THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 12-25-16<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “THE WORK OF THE CHURCH”<br> <br>



WELCOME<br> <br>

      HAPPY HOLIDAY’S AND WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LORD’S DAY MORNING!  WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR TO GATHER AND TO WORSHIP CREATOR.  IT IS AGAIN OUR PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THIS TIME OF OFFERING TO GOD.  AS ALWAYS, ON THIS PROGRAM, WE WILL USE THIS TIME TOGETHER TO GOD’S GLORY IN SINGING SONGS OF PRAISE AND IN STUDYING FROM HIS WORD.  WON’T YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING AS WE PRAISE OUR GOD IN WORSHIP TO HIM! AT THIS TIME LET’S GO TO THE FATHER IN PRAYER!  <br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY - FOR THE MANY GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE. FOR FATHER WE KNOW THAT YOU GIVE US BLESSINGS, NOT ONLY TODAY BUT EVERYDAY. EVERYDAY OF LIFE WE HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING HOW MUCH YOU LOVE US BY THE THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR US AND ALL THE GREAT WONDERS THAT WE SEE IN LIFE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR SON - THE GREAT GIFT THAT WE CELEBRATE EVERY WEEK AND WE REJOICE IN KNOWING, THAT NOT ONLY HE CAME TO THIS EARTH AND WAS BORN BUT HE DIED AND WAS RESURRECTED. CERTAINLY FATHER, AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT GREAT SACRIFICE MAY IT MOTIVATE US TO BE YOUR PEOPLE AND TO ALWAYS LIVE DAILY ACCORDING TO YOUR PERFECT WILL. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

	AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE PRIVELEGE SINGING OUR FIRST SONG OF PRAISE.  WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING TOGETHER, “TO CANAAN’S LAND I’M ON MY WAY.”<br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

	HOW MANY OF US ARE GOOD AT KEEPING SECRETS? IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING WATCHING MY CHILDREN GROW UP AND GO THROUGH DIFFERENT STAGES IN MANY ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES. AT FIRST, THEY JUST COULDN’T KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT. IN FACT, IF YOU TOLD THEM ANYTHING, YOU COULD BE SURE IT WOULD BE REPEATED. ESPECIALLY TO THE ONE WHO THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL IT TO.  <br> <br>

	I’LL HAVE TO ADMIT HOWEVER, THAT I KNOW MANY ADULTS THAT ARE JUST AS BAD. I GUESS EVERY CHURCH HAS THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT WORKS BETTER THAN THE 10 O’CLOCK NEWS, IF YOU TELL THEM ANYTHING.  <br> <br>

	I MENTION ALL OF THIS TO REMIND US THAT GOD HAD A GREAT SECRET THAT WAS HIDDEN FOR A LONG TIME.  IN EPHESIANS 3:9, PAUL SAID, “AND TO MAKE ALL SEE WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE AGES HAS BEEN HIDDEN IN GOD WHO CREATED ALL THINGS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.” YOU SEE, FOR AGES THERE WAS SOMETHING HIDDEN IN GOD, UNTIL THE PROPER TIME CAME.  <br> <br>

	SO, WHAT WAS HIDDEN? PAUL AGAIN ANSWERS THIS QUESTION IN HIS BOOK TO THE COLOSSIANS.  IN CHAPTER 2, AND VERSES 2 AND 3, WE READ, “THAT THEIR HEARTS MAY BE ENCOURAGED, BEING KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE, AND ATTAINING TO ALL RICHES OF THE FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING, TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD, BOTH OF THE FATHER AND OF CHRIST, IN WHOM ARE HIDDEN ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.” THERE WE HAVE IT. THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE WERE HIDDEN BY GOD UNTIL THEY WERE COMPLETELY REVEALED THROUGH HIS GLORIOUS SON, JESUS CHRIST. <br> <br> 

	WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING WE HAVE TODAY AS CHRISTIANS TO HAVE THE PROMISED, REVEALED SECRET THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD.  FURTHERMORE, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE PLEASING TO GOD TODAY, IS BY ACCEPTING AND FOLLOWING THE REVEALED MYSTERIES WHICH WE NOW HAVE BECAUSE OF CHRIST. ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE REVEALED KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OFFERED TO YOU BY GOD?<br> <br>

	THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH OUR STUDY ON THE “BRIDE OF CHRIST.”  THE SPECIFIC TITLE OF THE LESSON THIS MORNING IS “THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.”  AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER I WILL RETURN TO LEAD OUR THOUGHTS IN TODAY’S STUDY.  NOW, LET’S ALL LIFT OUR VOICES IN PRAISE TO GOD AS WE SING, “TO THE WORK.” 

