THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 10-11-15<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE:  “THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH PASSES KNOWLEDGE.”<br> <br>



WELCOME<br> <br>

      GOOD MORNING!  LET ME WELCOME YOU TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY MORNING. WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THIS TIME OF OFFERING TO GOD.  I HOPE YOU ARE READY TO WORSHIP GOD TODAY IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT – GOD’S WAY IS THE ONLY WAY!  SO AS WE BEGIN OUR FOCUS ON ALMIGHTY GOD, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME BEFORE HIS THRONE AT THIS TIME!<br> <br>

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT DAY - ANOTHER DAY OF LIFE, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND TO REALIZE HOW GREAT A GOD, AND POWERFUL GOD THAT YOU ARE. AND FATHER, WE ASK THIS DAY THAT YOU'LL HELP US ALL TO EVER FOCUS ON YOU AND YOUR WILL - THAT WE MIGHT DO THOSE THINGS PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT. GIVE US THE HELP THAT WE NEED FATHER TO BE THE LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD THAT WE SHOULD BE, THAT THE WORLD MIGHT KNOW YOU AND OBEY YOUR TRUTH. AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT GIFT OF JESUS WHICH MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE - NOT ONLY IN THIS LIFE BUT THE PROMISES OF THE LIFE TO COME. AND IT'S IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

      LET’S BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITH OUR SONGS OF PRAISE THIS DAY. THE FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING ENCOURAGES US TO FIND STRENGTH IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  SO WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING TOGETHER, “WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS!” <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT ALL OF THE CHOICES WHICH WE HAVE TO MAKE IN OUR LIVES.  THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND MATERIAL THINGS WHICH BOMBARD US ON A DAILY BASIS IN THIS COUNTRY, THUS IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.  HOWEVER, GREAT MEN IN THE BIBLE LIKE JOSHUA WERE WILLING TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.  THEY WERE WILLING TO BE DIFFERENT AND TO EVEN STAND ALONE IF NEED BE.   <br> <br>

      WHAT ABOUT IN OUR LIVES TODAY, ARE WE AS WILLING AND READY TO STAND?  JESUS SAID WE MUST MAKE THE CHOICE AND PUT HIM FIRST IN ALL THINGS.  BUT WHY?  BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVE MORE THAN ONE MASTER.  IN FACT, THESE WERE THE EXACT WORD’S OF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, WHICH ARE FOUND IN MATTHEW 6:24. THERE WE READ, “NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS; FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR ELSE HE WILL BE LOYAL TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. THE REALITY IS WE CAN NOT SERVE GOD AND THE FLESH AT THE SAME TIME.  WITH GOD THERE ARE NO SECOND BEST OR THINGS WHICH CAN COME BEFORE HIM.  WHY, BECAUSE HE DEMANDS AND EXPECTS OUR BEST IF WE ARE TO BE FOUND WORTHY IN HIS SIGHT.  <br> <br>

      ANOTHER PASSAGE WHICH HELPS ME TO REFLECT ON THESE THINGS IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 19, WHERE AGAIN JESUS TALKS WITH SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO FOLLOW HIS FATHER.   THIS YOUNG MAN IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE “RICH YOUNG RULER,” BECAUSE HE WAS SAID TO HAVE “GREAT POSSESSIONS.”  THIS YOUNG MAN BOLDLY CAME TO JESUS AND PROCLAIMED HIS COMMITMENT TO THE THINGS OF THE OLD LAW.  BUT THEN HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF ASKING, BUT “WHAT DO I STILL LACK.”  JESUS’ KNEW HIS WEAKNESS.  CHRIST COULD SEE WHERE HIS TRUE INTEREST AND COMMITMENT LAID WITH THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND NOT WITH GOD!  SO IN VERSE 21, JESUS SAID, “IF YOU WANT TO BE PERFECT, GO, SELL WHAT YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN; AND COME, FOLLOW ME.”  AFTER HEARING THESE THINGS THE YOUNG MAN WENT AWAY SORROWFUL!  HE OBVIOUSLY HUNG HIS HEAD DOWN AND WALKED AWAY REALIZING THAT HE WAS NOT WILLING TO GO FAR ENOUGH IN HIS SERVICE TO GOD.  <br> <br>

