THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 11-8-15<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE:  “THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH OFFERS SALVATION.”

<br> <br>

WELCOME<br> <br>

      JOSHUA ONCE PROCLAIMED TO GOD’S PEOPLE, “THEREFORE BE VERY COURAGEOUS TO KEEP AND TO DO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES, LEST YOU TURN ASIDE FROM IT TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT.”  WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGE THIS IS TO US AS WELL, AS GOD’S FOLLOWERS ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY - TO DO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN GOD’S WORD FOR US.<br> <br>

      THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS DAY FOR THIS TIME OF WORSHIP TO OUR GOD.  AND IT IS MY PRAYER THAT WE ARE ALL DOING OUR BEST, TODAY AND EVERY DAY, TO ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO GOD’S PRECIOUS WILL AND HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE.  WON’T YOU DO YOUR PART THIS MORNING SO THAT GOD MAY TRULY BE PRAISED AND SO THAT ALL WE OFFER TOWARD HIS THRONE WILL BE DONE IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.  WITH THESE THOUGHTS IN MIND, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME BEFORE HIS ALMIGHTY THRONE IN PRAYER.     <br> <br>

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY, FOR THE GREAT BLESSING OF LIFE, THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE SERVANTS, AND TO BE YOUR CHILDREN. AND FATHER, WE KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS AND WE THANK YOU FOR HIS GREAT GIFT, AS WELL AS HIS RESURRECTION WHICH MAKE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE. AND FATHER, WE ASK THIS DAY THAT YOU WILL HELP US TO DO ALL THINGS IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH AS YOU HAVE COMMANDED ON THE LORD'S DAY THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT AND THEREFORE RECIPIENTS OF YOUR GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE. IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN.<br> <br>

      NOW LET’S JOIN IN OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING.   IT REMINDS US OF THE GREAT ASSURANCE WE CAN HAVE WHEN GOD IS ON OUR SIDE!  SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER, “SOFTLY AND TENDERLY.” <br> <br>

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      WHEN CONSIDERING OUR SERVICE TO GOD, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING ENOUGH?   AS WE READ EARLIER, GOD IS ONLY SATISFIED WHEN WE ARE DOING ALL THAT WE ARE COMMANDED ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.  I REMEMBER A SIMILAR THING WHICH JESUS SAID IN JOHN 14:15, THERE WE READ, “IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.”  HERE WE FIND THAT A TRUE LOVE FOR JESUS IS SEEN THROUGH OUR OBEDIENCE TO HIS LAW.  AND WE MIGHT WONDER, HOW MUCH OF HIS LAW?  WELL, SCRIPTURES AGAIN REQUIRE US TO DO NOTHING LESS THAN HE COMMANDS, BUT TO DO EVEN MORE THAN HE REQUESTS.   WE MUST GIVE OUR ALL, OBEY ALL, AND FOLLOW ALL JUST AS HE HAS CONFIRMED IN HIS WORD.  <br> <br>

      IN ACTS 13:22, WE READ ABOUT KING DAVID OF OLD.   LUKE THERE RECORDS FOR US THAT DAVID WAS A MAN WHO “DID ALL,” OF GOD’S WILL!  NOW DOES THAT MEAN HE WAS PERFECT?  CERTAINLY NOT, HE MADE MISTAKES JUST LIKE YOU AND I DO.  HOWEVER, HE WAS STRIVING FOR PERFECTION AND COMPLETENESS IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT GOD HAD COMMANDED AND REQUIRED OF HIM.  BECAUSE OF THIS, HE WAS FOUND AS A MAN WHO DID ALL OF GOD’S WILL.  <br> <br>

      WE MIGHT ALSO ASK, JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WE GET GOD’S LAW’S RIGHT?  JAMES HELPS US WITH THIS IN CHAPTER 2:10 OF HIS BOOK. THERE WE READ, “FOR WHOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AND YET STUMBLE IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.”  YIKES, THAT’S KIND OF SCARY ISN’T IT?   THE POINT IS, WE MUST DO OUR VERY BEST TO KEEP ALL OF GOD’S LAW JUST AS HE HAS COMMANDED, BECAUSE WHEN WE STUMBLE IN ONE POINT - ESPECIALLY WILLFULLY, WE HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF BREAKING THE WHOLE LAW.  <br> <br>

