THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT   <br> <br>      

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 1-1-17<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “THE REWARD FOR THE FAITHFUL”<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>

      HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS GLORIOUS LORD’S DAY MORNING!  WOW, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? HERE WE ARE ON JANUARY 1, 2017.  ANOTHER YEAR HAS COME AND GONE AND YET TODAY WE GATHER TOGETHER AGAIN TO WORSHIP OUR WONDROUS AND LOVING CREATOR.  <br> <br>

      THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO THE THINGS OF GOD.  TOGETHER WE WILL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO STUDY FROM GOD’S HOLY WORD AND TO SING PRAISES TO HIS WONDERFUL NAME.  LET’S EACH DO OUR PART THIS MORNING IN MAKING THIS TIME OF OFFERING ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT.  WILL YOU BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER AT THIS TIME.  <br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW YEAR AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO AGAIN LIVE THIS LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND LET OUR LIGHT SHINE IN A DARK WORLD - THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW YOU, KNOW YOUR TRUTH, AND OBEY IT UNTO SALVATION. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT GIFT OF JESUS, WHICH MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE, AND HELP US THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND PLEASING ALWAYS IN YOUR SIGHT. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

      ISN’T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT WE CAN TRUST IN GOD AND KNOW THAT HE WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT HE HAS PROMISED?  CERTAINLY THIS TRUTH SHOULD CHALLENGE US TO WANT TO OBEY HIS WILL AND TO DO EVERYTHING HE HAS ASKED OF US.  OUR FIRST SONG OF THE DAY ENCOURAGES US TO FOCUS ON GOD AND GET IT RIGHT.   SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AND RAISE YOU VOICE TO GOD AT THIS TIME AS WE TOGETHER SING, “TRUST AND OBEY” <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      AS FOLLOWERS OF GOD, WHETHER WE ACCEPT OUR DUTY OR NOT, I THINK WE ALL REALIZE THE OBLIGATION WE HAVE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TO THIS LOST AND DYING WORLD.  WE ACCOMPLISH THIS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT MAINLY WE PROVE OUR OBEDIENCE THROUGH THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND SAY.  AS LONG AS WE ARE PROCLAIMING HIS WILL TO OTHERS, WE ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT.<br> <br>

      HOWEVER, I THINK WE ALSO FAIL TO REALIZE THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH CARRYING OUT THIS COMMAND OF OUR LORD.   NOT ONLY ARE WE TO PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE, BUT WE MUST FURTHER REALIZE THAT IT MUST BE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, AND NOT OUR OWN.  THE POINT IS, IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE SAY.  IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE HOW WE SAY IT AND HOW WE PRESENT OURSELVES.  WHY?  BECAUSE GOD SAID HE HAS BUT ONE GOSPEL FOR US TO MAKE KNOWN TO THIS WORLD.   PAUL SAID, “I MARVEL THAT YOU ARE TURNING AWAY SO SOON FROM HIM WHO CALLED YOU IN THE GRACE OF CHRIST, TO A DIFFERENT GOSPEL,  WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER; BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO TROUBLE YOU AND WANT TO PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.  BUT EVEN IF WE, OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL TO YOU THAN WHAT WE HAVE PREACHED TO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED,” GALATIANS 1:6-8.<br> <br>

      FINALLY, NOTICE WHAT JAMES SAID IN CHAPTER 3, AND VERSE 1 OF HIS BOOK.  “MY BRETHREN, LET NOT MANY OF YOU BECOME TEACHERS, KNOWING THAT WE SHALL RECEIVE A STRICTER JUDGMENT.”  WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT WE TEACH AND HOW WE TEACH IT? BECAUSE WE WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THE JOB WE DO.  <br> <br>

      YOU SEE, THERE IS MORE TO THIS WORK THAT IS BEFORE US THAN JUST GETTING OUT AND DOING SOMETHING.  WE MUST MAKE SURE THE THINGS WE TEACH AND SAY ARE ACCORDING TO GOD, SO THAT THEY PROPERLY INSTRUCT AND EDIFY THE HEARERS.  LET’S ALL DO OUR PART IN STUDYING GOD’S WORD, SO THAT WE MAY KNOW WHAT WE ARE TO TEACH IN ORDER THAT WE WILL BE FOUND FAITHFUL IN HIS SIGHT.  <br> <br>

