THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 12-4-16<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “HE GAVE SOME TO BE”<br> <br>



WELCOME<br> <br>

      GOOD MORNING!  WE WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO THE PROGRAM ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LORD’S DAY.  WHAT A PRIVILEGE WE HAVE EACH FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK TO COME TOGETHER AND TO GLORIFY OUR GOD.  EVERY SUNDAY IS A WONDERFUL DAY, HELPING US TO FOCUS OUR MINDS ON WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS LIFE - THAT IS GOD AND HIS WILL.  I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU WILL DO YOUR PART THIS MORNING IN MAKING THIS TIME TOGETHER ACCEPTABLE BEFORE GOD.   AT THIS TIME, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER TO THE ALMIGHTY?<br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND THE MANY GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE YOUR SERVANTS IN YOUR KINGDOM. AND FATHER, HELP US THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY TO LET OUR LIGHT SHINE THAT THE WORLD MIGHT KNOW YOU THROUGH US AND THAT IN THE END WE MIGHT ALL BE RECEIVED BY YOU THROUGH YOUR GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY AS FOUND FAITHFUL AND ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT FOR THAT GREAT REWARD. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

      SHOWING HONOR AND RESPECT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHRISTIAN WALK.  IN FACT, PAUL IN ROMANS 13:7, SAID, “RENDER THEREFORE TO ALL THEIR DUE: HONOR TO WHOM HONOR.”<br> <br>

      THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE FINE CONGREGATION AND BRETHREN WHO SUPPORT THIS TELEVISION PROGRAM.  WITHOUT THEIR HELP, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AIR THIS PROGRAM ON A WEEKLY BASIS.  IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE SO MANY WHO LOVE GOD’S WORD AND WHO DESIRE FOR IT TO BE PROCLAIMED TO THIS WORLD.  SO AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL WHO HELP SUPPORT THIS GOOD WORK OF OUR LORD!  <br> <br>

      NOW, WON’T YOU JOIN IN OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING, AS WE TOGETHER PRAISE GOD THROUGH THE HYMN, “THE GREAT PHYSICIAN!”<br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      ISN’T IT A GREAT FEELING WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO DO GOOD OR HELP SOMEONE?  THERE ARE NOT MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE WHICH BRING US GREATER HAPPINESS THAN PUTTING A SMILE ON SOMEONE’S FACE, BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM IN SOME WAY. <br> <br> 

      IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS REALLY WHY WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED.  WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE THINGS WE HAVE FROM GOD, SO THAT WE MAY IN TURN LIVE GOOD LIVES OF SERVICE TO HIM AND HELP OTHERS.  <br> <br>

      READ WITH ME FROM 2 CORINTHIANS 9:11, WHERE WE FIND THIS SAME IDEA BEING EXPRESSED BY THE APOSTLE PAUL, THERE IT SAYS, “WHILE YOU ARE ENRICHED IN EVERYTHING FOR ALL LIBERALITY, WHICH CAUSES THANKSGIVING THROUGH US TO GOD.”  HERE IT CONFIRMS THAT OUR MANY BLESSINGS ARE FOR LIBERALITY.<br> <br>

      I REALLY LOVE THE OTHER PART OF THIS VERSE ALSO, BECAUSE THERE WE READ WHY IT REALLY MATTERS.  YOU SEE, WHEN WE DO GOOD TO OTHERS WE ARE DOING GOOD TO GOD!  JESUS, HIMSELF, MADE THIS POINT IN MATTHEW 25:40, BY SAYING, “…ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME.” <br> <br>

      WHAT A WONDERFUL ENCOURAGEMENT THIS GIVES US IN JESUS CHRIST TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE DO GOOD TO OTHERS AND HELP THEM WHEN WE CAN, IT IS AS IF WE ARE HELPING JESUS HIMSELF!   THIS UNDERSTANDING SHOULD MAKE US ALL WANT TO DO MORE FOR OTHERS, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ARE GLORIFYING GOD WHEN WE DO SO.  ARE YOU SHOWING FORTH CHRIST IN ALL THINGS BY DOING GO TO YOUR FELLOW MAN?<br> <br>

      THIS MORNING WE HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER WITH US WHO IS NO STRANGER TO US.  WE WELCOME BROTHER JERRY SULLINS TODAY TO LEAD US IN THE STUDY OF GOD’S WORD.   

