Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

New Ageism is not new at all! It’s actually an age-old heresy repurposed for the modern world. But it is dangerously deceptive and must be viewed as such. In this message, Adrian Rogers conveys the importance of identifying the Enemy’s deception around us and gives us steps of discernment to protect us from these traps.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Genesis 13:10-19:29

Pastor, author, and teacher Adrian Rogers said, “We hear a lot about the separation of church and state; we need to hear more about the separation of church and world.”

Separation from the world is the first duty of any believer in Jesus. If you are a child of God, you’re going to find yourself in conflict with this world.

When we say “world,” we’re not talking about the actual planet or the people who inhabit it. The planet is God’s creation, and the people are what He loves the most. We are talking about an ungodly system, philosophy, or order.

The world has its charming persuasions. The world will offer many things to gain our affiliation, but charm is deceitful.

The world has its controlling power. It will squeeze you into a mold very subtly, in your sense of direction, and then your decisions. It further controls you through its deception until finally you are destroyed.

The world has its corrupting pollution. Those who play with fire—or even play in close proximity to the fire—will be burned. We talk about the world with its empty philosophies, but we must never forget this is a dirty, dirty world.

Also, the world has a costly price to pay. We look in Scripture at the example of Sodom: a city of the world, an abomination in the eyes of God.

Lot, despite his love for God, loved Sodom as well. God delivered Lot from the city before raining fire upon it. But Lot did not leave unscathed. Lot’s decision to love Sodom cost him his faith. He eliminated his fellowship with God. It cost him his family. He lost his doubtful wife, his twisted daughters, and his scornful sons-in-law, and it cost him his fortune. It all went up in smoke with the city he gave half his heart to.

What we learn from Lot is to be pure and undivided at heart, eyes completely fixed on Jesus and His instruction given to us in Scripture.

Apply it to your life

The Serpent doesn’t wait for us to come out to the garden anymore. He strikes us at the playgrounds. Stay alert. Keep your focus in the Bible and put on the armor of God. We have to be ready to crush the Serpent’s head, even if it bruises our heels.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 2 Timothy 3:1

These are dark days in which we live. 2 Timothy 3:1 calls them “perilous times.” But as we wait for Jesus’s return to this world, we need to learn how to prepare ourselves not only to survive, but to thrive and be victorious.

And to be prepared, we first need to recognize what’s happening around us. 2 Timothy 3:2 tells us, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves...” Adrian Rogers says it this way: “What are people living for today? They’re living for what they can grab, not for what they can give.” Living for ourselves is the root of the darkness we see around us today.

Psalm 16:11 tells us we can find genuine pleasure in the presence of God. But instead, problems exist because our society today loves pleasures more than it loves God.

As a result, we are left with deep emptiness. In 2 Timothy 3:7-8, we can see a glimpse of humanity’s hunt to fill its insatiable desires in the last days: “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth...” Though knowledge increases, the truth does not.

Does all of this sound familiar? These are dangerous times. But thanks to God, we don’t have to face these days without hope. We are called to be the Church, the Light in the darkness, and we are called to be it together.

The closer we get to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the more we need the people of God. We need to hold each other accountable to the Truth of the Gospel. We need to be saturated with the Word of God, motivated by the Spirit of God, and activated in the work of God.

Apply it to your life

Adrian Rogers says, “Don’t doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.” Know where you stand and what you stand for, because the days are growing darker and the Enemy works in the shadows. Remember what you have learned in the light.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Mark 1:21-28

Whether we realize it or not, there is a demonic world we cannot avoid. It is real, and we cannot be uninformed or uninterested. We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness. We must be aware of the warfare in order to win the battle.

The Enemy comes against us in three basic ways:

Oppression. The devil knows how to harass you, and demon spirits will oppress you.

Obsession. The devil stirs an insatiable longing within people that drive them and mold them until they are caught up and swept along.

Possession. It is possible for the devil, through one of his demons, to possess a person. He takes control of his mind, his emotions and his will.

There's a battle. And Satan never gives up anybody or anything without a fight.

But there's no waiting to see who will win. Satan has been defeated. Jesus has authority over the enemy and all of the powers of darkness. The demons recognize Jesus’s authority. They must always yield to it.

No child of God should ever fear the demons. Never. We must be aware of them. Be vigilant, be sober. But do not be afraid. They are afraid of you when you recognize who you are in Jesus, and the authority He has given you.

Adrian Rogers tells us, “Unless you are living with God, filled with the Holy Spirit, claiming the power of Jesus Christ in your life, you don't understand the power of our enemy. But you do need to understand the greater power of Jesus Christ and the authority of Jesus rightly applied over the power of the enemy.”

Children of God are going to know conflict with the enemy. But God has given us authority over him. Satan has no threat, temptation has no allurement, sin has no hold that the child of God cannot break in the power of Jesus Christ.