      LET ME ENCOURAGE US ALL THIS DAY TO STUDY GOD’S WORD, TO LEARN HIS EVERY PRECEPT AND TO OBEY HIS EVERY COMMAND.  THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN WE KNOW THAT WE ARE RIGHT WITH OUR GOD AND THUS PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT!  SO LET ME ASK, “HOW COMMITTED ARE YOU TO YOUR GOD IN KEEPING HIS ENTIRE LAW?” <br> <br>

      AS FAR AS OUR MAIN STUDY OF THE DAY, WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSION ON THE SERIES ENTITLED, “TO KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD.” OUR SPECIFIC LESSON OF THE MORNING WILL DEAL WITH, “THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH OFFERS SALVATION?” SO PLEASE STAY WITH US THIS MORNING AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, I WILL BE LEADING US IN OUR MAIN THOUGHTS OF THE DAY.   BUT FOR NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING.  “SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ARISE.” <br> <br>



LESSON <br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS DAY AS WE NOW GO TO GOD'S WORD AND WE LOOK AT A ANOTHER LESSON IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE LOVE OF GOD; KNOWING THE LOVE OF GOD. HOW WELL DO WE KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD? OH SO WELL, BECAUSE THE BIBLE HAS REVEALED TO US THAT GREAT LOVE IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. GOD HAS SHOWN US AND CONTINUES TO SHOW US LOVE. AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE SEE THE LOVE OF GOD IS WITHIN LIFE ITSELF. YOU MIGHT RECALL WITH ME THAT JESUS OFTEN SPOKE OF THE FACT THAT HE OFFERED LIFE, THAT HE WAS THE LIFE, AND SOMETHING THAT REALLY PROVIDED FOR US SOMETHING BETTER IN THIS LIFE THAN WE WOULD HAVE IF IT WERE NOT FOR HIM. <br> <br>

      WE REMEMBER THERE IN JOHN CHAPTER 1 THAT JESUS CALLS HIMSELF THE LIFE. WE REMEMBER IN JOHN 14:6 THAT HE CALLS HIMSELF THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. BUT REALLY THE CONCEPT OF THE LIFE IS NOT ONLY USUALLY REFERRING TO JUST WHAT IS FOUND IN THIS LIFE, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON, BECAUSE CERTAINLY WE DON'T RELISH THE IDEA OF DEATH OR THE FACT OF LEAVING OUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS HERE ON THIS EARTH.  AND THEREFORE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LIFE WE THINK OF THE PHYSICAL LIFE THAT GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH. <br> <br>

      BUT REALLY WHAT IS IT THAT GOD HAS PROMISED US IN RELATIONSHIP TO LIFE THAT REALLY MATTERS? I THINK IT'S WELL FOUND IN THAT FAMILIAR VERSE OF JOHN 3:16, “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” YOU SEE HOW MUCH THAT CONCEPT OF NOT JUST LIFE, NOT JUST THE EXCITEMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF THE GIFT OF LIFE, BUT WHEN YOU ADD THAT IDEA OF EVERLASTING, HOW MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL THAT CONCEPT IS! BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE LOVE THE PHYSICAL LIFE THAT GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH, WE STILL KNOW THE REALITY OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 70 OR 80 OR 90 OR EVEN IF GOD BLESSES US WITH 100+ YEARS ON THIS EARTH, OUR PHYSICAL BODIES CANNOT LIVE FOREVER. WE CANNOT MAKE IT FOREVER. AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND THIS LIFE. AND THAT WHICH GOD OFFERS IS SOMETHING FAR BEYOND THIS LIFE. IT IS AN ETERNAL LIFE. THAT MEANS A LIFE WITHOUT END. THAT MEANS A LIFE FOREVER AND EVER. DOESN'T THAT SOUND GOOD?<br> <br> 

