Adrian Rogers - Doors to the World
Would you take God’s Word, and open, please, with me to Acts, the book of Acts chapter 8? And actually were going to be looking in chapter’s 8, 9 and 10. Now, don’t get worried, obviously were not going to be able to deal with every verse in those chapters. But in those chapters we’re going to see the conversion of three men who represent to me the entire world. The title of our message is, «Doors to the World,» «Doors to the World». Our world population is rapidly growing. Did you know that every two point eight seconds, a child is born? Think of it. Every two point eight seconds! There are ten thousand three hundred people born every hour. Two hundred and forty seven thousand are born into this world every day. Ninety million are born into this world every year. That’s incredible isn’t it? We’re in the midst of what we call a population explosion.
For example, from creation till 1850, there were only one billion people in the world. From creation till 1850. And then my dear friend, from 1850 to 1930, a lot shorter time, there were two billion people. And then from 1930 to only 1960, there were three billion people. And then from 1960 to 1975, there were four billion people. And today there are over eight billion plus. And soon if Jesus tarries, nine billion people. Call it a population explosion. And many of them have never heard the truth «Jesus loves me this I know».
Let me give you a staggering thought. Of all of the people who have ever lived since the beginning of creation, more than half of them are alive today. Of all of the people who have ever lived from the beginning of creation. Over one half of them are alive today. And we have an opportunity and an ability to take the Gospel like we have never had before. And it just thrills me to think, and those of you who help us to do this on Love Worth Finding, it thrills me to think, that not only can we speak to thousands in this auditorium this morning, but to multiplied thousands by the miracle of the media. And I know that the devil would love to keep God’s Word off the airwaves. Thank God for the ability to reach around the world with the glorious Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And what has Jesus Christ commanded us to do? Well, our mandate is to take the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the darkest corners of this Earth. And God has given us open doors. We’re to bring souls, bound in the golden chains of the Gospel and lay them at Jesus feet.
Now, in Acts, chapters 8, 9 and 10, what you have is the conversion of three notable persons. For example, look in Acts chapter 8 and verse 27, «And He arose and went and, behold, a man of Ethiopia». Just underscore that phrase, «behold, a man of Ethiopia». Now where is Ethiopia? That’s Africa. That’s what we’ll call the third world. And then look if you will in Acts chapter 9 and verse 1, «And Saul», I’m just going to stop with that phrase, «And Saul», because in chapter 8 you have the conversion of the man of Ethiopia, from the third world down in Africa. «And Saul», well Saul, where was Saul from? Well, he was from the Middle East. He represents Asia.
And then if you will look in Acts chapter 10 verse 1, «And there was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band». He’s from Italy. He represents the west. He represents Europe. And what we’re going to see in these three chapters are the conversions of three men? And how I pray God the Holy Spirit will use this to lay a world on your heart as He has used it to lay a world on my heart. You’re going to see the conversion of the Ethiopian. You’re going to see the conversion of Saul. And you’re going to see the conversion of a man named Cornelius. Now, these men were from such different backgrounds. But I want you to see that they had four things in common. Are you ready?
First of all, these men had the same heartaches, all men have the same heartaches. Now you think about the difference of these men. The man from Ethiopia, was a descendant of Ham. You remember that Noah had three sons that came out of the ark? Ham, Shem, and Japheth? Do you remember that? Nod your head, look intelligent. Ok, now look. Ham, Shem and Japheth. And they settled in different geographical areas of the world and the descendants of Ham settled primarily in Africa. And this man of Ethiopia, he was a descendant of Ham.
Now, Shem, his descendants settled in the area of the Middle East. We call them Shemites, or Semites. And Saul, being a Jew, was a descendant of Shem. The descendants of Japheth settled in Europe, and we think of the Italians and those in the west as Japhetic people. And Cornelius was a son of Japheth. Isn’t it interesting, that in this trinity of chapters, we have a microcosm of the world? A son of Ham, a son of Shem, a son of Japheth. But you say, «Pastor, you said they all have the same heartaches». Right. Because while one was the son of Ham, and one was the son of Shem, and one was the son of Japheth, they were all sons of whom? Adam. And the Bible says in Romans chapter 5 and verse 12, «In Adam all died».
