THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 11-5-17<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “THE GREATEST GUIDE”

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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>



      IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THIS TIME OF OFFERING AND PRAISE TO OUR GOD. WE ARE GLAD YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE WITH US TODAY, AS WE TOGETHER STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD AND SING SONGS OF PRAISE TO HIS NAME. LET ME ENCOURAGE EACH OF US THIS MORNING TO DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME TOGETHER ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT. NOW LET’S BEGIN BY APPROACHING HIS THRONE IN PRAYER.<br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND EACH AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE AND EVERY BLESSING OF LIFE, FOR WE KNOW THAT ONLY YOU PROVIDE FOR US ALL THAT WE NEED PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU MOST OF ALL FOR THE GREAT GIFT OF YOUR SON JESUS AND WE KNOW THAT ONLY THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE AND THE BLOODSHED, AS WELL AS HIS RESURRECTION, ARE WE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU THIS DAY JUSTIFIED THROUGH YOUR GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY. AND FATHER, HELP US THEREFORE TO BE MOTIVATED TO LIVE FOR YOU EVERY DAY AND TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD AND IN THIS COMMUNITY AS YOU WOULD HAVE US TO SO THAT THEY, THAT IS THE WORLD, MIGHT KNOW YOU AND OBEY YOUR TRUTH AND OBEY WHAT IT IS THAT WILL GIVE THEM SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE BEFORE IT IS EVERLASTINGLY TOO LATE. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS. IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. 

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      SOMETIMES IT IS HARD IN LIFE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO OR TO DECIDE WHICH WAY WE SHOULD GO. THE WORLD GIVES SO MANY DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS IN OUR EVERY DAY LIVES. HOWEVER, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A CHRISTIAN, WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THESE TYPES OF DECISIONS.  WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE EASILY MADE WHEN WE PUT GOD FIRST AND FOLLOW HIS WILL. NOW, AS THE FAITHFUL, WE KNOW WE HAVE EVERY INCENTIVE TO OBEY AND DO HIS WILL. ISN’T THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN WONDROUS? OUR FIRST SONG THIS MORNING HELPS US TO REALIZE JUST WHAT IS AWAITING THE FAITHFUL AT THE END OF ALL THINGS. WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING THE HYMN, “I’LL FLY AWAY!” <br> <br>

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED AND ASKED THE QUESTION, “WHY DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE?” AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES, WE HAVE ALL QUESTIONED OUR FAITH OR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORD OF GOD WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE IT!  <br> <br>

      JOHN HELPS US WITH OUR ANSWER IN HIS GOSPEL ACCOUNT, IN CHAPTER 20, VERSES 30-31. THERE WE READ, “AND TRULY JESUS DID MANY OTHER SIGNS IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.”  THERE WE HAVE IT, WE HAVE THE BIBLE SO THAT WE MAY BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF JESUS. <br> <br> 

      LET’S ALSO READ FROM 1 JOHN 5:13. AGAIN, IN THIS VERSE JOHN HELPS US WITH OUR DISCUSSION AS HE SAID, “THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.”  <br> <br>

      PRAISE BE TO GOD THAT WE HAVE THE BIBLE TO HELP US KNOW WHO JESUS IS. AND NOT ONLY TO KNOW WHO HE IS BUT ALSO WHAT HE EXPECTS OF US IF WE ARE TO BE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BOOK, THE BOOK OF BOOKS, THE WORD OF GOD, TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW, TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT GOD WANTS OF HIS FOLLOWERS.  <br> <br>

      ISN’T THAT WHAT PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY IN 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17? THERE HE SAID, “ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.” HERE WE HAVE CONFIRMED, ALL OF THE BIBLE IS FROM GOD, IT PROFITS US IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIVES, AND IT COMPLETELY EQUIPS US FOR EVERYTHING WE MUST DO IN LIFE.  <br> <br>

      PRAISE BE TO GOD THAT HE HAS BLESSED US WITH SUCH A WONDERFUL AND INFORMATIVE BOOK. A BOOK THAT IS PERFECT, AS JAMES SAID IN CHAPTER 1, VERSE 25 OF HIS BOOK! IT IS THIS PERFECT BOOK FROM GOD WHICH GIVE US ALL THE ANSWERS WE NEED AND SHOWS US THE PROPER DIRECTION IN WHICH TO GO. <br> <br> 

      SO, NOW LET ME ASK YOU AGAIN, “WHY DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE?” MAY WE ALWAYS REALIZE THAT WE HAVE GOD’S BOOK TO KNOW OUR JESUS AND TO OBEY HIS WILL! ARE YOU DOING WHAT GOD ASKS?<br> <br>

      OUR TOPIC TODAY IS STILL RELATED TO OUR SERIES “THE LORD HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US.” OUR SPECIFIC LESSON THIS MORNING WILL FOCUS ON, “THE GREATEST GUIDE.”  SO, PLEASE STAY WITH US AND IN A FEW MINUTES I WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. NOW IT’S TIME TO JOIN IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE DAY, IT’S NAME, “PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.” <br> <br>

      

