Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 5:1

Satan wages war against the family because the family is all we have left of the Garden of Eden. We are called to battle—to guard our hearts and protect our homes. We’re not wrestling against flesh and blood. We’re wrestling against principalities and powers of darkness.

In preparing for the battle, we must first remember our adversary.

Satan is a decided fact; never underestimate him or count him out. He would love nothing more than to convince you that he doesn’t exist. He is a destructive force; systematic, spiritual, strong, and sinister. Yet, he is our defeated foe. Adrian Rogers says, “Satan had his back crushed and broken at Calvary; soon his head is going to be crushed when Jesus comes again.”

We must also remember our armor, which is specifically outlined in Ephesians 6:

-The Belt of Truth

-The Breastplate of Righteousness

-Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, knowing nothing stands between our souls and the Savior

-The Shield of Faith

-The Helmet of Salvation

God wants us to enter the battlefield armed with integrity, purity, tranquility, certainty, and sanity. Don’t leave off any piece of the armor of God in this battle. Christian warriors must understand their point of attack. We have the victory. God has equipped us with three things:

The first is our stance.

We are called to be strong, to stand against these dark forces of evil with the blessed assurance of victory in Jesus.

Second, recognize the power of your sword.

Your sword is the sword of the Spirit and the Word of God.

Third, remember the power in your prayer, when praying in the Spirit.

Adrian Rogers says, “If you don’t pray, the devil will beat you. You can have all the authority in the world, but if you don’t appropriate it through prayer, you’re going down.”

Finally, the Christian warrior must remember his allies.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given to me” (Ephesians 6:18).

We don’t fight alone; we need to pray for each other.

Apply it to your life

As you prepare for this spiritual battle, remember your adversary, your armor, your attack, and your allies.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Psalm 127

Psalm 127 is a psalm for the home. Verses 1-2 say, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows for he giveth his beloved sleep.”

The devil is a thief, murderer and destroyer… and he steals, kills and destroys closer than you realize. One of his chief weapons is pornography. Satan has made pornography so available, affordable and anonymous in our society. He wants to steal your fellowship with God. Adrian Rogers says, “I cannot walk in darkness and have fellowship with Him who is light.” Satan wants to kill your ability to love.

Pornography is the opposite of love; it objectifies and degrades. It is brutal and loveless; it brings death to innocence, purity and happiness. Satan also wants to destroy your family, because the family is the basic unit of society. Satan knows that if he can deceive a man, defile his mind and destroy his home, he will dominate the world.

But there is victory for those who follow God and have clean hearts in this dirty world. God will protect your home, if you will guard your heart. 1 John 4:4 says, “You are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”

Adrian Rogers gives ten practical strategies to guard your heart and protect your home.

1. Lead your children to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2. Help your children to discern true values.

3. Teach them the principles of purity.

4. Cover them with prayer.

5. Make a family covenant.

6. Memorize Scriptures.

7. Create the right atmosphere in your home.

8. Remove temptations.

9. Teach your daughters to dress modestly.

10. Learn to counterattack.

You must fight for your children. Remind them of their great values: fellowship with God, the ability to love, and a Christian home.

Apply it to your life

It is so easy to complain about the problem of pornography in our society. But rather, we should remember what we can do: We can guard our hearts and we can protect our homes. Start there.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 4:24

The greatest commandment is to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. (See Mark 12:29-30.) Keeping this commandment is how we find our blessing and give God glory; it is our ultimate priority, supreme duty, and maximum privilege.

John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

In context, Jesus said this while journeying through Samaria, which was considered enemy territory for Him (as a Jewish man). Yet, Jesus considered this detour a divine appointment with the woman at the well.

Jesus recognized that this woman was bound by sin and broken by sorrow, thirsty for God. She initially tried to debate religion with Jesus to deflect from the inner turmoil in her heart.

In their conversation, we can first see our urgency to worship the right person: God the Father.

In John 4:23, Jesus says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

We must also worship in the right place.

In the Gospels, Jesus teaches us that God does not dwell in temples made with hands. Because of Jesus Christ, the holy veil has been torn, and God now dwells in us.