      WE WILL CONTINUE OUR THEME ON, “THE BRIDE OF CHRIST,” AS WE CONSIDER THIS DAY THE SPECIFIC TOPIC ENTITLED, “HE GAVE SOME TO BE.”  AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER BROTHER JERRY WILL BE BACK WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD.  NOW, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING, “THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY.”   <br> <br>

 

LESSON<br> <br>

BY JERRY SULLINS<br> <br>

      GOOD MORNING AGAIN TO THE LIVING WORD BROADCAST AND WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE A PART OF OUR AUDIENCE TODAY. EVERY SUNDAY MANY OF YOU VIEW THIS TELEVISION PROGRAM AND YOU EXPECT US TO PRESENT THE WORD OF GOD AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO STRIVE TO DO AGAIN TODAY. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT A BIBLE AND BE READY TO LOOK AT CERTAIN SCRIPTURES THAT I'LL BE ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT AND ALSO THAT I'LL BE READING SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS CORRECT FROM GOD'S WORD.<br> <br> 

      THIS PAST FEW WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN INTO A SERIES ABOUT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, AS WE READ IN ROMANS 16 WHERE IT SAYS IN VERSE 16, “THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST SALUTE YOU.” THERE WAS ONLY ONE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT - MATTHEW 16:18 - WHEN HE TOLD PETER UPON THIS ROCK THAT WAS THE CONFESSION THAT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD. THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH AND HE ESTABLISHED UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HADES SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. IT WASN'T UNTIL CENTURIES AFTER THAT THAT THERE WERE OTHER CHURCHES THAT BEGAN TO SPRING UP THAT REFERRED TO THEMSELVES AS A UNIVERSAL CHURCH. FIRST OF ALL, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN 325 AT THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA , IT WAS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED IN THE MINDS OF MOST PEOPLE AT THAT DATE. AND THEN SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS LATER, ONE BY ONE, THE DENOMINATIONS CAME INTO EXISTENCE. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DENOMINATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. <br> <br>

      WELL, WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS NOT INTERESTED OR DOES NOT DESIRE THAT THE CHURCH BE DIVIDED. AND THOSE WHO HAVE DIVIDED AFTER THE SYNOGUES OF MEN, AFTER CERTAIN LEADERS LIKE JOHN CALVIN, WESLEY, AND ZWINGLI AND THE REST OF THEM - REALLY IS THAT THE CHURCH THAT YOU READ ABOUT IN THE BIBLE? WELL IT COULDN'T BE BECAUSE THESE MEN CAME CENTURIES LATER. WHY WOULD WE WANT TO CALL THE LORD'S CHURCH BY ANOTHER NAME? WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS, AND WE ARE WHO WE CLAIM AND ARE A PART OF THAT ORIGINAL CHURCH THAT WE READ ABOUT, THAT WE'VE BEEN STUDYING FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THAT YOU FIND IN ACTS CHAPTER 2 WHEN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ACTUALLY BEGAN. SO MY FRIEND, I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO CERTAIN VERSES IN THE BIBLE. <br> <br>