	THIS MORNING, WE ARE STILL COVERING OUR TOPIC ON THE BRIDE OF CHRIST . TODAY OUR SPECIFIC LESSON WILL BE “THE REWARD FOR THE FAITHFUL.”  I HOPE YOU WILL STAY WITH US FOR THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.  <br> <br>

      AS FAR AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER OF THE DAY, WE ARE HAPPY TO AGAIN HAVE BROTHER JERRY SULLINS.  BROTHER JERRY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI, RIGHT HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING OUR THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER.  NOW, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING, “VICTORY IN JESUS.”<br> <br>

   

LESSON<br> <br>

BY JERRY SULLINS<br> <br>

      I’D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AGAIN TO THE LIVING WORD BROADCAST. IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU AS A PART OF THE AUDIENCE TODAY - AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO AT LEAST STUDY GOD'S WORD AND TO KNOW HIS WILL FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT IN OUR LIFE TODAY. THE ONE REAL THING THAT MATTERS IN OUR LIVES IS OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD. AND SO YOUR VIEWING THIS MORNING THIS TELEVISION BROADCAST AND WE'RE STRIVING TO DO OUR BEST TO PRESENT YOU GOD'S WORD THAT WILL MAKE US KNOWLEDGEABLE OF WHAT GOD'S WILL IS FOR US. SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THIS PROGRAM TODAY. <br> <br>

      THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS CONCERNING OUR BEING THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. IF WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, THAT IS IF WE'VE BEEN BORN OF THE WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT AS JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS IN JOHN THREE VERSES THREE AND VERSE FIVE, THEN WE CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WE'VE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS - WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO SO MANY PRECIOUS PROMISES, NOT JUST IN THIS LIFE, BUT IN THE LIFE TO COME. REMEMBER JESUS SAID IN JOHN 10:10, “I HAVE COME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.” SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE REWARDS OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GIVEN TO US BY GOD HIMSELF. WE RECOGNIZE THAT GOD HAS CERTAIN ATTITUDES TOWARD US. AND ONE ATTITUDE IS - IS THAT WE MIGHT...WE MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL! HE WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIM. HE'S SHOWN THAT THROUGHOUT ALL OF HIS RELATIONSHIPS OR HIS RELATIONSHIP TO ALL PEOPLE OF ALL GENERATIONS. FAITHFULNESS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER THAT WE RECEIVE THAT ETERNAL REWARD. NOW, MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD REVELATION CHAPTER 2 VERSE 10 AND AT THE END OF THAT VERSE IT SAYS, “BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE YOU A CROWN OF LIFE.” THAT FAITHFULNESS UNTO DEATH MEANS I'M WILLING TO, EVEN IF NECESSARY, GIVE MY LIFE FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND FOR THE GOD OF HEAVEN. BY DOING SO WE WILL RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HEAVEN. <br> <br>

