Love Worth Finding

Guest (Male): Do you feel satisfied in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Listen to Adrian Rogers.

Adrian Rogers: Jesus Christ meets the deepest hungers of our heart. Jesus Christ satisfies the deepest longings, the deepest hungers of your heart. Jesus satisfies. Other things get old, but friend he just gets better.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Love Worth Finding featuring the timeless teaching of pastor and author Adrian Rogers. Many live with an incorrect perspective of God. We may believe he's a cosmic killjoy who only exists to break up our good times. However, when we understand God's heart, when we see his goodness, it changes our perspective. In Psalm 23 verse 5, David uses three Jewish customs to exemplify how God truly feels about his children. If you have your Bible, turn there now as Adrian Rogers shares how to feel good about God.

Adrian Rogers: Let me tell you what the devil wants to do to you. The devil wants you to think negatively about God. That's what he does. He wants you when you think of God not to have good feelings. He wants you to have negative feelings because the devil knows if he can get you to thinking negatively about God, he can do almost anything with you that he wants. I want to talk to you today about how to feel good about God. Now take God's word and look in Psalm 23. Look at it. The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. And I submit that verse, there's much to make us feel good about God.

Now let me give you uh the background of this uh passage of scripture. First of all, we have what we call a prepared table. Thou preparest a table before me. That means God sets the table. Who sets the table in your house? Well, you say it all depends. It depends on what? Well, it depends on who's coming. Now if no one's coming, sometimes Joyce will let me set the table. And I never can get it right. But my dear friends, when company's coming, generally Joyce will set the table. No longer do we have the placemats.

We have the linen tablecloth. No longer do we have the glass. We get the crystal. The best china comes out and uh there'll be lighted candles on the table and fresh flowers and generally you know that wonderful recipe and everything is just right and the music will be playing softly in the background. And when our guests come in, we say you just have to take us like we are. We we are. You know, we really love to set the table. Do you know why you set the table that way? Do you know why you prepare the table?

To honor the person who's coming. To honor the person who's coming. You see, here's what David is saying. God has put on an apron. God, Jehovah has prepared a table for me. For me. The Lord of glory has prepared a table for me. He loves me. He He welcomes me. I'm special to him. And then the next phrase says, thou anointest my head with oil. In a Middle Eastern home, there in a very wealthy home would be a cruse of oil right by the door. Very expensive ointment, perfumed. And when a a very important guest would come into the home, maybe a a family member who'd been gone for a long time or someone that you dearly love, someone that you wanted to see, the guest would come and greet his friend and there would be a kiss on either cheek and then he would reach into that bowl of ointment and he would put that ointment on the face and the head and the hair of his guest.

It would perfume that person and refresh them. They called it the anointing of the head. And the rest of the feast, that person would smell that sweet perfume and that ointment that was on his head. They do something like this in uh Hawaii. When you come into a home in Hawaii, they take a ring of flowers called a lei and they put it around your neck and the whole time you're there you're just smelling those flowers that around your neck. It's their way of saying we love you. You're special. You're welcome. Now if the lady from next door came over to borrow an egg or some flowers or something, they didn't anoint her head and so forth, but it was it was something special.

Remember there the story where Mary took that alabaster box of ointment and anointed the hairs of Jesus and even his feet. There was a man there named Simon and Simon and others were complaining and Jesus said, Simon, you didn't anoint my head when I came into your house. You didn't do this. That is Simon, you did not show me that reverence and that respect, but this woman has not only anointed my head, but my feet with this ointment and this perfume. You see it says that you're very very special and this anointing was to refresh and just to make you feel good.

You're special. And then the last thing not only was there the prepared table and the the anointing of the head, but there was something else that was so very wonderful. There was the overflowing cup. My cup runneth over. Now let me give you the background for this. In in Bible times, they didn't have the hotels and the motels and the restaurants and the things that we have today. Now there were a few inns, but most of them were dirty and filthy and the few that were there were crowded. For example, with Jesus there was no room in the inn.