      SO WHAT ABOUT US.  JUST HOW FAR ARE WE WILLING TO GO?  JUST WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO GIVE UP IN ORDER THAT WE PUT GOD FIRST.  WILL WE BE BOLD ENOUGH TO TRULY SERVE GOD IN HIS WAY, AND TO MAKE THAT KNOWN BEFORE ALL OF THIS WORLD!  	<br> <br>

      IN JUST A FEW MINUTES IT WILL BE TIME TO BEGIN OUR MAIN STUDY OF THE DAY.  TODAY WE WILL BEGIN A NEW SERIES OF STUDY WHICH WILL FOCUS ON GOD’S LOVE!  THE SERIES IS ENTITLED, “TO KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD!” THE SPECIFIC LESSON OF THE DAY IS, “THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH PASSES KNOWLEDGE” SO, PLEASE STAY WITH US THIS MORNING AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES I WILL BE LEADING US IN THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD.  NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE DAY.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER.” 

<br> <br>

LESSON<br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE'RE GLAD YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US TODAY AS WE BEGIN A NEW SERIES OF STUDY THAT CERTAINLY WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE TODAY WE WANT TO BEGIN A SERIES ON THE LOVE OF GOD. AND CERTAINLY YOU SAY WELL, THE LOVE OF GOD, WE'VE HEARD A THOUSAND SERMONS ON THE LOVE OF GOD. WE'VE KNOWN EVERYTHING THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT LOVE SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STUDY ABOUT LOVE? WELL, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STUDY ABOUT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS HARD TO FULLY COMPREHEND. SOMETHING THE BIBLE SAYS SURPASSES UNDERSTANDING. AND I THINK SOMETIMES THAT REALLY WE DON'T UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DEEP THE IDEA OF BIBLICAL LOVE IS; THE LOVE OF GOD. <br> <br>

      SO OUR MAIN TEXT FOR THIS SERIES IS GOING TO BE TAKEN FROM EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3 AND THE PHRASE THAT IS FOUND IN THE FIRST PART OF VERSE 19. AND HERE'S WHAT PAUL SAYS THAT INSPIRED PAUL TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS. HE SAYS, “TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST.” OH, TO KNOW. OH, TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE. ISN'T KNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT THIS WORLD SEEKS FOR? ISN'T KNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT IS OF INTEREST, AS THERE'S SO MANY SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES AND MAYBE SPECIALTY SCHOOLS WHERE PEOPLE GO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY MIGHT GAIN SKILLS IN AND HAVE THE WISDOM THEN TO APPLY THOSE THINGS TO GET JOBS AND MAKE THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED? OH, TO KNOW CERTAIN THINGS. BUT THE QUESTION THAT WE MUST ASK IS: WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN KNOW? AND THE ANSWER IS HERE, OH, TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, TO KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD, TO UNDERSTAND SUCH A LOVE. <br> <br>

      NOW WE WANT TO PUT THAT WITHIN IT'S CONTEXT BECAUSE AS WELL, THE CONTEXT IS JUST AS BEAUTIFUL AS WHAT WE'VE ALREADY CONSIDERED. IF YOU'LL BACK UP WITH ME IN VERSE 18 HERE IS WHAT HE ALSO ADDS TO OUR DISCUSSION. HE SAYS, “MAY WE BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL THE SAINTS WHAT IS THE WIDTH AND LENGTH AND DEPTH AND HEIGTH - TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSES KNOWLEDGE; THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.” YOU SEE, WHEN WE BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT THE ABILITY THAT WE HAVE TO COMPREHEND THE LOVE.  OH, IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR ME.  HE SAYS HERE THE ABILITY TO COMPREHEND IT WITH ALL THE SAINTS. THAT'S THE GOAL; THAT WE MIGHT ALL KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE MIGHT ALL BE MOVED BY THE LOVE OF GOD. <br> <br>