      I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY READ MATTHEW CHAPTER 25 BEFORE. NOW, IT POINTS OUT SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS FOR US AS IT RELATES TO FAITHFULNESS. THE FIVE WIVES, THE FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS. THE FIVE WIVES WERE THOSE WHO PREPARED THEMSELVES FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD. THEY LIVED FAITHFUL LIVES. THEY WERE READY FOR THE TIME THAT JESUS CAME AND WOULD COME AGAIN. THEN WE SEE OTHER EXAMPLES THERE IN MATTHEW 25, WHICH POINT OUT TO US THE NEED FOR FAITHFULNESS. FOR INSTANCE - THE TALENT...THE TALENTED PEOPLE - ONE WHO RECEIVED FIVE TALENTS, ONE RECEIVED TWO TALENTS, AND THE OTHER RECEIVED ONE. THE ONE WHO RECEIVED ONE TALENT WAS THE PERSON WHO WHAT? HE DID NOT USE HIS TALENT FOR GOD BUT HE HID IT IN THE GROUND AND THAT WAS NOT PLEASING TO THE FATHER. WHICH MEANS SIMPLY A TALENT REPRESENTING OUR ABILITIES THAT THIS MAN DID NOT USE THE ABILITIES THAT GOD GAVE HIM TO DO WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO. HE WAS CONSIDERED AN UNFAITHFUL MAN AND HE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THAT ETERNALLY. THEN THE FINAL STORY THAT'S GIVEN IN MATTHEW 25 RELATES TO THE SITUATION WHERE ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH WERE GATHERED BEFORE HIM AND HE WOULD SEPARATE THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS - AND YOU KNOW THE STORY THERE - IF YOU'VE READ THAT BEFORE. MATTHEW 25 TOWARD THE END OF THE CHAPTER DISCUSSES DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE - PEOPLE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO HIM AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAITHFUL TO HIM AND THEIR FAITHFULNESS WAS DETERMINED BY WHAT THEY DID WHILE THEY WERE UPON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH. THEY DID NOT FEED THE HUNGRY, THAT IS THE UNFAITHFUL WOULD NOT FEED THE HUNGRY, THEY WOULD NOT CLOTHE THE NAKED, AND THEY WOULD NOT GIVE A DRINK TO THOSE WHO ARE THIRSTY. THEY WOULD NOT CARE FOR THOSE WIDOWS OR THOSE PEOPLE IN PRISON. THEY ACTUALLY WERE CONSUMED WITH THEIR OWN DESIRES AND SO THAT SERVANT WAS CAST INTO EVERLASTING DARKNESS. BUT THE RIGHTEOUS, THOSE WHO DID THOSE THINGS - THOSE FAITHFUL TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST - WOULD INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE! WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, AND AT LEAST BE STRIVING TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. <br> <br>

      WHEN WE THINK OF WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GOD AND HIS DESIRE THAT WE BE FAITHFUL. WE NEED ONLY LOOK AT CERTAIN PASSAGES - LIKE FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO READ TO YOU SECOND PETER CHAPTER 1 AND I'M GOING TO READ VERSES THREE AND FOUR, “AS HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN TO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM WHO CALLED US BY GLORY AND VIRTUE BY WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES THAT THROUGH THESE THINGS OR THAT THROUGH THESE YOU MAY BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST.” AND WHAT A BLESSING THAT IS AND WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE A CHILD OF GOD - TO BE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST - TO BE THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. AND BECAUSE OF THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE SAVED. BUT HE ALSO WANTS US TO BE FAITHFUL. HOW CAN WE TELL THAT? BECAUSE OF GOD'S LOVE FOR SURE! WE KNOW THAT HE LOVED US SO MUCH THAT, AS WE HAVE LEARNED IN THIS SERIES, THAT HE GAVE HIS SON - THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. GOD'S LOVE IS SOMETHING THAT IS ETERNAL. IT WILL NEVER END. FOR GOD HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 4 VERSE EIGHT, WHEN WE READ IN THE SCRIPTURE IT SAYS, “HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD. FOR GOD IS LOVE.” HE LOVED US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS SON TO BE THE PROPITIATION OR SATISFACTION FOR OUR SINS. WE SEE THAT LOVE THROUGHOUT ALL OF HIS CREATION BEGINNING IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. NOW ADAM AND EVE, BEGINNING WITH EVE AND THEN ADAM, TRANSGRESSED THE WILL OF GOD. THEY SINNED AGAINST GOD. FOR HE SAID, “DO NOT EAT OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.” AND THAT'S JUST EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID! BUT YOU KNOW HE DIDN'T DESTROY THEM. HE STILL GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY AND A PROMISE THERE IN GENESIS 3 VERSE 15 THAT SOMEDAY SOMEONE WOULD COME WHO WOULD ACTUALLY DESTROY SATAN. HE GAVE THEM A HOPE OF SALVATION BECAUSE HE LOVED THEM. AND NO DOUBT AS WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL - WHO COULD SAY THAT GOD DID NOT LOVE HIS CHILDREN? THAT WAS MANIFESTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. BECAUSE THEY WOULD FORSAKE GOD, THEY WOULD GO INTO CAPTIVITY, OR BE PUNISHED BY GOD, THEY WOULD REPENT, AND GOD WOULD TURN HIS HEART TOWARD THEM AGAIN! AND SO WE SEE THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD AND SO IS THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARD US. READING IN FIRST JOHN FOUR VERSE NINE AND 10 - IT SAYS, “IN THIS THE LOVE OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED TOWARD US. THAT GOD HAS SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON INTO THE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM AND THIS IS LOVE, NOT THAT WE LOVE GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED US AND GAVE HIS SON TO BE THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS,” AND GOD - THE POINT IS - GOD CONTINUES TO LOVE US. EVEN US, WE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, EVEN MORE HE LOVES US AND DOES NOT WANT US TO BE LOST. THAT'S FOR SURE! IN FACT, BECAUSE OF THAT AS JOHN WROTE IN FIRST JOHN ONE VERSE NINE, “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” SO FROM TIME TO TIME EVERYONE OF US, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST - WE'RE THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST - EVEN THOUGH WE BELIEVE THAT SOMEDAY THE LORD WILL SAVE US THROUGH HIS GRACE, WE STILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO APPEAL TO GOD TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS. AND THAT'S WHEN HE FORGIVES US OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO WHAT A PRECIOUS BLESSING! WHAT A GREAT REWARD! AS JESUS SAID I'LL GIVE YOU ABUNDANT LIFE, NOT JUST IN THIS LIFE, BUT IN THE LIFE TO COME. THAT'S WHY HE CAME INTO THIS WORLD. SO WE CAN EXPECT FROM GOD HIS LOVE. WE KNOW THAT THE FORGIVENESS IS THERE. AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD WILL TRULY FORGIVE US! AND HE WILL CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. EVEN THE SINNER IN SECOND PETER CHAPTER 3 VERSE NINE, “HE'S NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISES, AS SOME MEN CAN'T COUNT SLACKNESS, BUT HIS LONG-SUFFERING TOWARD US -  NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” <br> <br>

