THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 11-26-17

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LESSON TITLE: “WALK IN HIM”<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>

 

      HERE WE ARE AGAIN ON ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL LORD’S DAY! THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US AS WE TOGETHER GIVE THIS TIME TO OUR CREATOR. IT WILL BE OUR PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING TO AGAIN SING PRAISES TO OUR GOD AND TO STUDY FROM HIS MATCHLESS WORD. I HOPE WE ALL WILL DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME TOGETHER ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT.  NOW WILL YOU BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER!

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      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSING OF LIFE, THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE YOU AND BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN. AND FATHER, HELP US TO EVERY DAY TO ILLUMINATE IN THIS WORLD THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW YOU AND WOULD OBEY YOUR TRUTH AND FIND SALVATION AS WELL. AND FATHER, WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER GIVE US THAT PROMISED REWARD OF HEAVEN, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE WITH YOU FOREVER IN THAT WONDROUS PARADISE. WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS AND WE KNOW THAT ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM ARE ALL THESE THINGS POSSIBLE. AND IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.  <br> <br>



      I OFTEN THINK OF WHAT JOY IT MUST BRING TO GOD WHEN WE STAND UP FOR GOD AND DO WHAT HE COMMANDS. OUR FIRST SONG THIS MORNING REMINDS US OF JUST HOW SWEET IT IS TO GOD, WHEN WE FOLLOW HIS WILL AND TREAT OTHERS AS WE SHOULD. ISN’T IT A GREAT TO BE A CHILD OF GOD AND TO SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD? WON’T YOU JOIN IN OUR FIRST SONG THIS MORNING, AS WE SING TOGETHER, “SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ARISE.” <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      

      IN PSALMS 51:10, WE FIND SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND THOUGHT PROVOKING WORDS EVERY WRITTEN BY DAVID. THERE HE SAID, “CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME.”  <br> <br>

      WHAT A WONDERFUL SPIRIT WE SEE IN THIS CHILD OF GOD AS HE PROSTRATED HIMSELF BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY TO CONFESS HIS NEED FOR HELP. IN THIS PASSAGE, WE FIND THAT DAVID CLEARLY IMPLIED THE PROBLEM OF SIN IN HIS LIFE, BECAUSE OF HIS REQUEST FOR A CLEAN HEART.  <br> <br>

      HOW MANY OF US STRUGGLE WITH THE SIN AND TEMPTATIONS OF THIS LIFE? HOW OFTEN DO WE FIND OURSELVES SLIPPING OF FALLING INTO THINGS WHICH ARE NOT APPROVED OF BY GOD? YOU SEE, DAVID WAS THERE ALSO, HE SUFFERED AS WE DO, AND HE ALSO FELL SHORT AT TIMES AS WE DO!  <br> <br>

      THIS REQUEST FOR A CLEAN HEART ALSO WOULD IMPLY THAT DAVID WANTED TO BE MORE LIKE HIS CREATOR. REMEMBER THE CRIES BY GOD THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT AS HE PLEADED WITH HIS PEOPLE TO, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY,” LEVITICUS 11:45. IT IS FROM THIS KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU AND I MUST ALSO PLEAD WITH GOD TO GIVE US A CLEAN HEART. FURTHERMORE, KEEPING IN MIND THAT TODAY BECAUSE OF CHRIST WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF THESE SINS - IF WE WILL BUT ASK AND FOLLOW HIS WILL.  <br> <br>

      FINALLY, NOTICE THE SECOND PART OF DAVID’S REQUEST, WHEN HE SAID, “AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME.” HERE WE FIND ANOTHER PLEA FROM THIS GREAT SERVANT OF GOD, THAT THE LORD GAVE HIM A RENEWED STRENGTH AND THE ABILITY TO DO AS THE SAVIOR HAD ASKED HIM TO.  OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL CHURCH WE WOULD HAVE TODAY IF WE ALL WOULD RELY ON GOD AND MAKE SIMILAR REQUESTS FOR HIS HELP.<br> <br>

