, PASTOR ROGERS.” WELL, LET ME
TELL YOU WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU. PUT IT DOWN, ISAIAH
CHAPTER 64 AND VERSE SIX, “FOR WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING,
AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS.” ALL, NOT, NOT
YOUR BAD DEEDS, YOUR GOOD DEEDS. IN THE SIGHT OF GOD,
HUH, IT’S A, LIKE A FILTHY RAG. IT’S THE WORD THAT USED TO WRAP
THE LEPERS’ OOZING SORES. “ALL OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS
FILTHY RAGS.” NOW, ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD CAN TEACH
YOU THAT. AH, YOU, YOU SEE, YOU CAN MAKE A DEADLY MISTAKE BY
DEPENDING UPON SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS RATHER THAN
CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. UH, NOW WHEN YOU BELIEVE ON THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST, WHAT DOES HE DO? WELL, WHEN YOU BELIEVE ON HIM,
NUMBER ONE, HERE’S THE KIND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT HE GIVES
YOU. AH, NUMBER, NUMBER ONE, HE CHANGES WHAT YOU ARE. THE
MOMENT YOU BELIEVE ON HIM. REMEMBER, WE SAID A MAN IS A
SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS? WELL, JESUS CHANGES WHAT HE IS.
CHRISTIANS ARE NOT JUST NICER PEOPLE; THEY’RE NEW CREATURES.
“IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST JESUS HE IS A NEW CREATURE.” GOD
GIVES YOU A NEW NATURE. WHEN I RECEIVED CHRIST AS A TEEN, GOD
PUT A NEW NATURE IN MY HEART, SUCH A NEW NATURE THAT THE
TEACHERS WERE SAYING, “WHAT HAPPENED TO ADRIAN ROGERS?”
THERE WAS A RADICAL CHANGE. BUT NOT ONLY DOES HE CHANGE WHAT WE
ARE, AH, FRIEND, HE, HE FORGIVES WHAT WE’VE DONE.
REMEMBER I SAID WE WERE SINNERS FOR WHAT WE’VE DONE? WELL,
EVERY STAIN, EVERY BLUR, EVERY BLOT, EVERY BLEMISH IS WASHED
WHITER THAN SNOW, BURIED IN THE GRAVE OF GOD’S FORGETFULNESS.
BUT NOT ONLY DOES HE, FRIEND, CHANGE WHAT WE ARE. NOT ONLY
DOES HE FORGIVE WHAT WE’VE DONE, BUT HE ALSO GIVES WHAT WE
NEED. WHAT DO WE NEED? WE NEED RIGHTEOUSNESS. NOW LET ME GIVE
YOU A VERSE OF SCRIPTURE, ROMANS FOUR VERSES FIVE AND
SIX, “BUT TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT
JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS.” HEH, GOD JUST, AH, PUTS RIGHTEOUSNESS ON OUR
ACCOUNT. “EVEN AS DAVID ALSO DESCRIBETH THE BLESSEDNESS OF
THE MAN UNTO WHOM GOD IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS.”
NOW WE DON’T USE THAT WORD IMPUTE VERY MUCH, BUT IT MEANS
PUT ON YOUR ACCOUNT. NEXT TIME YOU GO TO GOLDSMITH TO BUY
SOMETHING, JUST SAY, “IMPUTE IT.” DON’T SAY, “CHARGE IT,”
SAY, “IMPUTE IT.” [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] PUT IT ON MY ACCOUNT!
LISTEN TO WHAT GOD SAYS IN THIS SCRIPTURE, “BUT TO HIM THAT
WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT JUSTIFIETH THE
UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. BLESSED IS
THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT
WORKS.” GOD JUST PUTS THAT ON YOUR ACCOUNT. HOW GLORIOUS THAT
IS! YOU SAY, “I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT!” THAT’S THE
REASON I’M PRAYING GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL OPEN YOUR HEART
TODAY. WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS COME, HE WILL CONVICT YOU OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE ONLY RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT YOU CAN HAVE
APART FROM HIM. LISTEN TO ME. THE WORST FORM OF BADNESS IS
HUMAN GOODNESS WHEN HUMAN GOODNESS BECOMES A SUBSTITUTE
FOR THE NEW BIRTH. THE WORST FORM OF BADNESS IS HUMAN
GOODNESS WHEN THAT BECOMES A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE NEW BIRTH.