Friend, you can meet any man on the street and I don’t care the color of his face or the origin of his birth, I can tell you the problem in his heart and it’s sin. It’s sin. It doesn’t make any difference. Whether he’s a son of Ham, a son of Shem, a son of Japheth. Whether he’s from Africa, whether he’s from Asia, whether he’s from Europe, whether he’s from the United States, it makes no difference. And I’ll tell you my dear friend that you have a problem and it is S-I-N, sin. I don’t care what your pedigree, I don’t care what your birth, I don’t care where you came from, I know your problem. It is sin. It is sin. We’re so proud of our ancestry, aren’t we?
I told you about a lady one day who met me, and when she learned that my name was Rogers, she was so excited. She said, «Are you a Rogers»? I said, «Yes Ma’am». Oh she said, «So was I before I got married, my maiden name was Rogers». And she said, «You know, I have studied our ancestry». She said, «You will be interested to know that the Rogers came over on the Mayflower». I thought I’d tease her a little bit. I said, «Well look, I’ve traced it back further than that». She got so excited. I said, «Listen, I’ve traced it way back. You will be interested to know that we came from a crooked farmer and a drunken sailor. The farmer was Adam and the sailor was Noah. And that’s how far back we go».
My dear friend, that’s how far back you go. We all go back to Adam and in Adam all die. There is a problem, it is a universal problem, the problem in Africa is sin. The problem in Asia is sin. The problem in Europe is sin, the problem in Memphis is simply sin. That’s the reason that the social gospel never meets the need. The social gospel is not the Gospel at all. People are trying to change man’s environment. Now, I’m for better environment, but I want to remind you that it was in a perfect environment that man got in trouble; in the Garden of Eden. You couldn’t have a better environment for that, I mean if environment is the answer, why my dear friend, we could deal with the situation, just put people in a better environment. The truth of the matter is, the more we have, the more we tend to forget God. Environment is not the answer.
My friend, Jesus Christ is the answer. A man has a problem in his heart. And awhile back, we had a war on poverty, now we’ve lost that phrase, we’ll get a new one after a while. But it’s not a war on poverty that people need, it’s a war on sin. Because you see my friend, sin is the costliest thing around. We’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg. You talk about catastrophic health care costs. That’s going to cause a great increase in taxes and human misery. And cause so many to go down into the grave, and anguish and pain. And everybody says, «Hey! Where is the answer? What are we going to do»? My dear friend, forgive me for seeming over simplistic, just start living by this book. That’s it. The answer is so simple, just by living by this book. The problem in the world my dear friend, is nothing more, nothing less than S-I-N, sin, sin. You see all men, have one problem and that problem is sin. We’re all sons of Adam.
Now, the social gospeler, he says, «We’ve got to help people to do better». But man doesn’t need primarily a boost from beneath. He needs a birth from above. He needs a new heart. All men have the same heartaches. I don’t care how much money they have, I don’t care the color of their face. I care not about their origin of birth. All men have the same heartaches. Do you have it? Second thing I want you to see. Not only do all men have the same heartaches, but all men have the same hungers. Now, if you look at all three of these men you’re going to find out that they were all three spiritually hungry.
Let me show you what I’m talking about. For example, look at the Ethiopian in Acts chapter 8 and verse 27. Look at it, «And he arose», when it says he arose, it’s speaking of Philip, «and He went and behold a man of Ethiopia, a Eunuch of great authority». I mean this was a high muckety-muck folks. This was not a, he’s not a six or seven, here’s a ten in the world of government. «Of great authority. And under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure». I mean friend, he’s got his finger tips on the economic situation of a kingdom. He is in charge of all of the treasure of the queen. He is in great authority. But notice what it says, «And he had come to Jerusalem for to worship».
