THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 8-10-14

<br> <br>

LESSON TITLE:  “REJOICING WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE, AND WEEPING WITH THOSE WHO WEEP.”<br> <br>



WELCOME<br> <br>

      TODAY WE ARE BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD, THE BIBLE. THIS BOOK IS GOD'S LIVING WORD. IN ITS PAGES WE ARE TOLD “FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD.” IT IS IN THIS BOOK OF BOOKS THAT WE FIND THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF MAN'S QUESTIONS AND NEEDS. THIS MORNING YOUR AREA CHURCHES OF CHRIST WELCOME YOU TO A PROGRAM COMMITTED TO THAT PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY. AS WE PRESENT THE LIVING WORD. NOW HERE IS YOUR HOST RAY SULLINS.<br> <br>

      THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT!  WHO IS YOUR SHEPHERD ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY?  WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT IS GOD AND THAT YOU’VE JOINED US TODAY AS HIS CHILD - TO WORSHIP BEFORE HIS THRONE. AS FOLLOWERS OF GOD, HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS TO PRAISE OUR GOD AND TO DO THOSE THINGS ACCORDING TO THAT WHICH HE HAS ASKED OF US THROUGH HIS WILL.  ARE YOU WILLING TO DO YOUR PART THIS MORNING TO MAKE THIS TIME SUCCESSFUL IN THE SERVICE OF GOD?    LET’S EACH DO OUR PART TO GIVE THIS TIME COMPLETELY TO HIM.  NOW, AS WE BEGIN OUR OFFERING TO GOD, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER! <br> <br>

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE MANY BLESSINGS OF LIFE AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO SERVE YOU. AND FATHER, WE ASK YOU THIS DAY THAT YOU MIGHT ALWAYS GIVE US THAT WHICH WE NEED TO GO ON, TO DO YOUR WILL, AND TO HELP OTHERS TO KNOW YOU. THAT WE MIGHT NOT ONLY FIND SALVATION IN THE END THROUGH YOUR GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY BUT THAT ALL OF THIS WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED AS WELL WHO ARE WILLING TO SUBMIT TO YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT GIFT OF JESUS WHICH MAKES ALL THINGS IN THIS LIFE POSSIBLE. IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.<br> <br>

      HOW ARE YOU LIVING IN THIS WORLD TODAY?  WELL, OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING CHALLENGES US WITH HOW WE SHOULD LIVE IN THIS LIFE. THE FACT IS, IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL STRIVE TO DO HIS WILL AND TO HAVE THE PROPER TYPE OF FAITH IN HIM.  SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING, “TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE.”<br> <br>

      

      DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WHY IT SEEMS THAT SOMETIMES GOD ISN’T LISTENING.  MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN PRAYING AND PRAYING, YET THINGS JUST AREN’T GOING RIGHT IN YOUR LIFE.   IT IS AMAZING TO ME TODAY HOW THE RELIGIOUS WORLD SEEMS TO THINK THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE BELIEVE, WHAT WE PRACTICE OR WHAT WE DO - GOD ACCEPTS US ANYWAY.   THE REALITY IS, THIS COULDN’T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.  THE FACT IS GOD EXPECTS US TO DO WHAT HE SAYS, AND THE WAY HE SAYS IT, IF WE ARE TO BE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT. <br> <br> 

      THE BIBLE HAS MANY VERSES THAT WOULD HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THIS DOCTRINE.   CONSIDER THE WORDS OF JESUS HIMSELF IN LUKE 6:46, THERE WE READ, “BUT WHY DO YOU CALL ME 'LORD, LORD,' AND DO NOT DO THE THINGS WHICH I SAY?”  IT ISN’T ENOUGH TO KNOW GOD AND CALL HIS NAME.  NOR IS IT ENOUGH TO DO WHAT WE WANT OR CHOOSE TO IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.  IT IS ONLY RIGHT WHEN WE DO GOD’S COMMANDS.  JESUS CONFIRMED THIS EVEN BETTER IN MATTHEW 7:21, WHERE THE BIBLE SAYS, “NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, 'LORD, LORD,' SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.” BRETHREN AND FRIENDS, WHEN WILL MAN EVER LEARN THAT SERVING GOD IS NOT ABOUT US, OR OUR WANTS, OR OUR NEEDS AND DESIRES.   SERVING GOD IS ALL ABOUT PUTTING GOD FIRST, BY KNOWING HIS WILL, OBEYING HIS COMMANDS AND DOING ONLY THAT WHICH IS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.  <br> <br>

