THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 9-6-15<br> <br>

LESSON TITLE:  “IGNORANCE!”

<br> <br>

WELCOME<br> <br>

      ISN’T IT GREAT TO KNOW GOD AND TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF GATHERING TOGETHER AND PRAISING HIS NAME ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY?  THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.  WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU THIS MORNING FOR THIS TIME OF OFFERING TO GOD.  HOW BLESSED WE ARE IN THIS COUNTRY TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO ASSEMBLE THIS DAY AND TO GIVE THIS TIME TO OUR CREATOR.  IT IS MY HOPE AND PRAYER THAT WE WILL EACH DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME OF WORSHIP ACCEPTABLE IN GOD’S SIGHT AND ACCORDING TO HIS WILL!  NOW AS WE BEGIN TO FOCUS OUR THOUGHTS ON GOD, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME BEFORE HIS THRONE IN PRAYER.   <br> <br>

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE - THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE YOU AND TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN. AND FATHER, WE ASK THIS DAY THAT YOU MIGHT HELP US TO GIVE YOU OUR VERY BEST, THAT WE MIGHT PRAISE AND LIFT UP YOUR HOLY NAME AND THAT WE MIGHT DO ALL IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH AS COMMANDED IN YOUR WORD - THE BIBLE. AND FATHER, WHEN WE ARE COMPLETED HERE ON THIS EARTH MAY WE RECEIVE THAT GREAT REWARD - THAT GREAT PROMISE OF HEAVEN THAT AWAITS THE FAITHFUL. AND WE THANK YOU FATHER THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST. IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

	 AS ALWAYS, IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE ON THIS PROGRAM TO PRAISE GOD TOGETHER IN SONG!  SO LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE LIFT OUR VOICES UP IN THE FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THE HYMN, “THERE IS SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL!”<br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      THERE ARE MANY BEAUTIFUL PASSAGES IN GOD’S WORD, AND MANY ARE ESPECIALLY GOOD AT GIVING US ENCOURAGEMENT AND STRENGTH.  SOME WHICH REALLY HELP ME WHEN I AM FEELING DOWN ARE THOSE WHICH REMIND ME THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH HIS FOLLOWERS.  <br> <br>

      IN LEVITICUS 26:12, MOSES TOLD THE ISRAELITES WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED THEM.  ONE PART OF THIS ADMONITION PROCLAIMS, “I WILL WALK AMONG YOU AND BE YOUR GOD, AND YOU SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”  WOW, WHAT A BLESSING THIS IS - FOR GOD TO BE AMONG HIS FOLLOWERS SO THAT THEY ARE NEVER ALONE.  <br> <br>

      IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE ALSO FIND THIS SAME TERMINOLOGY.  ONE SUCH VERSE IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 18:20, WHERE JESUS HIMSELF SAID, “FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, I AM THERE IN THE MIDST OF THEM.”  YES, OUR GOD HAD PROMISED TO BE WITH THOSE WHO FOLLOW AND OBEY HIS WILL.  IN FACT, HE IS WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO HELP US IN EVERY FACET OF LIFE.<br> <br>  

      A FINAL VERSE I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION IS FOUND IN HEBREWS 13:5.  HERE WE FIND THE INSPIRED WRITER OF GOD QUOTING FROM A PROMISE OF GOD GIVEN TO HIS PEOPLE, THROUGH HIS SERVANT MOSES.  HOWEVER, BY RECONFIRMING IT HERE, THE WRITER IS REMINDING US THAT THIS IS A PROMISE TO ALL OF GOD’S FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF ALL AGES AND TIME.  THERE WE READ, “…FOR HE HIMSELF HAS SAID, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.”  THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS LOVE, CARE, PROTECTION AND GUIDANCE.  FURTHERMORE, THANK GOD THAT AS HIS BELOVED CHILDREN, HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US.  HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO ALWAYS HAVE GOD BY OUR SIDE.  ARE YOU LIVING IN SUCH A WAY THAT GOD IS ABLE TO BE BY YOUR SIDE?   IF NOT, GET YOUR LIFE RIGHT TODAY, REPENT AND OBEY THE PRECIOUS TRUTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  <br> <br>

