THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 10-22-17

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LESSON TITLE: “THE GREATEST POWER”<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.

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      THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THIS TIME OF OFFERING AND ENCOURAGEMENT, AS WE PARTICIPATE IN THE THINGS OF GOD. WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US FOR THIS WORSHIP TO OUR GOD. OUR COMMITMENT THIS MORNING IS TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD THROUGH THE SINGING OR SONGS OF PRAISE AND THROUGH THE STUDY OF HIS WORD. I HOPE EACH OF US WILL DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS SERVICE ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT. NOW WILL YOU BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER.<br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE MANY GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE, TO BE KNOWN AS YOUR CHILDREN TO LIVE LIVES ACCORDING TO YOUR PERFECT WILL AND MAY WE EVER LOOK TO THE BIBLE TO KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO DO THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND PLEASING IN ALL THINGS. FATHER HELP US TO LIVE EVERY DAY IN THIS LIFE AS WE WORK TOWARD OUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING KNOWING THAT WHEN WE DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT WE CAN RECEIVE THE WONDROUS REWARDS. WE THANK YOU FATHER BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND IS IT’S HIS NAME WE PRAY AMEN. 

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      THE BIBLE OFTEN TALKS ABOUT THE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS THAT EXIST IN EACH MAN! ONE IS THE PHYSICAL OR THE FLESHLY PART OF MAN AND THE OTHER IS THE SPIRITUAL OR THE GODLY PART OF MAN. THE BIBLE OFTEN TALKS ABOUT A MAN’S SOUL AND HOW THAT IT BELONGS TO GOD AND, THUS, WILL BE ETERNAL. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS THAT A SOUL CAN REAP DESTRUCTION IF IT DOES NOT LIVE ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE CREATOR. SO, THIS MORNING, WHERE IS YOUR SOUL HEADED?<br> <br>

      AT THIS TIME WE WANT TO SING A COMFORTING SONG ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE SECURED THEIR SOULS IN CHRIST, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE OR NAME IN WHICH WE CAN FIND SALVATION. SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME, AS WE TOGETHER SING, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.” 

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DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      IN OUR COMMENTS EARLIER THIS MORNING WE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THE SOUL OF MAN AND WE JUST SANG TOGETHER A BEAUTIFUL HYMN ABOUT THE PROPER SOUL BEFORE GOD. NOW I WANT TO READ A VERSE IN 3 JOHN WHICH REALLY SHOWS US THE GREAT LOVE THIS APOSTLE HAD FOR THE ONE WHO HE WROTE THE LETTER TO. IN FACT, IN VERSES 1 AND 2, WE SEE THAT JOHN TWICE REFERS TO THIS BROTHER GAIUS AS BELOVED! HOW ENCOURAGING THIS TITLE MUST HAVE BEEN TO GAIUS, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM A MAN OF GOD LIKE JOHN! YOU MIGHT ALSO REMEMBER BACK IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN WHERE JESUS REFERRED TO HIM AS THE BELOVED APOSTLE, 13:23.<br> <br>

      NOW IF YOU GO TO VERSE TWO IN 3 JOHN, WE READ, “BELOVED, I PRAY THAT YOU MAY PROSPER IN ALL THINGS AND BE IN HEALTH, JUST AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.” HERE WE SEE TWO DIFFERENT ASPECTS WHICH JOHN ADDRESSES TO HIS BELOVED BROTHER GAIUS. FIRST, WE SEE THAT JOHN SAID HIS PRAYER WAS THAT GAIUS WOULD PROSPER IN ALL THINGS AND BE IN HEALTH. WHAT A WONDROUS EXAMPLE WE HAVE HERE OF THE CARE THAT ONE CHRISTIAN HAD FOR ANOTHER! HIS REQUEST OF GOD WAS THAT HIS FOLLOW LABORER WOULD BE BLEST IN EVERYTHING AND BE HEALTHY IN HIS SERVICE BEFORE GOD.<br> <br>

