Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15The human condition is marked by a single, inherent problem of sin. Oftentimes, we try to explain away or excuse sin, but until we learn to deal with it, we will never know forgiveness. The Gospel Truth only becomes good news when we recognize the bad news, which is our own sin. In this message, we learn there are three things to know about the good news of the Gospel.The SourceThe reason for the Gospel is sin. We are all sinners. Our sin, whether confessed or ignored, comes with a penalty, pollution, and power over us. But because of the death of Jesus Christ, the penalty of our sin was paid in full. Jesus’ final words were, “It is finished” (John 19:30). By His death, we have been pardoned.Because of the burial of Jesus, the pollution of our sin can be purged. When we get saved, Jesus makes our hearts clean. The pollution of sin is put in the grave of God’s forgetfulness.And because of Christ’s resurrection, we have received Christ’s power over sin. It was sin that crucified Jesus and nailed Him to the cross. When Jesus rose from the grave, He demolished the power of sin.The ForceThe Gospel is a saving force. There is no other way to be saved but through Jesus. Adrian Rogers says, “If it’s new, it’s not true. There is only one Gospel, no other Gospel. It is gloriously simple; it is simply glorious.”It is also a sanctifying force. It is present tense. We are being made more and more like Jesus every day. We have been saved from the penalty of sin and are being saved from the power of sin.And it is a stabilizing force. When we get saved, we don’t keep our salvation… rather, it keeps us.The CourseThe course of the Gospel takes its toll on the whole world. It extends to every person, flows to every place, and covers every problem. The Gospel is the only answer to sin, sorrow, and death. This is the good news worth sharing.Apply it to your lifeHave you acknowledged the bad news of sin, that you might know the good news of the Gospel?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 5:14If we’re not careful, we may spend the prime time of our lives chasing the wrong goals. This is why we have to learn how to use and maximize our time for God’s glory. Ephesians 5:14-16 says, “Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.' See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”We must begin to see time as an incredible opportunity, so we may know how to live wisely in evil days. Time is a provided and present opportunity; it is a gift from God that we dare not let pass by. Adrian Rogers says, “There are two days that can steal the joy from today: one is yesterday and the other is tomorrow.”In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul said, "...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We must forget the guilt, glory, grief, and grudges of the past.Time is a precious opportunity; the art of living is spending time wisely. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”We can organize our days according to four principles:Prayer: it is the key that unlocks the door of the morning. Begin every day with prayer.Priority: understanding the difference between urgent and important, we must prioritize accordingly.Promptness: procrastination is a sin. We must cultivate the habit of instant obedience.Power: this means we do God’s will in the power of the Holy Spirit.Finally, time is a passing opportunity. Adrian Rogers says, “Time is such a strange commodity; all you can do is use it or lose it.”We will give an account for every passing day. Knowing this, we must cut ourselves loose from yesterday’s heartaches and failures and strain toward what’s ahead.Apply it to your lifeWhat do you intend to do with your day? Will you be a good steward of the time God has given you?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 18:21One of God’s greatest gifts to us is forgiveness; He forgives us of our own sins, and He empowers us to forgive others who sin against us.Forgiveness is costly; the forgiveness of our sins cost the precious blood of Jesus. And sometimes, it costs something of us to forgive others. Yet, Scripture provides endless reasons to forgive, no matter the cost.First, we must forgive one another because God has so willingly forgiven us.Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”Second, if we do not forgive, we shut out the forgiveness of God.Matthew 18:35 says: “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”Adrian Rogers says, “As long as you have an unforgiving spirit in your heart, you cannot get the forgiveness of God.”Third, if we don’t forgive, our unforgiving spirit will do us great emotional damage, namely, bitterness.We don’t just forgive an individual for their sake, but also for our own sake. So long as we keep our brother “on the hook” for something he’s done against us, we will also remain on the same hook.Adrian Rogers says, “When you forgive, you set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner was you.”Finally, forgiveness restores a broken fellowship.Matthew 18:15 says, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”We must forgive freely and quickly, taking the initiative and approaching offenders with a heart ready to receive them. We must forgive fully, not half-heartedly, and it must be final. Once we forgive, we must bury the offense in the grave of God’s forgetfulness and not bring it up again.As a result, we set ourselves free from the prison of bitterness, and set our brother free from his guilt. Once free, there can be reconciliation, which can lead to revival.Apply it to your lifeIs there anyone that you’re harboring hate for or holding a grudge against? Is there bitterness in your heart? In the name of Jesus, deal with it; ask God for His strength to forgive. Don’t let an unforgiving spirit keep you from having genuine spiritual revival in your life.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Galatians 6:1-3Whether we are saved or lost, we will all carry burdens at points in our lives; but we do not have to bear them alone. Galatians 6 shows us what to do with our burdens.First, this passage addresses the burdens we take up, the ones we share.“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).As believers, we are called to take up the burdens of another brother or sister who is hurting—to restore those who have backslidden. We must remember that a broken person doesn’t need a lecture; he needs to be brought back to fellowship with God. A backslidden Christian is like a broken place in our net of believers. He needs us to approach him gently, humbly, and sympathetically. To fulfill the law of Christ, we must love our brother back to fellowship with God and mend the broken place in the net.There are also burdens we bear, the ones we shoulder.“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load” (Galatians 6:4-5).We are not called to lives of ease, but of discipline. God lays burdens upon us and expects us to shoulder them ourselves. It is our own responsibility to repent and be saved.Finally, there are burdens we give up, those we roll onto the Lord.Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you...” Our loving Father urges us to lay brokenhearted burdens at His throne; our burdens can be used to bring us to our Master’s feet.Adrian Rogers says, “Burdens come to the high as well as to the low; they come to the rich as well as to the poor, to the saints and the sinners, the old and young. These are burdens we were never meant to carry alone.”Apply it to your lifeIf you are a believer, you are called to lift another’s burdens and bring backslidden brothers and sisters back to Jesus. Realize your own burden of responsibility to share God with others; cast your heartaches upon Jesus, for He cares for you.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Leviticus 2:11Leviticus 2:11 says, “No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.”Leaven in the Bible represents evil, sin, and corruption. Leaven ferments; it works quietly and stealthily in lukewarm conditions.Jesus warned us about three kinds of spiritual leaven in Matthew 16:-Leaven of the Pharisees, which is legalism-Leaven of the Sadducees, which is liberalism-Leaven of Herod, which is worldlinessThe absence of leaven in this offering reminds us that we must present the Lord Jesus Christ in His purity.The Bible also uses honey to represent excessive sweetness.The popular “honey gospel” tells us God is love: inexpressible, infinite, eternal love; but that’s only part of the truth. When this half-truth becomes the whole truth, it is entirely untrue. Yes, God is love, but He is also a holy God who will not acquit the wicked or condone sin.Adrian Rogers says, “Let us beware of loveless truth and truthless love.” The absence of honey in this offering reminds us that we must present the Lord Jesus Christ in His integrity.Leviticus 2:13 says, “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt…” We are to present the Lord Jesus with much salt. Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?”Salt decontaminates, prevents decay, and restrains corruption. It activates, preserves taste, heals, stings, and penetrates. And if you’re not careful, it dissipates; when salt loses its savor, it has no other use but to be tossed out on the roads.The problem with our society is not the leaven, it is the salt-less saints. It’s time for salt to do its work.Adrian Rogers says, “When the message we preach is bloated with leaven and dripping with honey, rather than supercharged with salt, friend, we have become good for nothing, salt-less saints.”Apply it to your lifeAre you cautious of the leaven and honey in your church and in your life? Do you bear the salt in which we have been called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 12:1-2Living the Christian life is much like running in a race, and Hebrews 12 shows us how to run like a champion.First, we must remember there is a purpose to pursue.“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” (Hebrews 12:1). We are in this race until our very last breath. There is no retiring or quitting from this race against ourselves.There is a person to prepare.“...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…” (Hebrews 12:1).Many of us lag behind because we are weighed down by excess baggage. Remember: we are free to enjoy our hobbies, treasures, and friendships until they keep us from running our race.Adrian Rogers says, “Good things become bad things when they keep you from the best things.”If we’re not careful, our baggage will cause us to stumble completely. When we find ourselves tripped up by sin, we must confess and repent so we can get back on track.Third, there is a price to pay.“...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1). No one strolls over the finish line; endurance is necessary in order to run a race well. We must get our hearts and minds right and finish the course.Fourth, there’s a promise to plead.“...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2). The One who first calls us to the race will enable us to finish the race. We must keep our eyes on God, who gives us faith, because He is the One we are running toward.Finally, there is a prize to possess.“...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). As we run this race, living by faith, we know we are headed toward eternal victory. Because Jesus finished the race on Calvary, He has become our reward. The race will have been worth it when we see Him face-to-face.Apply it to your lifeAre you running with endurance today – setting aside the things that weigh you down and cause you to sin? Are you living a life of faith well, sharing the Gospel with others, so that they may enter the race toward Jesus?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:30-34In this life, we will experience situations in which we’ve tried to trust in God and our faith seems to fail. What do we do when we face trials, tribulations, or heartaches, and faith doesn’t seem to remove them?Hebrews 11 gives us insight for those who struggle to endure when times get tough.First, this passage reminds us that mature faith believes in the supernatural power of God.“...who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong...” (Hebrews 11:33-34).Mature believers know that God can do anything but fail.Anyone who has walked with Jesus for a long time has had an experience that can’t be explained apart from His power.When reminded of the numerous miracles of God, we can be comforted to know that if God does not do something, it is not because He cannot.Second, mature faith bows to the sovereign purposes of God.“Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).Sometimes, God’s ways are mysterious, but that doesn’t mean they’re weak. Many of the early Christians were martyred for their faith; many Christians around the world still are.God has not promised a life without difficulty. He has simply promised Himself. He will never leave or forsake us, especially when we face difficulty. We must hold onto the promise that, through Him, we have the ultimate victory over death.Finally, mature faith is based on the settled promises of God.“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:39-40).When faith seems to fail, it may be that we are asking for something that God never intended for us. We must remember that God has a wonderful plan, and He will bring it to pass. We can depend on His steadfast, eternal promises from Scripture.Adrian Rogers says, “Real faith is to center your life on Almighty God.”Apply it to your lifeDo you have the faith to endure trials and heartaches? Are you willing to let God be God, and to trust Him even when things don’t make sense?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:32-34Hebrews 11:32-34 lists several champions of faith, who exemplify tremendous character all throughout Scripture. One figure mentioned is Barak, a military leader, whose faith in God helped deliver Israel from a 20-year oppression of Canaan.Judges 5:20 explains, “They fought from the heavens; the stars from their courses fought against Sisera.”These passages reveal four reasons why the heavenlies sided with Barak and fought to bring him the victory.First, we identify the woman that God chose: Deborah.Deborah was a judge and prophetess in Israel. She was a godly woman who used her gifting and wisdom to minister to Barak. God still chooses women like Deborah to use their gifts and talents in ministry.Second, we see the warrior that God called: Barak.There was a battle to be fought to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. God chose Barak to lead the charge because his faith was rooted in the God of Israel and he lived as he believed.Third, we recognize the warfare that God conducted.Barak and his army did not stand a chance against the Canaanites’ flashy weaponry and 900 iron chariots. But the fight was fixed, for the stars themselves fought the battle. Before the battle began, God sent a rainstorm to soften the ground. This rendered the chariots useless and weighed down the Canaanites’ heavy armor.Adrian Rogers says, “The God who created the Universe and flung those stars out into space, programmed everything against Sisera.” When we love and serve God, God is on our side and programs us for victory.Finally, we notice the wickedness that God cursed.Judges 5:23 says, “‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.’”In a time of crisis, the city of Meroz did not join the fight against the Canaanites. This is a crucial reminder to stand up for what is right and to fight alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.Apply it to your lifeEvery day, we face battles even more real than the one on Mount Tabor. As we face spiritual warfare and principalities and powers of darkness, we must act as men and women of faith.Adrian Rogers says, “God will bring the stars behind the man who’s behind God.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:32-34The champions of faith listed in Hebrews 11 give us an idea of the kind of people God uses to accomplish His mighty plans.Hebrews 11:32-34 says, “...For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon… who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle...”This passage reminds us of Gideon’s story in Judges 6-7 and shows five characteristics of people that God uses.First, God uses common people.By His Spirit, God turned Gideon, a once fearful farmer, into a valiant warrior.God does not rely on our abilities, but on our availability to Him to work through us in extraordinary ways.Second, God uses cleansed people.Before God could send Gideon to battle, Gideon had to do away with the idols in His life and surrender in worship.Adrian Rogers says, “An idol is anything you love, fear, serve or value more than God.” God will not use us if there is unconfessed sin in our lives. We must crush our idols, repent, and be cleansed from the inside out.Third, God uses courageous people.In Judges 7, God gives Gideon the command to send away soldiers who are afraid. This shows us that God can better use a smaller number of brave souls than a larger group of fearful ones.As children of God, we have been given a spirit of power and love. This does not mean we become naturally courageous—it means we are filled with His Spirit.Fourth, God uses cautious people.We are called to be on guard at all times, ready to fight against the temptation to sin.Adrian Rogers says, “Sin is a combination of an unexpected opportunity, an unprotected life and an undetected weakness.”Finally, God uses confident people.Gideon led the charge with confidence because He knew God was with Him.God gave them victory that day, and when we are confident that God is with us, we can be used in victorious ways.Apply it to your lifeGod has mighty plans and He wants to use us to accomplish them. Make certain that your heart is clean. He may not use you the way you expect, but if you make yourself available to Him, He will use you.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:31Faith has the incredible ability to radically and dramatically change people.In Joshua 2, Rahab the prostitute was transformed by faith. She was a Canaanite woman living in spiritual darkness, but after God saved her, she became part of the bloodline of Jesus Christ.Rahab’s transformation reveals four things about the power of faith.First, the providence of God confronted Rahab.In Joshua 2, two spies approached Rahab’s home with a message of Jericho’s imminent destruction. Rahab believed them and agreed to hide them in her home.God works on both sides of our circumstances; He will bring people together in order to save them. He finds tender, ready hearts and brings to them soul-winners to share their faith.Second, the Spirit of God convicted Rahab.As she helped the two spies in Joshua 2:9-10, Rahab confessed that she knew what God had done for their people. She had heard of God’s mighty, miraculous power, displayed through them.The Holy Spirit convicts others through people who are living and walking in victory. As Christians, the Holy Spirit uses our transformed lives to convict others of their sins.Third, the Word of God confirmed Rahab.By receiving these two messengers into her home, Rahab welcomed in the Word of God, spoken through them.Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”Finally, the grace of God cleansed Rahab. The messengers instructed Rahab to hang a scarlet cord over her doorpost so that when they came to avenge Jericho, they would pass over her home and spare her. This act illustrates the principle of the Passover, in which God instructed the Israelites to paint their doorposts with the blood of sacrificial lambs, to spare them from the death angel.As a result, Rahab was delivered from destruction and her character changed; she was justified and made right in God’s sight.Adrian Rogers says, “There are none so bad they can’t be saved, and none so good they need not be saved.”Apply it to your lifeHas your faith transformed you from the inside out; have you been confronted by God’s providence? Has the Holy Spirit convicted you, Scripture confirmed your belief, grace cleansed you?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:30Sometimes, we may experience obstacles that stand between us and our most holy ambitions.Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is the link that binds our nothingness to His Almightiness.”In Joshua 5, the Israelites had left Egypt and were ready to capture the land of Canaan. However, the pagan city of Jericho stood in their way. This story shows what it means to overcome obstacles by faith.Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”First, we should note the worship of faith.In Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua encounters the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, and as a response, he falls to his face in worship.Worshiping Jesus always builds our faith; when we face Jericho-sized problems in our lives, we must remember to set our affections on things above—fix our eyes on Jesus, and let our faith grow.Second, we see the obedient work of faith.The Lord did not tell Joshua to dig a tunnel or build ladders to scale the impenetrable walls of Jericho. Instead, He told Joshua to march around the city’s perimeter.God’s plan for victory seemed very strange; however, it is not our job to understand our instruction from God, but to obey, living by faith. The Israelites obeyed God, and that was enough.Third, we see the wait of faith.The Israelites were completely dependent on God’s timing. Many obstacles we face are opportunities to learn patience. Waiting on God is never wasted time. Our faith in Him is meant to last—to be strengthened through endurance.Fourth, we see the word of faith.Joshua spoke the Word of God to his army because he had received it for himself. By its simplest definition, faith is agreeing with the Word of God. We can only believe God for something that already is so in His heart and mind.Finally, we must note the wonder of faith.Joshua 6 tells us that the walls of Jericho came falling down. God gave the victory to Israel and brought judgment to the people of Jericho. In a nation as ripe for judgment as ours, a life of faith is our only hope.Apply it to your lifeAre you facing obstacles today that must be overcome by faith?Adrian Rogers says, “Take your eyes off Jericho and put them on Jesus. Don’t dwell on your problems; dwell on your Lord.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:28The Passover is a Jewish tradition that should be interwoven with our celebration of Easter. We as Christians have reason to celebrate Passover because it prophecies our redeeming faith in Jesus Christ.Hebrews 11:28 says, “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”The Passover was first introduced in the Book of Exodus. The Israelites sacrificed lambs and painted blood on their doorposts. The sacrificial lambs had to be spotless in order to cause the death angel to pass over their homes.After the lambs were sacrificed, the families shared them, celebrating their atonement.Through this tradition, God taught His people one of the fundamental truths of His Word: without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.The Passover displays the prophetic anticipation of Calvary’s sacrifice. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb without spot or blemish. When we receive His saving power of salvation, we are nourished by Him. Further, we are called to share the feast with others.The Passover reminds us of the promised consummation of Calvary’s sacrifice.In the final week of His life, Jesus was examined and questioned by the religious leaders. This process mimicked how a Passover lamb was inspected. They could find no fault in Him, confirming to us that He was the promised one.John 1:29 confirms this promise: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”Finally, Passover calls for the perpetual celebration of Calvary’s sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”No longer do we recognize Passover to obtain redemption. As Christians, we celebrate Passover through the Lord’s Supper, to remember our redemption through Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “In the Old Testament, they put the blood upon the doorposts. In the New Testament, we confess Christ openly as our Savior.”Apply it to your lifeDo you possess a redeeming faith in Jesus Christ, the spotless, sacrificial lamb of God? Share the feast with others today; celebrate what He has done. Openly declare your faith as the Israelites did when they painted their doorposts for all to see.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:23-27It takes a family to raise a child, and it takes faith to make a family. The most powerful and influential people on Earth are mothers and fathers of faith.Hebrews 11 tells the prophet Moses’ divine origin story, which would not have existed if not for his parents, Amram and Jochebed.