Now here was a man from the world of government and from the world of economics. He was a big shot. He had wealth, he had power, he had prestige, but there was an emptiness in his heart. His money, his wealth, his power, his prestige, had not met the longing in his heart, for the Bible says, «He had gone to Jerusalem to worship». He made a trip all the way to the Middle East, and he couldn’t go on a 747 my dear friend. He couldn’t ride in a Mercedes Benz. No matter how much money he had. Out across the desert he went. He had gone to Jerusalem for one thing and that was he was seeking God. But he had gone to Jerusalem and the wells of religion were dry. And he’s coming back now, reading the Prophet Isaiah, trying to understand, trying to have his longing in his heart met. But money had not satisfied him. And power had not satisfied him. He has a hunger. Let’s leave him.
Let’s go to the second man. Look if you will in chapter 9 now, verses 1 and 2, «And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest and desired of him letters to Damascus, and to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to, Jerusalem». Here was Saul. Saul is in the world of not politics, not finance, Saul was in the world of Philosophy. He was a scholar. And a real scholar. He would have the equivalency of a triple PHD today. He was fluent in many languages, he was a religionist, he was a man of culture, he was a man of breeding, erudite, self-confident, scholarly.
And had you seen Saul there that day, he’s threatening Christians. He has authority from the high priest to take Christians and lock them up and put them to jail. And many of those, after they have been put in the jail, were put to death. Everybody was afraid of Saul. The proud Pharisee, Saul. Had you seen Saul there, you would have said here is a man who has it all figured out. Here is a man who is so self-confident in his philosophies and in his ideas. But my dear friend, inside he was a bowl of jelly. You would never have seen it. Just like that professor who may have taught you philosophy in college. Oh wasn’t he so smart. Wasn’t he so suave?
But look, beneath the surface, chapter 9 verse 5. Jesus appears to him and he says to Jesus, «'Who art Thou Lord? ' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom thou persecuteth: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.'» Now what does that mean? What on earth does that mean? Jesus appears to Saul. This proud Pharisee on the road to Damascus. There’s a bright light. The Lord speaks, he says, «Who are You»? «I am Jesus. It’s hard for you, isn’t it Saul! You’re having a difficult time, aren’t you Saul». You see, Saul, this man whom seems so confident, this man who has seen Steven stoned, could never forget the face of Steven as it shone like an angel. It was like a prick, like an ox goad. It just kept on, kept on, kept on, kept on, into the spirit, the soul, the being of Saul. Outwardly he was confident, but inwardly he had a hunger to know God. And religion and philosophy had not satisfied.
Third man, I want you to see, Cornelius. I want you to see also that Cornelius was on a quest. Look if you will in chapter 10 verses 1 and 2, «There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band». Now watch this, «A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house. Which gave much alms to the people and prayed to God alway». Now, he wasn’t saved. He wasn’t born again. He was generous. He prayed. He was devout. But he is not yet saved, and I’ll show you that he’s not yet saved. But here’s the point I want you to see. Here was a man who was a leader of a victorious army. Never had there been an army more victorious than the army of Rome to this time. They had conquered and subjugated the world and the world lived under the iron boot of Rome.
And here’s a man with medals on his chest. Here’s a square jawed man. Here’s a man’s man. He lives in the world not of philosophy, and not in the world of finance, but he lives in the world of might and power. Rome knew how to crush her enemies. But all that power had not satisfied his heart. And he prayed to God. He was a devout man, he gave his money. Why? Because like the Ethiopian, he was on a quest. Because like Saul, he was on a quest. He was hungry. I don’t know how he got this hungry for God. Perhaps one night on a lonely century duty he looked up into the stars and he said, «All of that just didn’t happen. Someone has made all of this. A God of might and power».
And then he looked into his heart, and he felt that hunger, and he began to pray. «Oh God, whoever You are, whatever You are, wherever You are, oh God, I need You. I need You». Isn’t it interesting? These three men, from such different backgrounds. One from the world of government, one from the world of philosophy, one from the world of the military, all three of them are on a quest of God. And none of them had been satisfied without it. Monetary power did not satisfy the Ethiopian. Mental power did not satisfy Saul. Military power did not satisfy Cornelius.