      OUR LORD CAN HELP US TO HAVE A CLEAN HEART. OUR GOD CAN HELP US TO HAVE A RENEWED SPIRIT, AND OUR SAVIOR CAN HELP US TO HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DO HIS WILL. THE QUESTION IS, “ARE WE WILLING TO DO OUR PART?” ARE YOU COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING GOD AND TO A COMPLETE OBEDIENCE OF HIS WILL? WHY NOT CHOOSE TODAY TO RECOMMIT YOURSELF TO THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE ON THIS EARTH - THAT IS, BEING A FAITHFUL CHILD OF GOD! WILL YOU ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE?  <br> <br>

      THIS MORNING, WE WILL BEGIN A NEW SERIES OF STUDY ENTITLED, “COMPLETE IN HIM.” OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC TODAY IS, “WALK IN HIM.” SO, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING, AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER WE WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY OF THE DAY. <br> <br>

      AS FAR AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER, WE ARE HAPPY TO AGAIN HAVE BROTHER BRENT GREEN WITH US. BROTHER BRENT IS THE MINISTER FOR THE HWY 13 CHURCH OF CHRIST IN BOLIVAR MISSOURI AND IS ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR AT THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI. WE THANK HIM FOR JOINING US TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING OUR THOUGHTS FORM GOD’S WORD. NOW, LET’S JOIN IN OUR NEXT HYMN TOGETHER, WHICH IS CALLED, “SUN OF MY SOUL!” <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BRENT GREEN<br> <br>



      WHAT A GREAT JOY IT IS AS ALWAYS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE WORD OF GOD AND STUDY IT. AS WE GET READY TO DO THAT, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF BEING COMPLETE. I KNOW PROBABLY ALL THOSE AT SOME POINT TIME, WHETHER IT WAS SCHOOL OR WORK OR SOME PROJECT AROUND THE HOUSE, HAS SOMETHING THAT WAS INCOMPLETE. MAYBE WE STARTED IT, MAYBE WE CONTINUED IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR MAYBE EVEN WEEKS, AND JUST DIDN'T QUITE FINISH IT. AND HOW KIND OF DISHEARTENING IT CAN BE WHEN SOMETHING IS NOT COMPLETE AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. <br> <br>

      NOW, SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, CAN WE BE COMPLETE? I WANT YOU TO READ WITH ME WHAT WE FIND IN COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2 BEGINNING IN VERSE SIX. COLOSSIANS 2:6 SAYS: <br> <br>

      “AS YOU THEREFORE HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, SO WALK IN HIM, ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM AND ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH, AS YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, ABOUNDING IN IT WITH THANKSGIVING. BEWARE LEST ANYONE CHEATS YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEIT, ACCORDING TO THE TRADITIONS OF MEN, ACCORDING TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST. FOR IN HIM DWELLS ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY; AND YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, WHO IS THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER.” <br> <br>