      ISN'T THAT WHY AS WE GROW OLDER IN OUR LIVES, AND AS WE CERTAINLY KNOW THOSE WHO HAVE GROWN EVEN OLDER THAN US IN LIFE, AND EVEN THOUGH CERTAINLY DEATH SOMETIMES IS NOT JUST SOMETHING AS WE'VE SAID THAT EXCITES US WE STILL ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT MORE. WE STILL ARE ABLE TO BE MORE SATISFIED. AND UNBELIEVABLY I'VE KNOWN SO MANY IN THEIR FINAL DAYS AND MONTHS AND EVEN WEEKS OF LIFE WHO HAVE BEEN READY TO MEET THEIR GOD. WHO HAVE BEEN READY TO LEAVE THE STRUGGLES OF WHAT WE RELISH AS LIFE FOR REALLY SOMETHING BETTER THAT WE KNOW IS PROMISED IN GOD'S WORD. <br> <br>

      SO WHAT ABOUT THAT ETERNAL LIFE? THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST THAT WE MIGHT LIVE FOREVER, THAT WE WILL NEVER DIE COMPLETELY. YES, MAYBE PHYSICALLY, MAYBE THE FLESH THAT IS NOT MADE FOR ALL TIMES.  BUT ACCORDING TO PAUL IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15, IN THE MOMENT OF A TWINKLING OF AN EYE SOMEDAY WE WILL BE CHANGED TO A FORM THAT IS MORE SUITABLE FOR ETERNITY; A SPIRITUAL FORM. A GOD-LIKE FORM. A FORM AS GOD IS A SPIRIT THAT CERTAINLY MUST BE SPIRITUAL BECAUSE IT WILL BE ABLE TO EXIST WITH GOD FOREVER AND EVER. YOU SEE, THE SOUL OF MAN, THE SOUL OF MAN WILL NEVER DIE.<br> <br> 

      NOW AS WE LOOK THERE TO OUR MAIN TEXT OF THE MORNING, I WANT YOU TONOTICE WITH ME HOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE WELL BROUGHT TOGETHER IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE LOVE OF GOD OFFERING US, NOT JUST LIFE, BUT HOW THE LOVE OF GOD OFFERS US ETERNAL LIFE. AND I THINK THERE JUDE DEALS WELL WITH THIS AMONGST THE BOOK THAT HE WROTE, WHICH ONLY CONTAINS ONE CHAPTER. BUT THERE IN THE BOOK OF JUDE, LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT VERSE 21. IT SPEAKS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE FROM JESUS, SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED EVEN THIS MORNING, AND THAT IS THE BLESSING THAT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. IN FACT, HE ACTUALLY SPEAKS WITHIN THE CONTEXT HERE OF SEVERAL THINGS THAT LEAD US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST UNTO ETERNAL LIFE. AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT NO DOUBT THAT GOD HAS DONE BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE MUST DO IN ORDER THAT WE RESPOND TO THE LOVE OF GOD. THEREFORE, WORKING TOWARD ETERNAL LIFE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE.  <br> <br>

      AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS MORNING OF WHICH ONE IS LOVE ONCE AGAIN. AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THAT, ALTHOUGH IT IS THE THIRD THING THAT IS MENTIONED, IT IS MENTIONED THERE IN VERSE 21 OF JUDE. AND THE BIBLE SAYS KEEP YOURSELVES FOR OR RATHER IN THE LOVE OF GOD. THE FIRST THING THEN THAT WE THINK ABOUT IS  GOD IS LOVE CERTAINLY.  AS FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 4 TELLS US, “GOD IS LOVE.” AND AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS LOVE, WHAT DO WE STRIVE FOR AS CHILDREN OF GOD? WE STRIVE TO BE LIKE GOD. WE STRIVE TO LOVE AS GOD HAS LOVED. IN FACT, 1 JOHN CHAPTERS 3 THROUGH FIVE ALL DEAL WITH THE LOVE THAT WE ARE TO HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AS BRETHREN, AND HOW THAT LOVE IS REALLY DEMONSTRATED IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS LIKE GOD'S LOVE. THE MORE THAT WE ARE WILLING TO DO, THE MORE WE ARE WILLING TO GIVE OR TO SACRIFICE FOR A BROTHER,  THE MORE THAT WE PROVE OUR LOVE FOR THAT BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST. AND SO HE SPEAKS OF HERE KEEPING OURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD.  CERTAINLY GOD HAS DEMONSTRATED TO US THAT GREAT LOVE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK. <br> <br>