Now, friend, I can tell you this about every man that you’ll meet, and I’ve traveled around the world, not completely around it but all over the face of it. I’ve met a lot of people. They come from different backgrounds. But may I simplify something for you? Every man you’ll ever meet has the same heartache; it’s sin. And every man you’ll ever meet has the same hunger; it’s God, it’s God. I don’t care where he comes from. He’s got the same heartache. No matter where he was born, he’s a son of Adam. And no matter what he does, he needs God. All of these men, they’re on a quest. They are on a quest for God. Now may I say a third thing, a third thing; they all needed the same help, they all needed someone to help. And my dear friend, who, who was it that helped?
Well, look if you will in chapter 8 and verse 29, look at it, chapter 8 and verse 29. Now, here’s a man named Philip, and God is speaking to Philip, «And then the Spirit said unto Philip, 'Go near and join thyself to this chariot.'» When I shared this Scripture with you before, I asked you to circle the word go. If you have not circled it, circle it. «Go near». Just circle the word go. Alright, then turn to chapter 9 and look with me in verse 11. This is a man named Ananias. Now, first of all, there was a man named Philip and Philip, God says to Philip, go to that Ethiopian. Chapter 9 verse 11. And God is speaking to Ananias. «And the Lord said unto him, 'Arise and go». Just circle the word go. Would you do it? Right there, 9:11.
Alright, now turn to chapter 10 and verse 20. Here’s Simon Peter. And God speaks to Simon Peter, look in verse 20, «Arise therefore, get thee down and,» what’s the next little two lettered word? «go». Do you see it? What did God tell Philip to do? Go. What did God tell Ananias to do? Go. What did God tell Peter to do? He said go. What did Jesus say to every one of us? In Matthew 28 verse 19 He says, «Go ye therefore». «Go ye therefore». Isn’t that what he says? Friend, you can’t spell Gospel unless you begin what? G-O. You can’t spell God unless you begin what? G-O. Go. Go. Go. You see, they all need somebody to help them. God didn’t just zap these men. God used human instruments. These men had the same heartache. They had the same hunger. But they all needed the same help. They needed somebody to point them to Jesus Christ. And each one of them is told to go. By the way, who was Philip? He was a deacon. Philip was a deacon.
Now, what did God say to deacons? Go. I want to tell you dear friend, if you are a deacon in this church and you don’t have a soul winner’s heart, you ought to resign. You ought to resign. Ananias. What was Ananias? We don’t know. He’s just an unknown layman. How many of you are just a lay worker in this church? Let me see your hand, just a lay worker. Come on, that’s all of you; your workers. You, you. How many of you are lay workers in this church? Everybody lift your hand. I mean, listen. If you’re in the church, you’re a worker or a shirker. Alright now listen. I don’t mean that you have to be on a committee somewhere. What is the command to every lay person in the world? It’s «go».
Peter, what was Peter? He’s a preacher. How many ordained ministers in this congregation? Let me see your hand. Ordained ministers. What’s the command to you? To go. You see no one is excluded. I don’t care if you are a deacon, I don’t care if you’re a layman, I don’t care if you’re a pastor. The command is to everyone. You say, «Well God didn’t call me to go, he called me to preach, or God called me to teach, or God called me to sing». There’s nothing wrong with you, my dear friend, that an ole fashioned revival, or a good dose of salvation would not cure. Listen, a Christian who refuses to go is not missing a blessing, he’s guilty of high treason against Heavens king.
You say, «Well where am I supposed to go»? Wherever He tells you to go. Might be next door, it might be around the world. «How am I to go»? Well, some of you can go with your money. Some can go with your prayers. Some can go with your children. Some can go with your influence. Some can go with your testimony. Some can go with your physical body across the sea. It doesn’t matter how you do it, you do whatever God told you to do! But everybody in this building is supposed to be a part of a great enterprise and that is telling this world about Jesus Christ! You say, «Well now wait a minute I’ve got other things to do». Friend, there are three abilities that God needs out of you. You’ll let God do these three things through you, He’ll use you. You want to know what those three abilities are? The first ability is the best ability, and that is availability.