They were expensive and uh many times very immoral. But there was a law in the land, the law of hospitality, that if you were traveling and you came to a man's house in the middle of the day and you asked for food, it would be absolutely unthinkable that he would let you go on without first feeding you. It was just simply folks the law of the land that a stranger would be invited in and be given a meal. Now suppose that stranger came about even time. It's in the evening and he sits down and you give him this meal.

Now suppose you have done your duty. You've been respectful. You've been nice. You fed him and it's time for him to go on. But suppose you really have come to like this person. Even you strike up a friendship and you're very interested. He's an interesting conversationalist. Are you just feel for whatever reason that that you want him to stay. Here's the way they would do it. The host would take his cup at the end of the meal and it had been already imbibed and emptied and the host would take the pitcher and if it was time for this man to go, he would fill that cup half full.

Half full. And what that meant is mister, when you finish your dessert, hit the road. I mean that's it. The cup is half full. He wouldn't have to say a word. But if the host would come with that pitcher and began to pour into that cup and would pour it up to the brim and then just let it overflow and run over. It was saying you're special. I love you and you are invited to stay in my home overnight as a special guest. That's what David is saying. David is saying look, he Jehovah has prepared a table for me.

I'm special. Jehovah has anointed my head. He loves me. My cup runneth over. He is showing hospitality to me. He is my friend. And of course, who is our Jehovah? The Lord Jesus Christ, the good shepherd. And Jesus said in John 15 verse 15, I don't call you servants. I call you friends. Isn't that beautiful? Don't you don't think negatively about a friend. Somebody says a friend is somebody who knows all about you and loves you just the same. Or somebody said that a friend is someone who goes on liking you. No matter how successfully either one of you becomes.

Or here's a good definition. A friend is somebody who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself. Or a friend is a source of celebration when you've come to believe that there's nothing to celebrate. A friend is somebody who comes to your side when you call and often answers even before you call. And of course, we know that all of those things picture the Lord Jesus Christ, the friend of sinners. What a friend we have in the Lord Jesus. He prepares a table. He anoints my head with oil. My cup runneth over.

Don't you ever let the devil get you to thinking negatively about God. There are three things I want you to think about the Lord in this verse of scripture. First of all, as you think about the prepared table, I want you to think of the fullness that we have in Christ. That is that Jesus Christ meets the deepest hungers of our heart. And he does. Jesus Christ satisfies the deepest longings, the deepest hungers of your heart. Jesus satisfies. Did you know that the Bible is just kind of a continual feast from Genesis right on to Revelation?

I was thinking about all of the feast and the meals that our Lord prepared for his disciples, the good shepherd. I I was thinking, for example, about how the Lord Jesus Christ uh fed the 5,000 and he performed a miracle to feed 5,000 a few fish and loaves and he fed 5,000 people. He prepared a table of replenishment when there was the enemy of inadequacy. And you know he's done that for me so many times. I feel so inadequate and I run out of resources and the Lord just prepares a table before me when frankly folks, I need it.

But I don't deserve it and bless God I can't even explain it how he meets my needs day by day. And I'm not just talking about physical needs those, but more than that. I want to ask you a question. Was there any way that you could explain the feeding of the 5,000? Not any way except God, isn't that right? Let me ask you this question. What is there about your life that cannot be explained apart from God? Did you know that's the only part that you have that you can call believable? Only the unexplainable is what you that's the only right you have to be believable.

I mean if your neighbor can explain you, you're just like him only you're religious. Friend that's not going to convince him. But when he sees a God who is supernaturally meeting your needs and preparing for you a table of replenishment, then you're going to be believable. Not only a table of replenishment, but what about a table of restoration? Do you remember when Simon Peter uh cursed and swore and denied the Lord Jesus? Jesus was crucified and he was raised from the dead and the disciples were discouraged and they weren't sure half believing, half doubting. Peter said I go fishing.

