Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10

We are on a collision course with destiny, and we cannot afford to be ignorant. The signs of Jesus’ coming are so many—His return is imminent.

Adrian Rogers says, “We are not looking for some event in history; we are looking for Jesus Christ Himself.”

While we wait for Jesus to come back, we must also remember the wrath that is to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “...and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

The Bible clearly teaches that there is a dark, devilish, devastating day coming. Revelation 6 describes a chain reaction of death, represented by four horsemen.

In Revelation 6:1-3, the Antichrist will come in on a white horse, symbolizing his dominion. He will be the malevolent, wicked ruler of the world. He will come as the world’s messiah offering peace.

The red horse in Revelation 6:4 symbolizes destruction; the Antichrist will inflame men’s hearts with hatred and stir up war.

The black horse in Revelation 6:5-6 symbolizes deprivation. As night follows day, so does famine follow war; massive starvation will plague the land.

Finally, the pale horse in Revelation 6:7-8 represents death; sin causes hatred, which causes war, which causes famine, which produces death.

These four horsemen are ready to ride, and they will ride soon when Jesus returns.

These verses also mention the beasts of the land, which could be interpreted to mean the demons of Hell. They are described as irresistible, intelligent, seductive, and ready to devour. Their armor speaks of invincibility. People will not be able to fight back on their own. They will not be able to outwit or outrun them.

Yet, God will still be in control; only Jesus can deliver from the wrath to come.

We are waiting for Jesus, not the Antichrist. We can be comforted, knowing that Jesus will rapture His church before the Great Tribulation begins.

As we wait for Jesus, we must turn away from idols to serve the living God. We wait with expectation and anticipation—looking, learning, longing, and laboring until He returns.

Adrian Rogers says, “We’ll work till Jesus comes and then we’ll be gathered home.”

Apply it to your life

As we wait for Jesus to return, serve Him faithfully; turn from your idols and share the Gospel with others, that God may save them from the wrath to come.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Matthew 24:1-14

Mankind has always been fascinated with knowing the future; our only reliable source of prophecy is the Word of God.

In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied His return to Earth, offering signs of the times and the beginning of the end.

“And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2).

The temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life; no one believed it would ever be destroyed. Yet, Jesus prophesied its destruction, and it came to be.

The disciples asked Jesus: “When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).

Jesus gave them eight signs to indicate He is at the door.

Deception

One of the marks of the last days will be a time of great deception, in which all the world will be deceived by the Antichrist.

Division

The coming generations will see more war, terrorism, hijackings, bombings, and assassinations than ever before.

Disasters

Jesus spoke candidly of famine, plagues, and earthquakes. The human race has brought unprecedented destruction to our physical world. It is as though Earth is heaving in pain, pregnant with judgment.

Defamation

Religious persecution will increase, particularly toward those who follow Jesus Christ.

Desertion

When persecution against Christians begins, many who are not true believers will desert, unable to withstand the pressure.

Disinformation

Our world is drenched in disinformation, spread by many false prophets who claim to speak with authority.

Depravity

Adrian Rogers says, “We have a generation today that no longer believes in a fixed standard of right and wrong; because of that, the moral anchor is gone, and they have gone down into a swirling sewer of depravity.”

Declaration

Matthew 24:13-14 says, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

The Gospel is more accessible now than ever before; knowing this, Scripture urges us to continue sharing our faith and to endure.

Apply it to your life

Knowing Jesus could return at any moment, we would be wise to trust the Word of God, follow Jesus, and regularly share the Gospel with others.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Revelation 1:12-13

Our God is a God of order and design; all of creation and numerical law is written into the Universe.

All of nature is built on numbers; God’s mathematical precision is evident in our studies of chemistry, biology, zoology, and astronomy.

If we interpret these Scriptures both literally and symbolically, we can decipher what the number seven means in this specific passage (Revelation 1:20).

The key number in the Book of Revelation is seven. If we look closely, we can see the symbolic meaning and spiritual messages tied into numbers.

1 – Unity

There is one God, Jehovah, and there is no one like Him.

2 – Witness

Jesus is the faithful and true witness, promised in both the Old and New Testaments.

3 – The Divine Triunity

Our Only God is a God of three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

4 – Earth

This is our Father’s world, where we experience directions, seasons, and testings in fourths.

5 and 10 – Completeness

Everything is in God’s full control; He will complete what He has begun.

6 – Man

Man is perfect imperfection. We are sinners; God demands absolute perfection and we cannot provide it ourselves.