      BUT THEN HE BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE SAINTS THEMSELVES AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF LOVE. BECAUSE HE SAYS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LOVE, THERE IS A CERTAIN WIDTH TO THAT LOVE. THERE IS A CERTAIN DEPTH AND THERE'S A CERTAIN HEIGHT. THERE ARE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS TO THAT LOVE THAT REALLY SOMETIMES ARE HARD TO, NOT ONLY FATHOM, BUT TO FULLY UNDERSTAND. REALLY, ABOVE THE HIGHEST HEIGHTS, OR THE DEEPEST DEPTHS, OR THE WIDEST WIDTHS, BESIDES ALL THESE THINGS, GOD'S LOVE SURPASSES UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE. IT IS SOMETHING SO DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND. AND THE REASON I BELIEVE THAT THIS LOVE OF CHRIST IS SO DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND IS BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION: WHY WOULD GOD EVEN MAKE MAN? GOD - WHO HAS ALL POWER, GOD WHO HAS ALL ABILITY, GOD WHO CAN DO ANYTHING, GOD WHO COULD HAVE MADE ANY BEING OR ANYONE, GOD WHO COULD HAVE MADE US AS SIMPLY SERVANTS TO DO HIS BIDDING, GOD WHO COULD HAVE MADE US LIKE ROBOTS TO ONLY ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH WOULD BENEFIT HIM , MADE MAN. ISN'T THAT THE QUESTION REALLY THAT HAS BEEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF TIME?<br> <br>

       IF YOU'LL GO BACK WITH ME TO THE GREAT PSALMIST, THERE IN PSALM CHAPTER 8. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A QUESTION THAT DAVID ONCE ASKED CONCERNING MAN AND HOW THAT QUESTION REALLY RELATES CLEARLY TO WHAT WE EVEN THINK OF THIS DAY (VS.4), “WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, AND THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU VISIT HIM?” AND HE GOES ON TO SAY, “FOR YOU HAVE MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS. AND YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR.” WHY DID GOD MAKE MAN? WHY DID GOD MAKE HIM AND CROWN HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR? WHY DID GOD GIVE HIM OF ALL THE CREATION DOMINION? OH, WHAT A WONDROUS GOD WE SERVE! BECAUSE GOD DID MAKE US CAN WE NOT SEE ONE ANOTHER? CAN WE NOT SEE THE CREATION OF GOD? CAN WE NOT SEE THE WONDERS OF THIS WORLD AND THE UNIVERSE? GOD IS THE CREATOR AND HE DID CHOOSE TO MAKE US! PRAISE BE TO GOD. THEREFORE, AS WE BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD, WE MIGHT AT LEAST IN A SMALL WAY BEGAN TO COMPREHEND. OH, WHAT LOVE FOR GOD TO HAVE MADE MAN, TO HAVE CARED ENOUGH TO MAKE US. <br> <br>

      THEN WE GO ON TO FAMILIAR VERSE LIKE JOHN 3:16: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE - (WHAT?) HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. OH, THE LOVE OF GOD. NOT ONLY DID HE MAKE US BUT HE GAVE HIS SON AND HE GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY ULTIMATELY OF EVERLASTING LIFE. OH, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE. OH, WHAT A DIFFICULT LOVE TO UNDERSTAND. WHY? A COMPLETELY ALL-POWERFUL ALL-KNOWING BEING WOULD MAKE INFERIOR BEINGS THAT DO MAKE MISTAKES, THAT OFTEN DO YOU CHOOSE TO BREAK HIS WILL - THAT THE MAJORITY SEEM TO GO AWAY FROM GOD RATHER THAN TO GOD. BUT YET THEN TO OFFER THEM SALVATION, REDEMPTION THRU THE BLOOD OF HIS OWN SON / DEITY IN THE FLESH; JESUS CHRIST. <br> <br>

