THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 3-8-15

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LESSON TITLE:  “ABRAHAM!”<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.<br> <br>  

      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?   NOW, AS WE BEGIN OUR OFFERING TO GOD, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER! <br> <br>

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY, FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS OF LIFE, FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE SERVANTS IN YOUR KINGDOM. AND FATHER, HELP US TO ALWAYS SHOW YOU LOVE, AND HONOR, AND TO GLORIFY YOU BY OBEYING THE THINGS YOU HAVE COMMANDED OF US THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, AND THUS RECIPIENTS OF YOUR GREAT BLESSINGS AND REWARDS. AND FATHER, WE ASK THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY THAT YOU MIGHT HELP US TO SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD THAT WE MIGHT HELP OTHERS TO KNOW YOU AS WELL. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

      NOW IT’S TIME TO JOIN IN OUR FIRST HYMN OF THE DAY.  HAVE YOU CONSIDERED LATELY JUST HOW WONDROUS THIS WORLD IS AND THE MANY BLESSING OF IT?  LET’S BEGIN OUR SONGS OF PRAISE CONSIDERING THIS VERY FACT!   WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING, “THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD.”  <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      In life, we have all benefited from our relationships with others.  For example, maybe you knew someone and were able to get a job you wanted!  Sometimes we would like to do something or meet someone and we are able to do so through a mutual friend.  Possibly you can remember many times in your life when your relationships and associations with others have really paid off and helped you to achieve goals you have hoped to accomplish.  Well, I hope all of this helps us to realize how much we need others in this life.   I also hope it sparks our mind to understand that in this life, it is really hard to accomplish things completely on our own or alone. <br> <br> 

      With all of these things in mind consider the privilege we have to come before our God and Father in Heaven.   What an honor it is to have a God above whom we can call our own and of whom we are able to be His children.  But the question is, “How do we come before this God.”  Or, “How can we approach the almighty?”  Read with me if you will the words of Jesus in John 14:6, there He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Did you catch that?  We need to have a relationship with Jesus if we are to be able to approach the Father above.<br> <br>  

      Another verse which helps us to understand this idea is found in 1 Timothy 2:5, there we read, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”  Here we read there is one God and one mediator!  Then Paul clarifies that the only mediator to bring us before the Father is Jesus Christ.  But why is He worthy?  Verse 6, of the same opening says, “Who gave Himself a ransom for all….”  Jesus is the only proper mediator because He was willing to pay the ultimate price for our sakes.  Oh, what a true friend Jesus is!  So have you known and befriended the Son in order to know the Father?  If not, learn of Jesus today and obey His precious Will.  <br> <br>

      Today we will be continuing our series entitled, “So Great A Clowd Of Witnesses!”  Our lesson of the day will deal with, “Abraham!”  So stay with us and after our next song together, our guest speaker will lead us in our main thoughts of the day.  <br> <br>

      As far as our speaker we are happy to again have brother Jerry Sullins with us. Brother Jerry is the Director of the Bible Institute of Missouri, here in Springfield.  We thank him for joining us today and look forward to him leading our thoughts from God’s Word.So for now let’s join together in our second song of the morning.  The name of this hymn, “There’s Not A Friend.” <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY JERRY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WELCOME AGAIN TO THE LIVING WORD BROADCAST. WE'RE SO VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED THIS MORNING TO VIEW THIS PROGRAM. AND WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT WHAT YOU HEAR ON THIS PROGRAM WILL BE FROM GOD'S HOLY WORD, WHICH IT WILL BE, AND THAT YOU WILL BE ENRICHED AND ENCOURAGED TO DO HIS WILL. THAT'S THE VERY PURPOSE FOR THIS PROGRAM AS IT'S BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR OVER THREE DECADES. WE CERTAINLY WELCOME YOU TO WRITE US AT ANY TIME, TO CALL US AT THE KANSAS EXPRESSWAY CHURCH OF CHRIST AND WE'LL BE HAPPY AND MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS WITH YOU ANY BIBLICAL SUBJECT. WE MAY NOT GIVE YOU THE ANSWER, MAYBE GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE ANSWER TO WHAT QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE, BUT WE WILL BE WILLING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT THE BIBLE REVEALS ABOUT THAT SUBJECT AND THAT INVITATION IS OPEN TO YOU EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. AND SO WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND CALL OUR OFFICES. <br> <br>