The others went with him. They'd gone back to Galilee and Jesus had said tarry in Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high. There they were disobedient, disconsolate out there fishing and they fished all night and hadn't caught anything. Boy I've been on some of those. And then Jesus said, hey have you caught anything? Standing on the seashore. Don't you hate people when they do that? Have you caught anything? And they said no. He said well why don't you cast your net on the other side? And they did and and you remember they caught all of those fish and Peter he knew it was Jesus.

He he said it's the Lord. And Peter took off his fisherman's coat and jumped in the water and made his way over there to meet the Lord Jesus. And when he got there, what did the Lord done? Prepared a table. There were fish on those hot coals and fresh bread. Now I can understand the fish. He was there by Galilee. I can understand where he got the fish, but where did he get that bread? I really don't know, but you know what I like to think? I like to think he turned stones into bread. I'll do it when I want to say not when you want me to and but whatever however.

Can you imagine fishing all night? You know how hungry you get when you've been working nets all night long and it's breakfast time and there on the shore they smell that hot baked bread and Jesus says come and dine. Come and dine. Thou preparest a table before me. Not only a table of replenishment, but a table of restoration. Have you failed him? Probably you haven't cursed and sworn and denied him like Peter did, but I want to tell you my dear failing friend. He says come and dine. And there just before he was crucified, he had the Passover feast and and he sat down with them and broke the bread.

He was the host there at that table. He passed the cup and he said this do in remembrance of me. Not only a table of replenishment and a table of restoration, but a table of remembrance and redemption. We can sit down and feast at the table he has prepared for us. But listen the best table is yet to come. Jesus said I'm not going to drink this cup again until I drink it with you anew in the kingdom. Where's that going to be? At the marriage supper of the Lamb. There's yet a feast that we're coming to.

Our Lord who's preparing a place is also preparing a feast. One of these days we're going to sit down at that table up yonder. One of these days he will come. And we're going to be caught up, swept up to meet the Lord in the air and we're going to sit down at that table. Listen friend, don't you think negatively about God. When the Bible describes our salvation, the Bible doesn't describe our salvation as a funeral, but as a feast. Thou preparest a table before me. And so first of all, I want you to think of the fullness that we have in Christ.

But now the second thing I want you to think about that ought to make you feel good about God. I want you to think about the freshness we have in Christ. The freshness we have in Christ. Thou anointest my head with oil. Now what does that tell me? He's telling me that there ought to be a refreshing. There ought to be a a uh sweet aroma. There ought to be a just a oil of gladness about serving the Lord. Hey don't feel sorry for me because I'm a Christian. I'm having a wonderful time and I want to tell you something.

His mercies are new every morning. Every morning he anoints me with fresh oil. When I was preparing this message, I I got to thinking about this. I was sitting at my desk and I thought is this true? Is there fresh oil every morning? And I had to put down my pen and lift my hands and praise the Lord. The Lord it is true. It is true. I love him better today. I really believe than ever before. And I can say with my heart and my soul I it's still exciting to me and it's more exciting to me and I thank God for the freshness in Christ.

Other things get old, but friend he just gets better. He gets sweeter. He gets more real. He satisfies every need. Yes, there's the fullness in Christ. He prepares a table. There's the freshness in Christ, that fragrance of Christ, that beauty of Christ, that reality of the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't you ever let the devil get you to thinking negatively about God. I'll tell you this a third thing that this first tells me makes me feel good about God. Not only the fullness in Christ and the freshness in Christ, but the freeness the freeness that we have in Christ.

My cup runneth over. When he gives, he gives so freely, so lavishly, so wondrously. God is a God of the open hand and the open heart. God is not stingy. God doesn't hold back. You see in that passage on the good shepherd in John 10 verse 10, what did Jesus say? Jesus said I've come that you might have life, but not just life. I've come that you might have life and have it how? Abundantly. Not only does he add years to our life, he adds life to our years and and it's an abundant life. When Jesus turned the water into wine in John chapter two, do you know what the Bible scholars tell us?