Philip, who spoke to this Ethiopian, if you’ll read the background, Philip was down in Samaria, in the middle of a revival meeting. And he was led by the Holy Spirit out of Samaria, all the way up there to the Gaza Strip, out there in the desert, to meet one man. Because he was available to God. Now, suppose, Philip had been down. It’d be like Billy Graham holding a crusade somewhere in some city, and God says, «Billy, just leave that crusade and go out there in the desert». You have to make sure, certain you heard God. But I mean, he knew he’d heard God. You see, he’s available. He’s available to God. Availability. That’s the best. Are you available? I mean, we’re going to be asking you this week to make some commitments to missions.
Well, it won’t make any sense to ask you to make a commitment if you’re not available. Are you available? Are you willing to say to God, «Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any cost, I am available»? Availability. «Be swift my soul to answer Him. Be jubilant my feet. Our God is marching on». Second ability. Not only availability, but expendability. You see, God said to Ananias, «I want you to go and speak to this man Saul». «Oh, well, Lord, You’re talking about the same Saul been putting people in prison»? «Yeah, that’s the one». «Are you talking about the same Saul who helped Steven be stoned»? «Yep that’s the one». «You want me to go talk to him»? «Yep, I do». «When do you want me to go»? «Right now». «Well Lord, who’s going with me»? «No one». «Oh, oh, Lord would you repeat that, my hearing’s not what it used to be. Who’s going with me»? «No one! Go to Saul». And Ananias went.
Do you know what that is? That my dear friend is expendability. Expendability. No matter what it cost I am willing to go. It doesn’t make any difference, I am willing to go. Expendability. Garibaldi united Rome, he was a great military leader. One time when things were going bad for Garibaldi he needed an army. He gathered his rag tagged followers around them, he called them his red shirts. And this is what Garibaldi said to them and I want you to listen to them. He said, «I am going out from Rome. I offer neither quarters, nor provisions, nor wages. I offer hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Let him who loves me, not only with his head, but with his heart, follow me». And they went out and took Italy. Jesus Christ, I think, would say the same thing to each one of us.
«I am looking for followers. Not followers who love Me with their head only, but with their heart». Expendability. It cost to serve Jesus. It costs every day. It costs every step of the way. Availability. Philip had it. Expendability. Ananias had it. I’ll tell you a third thing it takes. It takes adaptability, adaptability. The Lord says to Peter, «Peter»? «Yes Sir, Lord». «You ready Peter»? «Sure am, Lord. What do You want me to do»? «Well Peter there’s a Gentile down over here and I want you to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to that Gentile». «Well, now wait a minute Lord. I’m a Jew, he’s a Gentile. You know, the Jews, we don’t fellowship with those Gentiles, Lord. Get somebody else, please». «The Lord says, 'Peter, I want to show you something.'»
And He lets down a sheet out of Heaven. And in that sheet are all kinds of animals that Peter had called unclean. And the Lord says to Peter, «Peter. Get up, kill some of these things and eat it». Oh, he said, «Oh Lord. No». He said, «Lord I have never eaten anything unclean». And God said to Peter, «Peter, what I have called clean, let no man call unclean». You see, Peter, had to get rid of some of his prejudices. Had to get rid of some of his biases. Had to get rid of some of his mulishness. He had to get rid of some of his stubbornness. He had to learn to adapt. Do you know why this church is a growing church? Because you’re not afraid to change. And I thank you for that.
And I think that’s been a hallmark of Bellevue church down through the years. We’re not going to change the Gospel for anybody. We’re not going to change the Word of God for anybody. We’re not going to compromise the lordship of Christ for anybody. But we’ll do anything, anyplace, anywhere, to reach people for Jesus Christ, and say, «Amen». Somebody has well said, «The seven last words of the church are these, 'We never did it that way before.'» Times are changing. Times are changing. And God is giving us abilities and opportunities that he’s never given before. And what do we need? Oh my dear friend, what do we need? Well, we need those same things. We need those same things. We need simply availability, expendability, adaptability. Okay? Whether you be a deacon, whether you be a layman, whether you be a preacher. One last thing.