      THESE PAST FEW WEEKS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING A THEME THAT IS BASED AROUND HEBREWS 12:1 WHICH SAYS, “THEREFORE WE ALSO, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOES SO EASILY ENSNARE US, AND LET US RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US.” NOW THIS VERSE COMES AFTER A VERY LONG CHAPTER, A WONDERFUL CHAPTER WHICH SOME PEOPLE REFER TO AS A CHAPTER CONCERNING THE HEROES OF FAITH, AND ACTUALLY WHAT HE'S DISCUSSING IS THIS OR IT'S REFERRING TO THIS WHEN IT MENTIONS THOSE WORDS IN HEBREWS 12:1, THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED, AND I BELIEVE RIGHTFULLY SO, THAT AMONG THOSE WITNESSES THAT WHAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY IS THE SPIRIT WORLD, THAT IS BY GOD HIMSELF; GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE HEAVENLY HOST. AND ALL OF THEM ARE WITNESSING WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE REALLY BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION OF TRUE FAITH. IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 11, MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE MENTIONED AS THOSE WHO HAD GREAT FAITH. BUT THE FATHER OF FAITH HIMSELF IS MENTIONED AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING HIS LIFE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO US TO BE ABLE TO ALSO LOOK BACK INTO HIS LIFE AND SEE HOW HE LIVED AND HOW HE WAS DEDICATED TO GOD. AND BY DOING SO IT WILL ENCOURAGE US SO MUCH TO DO GOD'S WILL ALSO IN OUR LIVES. 

      I CALL YOUR ATTENTION FIRST OF ALL TO WHAT FAITH ACTUALLY IS. FOR IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 11:1, IT SAYS, “NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.” THEN A MORE IMPORTANT VERSE OR MAYBE A LIKE IMPORTANT VERSE IS FOUND IN VERSE 6, “BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK AFTER HIM.” THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT STATEMENT IS MADE THAT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE WELL PLEASING TO GOD. HE MAKES REFERENCE TO THE MAN NOAH. AND THEN AFTER THAT HE MAKES REFERENCE TO WHOM HAS BEEN CALLED THE FATHER OF FAITH, THAT IS ABRAHAM. <br> <br>

      NOW WHEN WE INVESTIGATE THE SUBJECT OF FAITH THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURE WE KNOW THAT FAITH IS CHARACTERIZED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. FOR INSTANCE, AS JESUS SPOKE TO PETER, MATTHEW 14:31, WHEN PETER SORT OF LOST HIS FAITH, YOU KNOW IT WAS JESUS WHO INVITED HIM, UPON PETER'S DESIRE TO WALK TO HIM ON WATER. BUT AFTER PETER GOT OUT ON THE SEA OF GALILEE AND HE BEGAN TO SEE THE SEA AS DISTURBED AS IT WAS AND THE WATERS WERE PROBABLY LAPPING AT HIS FEET, HE BEGAN TO BE AFRAID. AND IT WAS HE WHO JESUS SAID, OH YOU OF LITTLE FAITH. ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE BIBLE JESUS MENTIONED TO HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY WERE THOSE OF LITTLE FAITH. THERE WAS A MAN WHO HAD A SON HEALED IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 8.  WELL, ACTUALLY IT WAS A SERVANT WHO WAS HEALED WHO HAD PALSEY IN MATTHEW 8:10.  AND HE REFERRED TO THIS CENTURION AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS A PERSON OF GREAT FAITH. JESUS MENTIONED IN THE MUSTARD SEED CONCEPT OF FATE THAT IF YOU HAVE THE FAITH THE SIZE OF THE A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, YOU CAN DO MANY AND WONDROUS THINGS, IN LUKE 17. SO WE CAN HAVE A MUSTARD SEED FAITH. WE CAN HAVE A STRONG FAITH AS IS MENTIONED EVEN ABOUT ABRAHAM IN ROMANS 4:2 WHERE IT SAYS, “BUT WAS STRONG IN FAITH GIVING GLORY TO GOD.” AND THEN PAUL MENTIONS ALSO IN ROMANS CHAPTER 14:1 ABOUT THE PERSON WHO IS WEAK IN FAITH. <br> <br>