      ALSO WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT THE IDEA THAT IS FOUND BACK IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AS WELL. AFTER HE MENTIONED THE IDEA THERE OF JESUS BEING THAT GIFT TO THE WORLD, HE ALSO MENTIONED THERE IN JOHN 15 AND VERSE 13, GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAN TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” WE KNOW THAT THE LOVE OF GOD CERTAINLY HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED IN IT'S GREATEST WAY. HOW? JESUS DIED FOR MAN. AND NOT JUST FOR MAN - BUT WE KNOW THAT HE EVEN DIED (ROMANS 5) FOR YOU AND I WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS! WHILE THE REALITY IS THAT MOST MEN WOULD CHOOSE SIN RATHER THAN GOD, JESUS STILL DIED SO THAT THOSE WHO WOULD BE FAITHFUL WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO THAT THE REMNANT THAT WOULD TRY TO GET IT RIGHT WOULD HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE AND THAT OPPORTUNITY. OH, WHAT A LOVE THAT, AS WE READ, SURPASSES OR PASSES UNDERSTANDING - THAT IS REALLY HARD EVEN TO COMPREHEND IT'S HEIGHT AND DEPTH BECAUSE IT IS SO MASSIVE AND GLORIOUS AND WONDROUS. AND THEREFORE, WE KNOW THAT OUR GOD HAS LOVED US ENOUGH TO DO ALL THINGS FOR US.<br> <br> 

      I WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO OUR MAIN TEXT AND NOW WE WANT TO WITHIN THE CONTEXT ADD ANOTHER FEW VERSES. AND IT BEGINS THERE IN VERSE 17, BACKING UP AGAIN, “THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS THROUGH FAITH; THAT YOU, BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL THE SAINTS WHAT IS THE WIDTH AND LENGTH, AND DEPTH, AND HEIGHT- TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST.” WHAT DOES HE ADD HERE IN VERSE 16? HE ADDS CLEARLY THE IDEA THAT GOD HOPEFULLY WILL FROM THE HEART GRANT US THE LOVE OF GOD - THAT THEY WILL BE NOT JUST IN THE HEART. BUT NOTICE THAT HE SAYS THAT GOD'S LOVE WILL ROOT AND GROUND US. OH WOW! YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THAT TREE THAT YOU PLANTED OR MAYBE SOME KIND OF A GARDEN, IF YOU LIKE A GARDEN AND A VEGETABLE GARDEN. BUT HE USES THE IDEA OF A TREE BECAUSE A TREE GENERALLY GETS SO BIG THAT AT SOME POINT YOU CAN NO LONGER JUST YANK IT OUT OR EASILY DESTROY IT. AND CERTAINLY THOSE ROOTS AREN'T COMING OUT THE GROUND UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING TO CUT THEM OUT BECAUSE IT GETS SO STRONG AND BIG. SO THAT IS THAT LOVE THAT YOU MAYBE ABLE TO COMPREHEND - WHAT? WELL, IN VERSE 17 HE SAYS, THAT WHICH IS IN YOUR HEART - ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE. THAT THING THAT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND BUT MUST BE ACCEPTED, MUST BE BELIEVED, CAN BE EMBRACED BECAUSE GOD DID LOVE US! HOW DO WE KNOW THAT? HE MADE US. HE (AGAIN) MADE THE WORLD. HE GAVE HIS SON. <br> <br>