      TODAY WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR STUDY TOGETHER ENTITLED, “BUT THEY ALL BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES.”  AS FAR AS THE SPECIFIC MESSAGE OF THE DAY, WE WILL BE CONSIDERING THE EXCUSE OF “IGNORANCE.” SO PLEASE STAY WITH US AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG, WE WILL BE LEAD IN THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD.<br> <br>  

      AS FAR AS OUR SPEAKER OF THE DAY, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE BROTHER BRENT GREEN WITH US THIS MORNING TO LEAD OUR MAIN THOUGHTS FROM GOD’S WORD. BROTHER BRENT IS THE MINISTER FOR THE HWY 13 CHURCH OF CHRIST, AND IS ALSO A FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR AT THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI.   WE THANK HIM FOR JOINING US AGAIN AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING OUR MAIN THOUGHTS OF THE DAY IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.  NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE DAY.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD.” <br> <br>







LESSON<br> <br>

BY BRENT GREEN<br> <br>

      WHAT A GREAT PRIVILEGE IT IS AS ALWAYS TO OPEN GOD'S WORD AND STUDY FROM IT. WE HAVE BEFORE US THE IDEA PRESENTED IN LUKE CHAPTER 14:18 THERE WHERE JESUS SAYS IN THIS ACCOUNT OF THIS PARABLE, “THEY ALL WITH ONE ACCORD BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES.” EXCUSES ARE PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL MADE AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIFE, SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ALL PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH. THINK ABOUT FOR A MOMENT SOME OF THOSE GREAT TIMES YOU MIGHT GET TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY, MAYBE THANKSGIVING DINNER OR CHRISTMAS DINNER. WOULD YOU MAKE AN EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF THOSE? WELL SURELY NOT. YOU'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND TO EAT THAT MEAL WITH THEM. IT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME OF REJOICING AND FELLOWSHIP. YOU WOULDN'T SAY WELL, I CAN'T COME TO THAT. I'VE GOT TO GO DO SOMETHING ELSE. AND YET IN LUKE CHAPTER 14 THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS MADE WHEN JESUS GAVE THIS PARABLE OF THIS GREAT SUPPER. INDEED, ALL THINGS WERE READY. THE FEAST WAS PREPARED AND THEY WERE GIVEN THE INVITATION, YET THEY ALL BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES. AND THEIR EXCUSES VARIED - SOME OF THEM SAID WELL I BOUGHT A PIECE OF PROPERTY. OTHERS SAID THEY HAD NEW POSSESSIONS OR EVEN ANIMALS THERE AND SOME EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WOULD KEEP THEM FROM COMING TO THIS GREAT SUPPER. HOW SAD IT WAS! <br> <br>

      THIS WASN'T JUST A THANKSGIVING MEAL OR A CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH FAMILY - THIS IS INDICATED TO BE THE GREAT SUPPER PREPARED BY GOD HIMSELF - AND THEY ALL SAID I CAN'T DO IT FOR WHATEVER REASON. HOW SAD IT IS WHEN EXCUSES ARE MADE FOR COMING TO HEAR THE GREAT SUPPER THAT HAD BEEN PREPARED. AND YET TODAY DON'T WE STILL MAKE A LOT OF EXCUSES? WE SURELY WOULD NEVER SAY WELL I JUST CAN'T COME TO THIS GREAT SUPPER GIVEN BY GOD. AND YET JESUS HAS PREPARED FOR US MANSIONS IN HEAVEN, WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THAT GREAT STAY OF ETERNITY. HOW MANY OF US WOULD MAKE EXCUSES AND SAY WELL I JUST CAN'T GO THERE? I'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE BETTER THAT I NEED TO DO.<br> <br> 

      WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXCUSES THERE'S ONE THAT WE FIND SO OFTEN ON THE LIST. IT USUALLY GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS - BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. THAT'S REALLY THE EXCUSE OF IGNORANCE. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU MADE THAT EXCUSE IN YOUR LIFE? I JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH....WELL, I WOULD DO THAT FOR YOU GOD BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. RIGHT? I'D HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE USED THAT EXCUSE OF IGNORANCE IN OUR LIVES? HOW SAD IT IS THAT, THAT EXCUSE WOULD EVER KEEP US FROM DOING WHAT JESUS AND WHAT GOD HAVE COMMANDED. AS WE OFTEN SAY WHICH IN SO MANY WAYS HAS BECOME CLICHÉ BUT IT STILL SHOULD DRIVE THE POINT HOME - IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE.<br> <br>

       I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT FROM GOD'S WORD HOW OFTEN THESE DIFFERENT EXCUSES ARE MADE, IN PARTICULAR THIS EXCUSE OF IGNORANCE AND HOW IT IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO DO WHAT GOD HAS COMMANDED US TO DO. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO BELIEVE IN GOD. MANY THOUGH WOULD THINK THAT THEY COULD USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE FOR NOT BELIEVING. SOME MIGHT SAY WELL - YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT EVIDENCE TO BELIEVE IN GOD. OTHERS MIGHT EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SAY WELL I KNOW THERE'S NO GOD. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE EDUCATED IN THE EYES OF THIS WORLD, PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY BRILLIANT WITH WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH AND DEVISE AS FAR AS THE WISDOM OF MAN GOES, WHO WOULD STILL DENY GOD? I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES REALLY THAT'S NOTHING MORE THAN AN EXCUSE OF IGNORANCE? VERY SMART PEOPLE IN THE EYES THE WORLD WILL SAY - SURELY THERE IS NO GOD. DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD SAID THROUGH THE PEN OF THE PSALMIST THERE IN PSALM CHAPTER 14:1? THAT, “THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART, ‘THERE IS NO GOD.’” THE RESULT OF MAKING THIS EXCUSE OF IGNORANCE - WELL SURELY THERE IS NO GOD. WHAT DOES GOD CALL THAT? FOOLISHNESS....IGNORANCE TO CLAIM THAT GOD DOES NOT EXIST. IT IS IGNORANCE WHEN WE MAKE THAT EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO BELIEVE IN GOD. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE THOUGH, WE SHOULD BELIEVE THAT GOD IS REAL. WE SHOULD BELIEVE THAT HE IS, THAT HE EXISTS. <br> <br>

      THERE IN THE BIBLE WE FIND MANY VERSES AND ONE OF THEM COMES TO MIND IN ROMANS CHAPTER 1:20, WHERE WE CAN FIND THAT IF WE WOULD KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS WE WOULD BE WITHOUT EXCUSE. WE CAN KNOW THAT GOD COMMANDS US TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND TO BELIEVE IN HIS EXISTENCE. ROMANS 1:20 TELLS US THAT IF WE WOULD OPEN OUR EYES AND LOOK AT THE CREATION THAT SURROUNDS US WE WOULD FIND THE PROOF THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD EXIST...THAT HE IS REAL. IT SAYS THERE THAT, “SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GOD-HEAD, SO THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.” YOU CAN LOOK AT THE INTRICACIES OF NATURE, OF CREATION, OF THE ANIMAL WORLD, OF THE PLANT WORLD AND SEE ALL THESE THINGS - AND SEE WHAT? THERE IS DESIGN THERE AND THAT DESIGN SHOWS US SOMEBODY HAD TO DESIGN THOSE THINGS. THAT THEY WERE PUT TOGETHER, THEY WERE CREATED. <br> <br>

      HEBREWS 3:4 TELLS US THAT EVERY BUILDING HAS A BUILDER. PAUL IS WRITING TO THE ROMANS AND TELLING THEM: THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR YOU NOT BELIEVING IN GOD. OPEN UP YOUR EYES! LOOK AT THE WORLD AROUND YOU! KNOW THAT ALL THIS JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN BY CHANCE! THAT GOD EXISTS! MANY WILL MAKE AN EXCUSE AND SAY WELL, I'M JUST IGNORANT OF THAT FACT AND I CAN'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD AND SURELY THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO KNOW. OPEN YOUR EYES, IS WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS, AND LOOK AT THE WORLD AND KNOW THAT GOD EXISTS. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT BELIEVING IN GOD. <br> <br>