We have the tremendous privilege to worship any place, any time; every day is a holy day, and every place is a sacred place.

Adrian Rogers says, “The significance of coming to church is not primarily to come to worship, but that we bring our worship.”

Additionally, we must worship with the right procedure: in spirit and in truth.

Worship comes from within; we serve God with our spirit first, before we ever serve with our hands and feet. But real worship also has a theological base; our worship rises no higher than our concept of God.

Finally, we must worship for the right purpose.

We don’t go to church to be blessed, but rather, to bless. It’s only after we forget about ourselves and begin to worship God that we will receive the blessings of our worship.

Apply it to your life

Do you worship the one true God, every day, in spirit and in truth, for the right purpose? Examine your heart today, and begin giving Him glory for what He has done in your life.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Psalm 119:9-16

Scripture reveals there is only one way to control your thought life, and that is to guard your heart. Psalm 119: 9-16 says,

Hebrews 11:24-27 says: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.”

There are seven steps listed in this passage to help control your thought life.

Purification: Get perfectly clean.

No matter how vile your thought life has been, 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Determination: Determine to stay clean.

You cannot guard your heart, half-heartedly. Adrian Rogers says, “God does business with those who mean business.”

Fortification: Fortify yourself with the Word of God.

Replace what you’ve refused and repented of with Scripture. Guard your thoughts as instructed in Phillippians 4:8, dwelling only on what is reliant, respectful, right, reverent, relational, and refined.

Vitalization: Ask God to teach you.

If you would be so bold to pray for it, the Holy Spirit will make the living, active Word of God real to you.

Verbalization: Keep the word of God on your lips.

Tell others the Word of God; discuss it among brothers and sisters in Christ.

Evaluation: Remember your true riches.

There has to be an evaluation—a choice. Adrian Rogers says, “A mind that feeds on trash is a mind that is hungry without a sense of shame.” Choose satisfaction of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mediation: Maintain constant communion with the Lord.

There are three elements in meditation: time, quietness, and concentration. If you will spend time meditating on the Word of God, it will do wonderful things for your thought life.

Apply it to your life

Get your heart clean before God and guard it with your life, so that you may protect your home.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Hebrews 11:24

There is a spiritual battle for the minds of our children. They are being systematically seduced by the enemy, who wants to destroy our homes. The problem is too pervasive and persuasive to rely on political action. The devil has introduced various substitutes for fixed truth to society. It’s crucial, now more than ever, to instill the truth of the Word of God into the hearts of our children.

Hebrews 11:24-27 says: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.”

There is a personal choice to be made. We are free to choose, but not free to not choose, nor are we free to choose the consequences of our choices. We have the opportunity to choose “The Moses Principle.”

First, there must be a wise evaluation.

The devil bombards us with worldly pleasures to distract us from the treasures of a clean heart, true love, and a godly family. If we take time to evaluate this, our true values will be determined.

After a properly wise evaluation, there must be a clear choice.

Once our values are determined, the choice becomes clear. It will not be easy; the devil will tempt you egregiously to change your mind. Moses was faced with position, possessions, and pleasures of all sorts. But he considered the profit and loss of every decision he made; he figured and judged, and made up his mind.

Finally, there must be a determined refusal.

In Hebrews 11, we see that Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Symbolically, this meant he refused all the pleasures of Egypt.

Adrian Rogers says, “No one will refuse pornography until he first chooses righteousness. And no one will choose righteousness until he makes a proper evaluation and sees what really counts.”

Apply it to your life

Have you made a wise evaluation, a clear choice, and a determined refusal toward the pleasures of this world? You can only protect your family if you first guard your heart.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Exodus 33:1-3

Our purpose is to know God intimately and to enjoy Him personally; we need nothing more and should settle for nothing else. We must learn how to enjoy the presence of God, and even more importantly, how to stay in it.

In Exodus 33, Moses has interceded for the nation of Israel. In response, God promises His protection and provision, but not His presence; He will not be with them.

Adrian Rogers says, “It is frightening to have success, possessions, and protection but not the presence of the Lord.”

There are several reasons God withdrew His presence from His people.

