The Secret of Satisfaction | Part 1

What is the root of why we bring God's holy commandments. Listen to Gabriel Rogers while people speak, dismiss people law why people commit adultery but somebody else is why think commandments are broken when we have that spirit, dismiss welcome to love and worth finding featuring profound truth. Simply stated, my beloved pastor and Bible teacher Adrian Rogers final command in eggs. This is thou shalt not covet God's given us a desire for love and happiness is not wrong to want success or victory, for example.

Rather, this commandment warns against unlawful desire covetousness has an appetite. That's never satisfied with the rich material possessions or money, power, fame or status. We been tricked into believing that newer bigger and better will bring us happiness. What is the secret of satisfaction. If you have your Bible turn to Exodus chapter 20 will be looking at verse 17. Once again, here's Adrian Rogers today commandment access. Chapter 20 and verse 17 thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shall not covet by neighbors wife, nor his manservant nor his maidservant, nor his ox was asked nor anything that is by neighbors.

Madison Avenue has got a job all Americans that we all have to admit our good job of giving us all a bad case of the I want, and we have been told we cannot be happy unless we have something else that's newer, bigger, better, brighter, shinier, different than what we already have, and it is their job to create needs in us perceive me. So we'll go out and buy and bye-bye where told we and we need to have it our way.

These things were told to make us happy. But the truth of the matter is this desire for more and more is making us unhappy. I mean literally statisticians and survey people have told us that as they've gone out to find out what is bringing about unhappiness, marital unhappiness and unhappiness in the homes I find out is not primarily sex with children or in-laws, but things possessions the attitude toward money is very obvious what is happening to us, you know couples get married today. They expect to have in three years what the parents accumulated in 30 years and they did it with a false god of credit because they pay the debt, I'm not all about paying off the credit, the debt is often divorce till death do us part because they have not learned to live without certain things and not content. I want to speak to you today on the subject.

The secret of satisfaction how to have true honest contentment.

How many really truly contented people and contented homes.

Do you have, we never seem to get enough stuff.

One philosopher said something very true doom. Little is not enough. Nothing is enough room. Little is not enough. Nothing is enough. Now the Bible says don't covet what is. I mean to covet means to have an unlawful desire and unlawful desire for that which is not rightfully yours and covetousness is not limited to money a good deal of influence with fame and popularity power appearance bows are not covet your neighbor's salary don't covet his education don't covet his advantages don't covet his good looks is automobile per dishwasher is don't covet what belongs to your neighbor. Now it's not a command against unlawful desire. When God saves a dozen new really doesn't make you person without passion not wrong to have ambition and godly ambition is not wrong to desire things the Lord thy God giveth the power to get wealth in every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the father of lights in whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. God knows that you want to love and be loved. You have a God given desire for friendship in a home and happiness and joy and success and victory and peace. These things are not wrong. It is the unlawful desire that we talk about the Bible calls that covetousness and this command is the last command in this chain of 10 links and wires in the last one because it sums up all of the others.

You see all the others do with action but this one deals with attitude all the others deal with deeds but this one deals with desire and this is the one that we must have in our hearts.

This is the one that deals with the heart because until we dealt with the heart the rest of the commandments are only rules that will find onerous trying to obey three things I want you to notice today as we look at the sacred satisfaction. First of all I want you to see the perplexing problem of covetousness and what a problem it is and you know why such a big problem. Folks update first of all is such a deceitful thing. Very few people realize that the covetous matter fact Charles Haddon Spurgeon said he was a great preacher of yesteryear. He said I've seen thousands of people converted but I've never seen a covetous person converted. Now, obviously covetous people do get converted to what he meant by that. He was saying that tongue-in-cheek.

I've never seen anybody say you know my problem with my essay was covetousness Bible speaks of a cloak of covetousness, covetousness is something that none of us think we have, we think that the other person has it, but you know really until we find out where the problem is will never going to get the solution will never even really met our own sinfulness.

The apostle Paul was a young Pharisee praised, petted, admired, looked up to DC may have it all. He had birth. He had no ability yet education the ad status he had learning he had respect.

He had it all. And one day the apostle Paul was taking a survey of himself and the 10 Commandments and he was checking them all. Thou shall have no other gods I don't do that.

I just wasn't Jehovah God thou shall not make any graven image of what I said moving through that I'm not an idolater shall not take the name Lord thy God in vain.

Never remember the Sabbath day. I always do on the father yes yes yes no steal and kill don't commit adultery. He was doing fine.

He said until he got to the 10th and the last commandment by way read about this in Romans seven verse seven he said I've not known sin until I got to this one.

That said, thou shalt not covet. He said that one white male battling Salome that when not set out from under me because while I might say I've never done these things because that would be doubtful. Also but he couldn't say I never wanted to what he was saying is, it is.