      THE OTHER THING WHICH JOHN ADDRESSES IN THIS VERSE IS GAIUS’S SOUL. JOHN SAID HIS PRAYER WAS THAT GAIUS WOULD PROSPER IN ALL THINGS, AS WELL AS IN HEALTH, JUST AS HE HAD ALREADY PROSPERED IN HIS SOUL. NOW I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THIS IS KIND OF SCARY TO ME. WHAT IF WE PROSPERED IN THIS LIFE AND HEALTH ACCORDING TO WHAT WE ARE DOING SPIRITUALLY? WHERE WOULD WE BE? WHAT WOULD WE HAVE?<br> <br>

      BUT THE FACT IS, THIS IS TRUE! GOD IS GOING TO BLESS US ACCORDING TO OUR SERVICE AND OBEDIENCE IN HIS KINGDOM. THAT’S WHY IN MATTHEW 6:33, WE ARE TOLD TO SEEK THE KINGDOM FIRST TO HAVE ALL THINGS! AGAIN IN LUKE 6:38, WE READ, “…FOR WITH THE SAME MEASURE THAT YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED BACK TO YOU.” AS WE GIVE TO GOD WE WILL RECEIVE FROM HIM.<br> <br>

      NOW, FOR JOHN TO SAY THIS TO GAIUS IN ALL PRAYER AND CONFIDENCE THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE IT, OH, WHAT A GREAT MAN IN GOD GAIUS MUST HAVE BEEN. WE ALL NEED TO STRIVE TO DO MORE FOR GOD AND JUSTIFY OUR SOULS BEFORE HIM, SO THAT WE WILL PROSPER ACCORDINGLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR HEALTH AND ALL THINGS!<br> <br>

      TODAY, OUR MAIN TOPIC OF STUDY WILL FOCUS ON , “THE GREATEST POWER!” THIS IS OUR NEXT LESSON IN OUR SERIES ENTITLED, “THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US.” SO, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING, AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER I WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. THE NAME OF OUR NEXT SONG IS, “WE PRAISE THEE O GOD!” 

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      LESSON<br> <br>

      RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US NOW AS WE AGAIN RETURN TO OUR MAIN STUDY OF THE DAY AND LOOK AT A TOPIC AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE GREAT THINGS THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US. CERTAINLY HE HAS LOVED US ENOUGH TO DO WONDROUS THINGS. WE'VE LOOKED AT TOGETHER NOW, IN THIS SERIES, MANY IDEAS ABOUT NOT ONLY GOD BEING THE GREAT GOD BUT ALSO THE ULTIMATE CREATION OF GOD: MAN. WE LOOKED AT THE IDEA OF SIN AND THE PROBLEM THAT SIN HAS AND HOW CERTAINLY IS THE GREATEST PLAGUE OF ALL UPON THE WORLD. WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT THE LOVE OF JESUS, ESPECIALLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE GREAT SACRIFICE THAT HE GAVE. THE BLOOD THAT HE SHED WHICH WAS THAT GREATEST OF ALL REMEDIES TO OVERCOME SIN THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED. AND TODAY WHAT WE CONTINUE WITH IS THAT POWER. <br> <br>