      WELL, WHEN WE DESCRIBE FAITH AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT FAITH REALLY IS AND THAT DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN MADE OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN OUR STUDIES. THEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT FAITH FOR SURE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE WELL-PLEASING UNTO GOD. AND THOSE GREAT EXAMPLES OF FAITH ARE GIVEN TO US ESPECIALLY IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 11. AND AMONG THEM IS THE FATHER OF FAITH, AS WE'VE SAID, WHO IS ABRAHAM HIMSELF. <br> <br>

      NOW DO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A STRONG FAITH? YES - ROMANS 10:17 SAYS, “FOR FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.” WELL, IN WHAT RELATIONSHIP? BY FAITH NOAH DID WHAT? HE BUILT AN ARK. AND BY FAITH, ABRAHAM WHAT? BELIEVED GOD. HE DID EXACTLY WHAT GOD WANTED HIM TO DO. SO FAITH IS SOMETHING THAT IS BASED UPON BELIEF - BELIEF IN GOD AND A DESIRE TO DO HIS WILL AND DOING HIS WILL. THAT'S THE KIND OF FAITH THAT WE REFER TO AS A BIBLICAL FAITH. <br> <br>

      SO IF I WERE TO ASK YOU TODAY TO STAND ALONGSIDE ABRAHAM AND DESCRIBE YOUR FAITH AS IT RELATES TO ABRAHAM, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? WELL, YOU MIGHT SAY WELL - I DON'T REALLY KNOW A LOT ABOUT ABRAHAM SO IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO MAKE SUCH A DECLARATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT MY FAITH STOOD UP TO ABRAHAM'S FAITH. MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY WELL, I KNOW HOW ABRAHAM WAS AND I DOUBT SERIOUSLY IF MY FAITH WOULD BE AS STRONG AS HIS WAS. THAT COULD BE TRUE AND IT COULD NOT BE TRUE. SO FOR A FEW MOMENTS THIS MORNING LET'S LOOK AT ABRAHAM'S FAITH. <br> <br>

      I CALL YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS AND WE'RE GOING TO READ IN CHAPTER 11, HEBREWS CHAPTER 11 BEGINNING WITH VERSE 8. IT SAYS, “BY FAITH ABRAHAM OBEYED WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO TO THE PLACE WHICH HE WOULD RECEIVE AS AN INHERITANCE,” EVENTUALLY THAT WAS CANAAN’S LAND, “AND HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING.  BY FAITH HE DWELT IN THE LAND OF PROMISE AS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, DWELLING IN TENTS WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE.” SO WHAT WAS ABRAHAM WILLING TO DO? WELL, IF YOU GO BACK IN GENESIS CHAPTER 12 AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GOD'S DEALING WITH THAT PATRIARCH WHO IS CALLED ABRAHAM. AT THAT TIME HE WAS CALLED ABRAM. HE CAME TO THIS VERY WEALTHY MAN, WE PRESUME HE WAS WEALTHY AND RIGHTFULLY SO, AND HE TOLD HIM NOW, I WANT YOU TO DO THIS. LET'S REMEMBER THAT ABRAHAM WAS LIVING IN AN IDOLATROUS SOCIETY THERE IN ERR OF CHALDEA, THERE WERE IDOLS EVERYWHERE. BUT YET ABRAHAM WAS APPROACHED BY THE TRUE AND THE LIVING GOD EVIDENTLY IN WHOM HE BELIEVED. AND GOD TOLD HIM, NOW I WANT YOU TO GET UP OUT OF THE LAND OF ERR OF CHALDEA AND I WANT YOU TO GO TO A PLACE THAT I WILL SHOW YOU. WELL, HE BEGAN HIS TRAVELS HUNDREDS OF MILES TO HERON AND THEN HE WENT DOWN TO THE AREA OF CAIN OF GALILEE. IT TOOK HIM MONTHS TO DO THIS BUT HE LEFT A PLACE WHERE HE HAD LIVED. HE LEFT HIS HOME, HE TOOK ALL OF HIS BELONGINGS AND ALL OF HIS FAMILY AND HE STARTED OUT ON A JOURNEY THAT GOD DESIRED FOR HIM TO MAKE. AND HE DECIDED SINCE GOD WANTS ME TO DO THIS, THEN I'M GOING TO FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS. <br> <br>