      SO WHO DOES GOD HEAR AND WHO DOES GOD RESPOND TO?   THE BIBLE SAYS, THOSE WHO ARE STRIVING TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.  JUST AS HOSEA CONCLUDED LONG AGO, “LET US KNOW, (AND) LET US PURSUE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD. HIS GOING FORTH IS ESTABLISHED AS THE MORNING; (THEN) HE WILL COME TO US LIKE THE RAIN, LIKE THE LATTER AND FORMER RAIN TO THE EARTH.”  IF WE WANT OUR GOD TO BE THERE FOR US AND TO DO WHAT HE HAS PROMISED, THEN WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO OUR PART!   ARE YOU WILLING TO COMPLETELY SUBMIT TO THE WILL OF GOD?  ARE YOU WILLING TO SEEK HIS KINGDOM FIRST AND PUT HIM BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS LIFE?  WELL, THE REALITY IS, GOD EXPECTS NOTHING LESS!<br> <br>

      TODAY WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR SERIES ENTITLED “EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD.”  OUR LESSON OF THE DAY WILL DEAL WITH THE, “REJOICING WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE, AND WEEPING WITH THOSE WHO WEEP.”  SO PLEASE STAY WITH US AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, WE WILL BE LEAD IN THIS IMPORTANT STUDY OF THE DAY.   <br> <br>

      AS FAR AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE BROTHER JERRY SULLINS WITH US.  BROTHER JERRY IS THE DIRECTOR AT THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.  WE THANK HIM FOR JOINING US THIS DAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM GUIDING OUR THOUGHTS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.  BUT FOR NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “STANDING ON THE PROMISES.”<br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY JERRY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AGAIN TO THE LIVING WORD BROADCAST AND, AS ALWAYS, WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE WITH US THIS MORNING AND THAT YOU'RE VIEWING THIS TELEVISION PROGRAM. AND WE PRAY THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID HERE TODAY MIGHT ENCOURAGE YOU TO KNOW GOD'S WILL MORE AND TO SEEK TO DO IT. THAT'S THE VERY PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM. <br> <br>

      WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW LOVE DEMONSTRATES ITSELF FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF BASICALLY CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER. THE BIBLE SAYS IN ROMANS CHAPTER 12:15 THAT WE ARE TO REJOICE WITH THOSE THAT REJOICE AND WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP. NOW, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT GET FROM THE SAVIOR HIMSELF. I THINK YOU REMEMBER IF YOU'VE READ THE BOOK OF JOHN, THAT IS THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN. AND I'M SURE MOST OF YOU HAVE, IF NOT ALL. YOU'VE READ THE BOOK AND YOU REMEMBER THAT JESUS REJOICED WITH THOSE WHO REJOICED.<br> <br> 

      ESPECIALLY IN JOHN CHAPTER 2 WHERE HE PERFORMS HIS FIRST MIRACLE IN CANA OF GALILEE WHEN HE WAS VISITING WHAT? HE WAS VISITING A WEDDING CEREMONY. AND SO WE SEE THAT JESUS WAS A SOCIAL PERSON AND WHEN HE LOOKED AROUND HIM AND HE SAW PEOPLE ENJOYING THINGS AND REJOICING OVER CERTAIN ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THEN HE REJOICED WITH THEM. <br> <br>