      THERE AS PAUL WRITES TO CHRISTIANS IN COLOSSAE BY APPLICATIONS TO US WHO ARE CHRISTIANS STILL TODAY, HE TEACHES US THAT WE CAN BE COMPLETE BUT OUR BEING COMPLETE IS IN CHRIST JESUS OR AS VERSE 10 SAYS, “IN HIM.” WELL, WE CAN'T BE COMPLETE THROUGH THE TRADITIONS OF MEN. WE CAN'T BE COMPLETE THROUGH THE DECEITFUL PHILOSOPHIES OF THIS WORLD BUT WE CAN BE COMPLETE IN JESUS CHRIST. NOW, AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE COMPLETE IN THIS PASSAGE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS IDENTIFIED THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO BE COMPLETE SPIRITUALLY AND NOT FIND OURSELVES STILL INCOMPLETE OR STILL LACKING SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NEED SPIRITUALLY. WELL, HOW DO WE DO THAT? WELL ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IS IDENTIFIED IS....BACKUP AS WE READ...BEGIN THERE IN VERSE SIX. ONCE AGAIN IT SAYS, “AS YOU THEREFORE HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, SO WALK IN HIM.” WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT IN OUR TIME NOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE COMPLETE IN REFERENCE TO THIS REQUIREMENT OF HAVING TO WALK IN CHRIST JESUS. IF WE WANT TO BE COMPLETE THIS IS ONE OF THE PIECES HERE. ONE OF THINGS THAT WE MUST DO THAT WE MIGHT BE COMPLETE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK AS WE WOULD FIND LATER IN SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3. WELL, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT HERE WE WALK ACCORDING TO THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. THE WORD HERE FOR A WALK IS ACTUALLY THE IDEA OF WALKING AROUND, NOT WALKING AROUND AIMLESSLY, BUT AS WE WALK AROUND IT SIGNIFIES OUR LIFESTYLE. AND WHAT SHOULD OUR LIFESTYLE ENCOMPASS? WELL, WE ARE TO WALK AROUND IN CHRIST JESUS. IN OTHER WORDS OUR DAILY WALK IS TO BE ONE THAT WE WALK ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN GIVEN TO US BY JESUS CHRIST. IT MEANS WE FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE. WE THINK ABOUT WHAT HE TAUGHT AND ABOUT HOW HE LIVED AND THE EXAMPLE HE SET BEFORE US AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW AFTER HIM. IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE TO WALK IN HIS STEPS IF WE ARE GOING TO WALK IN HIM.<br> <br> 

      PAUL SAID IT VERY WELL IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11 VERSE ONE, WHERE THERE HE SAID, “IMITATE ME, AS I ALSO IMITATE CHRIST.” NOW THERE'S A DIFFERENT IDEA THERE WITH THAT WORD IMITATE BUT THE APPLICATION IS VERY SIMILAR. THAT WE ARE TO THERE AS WE WOULD IMITATE, COLLECT SOMETHING OF GREAT VALUE. WHAT IS OF GREATER VALUE THAN JESUS CHRIST? WHAT COULD BE OF GREATER VALUE TO US SPIRITUALLY THAN TO FOLLOW AFTER JESUS OUR SAVIOR? AND SO PAUL SAID THAT HE IS GOING TO IMITATE IN HIS LIVE JESUS CHRIST, AND THEREFORE WE COULD FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE BECAUSE THAT EXAMPLE IS ONE THAT WAS PATTERNED AFTER JESUS. NOW, THE SAME IS TRUE FOR US TODAY. WE MUST BE IMITATORS OF JESUS CHRIST (EPHESIANS 5 VERSE 1), TO BE IMITATORS OF GOD AS DEAR CHILDREN. AND AS WE IMITATE CHRIST, AS WE IMITATE GOD, WE ARE TO BE THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING AFTER THE EXAMPLE GIVEN TO US BY OUR VERY SAVIOR. THAT WE WALK ACCORDING TO HIS PATTERN, THAT WE SPEAK AS HE WOULD HAVE US TO SPEAK, THAT WE WOULD LIVE AS HE WOULD HAVE US TO LIVE AS WE WALK IN HIM.<br> <br> 