7 – Perfection

Though we fall short, God has provided perfection through Jesus.

8 – New Birth

We can be born again and have a brand new start; God is a God of new beginnings, who makes all things new.

12 – Governmental

This is the number of patriarchs and apostles, of ruling and reigning; and one day we will see the Lord rule and reign in glory.

Understanding what we know about biblical numbers, we catch a glimpse of how the 666 will work in the End Times.

Revelation 13:18 says, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

The Antichrist will be a servant of Satan, a worker of worship, a master of miracles, and a controller of commerce.

Adrian Rogers says, “It’s going to be dark for Israel; it’s going to look like the end. The kingdoms of this world will gather together there at Armageddon to obliterate Israel… and just when 666 thinks he has it all made, 777 is coming from Heaven.”

Apply it to your life

Spend some time studying the symbolic and spiritual meaning of numbers in Scripture and what they say about your faith in God.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Revelation 13:1-18

The sands of time are running low, and the stage is set; we are at the threshold of the End Times. Revelation 13 unveils the nature of the beast: a man, the Antichrist, who will rise to power during the Great Tribulation.

This passage first describes the beast’s sudden appearance.

“And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea…” (Revelation 13:1).

The sea symbolizes humanity—the multitude of people, nations, and tongues in this world. The Antichrist will rise up in the midst of the world’s distress and chaos and claim a way of peace.

This passage also shares his satanic attributes.

Revelation 13:2-3 lists physical descriptors which are a composite of all the great regimes in history. The beast will be a combination of every malevolent dictator melded into one, given great fortune and authority by his father, the devil.

Third, we see the beast’s seductive appeal.

Revelation 13:3 claims the beast will seem appealing, charming, and clever. The entire world will marvel at this man, who will experience a sort of counterfeit resurrection and win the hearts of the world.

This passage also addresses his sinister ambitions.

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (Revelation 13: 6-7).

This man will be driven to deify Satan, defy the Savior, destroy the saints, dominate society, and delude sinners.

Finally, this passage warns us of his supporting agent.

This agent, the false prophet, will present the beast to the entire world. Much like the Holy Spirit brings people to worship Jesus, the false prophet will bring people to worship the beast in the End Times.

Revelation 13:13-16 explains that, by causing fire in the heavens, demanding worship of an image of the beast, and controlling the world’s commerce through a mark of the beast, the false prophet will bring the entire world to the beast’s feet.

Apply it to your life

Adrian Rogers says, “There is a devilish dark power that is coming to the world and we as God’s children cannot afford to be ignorant.”

Knowing the five purposes of the beast, we must keep ourselves free of satanic practices and offer praise to Jesus. Continue studying Scripture and grow in your faith.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Revelation 1:3

There is a special blessing for those who study the Book of Revelation. (See Revelation 1:3.) This final book of the Bible is a panorama of prophecy—the unveiling of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:19 is the key that unlocks the whole book: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”

In the first division of the Book of Revelation, John writes what he had seen in a vision, which was Jesus Christ glorified.

Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus came the first time despised and rejected by men; He’s coming the next time as King of kings and Lord of lords.”

The second division of the Book of Revelation (the things which are) is the Church Age we live in now. John sends messages to the seven churches, which represent the churches of all the ages.

In the third division (the things which will take place after this) John records several prophecies to take place in the End Times.

1. The Rapture

At any moment, God will call His Church home to join Him at the judgment seat of Christ. (Revelation 4:1). Because the Church restrains evil on Earth, corruption will take over after God’s people are called home. Revelation 13:1-3 prophecies how the Antichrist will rise to power.

2. The Great Tribulation

Revelation 6:12-17 describes the dire state of the world after the Antichrist deceives the nations. God’s wrath will be so terrible that men will desire death, but death will flee from them.

3. The Battle of Armageddon

Revelation 16:13-16 prophesies the Battle of Armageddon, which will mark the end of the seven-year tribulation. Jesus Himself will demonstrate His mighty power over the beast and his army.

4. The Millennium

Revelation 20:1-6 prophesies a thousand-year period of time in which Jesus rules and reigns—no more war, only peace on Earth.

5. The Final Judgment

Revelation 20:11 claims the millennium will end with final judgment, in which every unsaved person will stand before the great throne of God.

6. The Final State of Heaven and Hell

Revelation 21:6-8 declares that the work of God will be finished; only those who are saved will see the new Heaven and new Earth.