“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment” (Hebrews 11:23).As we learn the importance of faith for the family, there are three principles to learn from these parents' indispensable faith.First, we note faith’s vision.Moses’ parents recognized that he was the special handiwork of God. It is our responsibility to see our children as specific, individual creations of God, and raise them accordingly.Second, we recognize faith’s valor.Amram and Jochebed hid Moses for three months because the King had commanded that baby boys be killed. By faith, they recognized this physical conflict as a spiritual conflict between the gods of Egypt and Almighty God, and “they were not afraid…”In these treacherous days, raising children is a spiritual battle and our only hope is a solid faith in Jesus Christ.Third, we see faith’s venture.Moses’ parents did not have a spirit of fatalism; rather, they did their part to protect their son, trusting God to do the rest. When facing challenges, we must do all we can do with a spirit of optimism. If it is God’s will, we can trust that He will move heaven and earth for our children.Finally, Amram and Jochebed displayed faith’s victory.Hebrews 11 notes that because Moses’ values were established in him by his parents, he valued his faith more than all the riches of Egypt. Moses embraced the virtues of knowing Christ eternally, and rejected the vices of this world, refusing to be called Pharaoh’s son. (See Hebrews 11:24.)Adrian Rogers says, “There are a lot of pressures on our kids today, and we’d better be certain they have something on the inside.”Apply it to your lifeAre you raising your children by faith? When posed with a choice, Moses evaluated the virtues his parents established in him in his youth. This led to a determination to follow God and eliminate the things of this world. It began with Amram and Jochebed, just like it begins with you.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:22; Genesis 50:22-26As he reached the end of his life, Joseph gave instructions to his loved ones about what to do with the bones he left behind.Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”Joseph had faith that God would deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, so much faith that he asked that the Israelites take his bones with them. When we understand the blessing in his box of bones, we will learn how to live confidently and die without fear.First, faith remembers the unbreakable promises of God.In Genesis 50:24, Joseph tells his loved ones, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is getting a promise from the Word of God.”Though Joseph was placed in a coffin in Egypt, he believed his bones would see this promised land, because his faith was rooted in God’s promises.Second, faith relies on the unshakeable power of God.At this point, the Israelites did not have reason to leave Egypt. There was a famine in Canaan, and they had made themselves comfortable in Egypt. Joseph’s faith was contrary to evidence; it was not shaken by fickle emotions or circumstances. Joseph knew time must pass and that what would be left of him would be bones. But centuries cannot erode away the promises of God.Finally, faith results in the unmistakable peace of God.Joseph reached the end of his life in perfect peace. The Book of Joshua tells us that Joseph’s bones did, in fact, make it to the promised land. Rather than building a monument of pride in Egypt, he chose his humble box of bones to be a monument of faith in Canaan. Joseph’s faith reminds us that our citizenship is in Heaven. We no longer have to fear death; we can make it our friend, if only we keep our eyes on Jesus all our days.Apply it to your lifeDoes your faith remember the promises of God? Do you rely on His power and rest in His peace? Do not let your circumstances, emotions, or seeming delays erode your faith. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 12:1-11The Book of Acts shares numerous accounts of triumph over difficulty, as the first Christians experienced victory through prayer.In Acts 12, the Early Church faced persecution from Herod, who unleashed violence and put the Apostle Peter in prison (v. 1-4). Yet, in verse 5, we see that “constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”As we fight our battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil, it is fundamental that we learn how to pray as the Early Church did.First, we must recognize the freedom of their prayers.Our enemy doesn’t want us to understand this. But try as he might, the devil cannot stop us from praying to our God; we are free to pray anytime, anywhere.Second, we see their faithfulness; they never ceased to pray.Whether God answers swiftly or there is a season of waiting, our approach to prayer should be faithful, constant, and frequent.Their prayers were also fervent: charged with intensity.Prayer is warfare—we should expect some opposition from the enemy; but we must pray wholeheartedly with fervor, concentration, and effort.Their prayers also brought them together in fellowship.Churches, which are built upon prayer, should be in the habit of drawing near to God together.The Early Church’s prayer also revealed their faith.They recognized that they were entering the throne room of God. And as we speak to God, we must do so with the faith that He will answer.We should also note the focus of that prayer.This church prayed specifically for Peter, who was in prison and set to be beheaded in the coming days. When we pray, we should avoid generalized requests and focus on specific concerns.Finally, we must remember the force of their prayer.God miraculously delivered Peter from prison. In the dead of night, Peter’s chains were broken, and the prison door was open. Peter walked out, just in time.Adrian Rogers says, “When we depend upon planning, we see what planning can do. But when we depend upon prayer, we see what God can do.”Apply it to your lifeHave you experienced victory through prayer? Remember: prayer is no substitute for work or common sense. But when you begin to merge prayer with obedience, God begins to work on your behalf.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 4:17As Christians, we find our identification in Jesus Christ. He became as we are that we might become as He is.1 John 4:17 says, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”Our identification with Christ is a powerful truth; we are spiritually united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. As a result, we are also united with Jesus in His victory.Adrian Rogers says, “I’m not merely with Jesus on the cross; I have walked out of that empty tomb with Him.”The Bible also proclaims that our identification with Christ is very present and practical.His wisdom is our wisdom. “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God…” (1 Corinthians 1:30).His joy is our joy. In John 15:11, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”His sorrow is our sorrow. “...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” (Philippians 3:10).His friends are our friends. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, “...as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”His enemies are our enemies. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).His purpose is our purpose. In John 20:21, Jesus implores, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”His authority is our authority. In Matthew 21:18-20, Jesus says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”Finally, His future is our future. “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).When we took Jesus as a heavenly bridegroom, He became one with us, that we might become one with Him.Apply it to your lifeDo you find your identification in Christ? Dwell on these verses and ask the Holy Spirit to confirm this truth in your heart today.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 22:1-31The Old Testament and the New Testament tell the same story of Jesus Christ. The entire Bible expresses the fulfilled prophecy and united message that Jesus saves.Psalm 22 greatly details the crucifixion of Jesus Christ a thousand years before He was born.This Old Testament Calvary passage first shares the prophecy of the cross.“O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent” (Psalm 22:2). This verse mimics some of Jesus’ final moments on the cross recorded in Matthew 27. A great darkness came over the Earth at noonday, becoming both day and night; Jesus was mocked and scorned, a prophecy fulfilled not by Himself, but by His enemies.“I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me” (Psalm 22:14). According to the Gospels, Jesus’s bones were never broken; rather, He was pierced, and blood and water spilled from His side. Even the small detail of His asking for a drink fulfilled the prophecy that the One crucified for our sins would cry out in thirst. (Read Psalm 22:15.)Second, this passage describes the agony of the cross.No one has suffered like Jesus did.To pay for our redemption and forgiveness, Jesus suffered at the hands of three.First, He suffered at the holy hand of God; in the moment Jesus bore our sins, God’s eyes were too pure to look upon Him. As He was dying, Jesus was forsaken by the Father. (Read Psalm 22:1.) He also suffered at the hateful hand of man, as Psalm 22:6 says, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.” And He suffered at the hellish hands of Satan; all of Hell’s demonic power was concentrated upon the cross.But thank God, Psalm 22 also tells of the victory of the cross.As a prophet, Jesus declares the Father; as our great High Priest, He delivers the faithful. And as the Prince of Heaven, He dominates the future.Adrian Rogers says, “People wonder what this world is coming to—I’ll tell you, it’s coming to Jesus.”Apply it to your lifeDo you serve Jesus Christ —the prophet, priest, and prince? Scriptures proclaim that this world belongs to Him, and He is coming back to it, soon.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 32Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”Many of us think self-sufficiency is a virtue, but truthfully, it is a vice. After deceiving his father to obtain his brother Esau’s birthright, Jacob was on the run for his life. God used this moment to cause Jacob to cease depending upon his own schemes. Jacob’s story reveals three principles to remember as we learn to lean on God.First, God will protect us, but He will not pamper us.In Genesis 32, Esau was pursuing Jacob with a vengeance. God appointed angels to protect Jacob on his journey, but Jacob needed to learn that his flattery and strategy would not work.Second, God will hurt us, but He will not harm us.Adrian Rogers explains, “God brought Jacob to realize that his only hope was God: not his scheming, but his surrendering; not his bargaining, but his begging.” As He loved Jacob, God loves us too much to leave us self-sufficient.Genesis 32:24-25 says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.”Finally, God will break us, but He desires to bless us.Genesis 32:27-28 says, “So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”God gave Jacob a new name: no longer was Jacob a schemer or conniver; when he learned to lean on God, he became a prince, Israel.Following this encounter, Jacob was left with a limp. All his life, Jacob leaned upon his staff—but he was stronger with a limp than he ever would have been on his own two feet.Adrian Rogers says, “Men throw broken things away, but God never uses anything until He first breaks it.”Apply it to your lifeFailure doesn’t need to be final; if you’ll judge yourself, you won’t have to be judged. Lean on the Lord Jesus Christ; it is your worship by faith that really matters.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:20Family was first established by God in the Garden of Eden. Knowing family is a gift of God, the enemy has waged a war against the home. Hebrews 11 reveals lessons from a dysfunctional family, and offers hope for those who face unrest in the home.“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” (Hebrews 11:20).This passage looks back to the story of twin brothers Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25. They were the sons of Isaac and Rebekah, and together, they were a family plagued by favoritism, deception, and betrayal.Esau, the eldest, sold Jacob his birthright for a bowl of stew. This small act of foolishness propelled a lifetime of dysfunction.Genesis 27 goes on to reveal the failure of a dysfunctional family.Isaac, the sensual father on his deathbed, blessed the wrong son for the wrong reasons. He was a man who lived for the things of this world and ended his life in sorrow. He represents many fathers who live self-centered lives, giving in to their appetites.There is also Rebekah, the scheming mother who, favoring Jacob, helped him take the birthright from Esau. As a result, she lost the son she was trying to bless. Then there’s Jacob, the shady son, who connived his way to Esau’s birthright.Yet, God was at work in this family; there was still faith in the disciplined father. Shaken by what he had done, Isaac came to his senses and returned to the Word of God.Finally, this family reflects the forecast of a determined future.Having returned to his faith, Isaac blessed both sons in the name of God, on the authority of Scripture. Yet, he had the foresight to know the godly lineage would come from Jacob.Adrian Rogers says, “It is God who is moving history to a conclusion, and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.”Apply it to your lifeRemember these deeply convicting words from Adrian Rogers: “The best thing any father could do is give his heart to Jesus. The best thing any mother could do is trust her children to Jesus and quit scheming. The best thing any child could do is stand on the promises of God, our birthright—the One who has blessed us with all heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 22:1-14Hebrews 11 recalls the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22 when God called a father to offer up his son as a sacrifice. This story was a dress rehearsal for Calvary, in which God the Father would send His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins.“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense” (Hebrews 11:17-19).In the passages from Genesis and Hebrews, Isaac serves as an Old Testament illustration of Jesus Christ. His birth was prophesied and preset, and he was conceived miraculously. His mother Sarah had him after she “passed the age of childbearing” (Genesis 18:11).Isaac’s name was divinely given; he was very loved by his father. He was offered up as a sacrifice and raised from the dead, as Hebrews 11:19 says, in a figurative sense. In the same way, Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin, and was specifically named by the Father, who loved Him. God sent Him as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, and He was raised from the dead.Genesis 22:2 says, “...Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”There was a purpose for this specific place: it speaks of the cross of Jesus Christ. As Isaac was led up a mountain to be sacrificed, Jesus also ascended a hill called Calvary, where He died.Just before Abraham was to sacrifice his son, God provided a ram to take Isaac’s place. Likewise, God kept His promise to us and provided a Lamb, His only Son Jesus Christ, whom He loved, to take our place and to die for our sins.Adrian Rogers says, “His name is Jehovah-Jireh (the God who provides), and the God who gave the first great gift is the God who will see us through.”Apply it to your lifeDo you believe in Jehovah-Jireh—the God who provides? Keep your faith in Him, who willfully gave Jesus, and will not hold His love back.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:8-13Hebrews 11:8 reminds us of the legacy of Abraham, who was called by God in his old age and became a champion of the faith. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance...”Abraham's example gives us six principles to fortify our faith.1. The Voice Principle: Abraham heard from the Lord.The Lord appeared to Abraham through a supernatural experience. We have a greater advantage, having the written Word of God, the mind of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.2. The Venture Principle: we must obey what we know.Abraham heard and obeyed. If we are having a faith problem, it could actually be rooted in an obedience problem. Adrian Rogers says, "Our responsibility is not to totally understand, but to readily obey."3. The Value Principle: We must establish priorities.Abraham was a sojourner; he knew the land was not his home. (See Hebrews 11:9-10.) If we live for this world, we will eventually conform to it and become an enemy of God. Instead, we must have the mind of Christ and prioritize knowing God’s will.4. The Vision Principle: we must stay focused and remain disciplined.We must keep our eyes set on things above, and not on things of this Earth. When we see the promises of God, which are otherwise unseen by those without faith, we have a responsibility to live by them.5. The Vigilance Principle: our faith will be tested, through heartache and tears.We must remember that where God leads us, He will sustain us.6. The Victory Principle: we get to enjoy the blessings.Hebrews 11:12 says, “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”Abraham and Sarah conceived a child in their old age, and from that child, Abraham’s descendants were innumerable as the sand. Their victory came by a fortified faith.Apply it to your lifeDo you want a faith like Abraham, a faith that leaves a legacy? Listen to the voice of God, obey what you know to be true; remain disciplined, even when tested, keeping your eyes on things above.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:7The Bible emphasizes the importance of household salvation. One of the greatest examples of this is Noah, whose unsinkable faith in God saved his family from the Great Flood.Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”This passage first describes the warning Noah’s faith believed.In the days of Noah, there was a tremendous lack of fear of our Holy God. Adrian Rogers says, “The mark of a society on its last legs is when there is no fear of God.” But Noah feared God and demonstrated it through his godly living, godly knowledge, and wisdom. If we fear God, it will also show through our godly contentment, worship, salvation, confidence, insight and deliverance.This passage also reveals the work that Noah’s faith achieved.Being a man of faith, Noah obeyed God’s instruction and began building the ark long before he saw the flood; as a result, Noah saved his family. Adrian Rogers says, “If you work without faith, it is presumption; if you have faith without work, it is pretense.”This passage also addresses the wickedness that Noah’s faith perceived.In Genesis 6, God was brokenhearted over the sins of the generation. They were days of scientific progress, social plagues, and sexual perversion. The same sins from Noah's day are being committed today; as God warned Noah’s generation, He has warned ours, as well.Finally, we see the wealth that Noah’s faith received.Noah left a legacy of righteousness; though he acted in obedience, Noah was not ultimately saved by his works, but by God’s grace.By following the demonstration of Noah’s faith in God in the midst of our rebellious generation, we can usher our families into the ark of safety, which is a picture of Jesus Christ.God sealed Noah into the ark, just as we are sealed by Jesus Christ in our salvation.Apply it to your lifeAre you leading your household with an unsinkable faith like Noah? Does it move you to obey God and to fear him? Establish God as the Lord of your household and pray for your family today.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:5-6Hebrews 11 tells of the prophet Enoch, who so pleased God and walked so intimately with him, he never died. Enoch is an example for us as we learn to walk with God.Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”Enoch is a champion of our faith who shows us that walking with God is a life of faith.“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not guessing at the will of God; faith is hearing from God and believing God.”Second, walking with God is also a life of fellowship.We can know all about God without actually knowing Him intimately. But God created us in His image so He could have fellowship with us.Walking with God is also living a life of faithfulness.In the days of wickedness and violence, Enoch walked with God consistently, in the good times and bad. When we are faithful to God, He supplies us with power through the Holy Spirit to walk the Christian life, day by day.Walking with God is also a life of fruitfulness.Enoch was blessed with a family and named his son Methuselah, which means, “when he is dead, it will be sent.” Methuselah had a son named Lamech, who had a son named Noah. It was only after Methuselah, son of Enoch, died, that God sent the flood to destroy the Earth, sparing only Noah’s family.Just as he is an example of walking with God, Enoch is also a picture of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God will rapture the Bride to escape the coming judgment.We must walk with God, to live a life of faith and fellowship, that we may know Him intimately in these Last Days.Apply it to your lifeDo you want to walk with God as closely as Enoch did? Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Study Scripture today and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:4Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus’ redeeming work was in the heart and mind of God from the foundation of the world. Before He swung this world into space, God had redemption by blood in His mind.”Genesis 4 tells the story of two brothers: Cain and Abel, one a martyr, the other a murderer. In their story, we see a picture of the blood of Jesus Christ that makes a difference.Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”After the Fall of Man, Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to the Lord in an act of worship. In Genesis 4, we see the stark contrast in their worship.While Cain offered a half-hearted sacrifice of the fruit of the ground, Abel offered the first of his flock: a spotless lamb, which was a prophecy of Jesus who was to come and redeem.God saw Abel’s sacrifice as good because “...without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).As a result, there was a conflict in their worship. Genesis 4:4-5 says, “…And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry...”Because his heart was not right with God and he was jealous of his brother’s favor, Cain murdered Abel. (See Genesis 4:8.)There are many who have the religion of Cain: who are not right with God and hurt others because of it. It is interesting to note that the first murder recorded in Scripture was over religion; it was also a religious crowd that crucified Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “Religion is what sinful people do for a holy God. The Gospel is the good news of what a holy God has already done for sinful man.”There are two religions in the world: the true and the false. If there were any other way to God, He wouldn’t have let His only Son die on the cross. Our only hope of salvation is by grace through faith, through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.Apply it to your lifeThere is a red river of blood that flows through all the Bible. Do you have true faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood makes the difference?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 10:38The Book of Hebrews describes the heroes of our faith and explains how those heroes exemplified the only way to live.Hebrews 10:38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”Many of us are plagued with worry, guilt, or loneliness; but there is not one problem that faith does not have an answer for. This is why it is crucial that we know what faith is, and how to have it.Faith is not blind superstition, positive thinking, or a feeling of optimism. Rather, it is confidence that rests in hope, conviction that sees the invisible, and communication that comes from Heaven.Hebrews 11:1-2 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”Faith can’t be altered by appearances or fettered by feelings. Our emotions are the shallowest part of our nature, while faith is the deepest work of God. And in a world that must see to believe, the Bible instructs us to believe in order to see. Faith is not limited by logic; it simply goes beyond it and becomes its own best logic.We must also understand the dynamics of our faith. Adrian Rogers explains, “Faith is the heart’s response to the character of God.” Only after we accept God through faith will we receive the wisdom to understand His works and the ability to worship. Faith—not fame or fortune—is the medium of exchange in the kingdom of God.Finally, a life of faith is destined to find, follow, and finish the will of God.Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”To win this race, we must be motivated by the saints of old and separated from the weight of the world. Repenting of our sins, we run the race of life with our eyes set on the Savior above.Apply it to your lifeIs your faith real, growing, and developing through wisdom and worship? Are you actively finding, following, and finishing the will of God?