Do you know how much wine he made that day of the best wine? 120 gallons. Now folks they didn't need 120 gallons, but he just their cup overflow. Let me give you another example. When Jesus fed the 5,000 with a little boy's sack lunch, that was wonderful. But now wait a minute. After he fed the 5,000, then there were 12 baskets full left over. Think about it. Our cup runs over. Listen, he speaks of peace, but not just peace, peace that passes understanding. He speaks of joy, but not just joy, but joy unspeakable and full of glory.

When the prodigal son came back, he said uh I killed the fatted calf, not just kill a chicken, the fatted calf, not just a calf, the best. And he said bring forth the best robe and put it on him. He's not talking here about necessities. He's talking about luxuries. He's talking about out of his infinite goodness and fullness. He just keeps on giving and giving and giving. Have you ever thought about God that way as the giving God, as the lavish God? Oh freely you have received the freeness that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God doesn't measure his blessings drop by drop. Our cup runs over. I heard about a little lady who went to the bank to cash a check and uh she got her money and she stayed there and she counted it all. Then she counted it again. And then she counted it three times. And the teller said what's the matter lady? Isn't it all there? She said it just is. Now friend I want to tell you that God just throws in a few extra dollars. He just our cup just runs over. I mean he doesn't measure his blessings.

And how we ought to be like that. You see the Bible says freely you have received, freely give. Do you know what some folks I know would want to do? When God gives that way and when the cup runs over, they don't let it run over. Do you know what they want? Bigger cup. Bigger cup. You don't have to have a bigger cup friend if your cup is running over. Remember the man in the Bible whose property brought forth so much and he said I have no room to bestow my goods. He said I know what I'll do.

I'll pull down my barns and build bigger barns. I don't want it to run over. I don't want it to bless anybody else. I want it all for me. All for me. Oh friend no no. Listen. Listen freely have received, freely give. Let the cup run over and let it be a blessing to somebody else. What do we have in the Lord Jesus? Oh my dear friend, we have fullness in Christ. He prepares a table. What do we have in the Lord Jesus? We have freshness in Christ. He anoints our head. What do we have in the Lord Jesus?

We have freeness in Christ. Our cup runs over. Don't you let the devil get you to thinking negatively about God. I want you to hear Jesus saying to you I prepared a table for you. Come and dine. Come and dine.

Guest (Male): And today if you have questions regarding your faith in Jesus, we'd love to offer an insightful resource. It's at our website, the Find Answers page. There you'll discover resources and materials that can answer questions you may have about your relationship with God. You can also check out our Grow Your Faith page where you can get grounded and dig deeper in the scriptures. Go to lwf.org/radio and click the tab that says Find Answers or Grow Your Faith. We can't wait to hear from you today.

Carrie Vaughn: Hi this is Carrie Vaughn and this program has been brought to you by Love Worth Finding, a nonprofit ministry showcasing the powerful preaching and teaching of pastor Adrian Rogers. We operate solely through the generous gifts of individual supporters just like you. To give a gift today, call 1877 Love God. That's 1877 Love God or write to us at Love Worth Finding, box 38-600 Memphis, Tennessee 38183. You can also connect with us online by going to lwf.org/radio. There we offer helpful resources inspired by the timeless teachings of pastor Adrian Rogers. Additionally, you can sign up for daily emails, donate to the ministry and learn more about how to become an ambassador of the word.

Thank you so much for listening today. Be sure to join us next time for more profound truths simply stated right here on Love Worth Finding.

Guest (Male): We were so encouraged by a message from a friend of the ministry who shared this. I just wanted to pass along a shout of praise to Love Worth Finding. I have ordered four books in the last year or so and each one has helped me to grow in my Christian walk. I am almost finished with the tapestry promises and prophecy journal. It's a huge part of my morning devotion time. At Love Worth Finding, our mission continues to be to help you grow deeper in your faith through the timeless teaching of pastor and author Adrian Rogers.

That's why when you donate to the ministry this month, we want to thank you by sending a copy of tapestry promises and prophecy. This journal explores the meaning and symbolism of the book of Revelation using Dr. Rogers' five-step process for examining God's word. Request this journal when you call with a gift at 1877 Love God. And thanks for your generous support of Love Worth Finding.