      ANOTHER PASSAGE THAT HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BELIEVE IN GOD; HEBREWS 11:6 SAYS, “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM. FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” WE MUST HAVE FAITH - A BELIF THAT GOD EXISTS AND BASED ON THAT BELIEF WE MUST TAKE THE ACTION TO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND FOR FAILING THEREFORE TO ACT UPON THE WORD THAT HE'S GIVEN TO US. BELIEVE AND KNOW THAT GOD EXISTS. <br> <br>

      EVEN THERE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, THOSE IN ATHENS IN ACTS CHAPTER 17, WERE WITHOUT EXCUSE. THOSE INDIVIDUALS THERE WORSHIPED EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN - THE SUN, THE MOON, THE STARS - THINGS OF THIS EARTH, THEY WORSHIPED EVERYTHING...SO AFRAID THEY WOULD LEAVE ONE OUT, THEY EVEN HAD AN ALTAR, AN INSCRIPTION TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. PAUL THERE IN THAT CHAPTER PREACHES TO THOSE IN ATHENS. HE PROCLAIMS TO THEM THE ALMIGHTY GOD. HE PROCLAIMS TO THEM THE ONE WHO MADE THE EARTH AND THE ONE WHO DOESN'T NEED TO BE WORSHIPED WITH THINGS THAT ARE MADE BY MAN'S HAND; SILVER AND GOLD. HE EXCLAIMS TO THEM THAT GOD IS THE ONE WHO GIVES LIFE AND SUSTAINS LIFE. AND THEN IN VERSE 30 HE SAYS, “TRULY THESE TIMES OF IGNORANCE GOD OVERLOOKED. BUT NOW COMMANDS ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT.” THOSE IN ATHENS WERE WITHOUT EXCUSE JUST LIKE THOSE IN ROME WERE WITHOUT EXCUSE. JUST LIKE ALL MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO BELIEVE IN GOD. AND CERTAINLY IGNORANCE IS NEVER GOING TO SERVE AS AN EXCUSE TO GET US AWAY FROM AND GET US OUT OF THE TRUTH THAT SURROUNDS US. KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD COMMANDS. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO BELIEVE IN GOD. <br> <br>

      IGNORANCE IS ALSO NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO OBEY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WISH IT WERE AN EXCUSE. THEY SAY WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT GOD COMMANDED. SURELY I'LL BE OKAY. SURELY HE'LL LET ME OFF THE HOOK. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW. IS THAT GOING TO WORK? IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO OBEY GOD. JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW SOMETHING WAS SINFUL DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT'S SINFUL. THINK ABOUT FROM THE STANDPOINT JUST FOR A MOMENT - LET'S SAY AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. YOU LOOK AT THE REVIEW MIRROR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SEE THE LIGHTS BEHIND YOU AND YOU GET PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING. THE OFFICER COMES TO THE WINDOW AND ASKS YOU THE QUESTION - DO YOU KNOW HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING? YOU MAY SAY I DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE, AND THEN THE OFFICER EXPLAINS TO YOU THAT NOT ONLY WERE YOU SPEEDING, BUT THAT YOU WERE SPEEDING IN A SCHOOL ZONE. AND YOU MIGHT SAY WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A SCHOOL ZONE THINKING WELL SURELY HE'LL LET ME OFF BECAUSE IGNORANCE IS AN EXCUSE. I CAN GET OUT OF THAT. YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO WORK? NO....CERTAINLY YOU'LL STILL GET A TICKET FOR SPEEDING AND ALSO A TICKET FOR SPEEDING IN A SCHOOL ZONE. IGNORANCE IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF THAT TICKET. IN A LIKE MANNER, JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY WELL I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS DOESN'T GET YOU OFF THE HOOK. YOU STILL HAVE TO OBEY AND FOLLOW GOD'S COMMANDS. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO OBEY GOD'S WORD. <br> <br>