Apply it to your life

Adrian Rogers warns us, “What God began in Genesis finds its climax in Revelation.” Prayerfully read through Revelation with an open heart to learn what God has in store.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

Jesus Christ could come again at any moment. The stage is set, and the curtain is ready to be drawn back on the drama of the ages. Things are about to unfold, and we are living in the beginning of the end.

2 Thessalonians reveals three tremendous truths about the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels…” (2 Thessalonians 1:7).

First, we need not be disturbed.

Jesus is on His way, and when He comes again, His glory will be revealed. Though we don’t know the exact time or day, we know He will return exactly on time.

“When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (2 Thessalonians 1:10).

We will be witnesses of His transforming love, amazing grace, and steadfast power; our testimonies will be what brings others to wonder at Him as well.

Secondly, we need not be deceived.

Many false prophets will come, specifically the Antichrist. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 states: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed...”

Adrian Rogers says, “Our trouble began with the sin of man; it will climax with the man of sin.”

There’s something very sinister already at work in our world today, called the mystery of iniquity. Once the Church is raptured, there will be nothing to restrain iniquity, and the devil’s evil power will be unleashed.

Finally, we need not be disappointed.

Jesus will come secretly for His Church, then sovereignly to rule and reign. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 reveals, “Then shall that wicked be revealed, who the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth.”

Jesus, who came first to seek and to save, will return with judgment. He came first in mercy; He will return in flaming fire, to take vengeance. He came first in humility; He will return in incredible power. We will not be disappointed if we’ve placed our faith in Him.

Apply it to your life

As we anticipate Jesus’ return, continue praying for our world and for the lost. Share the Gospel at every opportunity, and live unshaken in this shaky world.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Daniel 9:1

America is at a crossroads of morality and spirituality and we cannot afford to take it lightly. Our nation has been taken captive by the world, the flesh, and the devil. In times of crisis, we remember that our greatest resource is prayer, and our only hope for this country is God.

We must commit to pray for America because only prayer can hold back the judgment of God. In the Book of Daniel, God’s people had been taken captive by the Babylonians. In chapter 9, we find a very specific prayer from Daniel for his nation, asking God for deliverance.

It was a prayer with serious concentration.

Daniel 9:3 says, “And I set my face, unto the Lord God.” It is not the length, eloquence, or frequency, but the faith and fervency of our prayers that reach the ears of the Lord. If you want to strengthen your prayer life, consider fasting. In the Bible, God always links fasting with spiritual activities. We should be careful to fast for the right reasons, not for our own glory.

If you feel called to fast, first examine your motivation and avoid extremism. Pray for God’s guidance; be wise about when you fast and for how long.

Daniel also prayed with steadfast confidence.

Adrian Rogers tells us, “It is impossible to see the greatness of God and the mercies of God and not pray with confidence. Face your problem, but focus on your God.”

Daniel also prayed with sincere confession. He confessed his personal sin but also asked God for forgiveness on his nation’s behalf. Likewise, we should confess the sins of America to God: our greed and materialism, our neglect of the poor, our racism. We should ask God’s forgiveness for our nation’s sexual immorality, for killing the unborn, for the humanism we’ve allowed to infiltrate our schools. We must identify ourselves with our nation, and confess on its behalf.

Lastly, Daniel prayed with spiritual concern.

In chapter 9, Daniel asked for the removal of guilt and the restoration of glory. The concern of our prayers for America ought to be for a revival, not simply for America’s sake, but for the glory of God.

Apply it to your life

There’s no time for finger-pointing; it’s time for personal repentance and national confession; say a prayer for America.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Zechariah 3:1-4

Our culture has redefined sin but has not been able to get rid of sin’s shame. Until we deal with sin as it is, we’ll always be haunted by the ghost of guilt.

Zechariah 3:1-4 is a courtroom scene—there is the accused, the adversary, and the advocate.

The accused, Joshua, represents us; there was a strong case against him. Verse 3 tells us he was guilty: “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.”

The first thing we must do with our sin is to admit it. Guilt is not a feeling, it is a result of the filthiness of our sin; it can lead to depression, anxiety, sickness, and spiritual sterility.

Adrian Rogers says, “There’s one thing God will not accept for sin, and that is an alibi or an excuse; Jesus did not die for alibis or excuses.”

Guilt does not drive us to God; on the contrary, unresolved guilt drives us further from Him, resulting in bitterness.

The adversary in this passage is our accuser, Satan. He is pictured as a prosecuting attorney in verse 1: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.”

There’s a difference between accusation and conviction. The Holy Spirit convicts us to lead us to repent, while the devil accuses us to make us feel hopeless. Satan wants to expose our sins for the purpose of our suffering the consequences. He intends to focus our attention on our sins rather than on Jesus.