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 16:7There are things we will never understand until we lay down our intellectual pride and let the Holy Spirit speak to us. Only when the Spirit speaks can we understand three truths regarding who we are and what God makes us.John 16:7 says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”First, the Holy Spirit teaches the truth about the sinner’s basic problem.A man is a sinner because of what he is and what he has done. Born into this fallen world, it is in our nature to give in to sin.A man is also a sinner because of what he has not done. God made us to know, love, and serve Him; when we do not do that, we are refusing Him the glory He deserves.But our ultimate problem is that we are sinners for not believing, because the greatest sin is unbelief. Unbelief is the parent sin, out of which all other sins come; it is proof of man’s wickedness, and it is what separates us from God forever.Second, the Holy Spirit shows the truth about the Savior’s bountiful provision.When we believe in Jesus Christ, He changes what we are at our very core and gives us a new nature. Adrian Rogers says, “Christians are not just nicer people; they’re new creatures.”He also forgives us for what we have done. Every stain, blot, or blemish of our past is washed whiter than snow, buried in the grave of God’s forgetfulness.He gives us the righteousness we need in order to be saved.Finally, the Holy Spirit proclaims the truth about Satan’s broken power.Jesus’s death on the cross was God’s greatest victory over evil. Satan’s kingdom was crushed; he now sails a sinking ship and rules a doomed domain.When we receive Christ, we become more like Him every day. That is what our faith is all about, and what the Holy Spirit is working within us.Apply it to your lifeHave you laid down your intellectual pride and allowed the Holy Spirit to impart things only He can show you? Understanding man’s sinful nature and the Savior’s provision, are you becoming more like Jesus?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:1-14The way to be blessed is to obey God, which requires our trust in Him; and to trust Him is to love Him, and in order to love Him, we must know Him.1 Corinthians 2:1-14 shows us how to know God through the Bible.“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).Heavenly wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view; human wisdom is deficient, while heavenly wisdom is sufficient. Human wisdom is superficial, transitory, and limited, and can even be dangerous. We can only know the things of God through our spirits. When He wants to teach or reveal something to us, He imparts heavenly wisdom in our spirits.God has done three mighty acts that we might know Him; the first act is revelation, which is the communication of God's truth to man by God Himself. It takes the Holy Spirit revealing truth to us in order to really know that truth.Adrian Rogers says, “The natural can never know the supernatural until the infinite reveals Himself to the finite.”Secondly, God reveals Himself through supernatural inspiration, which is the very Word of God.“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).Third, God reveals Himself through supernatural illumination. The Holy Spirit is the one who turns the spiritual light on so that you can understand the things of God.Adrian Rogers says, “I can never know the Bible as I ought to know the Bible until I have the mind of Christ.”This doesn’t mean that we can know everything about God; it means that the average person who is obedient and diligent can understand the Bible and have personal communion with God.Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “There is no knowledge of God without revelation, inspiration, illumination. And the illumination is your part where you come to God and surrender. When you come to God's Word this way, the Bible will burst aflame in your heart and in your mind and God will teach you things out of His Word.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2:1-2We don’t have to be ordained ministers to be in the ministry; in fact, every man and woman who names the name of Jesus partakes in the ministry of the Word of God.1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…”First, we must receive the Word of God personally into our lives.When we become Christians, we are literally conceived by the Word of God, as 1 Peter 1:23 says, “...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” God’s Word is a seed that produces new life within us. 1 Peter 2:1-2 says, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…”We’re also cleansed and completed by Scripture: first made new, and then made strong by the Word of God.After we receive Scripture personally, we must respect the Word. There’s no debate about it: God is a God of truth. Therefore, His Word cannot have errors in it.Adrian Rogers says, “The God of truth cannot inspire error.”God’s Word is the product of the Spirit of God, therefore it is totally infallible because God is infallible.We must not only respect its inerrancy, but we must also respect its authority and vitality. There is living power in the Word of God that changes lives and lasts for eternity.1 Peter 1:24-25 says, “...All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.”Finally, we need to release the Bible; preach it everywhere. When we receive the Word of God and respect it, we won’t grow tired of it. We must preach it faithfully, fully, and freely.Adrian Rogers says, “Newborn babes desire it, men of God share it, preach it and proclaim it.”Apply it to your lifeAre you a minister of the Word of God? Have you received God’s Word? Do you respect it and release it? Consider its life-changing power today and share it with someone you love.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 19Luke 10:21 says, “...You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.”We are neither too intelligent nor unintelligent to believe in God and know Him personally! Psalm 19 gives us three ways in which God speaks to us, and in return, we can know God personally, intimately, and assuredly.First, God has confirmed His words in the heavens.“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork…” (v. 1). The heavens also declare God’s greatness. The vastness of the universe, along with its small intricacies, demonstrate God’s power.Adrian Rogers says, “There are no laws of nature; they are God’s laws that nature obeys. Science only discovers what God had already put there.” The heavens declare the goodness of God: “Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge” (v. 2). It is God who daily maintains the fixed order in the universe, and provides everything it needs to give us life. His mercies are new every morning. (See Lamentations 3:23).God also speaks to us by placing His converting Word in our hands.We have access to Scripture, which is His very word. We ought to marvel at the Bible and celebrate its many virtues. It is inerrant, infallible, foundational, and full of God’s promises.Adrian Rogers says, “Every sentence, every jot, every tittle, every syllable is put in Scripture by the mind and purpose of God.” The Scriptures are of precious value, for “more to be desired are they than gold” (v. 10). They are protective, for “by them, Your servant is warned” (v. 11). They are profitable, for “in keeping them there is great reward” (v. 11).Finally, we can know God through His convicting Word in our hearts.By the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the Scriptures we read can become real. Psalm 19:12 says, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.” The Holy Spirit cleanses our wicked and deceitful hearts. When we hand our control over to the Spirit, He brings us into communion with the Father. This is the only way we can know Him personally, intimately, and assuredly.Apply it to your lifeDo you feel far and distant from God? Remember, by the Word of God in the heavens, in our hands, and in our hearts, we can know God personally.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 4:46-54In the Kingdom of Heaven, faith is the medium of exchange. Whatever we receive from God is according to our faith.Adrian Rogers says, “The greater your faith, the greater glory God gets; by faith man gives God pleasure and by faith God gives man treasure.”John 4 tells the story of a man whose superficial, superstitious faith was transformed into a strong, saving faith.“So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe’” (John 4:46-48).First, we must see the problem of superficial faith.In this passage, the nobleman had heard about Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine, and was blown away. But Jesus knew that signs and wonders do not truly help in developing a strong faith.We must also consider the problem of superstitious faith.God performed miracles through Jesus to authenticate His ministry. It is dishonoring to demand a sign from God in order to believe in Him. It is also self-deceiving; signs and wonders can easily deceive; it is how our enemy leads others astray.This passage also shows the progression of strong faith.There are steps in developing this sort of saving faith, the first being hearing the Word of God, and then believing it. What we believe is not contrary to reason; it goes beyond reason. We must obey the Word of God, and then rest in it.Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not seeing signs and wonders, rather, it is a response to the character of God.”Finally, this passage shows the provision of saving faith.After the nobleman’s son was healed, he not only believed in a miracle worker but in a Messiah.All of Jesus’ miracles point to the greater miracle, which is the new life in Him.Apply it to your lifeIf you want to strengthen your faith, get a good grip on the Word of God. Don’t look to the miracles, but to the Messiah; do not follow the signs, but the Savior.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 1:13The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But so many times, we pray and seek God, ask according to His will; and yet our prayer seems unanswered.At the beginning of the Book of Luke, we meet Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, both righteous before God, blameless, yet barren. They were well in their old age, and without any children, they had prayed for their whole lives. Verse 13 says, “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son…” We can learn three things from Zacharias and Elizabeth when prayer seems unanswered.First, unanswered prayer could mean it has simply been denied.God will not grant prayers that aren’t according to His will. Sometimes, we pray with sin in our heart, outside of the will of God. Remember, God wants to meet every one of our personal needs, but He will not enable our lust, pride, or selfishness.An unanswered prayer could also mean it’s strategically delayed.Adrian Rogers says, “With God, timing is far more important than time.” Answered prayers could be delayed to display His glory. As we see in Zacharias and Elizabeth’s story, God could wait until the situation is so difficult, there's no way we, ourselves, get the glory from it.Or, our prayers could be delayed to dispense God’s grace.As interested as He is in His glory, God’s also interested in our joy. In Luke 1, God was about to bring Jesus into the world. God planned the arrival of Zacharias and Elizabeth’s son, John the Baptist, so he could prepare the way for this long-awaited Messiah. God knew what He was doing; He had a strategic plan to display his glory and to dispense his grace, in the fullness of time.Finally, the answer to your prayer may be strangely different.For Zacharias and Elizabeth, God gave them something better than they asked for; it was different. He was the forerunner of the Messiah. Their son filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.Adrian Rogers tells us, “God gives the best to those who leave the choice with him.”Apply it to your lifeWhat do you do when your prayer seems unanswered? Check to make sure you are seeking the glory of God. Then pray without ceasing.