      THERE'S A LONG LIST OF SINS MENTIONED IN ROMANS CHAPTER 1:28-32 THOSE THERE WHO WOULD BE DISOBEDIENT TO THEIR PARENTS, THOSE THERE THAT WOULD COMMIT THE SIN OF FORNICATION, AND MANY OTHER SINS LISTED. ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE GOD AND SAY WELL GOD, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS WRONG TO COMMIT SIN. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS WRONG TO COMMIT ADULTERY OR FORNICATION. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS WRONG TO MURDER SOMEONE. DO YOU THINK THAT IGNORANCE IS GOING TO WORK? NO, IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE. AND THERE IN VERSE 32 WE'RE TOLD IN ROMANS CHAPTER 1 THAT GOD'S VENGEANCE WILL COME UPON THOSE WHO DISOBEY. AND NOT ONLY THOSE WHO DISOBEY BUT ALSO THOSE WHO CONDONE SUCH PRACTICES. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO OBEY GOD - AND ALSO AS A SIDE NOTE - IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CONDONING THE SIN OF THOSE WHO FAIL TO OBEY GOD. YOU SEE, GOD'S WORD TELLS US CLEARLY WHAT HE EXPECTS. WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD COMMANDS CONCERNING OBEDIENCE, AND NEVER LET IGNORANCE BE OUR EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO DO WHAT GOD HAS COMMANDED. <br> <br>

      EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4:18 SPEAKS OF THOSE CHRISTIANS THERE WHO HAD COME OUT OF SIN - GENTILES EVEN WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN THAT WORLD OF DARKNESS, WHO HAD BEEN IN BLINDNESS, WHO HAD BEEN ALIENATED FROM GOD AND HOW THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING BACK TO THAT WAY OF LIFE. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT SIN? LIVING IN SIN, ONCE AGAIN, IS AN IGNORANT PRACTICE. THOSE WHO ARE DEVOID OF KNOWLEDGE, THOSE WHO PRACTICE THINGS FOOLISHLY, GO BACK TO SIN. KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS: IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LIVING IN SIN. <br> <br>

      ALSO FIRST PETER CHAPTER 1:14 TELLS CHRISTIANS THAT THEY SHOULD NO LONGER GO BACK TO THE OLD WAY OF LIFE. DON'T CONFORM TO THE OLD MAN. DON'T GO BACK TO SIN, RATHER LIVE FOR GOD AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN. TO IGNORANTLY CONFORM TO SIN IS FOOLISHNESS. WHY WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT? GOD'S WORD COMMANDS US NOT TO LIVE IN SIN. NOT TO ACT FOOLISHLY. NOT TO DISOBEY. GOD'S WORD COMMANDS US TO FOLLOW HIS WORD. IT COMMANDS US TO LIVE FOR HIM EACH DAY. WHAT ABOUT EVEN IN MY OWN EYES? WELL SURELY, IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD'S STANDARD IS I CAN AT LEAST BE RIGHTEOUS IN MY OWN EYES. NOT ACCORDING TO ROMANS CHAPTER 10:3 - THAT SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU TO HEAVEN. YOU MUST FOLLOW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. YOU SEE, IF WE WANT TO BE THOSE WHO ARE NOT USING IGNORANCE AS AN EXCUSE, WE'VE GOT TO BE THOSE WHO LOOK TO GOD'S WORD. THEY DON'T LIVE IN BLINDNESS ANY LONGER, THEY DON'T CONFORM TO THE FORMER LIFESTYLE OF SIN LIKE WE USED TO LIVE, THEY DON'T SEEK TO IMPOSE EVEN OUR OWN SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS BUT RATHER FOLLOW WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO OBEY. WE MUST LIVE FOR GOD, AND WE MUST KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND NOT USE THAT EXCUSE - WELL I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED ME TO DO GOD. HE'S GIVEN US HIS WORD - A WORD THAT'S REALLY AVAILABLE TO ALL. LET'S FOLLOW THAT WORD AND NOT USE IGNORANCE AS AN EXCUSE. <br> <br>