      THE BIBLE OFTEN TALKS ABOUT POWER BUT I MIGHT ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL THING. THERE MIGHT BE MANY THINGS THAT THEY COME TO YOUR MIND BUT, IN RELATIONSHIP TO SPIRITUAL THINGS ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT HOW GREAT LOVE IS OR HOW GREAT FAITH IS OUR HOW GREAT THE REWARDS OF GOD ARE, THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS THERE'S ONE THING IN PARTICULAR THAT SHOWS OUR BEARS GREATEST OF ALL POWER AND CERTAINLY THAT THING IS THE WORD OF GOD. I RECALL, IN A FEW OF THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS, TIMES WHEN JESUS WAS WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND THEY WOULD ASK HIM QUESTIONS AND CERTAINLY WOULD RECEIVE MANY ANSWERS BUT IN PARTICULAR IN ONE OCCASION JESUS WAS DISCUSSING WITH HIS DISCIPLES ABOUT THOSE WHO HAD FORSAKEN HIM AND WHEN REALLY HE BEGAN TO ASK SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES ‘WHAT, YOU ALSO FORSAKE ME?’ DO YOU REMEMBER THEIR RESPONSE? ‘LORD, TO WHOM WOULD WE TURN OR WHERE WOULD WE GO.’ AND YOU KNOW WHY? THEY SAID, ‘FOR YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF LIFE.’ YOU SEE JESUS, THE WORD JESUS, THE WORDS OF LIFE. HE CAME SPEAKING THE WILL OF GOD AS A WHOLE AND BRINGING THE WILL OF THE FATHER. THAT MESSAGE, THAT WORD THAT COULD DO WHAT? THAT COULD SAVE MAN. YOU KNOW, IS IT NOT A BEAUTIFUL THING TO CONSIDER? THAT'S NO DOUBT WHY PEOPLE WERE DRAWN TO JESUS. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS IN THE POWER THAT HE HAD IN THE MIRACLES THAT HE PERFORMED BUT CERTAINLY THE REALITY OF WHAT HE SAID. THE TEACHINGS THAT HE GAVE THAT THROUGH HIM THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY. THROUGH HIM THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE THOSE RECIPIENTS OF THOSE MANSIONS IN HEAVEN THAT HE WOULD GO AND PREPARE FOR THEM. YOU SEE, HE OFFERED SOMETHING THAT WAS BEYOND THIS OR THAT WAS BEYOND THE LIMITED EXISTENCE OF THIS EARTH SOME 70, 80, OR 90 YEARS IF WE ARE BLESSED WITH SUCH. BUT HERE GOD IN THE FLESH, JESUS, OFFERED THE GREAT REWARD OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN. IS THAT NOT OFTEN WHAT HE SPOKE OF WHILE ON THE EARTH? NOT ONLY OFFERED LIFE, NOT ONLY DID HE OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY OF BLESSINGS AND REWARDS, BUT WHAT HE OFFERED WAS LIFE AND LIFE ETERNAL. <br> <br>

      WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT IN JUST A MOMENT WITHIN SOME OF OUR VERSES BUT I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH YOU AND THE BOOK OF ROMANS ITSELF. FOR IT IS HERE WITHIN ROMANS CHAPTER 1 THAT WE REALLY BEGIN TO SEE THE CONNECTION OF THE GOSPEL OR THE WORD OF GOD, THE GOOD NEWS WHICH WAS THE WORD FROM GOD AND HOW POWERFUL IT WAS AND CERTAINLY THEY WILL MAKE THAT CONNECTION TO JESUS. WHEN YOU READ WITH ME THERE THE FAMILIAR VERSE OF 16, ROMANS 1:16, “FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNDER SALVATION.” FOR WHO? IT SAYS, “THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO THE GREEK.” SEE THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? THAT GOOD NEWS, THAT GOOD MESSAGE FROM GOD, THAT WORD THAT WAS BROUGHT BY JESUS THAT MAN MIGHT KNOW HIM AND FIND SALVATION THROUGH THE PROMISES THAT HE GAVE AND THE DIRECTIVES THAT HE SPOKE TO THEM. JESUS AGAIN WAS IDENTIFIED OFTEN AS THAT WORD OR THAT WAY UNTO THE FATHER THAT, WAY INTO ETERNAL LIFE, AND THE WAY THAT WE WOULD REACH JESUS IS AT THE WORDS THAT HE SPOKE. THAT'S HOW WE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, KNOWLEDGE OF THE WILL OF GOD, KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO BE OBEDIENT THAT WE MIGHT ULTIMATELY, JOHN 14:15, SHOW OUR LOVE BY KEEPING THOSE COMMANDMENTS. DOING WHAT GOD HAS SAID. IS ALWAYS THAT THAT POWER AND REMEMBER THAT MATTHEW SPOKE OF THERE IN MATTHEW 20 AND 18, THAT ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY HAD BEEN GIVEN TO JESUS AS A WHEN HE CAME TO THE EARTH WITH ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY WHAT DID HE DO? HE SPOKE WITH THAT POWER AND AUTHORITY. AND THEN BY SENDING THE HOLY SPIRIT AND A BEING RECORDED IN A WRITTEN FORM WHAT WERE WE GIVEN? THAT SPOKEN WORD FROM THE ONE WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY. AND THEREFORE WHAT DOES PAUL SAY? I'M NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOOD NEWS, THE WORD OF GOD. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNDER SALVATION. IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED, YOU COULD ONLY BE SAVED BY AND THROUGH GOD SPECIFICALLY, JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL BE SAVED BY WHAT? THE GOSPEL, THE WORD OF GOD. THAT'S WHERE THE POWER IS. THAT'S WHERE THE CLEANSING AGENT IS FOUND. THAT'S WHERE THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST AND HIS SACRIFICE, HIS DEATH, HIS RESURRECTION, THE BLOODSHED, AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE FOUND ACCORDING TO THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD. <br> <br>

      AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT THEN THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL, THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD, WE MIGHT TURN OVER TO THE HEBREW LETTER. AND THERE THE INSPIRED WRITER OF HEBREWS IN CHAPTER 4 IDENTIFY SOME OTHER GREAT QUALITIES FOR US OF THE WORD OF GOD WHICH IS THE VERY WRITINGS OF GOD. AND IT SAYS THERE, VERSE 12, “THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL.” WHEN THE FIRST THING WE SEE IS NOT A DEAD THING, IS NOT SOMETHING JUST LAYING AROUND THAT’S USELESS, THAT'S FOR ANOTHER TIME OR FROM ANOTHER PERIOD OR MAYBE FOR ANOTHER DAY IN THE FUTURE. IT IS LIVING TODAY. IT IS ALIVE. ALIVE IN A SENSE THAT HIS BREATHING AND NEED TO BE READ AND ACCEPTED AND FOLLOWED AND THEREFORE RECEIVED, BENEFIT FROM BUT HE ALSO SAYS IT IS POWERFUL. WHY? IT IS THE WORD OF GOD THEREFORE, IT BEARS POWER. WHAT KIND OF POWER? THE POWER NOT ONLY TO HELP US TO KNOW GOD BUT THE POWER TO HELP US TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO ULTIMATELY ETERNALLY BE WITH GOD BUT THEN HE SPECIFICALLY SAYS THIS,THE POWER, “THAT IS SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD.” TWO-EDGED SWORD DOESN'T HAVE A SINGLE EDGE BUT A MULTIPLE EDGE SO THAT NO MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE THRUSTING ONE DIRECTION OR BACKWARDS, THE SWORD WOULD CUT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. SEE THE POWER OF THAT WORD IN EVERY DIRECTION TO BE EFFECTIVE SHARPER THAN A TWO EDGE SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVISION OF THE SOUL AND SPIRIT AND THE JOINTS AND MORROW AND A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS WHAT IS AVAILABLETO DO? IS ABLE TO HELP US BY AND THROUGH KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD DO, HOW WE SHOULD LIVE, WHAT WE NEED TO BE TO BE FOUND PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT. IT IS THAT AVENUE OF DISCERNMENT. IT HELPS ME TO KNOW WHAT RIGHTEOUS LIVING IS AND WHAT UNRIGHTEOUS LIVING IS AND THEREFORE IT HELPS ME TO KNOW WHAT GOD REQUIRES. WHAT HE WANTS. IT DOES THAT IN SEVERAL WAYS BY DIRECT COMMANDMENTS THAT ARE GIVEN. THROUGH EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO WERE TOLD CERTAIN THINGS OR THOSE WHO PRACTICE CERTAIN THINGS OR WOULD NOT PRACTICE CERTAIN THINGS. THE EXAMPLES OF LIVES OF THOSE IN EVERY AGE BUT, IN EACH CASE, WHAT THE BIBLE DOES IS IT SHOWS US THAT IT IS ABLE TO HELP US TO KNOW NOT ONLY WHO GOD IS BUT WHAT GOD REQUIRES. <br> <br>

      NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF THE GOSPEL THAT WE CAN LEARN BECAUSE THE GOSPEL HELPS US AS THE WORD OF GOD BY AND THROUGH ITS POWER TO BE ABLE TO WHAT DISCERN. SO TO DISCERN WHAT? WORDS THEMSELVES SPECIFICALLY. IN OTHER WORDS THAT GOSPEL. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK WITH ME AT THE BOOK OF GALATIANS CHAPTER 1. YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT PAUL HERE TOLD THE GALATIAN CHURCH TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE WERE THOSE THAT MIGHT COME TO THEM AND PREACH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL OR GOOD NEWS. HE SAYS THERE IN VERSE SIX HE WAS MARVELING THE SOME HAD TURNED AWAY SO SOON FROM THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST BUT THEN HE SAYS WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER, VERSE SEVEN, BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD TROUBLE YOU, WOULD WANT TO PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND HE WARNED THEM. HE SAYS, “IF WE EVEN WE, OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN OR ANYONE ELSE COME TO YOU WITH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL LET HIM BE ACCURSED.” HE SAYS IF I BRING A DIFFERENT GOSPEL TO YOU, REJECT ME. IF AN ANGEL FROM GOD BRINGS A DIFFERENT GOD, REJECT HIM. WHY? THE GOSPEL HAS BEEN DELIVERED. THE WORD HAS BEEN GIVEN. YOU SEE THE MESSAGE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. THE WILL OF GOD HAS VISITED. GOD DIDN'T GIVE SOMEONE A MESSAGE IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES OR 500 AD OR THOUSAND A.D. AND THEN HE'S CHANGING ALL THE TIME SO THAT I HAVE TO BE SAVED IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN THEY HAD TO BE SAVED. YOU SEE HE IS A GOD WHO IS NOT ONLY CONSISTENT BUT HE IS A GOD WHO IS NOT A RESPECTER OF PERSONS AND IF SOMEONE IN THAT AGE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND HIS WORD WAS ABLE TO BE SAVED BY DOING A, B, C, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING. WE CAN COUNT ON GOD. HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER WITHIN RELATIONSHIP TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS COVENANTS. HIS WORD HIS LAW. SO WE HAVE THE WORDS OF GOD IN THE GOSPEL THE SPECIFIC WORDS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IN OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS AND FOLLOW AND MAKE A PART OF US. BUT ALSO THOSE WORDS ARE NOT ONLY ABLE TO BE A PART OF US THAT WE MIGHT ACT UPON THEM. BUT TO ME THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PAUL SAID TO THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH IN PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 1 WHEN HE SPOKE OF HOW OUR CONDUCT IS AFFECTED BY NONE OTHER THAN THE GOSPEL. THAT POWERFUL AGENT. HE SAYS THERE VERSE 27, “ONLY LET YOUR CONDUCT BE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.” SAYS LET YOUR ACTIONS. SO HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO SPEAK WITH MY MOUTH? THE GOSPEL. HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY CONDUCT? THE GOSPEL. HOW DO I KNOW HOW TO CONDUCT MYSELF AS I INTERACT WITH MY FELLOW MAN IN A SECULAR WAY EVERY DAY? THE GOSPEL. HOW DO I KNOW I WORSHIP MY GOD IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE WHETHER I'M DOING IT INDIVIDUALLY OR WITH THE CHURCH? THE GOSPEL. HOW DO I KNOW THE RIGHT WORDS TO USE AND THE WORDS I SHOULD NOT USE AND HOW DO I KNOW? THE GOSPEL. THE MESSAGE THAT YOU BROKE UP THE WORD OF GOD THE GOSPEL YOU SEE THE POWER OF THAT WORD YOU SEE HOW PRODUCTIVE IT IS AND YOU SEE HOW IT SHOULD BE NOT ONLY OUR GUIDE BUT IT SHOULD BE THAT THING BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS THE POWER OF GOD AND THE SALVATION. THAT WE HOLD DEARLY AND THAT WE CONSIDER AS PRECIOUS AND SPECIAL TO US SO THAT WE NOT ONLY OURSELVES WANT TO ENJOY ITS PRECEPTS AND BE OBEDIENT AND THEREFORE BE REWARDED BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO EVANGELIZE AND SHARE THAT MESSAGE AS WELL WITH OTHERS. <br> <br>