      YOU KNOW FRIENDS, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE IS THE PROBLEM OF SIN. AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE OF OUR WORLD AND WE MIGHT EVEN SAY ALMOST MOST PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES DON'T EVEN BELIEVE IN SOMETHING LIKE SIN. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. WELL, JOHN SAID IN FIRST JOHN THREE VERSE FOUR THAT SIN IS A TRANSGRESSION OF GOD'S LAW. AND SO HOW DOES GOD FEEL ABOUT THAT? WELL, HE SAID, THROUGH PAUL, IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS - ROMANS THREE VERSE 23, “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” ROMANS 6:23, “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” NOW THAT'S WHAT GOD FEELS AND THINKS ABOUT OUR SIN. ETERNAL LIFE IS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. FORGIVENESS IS THERE - WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING! AND SO, THROUGH HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, AS PAUL SAID IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 VERSE SEVEN, “WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD.” EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS. THAT'S A GREAT REWARD, I WOULD SAY EVEN IN THIS LIFE. AND THEN IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO LIVE IN THE LIFE TO COME. WHO CAN EXPERIENCE PEACE IN THIS LIFE EXCEPT THROUGH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST? NOW, I TELL YOU WHAT - YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND IT IN THE ABUSE OF DRUGS - OR EVEN IN DRUGS ALONE. YOU'RE NOT GOING FIND PEACE THERE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND PEACE IN ALCOHOL! YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND PEACE IN THE LUST OF THIS WORLD! JUST LOOK AT SOLOMON. READ THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES. IT'S NOWHERE TO BE FOUND ON THIS EARTH EXCEPT THROUGH ONE SOURCE, AND THAT'S THE PRINCE OF PEACE. NOW, YOU CAN TRY EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO TRY BUT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT THAT GREAT REWARD IN THIS LIFE, AS WELL AS IT GOES ON TO THE NEXT LIFE, IS PEACE THROUGH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES: THE PEACE I GIVE TO YOU IS NOT THE PEACE THAT IS OF THIS WORLD. IT'S JUST NOT! YOU CAN'T FIND IT HERE AND YOU CAN SEARCH FOR IT IN EVERY WAY YOU WANT TO SEARCH FOR IT. BUT AS LONG AS A MAN OR A WOMAN DOES NOT HAVE A PROPER RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, THERE IS NO PEACE. PHILIPPIANS 4 VERSE SIX THROUGH SEVEN, “BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION. WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD AND THE PEACE OF GOD,” - THE PEACE OF GOD – “WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.”<br> <br>