<br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING WITH US THIS DAY AS WE NOW RETURN TO GOD'S WORD AND HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF STUDYING CONCERNING THE BRIDE OF CHRIST - THE CHURCH. WE'VE NOW BEEN LOOKING TOGETHER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AT SO MANY LESSONS THAT ARE REALLY FUNDAMENTAL IN NATURE BUT HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGING TO US ALL THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT IT IS THAT GOD GIVES AS A PATTERN IN HIS BOOK - IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE, NOT ONLY CHRISTIANS, BUT THE CHURCH; GOD'S PEOPLE WHO ARE ORGANIZED, WHO ARE CALLED BY PROPER NAMES, WHO ARE WORSHIPING AS COMMANDED, WHO ARE DOING ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ACCORDING TO WHAT WE LEARN IN THE BIBLE. AND SO TODAY WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IS IN CONNECTION TO REALLY WORK - BECAUSE THE FACT IS MANY IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD DO NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMANDMENT OF WORK BY THE CHRISTIAN. NOW, CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH WORKS THAT WE COULD EVER DO TO MERIT OUR OWN SALVATION, THEREFORE WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY SAVED BY WORKS. BUT TO SOMEHOW SUGGEST THAT WORKS ARE NOT ESSENTIAL OR THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ONE WHO WORKS FOR THE LORD IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN THE GRACE OF GOD IS ALSO CONTRARY TO SCRIPTURE. IN FACT, IT WAS GOD HIMSELF WHO INDICATED IN VERSES SUCH AS EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 THAT WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. BUT THEN DOWN IN VERSE 10 IT ACTUALLY SAYS THAT, “WE WERE CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS.” AND THEN HE ACTUALLY ADDS THIS GOD ACTUALLY PREPARED US BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN GOOD WORKS. GOD EXPECTS HIS CHILDREN - HIS FAITHFUL - TO KNOW WHAT IS REQUIRED, KNOW WHAT THE STANDARD IS, AND THEN TO OBEY THAT STANDARD. ISN'T THAT TRUE EVEN IN OUR SECULAR FAMILIES? DO WE NOT UNDERSTAND WHEN WE ARE GROWING UP WHAT OUR PARENTS EXPECT? WHAT ARE THE RULES, AND THE LAWS WITHIN THE HOME OF OUR FATHER AND MOTHER? AND ARE WE NOT REQUIRED TO OBEY AND FOLLOW THOSE THINGS? CERTAINLY WE ARE - AND AS WE BECOME PARENTS OURSELVES ARE THERE NOT STANDARDS THAT WE SET? IS THERE NOT, AGAIN A BLUEPRINT OR A PATTERN THAT WE LAY DOWN AND HEAR THINGS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE AND HEAR THINGS THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE? AND ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT LOVE OUR CHILDREN AND ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT DO ANYTHING FOR THEM - WE STILL EXPECT THEM TO RESPECT US AND TO DO WHAT THEY'RE TOLD DO AND TO OBEY WHAT THEY BEEN TOLD TO OBEY. GOD'S THE SAME. HE HAS ESTABLISHED THE CHURCH AND YES, BECAUSE HE IS GOD AND HE ALONE HAS THE POWER TO SAVE BY GRACE LOVE AND MERCY, HE HAS OFFERED US THOSE THINGS AS A GIFT. BUT HE REQUIRES US TO REMAIN IN GOOD STANDING. HE REQUIRES US TO BE A CHILD WHO IS FAITHFUL - A FAITHFUL CHILD. ISN'T THAT TRUE AGAIN IN OUR SECULAR FAMILIES? ARE WE GOING TO JUST KEEP GIVING AND GIVING AND GIVING AND CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN EVEN WHEN THEY REFUSE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT? EVEN WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO DO WHAT'S WRONG AND SIN AND EVEN DO THINGS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO LAW IN THE LAND? CERTAINLY NOT! WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST CONTINUE TO FUND A CHILD WHO CHOOSES SIN AND BLATANTLY DISREGARDS WHAT WE HAVE ASKED OF THEM OR WHAT WE REQUIRE OF THEM. WOULDN'T IT BE SILLY TO THINK THAT GOD WOULD DO THE SAME OR WOULD DO DIFFERENT? <br> <br>