      IGNORANCE IS ALSO NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO PREPARE. HOW MANY TIMES DURING SCHOOL, MAYBE BACK IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, MAYBE EVEN COLLEGE, AS YOU WENT THROUGH SCHOOL YOU THOUGHT WELL SURELY I CAN JUST READ THROUGH IT REAL QUICK AND GET ALL OF THAT INFORMATION RIGHT INTO MY HEAD RIGHT AT THE LAST MOMENT AND I CAN TAKE THAT TEST. HOW WELL DID THAT WORK OUT FOR YOU IF YOU FAILED TO TRULY PREPARE FOR THAT EXAMINATION? MAYBE EVEN YOU THOUGHT WELL, MAYBE I CAN TELL THE TEACHER THAT WELL I HAD ALL THESE THINGS GOING ON THE NIGHT BEFORE OR MAYBE YOU CAME UP WITH A GREAT EXCUSE - I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR THAT TEST. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR PREPARATION. I'M SURE THOSE EXCUSES YOU CAME UP WITH IN TRYING TO GET OUT OF THAT TEST BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO PREPARE DIDN'T WORK IN SCHOOL. HOW MUCH MORE SO WILL THEY NOT WORK WHEN YOU TRY TO MAKE THOSE EXCUSES BEFORE GOD? <br> <br>

      IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO PREPARE BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY GOD. MANY EVEN IN RELATIONSHIP TO SPIRITUAL IDEAS BELIEVE THAT THEY'LL BE OKAY IN ETERNITY. THEY MADE NO PREPARATION, THEY FOLLOW NONE OF THE COMMANDS OF GOD BUT THEY SOMEHOW THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T PREPARE, GOD IS JUST GOING TO OPEN UP THE DOORS AND SAY COME ONE - COME ALL! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DID OR HOW YOU LIVED, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE UNPREPARED - JUST COME ON INTO HEAVEN ANYWAY. WELL SADLY THEY'RE GOING TO FACE REALITY WHEN THEY STAND BEFORE GOD IN JUDGMENT. THOSE THAT THINK THAT THEY CAN ENTER INTO HEAVEN, FAILING TO OBEY HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND ENTER IN UNPREPARED, THEY'RE GOING TO WAKE UP ONE DAY AND REALIZE THAT, THAT SIMPLY WASN'T THE CASE. DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE! KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS. KNOW THAT IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO PREPARE TO MEET GOD.<br> <br> 

      KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS, EVEN THE ANIMALS, ACCORDING TO JEREMIAH 8:7, KNOW THEIR APPOINTED TIMES. LIKE BIRDS, THERE'S A TIME FOR THE BIRDS TO MATE. THERE'S A TIME FOR THEM TO MIGRATE. THEY KNOW THEIR APPOINTED TIMES - WHY CAN'T WE THEN, AS MANKIND, WHY CAN'T WE AS MEN, AND WOMEN PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE TO FOLLOW IN OUR LIVES? HEBREWS CHAPTER 9:27 TELLS US, “IT IS APPOINTED FOR MEN TO DIE ONCE BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT.” GOD SAYS THE TIME IS COMING - YOU WILL DIE AND YOU WILL FACE THE JUDGMENT. THAT'S AN APPOINTMENT THAT NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US CAN EVER ESCAPE. WHY WOULD WE WANT TO GO TO THAT APPOINTMENT UNPREPARED? AMOS CHAPTER 4:12, THE PROPHET OF OLD SAID TO GOD'S PEOPLE THERE, “PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD.” YOU SEE, THEY NEEDED TO BE READY. THEY WERE LIVING IN SIN. THEY HAD LONG TURNED AWAY FROM HIM. AND GOD SAYS TO THEM THROUGH THE PROPHET: COME BACK. PREPARE YOURSELF AND BE READY TO MEET GOD. DON'T WE NEED TO WITH THE SAME URGENCY TODAY BE PREPARED TO MEET GOD? AND MOST CERTAINLY WE DO. <br> <br>