Direct Disobedience

The Holy Spirit gives us the assurance of our salvation. When we knowingly and willingly disobey God, we grieve the Holy Spirit and quench Him. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:19.) If we are experiencing estrangement from the presence of God, we must first be assured that there is no unconfessed sin in our lives.

Divided Devotion

The people of Israel rejected a direct command of God, and as a result, their devotion was divided. Some of the nation committed the sin of idolatry.

We must remember: anything we love, fear, serve or trust more than God is an idol. God demands preeminence and He will take nothing less. And in examining our hearts, we should see if anyone or anything has taken precedence over God.

Displaced Dependence

Moses also detected the people’s displaced dependence; they had placed complete trust and dependence on the work of their hands. This betrayed the One who had brought them through the Red Sea, provided for, and protected them.

When we begin to depend upon our own ingenuity, wit, and wisdom, we fail to give God the glory and, ultimately, fail ourselves.

Determined Defiance

Finally, Israel maintained its determined defiance.

“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 33:3).

Being stiff-necked is the opposite of being meek and pliable; God was inferring that Israel was no longer leadable or teachable. We must remember that when God gives us a specific revelation, we must obey Him.

Apply it to your life

Is God real to you? Examine your heart today: is there any direct disobedience, divided devotion, displaced dependence, or determined defiance?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Genesis 50:22-26

The fear of death keeps people in bondage. Yet, a child of God can smile at death. That’s what Joseph did; in Genesis 50, we see Joseph practicing God’s presence in his hour of death.

If we want to have the assurance that Joseph had, we must first remember the unbreakable promises of God.

We will not have peace in the hour of death unless we have God’s promises to stand on.

For Joseph, He remembered God’s promises to Abram. Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” What is faith? Faith is not positive thinking or hoping for the best. Faith is getting in the Word of God and believing it. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Second, we must rest in the unshakeable power of God.

Faith is not shaken by appearances, human reason, emotion, or delay. The Word of God gives the assurance of faith. Adrian Rogers says, “Your emotions are the shallowest part of your nature. Salvation is the deepest work of God. God doesn’t do the deepest work in the shallowest part. Forget your emotions… put your confidence in the unshakeable power of God.”

Finally, we must receive the unmistakable peace of God.

Joshua 24 explains that Joseph’s bones were buried in Shechem, where Abram was buried. Just as Joseph had faith to believe, it was done. Why was Joseph concerned about the burial of his bones? He wanted to leave a monument of faith. His success in Egypt paled in comparison to his desire to be a part of what God was doing next. We see later in the Book of Joshua that every time the people saw his burial site, they were reminded of the vapor of life and the length of eternity. If they were living in prosperity, those bones reminded them that one of these days, they would leave it all behind. And if they were living in adversity, those bones reminded them that there was a better day coming.

Apply it to your life

Let every casket you see and every funeral you attend remind you today is the day of salvation. Give your heart to Jesus and you can smile at death.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Genesis 45

When Joseph was young, his brothers sold him as a slave to the Egyptian guard. However, God was with Joseph. Through divine providence, Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph was on a throne when his brothers were brought before him. The one they had treated so hatefully, became the one with absolute authority. Because of Joseph's love for them in Genesis 45, we are given an illustration of the Gospel, according to Joseph.

God’s love is greater than all our sin. When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, they remembered what they had done. God, in love, confronts our sin for our own sake, so He may reveal Himself to us.

No one is truly saved apart from the conviction of sin. In order for us to be saved, we must first be convicted of our lost estate.

His compassion causes Him to love you. Joseph eagerly forgave them, because, though his brothers abused him, God worked it together for His glory.

It’s our job to confess Him openly and publicly.

1. We once rejected Him.

2. God raised Him up.

3. His name is above every name.

4. The world is now at His feet.

5. He has forgiven our sins.

6. He wants to be with us and share His glory.

7. This is what they were to tell about Joseph, and that’s what we’re to tell about Jesus.

You have been commissioned to fellowship with your King. Joseph fellowshipped with them. Likewise, God wants to fellowship with us.

God saves us by grace and supplies us for service. Joseph claimed his brothers before Pharaoh. Jesus is not ashamed to claim us as brothers.