I I knew that I knew that I was a senator for righteous and holy God.

That's the way I knew sin by this 10th commandment that says thou shall not come know outwardly you hold it in pretty good. I heard about a preacher without golfing some other businessmen were not preachers but pretty rough bunch. They were using language that is sometimes heard on the golf course when I little more bed and go just right preacher and made some pretty bad shots himself, but he seemed to keep his composure.

Once again, a preacher, I admire you. You got altogether.

You never say any of those bad words, like the rest of us preacher said, let me be very honest with you.

They said if you notice where I spit the grass never grows again. Sometimes we can we get older and I come to the surface maybe don't take God's name in vain did you want to maybe did commit adultery but if you want to maybe steal what did you want to.

Maybe you didn't kill but they do want to dig it, did you have an unlawful desire desire for something that was not lawful for you to have you see it's a very deceiving thing and folks, it is a very deep racing thing. Nothing shows article gravity more like covetousness take your Bibles, for example, maternity will tomorrow chapter 7 and let me give you gods x-ray of your heart. Mark seven verse 21 four from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, adultery's fornication murders. A man is not a thief because he steals he steals because he's a thief man is alive because he tells lies, he tells lies because he's a liar. These things come out of the heart fats and then notice this covetousness.

Verse 22, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

All these things come from within and defile the man. Consciousness was born in you. Now where did you get it where you were born with a sin nature that you received from your spiritual father the devil Jesus said to the unsaved year of your father the devil, and the lust of your father you will do what Satan was a covetous person he coveted the throne of God. That's how he became the devil wanting what was not his peace and I will be like the most high God.

I was on my throne above the stars of God, that in plain language is covetousness.

That's how the devil became the devil and all those of us were born that sinful nature now because of the sin of Adam and the nature that we inherit from our father the devil, we do the last the desires the covetousness of the devil. When you were a child something like this may happen. You were sitting in the corner of the room a little two-year-old.

He was surrounded with about 15 toys your mother had a guest, a neighbor, she brought her little baby over so the two of you could play and they could talk.

Have a cup of tea. So there you are. Throckmorton in this corner and here's Alphonso over here and so she settled Alphonso down at Throckmorton's over there playing 14 powers that you and Alphonso. He just has one but Throckmorton sees Alphonso has one so he leaves it is 14 and comes over here and wants him only had to take that one is that not true that is. That is why children are.

I say this move. Children are selfish their first words are me. My right after that in mom as me in mind and the first movements are this way toward the mouth and the instincts is to hold on to what they get. That is nature now it's kind of humorous when it's a child, but functionally just to be a grown man. It is not very funny. Covetousness is a very debasing thing. It it's an octopus that wraps itself around your soul, Charles Kingsley said this. Perceptive words listen to. If you wish to be miserable. Think about yourself about what you want what you like what respect people want to pay you and then to you. Nothing will be pure you will spoil everything you touch you will make misery for yourself out of everything good, you will be as miserable and wretched as you choose the self-centered, but that's the way we are that self-centeredness we call it covetousness. I was reading the Charlotte Observer.

An interesting article in the Charlotte Observer title the time of the living dead. And what happened is this the reporter in the Charlotte Observer had gone to Duke University's business school. A few qua school of business and found out what the MBAs there are those who are studying for Masters degree in business want what they wanted what ambitions what the goals was not a factor still have these young students to write out their goals and ambitions that aspiration and with few exceptions is what they were money, power and slayings and what very big things I wanted things like vacation homes expensive on automobiles, yachts, airplane, and their primary concern was with their career and the growth of the financial portfolio their personal plans contain little room for family, for intellectual development for spiritual growth for social responsibility are even more effective management. The Charlotte Observer quoted a psychologist, Eric Fromm.

This psychologist looking at the people who identify themselves with things and they think that their life consist of the abundance of the things they possess. Yes, this penetrating question. If I am what I have and what I have is lost, then who am I that's the reason in the Great Depression.

People were jumping off buildings because they equated who they were, what they had and when it was lost. There was nothing left. If you want to see what you really own and who you are out of everything to have the money can bind.

Death can take away when you know where your real wealth as you see this covetousness. It's so deceptive.

It is so depraved and it is so distraught. First Timothy chapter 6 verses six through 10 listen carefully, but godliness with contentment is great gain of that's what I'm trying to say this whole message godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out that you should bring it with you, and you can't take it with you. Now here's verse eight having food and raiment.

Let us know what the content you have something where something neat.