      ON AND ON WE COULD LOOK AT THOSE GREAT PRIVILEGES AND BLESSINGS OF GOD. BUT THEY PROVE TO US WHAT MANNER OF LOVE WHY GOD MADE MAN. THEY SHOW US, NOT JUST IN WORD BUT IN ACTION, THAT HE DOES LOVE US. AND THEREFORE, OFFERS US HOPE, NOT ONLY TO LIVE IN THIS LIFE, BUT DID YOU NOTICE THE END RESULT? AND PERHAPS THIS IS WHY GOD WOULD HAVE MADE US, THE END RESULT THAT SOMEDAY WE WILL LIVE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN ETERNALLY. HE DIDN'T JUST PUT US DOWN HERE THAT WE MIGHT NEVER HAVE HOPE OF BEING DIRECTLY WITH HIM, IN HIS HOME, IN HIS ETERNAL PERFECT PARADISE. BUT HE SOMEDAY WILL TAKE US HOME TO BE WITH HIM ETERNALLY IN A PERFECT BODY. OH, ISN'T THAT A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT? IT BEGINS TO MAKE US THINK ABOUT JUST WHY GOD MAY HAVE DESIRED THAT THOSE WHO REALLY LOVE HIM HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO THAT WHEN HE CHOOSES THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE WITH HIM, BASED ON THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL OR NOT, THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE WITH HIM ETERNALLY AND HE WITH THEM. THAT HE MIGHT BE THEIR GOD ETERNALLY AND THAT THEY MIGHT BE HIS FAITHFUL PEOPLE ETERNALLY. YOU SEE, OUR GOD HAS LOVED US! OUR GOD DOES LOVE US! AND THE PURPOSE OF THE LOVE OF GOD, GROUNDED IN OUR HEARTS HAVING ROOTED ITSELF SO THAT IT CAN NO LONGER BE TAKEN OR YANKED OUT, HELPS US TO BE INDIVIDUALS WHO STAND FIRM AND STRONG, WHO ARE NOT WAVERED OR TOSSED TO AND FRO, WHO CAN NEVER BE DESTROYED BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD HAS SECURED OUR POSITION IS THAT WHICH GIVES US THE CONTINUOUS STREAM AND ABILITY TO DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO NOT BE MOVED. <br> <br>

      THEN HE ALSO GOES ON IN THE SAME TEXT TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE JUST AFTER VERSE 19 - THAT WE READ A MOMENT AGO. HE BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF THAT LOVE. NOT ONLY THE FACTS OF HOW GOD HAS PROVEN GREATLY HIS LOVE, LIKE THRU CREATION AND THE GIFT OF JESUS, BUT NOW HE SAYS FOR INSTANCE IN VERSE 20, “NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US.” WHAT WILL GOD DO FOR THE FAITHFUL? AN EXCEEDINGLY AND ABUNDANTLY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE THINK, KNOW, OR PRAY FOR. GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS AND HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO GIVE US FULL BENEFITS OF WHAT WE HAVE NEED OF. BUT HE DOESN'T JUST SAY IT THERE. IF YOU'LL BACK UP TO VERSE 16 HE'S ACTUALLY ALREADY SAID IT. IN VERSE 16 HE SAID, “THAT HE,” THAT IS GOD, “WOULD GRANT YOU, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH THE MIGHT THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN.” THE INNER MAN, SO WHAT IS GOD GOING TO DO? HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A SHARE OF THAT INHERITANCE; THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY THAT WHICH BEGINS IN THE INNER MAN THAT WILL NEVER DIE, THAT IS ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN THAT LOVE THAT IS DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND BECAUSE GOD WAS WILLING TO DO THAT WHICH IS BEYOND WHAT A MAN WOULD EVER DO FOR ANOTHER MAN. HE DIED AND GAVE HIS LIFE AND AND EVEN CREATED MAN. BUT THEN ULTIMATELY WHAT WILL HE DO? NOT ONLY GIVE US THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE, BUT AS IT INDICATES HERE, THAT ABILITY TO HAVE EXCEEDINGLY AND ABUNDANTLY ABOVE IN THIS LIFE WHAT WE CAN EVEN ASK OR THINK. OH, THE LOVE OF GOD! OH, TO KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD! OH, TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE LOVE OF GOD THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING! <br> <br>