      SO WHAT DID HE DO? IT SAYS HE DWELT IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, AS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, AND HE DWELT IN TENTS. BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DO WHAT? HE WANTED TO DO GOD'S WILL. NOW I ASK YOU THIS QUESTION - IS THAT THE SITUATION YOU ARE IN IN YOUR LIFE? IF GOD AND AS GOD APPROACHES US THROUGH HIS WORD AS WE HEAR THE GOSPEL AND WE HEAR PREACHERS AND OTHERS TEACH US WHAT GOD'S WILL IS FOR US, ARE YOU LIKE ABRAHAM IN THAT RELATIONSHIP? ARE YOU WILLING TO DO WHAT GOD ASKS YOU TO DO? NOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WELL, YES I'M WILLING TO DO WHAT GOD ASKS ME TO DO. REALLY? IS THAT TRUE? HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL? YOU SAY THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT AND I'M SURE THAT HE WILL IF YOU CONTINUE TO DO HIS WILL. YOU SAY I'M WILLING TO REPENT BECAUSE I KNOW I NEED TO GET AWAY FROM SIN. I NEED TO TURN MY BACK ON SIN. I NEED TO START LIVING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. WELL, THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING FOR YOU TO DO AND YOU MUST DO IT BECAUSE JESUS SAID,  EXCEPT YOU REPENT YOU WILL PERISH. AND YOU SAY WELL, I'M WILLING TO CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT IS NECESSARY THAT I CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IN ORDER FOR ME TO HAVE SALVATION. WELL, ARE YOU WILLING ALSO TO DO WHAT JESUS SAID? HE SAID MARK 16:16 AS HE WAS GIVING HIS GREAT COMMISSION, “GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.” <br> <br>

      NOW THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO DO THE WILL OF GOD? IT WAS GOD THE SON - JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD - WHO MADE THAT STATEMENT. YOU MUST BELIEVE AND YOU MUST BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS, AS PETER ALSO SAID IN ACTS CHAPTER 2:38. SO BY FAITH ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND HE DID GOD'S WILL. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING MY FRIEND? ARE YOU WILLING TO DO GOD'S WILL? SO COULD YOU SAY I HAVE THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM AND YET SAY YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO DO HIS WILL? WELL, CERTAINLY NOT AND NO FAIR-MINDED PERSON WHO HAS COMMON SENSE AT ALL WOULD SAY THAT, THAT COULD BE TRUE - THAT I CAN BUY FAITH AND GOD WILL ACCEPT MY FAITH BUT YET I'M NOT WILLING TO DO HIS WILL. HOW COULD ANYONE SAY THAT? <br> <br>