We communicate by our love, our lips, and our lives. Genesis 45:27 says, “...and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived: And Israel said, It is enough: Joseph my son is yet alive, and I will go and see him before I die.”

Adrian Rogers says, “When the world sees us united with wagon loads of God’s grace, they will be convinced of the Gospel, just as Jacob was.”

Apply it to your life

Do you communicate your faith in Jesus Christ with others by your love, your lips, and your life?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Genesis 37

The Bible is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. Through His Word, God gives us many prophetic portraits of His Son, one being Joseph in the Book of Genesis.

There are four episodes in the life of Joseph that foreshadow the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

See Jesus as the Beloved Son through the life of Joseph

Joseph had his father’s favor, from whom he received a special coat of many colors—a mark of distinction.

No fault or sin is ever mentioned about Joseph. This doesn’t mean he was perfect; rather, he served as an illustration of the sinless Son of God.

See Jesus as the Suffering Servant through Joseph

Joseph was sent to minister to his brothers by his father. His brothers resented him because of their father’s devotion to him.

As a result, Joseph suffered at the hands of his brothers, being sold as a slave to the head of the Egyptian guard, Potiphar.

His father believed he had been slain. And in the eyes of his brothers, he was dead, also.

In the Gospels, Jesus was scorned and suffered at the hands of the ones He was sent to minister to. He dealt with conspiracies against him, abuse, and betrayal. He was crucified, dead, and buried for three days.

See Jesus as the Exalted Sovereign through Joseph

Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt. This man, once despised and rejected, was enthroned as the ruler over the most powerful nation at the time.

He was given a new name, a new robe, and a new bride. He saved his people from death. Every knee in Egypt had to bow to Joseph.

One day, every knee worldwide will bow to Jesus.

See Jesus as the Seeking Savior through Joseph

Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. He received them back, forgave them, and restored them. He then commissioned them to tell their father that he was alive.

In the same way, Jesus reveals Himself to us on the day of our salvation. He receives us, forgives, restores, and commissions us to tell the world that He is alive.

Adrian Rogers says, “Our faith is summed up in this: Come to Me; go to all the world.”

Apply it to your life

God wants us to be saved so much that He gave many illustrations of salvation before the fullness of time. Do you understand the story, and believe it?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Genesis 39:20-23

What can we do when nothing seems to make sense?

Genesis 39 tells the story of a godly man named Joseph. Though he did nothing wrong, he was sold as a slave by his own brothers and bought by the head of the Egyptian guard, Potiphar.

Hardship continued when he was falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife and cast into prison. He was completely innocent… this didn’t make sense!

Joseph exemplifies five principles for us to remember when nothing seems to make sense.

Don’t demand to understand.

We can come to a time of perplexity, having done nothing wrong. In fact, many of God’s greatest saints walked in darkness for parts of their lives.

Darkness does not mean that sin has prevailed. Darkness cannot overcome light. If God takes away the light, simply trust God and do not demand to understand.

Don’t fail to be faithful.

Joseph did not sulk in prison. Even there, in a time of persecution, Joseph served God. He was not a fair-weather Christian. In the darkness, he held onto what God promised him in the light.

Don’t bow to bitterness.

There was not a shred of bitterness in Joseph, because He knew God was with him. In hard times, we need to be very careful not to become bitter. Adrian Rogers says, “...it’s not how you react when you’re punished for doing wrong, but how you react when you’re persecuted for doing right.”

Don’t be unwilling to wait.

God knows where we are. The same God who was with Joseph in his youth was with him when he languished in prison. God is never late; He will bring us out in His time.

Don’t let dreams dissolve.

Joseph never forgot his God-given dream from his youth. God never forgot it, either; it came to fruition in perfect timing. Adrian Rogers says, “There is coming a day when God will make everything right; don’t lose your faith when it doesn’t make sense to you.”

Don't let your dreams dissolve in the darkness.

God did not fail Joseph and He will not fail us.

Apply it to your life

Are you in a season when nothing seems to make sense?

Remember, as Adrian Rogers says, “Serve Jesus and never quit. Give Him your heart… your life. And don’t ever lose your dream.”