That's all you need to say what about house. Jesus let out-of-doors sometime food and clothes is really, basically, all that you have to have an outlook in verse nine but they that will be written on the school board will board will means that you have determined to be written that is your goal, you have sexual your mind on being rich now, listen to what God says they that will to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lust which drown men in destruction and perdition. All the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, there's our word, which while some coveted after they've aired from the fate and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The very thing they desire did not bring them joy did not bring them happiness did not bring them peace and afflicted them with many sorrows. Now that is absolutely demonstrable today, you could say that the love of money is the mother of all sins is the root of all kinds of evil. Never ever never ever ever ever tell your child a sweetheart. Make all the money you can justly make it honest is often what you hear graduation exercise, make all the money can just be sure you make it on no if you're making all the money you can, then you're making money when you be doing something else you making money. We ought to be sleeping. You're making money we obese men, the wife with you 10-year-old boy you're making money when you will be fishing you make them unwieldy, soul winning, praying, attending church a lot, but if you have a desire to be rich. Then everything else must go no man can serve two masters. Jesus said, seeking first the kingdom of God's righteousness and all these things be added unto either God's First Amendment is first, you cannot serve both God and man. And when you say I will be rich you have set up an idol in your heart and that idol is money and that causes you to break all the other nine commandments, for example, the first to deal with no other God's on the Lord thy God will have any other God before me. Don't make any graven images.

Well, the Bible calls covetousness, idolatry you broken most of the Bible says don't take God's name in vain. But how often do people misuse and abuse.

The name of God and claim to be Christians and put God in second place and therefore take God's name in vain. Then they worship me. Jesus said would break that commandment when we have another God in our heart.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. But rather than working six days and resting one. We work seven days.

Why covetousness why do people steal covetousness. Why do people lie covetousness. Why do people commit adultery. They covered somebody else's life.

They cut the commandments are broken when we had that spirit of covetousness, and that's the reason the Bible says a lot of money is the root of all evil. When you have this covetousness down in your heart when you have this unlawful desire, then your life is bent and broken.

As I say that is a is an octopus that will wrap itself around your soul and literally drag you down a.m. to handle is a pastor. All right, listen to the Scripture Ephesians 5 verse five.

For this you know that no hormone say thank God I'm not a warmonger run clean person. Mary's talking about a pervert. Well I'm not that, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. God links covetousness with warmongering perversion and idolatry. Don't think this is a small sand as I say this is the mother of all the rest of this is the root of all the rest of there is what we call a perplexing problem.

It is now, let's talk about the problem with a proper perspective. This covetousness how do we deal with this.

What we got back all we got to back off. We got to get a another perspective on this whole thing. We need to understand who we are and what we have many of your great great verse on covetousness is found in the book of Hebrews chapter 13 verses five and six and it really is dealing with the secret of satisfaction and the answer to covetousness listen to it. Let your conversation about the way the word conversation means lifestyle. Let your lifestyle be without covetousness.

That's just a restatement of the 10 Commandments let your lifestyle be like covetousness. Now here's the next thing and be content with such things as you have, for he had said I will never leave the office.

I think you will always be covetous until you learn contentment because all of us need satisfaction and covetousness is just trying to find satisfaction in the wrong place to let your conversation be like covetousness and be content with such things as you have lots of very interesting thing.

What do we have what we have a lot of content us. Ernest Hemingway brilliant writer not been entertained by Ernest Hemingway but he died of suicide. Ernest Hemingway said, and I know you would say this man he had made it brilliant and witty praise door lionize what he died by his own hand.

And here's what he wrote life is just a dirty trick our short journey from nothingness to nothingness.

There is no remedy for anything in life. Man's destiny in the universe is like a colony of ants on a burning log kill himself is an makes this a joke and a bad you think about the man who doesn't know God, and he gets all of these things have this winter so he says they'll satisfy I'm getting old I'm getting sicker.

I can look forward to his brow, Gerard and McKay. There is no answer. There is no meaning from nothing to nothing. The shame he did know Jesus and Vishay did not found satisfaction and joy and meaning in the Lord Jesus Christ respect that we had and with that will conclude today's portion of this important message. Make sure you with us Monday for part two. And if you had questions about who Jesus is what he means to you how to surrender your life fully to him. Good where discovered Jesus page@lwf.org/radio you find resources and materials of video from Pastor Rogers that can answer questions you may have about your faith again go to LWF.org/radio and click the discovered Jesus link at the top of the page. Now if you like to order a copy of today's message in its entirety.

You can call us at 1877 love God, to order the secret of satisfaction. This message is also part of a powerful series of perfect tan for homes that win if you'd like the complete collection all 10 insightful messages. Call that number 1877 love God or go online to LWF.org/radio or you can write us at love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 thanks for studying with us in God's word you struggling with this issue of covetousness.

Remember, as Adrian Rogers said the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. Don't miss the powerful conclusion of the secret of satisfaction coming up Monday on low word will if you haven't picked it up already. Her mission at love worth finding is to share the profound truth of the gospel so simply that anyone who listens can understand. That's what we are proud to tell you about her newest book. His story in this collection of eight powerful messages.

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