      WELL, IF YOU'LL THINK WITH ME - CERTAINLY THEN WE ARE CREATED BY GOD. THE WORKMANSHIP OF GOD CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS THAT WE MIGHT WALK IN THOSE GOOD WORKS. TO THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH PAUL SAID SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR THERE IN PHILIPPIANS. LOOK WITH ME IN THE SECOND CHAPTER AND VERSE 12. HE SAYS BELOVED. HE SAYS I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE ALL ALWAYS OBEYED. NOT IN MY PRESENCE ONLY BUT ALSO, AS I'VE BEEN ABSENT, THAT MUCH MORE. PAUL SAYS - YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SAINTS OF GOD. BUT THEN HE SAYS - BUT BRETHREN WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING. AND THEN HE ALSO ADDS THIS – “FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO DO HIS GOOD PLEASURE.” WOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE GOD HAS PLANS FOR ME. GOD HAS PLANS FOR YOU. I'M GOING TO BE A RECIPIENT AS A FAITHFUL CHILD TO ALL THOSE BLESSINGS IN THIS LIFE AND THE BLESSINGS AND PROMISES OF THE LIFE TO COME. HOWEVER, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BE A CHILD. A CHILD IN GOOD STANDING DOING WHAT I'M TOLD; OBEYING WHAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO BE WHAT? WITHIN THE GRACE OF GOD - THE CARE, THE PROTECTION OF MY PARENT OR MY FATHER, GOD. AND SO THEREFORE, HE ASKS US AS INDIVIDUALS TO BE WORKERS AND HE ALSO CHALLENGES US AS THE CHURCH TO BE WORKERS.<br> <br> 

      I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE THINGS SAID IN EPHESIANS, ESPECIALLY EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 AND THROUGHOUT ALL THE CHAPTERS OF EPHESIANS, FOCUS AROUND THE CHURCH - THE BODY OF CHRIST - THAT WHICH IS ESTABLISHED - THAT WHICH WE ARE PUT IN AND MADE A PART OF AS THE FAMILY OF GOD. SO WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THAT WE ARE CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS - THE WORKMANSHIP OF GOD. HE CERTAINLY IS TALKING ABOUT YOU AND I AS INDIVIDUALS BUT ALSO COLLECTIVELY AS WHAT? THE CHURCH AND THEREFORE, AS WE LOOK IN THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS, IT'S THE SAME. HE WAS WRITING TO THE CHURCH - THE CHRISTIANS IN PHILIPPI. AND SO AS THE CHURCH WHAT ARE WE REQUIRED TO DO? WELL THERE ARE CERTAIN WORKS IN THE CHURCH, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NECESSARILY CHARACTERISTICS MAYBE LIKE TO LOVE AND A CHARACTERISTIC OF OURSELVES OF MERCY AND GRACE. THERE ARE CERTAINLY MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, CERTAIN WAYS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE, SPECIFIC WAYS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TALK IN RELATIONSHIP TO BE RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. BUT WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC WORKS THAT WE FIND BY COMMAND AND EXAMPLE IN THE BIBLE THAT REALLY WERE NOT ONLY DONE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT BUT ALSO WERE BROUGHT OVER INTO SPECIFIC CONCEPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, OBVIOUS TO ME IS THE EVANGELISTIC CONCEPT. EVEN UNDER THE OLD LAW, ALTHOUGH THE OLD LAW WAS GIVEN TO A SPECIFIC PEOPLE, GOD STILL, WHEN HE FOUND OTHER NATIONS OR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN TRUTH, WOULD SEND MESSENGERS. AND SO HE WAS EVANGELISTIC. WHAT ABOUT IN JONAH'S DAY? WHAT ABOUT THE CITY OF TARSUS? OR THE CITY OF NINEVEH? - THE ONE THAT HAD REALLY, IN THEIR LIVES, COMPLETELY REJECTED GOD BUT NOW WERE WILLING TO REPENT. JONAH WAS ACTUALLY UPSET WHEN THEY DID REPENT. SO THAT TELLS YOU THAT GOD HAS AN INTEREST IN THE SOULS OF ALL MEN IN EVERY AGE. <br> <br>