NOW PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY SIT IN CHURCHES,
THINKING THEY’RE DOING GOD A WILD FAVOR BY GETTING HERE, AND
THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO BE TWICE-BORN. AGAIN, I
TELL YOU, IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW, THEN PRAY TELL ME,
WHY DID JESUS DIE? THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD HAS COME TO TEACH
WHAT MAN’S BASIC PROBLEM IS, AND THAT IS SIN. THE HOLY
SPIRIT OF GOD IS COME TO TEACH WHAT, WHAT CHRIST THE SAVIOR’S
BOUNTIFUL PROVISION IS, AND THAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS. NOW,
THIRDLY. HERE’S THE THIRD TRUTH THAT YOU’LL NEVER UNDERSTAND
APART FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IT’S THE TRUTH ABOUT SATAN’S
BROKEN POWER, THE TRUTH ABOUT SATAN’S BROKEN POWER. NOW JESUS
SAID HE’S GOING TO COME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT, AH, SIN,
RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT. NOW, HE DESCRIBES JUDGMENT IN
VERSE 11. HE SAYS, “OF JUDGMENT, BECAUSE THE PRINCE OF
THIS WORLD IS JUDGED.” NOW NOTICE THE TENSE THERE. HE
DOESN’T SAY “THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD, WHO IS SATAN, IS GOING
TO BE JUDGED.” FRIEND, SATAN IS ALREADY JUDGED. NOW YOU DON’T,
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE SP, THINK
THAT WE’RE STILL WAITING TO SEE THE OUTCOME. OH, NO. WHEN JESUS
FACED THE CROSS, HERE’S WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN, CHAPTER 12
AND VERSE 31, “NOW IS THE JUDGMENT OF THIS WORLD; NOW
SHALL THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD BE CAST OUT.” NOT WHEN I COME
2,000 YEARS LATER. “NOW IS THE JUDGMENT OF THIS WORLD.” AH,
FRIEND, WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS, MAN WAS DOING HIS MOST
WICKED, MALEVOLENT THING HE COULD DO; GOD WAS GAINING THE
GREATEST VICTORY. WHEN JESUS BOWED HIS HEAD AND DIED,
SATAN’S KINGDOM WAS CRUSHED, SATAN’S BACK WAS BROKEN, SATAN
BECAME A CONDEMNED FELON. SENTENCE HAS BEEN PASSED UPON
HIM. JUDGMENT IS OVER. HE RULES A DOOMED DOMAIN. HE SAILS A
SINKING SHIP. SATAN IS RUINED! HE IS RUINED! HE’S DEVASTATED!
THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD IS ALREADY JUDGED! THAT’S THE
FOOLISHNESS OF SATAN WORSHIP. WHY FOLLOW A LOSER? [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] MAN, HELL IS PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS.
GOD DIDN’T MAKE HELL FOR YOU, BUT I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.
EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING TODAY IS EITHER BELIEVING IN
CHRIST OR YOU’RE NOT BELIEVING IN CHRIST. AND THOSE OF YOU WHO
ARE BELIEVING IN CHRIST, ONE DAY YOU’LL BE LIKE HIM. THAT’S
WHAT OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH IS ABOUT. ONE DAY YOU WILL BE LIKE
JESUS. THAT IS WHAT GOD IS UP TO. GOD IS UP TO MAKING PEOPLE
LIKE JESUS CHRIST TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS
SON. THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. YOU’RE LOOKING AT A MAN
WHO WILL ONE DAY BE LIKE JESUS CHRIST. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU
SOMETHING. YOU FAIL TO RECEIVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOU FAIL
TO BELIEVE IN HIM, YOU TRUST YOUR OWN SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS,
AND YOU’RE GOING TO BEGIN MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION, AND
ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU’RE GOING TO BE THE PERFECT IMAGE OF
SATAN HIMSELF. YOU’LL BE JUST LIKE IT. YOU WILL BE
TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF SATAN, AND YOU WILL GO TO A
HELL PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. IT’S A FRIGHTENING
THOUGHT. I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION; WHEN YOU GET TO WHERE
YOU’RE HEADED, WHERE WILL YOU BE? EVERYBODY’S HEADED
SOMEWHERE, EVERYBODY IS HEADED SOMEWHERE. THERE ARE THOSE WHO
BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HAVE RECEIVED HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS, WILL ONE DAY BE LIKE HIM. BUT IF YOU HAVE NOT,
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT, AH, THAT JUDGMENT AWAITS YOU. DON’T
GET THE IDEA THAT THERE’S SOME COLOSSAL CONTEST AND WE’RE
WAITING TO SEE WHO’S GOING TO WIN, JESUS OR THE DEVIL. THE
DEVIL’S ALREADY LOST, AND JESUS MUST REIGN. HIS ENEMIES MUST
BITE THE DUST. AND TRUTH IS MIGHTIER THAN ERROR, AND LOVE
IS STRONGER THAN HATE, AND HOLINESS IS HIGHER THAN SIN.
CHOOSE SIDES CAREFULLY, PRECIOUS FRIEND. NOW IT LOOKS
LIKE SOMETIMES SATAN IS WINNING THE BATTLE. DON’T BE DECEIVED.
THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD IS JUDGED, IS JUDGED. SOMEWHERE
YEARS AGO, I READ ABOUT A, A SPIDER WHO TRIED TO BUILD HIS
WEB ON THE TOWN CLOCK, YOU KNOW, THESE BIG CLOCKS THAT
STAND IN THE CITY SQUARE. AND HE, UH, HE PUT ONE END OF HIS,
UH, LITTLE GOSSAMER THREAD ON THE HAND OF THE CLOCK AND BEGAN
TO BUILD, BUT THE CLOCK JUST KEPT MOVING AND KEPT MOVING. HE
HAD TO KEEP REBUILDING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I WANT TO TELL YOU,
SATAN TRIES TO BUILD A STICKY WEB, BUT GOD’S HAND IS MOVING
ON TOWARD THE CLIMAX OF THIS AGE, AND ALL OF SATAN’S PLANS
ARE DESTINED TO FAILURE. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS
PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS COME TO
CONVICT THE WORLD OF MAN’S BASIC PROBLEM, OF THE SINNER’S
BOUNTIFUL PROVISION, OF SATAN’S BROKEN POWER. HE’S COME TO
CONVICT YOU OF THAT. BUT NOTICE HOW THE ORDER. HE HAS COME TO
CONVICT US OF SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT.
NOW IN A COURT OF LAW, FIRST THE CRIME. WHEN THE CRIME IS
PROVEN, THEN THE JUDGMENT. THAT’S THE ORDER: THE CRIME,
THE PUNISHMENT. BUT WITH GOD, THE ORDER IS DIFFERENT. THERE
IS, FIRST OF ALL, SIN, THEN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THEN
JUDGMENT. GOD HAS PUT RIGHTEOUSNESS BETWEEN SIN AND
JUDGMENT. YOU SEE, GOD INTERPOSED THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
OF HIS SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. NOW IF YOU DON’T
BELIEVE, IF YOU REFUSE, THERE IS NO RIGHTEOUSNESS BETWEEN SIN
AND JUDGMENT. YOU JUST DIE AND GO TO HELL. I’M A SINNER, BY
NATURE, BY BIRTH, BY PRACTICE. BUT I BELIEVED ON THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST. AND, THEREFORE, GOD HAS INTERPOSED HIS PRECIOUS
BLOOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS STANDS BETWEEN ME AND JUDGMENT.
I LIKE THAT. BETWEEN ME AND HELL THERE’S A BLOODY CROSS AND
JESUS IS ON IT. FRIEND, IF YOU’RE NOT A BELIEVER, PUT YOUR
HAND UP THERE AND YOU FEEL THAT LITTLE HEARTBEAT? THAT’S ALL
THERE IS BETWEEN YOU AND HELL. THAT’S ALL, JUST A HEARTBEAT.
BUT IF YOU’VE GIVEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS, IF YOU’RE TRUSTED THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST, IF YOU’VE SAID, “MY BASIC PROBLEM, MY
BASIC PROBLEM IS I’VE NOT TRUSTED HIM, BUT I TRUST HIM.”
AND THEN GOD SAYS, “I’LL GIVE YOU A BOUNTIFUL PROVISION. I
WILL GIVE YOU RIGHTEOUSNESS! AND NOW FOR YOU THERE IS
THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION,” AND YOU’RE NOT BELONGING TO
THAT TRIBE THAT’S FOLLOWING SATAN. YOU’RE TWICE-BORN.
YOU’RE HEAVEN BORN AND HEAVEN BOUND. O, I PRAYED ON MY KNEES
THAT GOD’LL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BECAUSE ALL I
CAN DO IS PREACH IT. IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WHO WILL
TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT.
HE’LL DO IT THROUGH MY WORDS, BUT HE’LL TEACH YOU IF YOU’LL
JUST OPEN YOUR HEART. LAY YOUR PRIDE IN THE DUST, WILL YOU?
AND SAY, “SPEAK TO ME, O GOD.” BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER. AND
HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED, NO ONE STIRRING, NO ONE
MOVING. O HOW YOU NEED JESUS. DON’T LET YOUR
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS TAKE YOU TO HELL. DON’T THINK THAT REFUSING
JESUS IS A SMALL SIN. IT IS THE BASIC SIN. UNBELIEF NEVER COMES
OUT OF THE HEAD; IT COMES OUT OF THE HEART. IF YOU WANT TO BE
SAVED, MAY I HELP YOU TO BE SAVED TODAY? WOULD YOU PRAY A
PRAYER LIKE THIS AND PRAY IT FROM YOUR HEART, “O GOD. I’M A
SINNER BECAUSE OF WHAT I AM AND WHAT I’VE DONE, BUT MY BASIC
SIN IS I’VE NOT BELIEVED IN JESUS. I’VE NOT TRUSTED HIM.