      AS A FINAL THING I'D LIKE YOU TO NOTICE WITH ME ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD THAT GOSPEL OF TRUTH AND IT IS SPOKEN BY JESUS HIMSELF. IF YOU TURN THERE TO THE BOOK OF JOHN IN CHAPTER 12, WE NOTICE HERE THAT HE SPEAKING ABOUT THE WORDS THAT HE HAD AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS I IDENTIFIED THERE ABOUT THE WORDS THAT HE SPOKE. FIRST THING THAT HE IDENTIFIES AS HE SAYS, VERSE 48, IF YOU REJECT ME AND YOU DON'T RECEIVE MY WORDS, YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL JUDGE YOU. AND HE SAYS WHAT'S GOING TO JUDGE YOU IN THE LAST DAY IS THE WORD THAT I'VE SPOKEN. “HE WHO REJECTS ME, AND DOES NOT RECEIVE MY WORDS,” HAS THAT WOULD JUDGES HIM. THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WILL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY. SO THOSE VERY WORDS THAT GOD SPOKE, THOSE SAVING WORDS, THAT GOSPEL THAT HE BROUGHT, THAT MESSAGE OF SALVATION THEY WILL JUDGE. THEY WILL JUDGE US. SO WE CAN SEE WHETHER WE HAVE ALIGNED OURSELVES IN CONDUCT IN WORD WITH WHAT GOD HAS REQUIRED. THAT'S WHY THE COLOSSIANS PAUL SAID, “WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO…” WHAT? “ALL.” NOT SO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD BECAUSE THOSE THINGS JUDGE US. THE AUTHORITY OF GOD AND HIS WORD JUDGES US. BUT THEN HE SAYS THIS IS AS MY WORDS WERE MY OWN HE SAYS I HAVE NOT SPOKEN MY ATHOURITY BUT THE FATHER WHO HAS SENT ME GAVE ME A COMMANDMENT OF WHAT I SHOULD SAY, WHAT I SHOULD SPEAK. HE SAYS WHAT THEY CAN DO IS WHAT IS FROM GOD, THE WORDS OF SALVATION. AND THEN FINALLY HE SAYS, AND I KNOW THAT HIS COMMANDMENT IS EVERLASTING LIFE. <br> <br>

      IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED, IF YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN, IF YOU WANT EVERLASTING LIFE, YOU BETTER TURN TO THE ONLY THING THAT IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO TEACH YOU ABOUT WHERE THAT IS FOUND AND WHO OFFERS IT AND THAT IS THE WORD OF GOD, THE GOSPEL. THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST. IF YOU'LL TURN THAT AND STUDY IT AND YOU PUT INTO YOUR HEART AND MIND AND YOU'LL ACT UPON IT, GOD WILL SAVE YOU AND BLESS YOU NOT ONLY IN THIS LIFE BUT WILL BLESS YOU IN THE LIFE TO COME. SO THAT YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GREATEST POWER FROM GOD IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD SO THAT YOU MIGHT ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT AND THEREFORE YOU'LL BE SOMEONE WHO BENEFITS ACCORDINGLY.<br> <br>

      

      CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US THIS MORNING. I HOPE WE ALL HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED THROUGH OUR TIME SPENT TOGETHER. PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD.<br> <br>

      NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON? MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A FREE CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM? POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES? NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:<br> <br>

      

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      HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AVAILABLE FOR OUR GUIDE AND HELP. MAY WE ALL STRIVE TO LEARN IT AND FOLLOWING EACH ACCORDING TO ITS EVERY PRECEPT AND REQUIREMENT. THE QUESTION FOR YOU THIS DAY IS, “HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST?” AND IF NOT, WHY NOT? CHOOSE TODAY TO SERVE GOD! 

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