      BUT WHAT ABOUT TODAY? WHAT’S THE GREAT COMMISSION GOING TO ALL THE WORLD - PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE, MATTHEW 28. WHAT ABOUT THE CONCEPT IN MARK 16? GOING TO ALL THE WORLD AGAIN TO EVERY CREATURE, EVERY NATION, AND HE THAT BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED. YOU SEE, THERE IS A WORK TO DO. THERE'S EVANGELISM. THERE'S A NEED TO, AS DISCIPLES OF GOD, MAKE KNOWN THAT MYSTERY THAT HE HAS MADE KNOWN TO US. TO GIVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BENEFITS OF GOD TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. JUST LIKE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THEM, WE SHARE THEM WITH OTHERS. SO THAT WHAT? NOT ANY WOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL WOULD COME TO REPENTANCE. THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS, THAT'S WHAT I WANT AS A CHILD OF GOD. AND SO WE CAN SEE THAT, CERTAINLY AS THE CHURCH, WE MUST BE EVANGELISTIC. WE MUST BE EVANGELISTIC BY PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. WE MUST BE EVANGELISTIC BY TEACHING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. I REMIND YOU THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. PREACHING IS THE HERALDING OF GOD'S WORD - MOST LIKELY IN A PUBLIC FORUM OR IN A SETTING WHERE YOU ARE BEFORE OTHERS. TEACHING CAN BE A ONE-ON-ONE SETTING. IT CAN BE A CLASSROOM SITUATION - A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION. AND EVEN THE BIBLE DEFINES THE TWO WORDS VERY DIFFERENTLY AND USES THEM SPECIFICALLY THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT. A TEACHER COULD PERHAPS BE A PREACHER BUT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. BUT ALL PREACHERS CERTAINLY WOULD INCLUDE TYPES OF TEACHING WITHIN THEIR SERMONS.....IF THEY'RE GOOD PREACHERS. <br> <br>

      IF YOU'LL THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF EVANGELISM, THOUGH WE NOT ONLY SEE THE NEED TO EVANGELIZE BY PREACHING AND TEACHING, BUT BY THE WAY WE LIVE OUR DAILY LIVES. ARE OTHERS ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT OF GOD IN US? ARE OTHERS ABLE TO SEE THAT WE ARE CHRISTIANS? DO WE LET OUR LIGHT SO SHINE THAT THEY SEE OUR GOOD WORKS AND IT GLORIFIES THE FATHER IN HEAVEN? DO YOU NOTICE THERE THE WORD AGAIN? THAT IT WOULD WHAT? GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO SEE OUR GOOD WORKS. THERE IS THE WORKS AGAIN. THERE'S THE NEED WE HAVE FOR OBEDIENCE. BUT THEN ALSO WE SEE THE IDEA THAT PERHAPS IN OPPORTUNITIES LIKE WORSHIP - DO WE NOT ALSO EVANGELIZE AS EVEN WE WORSHIP GOD? DO PEOPLE NOT LEARN? ARE THEY NOT TAUGHT? ARE THEY NOT ADMONISHED OR ENCOURAGED? CERTAINLY. THAT'S WHAT WE LEARN IN THE BIBLE. SO THAT EVANGELISM IS A VERY ESSENTIAL PART OF THE WORK OF THE CHURCH. GOD IS NOT SATISFIED WHEN ONLY YOU AND I ARE FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS AND FOLLOWERS OF HIS WORD. GOD WILL ONLY BE SATISFIED WHEN THE 7 PLUSE BILLION PEOPLE OF THIS EARTH ARE ALL IN UNITY AND FULL OBEDIENCE COMPLYING TO THE GOSPEL PLAN OF SALVATION, AND ARE OBEDIENT TO THE PERFECT AND INERRANT WORD OF GOD. THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS! THAT'S WHAT WE WANT! SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT THE JOB? IT'S NEVER GOING TO END. IT'S NEVER GOING TO END. EVERYONE ON THIS EARTH WILL NEVER TURN TO GOD AND SO THEREFORE I'M ALWAYS GONNA HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO REACH OUT TO PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD AND TO LIVE THE WORD OF GOD AND TO TEACH THE WORD OF GOD AND TO AGAIN WORSHIP - SHOWING FORTH THE NEED THAT ALL MEN HAS TO SEE WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THEM IN HIS WORD FOR BRETHREN. IT IS THE WORD THAT GIVES US THE DIRECTION UNTO SALVATION! IT IS THE GOSPEL, PAUL SAID IN ROMANS 1:16, THAT HAS THE POWER OF GOD UNDER SALVATION. THAT GOSPEL THAT WE RECEIVE AND WE HEAR OURSELVES AND THEN BECAUSE WE BELIEVE AND BY FAITH ACT UPON IT - WE ARE CONSIDERED AS GOD'S CHILDREN. THAT'S WHAT FAITH IS ALL ABOUT. FAITH IS SOMETHING NOT THAT WE JUST TALK ABOUT. IT'S NOT JUST A BELIEF - BECAUSE EVEN JAMES SAID IN JAMES CHAPTER 2 - FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD. NOT BECAUSE SOMEHOW WORKS JUSTIFY US AND CAUSE GOD TO OWE US SALVATION BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT WE'RE SAVED BY GRACE; WE'RE SAVED BY HIS PERFECT LOVE - HIS MERCY. BUT WORKS ARE STILL REQUIRED BECAUSE AS JAMES SAID - YOU SHOW ME YOUR FAITH WITHOUT WORKS. IN OTHER WORDS YOU JUST TALK ABOUT FAITH, YOU JUST TALK ABOUT GOD BUT YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING HE SAYS. AND THEN JAMES SAID BUT I'LL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY WORKS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PROOF IS IN THE WHAT? THE PUDDING. THE PROOF IS IN THE EVIDENCE. NO WONDER JESUS SAID, “IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS,” - JOHN 14:15. THE OPPOSITE THEN WOULD BE - IF YOU DO NOT KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS YOU REALLY DON'T LOVE HIM. NOW, DO HIS COMMANDMENTS INCLUDE ACTIONS? YES. WORDS? YES. WORKS? YES. AND SO WE OBVIOUSLY MUST BE EVANGELISTIC AND WORK AS THE CHURCH INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY TO EVANGELIZE THE LOST AND DYING WORLD. <br> <br>