      AND ALSO WE KNOW THAT JESUS ALSO WEPT WITH THOSE WHO WEPT AND SOMETIMES WEPT ALONE. SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE BIBLE WE SEE WHERE JESUS WEPT AT THE DEATH OF ONE OF HIS BEST FRIENDS AND HIS TWO SISTERS. IN THE BOOK OF JOHN, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN CHAPTER 11, THE SIMPLE STATEMENT IS MADE IN JOHN 11:35 THAT JESUS WEPT. NOW, HE WEPT OVER THE FACT THAT LAZARUS HAD DIED AND THAT HIS SISTERS WERE VERY MUCH TROUBLED BY THE PASSING OF THIS MAN. WELL, WE KNOW THAT JESUS USED THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD AND BECAUSE OF THAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT TRULY AND INDEED HE WAS THE SON OF GOD. BUT THE POINT IS JESUS. WE WITH THOSE WHO WERE WEEPING AND SOMETIMES WEPT ALONE. REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO BE CRUCIFIED IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE? HE WEPT THERE. HE WANTED TO DO WHAT GOD, THE FATHER, WANTED HIM TO DO IN EVERY WAY. BUT YET THE TRAMATIC SITUATION THAT HE WAS IN - FACING A ROMAN CRUCIFIXION AND BEING FULLY A HUMAN BEING AS WELL AS BEING FULLY DIVINE - HE WAS CAUGHT IN TEARS. IN FACT, HE WEPT OVER THE FACT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN TO HIM IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY HE WAS WEEPING BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY A MOMENT OF SADNESS FOR HIM. AT ONE TIME HE LOOKED AT THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. AND WHILE HE WAS STANDING THERE AND LOOKING AT JERUSALEM HE WEPT OVER THE FACT THAT JERUSALEM WOULD STONE THE PROPHETS AND KILL THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SENT THERE BEFORE. AND HE SAID I WOULD HAVE GATHERED YOU UNDER MY WINGS AS A CHICKEN GATHERS IT'S CHICKS UNDER IT'S WINGS BUT YOU WOULD NOT. JESUS WAS VERY SAD ON THAT OCCASION. <br> <br>

      SO HE WAS ONE WHO WAS INSTITUTED, AS WE MIGHT SAY, IN THE VERY PRINCIPLE OF TRULY CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND THAT CARE IS NOT JUST CARING FOR ONE PEOPLE OR SUFFERING BUT IT IS ALSO CARING FOR THOSE WHO ARE REJOICING. IN THE BOOK OF 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12 I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT A FEW PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURES. FIRST OF ALL, BEGINNING IN VERSE 12 WHERE THE APOSTLE PAUL IS SPEAKING TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH AND TELLING THEM ABOUT THE BODY OF CHRIST AND HOW IT IS MADE UP. IT ACTUALLY SAYS IN VERSE 12 OF 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12, “FOR AS THE BODY IS ONE AND HAS MANY MEMBERS BUT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT ONE BODY BEING MANY ARE ONE BODY SO ALSO IS CHRIST.” <br> <br>

      SO THE BODY OF CHRIST IS MADE UP OF MANY MEMBERS. WELL, WE KNOW THAT'S TRUE. ACTS CHAPTER 2:47 THE DAY THAT THE CHURCH WAS BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE BY PETER AND THE APOSTLES WHEN THEY PREACHED THE FIRST GOSPEL LESSON. WE KNOW THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS WERE BEING SAVED. AND SO THIS CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 1:18, AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY WHICH IS OF CHRIST. AND SO WE KNOW THE BODY IS THE CHURCH. THE BODY AND IT IS THE CHURCH. IT IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD. <br> <br>

      THEN WE LOOK DOWN AT VERSE 20 IN 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12 AND IT SAYS, “BUT NOW INDEED THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS YET ONE BODY.” BUT HE GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSE 22, “NO MUCH RATHER THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BODY WHICH SEEM TO BE WEAKER ARE NECESSARY.” AND THEN CONTINUING THAT READING, “AND THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BODY WHICH WE THINK TO BE LESS HONORABLE ON THESE WE BESTOW GREATER HONOR. AND OUR UNPRESENTABLE PARTS HAVE GREATER MODESTY. BUT OUR PRESENTABLE PART HAVE NO NEED. BUT GOD COMPOSED THE BODY HAVING GIVING GREATER HONOR TO THAT PART WHICH LACKS IT.” THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY IN VERSE 25 THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS IN THE BODY BUT THE MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CARE, ONE FOR ANOTHER. AND IF ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, ALL THE MEMBERS SUFFER WITH IT OR IF ONE MEMBER IS HONORED, ALL THE MEMBERS REJOICE WITH IT. WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BECOME CHRISTIANS. WE TAKE ON THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. AND THE IMAGE OF CHRIST TELLS US THAT WE REJOICE WITH THOSE THAT REJOICE AND WE WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP. <br> <br>

      NOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN THAT. IN FACT, A CHILD IF IT GROWS UP AND IT IS NEVER TAUGHT THIS PRINCIPLE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THAT CHILD WHEN IT REACHES ADULTHOOD. TO UNDERSTAND - OKAY, SOMEONE HAS ACHIEVED SOMETHING THAT IS WONDERFUL. AND SO THEREFORE I NEED TO BE PROUD, I NEED TO BE REJOICING OVER THE FACT THAT THAT PERSON HAS ACHIEVED THAT GOAL IN HIS OR HER LIFE. IT'S LIKE GOING TO A GRADUATION AFTER SOMEONE HAS SPENT 12 YEARS IN SCHOOL OR MAYBE THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW THEY ARE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE. WE GO THERE TO WHAT? TO REJOICE AND TO GIVE HONOR TO THOSE WHO DESERVE THAT HONOR. AND INSIDE WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THAT HONORABLE THING. <br> <br>

      THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WE AS CHRISTIANS LEARN AND THIS IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO LEARN THAN THE OTHER ONE, THAT WE NEED TO SUFFER WITH THOSE WHO SUFFER. IF WE TRULY LOVE, AS JOHN SAID, THEN WE WILL SUFFER WITH THEM ALSO BECAUSE THIS IS A NATURAL THING THAT IS WITHIN US. THOSE OF US WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS, WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE SUFFERING, WE SUFFER WITH THEM. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON EVEN ON THE STREET WHO MAY BE IN SOME WAY PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED, WHAT IS YOUR FEELING TOWARDS THAT PERSON? DO YOU HAVE A COMPASSIONATE HEART AS JESUS HAD WHEN HE SAW THE MULTITUDES WHO SEEMED TO BE THOSE SHEEP WHO HAD NO SHEPHERD? WELL CERTAINLY YOU DO BECAUSE THAT IS THE SPIRIT THAT CHRIST WOULD HAVE AND THAT'S THE SPIRIT THAT ANY PERSON WHO IS LOVING AND CARING WOULD HAVE. YOU LEARN TO LOOK AND YOU SEE PEOPLE SUFFERING IN THE CHURCH, OUT OF THE CHURCH, WHETHER THEY'RE CHRISTIANS OR NOT, WHOMEVER THEY MIGHT BE, YOU LEARN TO SUFFER ALSO WITH THAT PERSON. <br> <br>

      NOW WHY IS THAT TRUE? BECAUSE AS THE BIBLE POINTS OUT WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3:16-17 POINTS OUT THAT WE ARE GOD'S HOLY TEMPLE AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN US. AND WHY WOULD WE SEEK TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE OF GOD? NOW, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING HERE IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3 THAT THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE. WHY WOULD WE SEEK TO DESTROY THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD? WE KNOW AND WE LOOK AMONG US AND WE SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN TROUBLE WITH THE WORLD. WE HAVE RELATIVES WHO HAVE GONE ASTRAY AND WHO ARE LIVING CONCERNING THE THINGS OF THE WORLD AND IT TROUBLES US. WE ARE CONCERNED. WE WANT TO HELP THAT PERSON BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT PERSON LOSE THEIR SOULS ETERNALLY BECAUSE WE LOVE THAT PERSON. THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WE SEE THEM REJOICING OVER SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND, JUST LIKE A LITTLE CHILD EVEN LEARNS TO WALK, WHAT DO WE DO? WE SMILE AND WE'RE HAPPY AND WE ENCOURAGE THAT LITTLE CHILD BECAUSE THAT CHILD HAS ACCOMPLISHED A GOAL. THIS IS ALSO AN ADULT ATTITUDE WHICH NEEDS TO BE A PART OF EVERY CHILD OF GOD.<br> <br> 

      NOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LORD'S CHURCH IF MEMBERS ARE INDIFFERENT TOWARD ONE ANOTHER? THAT IS IF MEMBERS DO NOT CARE. THEY DO NOT CARE WHETHER SOMEONE IS BEING HONORED, THEY DO NOT CARE EVEN IF SOMEONE SUFFERS. THEN THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT HE OR SHE IS ACTUALLY FULFILLING THE LAW OF CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES. BECAUSE THAT CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BE THE SPIRIT THAT JESUS CHRIST WOULD HAVE. <br> <br>

      NOW WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE, THROUGH THEIR INACTIVITY OR THEIR LACK OF DESIRE TO LIVE WITH CHRIST IN THEIR LIFE, CAUSES A DIVISION IN THE CHURCH OVER SUCH A SIMPLE MATTER AS REJOICING WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE AND WEEPING WITH THOSE WHO WEEP? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE CHURCH IF EVERYONE TOOK THE ATTITUDE THAT THESE THINGS ARE NOT NECESSARY? WELL, THE BODY OF CHRIST WOULD SUFFER VERY MUCH. IT WOULD EXPERIENCE DIVISION AND SO WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER UNTO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS, HEBREWS CHAPTER 10:24. AS WE LOOK AT THIS AGE THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY WE SEE THAT THERE ARE ALREADY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LIVING ACCORDING TO GOD'S COMMANDS AND THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON MANY OF THESE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE EVEN BEEN TAUGHT HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS ABOUT LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND DOING AS GOD WOULD HAVE US TO DO IN OUR LIVES AND AS GOD WOULD HAVE US LIVE OUR LIVES.<br> <br>

       AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL ENTER THE CHURCH AND THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN THINGS OF THE CHURCH AND WITH PEOPLE OF THE WORLD AND THEY FORGET WHO THEY ARE TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THEY FALL AWAY FROM THE FAITH. WHAT WOULD LOVE CAUSE US TO DO? LOVE WILL CAUSE US TO LOOK UPON THAT PERSON AND STRIVE TO BRING THAT PERSON BACK TO CHRIST. IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 6, THERE THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID IF WE SEE OUR BROTHER OVERTAKEN IN A FALL, THAT IS IN A SIN, WE WHO ARE SPIRITUAL ARE SUPPOSED TO RESTORE THAT PERSON IN A SPIRIT OF LOVE AND IN MEEKNESS LEST WE ALSO BE TEMPTED AND WE ALSO FALL AWAY. NOW THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING SOMETIMES SPIRITUALLY AND WE NEED TO LIFT THEM UP. WE NEED TO REMIND THEM OF WHO THEY ARE AS FAR AS BEING CHRISTIANS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO WHAT CHRIST WOULD WANT THEM TO DO AND TO LIVE AS CHRIST WOULD WANT THEM TO LIVE IN THEIR LIVES. <br> <br>

      SUFFERING IS A MAJOR PART OF EVERYONE'S LIFE. I KNOW JUST THIS MORNING WE WERE THINKING OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SUFFERING IN OUR OWN CONGREGATION AT KANSAS EXPRESSWAY CHURCH OF CHRIST AND IT IS QUITE DISCOURAGING SOMETIMES. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS MORE DISCOURAGING? IF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING NEVER HEAR ANYTHING FROM ANYONE ELSE. THEY NEVER RECEIVE A CARD, THEY NEVER RECEIVE A PHONE CALL, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BRING AN AND TO A LIFE OF SOMEONE WHO IS MAYBE IN DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES SOMETIMES, EITHER EMOTIONALLY OR PHYSICALLY? THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING THAT REALLY NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME. NOW A PERSON WHO FEELS THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME IS IN TROUBLE BECAUSE DEATH WILL SOON FOLLOW. AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT, FOR AS PAUL SAID IN ROMANS 12:15, TO REJOICE WITH THOSE THAT REJOICE AND TO WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP. SOME ARE SUFFERING SPIRITUALLY.<br> <br> 