      ALSO AS WE LOOK AT THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM - HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS TESTED VERY MUCH. WE SEE THAT IN HEBREWS 11:17, “BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TESTED, OFFERED UP ISAAC, AND HE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISES OFFERED UP HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.” NOW IF YOU READ BACK IN GENESIS, I BELIEVE IT'S CHAPTER 16 CONCERNING THIS MATTER, ABRAHAM WAS ASKED BY GOD TO OFFER HIS SON AS A SACRIFICE. THIS WAS THE SON OF PROMISE THROUGH WHOM HIS SEED WOULD FLOW AND EVENTUALLY JESUS WOULD BE BORN OF THE SEED OF ABRAHAM COMING THROUGH THE SEED OF DAVID. AND SO GOD WAS ASKING HIM TO SACRIFICE THE SON OF PROMISE. NOW ABRAHAM TOOK HIM UP TO THE MOUNT, YOU KNOW HE LAID HIM ON THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR, AND HE RAISED THE KNIFE AND HE WAS READY TO DO WHAT GOD TOLD HIM TO DO AND GOD STOPPED HIS HAND. AND BY FAITH ABRAHAM WAS WILLING TO DO GOD'S WILL. NOW THE QUESTION IS" ARE YOU WILLING TO DO GOD'S WILL? GOD HAS ASKED US IN MANY WAYS IN OUR LIFE TO DO HIS WILL - TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY. TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PROPER IN HIS SIGHT. <br> <br>

      NOW WE ALSO SEE, AS FAR AS ABRAHAM IS CONCERNEDED AND OTHERS THAT ARE MENTIONED IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 11, THAT THESE PEOPLE FOLLOW GOD AND OBEYED HIS WILL FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE. AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT PURPOSE BEGINNING IN VERSE 13 OF HEBREWS CHAPTER 11, “THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES, BUT HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF, WERE ASSURED OF THEM.” NOW, THESE ARE THE PROMISES THAT ARE FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. EMBRACE THEM AND CONFESS THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. FOR THOSE WHO SAY SUCH THINGS DECLARE PLAINLY THAT THEY SEEK A HOMELAND. AND TRULY, IF THEY CALL IN MIND THAT COUNTRY FROM WHICH THEY HAD COME OUT, THEY WOULD'VE HAD OPPORTUNITY RETURNED. BUT NOW THEY DESIRE A BETTER, THAT IS A HEAVENLY COUNTRY, WHERE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD, FOR HE HAS PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY. NOW WHY WAS ABRAHAM SO INTERESTED IN DOING GOD'S WILL? BECAUSE HE WAS PREPARING HIMSELF ALREADY FOR THAT ETERNAL CITY - THAT ETERNAL RESTING PLACE WHERE HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO AND DWELL WITH THOSE SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES THAT ARE MENTIONED IN HEBREWS 1:1. INCLUDING THE HEAVENLY HOST GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. <br> <br>

      NOW ALL OF THIS OCCURRED IN THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO DO THIS ONE THING. HE WAS WILLING TO OBEY GOD AND TO LIVE A LIFE OF PROPER FAITH, OF FAITH THAT SAID WITHIN ITSELF, I AM WILLING GOD TO DO EVERYTHING YOU WOULD DESIRE FOR ME TO DO SO THAT I'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ETERNAL THRONE. <br> <br>

      NOW THE QUESTION IS FOR YOU THIS MORNING IS: ARE YOU WILLING BY FAITH TO DO GOD'S WILL, TO GET INTO CHRIST - TO BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS, AND TO DO HIS WILL THROUGHOUT ALL OF YOUR LIFE SO THAT YOU WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ETERNAL CITY. IN ROMANS 5:1 IT SAYS, “THEREFORE, HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD IS BY HAVING THE FAITH THAT IS A BELIEVING AND ACTIVE FAITH IN LIVING JESUS IN YOUR LIFE. AND WE PRAY THAT THIS WILL BE THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE AND THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE FAITH THAT SAVES, THAT IS A BIBLICAL FAITH BASED UPON JESUS 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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      THANKS BE TO GOD FOR GREAT EXAMPLES LIKE ABRAHAM, WHICH CHALLENGE US TO LIVE LIVES OF FAITHFULNESS BEFORE OUR CREATOR AND THIS WORLD.   ARE YOU A TRUE FRIEND OF GOD?  ARE YOU HIS TRUE FOLLOWER BY FAITH?

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