      BUT WHAT WE MUST DO IS ALSO HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD. IT MUST BE A PART OF EACH AND EVERY FACET OF OUR LIFE.  THAT WE PROVE, NOT ONLY TO GOD, HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM THROUGH OUR OBEDIENCE, BUT THAT WE PROVE TO OTHERS WHO GOD IS IN THE FACT THAT WE LOVE THEM AS GOD HAS LOVED. I CERTAINLY WOULD THINK IN RELATIONSHIP TO LOVE, AS THE BIBLE ADDRESSES IT, THAT AS WE KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS WE PROVE THE LOVE TO GOD. I WOULD CERTAINLY THINK THE OBEDIENCE AND THE FACTOR OF OBEDIENCE AND LOVE WOULD BE INDICATED HERE. KEEPING OURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, THERE'S NO GREATER WAY TO PROVE LOVE TO GOD THAN TO OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS.  OF WHICH WE KNOW THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN WE DO GOOD OR SHOW LOVE TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE SHOW LOVE TO OUR ENEMY; WHO IS IT TO? IT'S AS IF TO JESUS, MATTHEW CHAPTER 25. WHEN WE DO GOOD DEEDS, EVEN TO THOSE WHO HATE US, IT'S AS IF WE'VE DONE THEM TO JESUS. AND YOU MIGHT NOTICE WITH ME THERE IN THE ILLUSTRATION THAT JESUS USES IN MATTHEW 25 THERE NEAR THE END OF THAT CHAPTER, HE ACTUALLY AGAIN REMINDS US OF WHAT IT'S ALL FOR. AND GUESS WHAT HE SAYS IT'S FOR? ETERNAL LIFE! WE LOVE AS GOD HAS LOVED. WE KEEP OURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD. WE ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK AS GOD IS LOVE OF BEING LOVE. AND THEREFORE, WHAT IS OUR OBJECTIVE? THAT WE MIGHT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST HAVE THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE. <br> <br>

      SO LOVE IS PARAMOUNT IN RELATIONSHIP TO BEING THOSE WHO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD ETERNAL LIFE. THERE'S ANOTHER THING THAT IS MENTIONED HERE AND IF YOU'LL BACKUP NOW TO VERSE 20 WE'LL SEE THE FIRST THING THAT IS MENTIONED. HE SAYS THERE, “BELOVED, WHICH IN AND OF ITSELF IS THAT AN ENDURING CONCEPT OF THE LOVE THAT HE HAS FOR THE BRETHREN THAT HE'S WRITING. “BELOVED, BUILD YOURSELVES UP ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH, PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.” YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOVE GOD ARE YOU NOT GOING TO HAVE FAITH? CERTAINLY FAITH IS THE RESULT OF TRUE LOVE FOR GOD. THE IDEA THAT FAITH IS THE WILLINGNESS TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND ACT UPON THAT BELIEF DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'VE NOT ACTUALLY SEEN THE CONCRETE EVIDENCES. WE WEREN'T THERE WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS - YET WE BELIEVE BY FAITH AND THEREFORE ACT UPON THAT FAITH. YOU SEE, WE MUST BE THOSE, JUDE SAYS, WHO ARE BUILDING OURSELVES UP IN NOT JUST FAITH BUT THE, “MOST HOLY OF FAITH.” THAT'S ALSO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE EARLIER IN THE SAME BOOK, IN VERSE THREE OF JUDE,WE ACTUALLY SEE THAT THERE WAS A FAITH THAT HE SAYS WAS A SYSTEM OF FAITH. NOT JUST FAITH BUT THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED FOR ALL. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US IN HIS WORD-DIRECTIVE-PATTERN. SOMETHING TO FOLLOW THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST THAT HELP US TO BE WHAT? THOSE OF FAITH. SO WE MUST CONTINUE IN LOVE BUT WE MUST CONTINUE IN FAITH UNTO ETERNAL LIFE. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE FIND IN JESUS CHRIST - THAT WE MIGHT BE SEEN AS RECIPIENTS OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. <br> <br>

      YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK OF THAT IDEA OF HOLY FAITH, CERTAINLY THE IDEA OF HOLY TO ME WOULD BE DEFINED AS GOD. HOW MANY TIMES DID GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT OR EVEN THE NEW TESTAMENT, FOR INSTANCE IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS, SAY: BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY. YOU SEE, GOD KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF PURITY OF THAT MORAL EXCELLENCE - THAT HOLY NATURE, NOT ONLY FOR HIMSELF BUT FOR YOU AND I. SO NOT JUST FAITH. NOT JUST A BELIEF THAT IS AN ACTION ACTING UPON THE LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOR GOD, AND THEREFORE ALSO THE LOVE THAT HE HAS SHOWN US BUT THE MOST HOLY OF FAITHS. THE MOST PURE, THE MOST RIGHTEOUS. DO YOU SEE THE CHARACTER THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED HERE? DO YOU SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE TO ME ALREADY AS IF WE ARE STRIVING TO BE HEAVENLY BEINGS? ISN'T HEAVEN SUPPOSED TO BE PERFECT...SINLESS? ISN'T HEAVEN SUPPOSED TO BE A HOLY RIGHTEOUS PLACE? CERTAINLY! WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THEN ON THIS EARTH? WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THOSE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD THAT ALREADY ARE DISCIPLINING OURSELVES AND WHAT IT IS THAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF EVEN AN ETERNAL NATURE THAT WE WILL EVEN PARTAKE IN AND SHARE IN ETERNALLY WITH GOD AND THOSE WHO ARE SAVED. <br> <br>

      SO, HE SAYS KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD AND BUILD YOURSELVES UP IN THE MOST HOLY FAITH. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER THING FOUND THERE IN VERSE 20 - HE ALSO SAYS, “PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.” WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER. IN FACT, SEVERAL TIMES THE BIBLE SPEAKS NOT ONLY IN THE WORDS OF JESUS BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT OF PRAYER, I AM REMINDED OF JAMES THERE IN CHAPTER 5:16-17 WHERE HE TALKS ABOUT THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN. THERE'S THAT IDEA OF THE MOST HOLY FAITH, A FOLLOWER OF GOD, THE FAITHFUL OF GOD, THE ONE WHO IS STRIVING TO KEEP THEMSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, “THE EFFECTIVE, FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILS MUCH.”  IF YOU WANT YOUR PRAYERS TO BE HEARD, AS HE GOES ON TO SAY THERE IN JAMES, IF YOU WANT YOUR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED BY GOD IN THE FAVORABLE WAY THAT YOU REQUEST, WHY NOT BE A FAITHFUL - A HOLY AND FAITHFUL CHILD OF GOD WHO LOVES GOD. <br> <br>

      AND AS WE READ HERE WHO IS PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND WHAT DO WE HAVE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT? DO WE NOT HAVE THIS VERY BOOK? IS IT NOT THE GOD THAT WE SERVE? THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS WHO THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS GIVEN US THESE WORDS? CERTAINLY, THAT'S AFFIRMED FOR US THERE IN 2 TIMOTHY 3:16, “ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD.” WELL, HOW DID IT HAPPEN? WELL, IN THE BOOK OF 2 PETER CHAPTER 1 WE LEARN THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT LED MEN OF GOD, HOLY MEN OF GOD...THERE IT IS AGAIN, PURE AND RIGHTEOUS MEN OF GOD - THAT THEY MIGHT REVEAL THE PROPHECIES OF GOD. DO YOU SEE AGAIN WE SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? AND WE CAN EVEN FIND THERE THE INVOLVEMENT, CERTAINLY THE HOLY SPIRIT BEING GOD, THAT HE HAS WITH HIM PRAYER IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS. YOU MIGHT RECALL WITH ME THERE IN CHAPTER 8 OF ROMANS, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT IN VERSE 26 THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO HELPS WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, FOR OFTEN WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT. IN ANOTHER WORDS, WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT WE NEED. WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT IS BEST. BUT THEN IT SAYS, “BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED.,” OR REALLY KNOWN BY MAN. AND LATER AGAIN HE REEMPHASIZES THE SAME THING IN CHAPTER 8 ONCE AGAIN - THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR US AS WE COMMUNICATE WITH GOD. WHAT? HE IS GOD! IT'S CERTAINLY DOESN'T TAKE THE POWER AWAY FROM GOD, THAT GOD IS THE INTERCESSOR, THAT GOD IS ONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN US. NOT JUST GOD THE FATHER. DO YOU THINK IT'S JUST GOD THE FATHER THAT CARES FOR US? DIDN'T JESUS DIE FOR OUR SINS? WOULD IT MAKE SENSE THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT CONCERNED WHEN HE WAS THERE MOVING OR HOVERING OVER THE FACE OF THE WATERS AND CREATING THE EARTH ITSELF AS WAS SPOKEN BY JESUS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. CERTAINLY ALL OF GOD IS INTERESTED IN OUR EVERY DETAIL AND NEED. AND THEREFORE, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INVOLVED AND MUST BE CONCERNED IN PRAYER. <br> <br>