      NOW, WE CAN SAVE A SOUL AND HIDE A MULTITUDE OF SINS, JAMES 5:19 THROUGH 20, IF WE REALLY REACH OUT TO THESE PEOPLE BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING SPIRITUALLY. WOULD ANYONE IN THIS WORLD LOOK AROUND AT THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD AND SAY WELL, THERE'S REALLY NO PROBLEM. EVERYONE'S DOING THEIR OWN THING AND LIVING THE WAY THEY WANT TO LIVE AND THEY'RE TALKING THE WAY THEY WANT TO TALK. WOULD ANYONE REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT? NO, WE WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF A PERSON HAS NOT PUT ON CHRIST BY BEING BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS AND NOT LIVING THE LIFE THAT CHRIST WANTS THEM TO LIVE. THEY'RE IN TROUBLE SPIRITUALLY AND SO MORALLY OR DOCTRINALLY SOME PEOPLE GET DISCOURAGED AND WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO LIFT THOSE PEOPLE UP. <br> <br>

      NOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE WHAT WE MIGHT CALL EMOTIONAL SUFFERING. FAMILY PROBLEMS ARE EVERYWHERE, AREN'T THEY? AND SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO AS CHRISTIANS? WE ARE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE FAMILY PROBLEMS. TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND TO TRY TO CONSOLE THEM AND TO LOVE THEM AND SHOW THEM LOVE AND CONCERN SO THAT WE CAN HELP LIFT THEM UP AND HELP SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN THEIR FAMILIES. AND THEN THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES WHO ARE REJOICING AND DOING WELL. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE FAMILIES TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND TO CONTINUE TO LIVE AS CHRIST WOULD HAVE THEM TO LIVE. AND YES, THERE IS A LOT OF LONELINESS. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT GO TO THE NEAREST, WHAT WE MIGHT CALL A NURSING HOME, OR MAYBE WHAT IS CALLED A REHAB CENTER. PEOPLE ARE LONELY AND BECAUSE OF THAT LONELINESS THEY DRY UP AND THEY PASS AWAY. SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY, GO TO ONE OF THOSE PLACES EVEN TODAY. MAKE IT A FEELING OF YOURS AND AN ACTION OF YOURS TO GO OUT AND RELIEVE THE LONELINESS. SOME OF YOUR FATHERS MAYBE VERY LONELY. SOME OF YOUR MOTHERS MAYBE VERY LONELY BECAUSE THEY SIT IN A HOUSE DAY BY DAY AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. WELL, IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY MY FRIEND. <br> <br>

      IF WE TRULY LOVE GOD AND DO WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND THEIR SUFFERING. SO AS THE APOSTLE JOHN SAID IN FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 3:18: MY LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT LOVE IN WORD OR IN TONGUE BUT IN DEED AND TRUTH. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU THIS MORNING IN EVERY WAY THAT I CAN TO BE THE CARING CHURCH, THE CARING BODY OF CHRIST, TO CARE SO MUCH THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO ARE REJOICING AND THAT WAY ENCOURAGE THEM AND TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD AND THEY NEED US. AND WE PLEAD WITH YOU TODAY TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SUCH AN ACTION, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN. <br> <br>

      WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS LESSON HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING TO YOU AND THAT IT WILL STRENGTHEN YOU IN DOING WHAT GOD'S WILL IS IN YOUR LIFE. WE NEED ONE ANOTHER. AND LET US DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.<br> <br>



CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      WHAT A BLESSING IT HAS BEEN TO JOIN TOGETHER IN THE THINGS OF GOD THIS MORNING.  THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR PART IN MAKING ALL THESE THINGS TO BE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.  AS ALWAYS, WE INVITE YOU BACK EVERY LORD’S DAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS OFFERING FOR GOD!  <br> <br>

      BUT FOR NOW, LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM?  POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR CORRESPONDENCE COURSES?  NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  <br> <br>

The Living Word

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HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE OUR CHRISTIAN FAMILY FROM GOD.  THOSE WHO ARE ALWAYS THERE TO SHARE WITH US NO MATTER COME WHAT MAY.  ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART FOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST?  ARE YOU SHOWING YOUR BROTHERLY LOVE TO OTHERS AS CHRIST COMMANDS?  

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