      FIRST OF ALL, LET'S GO TO A SCRIPTURE THAT IS FOUND IN FIRST PETER TWO VERSE NINE. HERE PETER IS SPEAKING ABOUT US AS CHRISTIANS AND HE SAYS IN VERSE NINE - THIS IS FIRST PETER CHAPTER 2 VERSE NINE, “BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION. A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION OF PEOPLE OR A SPECIAL PEOPLE OF GOD'S OWN POSSESSION.” AND WHAT HAVE GOD DONE THAT WE MIGHT FEEL THAT WE ARE THAT? IT SAYS, “THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.” WE'VE BEEN CALLED BY THE GOSPEL. CALLING SIMPLY MEANS AN INVITATION. HAS NOT THE LORD INVITED US BECOME A PART OF THE BODY WHICH HE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED IN ACTS CHAPTER 2 WITH THOSE APOSTLES? WELL CERTAINLY HE HAS AND HE'S TOLD US HOW TO GET INTO THAT CHURCH. SO WE ARE THE BLOOD BOUGHT INSTITUTION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST ACTS CHAPTER 20 VERSE 28. HE PURCHASED US WITH HIS OWN BLOOD. NOW HAVE YOU BEEN PURCHASED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS? HAVING GAINED ACCESS TO HIS BLOOD IN BAPTISM, HAVING YOUR SINS REMITTED OR WASHED AWAY? - REVELATION CHAPTER 1 VERSE FIVE AND ROMANS CHAPTER 6 VERSE THREE AND FOUR. AND HAVE BECOME THAT NEW CREATURE AND ARE YOU A PART OF THAT CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT IN ACTS CHAPTER 2? - ACTS CHAPTER 1 ACTUALLY AND ACTS CHAPTER 2. <br> <br>

      WHEN THE APOSTLES WERE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. THEY ARE WAITING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME AND GAVE THEM THAT INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED TO GAIN SALVATION. AND REMEMBER, THOSE SAME PEOPLE WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS CRIED OUT AFTER THEY WERE TOLD - YOU ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD AND SAVIOR. THEY CRIED OUT - WHAT MUST WE DO? AND IN ACTS CHAPTER 2 VERSE 38 PETER SAID, “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERYONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” MY FRIENDS, THAT PLAN HAS NOT CHANGED. NOW, MAN HAS CHANGED IT AND CONVINCED MULTITUDES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO WHAT JESUS SAID WHEN HE SAID, “HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.” YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SIMPLY SAY THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST. THAT'S NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE. BELIEVE MEANS MORE THAN JUST SAYING, “WELL, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST.” EVEN THE DEVILS BELIEVE AND TREMBLE. JAMES SAID IN HIS EPISTLE: SO HOW IS IT WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT ALL WE NEED TO DO IS JUST SAY WELL, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND NOW WE WILL BE SAVED. WELL, IT'S BECAUSE OF PEOPLE MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WORD FAITH ACTUALLY MEANS. AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU, THROUGH A STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURE TODAY, MIGHT UNDERSTAND MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CHURCH WAS ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED. <br> <br>