Apply it to your life

If you are recognizing the reality of the spiritual warfare around you, it’s time to get fitted for battle. Get alone or get with some prayer warriors and take authority over the enemy in the name of Jesus. And in repentance, clean up your life. The Bible says, “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Financial Freedom (1054)

In the Book of Nehemiah, the people of Jerusalem were rebuilding after the city-wide destruction. Many were poor and enslaved by their deep debt. However, some of the rich also were enslaved—not by debt, but by wealth. They were extorting, conniving, and using unethical methods to get money.

We learn that financial bondage is being a slave to money, no matter how much or how little you have. God doesn’t want His people, whether they be poor or rich, to be in financial bondage. God’s plan for His children is to have liberty and freedom.

The first principle of financial freedom is priority. God will not take second place to anybody or anything. The fear of God is not only the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7); it’s the beginning of wealth.
The second principle is industry (work). The lazy man is not going to prosper, and it’s not because God has not answered his prayer or has failed him. It is because he doesn’t work and God will not bless him. God wants you to use your work to serve and glorify Him.
The third principle is generosity. The more you share, the more you have; the more you hoard, the less you have.
The fourth principle is reliability. God can be depended upon. He is worthy of your trust, even in your finances.
The fifth principle is integrity. When you are presented with the opportunity to obtain wealth at the expense of someone else, or at the expense of your character, do not take it. This is not God’s way to prosperity, it is a chance to show your integrity.
Here was a man, Nehemiah, who knew total financial freedom in a time of depression, drought, high taxes, mortgage their houses. His prayer was not for riches. His prayer was for provision to get the job done.

This should be our prayer, too. Be in the will of God and let God supply your need.

Apply it to your life
Are you in financial bondage? Think of these principles. Is God first? Have you been diligent? Have you had an open hand or a clenched fist? Have you been trusting in God or in uncertain riches? Have you lived with integrity? Are you believing and trusting God according to these other things to take care of you? Find financial freedom in God’s provision today.

How Not to Raise a Fool (1045)

The simple man is comfortable in his own ignorance. He likes his lifestyle. He takes the easy way. No responsibilities. No problems. He has no real, serious thoughts.

But there is a fatal flaw in the plan (or lack thereof) of the simple man. The problem is not his intellect. The problem is his heart.

If he loves simplicity, he will lack understanding. And if you dare begin talking to him about God’s Word, he doesn’t pay attention. Therefore, he will not know the truths of God’s Word.

If he lacks understanding, he will be easily led. And if he is easily led, he will be liable for judgment—meaning he will be held accountable to what he becomes, even if he never intended to.

He becomes the scorner: the smart-aleck, the mocker, and eventually … the fool. Once he is a fool, he is the enemy of that which is good and godly. He rejects wisdom, ridicules righteous, rejoices in sin. Therefore, his moral sense has been polluted, and he no longer knows the difference between right and wrong.

So how do we keep from raising a fool? How do we ensure that our simpleminded, impressionable children are raised to know wisdom and to mature in understanding?

The Word of God. Particularly, the Book of Proverbs.

Pastor and teacher Adrian Rogers was a father himself. He said, “Every parent ought to master the book of Proverbs and be mastered by the book of Proverbs so he can learn how to teach it to his children. That’s why God gave us this book. This is God’s manual on child-rearing. This is God’s book to tell us how not to raise a fool, to give to that simple one understanding.”

We are also to remember that our children learn by example. We are to show them what it means to follow biblical instruction, so that they may know the weight of their decisions early on. God gave us our children. We are called to protect them from worldly influence and raise them to know God’s wisdom.

Apply it to your life
Whether you have children or not, follow the examples of Proverbs today. Begin making a habit of studying Scripture and applying biblical instruction to your own life. People are watching and learning from you by example. Glorify God with your influence.

The Friendship Factor (1033)

One of the basic needs and longings of our lives is for a true friend.

There are acquaintances, whom we learn from and have fun with on the shores of life, yet it the friendship never goes beyond the coast. There are fair weather friends, who will agree to set sail, but jump ship the moment the seas of life get rocky.

And then there are friends…the ones who stay in the calm and in the storm. These friends are rare. But they are of great value, and are worth the find.

The Bible places a great emphasis upon friends, but it also encourages us to possess a much higher standard on friendships than we think. We are not to have too many of them. They are costly. We are to consider friendships as an investment. We invest time, energy, prayers, and emotion into people. We cannot fully invest in more than we can maintain.

Jesus loved many people in his time on earth. He made good acquaintances, but he regularly invested himself in his 12 disciples. Of those 12, there was an inner circle: Peter, James and John. And of them, he was closest with John. We see that in his humanity, Jesus needed a friend, and He showed us the virtues of a true friend.

A friend is selfless. He loves, not because he needs something from you. He just does.
A friend is sacrificial. He carries your sorrows on his own back.
A friend sanctifies. He keeps you sharp.
How do we find a friend like this? If you want a friend, be a friend. You want love? Give love.

Renowned pastor and teacher, Adrian Rogers said it this way, “I went out to find a friend and could not find one there. I went out to be a friend and friends were everywhere.”