Alright, you ready? All men have the same heartaches. All men have the same hungers. All men need the same help. They need somebody to go and tell them about Jesus. Last of all, all men can know the same hope. Who is the hope of the world? His name my dear friend is Jesus. Let me show you something here, are you ready for a blessing? Turn to Acts chapter 8, and let’s see who it was that met the hunger and the heart of that Eunuch. Chapter 8 and verse 35, look at it, «Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached unto him,» race relations, preached unto him economics, preached unto him social reform. Look at it! «He preached unto him,» say it, «Jesus». Jesus. Now I want you to see something else. Turn to chapter 9 and verse 5. Let’s see who it was who met the need of this proud Pharisee, «And he said, 'Who art Thou, Lord? ' And the Lord said unto him, 'I am, '» what? «'Jesus.'» Jesus.
Now I want you to turn to chapter 10 and verse 38. Find out what this Peter finally told this Gentile. He told him, «How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him». Jesus. Jesus is the answer. Friend, this world needs Jesus Christ. There is no other need like the need for Jesus. You and I have the answer. A.B. Simpson said, «A hundred thousand souls a day are passing one by one away, in Christless guilt and gloom without one ray of hope or light with future dark as endless night, their passing to their doom». Who is the answer? Let me answer that by sharing with you a letter, then I’ll be finished.
In World War II, a solider in the South Pacific wrote his momma, listen. He wrote his momma this letter. She read it. This is what it says. The heading: Somewhere in the South Pacific. He wasn’t able to give the direct destination. «Dear Mom, it is comparably quiet here, where I am today. But no one knows how long it will be. Mom? If this letter reaches you, it will mean that I cannot write another one. For I am putting this letter away with my things. And asking, mom, that it be sent to you. I just want to say, mom, don’t grieve for me. I know my Redeemer lives. My trust is in Him who loved me and gave Himself for me. And because He lives, I to shall live. Don’t ever say of me, 'He’s gone.' Say, 'He lives.' Because mom, when you read this, I shall be very much alive, waiting for you in Christ' presence. With love, John». I don’t know about you, but that blesses me. I would to God, that every boy, and every momma could have that assurance.
Folks, listen to me, listen, you could walk down the streets of this city or any city and any man you meet, I don’t care the color of his face, he’s got the same heartache. Any man you meet, I don’t care how successful he is, he’s got the same hunger. Any man you meet, I don’t care whatever else you may think he needs, he needs the same help, he needs somebody to help him of Jesus. Any man you meet can have the same hope; Jesus is all this world needs today. «Blindly men strive, for sin darkens their way. Oh, to pull back the grim curtains of night, one look at Jesus and all will be light». Doors to the World. Help us to go through them, oh Lord.
Would you bow your heads in prayer? Every head bowed. No one moving. Would you say:
Oh Lord, oh my God, I want there to be in my life availability. Oh my God, I want there to be in my life expendability. I want there to be, my God, in my life adaptability. Here I am Lord, send me with my money, with my prayers, my children, with my life, with my influence. Use me, Lord, use me.
And if you’re not certain that you’re saved, would you like to be saved, would you? Would you like to know that you really do have life? Jesus said, «I’ve come that you might have life». Could I lead you in a prayer? We’ll call this prayer the sinner’s prayer. And you can pray and accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You can do it right now. Would you pray this prayer?
Dear God, I know that You love me. Thank You for loving me. And I know that You want to save me. Jesus, You died to save me and You promised to save me if I would trust You. Jesus, I do trust You. I believe You’re the Son of God. I believe you paid for my sin with Your blood on the cross. I believe that God raised You from the dead. And now I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Forgive my sin. Cleanse me. Come into my life. Take control of my life and begin today to make me the person You want me to be. And Jesus, give me the courage to make it public. Help me never to be ashamed of You. In Your name I pray, Amen.