       SO THERE IT IS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. YOU, WHO ARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST - THAT PERFECT PEACE IS FOUND WITHIN CHRIST, AND IT IS THERE IF WE ONLY ASK FOR IT. HE'S ALWAYS PRESENT. HE'S ALWAYS THERE TO ASSIST US AND TO GIVE US SOMETIMES WHAT WE CAN ONLY RECEIVE FROM HIM AND THAT IS PEACE IN THIS LIFE BECAUSE OF THE MANY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT WE AS HUMAN BEINGS DO SUFFER. YES, GOD PROMISES US SO MANY THINGS AND HE GIVES US SO MANY THINGS AS IT RELATES TO OUR LIVES HERE. BUT EVERLASTING LIFE IS ONE OF HIS GREAT PROMISES! JOB SAID IN JOB 19 THAT HE KNEW THAT HIS REDEEMER LIVES. HE WAS SPEAKING OF SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE CONCERNING THE MESSIAH AND THAT HE KNEW THAT HIS FLESH WOULD SEE CORRUPTION IN A SENSE BUT ALSO HIS FLESH SOMEDAY IN A SPIRITUAL WAY WOULD SEE GOD - WOULD BE ABLE TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. THAT'S EVERLASTING LIFE MY FRIEND - AND JESUS KNEW THAT WE NEEDED THAT WHEN HE CAME TO THIS CROSS. AND HE KNEW THAT WE WOULD WANT THAT! WE WANT SOMETHING THAT LASTS BEYOND THIS LIFE. SO IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST DOES WHAT? IT CLEANSES US OF ALL OF OUR SINS. <br> <br>

      WHAT A PROMISE TODAY BUT WHAT A GREAT PROMISE, AS IT RELATES TO THE FACT, THAT SOMEDAY WE CAN ENJOY HEAVEN TOGETHER - AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. ISN'T THAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING! WHAT DO WE EXPECT OF GOD? WHAT MORE COULD WE EXPECT OF GOD? - IS THE REAL QUESTION - BECAUSE HE'S LOVED US SO MUCH - TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FORGIVENESS, TO GIVE US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE IN THIS LIFE, AND MORE THAN THAT TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT GREAT PLACE SOMEDAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT WE CALL AND REFER TO AS HEAVEN. <br> <br>

      NOW, MY FRIEND IT'S YOUR DECISION WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE IN CHRIST. WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CHURCH AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST AND TO ENJOY ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PROMISED US AND PREPARED FOR US. SO LET'S NOT BE WEARY AS WE LIVE THIS LIFE AS GOD WANTS US TO LIVE IT! LET US DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO AND LET US CONTINUALLY UNDERSTAND HIS GREAT LOVE SHOWN TOWARD US IN GIVING HIS SON TO DIE UPON THE CROSS - SO THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE THAT ABUNDANT LIFE IN THIS LIFE, BUT CERTAINLY ENJOY THAT LIFE IN HEAVEN TOGETHER SOMEDAY WITH HIM. <br> <br>



CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU FOR PUTTING GOD FIRST AND CHOOSING TO GIVE THIS TIME TO HIM. 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 FREE TRANSCRIPT OR 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:  

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      HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO KNOW THE REWARDS FROM GOD AND TO REALIZE JUST WHAT HE HAS PROMISED US IF WE ARE FOUND FAITHFUL IN THE END.  THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS GLORIOUS BLESSINGS!  <br> <br>