      JESUS IN HIS WORDS IN LUKE CHAPTER 12, SPECIFICALLY THERE IN VERSE 40 SAID, “THEREFORE YOU ALSO BE READY, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT.” A LOT OF TIMES WE THINK - WELL, I CAN WAIT UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT OF MY LIFE, GET IT RIGHT, AND SOMEHOW SNEAK INTO HEAVEN. SURELY WE NEED TO MAKE MORE PREPARATION THAN THAT. SURELY WE NEED TO BE READY BECAUSE, AS JESUS SAYS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN HE IS COMING BACK. HE'LL COME AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT. HE'LL COME LIKE LABOR PAINS UPON A PREGNANT WOMAN. YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHEN HE COMES BACK AGAIN. THEREFORE BE WHAT? BE READY TO MEET YOUR GOD. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO BE PREPARED TO MEET THE ALMIGHTY GOD. MAKE THE PREPARATION NOW IN THIS LIFE WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THAT NEXT LIFE. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE.<br> <br> 

      IGNORANCE FINALLY IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO TEACH. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE MIGHT SAY ONCE AGAIN, WELL I SIMPLY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. SADLY THERE WERE THOSE IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS, HEBREWS CHAPTER 5 VERSES 12 AND 13, WHO HAD FAILED TO MOVE ON FROM THE MILK OF THE WORD OF GOD TO THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS; TO THE MEAT THERE. AND THERE THEY WERE REMINDED THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE MOVED ON - THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BECOME SKILLED IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. BUT THEY HAD NOT BECOME SKILLED. STILL OTHERS MIGHT SAY WELL, I'M JUST TOO AFRAID BECAUSE I'M TOO IGNORANT. I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE BIBLE TO TEACH IT TO OTHERS. MANY HAVE FAILED TO TEACH GOD'S WORD BECAUSE THEY MAKE THESE EXCUSES - WELL, I JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH - AND THEY USE IGNORANCE ONCE AGAIN AS AN EXCUSE TO FAIL AS CHRISTIANS TO TEACH THE VERY WORD OF GOD. <br> <br>

      NOW, ALL OF US HAVE DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS - THAT IS IN HOW MUCH WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT GOD'S WORD. SOME ARE STILL YOUNG IN THE FAITH AND HAVE MUCH TO LEARN AND SOME ARE OLDER IN THE FAITH AND HAVE LEARNED MANY THINGS. BUT  WHATEVER LEVEL YOU'RE ON, IGNORANCE SHOULD NEVER BE AN EXCUSE FOR NOT TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD. KNOW WHAT GOD'S WORD COMMANDS. HOW SAD IT WAS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, JUDGES CHAPTER 2 IN VERSE 10, WHERE THERE A GENERATION WENT BY WHO NO LONGER KNEW WHO GOD WAS. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? THEY FAILED TO TEACH GOD'S WORD, WHO GOD WAS, AND ALL THE MIGHTY WORKS HE HAD DONE TO THAT NEXT GENERATION. <br> <br>

      WHAT MUST WE DO? 2 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 2:15 SAYS, “BE DILIGENT TO PRESENT YOURSELF APPROVED UNDER GOD, A WORKMAN THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, HANDLING A RIGHT - THE WORD OF TRUTH.” WE MUST STUDY TO BE DILIGENT IN GOD'S WORD. THAT'S HOW WE'RE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE EXCUSE OF IGNORANCE. YOU CAN'T SAY I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE WORD OF GOD BEFORE YOU. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS WE HAVE IS THAT VERY WORD GIVEN TO US BY GOD. 2 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4 :2 SAYS, “PREACH THE WORD.” YOU KNOW WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US? NOT ONLY THE MANUAL BUT THE ANSWER KEY. WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO TEACH IN OUR POSSESSION. TAKE IT AND TAKE IT OUT THERE IN THE WORLD AND TEACH IT. <br> <br>

      DON'T LET IGNORANCE BE AN EXCUSE. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MAKE EXCUSES TO SERVE GOD. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DAY WE FOLLOW HIS WORD, WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND DO WHAT HE SAYS. <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>

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      THANKS BE TO GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE OF SALVATION!  THEREFORE, MAY WE NEVER BE IGNORANT OF GOD’S WILL, BUT RATHER MAY WE ACCOMPLISH IT ALWAYS; THAT IN ALL THINGS WE MAY BE FOUND PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT!<br> <br>