I’VE NOT YIELDED TO HIM. O GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD HAS
SHOWN ME THAT TODAY AND I REPENT OF MY SIN OF UNBELIEF,
AND NOW I TRUST JESUS WITH ALL OF MY HEART. LORD JESUS, I NEED
RIGHTEOUSNESS. I CAN’T STAND BEFORE GOD WITH MY
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. LORD, JUST PUT RIGHTEOUSNESS ON MY
ACCOUNT. O THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR PAYING WITH YOUR RICH BLOOD
FOR MY SIN. THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR THE CROSS. THANK YOU FOR
REDEMPTION. THANK YOU FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT YOU ALONE
CAN GIVE. AND LORD GOD, NOW I’VE STEPPED FROM DEATH INTO
LIFE. I’M NO LONGER FOLLOWING SATAN. I’M NO LONGER FOLLOWING
A LOSER. I BELONG TO YOU, JESUS. AND ONE DAY I’LL BE LIKE
YOU. PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME. I LOVE YOU, JESUS. I LOVE YOU,
JESUS. I LOVE YOU. HELP ME NEVER TO BE ASHAMED OF YOU. IN
YOUR NAME I PRAY. AMEN.” MAY I HAVE ANOTHER MOMENT OF
YOUR TIME? MANY TODAY IN THE WORSHIP CENTER, IN THE
SANCTUARY, HAVE MADE A DECISION TO ASK CHRIST INTO THEIR HEART.
YOU HEARD ME INVITE THEM TO DO IT, BUT I WANT YOU TO DO THE
SAME THING. I WANT YOU TO SAY TODAY, FROM YOUR HEART, "LORD
JESUS, COME INTO MY HEART, FORGIVE MY SIN, SAVE ME, LORD
JESUS." FRIEND, PRAY IT AND MEAN IT. AND IF YOU DO, WILL
YOU WRITE TO US SO WE CAN REJOICE WITH YOU? AND WE'LL
SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR
CHRISTIAN LIFE. WE HOPE THAT TODAY'S MESSAGE FROM ADRIAN
ROGERS HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU. YOU CAN
STREAM THIS MESSAGE AGAIN, AND DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS'
OUTLINE, NOTES OR A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MESSAGE, ALL AT LWF.ORG
OR THE MYLWF APP. WHILE YOU'RE THERE, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR
NEW BIBLE STUDIES ON TODAY'S TOPIC, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER
TOPICS. AT LWF.ORG, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR
"DAILY HEARTBEAT" EMAIL, WHICH INCLUDES A WRITTEN DEVOTIONAL,
A :90 SECOND INSPIRATIONAL AUDIO CLIP, BOTH FROM ADRIAN
ROGERS, AS WELL AS A LINK TO OUR DAILY RADIO PROGRAM
DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR COMPUTER OR YOUR MOBILE DEVICE
EACH AND EVERY MORNING. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME
INSPIRATION OR ENCOURAGEMENT TO GET YOU THROUGH THE WEEK, CHECK
US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA @LWFMINISTRIES. AND DON'T
FORGET, YOU CAN CATCH UP WITH OUR PROGRAM EACH WEEK ON OUR
FACEBOOK PAGE OR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, OR ON THE MYLWF APP.
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR PROGRAM TODAY, WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME. JESUS - THE NAME LITERALLY MEANS 'JEHOVAH
SAVES'. THAT BABY BORN IN BETHLEHEM WAS THE MIGHTY GOD OF
GENESIS 1:1. THERE ARE NAMES GOD GIVES US FOR
HIMSELF...NAMES THAT SPIRIT-INSPIRED WRITERS CALLED
HIM AND SYMBOLIC NAMES USED TO DESCRIBE HIM IN SCRIPTURE. THIS
CHRISTMAS, WE'VE MADE 25 OF THESE NAMES, AND THEIR
MEANINGS, INTO BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED ORNAMENTS FOR YOU
TO DISPLAY. EACH ORNAMENT REVEALS INSIGHT INTO A NAME OF
GOD GIVEN TO US IN SCRIPTURE, AND SHARES WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT
HIS CHARACTER. THE "NAMES OF GOD" ORNAMENT SET ALSO INCLUDES
AN ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLET THAT SHARES THOUGHTS ON EACH
NAME. FOR YOUR GIFT THIS MONTH, WE'D LIKE TO SEND YOU THE
"NAMES OF GOD" ORNAMENT SET. REQUEST YOURS WHEN YOU CALL
1-800-647-9400, OR YOU CAN GIVE ONLINE AT LWF.ORG