      THE FINAL THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING IS FOUND OVER IN ROMANS 8. AND HERE PAUL IS DEALING WITH THE ROMAN CHURCH. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT HE SAYS IN CONNECTION TO THE EVERLASTING LOVE OF GOD, BUT THE ONE THAT I WANT YOU TO NOTICE MOST OF ALL THAT COINCIDES WITH WHAT WE SAW EARLIER IN OUR TEXT IN EPHESIANS IS BEGINNING IN VERSE 38, “FOR I AM PERSUADED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS NOR PRINCIPALITIES NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGHTH NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATED THING, SHALL BE ABLE TO,” DO WHAT? “SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT LOVE OF GOD AS WE SAW THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY IN THE INNER MAN. THAT LOVE HAS BEEN ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN THE VERY DEPTHS OF THE INNER MAN, THE HEART, WE WILL NOT BE MOVED. AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT PAUL'S EXPLANATION OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE WHAT HE'S SAYING IS THAT WE WILL NOT BE MOVED! IN FACT, IN THE SAME TEXT BACK IN VERSE 37 HE CALLS US MORE THAN CONQUERORS. AND HE SAYS THAT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, WHO LOVED US, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS. NO ONE CAN HARM US, NO ONE CAN DESTROY US. WELL, THEY MAY HURT US A LITTLE BIT IN THIS EARTH - WE MIGHT HAVE SOME TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS AND EVEN SUFFER SOME IN THIS LIFE. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, WHAT GOD'S OFFERING TO US IS SOMETHING BEYOND THIS LIFE; SOMETHING ETERNAL.<br> <br> SOMETHING AS, IT SAYS HERE, MAKES US VICTORIOUS - MORE THAN CONQUERORS. 

      THEN ALSO IN THE SAME TEXT ALL THE BACK UP IN VERSE 31, GUESS WHAT HE ALSO SAYS? “IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT INTO THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION THAT I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ, MAYBE EVEN LATER ON THIS MORNING. HE CONTINUES TO JUST TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN GOD IS WITH US, WHEN HE IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN OVER THE THRONE OF OUR LIFE AND IN FULL CONTROL AND HE HAS MADE HAS ROOTS OF LAW THAT HAD BEEN GROUNDED AND ROOTED WITHIN OUR HEARTS, AND THE INNER MAN IS FULL OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSED ON THOSE THINGS THAT ARE FOUND IN HIS WORD.  AND WE'RE GROWING AND WE'RE LIVING AND WE'RE OBEDIENT, AND ALL THESE THINGS BEING TRUE, WE NOW KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD! AND IT, AT LEAST, IS PRESENTED IN US IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING. MAYBE NOT FULL UNDERSTANDING BUT SOME UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WHEN WE HEAR THE FACT THAT THE FATHER GAVE HIS OWN SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS, SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO AS A FATHER, THEN I KNOW WHAT? I KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD! I BEGIN TO COMPREHEND THAT IT'S A LOVE BEYOND HUMAN NATURE, A LOVE BEYOND THIS EARTH, A LOVE BEYOND THIS WORLD, A LOVE THAT ONLY GOD CAN HAVE, AND ONLY GOD CAN BLESS US WITH. OH, TO BE RECIPIENTS OF THAT LOVE! LET'S BE FAITHFUL TO PROVE TO GOD JUST HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM, THAT IN THE END WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE GREAT REWARD. <br> <br>



CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      MAY I AGAIN TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.  I HOPE OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND THUS A BLESSING TO US ALL.  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE INVITED BACK TO JOIN US EVERY FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS TIME OF WORSHIP BEFORE 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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      ISN’T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD?  FOR OUR GOD HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.  HOPEFULLY, WE WILL ALLOW GOD’S GREAT LOVE TO MOTIVATE US UNTO OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL!  WE TRULY SERVE A GREAT AND WONDROUS GOD!

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