      I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 VERSE THREE WHERE PAUL SAID, WHEN HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE BRETHREN AT EPHESUS, “BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST, JUST AS HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE.” HE CHOSE US BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD TO BE SAVED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY BEING WASHED FROM OUR SINS AND BECOMING THAT CHOSEN GENERATION - THAT ROYAL PRIESTHOOD - THAT HOLY NATION THAT WE MAY WHAT? SHOW FORTH THE EXCELLENCIES, AS THE KING JAMES VERSION SAYS, OF HIM WHO HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT. SO YES - YOU AND I - HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THAT CHURCH THAT ORIGINATED IN THE MIND OF GOD BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF CREATION, IT WAS IN THE MIND OF GOD THAT HE WAS GOING TO CREATE MAN AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR MAN AN INSTITUTION, WHEREBY IF HE BECAME A PART OF IT, WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ETERNAL HOME WHICH WE REFER TO AS HEAVEN. YES IT WAS PROPHESIED BY THE PROPHETS. IN THIS STUDY ALREADY, IT'S BEEN STUDIED ABOUT HOW ISAIAH TALKED ABOUT THAT KINGDOM - IN ISAIAH CHAPTER 2 VERSES 2 THRU 3 - HOW DANIEL SPOKE OF THAT KINGDOM IN DANIEL TWO VERSE 44 - AND EVEN JOHN THE BAPTIST. REMEMBER HIM? MANY PEOPLE RESPECT JOHN THE BAPTIST. AND BY THE WAY, WHO DOESN'T. WE ALL RESPECT THE WORK THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST DID! LISTEN - THAT MAN CAME TO THIS EARTH AND HE PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. HE WAS THE ELIJAH - THE FORERUNNER OF CHRIST THAT WAS PROPHESIED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. HE CAME, HE SPOKE OF WHAT? HIS MAIN MESSAGE WAS THIS, “REPENT YE, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.” THAT'S THE SAME AS THE CHURCH. I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY STUDIED THAT IN THIS SERIES - REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. AND FURTHERMORE, JOHN THE BAPTIST BELIEVED IN WHAT HE WAS DOING SO MUCH - REMEMBER HE WAS BEHEADED BECAUSE OF HIS BELIEF. THEN CAME JESUS. AS JOHN WAS THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH, THE MESSIAH ACTUALLY CAME. HIS NAME WAS JESUS CHRIST. HE SHED HIS BLOOD. BUT WHAT WAS HIS MAIN MESSAGE? REPENT YE FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. MARK NINE VERSE ONE - HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, “THERE ARE A FEW OF YOU WHO ARE STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE OF DEATH TILL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.” AND IT DID! THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME, IT EMPOWERED THOSE MEN TO SPEAK IN MANY TONGUES, AND THEY PROCLAIMED TO THAT MULTITUDE WHO HAD BEEN A PART OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST, WHAT THEY MUST DO TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM? AND IN ACTS 2 VERSE 47 IT SAYS - THE LORD ADDED TO THE WHAT? “TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS WAS BEING SAVED.” <br> <br>