      WE ALSO SEE A VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT OF BENEVOLENCE. IF WE GO BACK INTO THE OLD TESTAMENT BENEVOLENCE WAS A BIG PART OF THE JEWISH LIFESTYLE, FOR NOT ONLY THEIR BRETHREN BUT ALSO FOR STRANGERS. THEY WERE TO BE BENEVOLENT - THAT MEANS THAT THEY WOULD LOOK TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AND THEY WOULD HELP THEM WITH FOOD AND SHELTER AND CLOTHING. AT LEAST THE NECESSITIES. THEY WOULD MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WAS STARVING, GOING HUNGRY. NO ONE WAS WITHOUT SHOES IF THAT WAS THE NEED THAT THEY HAD. NO ONE WAS WITHOUT FOOD IN THEIR STOMACH BECAUSE THEY WERE WILLING TO HELP ONE ANOTHER. AS WE MOVE OVER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT - ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THE SAME THING? THAT EVEN THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS PRACTICED A BENEVOLENCE. AND EVEN AFTER JESUS DIED ON THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT SAYS? THEY CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLE'S DOCTRINE. BUT IT ALSO INDICATES LATER IN THE SAME TEXT AROUND VERSES 45 AND 46 - THAT THEY WERE DAILY GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND SHARING FOOD OR EATING FOOD TOGETHER WITH GLADNESS. WHAT WERE THEY DOING? THEY WERE HELPING EACH OTHER IN A BENEVOLENT WAY? ACTS 2 AS WELL AS OTHER VERSES IN ACTS SAY THEY WERE WILLING TO HAVE ALL THINGS IN COMMON. WHY IS THIS? BECAUSE GOD DOESN'T WANT ANY OF HIS CREATURES TO SUFFER AND SOMETIMES THE VERY WAY THAT GOD PROVIDES FOR YOU OR THE VERY WAY THAT GOD PROVIDES FOR ME IS THROUGH HIS CHURCH OR THROUGH HIS FAITHFUL. YOU MIGHT SAY – “WELL, I KEEP WAITING ON GOD TO GIVE ME THIS OR GIVE ME THAT OR PROVIDE THIS.” AND SO WE JUST WAIT FOR IT TO KEEP FAILLING OUT OF HEAVEN. IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST FALL OUT OF HEAVEN LIKE MANNA DID OR THE QUAIL DID. IT SOMETIMES IS THAT PERSON SITTING NEXT TO US IN THE PEW THAT IS GOING TO BE THAT AGENT OR THAT LOVING CARING INDIVIDUAL FROM GOD WHO SHOWS LOVE. WHO SHOWS BENEVOLENCE. IT'S SOMETIMES GOING TO BE OUR CHURCH FAMILY THAT WE LEAN ON AND THAT WE COUNT ON. I'M REMINDED OF WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALED THROUGH PAUL IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 6 WHEN HE SAYS THERE IN VERSE 10, “THEREFORE, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY,” YOU THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS – “AS WE ALL HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO ALL MEN.” AND THEN HE SAYS, “ESPECIALLY TO THOSE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.” AND SO WE SEE THAT CERTAINLY BENEVOLENCE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK OF A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN. <br> <br>