      I WANT US TO THINK NOW MORE SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW AFTER THE PATTERN OR THE CONDUCT OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE IN JOHN CHAPTER 14 IN VERSE SIX, JESUS HIMSELF GAVE US SOME WORDS THERE THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS WE THINK ABOUT THE LIVES THAT WE'RE LIVING AS CHRISTIANS AND THE PATHWAY THAT WE ARE TO BE UPON. THERE IN JOHN CHAPTER 14 VERSE SIX JESUS SAID THIS. JESUS THERE IN HIS OWN WORDS, “‘I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.’” WELL, SURELY OUR GOAL IN THIS LIFE IS TO MAKE IT TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER BECAUSE WE KNOW HIS ABODE IS THERE IN THAT HEAVENLY REALM. ISN'T THAT WHERE WE WANT TO BE? WELL, HOW DO WE MAKE IT THERE? WELL, WE DON'T FOLLOW THE INTERSTATES OF THIS WORLD. WE DON'T FOLLOW DOWN THE PATHWAYS OF MEN. THINGS OF THIS LIFE ARE NOT GOING TO GET US THERE. WHAT'S THE ROAD? JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY.” HE SAID, “I AM THE TRUTH, I AM THE LIFE.” WE DESIRE THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. WE DESIRE TO KNOW THE TRUTH THAT IS GOING TO LEAD US UNDER THAT HEAVENLY REALM. WE WANT TO KNOW THE WAY. THAT WAY IS JESUS CHRIST. YOU CAN'T FOLLOW ANY OTHER PATHWAY. THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY AND THAT WAY IS JESUS. TO BE COMPLETE, WE HAVE TO WALK IN HIM. AND TO WALK IN HIM MEANS WE FOLLOW AFTER HIS WAY BECAUSE IT IS INDEED THE ONLY WAY! <br> <br>

      AS WE FOLLOW DOWN THAT WAY OF JESUS CHRIST THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN THINK ABOUT AND THAT IS RELATIONSHIP TO THE ONE WHO IS LEADING THAT WAY FOR US. WELL, WE KNOW THAT'S JESUS AS WE JUST READ ABOUT. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER IMAGE THAT WE COULD THINK ABOUT FROM THE SCRIPTURE. WHAT DO WE FIND IN PSALM CHAPTER 23? WELL, PSALMIST DAVID THERE SAYS TO BEGIN WITH, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.” IN OTHER WORDS, GOD IS THE ONE WHO IS THE SHEPHERD, TAKING CARE OF THE SHEEP, FEEDING THE SHEEP, BEING THE ONE WHO WOULD BE THE OVERSEER OF HIS SHEEP. BUT YOU REALIZE THAT JESUS WOULD USE THE SAME IDEA IN JOHN CHAPTER 10 AND VERSE 14 WHEN HE DECLARED OF HIMSELF, “‘I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD.’” WELL, AS WE HAVE A SHEPHERD IN JESUS, WE HAVE ONE WHO WILL LEAD OUR WAYS. USING AGAIN THE WORDS OF DAVID IN PSALM 23 VERSE THREE, THAT THE SHEPHERD THERE WOULD LEAD US IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. WHAT WAY DOES OUR SHEPHERD JESUS CHRIST LEAD US TODAY? WELL, HE DOESN'T LEAD US IN PATHWAYS OF WICKEDNESS. HE DOESN'T LEAD US DOWN PATHWAYS OF DECEIT AND TRICKERY. NO, JESUS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DARKNESS AND SAID JESUS STILL LEADS US IN THE PATHWAYS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. AS WE FOLLOW JESUS AS THE WAY, HE IS UNTO US OUR SHEPHERD, THE ONE WHO ALSO WILL FEED US AND GUIDE US AND PROTECT US. THE ONE WHO WILL BE THERE FOR US. THE ONE WHO WILL LEAD US IN THE PAST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS STILL TODAY. WHAT A GREAT AND COMFORTING THOUGHT TO KNOW THAT JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD! WHAT A CHALLENGING THOUGHT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT CHILDREN IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THERE PARENTS, ESPECIALLY SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SEE THEM FOLLOWING RIGHT BEHIND YOU THEY WANT TO WALK IN MOTHER OR FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS. WELL, SHOULDN'T WE WANT TO WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FOLLOWING AFTER HIS SON JESUS CHRIST MAKING SURE THAT EVERY STEP WE TAKE ALONG THE WAY IS ACCORDING TO THE STEPS THAT HE HAS TAKEN ACCORDING TO THE EXAMPLE THAT HE HAS SET FOR US? LET US MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW AFTER THAT GOOD SHEPHERD THAT WE MIGHT WALK IN HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY. FURTHERMORE AS WE WALK IN HIM IT MEANS THAT WE ARE WALKING IN HIS LIGHT. LOOK WITH ME AT FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 1. THERE IS A KEY PASSAGE HERE THAT'S DESCRIBED FOR US THE OPPOSITES OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT AS WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THEM FROM THE SCRIPTURE IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE. BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHALLENGE US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WALKING RIGHTFULLY SO AFTER THE ONE, JESUS CHRIST, ONCE AGAIN, FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 1 VERSE FIVE SAYS: <br> <br>