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 19:1-6Adrian Rogers says, “A home is the sweetest place on earth, the nearest place to Heaven. It’s the only part of the Garden of Eden that we have left.”Matthew 19 discusses the importance of family faithfulness; first, by recognizing that marriage is made by Heaven.And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?" (v. 4-5).Marriage is the supreme commitment, overruling every other commitment we could ever make. The priority of marriage is to build a home, and we cannot build a home without God’s guidance. We raise children with the intention of them leaving home to build homes of their own.Marriage is also permanent, and its purpose is to be one flesh, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage is a romance in which both the hero and the heroine die in the first chapter, and a new person comes into being: one flesh.”But marriage can be marred by Hell; there is nothing wrong with romantic love, but we are deceived if we believe that is enough to sustain a marriage. We are commanded in Scripture to love our spouses unconditionally, as God has loved His church.There is no fear in perfect love, only peace, security, and joy. We must be careful not to allow guilt to fester in our marriages; guilt turns to anger, and anger into bitterness.When we experience trials, reconciliation and forgiveness are called for in order to put the family back together. If we seek restoration, we’ll find that the relationship can potentially be even stronger than before it was broken.Finally, marriage is always marked by hope. No matter our circumstances, there is always hope because the grace of God covers all of our sins. God does not hold grudges; His forgiveness is always available for those who seek to honor Him in their relationships.Apply it to your lifeA godly home is the greatest testimony we have in this world. If you are married, make certain that Christ is the head of your home and continue to feed your love day by day.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Deuteronomy 5:29The family was the first institution formed by God, created to meet the deepest physical, social, and spiritual needs of mankind. It is in the home that a child should learn who he is, what he can do, and what is expected of him.In the midst of this moral free fall, it is time we ask ourselves: what is the future of the family? Adrian Rogers says, “If there is no future for our families, there is no future for this nation.”Deuteronomy 5:29 says, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”Our homes are the universities of life.In these homes, we must train our children to abide by God’s law so that we can preserve the family’s future. God gave the Ten Commandments to the family. God’s priority plan for us is to pass our faith from parent to child.Parents are the professors of their homes.Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “You shall teach them diligently to your children...” Though we can’t control our children, we can guide and teach them in the way they should go. Our primary goal as parents should be that we love God with sincere, selfless, and strong love so that we can set an example for our children to love Him, too.The Ten Commandments are the curriculum.These commandments are the liberating laws of life and the tracks upon which our families run. We are to set boundaries for our kids around the parameter of God’s law.Our children are our students.It is not the church’s responsibility to raise our children in faith, it is ours. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:8-9).Finally, life is the laboratory.Life is where these things are taught. We must teach our children convictionally, consistently, creatively, conversationally, and conspicuously.Apply it to your lifeOur homes are where our children learn everything they need to know about life. Have you established your home as a university, yourself as a professor, and God’s law as the curriculum? Are your children your students, viewing life as the laboratory?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: James 1:21-25We cannot grow as Christians if we are not actively studying the Word of God. It’s not enough to know facts about and within Scripture. When we go to the Bible to extract truth, we fail; rather, we must receive the truth and welcome it in.The Book of James shows us how to understand the Bible, and reveals four ways to welcome the Word of God.We first welcome the Word with a repentant spirit."Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). There is a moral qualification to hear from God; hangover sins and unrepentant hearts can keep us from understanding Scripture.When we study the Bible, it is crucial that we first make a full confession of sin and ask God to search our hearts for any trace of wickedness.We also welcome the Word with a receptive spirit, with meekness, which is a teachable spirit.James 3:3 says, "Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body." Likewise, God wants to break us and take us under His control, making us sensitive to His commands.Third, we welcome the Word with a responsive spirit."But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22). Once we understand the Scripture we read, we must obey it; if we don’t, we are self-deceived.Adrian Rogers says, “A study of the Bible gives you knowledge about God. Obedience gives you knowledge of God.”Finally, we welcome the Word with a reflective spirit."But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25). When we read the Bible with a reflective spirit, the Bible reads us in return. It gives us a new perspective of our lives and shows our truest selves. Rather than quickly glancing at Scripture, we must learn to gaze into it.Apply it to your lifeAre you actively receiving the Word of God with a repentant heart and a receptive, responsive spirit? Remember, as Adrian Rogers says, “The best way to understand the part of the Bible you don’t understand, is to obey the part you do understand.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 9:1-6Acts 9 tells the story of Saul’s conversion to becoming Paul. While on his way to persecute Christians, Saul came face-to-face with Jesus. And Saul’s first question to Jesus was:“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6)?We are clever creatures who have lost our way and must relearn how we can know the will of God.First, remember that God has promised to guide.Psalm 32:8 says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."God has a moral plan for each of our lives. God’s will is sovereign; it is always done. There is no changing the fixed standard of right and wrong He has established.Though God’s will is particular for each of us, there are six universal truths about His plan:It is not a roadmap; it is a relationship.It is not the end of our joy, but the beginning.God does not speak only to certain people; He has a plan for everyone.Learning God’s will is not always a dramatic experience; oftentimes, it is spoken softly.God is not finished with us, whether we’re 9 or 99.God does not hide His will from us. He wants us to know it even more than we do.God’s guidance hinges on our willingness, meekness, and openness.He is willing to guide when we yield to His control. Sometimes, God will give visions, miracles, or dreams to reveal His plans, but many times, He speaks practically. He guides through Scripture, His people, and the Holy Spirit within us. We must be sensitive enough to hear and know His voice.God also leads with sheer wisdom, through the renewing of our minds.God opens and closes doors, and guides the meek through it all. Many times, we don’t even know it was the providence of God until afterward.We don’t have to be afraid of the will of God. Adrian Rogers says, “The will of God will not take you where the power of God cannot keep you.”Apply it to your lifeAre you trying to find the will of God for your life? How much time are you spending alone with God? If we want to understand God’s particular will for our lives, we must begin to obey the Scriptures we understand.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 5:18The Christian life is a blessing, but if we don’t understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it can feel more like a burden. The secret to a blessed Christian life is being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is important to know how to have a spirit-filled life.Ephesians 5:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit...”Having a Spirit-filled life is a command from God to obey, as well as a blessing to enjoy. It is also our obligation as Christians, because on our own, we don’t have the strength to do what the Bible commands us to do.The only way to truly worship God is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Our marriages and work relationships hinge on this as well. We serve our families and colleagues as we should when we first submit to the Holy Spirit.It is also how we win in this spiritual warfare we face every day. It is our only hope in ever witnessing to others. We are up against the organized, demonic forces of Hell.Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”Adrian Rogers says, “There has never been a greater day, a greater age, a greater opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus than right now.”What are the requirements of being filled with the Holy Spirit?There must first be a complete commitment to Christ. We must continually yield control to Him, consciously claiming our dependence on Him every moment. When we do this, we receive a spirit of adoration for God—a passionate, blazing love for Jesus Christ that doesn’t burn out.We also receive a spirit of appreciation for our circumstances. Ephesians 5:20 claims Christians are to be, “Giving thanks always for all things…”Finally, we receive a spirit of accommodation toward others. Every day, every place, we are learning to submit to and serve others.Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “We need a generation of Spirit-filled people. As the night grows darker, the saints grow brighter, and the hunger intensifies. And there are people who are looking, waiting, wondering: Is there an answer? The answer is in Christ.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 5:11Every Christian ought to have the privilege of knowing, beyond any shadow of doubt, that he or she is saved. But having doubts doesn’t necessarily mean we are not saved.Adrian Rogers says, “Doubt is to your spirit what pain is to your body; it doesn't mean you're dead, it means something's wrong.”1 John 5 reveals how to be saved and know it, without hesitation.“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:11-13).When doubts arise, we must remember, first, how we are saved: by grace, through faith (see Ephesians 2:8).Adrian Rogers says, “Grace is the unmerited favor and love that God shows to us. It's what made God love us when we were unlovely. God doesn't love us because we're valuable… we're valuable because He loves us.”Faith is not intellectual belief; it is trust and commitment to God. Think of grace as the hand of God reaching down to us, and faith is our hand reaching up to Him.Understanding this, we can find our assurance through three basic tests:Lordship TestIs Jesus Christ the Lord of my life?If we claim to love God, we will keep His commandments.Fellowship TestDo I love my brothers and sisters in Christ? Am I in fellowship with other believers?Fellowship is the nature of both the Christian and the Church.Relationship TestDo I have a vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?The assurance of our salvation is ongoing; it is not a past event, stamped by a time and date, and place. It is a present decision to trust in Jesus, right now. We can trust in Him, for He alone is the assurance of our salvation.Apply it to your lifeDo you have doubts about your faith? Consider the lordship, fellowship, and relationship tests. If you don’t know whether your doubt is the Holy Spirit’s conviction or the devil’s tactic, believe in Jesus.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 15:13-18In Acts 10, the Gospel was made available to Gentiles for the first time. Up until Acts 15, many in the church believed Christianity was exclusively for the Jews. Concerned, they met in Jerusalem to discuss God’s plan for the Jews.Acts 15:18 reads, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” God has a plan for this world, the church, for the Jew and the Gentile. And as we hear rumors of a new world order in these last days, we know the reasons why the world is out of sorts to begin with.The church is out of her rightful place.The church, which is the bride of Christ, belongs with the groom. Through the Holy Spirit, He is with us, but we are not by His side. Ephesians 1:13-14 explains that the Holy Spirit is “the earnest of our inheritance,” meaning He is a token of God’s love to His Bride while we wait to join His side.Second, there will never be world order until Israel is restored and there is peace in Jerusalem.God is not finished with the Jewish nation; they are still the chosen people. God gave the land of Israel to Abraham’s descendants in an everlasting covenant, yet, the Jews have been scattered across the earth. As God prophesied Israel's disobedience, dispersion, and disgrace, He also prophesied their resolve and return.Third, Satan is out of place, because the criminal belongs in prison.There will never be order as long as Satan’s spirit is working. The world stumbles in darkness orchestrated by Him. But Satan will not always have the run of this world. There’s coming a time when he will be cast into the prison of his own making: hell.Finally, there will be no world order until the King is on the throne.Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords; soon, His Will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.Adrian Rogers says, “I cannot wait for the time our Lord comes and we have a new world order; when the church and Israel and Satan and Jesus are in their rightful place. It has a good ending, and we’re on the winning side.”Apply it to your lifeAs the days grow gloriously dark, pray for the nation of Israel, and for those who may not know the Lord.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: EcclesiastesThe Book of Ecclesiastes is the journal of King Solomon. It is a record of some of the perplexities he had, as well as some of the mistakes he made. There are three themes from this book when considering the beauty of this life we get to live.First, this book reveals the complex mysteries of life.God does not want life to make sense to us. God, in His infinite wisdom, makes life a mystery to draw us to Him. God put eternity in our hearts; He gave us a desire to see life from an eternal perspective. The answer to life’s mystery is not in nature, history, or science. The answer is that apart from God, wisdom, wealth and work are all meaningless.Ecclesiastes also addresses the challenging adventure of life.In spite of its mystery, God urges us to live with enthusiasm and joy. We cannot let our problems make cynics out of us. There are going to be some hard times; we would be foolish to not enjoy the good times. Adrian Rogers says, “Since God is good, we should live joyfully. Since God is sovereign, we should live confidently. And since God is holy, live life reverently.”Finally, this book reveals that life is a comprehensive test.Everything is going to come to judgment. Because of this, we must learn to rejoice. Adrian Rogers says, “God’s laws do not restrict us; they liberate us.” We must learn, also, to rest and remember; to honor, to obey, to serve God in every season.Everything that King Solomon wrote is by divine inspiration. But we know some things he didn’t know because we have the New Testament. We have an understanding that even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, did not have before he died, primarily, the answer to the age-old question: What is life all about?Glory to God, we know that Jesus said, “I’ve come that you might have life, and that you might have it abundantly.”(John 10:10)Life is about Jesus and only Jesus. Apart from Him, everything is meaningless.Apply it to your lifeLife is a complex mystery and a challenging adventure. In order to pass the comprehensive tests of life, we must learn to rejoice in every season, to rest in God’s grace and goodness, and to remember Him.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 2:18-29The days are growing gloriously dark; the time is ripe for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.1 John 2:18-29 heeds three warnings to us as we near the rapture and Great Tribulation prophesied in the Book of Revelation.First, we are living in the last days, and we need to be awake.“Little children, it is the last time....” (v. 18)Ever since the ascension of Jesus Christ, we have been on the brink of His return. And because the signs of the revelation are here, we know the rapture must be very close.When He raptures His church, He will come secretly, like a thief in the night; we must be spiritually awake.Second, the antichrist is coming, and we need to be aware.“...and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (v. 18)There is a wicked, malevolent, ungodly person waiting to be revealed after the rapture of the church; he is called the antichrist. We must be aware that he is devilish, divisive, deceptive, and destructive.Third, our Lord is on His way, and we need to be abiding.“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye shall also continue in the Son, and in the Father.” (v. 24)While living in the last days, we need to make ourselves at home in the word of God.Now more than ever, we need to appreciate, appropriate, and assimilate Scripture.We must make ourselves at home with the Spirit of God.Adrian Rogers says, “Anything I can talk you into, somebody else can talk you out of; the one who teaches you is the Holy Spirit of God.”Finally, we need to make ourselves at home with the very Son of God.When Jesus comes for us, we shouldn’t have to be formally introduced. Rather, when we see Him face-to-face, it should feel like uniting with someone we’ve known heart-to-heart.Apply it to your lifeThe signs of the upcoming revelation are all around us in these last days. Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you awake and aware — are you abiding in Christ?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 5:23Adrian Rogers says, “We can never be over those things that God wants to be under us -- until we get under those things that God has put over us.”In order to learn how to cultivate a marriage and a healthy home, we must first understand godly authority.Ephesians 5:23 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body.”This does not mean wives are inferior to their husbands; in Christ, we’re equal. But God created us to meet different needs and fulfill different roles within the home. When the Bible speaks of the husband being the head of the home, it is not speaking of his rights; it speaks of his responsibilities.There are three major responsibilities that deal with the husband, the first being his servant leadership.Ephesians 5 does not call the husband a dictator. Rather, we are given the example of Jesus Christ, who is head of the Church, yet serves her and meets her needs. We are to meet the needs of our wives, who submit to our servant leadership.Husbands are also responsible for sacrificial love, which is first passionate. It is a commitment that comes from the deepest part of our being.It is also a purifying love, as Ephesian 5:26-27 says: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word... not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”Husbands are to express their love through their protection. If the enemy wants to attack our homes, he has to go through the husband. Husbands are also responsible for offering loving provision, to meet our family’s physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.Finally, husbands are responsible for showing steadfast loyalty. Jesus promised to never leave nor forsake His church. (See Hebrews 13:5.) Likewise, we are responsible for keeping the vows we made when we entered our marriage covenant. If we think of marriage as a contract, we will look for loopholes, and miss the blessing that it truly is. But if viewed as a covenant, we will cultivate something beautiful.Apply it to your lifeAre you cultivating a marriage based on servant leadership, sacrificial love, and steadfast loyalty?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Samuel 24:1-7King David was a remarkable man after God’s own heart. He lived by principle, not by appearance. He was a warrior who knew many victories, but perhaps his greatest victory was the one over his own spirit when subjected to authority.In 1 Samuel 24, David is hiding in a cave after King Saul has put a bounty on his head. King Saul comes into the cave, unaware that David and his men are hiding just out of sight. David has the opportunity to kill Saul, the man actively trying to kill him. But he does not; instead, he shows us how to behave in a cave, when no one else is watching.He refuses to take vengeance and acts as we should according to Scripture: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).Like David, we must remember the principle of spiritual authority. David knew that he had no right to take Saul’s life because Saul was God’s chosen and anointed king. There is no king, no power, no ruler that has not been ordained of God. To rebel against them is an act of rebellion against God. We are all subject to them and must submit to their leadership.Second, David gently pleaded for change, with reverence, respect, and reason. David relied on God to change Saul’s heart.If the authority in question commands us to do something that is contrary to the Word of God, we should obey God rather than men. But we must be sure that even when we disobey our appointed leader, we have a warrant from Scripture. Even still, we should act in a manner that respects authority. God took care of Saul, and God will take care of our enemies as we learn to rely on the Lord.Finally, David made a gracious promise to King Saul, that when he became king, he would protect Saul’s loved ones.The spirit of God was in David. Adrian Rogers says, “David never won a greater victory than he won that day in the cave: a victory over self, a victory over Saul, and a victory over sin.”Apply it to your lifeAre you facing conflict in submitting to spiritual authority? Consider how David behaved in the cave. Recognize the great principle of authority and show respect to those God has placed over you.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 5:1-5, 17Any Christian who has not discovered the tremendous power of kingdom authority is living beneath his privileges.However, Adrian Rogers says, “God will never place you over those things that He means to put under you, until you get under those things that He has put over you.”Many of us fail to think of the Holy Spirit as a person with authority, yet the Holy Spirit has authority to rule and reign in our lives. In fact, kingdom authority is mediated by the Holy Spirit.Romans 5 reveals why we should be under the authority of the Holy Spirit.“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).Adam was the first man created by God and was given dominion over the Earth. But Adam sinned; he forfeited his dominion to sin. And because we are his offspring, we are identified with Adam in this slavery to Satan. Through Adam, we received weakness rather than power and gained ungodliness rather than godliness. We also received wrath rather than approval, warfare instead of peace. We inherited our sinfulness from Adam: not only when we do as we shouldn’t, but also in failing to do as we should.But Romans 5 also reveals what we receive through Jesus when we join the kingdom of light:“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17).When we submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit, we receive justification of our sins and reconciliation with the Father. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the fellowship with God that was severed when Adam sinned. We’ve also been regenerated and made righteous to reign through the power of the Holy Spirit.Apply it to your lifeEach one of us is either with Adam in the kingdom of death, or we are with Christ reigning in the kingdom of life. Choose Jesus today; choose kingdom authority through the Holy Spirit.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 1:23-25There is an ongoing war over the Bible. There are those who despise it, but some of the greatest enemies of the Bible are those who disregard that it is the very Word of God.If we want the kingdom authority that God has promised His children, we must be under the authority of the Word of God.We must see it as incontestable:There is no contest, controversy, or denial that the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is absolutely perfect, for the God of truth cannot speak in error.1 Peter 1:23 claims: “...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…”Second, we must see the Bible as the incorruptible Word of God; there is no blemish or spot in it.Though many have come against it with their own personal agendas and opinions, the Bible outstands them all.Third, we see that it is indestructible:“...because “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever...” (1 Peter 1:24-25).Finally, the Word of God is indispensable:“Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:25).The Gospel is the message of the church, and we get the Gospel from Scripture. We don’t need a new or modern Gospel for the new and modern age; it stands the test of time. The Bible also prescribes the church’s method, which is (and always will be) preaching.Adrian Rogers says, “No church will ever grow and prosper and be a New Testament church until the pulpit is central and the Gospel is central in the pulpit.”In order to join a church body, one must be born again into the family of God. Only the Gospel can grow this family, and therefore, grow the Church.Apply it to your lifeDo you see the Bible as the incontestable, incorruptible, indestructible, indispensable Word of God?Adrian Rogers says, “We can never have Kingdom Authority, speak or preach with authority, witness with authority, live with authority until we get under the authority of the Word of God.