Apply it to your life
Today is a good day for a quality check of your friendship factor. The test of a good friendship is this: am I a better person because of my friends? Which friendships in your life bring you closer to Jesus? Are there any toxic friendships that need to be cut off? Pray carefully through each investment in your life, and ask God for the wisdom to maintain the relationships in your life with grace and understanding.

The Peril of Pride (1037)

Pride is a dangerous sin. Nothing brings more destruction to our nation, our homes, and our relationships than a prideful spirit.

But it is also a deceptive sin. The proud ones are the least likely to admit their pride. They are quite proud of their humility. We call many things today pride that are not really pride. A good self-image is not pride. Self-esteem is not pride. Receiving honor or merited awards is not pride.

What is the pride that the Bible condemns? It is an attitude of independence from God. Pride is the basic sin and the root cause for all other sins. Pride leads the parade, and God hates it.

There are five reasons found in the Book of Proverbs as to why the peril of pride is something to be taken seriously and to be dealt with immediately.

Pride provokes deity. It is an abomination to God. You provoke God to anger when there is pride in your heart. God literally becomes your adversary.

Pride proves depravity. Anytime a person has pride in his heart it is there because it was born in him. It is not something we learn, it is something we inherit.

Pride promotes dissension. There has never been an argument where pride was not the major factor.

Pride promotes dishonor. In the pursuit of honor, pride brings shame. Proverbs 19:23 says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low, but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

Pride precedes destruction. Proverbs 16:18 reminds us of the plans for anything rooted in a prideful spirit: “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Pride is a matter of the heart, and there is much to be done about it. If we are not right with God, we cannot be right with one another.

Adrian Rogers says, “There are no problems too big to solve, only people too small to solve them.” “There is none so bad he cannot be saved, there is none so good he doesn’t need saving.” It begins with humbling yourself before the Lord.

####Apply it to your life
Knowing the serious peril of pride, take some time today to evaluate your heart. Do you have a pride-issue? Are you facing the consequences of a prideful spirit without even knowing it? Humble yourself before the Lord, and ask Him for forgiveness.

God's Miracle Medicine (1027)

A heavy heart is the beginning of misery, and we were never meant to carry the load.

A burdened soul breaks the spirit. A broken spirit thins the immunity of the body. The body then begins to wither, and we get ill. In fact, studies have shown that emotions largely contribute to one’s overall state of health. Doctors call it Emotionally Induced Illness (E.I.I.), and it is the idea that physical sickness can be a result of emotional illness.

The entire body is affected by a heavy heart. But God has given us a remedy for the soul, the spirit, and the body. And it is good medicine...Joy!

Not mere laughter, not mere joking, not mere fun and games, but deep, abiding joy is our strongest medicine and greatest weapon. Joy doesn’t depend upon material things or circumstances. It doesn’t depend upon thrills. It comes straight from the heart.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke of the joy in His own heart, and He promised to give us a dose of it; not just some cheap imitation… He wants to give us the real thing. “My joy have I given unto you.” Jesus said, “I want that joy to remain in you.”

We don’t root our happiness in circumstances, because those can change in an instant and leave us emotionally stranded. We root our joy in Christ alone, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

“Without joy, life is meaningless!” Acclaimed pastor and teacher, Adrian Rogers says, “That joy is found only in Jesus. And we ought to share the secret, the source of our joy —the Lord Jesus Christ.”

####Apply it to your life
Joy is something freely given, but it must be received, day by day. Today, seek it out through prayer and in Scripture. Let it be seen in your countenance as you go about your day, and share it with someone else.

God's Plan for Prosperity (1023)

God is interested in your prosperity. It is not necessarily a matter of wealth or worldly success. Prosperity means that you live a life of general welfare, where God meets your needs, and you are being fulfilled. It means you are free to enjoy the blessings of God.

If God desires prosperity for us, yet we don’t feel it in our lives, what stands in the way? It’s simple: there's unconfessed sin in our hearts and in our lives. When we sin, we often times try to cover it up instead of confessing it. But there is a great cost to covering up sin.

We look at the example of King David in the Old Testament. He was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, David sinned against God. He committed adultery. In order to cover up what he had done, he had the woman’s husband killed in the line of battle.

Even while his sin was covered, the guilt consumed David. It dominated his mind, and depressed his heart. It defiled his spirit. It shut up his ability to sing praises to God.

We see through David that God does not let His children get away with covered-up sin. He does not let His children forget what they have done. He deals with His children.

But even still, when we sin and try to run away from the Father, He holds on even tighter.

Pastor and teacher Adrian Rogers says it this way, “Guilt is a dirty wound, and it will never heal until it is confessed and put away. It must be cleansed by the antiseptic of Calvary before it can be healed.”

It starts with confessing your sin to God. And because of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary, the Holy Spirit will come into your life and uncover your sin so that He may cover it in grace and forgiveness instead.

####Apply it to your life
Do you have unconfessed sin in your life that is coming between you and God? You have to know it and name it for what it is. Ask God to reveal it to you, and He will. Through the Holy Spirit, He will convict you specifically, so that you may confess it specifically and ask for forgiveness. And then repent of it.