      “THIS IS THE MESSAGE WHICH WE'VE HEARD FROM HIM AND DECLARE TO YOU, THAT GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. IF WE SAY WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, AND WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT PRACTICE THE TRUTH. BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN.” <br> <br>

      THE MESSAGE OF JOHN WAS VERY CLEAR AND VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD, THAT GOD IS LIGHT. THERE'S NO DARKNESS IN GOD, THERE'S NO DECEIT, THERE'S NO LYING IN GOD, THERE'S NONE OF THOSE THINGS OF THIS WORLD OF WICKEDNESS IN GOD. GOD IS LIGHT AND WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WE ARE TO WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS THE LIGHT. IN OTHER WORDS, GOD IS UNTO US THAT LIGHT THAT WOULD GUIDE OUR PATHWAY, THAT WOULD GIVE US DIRECTION, HE IS REVEALED TO US WHAT WE SHOULD WALK IN BECAUSE HE IS THAT LIGHT. AND HOW ARE WE TO WALK? WE ARE TO WALK IN THE LIGHT. NO, WE'RE NOT TO WALK IN DARKNESS, WE'RE NOT TO LIE AND FAIL TO PRACTICE THE TRUTH. NO, WE ARE TO WALK IN GOD'S LIGHT. AND AS WE DO SUCH, ONE OF THE GREAT BLESSINGS THERE IS WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP; ONE WITH ANOTHER. SO AS I WALK IN THE LIGHT AND AS YOU WALK IN THE LIGHT OF GOD, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. AND FURTHERMORE, IT SAYS THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. YOU REALIZE THAT TODAY IF YOU'RE WALKING IN THE LIGHT YOU'RE JUST AS PURE AND FREE FROM SIN AS YOU WERE THE DAY YOU WERE BAPTIZED. WHAT A GREAT BLESSING THAT IS TO HAVE THE CONTINUALLY CLEANSING BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST WASH US EVERY DAY AS WE MEET THE CONDITION OF WALKING IN THE LIGHT. BUT AS WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, THAT MEANS WE'RE WALKING AGAIN IN JESUS CHRIST.<br> <br> 

      THERE IN JOHN, JOHN CHAPTER EIGHT IN VERSE 12, ONE OF THOSE STATEMENTS ONCE AGAIN THAT WOULD NOT ONLY CLARIFY THAT GOD IS LIGHT BUT THE SON IS THE SAME. JESUS SAYS THERE IN JOHN CHAPTER 8 AND VERSE 12, “‘I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. HE WHO FOLLOWS ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS BUT, HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.’” WELL, THAT'S THE PATHWAY AGAIN THAT WE WANT TO BE ON. WE WANT TO BE THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING AFTER JESUS WHO IS THE WAY, WHO IS OUR SHEPHERD, WHO HERE IS THAT LIGHT THAT WE ARE TO FOLLOW AFTER. THAT IS THE PATHWAY WE ARE TO BE ON. TO WALK IN JESUS, TO WALK IN HIS LIGHT, TO WALK IN HIM. AND THUS IT IS PART OF WHAT WOULD ENABLE US TO BE COMPLETE AS CHRISTIANS. NOT JUST WALK IN THE LIGHT.<br> <br>