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 14:7-12God wants us to live with kingdom authority, but there can be no reigning in this life until we confess these three words: Jesus is Lord.Lord means “someone or something having power, authority, or influence.” When we claim to commit to Jesus Christ, we must surrender to His lordship, as Paul explains in Romans, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself” (Romans 14:7)First, remember the redeeming claim of His lordship.“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).When Jesus died for us, He purchased our souls with His redeeming blood; we are no longer our own, we belong to Him.Adrian Rogers says, “When you gave your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, that was the last independent decision you ever made.”Second, we see the resurrection conquest of His lordship.“For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Romans 14:9). There can be no other king in our lives; no man can serve two masters (see Matthew 6:24). Christ requires our submission and absolute ownership of all we possess with unquestioned obedience.We shouldn’t be afraid to trust our lives to the One who loved us enough to die for us.Finally, there must be a regal confession of His lordship.“...As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:11). We will confess Christ as Lord, whether in this world or the next.Confessing Christ as Lord seals our salvation and conquers Satan; it also comforts and confirms the saints. The more we assert it to others, the stronger our faith becomes.As we confess Christ’s lordship, the things of this world fall away. Our separation from this world convicts those who see the difference in our lives and want to understand the source of our joy.And when we claim Christ as Lord, our decisions seem to make themselves, as He guides us in all things.Apply it to your lifeHave you surrendered to the lordship of Christ? Is He Lord of all that you have and do, Lord of your thoughts, your tongue, your temper, time, and testimony?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 10:17-19When we were born again, we became spiritual freedom fighters in God’s invasion army. We cannot be neutral in this spiritual battle: we are in a fight to the finish. We must learn how to come against the enemy and use our kingdom authority in the warfare of prayer.First, let us remember that our kingdom authority has been sovereignly established by God. He delivered us from the bondage of spiritual death. Without Christ, we are spiritually dead, but when Jesus came, He gave us life through His sacrificial death.We’ve also been delivered from our staggering debt; in His death, Jesus paid the debt of our sins in full.Jesus also delivered us from the bondage of satanic dominion. Colossians 2:15 says, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”Through His resurrection power, Jesus stripped, shamed, and subdued the enemy. Adrian Rogers says, “We don’t pray for victory, we have the victory; we stand in victory.”Secondly, kingdom authority must be strongly enforced if we want to do what our King wants us to do. While we were slaves to Satan, in bondage to his dark kingdom, Jesus came to set us free. Even though Satan’s defeat is absolute, it must be appropriated. He will not roll over in defeat; he will fight to keep us bankrupt, brokenhearted, and bound to our sin. We must come against him in the power of the Holy Spirit.Finally, kingdom authority must be strategically exercised through the children of God who bear clean hearts. Those who act according to the Spirit must also come from the right position: seated with Jesus in the heavenlies.Adrian Rogers says, “Without Jesus, you are in Satan’s dark kingdom, and Calvary is your defeat. But when you come into the kingdom of God, it is now your victory.”Apply it to your lifeAre you longing to pray with kingdom authority? Understand the necessity of your clean heart and begin praying from your victory in Heaven. Remember this wisdom from Adrian Rogers: “Stop praying from earth to Heaven, and start praying from Heaven to earth.”

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 1:15-2:6As Christians, most of us can accept that Jesus Christ is King and He has authority. However, some of us fail to grasp that He has given that kingdom authority to His servants.Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”We’re in a spiritual battle, up against the organized, mobilized, and demonized powers of Hell. Therefore, we must understand what kingdom authority is in order to utilize it.First, kingdom authority over all God's creation was gloriously given to Adam.God made us to have dominion; it is the very reason we were created.Second, that kingdom authority was legally lost by Adam.When tempted by the devil, Adam and Eve failed to use the kingdom authority that God had given to them, and therefore, they became slaves of Satan.Third, kingdom authority has been righteously regained by Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “God owes Satan nothing, but God owes everything to His own justice and His own holiness; Jesus Christ came to this Earth as the second Adam, to gain back what the first Adam lost.”Kingdom authority was lost by a man, and it was legally regained by a man: “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus died that we might have spiritual authority, not to do what we want, but authority to do what He wishes.”Until you are under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, and the things God has set over you, you will never live with authority.The devil hopes that you will not understand the incredible power we’ve been given; that he can keep you in the dark. If we ever utilize kingdom authority, all of Heaven will break loose.Apply it to your lifeIf you are struggling to claim your kingdom authority, remember: the same weapons that belonged to Adam in the Garden of Eden were the weapons that Jesus Christ used in the wilderness. Spend some time in Scripture, saturating your life in the Word and in the Spirit of God, that you may understand your kingdom authority.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 119:9It seems as though the chaos of this world is ever-increasing, day after day; when taking a closer look, the primary problem is the thoughts of man.We’ve seen this before in Scripture. Just before the Great Flood in Genesis, the thoughts of men’s hearts were shockingly wicked before the Lord. This is not a new problem, although it does seem to push new boundaries every day.We are constantly being exposed to narratives of violence, promiscuity, perversion and greed. No wonder our thoughts are out of control!Satan is very sinister, very clever and diabolically wicked. He wants to capture the hearts and minds of an entire generation; why? When Satan has your mind, he has you!Though it seems daunting, it is possible and imperative to control your thought life.First, there must be the purification of the mind. Your mind must be clean to begin with, and the Word of God is the cleansing agent. Jesus says in John 15:3, “Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” The Word of God points us toward confession and repentance (the Greek word for “repentance” translates to mean “changing of the mind”).After your mind is clean, you must be determined to keep it clean. There is a battle for your mind. If you’re half-hearted, you will lose it. You must be serious about taking every thought captive and comparing it the truth of Scripture, before it captivates you. You must fiercely guard your heart with the Word of God. Psalm 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” It is the Word of God hidden in your heart that is the antidote to future temptation. Therefore, you must saturate yourself with the Word of God.When Scripture gets in your mind, it changes your attitude; your attitude determines your actions.Adrian Rogers says, “When you begin to meditate on God’s Word, then you become a second-nature Christian, which is your true nature, the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ.”Apply it to your lifeDo you carefully consider the influences you allow to pollute your thoughts? Deep clean your mind today. Choose to meditate on Scripture. Memorize it, personalize it, verbalize it, vitalize it, and internalize it.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Galatians 5:1We live in a world that speaks much about freedom but knows little about it. Jesus came to set the captives free, to break the power of sin.Galatians 5:1 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” When we understand the dimensions and dynamics of freedom in Christ, we can live liberated lives.In Jesus Christ, we are free from the bondage of legalism.In Galatians 1:6, Paul questions why some deserted the Gospel of Jesus Christ and followed a “different gospel”. The specific “gospel” these believers bought into had to do with self-effort and good works. But the true Gospel reminds us of God’s unconditional love. We cannot earn salvation on our own; it is the grace of God alone that saves us from our sins.Adrian Rogers says, “God’s love is an action toward us, not a reaction to us. It is not based on what we are but on who He is.” The true Gospel of grace speaks of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; anything else is false.We’re also free from the bondage of criticism.There are some who entangle fellow believers with their own preferences and subject them to criticism. But we must stand fast in the liberty in which Christ has made us free. Though we must be conscious of our weaker brothers, we cannot be in bondage to them. Every demand of the law has been paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ. We must remember who we are in Him and that He loves us.Finally, we’re saved from the bondage of fatalism, or the elemental forces of nature.In Galatians 4, Paul discusses the Galatian church’s fascination with astrology. In their obsession, some of these believers had enslaved themselves to the idea of fate. But Christ has set us free from the slavery of circumstance. We were in the heart and mind of God before the foundations of the world were established.The cross of Jesus Christ reminds us that when we die to ourselves, we find liberated living.Apply it to your lifeAre you living the executed, energized life in Christ? Don’t stay in bondage today; you’ve been set free from legalism, criticism, and fatalism. Praise God for all He’s done in your life and walk with Him.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Titus 3:3-7As Believers, this world is not our home; but while we’re on our way to glory, we are to demonstrate God’s grace to those around us. Titus 3 reveals the life we could have if we choose to live grace-filled lives.This passage recognizes our past guilt.We are sinners by birth, nature, and choice. Titus 3:3 says, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”This passage also describes our present grace.Grace is absolutely contrary to human nature. All the wisdom of this world could never explain it. But having experienced God’s grace for ourselves, we understand what we were once foolish.By His grace, we are freed from a life of sin and the hateful spirit that plagues this messy world.Scripture says, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…” (Titus 3:4-5).Grace is rooted in God’s love; there is nothing we can do or stop doing that will save us; it is the grace of God alone that atones our sin. The Holy Spirit supernaturally regenerates us and cleanses us from the inside out. It is a continual work; day by day, the Spirit keeps us, renews, restores, and refreshes us.Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t love us because we’re valuable; we’re valuable because God loves us.”This present grace is rooted in the saving death of Jesus Christ. (See Titus 3:6.)Jesus Christ provided himself as an innocent sacrifice; He bore our sins and died the death we deserved.This grace is also for our future glory.Titus 3:7 says, “...that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”Because of God’s grace, we are joint heirs of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is a token of our future inheritance. We are simply passing through this world as pilgrims on our way to greater things; the best is yet to come.Apply it to your lifeHave you been forgiven of your past guilt, renewed by God’s present grace, and received the promise of future glory? Let your life be a testament of God’s wonderful grace.