      NOW, WHAT ARE WE A PART OF? WE'RE A PART OF THE CHURCH. LOOK AT EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 VERSES 22 AND 23. HE PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM TO BE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY - THE FULLNESS OF HIM THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL. SO HE GAVE JESUS TO BE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH. WHICH IS HIS WHAT? WHICH IS HIS BODY. HOW COULD IT BE MORE CLEAR THAN THAT? THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, ACCORDING TO COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 1. I BELIEVE IT'S VERSE 18. IT'S ALSO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IT IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. WHAT ELSE CAN WE SAY OTHER THAN THE RECORD THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US AS HE EMPOWERED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK THE WORDS THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL TO THAT CHURCH IN EPHESUS AND REVEAL TO US REALLY WHAT THE CHURCH ACTUALLY IS. BUT WHEN WE SEE THE CHURCH BEING ESTABLISHED, WE SEE THAT, NOT ONLY IS JESUS THE HEAD OF ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH - WHICH IS HIS BODY THAT FULLFILLETH ALL IN ALL - BUT WE SEE THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL WAY THAT GOD ACTUALLY BEGAN THE CHURCH THROUGH JESUS. AND IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 VERSE 11 - BACK TO THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS -  WE CAN READ VERY CLEARLY HERE THE MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT AGAIN TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS. IT SAYS HE GAVE SOME - KING JAMES VERSION SAYS, “HE SET SOME IN THE CHURCH TO BE APOSTLES,  SOME PROPHETS, SOME OF ADVENTURERS, SOME PASTORS, AND TEACHERS.” NOW WHY DID HE SET THEM IN A CHURCH? THE REASON IS GIVEN. BUT FIRST OF ALL - YES, WE KNOW THIS, THAT THIS IS TRUE. DID HE NOT HAVE ON THAT DAY OF PENTECOST HIS ORIGINAL DISCIPLES THERE EXCEPT FOR JUDAS, WHO KILLED HIMSELF? MATTHIAS WAS ADDED TO THE NUMBER. BUT WE KNOW THAT THOSE MEN WERE THERE FOR A SPECIAL PURPOSE AND THAT WAS TO BRING INTO EXISTENCE THE CHURCH AND TO SUPPLY THE CHURCH WITH WHAT IT NEEDED. SO THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO THESE MEN IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THEY RECEIVED THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - THEY COULD SPEAK IN TONGUES, THEY COULD HEAL, THEY CAN WORK MIRACLES - THEY HAD WORKED MIRACLES BEFORE EVEN AS HIS DISCIPLES BEFORE THE CHURCH BEGAN. BUT THEY WOULD USE THESE POWERS TO GO OUT AND TO CONVINCE PEOPLE JUST LIKE JESUS DID TO CONVINCE OTHERS THAT HE WAS TRULY THE SON OF GOD AND THEY WOULD PROVE TO PEOPLE THAT WE ARE MESSENGERS FROM GOD. LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT ONLY BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN US THAT POWER. SO HE SENT SOME IN THE CHURCH. WHAT DOES IT SAY? HE SENT SOME IN THE CHURCH TO BE APOSTLES, WE KNOW THAT. SOME PROPHETS - THERE HAD TO BE SPECIAL MEN WHO COULD PREACH AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL. THE APOSTLES WERE ONLY 12 AND SO THEY CAN ONLY COVER SO MUCH AREA. WELL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF AN APOSTLE HAD NOT BEEN THERE AT THOSE WORSHIP SERVICES? WELL, SOMEONE HAD TO BE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PROPHESY. AND PROPHESY MEANS MORE THAN JUST PROCLAIMING SOMETHING THAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. BUT EVEN MORE, THAT ADDED MEANS PROCLAIMING GOD'S WORD - HAVING THE ABILITY TO KNOW GOD'S WORD - AND SO THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE THEM THE WORDS THOSE PROPHETS WHO WOULD SPEAK FORTH THE WORDS OF GOD THAT WAS NEEDED IN THE EARLY CHURCH BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE WORD OF GOD IN IT'S COMPLETENESS. HE ALSO GAVE SOME WITH MIRACULOUS POWERS - THE EVANGELIST AND THOSE WERE THOSE WHO WOULD PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF JESUS AND SOME PASTORS, THAT IS ELDERS IN THE CHURCH AND WE SEE MANY QUALIFICATIONS FOR THEM IN THE BOOK OF FIRST TIMOTHY AND ALSO THE BOOK OF TITUS. THESE ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH TO GUIDE THE SPIRITUAL CHURCH, TO GUIDE THE FLOCK OF GOD. THEY WERE TO OVERSEE THE FLOCK OF GOD - ACTS 20 VERSE 28. AND SO GOD SET THESE IN THE CHURCH AND THEN ALSO TEACHERS. THERE HAD TO BE PEOPLE WHO WERE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHO KNEW THE WORD OF GOD. NOW WHY WERE THEY PUT IN THIS POSITION? FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS - VERSE 12 - FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. FOR WHAT REASON? TILL WE ALL COME TO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD TO A PERFECT MAN. THAT MEANS A COMPLETE MAN IN A MEASURE TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. SO THERE WAS A PURPOSE THESE PEOPLE WERE SET IN THE CHURCH. <br> <br>

      NOW PAUL TOLD TITUS: YOU GO TO EVERY CHURCH ON THE ISLE OF CRETE AND YOU ORDAIN ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH. WAS IT IMPORTANT THAT ELDERS BE ORDAINED IN THE CHURCHES? YES, BECAUSE THE CHURCHES NEEDED THESE TYPE OF MEN TO LEAD THEM IN, NOT ONLY A KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD OF GOD TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEEDED TO MATURE AS CHRISTIANS, BUT TO LEAD THEM BY EXAMPLE AND TO BE OVER THEM SPIRITUALLY SO THAT THE FLOCK COULD BE SPARED. SO THAT THE FLOCK COULD WITHSTAND THE ATTACKS FROM THE WORLD ITSELF. MY FRIEND, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. AND EVANGELISTS ARE STILL EVANGELISTS. PREACHERS - THE WORD USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS CARUSO - THOSE WHO HERALD FORTH THE WORD OF GOD. THE ONE AT THE KANSAS EXPRESSWAY CHURCH OF CHRIST IS RAY SULLINS. HE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PRESENTING JUST GOD'S WORD. WHEN YOU COME AND VISIT WITH US YOUR GONNA HEAR GOD'S WORD. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR WHAT THE LATEST SPIRITUAL BOOK IS AND WHAT IT TEACHES.  YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR WHAT GOD SAYS FROM THE WORD OF GOD IF YOU COME AND ASSEMBLE WITH US. AND WHY SHOULD YOU NOT HEAR THAT BECAUSE AS PETER SAID IN FIRST PETER 4:11, “IF ANY MAN SPEAK LET HIM SPEAK THE UTTERANCES OF GOD.” SO WHEN YOU COME, EXPECT TO HEAR THAT. IN FACT FRIENDS, YOU SHOULD BE EXPECTING THAT FROM EVERY MAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE A GOSPEL PREACHER, ONE WHO IS PROCLAIMING GOD'S TRUTH. <br> <br>