      THOUGH THERE'S ANOTHER TERM I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK IN HIM. THAT MEANS THAT WE WALK IN HIS TRUTH OR THAT WE WALK IN TRUTH ITSELF. WHAT IS TRUTH? JESUS WILL TELLS US THERE IN JOHN 17:17, “‘SANCTIFY THEM BY YOUR TRUTH. YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.’” IT IS GOD'S WORD THAT IS OUR TRUTH. AND WHAT ARE WE TO DO? TO WALK IN THAT TRUTH. THAT'S HOW WE WALK IN HIM AS WE WOULD AGAIN FOLLOW THE WAY OF JESUS. WE FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD, WE WALK IN HIS LIGHT. WELL, THAT MEANS WE'RE WALKING STEP-BY-STEP IN THE TRUTH THAT HE HAS GIVEN UNTO US. WHAT WE FIND THERE IN PSALM 1:19 ABOUT GOD'S WORD. THERE IT SAYS THAT, “THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.” WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WOULD GUIDE US, THAT IS THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD. SOMETHING THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE FOR US THE DANGERS AS WE TRY TO STEP FORWARD IN THIS LIFE WALKING AMID THIS DARK WORLD. SOMETHING THAT WOULD SHOW US THE PITFALLS AND THE SNARES THAT ARE OUT THERE TO TRY TO TRAP US. SOMETHING THAT WOULD ENLIGHTEN FOR US THE DANGERS OF SATAN THAT HE PUTS BEFORE OUR EYES EVERYDAY. WE HAVE THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD THAT IS UNTO US A LAMP AND A LIGHT, A GUIDE UNTO US. ARE WE STILL LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO GUIDE US UNDER THAT HEAVENLY REALM? NO, TO BE COMPLETE WE WALK IN HIM AND FOLLOW THE GUIDE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN, THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUTH. LET US WALK ACCORDING TO THAT STANDARD EVERYDAY THAT WE MIGHT BE WALKING IN HIM. ONCE AGAIN, THERE IN JOHN CHAPTER EIGHT IN VERSE 32 SAYS, “‘YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.’” WE'VE BEEN FREED FROM SIN BECAUSE WE KNOW THE TRUTH. HAVING OBEYED THAT TRUTH WE NOW ARE ON THIS PATHWAY ABOUT WHICH WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING, THE WAY INTO HEAVEN. THE WAY OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WE MIGHT EVERYDAY CONTINUE THEREFORE TO WALK IN HIM. BUT AS WE WALK IN HIM THERE IS A MUCH GREATER REQUIREMENT FOR OTHERS AS CHRISTIANS. <br> <br>

      WE UNDERSTAND NOW THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING JESUS, THAT'S BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT FROM THE SCRIPTURE THAT HE'S THE ONLY ONE IN WHICH WE ARE TO WALK. BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US? WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US IN OUR LIVES THAT WE MIGHT BE THOSE WHO ARE TRULY WILLING TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE? WELL, THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO DENY YOURSELF. THERE IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 2 VERSE 20 PAUL SAID, “I'VE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME; THE LIFE THAT I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVES ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” WHAT WAS PAUL TALKING ABOUT? WELL, HE WASN'T LIVING FOR HIMSELF ANY LONGER. HE WAS WILLING TO DENY HIMSELF FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST THAT HE MIGHT LIVE FOR JESUS EVERYDAY. WHAT ABOUT MY HIGH UP POSITION OR ABOUT MY RANKINGS IN SOCIETY OR ABOUT THE MONEY I HAVE OR ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE USE AS SOMEHOW MARKERS TO INDICATE WHERE YOU'RE AT IN RELATIONSHIP TO OTHERS. WELL, PAUL WOULD SAY HE COUNTED ALL THOSE THINGS IN HIS LIFE AS RUBBISH AND CASTAWAY THOSE THINGS THAT HE MIGHT LIVE FOR JESUS CHRIST. THAT MEANT A LOT TO GIVE UP HIS PLACE IN SOCIETY. A LOT TO GIVE UP HIS PLACE RELIGIOUSLY. BEING TRAINED AT THE FEET OF GAMALIEL, LIKELY ONE DAY BEING A PART OF A GREAT SANHEDRIN COUNCIL. PAUL SAID, ‘I GAVE IT ALL UP.’ THOSE THINGS DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO HIM ANY LONGER. WHAT MEANT SOMETHING WAS TO LIVE FOR CHRIST. PAUL WAS WILLING TO DENY HIMSELF JUST AS CHRIST HAD DENIED HIMSELF. WHAT DID JESUS GIVE UP TO COME TO THIS EARTH? THE VERY THRONE OF HEAVEN. THERE THAT RIGHT HAND OF GOD, THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY, HE NEVER GAVE UP HIS DEITY BUT HE DID COME LIVE IN THE FLESH AS A MAN. AND DOING SUCH WAS A GREAT DENIAL OF HIS POSITION THERE IN HEAVEN. JESUS SHOWED US HOW TO DENY SELF. PAUL FOLLOWED THAT EXAMPLE AND WHAT SHOULD WE FOLLOW? THAT SAME THING IN OUR LIVES. LOOK WITH ME ALSO AT ANOTHER VERSE THAT WOULD HELP ENCOURAGE AND CHALLENGE US IN THAT SAME LIGHT. THERE IN SECOND CORINTHIANS, SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 5, WE FIND THESE WORDS BEGINNING THERE IN VERSE 14 OF WHAT PAUL WROTE, SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 5:14, “FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST COMPELS US, BECAUSE WE JUDGE THUS: THAT IF ONE DIED FOR ALL THEN ALL DIED; AND HE DIED FOR ALL, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE SHOULD LIVE NO LONGER FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR HIM WHO DIED FOR THEM AND ROSE AGAIN.” WE DON'T LIVE FOR SELF ANY  LONGER. NO, NOT THOSE OF US WHO BECOME CHRISTIANS. WE LIVE NOW FOR JESUS CHRIST. WE LIVE THAT WE MIGHT WALK IN HIM IN ORDER TO BE COMPLETE.<br> <br> 