This passage also identifies the Advocate; the Angel of the Lord represents Jesus.

“And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’” (Zechariah 3:2).

We have a lawyer pleading our case: Jesus Christ, the righteous. He rebukes the accuser and restores the accused. He is never easy on sin—and even while He forgives, He may chasten—but He defends us with His redeeming grace. He takes away our dirty garments and clothes us in His righteousness and purity. “Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes’” (Zechariah 3:4).

Apply it to your life

If you are haunted by the ghost of guilt, there are three steps you can take to deal with it:

1. Consider the source: Is it a Holy Spirit conviction or a satanic accusation?

2. Confess the sin: call the sin by its name; own it for what it is.

3. Claim the solution: God has forgiven you of your sin and buried it in the grave of His forgetfulness.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:19-23

There are many of us who are out of control and don’t even know it. Being out of control is what Scripture describes as “the works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21). But self-control, a quality of the fruit of the Spirit, is evidence of the Holy Spirit living in us.

We do not have to be controlled by our old nature. Instead, we must learn how to have a Spirit-controlled life. The standard for a Spirit-controlled life is the law of God, expressed by our love.

Some people see the law as their enemy, which grants them a license to sin; others see it as their master, which turns into legalism. But if we see the law as our friend, we will know liberty. True freedom is found by living in the Spirit of God (see Galatians 5:1).

The desires of the flesh are strong; there is an inner struggle we will all face as we battle our flesh. We, ourselves, don’t have what it takes for victory. But our strength comes from the Spirit; when we walk in Him, we don’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh (see Galatians 5:16).

Colossians 2:6 says, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…”

We must be willingly led by the Spirit, one step at a time. We must make the decision to walk in the Spirit, within the Spirit, at all times.

The Christian life is a continual walk; our “footsteps” are repentance and faith. These are not things we do once in order to get saved; the step-by-step walk of repentance and faith is our daily practice.

Adrian Rogers says, “Repentance is God’s way of revealing myself to me, and faith is God’s way of revealing Jesus to me. Repentance is where I see the bankruptcy of me; faith is where I see the glory of Him.”

The longer we walk with Him, the more we will realize the Holy Spirit’s control over our lives.

Finally, we see the satisfaction of a Spirit-controlled life. Self-control is a quality of the fruit of the Spirit; fruit is meant to be consumed—to satisfy our souls’ deepest hunger; nothing but Jesus can satisfy us.

Apply it to your life

The flesh and the Spirit are warring in us right now; it is up to us. Remember: the victorious life is a walk. Step-by-step, live in repentance and faith, and you will find your strength and satisfaction in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22

Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. Scripture reminds us that the mighty meek will inherit the Earth. (See Matthew 5:5.)

The secret to incredible wealth, leadership, peace, and joy is meekness. When He created us, God put certain drives, abilities, and ambitions into our very nature. Our natural talents are not evil in themselves; but we must yield to the Holy Spirit, so that we may bring Him glory and honor.

We learn what to do with our drives, abilities, and ambitions when we remember the meaning of meekness.

Some believe releasing or restraining our strength will lead to meekness. But God does not want to cripple us; He wants us to take all that He gave us and control it for His glory. True meekness comes after we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus offers our wild spirits rest and invites us to submit to His lordship and learn true strength from Him.

Adrian Rogers says, “A meek person is someone who has turned the reins over to the Lord Jesus Christ and let Him do for Him and through Him and with Him what he could not do for himself.”

The method of meekness is to receive the Word of God. We need guidance; if we want spiritual wealth, wisdom, and worship, we must receive the engrafted Word like a welcomed guest. We can study the Bible with all the knowledge we can muster, but if we do not approach the Word with a repentant and receptive spirit, we will not learn anything worth knowing.

We must lay our intellectual pride in the dust, humble our hearts and get right with God; then, we must respond to what He reveals to us. Learning something from the Word and not acting upon it will be to our own detriment.

Finally, we must remember the motive for meekness: when we are meek, we will receive our inheritance, which is spiritual wealth, wisdom, and worship.

2 Corinthians 6:10 says, “...as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

Meekness (or gentleness) is a quality of the fruit of the Spirit. We must be filled with the Spirit of God to see the quality of meekness produced in our lives.

Apply it to your life

Have you submitted your abilities, drives, and ambitions to the Lord Jesus? Remember, we become meek as we approach the Word of God with repentance, receptiveness, and responsiveness.