      SO HE SET SOME IN THE CHURCH AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WE STILL NEED THE GOSPEL OF GOOD TEACHERS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. DO WE NOT? WE NEED CHRISTIANS WHO ARE GUIDED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WILL MATURE IN CHRIST, THAT THEY WILL LEARN TO PRESENT CHRIST BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT? SHINE FORTH HIS EXCELLENCIES TO ALL OF THIS WORLD. SO AS GOD INTENDED A LONG LONG TIME AGO THAT THE CHURCH BE PUT IN ORDER. HE SAID IN ORDER FOR THE CHURCH TO BE PUT IN ORDER, AT FIRST THERE WILL HAVE TO BE THOSE WHO HAVE THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS BUT WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME, THAT WHICH IS IN PART SHALL BE DONE AWAY WITH. WE HAVE WITHIN OUR ACCESS, EVERY PERSON ESPECIALLY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND YOU MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO BIBLES IN YOUR HOME, WE HAVE WITHIN OUR ACCESS SOMETHING THAT IS ALL SUFFICIENT. “ALL SCRIPTURE GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MIGHT BE COMPLETE THOROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS.” SO WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US AS FAR AS THE CHURCH IS CONCERNED? WELL HERE'S WHAT WE CAN THINK. GOD CARED ENOUGH FOR US AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE BIBLE STATES THESE TRUTHS.  GOD CARED ENOUGH FOR US THAT HE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE A PART OF A BLOOD BOUGHT INSTITUTION WHERE WE HAVE ACCESS TO ONE ANOTHER. WE ENCOURAGE, WE STRENGTHEN, WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN. AS THE HEBREW WRITER SAID IN HEBREWS 10:26 - TO PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER AND TO LOVE IN GOOD WORKS. AND BY DOING THIS WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT SOMEDAY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LORD GOD HAS ORGANIZED THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST WE WILL REACH THAT HEAVENLY HOME. I CAN'T IMAGINE OUR BEING ABLE TO REACH IT WITHOUT THE CHURCH THAT JESUS CAME TO ESTABLISH ON THIS EARTH AND THE LOVING CARE FOR OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN WHO CREATED US - HOW IN THE WORLD COULD WE EVER EXPECT TO BE SAVED IF WE DON'T SEEK TO BE A PART OF THAT? MY FRIEND, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY THIS ISSUE. CAN YOU REALLY EXPECT GOD TO SAVE YOU IF YOU'RE NOT A PART OF THE CHURCH THAT HE ESTABLISHED AS WE READ ABOUT IN ACTS CHAPTER 2? THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. PRAY ABOUT THEM, CONSIDER HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH THAT IS SPOKEN IN THE BIBLE ABOUT THE CHURCH TO BECOME A PART OF THE BLOOD BOUGHT INSTITUTION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. THAT'S WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF YOU AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO HIS WILL AND TO HAVE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE! <br> <br>

      

      CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      WHAT A BLESSING IT HAS BEEN FOR US TO BE TOGETHER THIS MORNING.   IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.  WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO WORSHIPING GOD IN HIS WAY!  <br> <br>

      NOW, LET ME ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A 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 FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  <br> <br>

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