      ONE OTHER THING I MIGHT MENTION THERE AS YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE BOOK OF JUDE IS THAT SAME TERMINOLOGY THAT IS OFTEN USED THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT - PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH WOULD INDICATE IN THE NAME OF GOD OR BY THE AUTHORITY OF GOD. SO IF WE ARE THOSE WHO LOVE AND HAVE A MOST HOLY FAITH AND PRAY BY THE AUTHORITY OF GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT - KNOWING THAT GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STRIVE TO ACHIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST?  ETERNAL LIFE. <br> <br>

      BUT THERE IS A FINAL THING THAT IS MENTIONED THERE IN VERSE 21. IT SAYS, “LOOKING TO OR FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” MERCY IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT WHERE GOD CERTAINLY HAS SEEN THAT WE ARE GUILTY OF SIN AND WE ARE NOT PERFECT AS HUMANS. BUT WHAT MERCY MEANS IS THAT ALTHOUGH I'M DESERVING OF PUNISHMENT EVEN IN FACT DEATH BECAUSE OF SIN, JESUS IS NOT GOING TO APPLY THAT PUNISHMENT. WE ALWAYS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT GRACE, GRACE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.  GRACE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT'S MENTIONED BACK UP IN VERSE 4 OF THIS TEXT, THAT UNDESERVED FAVOR BUT MERCY IS THAT PUNISHMENT THAT WE DESERVE THAT IS GOING TO BE FORGIVEN. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE APPLIED. RAY HAS BEEN GUILTY OF SIN AND IS DESERVING OF DEATH BUT I'M NOT GOING TO CAUSE HIM TO BE LOST. BUT RATHER I'M GOING TO OFFER HIM GRACE THAT HE ALSO DOESN'T DESERVE AND HE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION. <br> <br>

      SO AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE MERCY OF GOD, LOOKING TO THAT GRACE AND MERCY THAT HE HAS PROMISED US. THAT WE, BY THE LOVE OF GOD - THE MOST HOLY FAITH AS WELL AS PRAYER BY THE AUTHORITY OR IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT - THAT WE MIGHT BE THOSE WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT REALLY WHAT GOD OFFERS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THIS LIFE BUT WHAT GOD OFFERS IS FAR BETTER AND FAR GREATER THAN ANYTHING OF A FLESHLY NATURE. WHAT GOD OFFERS IS ETERNAL LIFE. ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT TODAY AS A CHRISTIAN OR THAT AS ONE WHO ASKS TODAY UPON THE THINGS OF CHRIST AND OBEYS HIM FULLY, THAT YOU'LL NOT ONLY HAVE LIFE AND THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE BUT YOU'LL ALSO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE - A MANSION IN HEAVEN, STREETS OF GOLD, PEARLY GATES AND ALL THOSE BLESSINGS THAT COME TO THE FAITHFUL. WILL YOU SERVE GOD TODAY? <br> <br>







CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY, IN THIS OFFERING TO GOD.  I HOPE OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND BLESSING TO ALL OF US.  WE INVITE YOU BACK EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS WORSHIP TO 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><br> <br>

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      ISN’T IT GREAT TO HAVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE, FROM A LOVING AND CARING GOD?  MAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES EACH AND EVERY DAY IN SUCH A WAY AS TO BE RECIPIENTS OF GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY.  SURELY THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN WILL BE WORTH OUR EVERY EFFORT.