      I DO WANT YOU TO CONSIDER A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS AND WHAT HE DID IN THE EXAMPLE THAT HE SET. AND IN SETTING THAT EXAMPLE LEFT WAS ONCE AGAIN SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN. LOOK WITH ME NOW AT PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2, PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2 BEGINNING THERE IN VERSE FIVE WE FIND THE EXAMPLE THAT CHRIST SET FOR US. PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2 VERSE FIVE SAYS: <br> <br>

      “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH ALSO WAS IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER IT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD, BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT, AND COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS. THEREFORE GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND GIVEN HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THOSE IN HEAVEN, AND OF THOSE ON EARTH, AND OF THOSE UNDER THE EARTH, AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” <br> <br>

      WHAT DID JESUS DO? HE LEFT THAT HEAVENLY REALM. HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS. THAT GREAT EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICE IS THE ONE THAT WE MUST FOLLOW. CONSIDER HERE IN THIS VERSE THE THINKING LIKE CHRIST AS CHRIST THOUGHT SO WE SHOULD THINK. THE LIKENESS OF GOD AS JESUS CAME THE FORM WE ALSO HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD. THERE IN JAMES CHAPTER 3 AND VERSE 9. LET US REMEMBER THAT. FURTHERMORE AS CHRIST MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, TOOK ON THE FORM OF A SERVANT. WE, TOO, MUST BE WILLING TO SERVE GOD. JESUS HUMBLED HIMSELF AND WAS WILLING TO DIE. WHAT EXAMPLE MUST WE FOLLOW? THAT VERY SAME EXAMPLE. ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE FOR CHRIST?  REVELATION 2:10, “BE FOUND FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.” AS WE CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS TO BE COMPLETE, LET US UNDERSTAND WE MUST WALK IN HIM. AND AS WE WALK IN HIM, WE MUST WALK ACCORDING  TO THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS. <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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      THE QUESTION OF THE DAY IS, “ARE WE WALKING WITH GOD AND THUS FOUND PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT?” IF SO PRAISE BE TO GOD, BUT IF NOT, WHY NOT DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TODAY TO PUT GOD FIRST AND DO ALL THAT HE REQUIRES, FOR, THE FAITHFUL WALK WITH GOD! <br> <br>