      THE OTHER GREAT WORK THAT WE FIND, NOT ONLY COMMANDED BUT EMPHASIZED AND ALSO GIVEN BY EXAMPLE WITHIN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, WAS THE IDEA OF EDIFICATION. WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGERS. IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO LIVE THE LIFE AND TO EVANGELIZE AND BE BENEVOLENT AND CARE FOR OTHERS - WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS WITH OUR WORDS AND OUR ACTIONS. SO WE MIGHT DO A BENEVOLENT DEED AND IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ALSO AN EXULTATION OR AN ENCOURAGEMENT. BUT NO MATTER WHAT WITH OUR WORDS AND OUR ACTIONS WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4. HE ACTUALLY IN VERSE 11 WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HAD GIVEN SOME FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. THAT IS GOD. GOD SET THE CHURCH IN ORDER BY GIVING APOSTLES AND PROPHETS AND EVANGELIST AND PASTORS AND TEACHERS - BUT I WANT YOU TO NOTICE WHAT THEY WERE GIVEN FOR. WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE MINISTER? WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE TEACHER? WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE ELDER IN THE CHURCH? NOTICE THAT IN VERSE 12 IT SAYS TO EQUIP THE SAINTS. THAT'S THAT KNOWLEDGE. EQUIP THEM WHAT? FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTERY. THERE'S WORK AGAIN. GIVE YOU THAT KNOWLEDGE SO THAT YOU MIGHT DO THE WORKS OF GOD. WHO'S GOING TO DO IT IF YOU DON'T DO IT? GOD HAS COMMISSIONED YOU TO DO! AND THEN HE SAYS: FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY. AND THEN AS WE GO ON IN THE TEXT THERE TO READ HE ACTUALLY SAYS IT'S THAT EDIFICATION. IT'S THAT ABILITY AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD TO BE THERE ONE FOR ANOTHER - VERSE 16. THE WHOLE BODY TO BE KNIT TOGETHER, TO BE BOUND TOGETHER, WOVEN TOGETHER - THAT WE MIGHT TOGETHER ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER. TO STAND, TO EVANGELIZE, TO BE BENEVOLENT THAT WE MIGHT OURSELVES BE ENCOURAGED. YOU KNOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT EVERY TIME I COME TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY - THE CHURCH - I'M EDIFIED, I'M ENCOURAGED. I'M ENCOURAGED AND ENERGIZED TO GO OUT AND TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE LORD. I'M ALSO ENCOURAGED TO EVANGELIZE AND TELL MORE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE MISSING FROM THE FAMILY OF GOD AND SERVING JESUS CHRIST. AND I'M ALSO MORE ENCOURAGED TO BE BENEVOLENT BECAUSE I SEE THE BENEVOLENCE THAT MY CHURCH FAMILY HAS FOR ME. ARE WE WORKING FOR GOD? WE HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR THAT PURPOSE. WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD FOR THAT PURPOSE. ARE WE FULFILLING THAT AND THEREFORE, ARE WE EDIFIERS AS THE CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST? IF SO PRAISE BE TO GOD. BUT MOST LIKELY, IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT CAN MAKE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS. THAT WE CAN BE THE CHURCH, WE CAN BE INDIVIDUALLY CHRISTIAN, BUT THE CHURCH COLLECTIVELY WHO ARE GETTING IT RIGHT. WHO ARE WORKING THE WORKS OF THE ONE WHO SENT US - WHO ARE EVANGELIZING BY EDIFYING AND BY BEING BENEVOLENT. LET'S ALWAYS SHINE FORTH AS THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST. LET'S ALWAYS LET THE WORLD KNOW THE SAVING MESSAGE OF OUR GOD!

<br> <br>

CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

	AS ALWAYS, LET ME EXPRESS TO YOU WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT WAS TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING.  PLEASE JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COME TOGETHER TO GIVE THIS TIME TO OUR CREATOR.    <br> <br>

NOW LET ME ASK, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE A TRANSCRIPT OR A CASSETTE TAPE OF THE PROGRAM!  WE ARE ALSO HERE TO ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR CORRESPONDENCE COURSES.  NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER!  

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