      LESSON<br> <br>

      RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE’RE SO GLAD THAT YOU’VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS DAY AS WE NOW GO TO GOD’S WORD TO CONSIDER ANOTHER IMPORTANT LESSON IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE WONDROUS THINGS THAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT I MIGHT BEGIN BY ASKING YOU THIS QUESTION: CAN YOU THINK ABOUT PERHAPS SOME TIME WHEN YOU WERE GOING SOMEWHERE AND YOU WERE TRYING TO FIND WHICH WAY TO GO OR MAYBE WHAT THE BEST PATH WAS? OF COURSE, TODAY WE USUALLY JUST GET ON OUR CELL PHONE OR WE USE OUR GPS AND IT WILL GIVE US THAT BEST ROUTE. SOMETIMES WE FIND OUT IT IS NOT SO GOOD OF A GUIDE OR A GOOD ROUTE AND IT MIGHT TAKE US DOWN PLACES OR AREAS THAT WE REALLY WISH WE HADN’T OF GONE CAUSE IT ISN’T TAKING US MAYBE THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE BUT CERTAINLY AT TIMES WE NEED GUIDES. I CAN REMEMBER EVEN WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THAT I WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, AS A BOY, NOT WORRY ABOUT WHERE WE WERE GOING BECAUSE I KNEW MY DAD OR MY MOM WAS USUALLY IN CONTROL OF THOSE THINGS. AND WHEN WE WENT ON VACATION OR WE TRAVELED, I JUST DIDN’T WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE GUIDING ME AND AS LONG AS I STAYED WITH THEM AND I FOLLOWED THINGS, WE’RE GOING TO BE OKAY. AND THEN I KNOW, EVEN AS I HAVE MY OWN CHILDREN NOW, THAT PERHAPS THEY DO THE VERY SAME THING, AND WHEN WE GO ON VACATION IT’S USUALLY I WHO SITS DOWN AND DETERMINES WHERE WE’RE GOING TO GO WITH MY WIFE AND THEN I KIND OF DECIDE WHERE WE’RE GOING TO STAY AND WHAT’S AROUND THERE AND THEN I WANT TO LOOK AT ALL THE MAPS AND AGAIN, BY USING MY PHONE AND OTHER DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, I’M ABLE TO AGAIN ACCOMPLISH USUALLY WHAT I NEED TO ACCOMPLISH AND MY FAMILY JUST FOLLOWS ALONG AND WE USUALLY GET WHERE WE’RE GOING. SOMETIMES IT’S A LITTLE HARDER THAN OTHERS BUT WE USUALLY GET THERE AND I END UP BEING A PRETTY GOOD GUIDE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THOSE THINGS. BUT EVEN AS A MAN, I KNOW WHEN I SOMETIMES TRAVEL OVERSEAS OR I GO TO AFRICA AND WHEN I SPECIFICALLY GO INTO PERHAPS GHANA, AND I DO MISSION WORK IN GHANA QUITE OFTEN, I KNOW WHEN I ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT, GUESS WHAT I WANT? I WANT MY BROTHER, WILLIAMS AND BENJAMIN, TO MEET ME AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHERE I’M GOING. I DON’T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION AND I’M REALLY ½ OF THE TIME NOT SURE WHERE I AM! BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW HE’S A GOOD GUIDE AND I KNOW HE’S GOING TO TAKE ME THE RIGHT PLACES AND IT’S GOING TO BE SAFE AND HE’S GOING TO PROTECT ME AND HE’S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING THAT IS ON THE SCHEDULE WHEN WE ARRIVE IN THAT STRANGE PLACE, AT LEAST STRANGE TO US BECAUSE WE’RE UNFAMILIAR WITH IT. YOU SEE, GUIDES ARE IMPORTANT. GUIDES AS CHILDREN, GUIDES AS ADULTS, EVEN AS WE ARE CONSIDERING SPIRITUAL THINGS, WE NEED TO HAVE A GUIDE AND WE NEED GUIDES. WE KNOW THAT CERTAINLY THE FIRST THOUGHT OF A GUIDE MIGHT BE JESUS AND HE MAKES A GREAT GUIDE! FOR JESUS HIMSELF, NOT ONLY CAME AND LIVED AND DIED, BUT CERTAINLY HE HAS GIVEN US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW. BUT HOW DID HE GIVE US THAT WHICH WE NEED TO KNOW? THAT’S REALLY THE QUESTION BECAUSE HE DOESN’T DIRECTLY TELL ME TODAY. HE DOESN’T DIRECTLY REVEAL IT TO OTHERS OR IN SOME MIRACULOUS WAY OR THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT DO SUCH. BUT HE DOES IT THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD. AND THAT’S WHY THE LESSON THAT WE COVER TODAY IS CONCERNING THE BIBLE. IT IS THAT GREATEST OF ALL GUIDES! AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD BEFORE, IT IS THAT MOST PERFECT OF ALL BLUEPRINTS! IT DOESN’T MAKE MISTAKES! YOU KNOW WHY? IT IS GOD’S WORD FROM A PERFECT GOD AND THEREFORE, A PERFECT WORD, AND IT CAN BE DEPENDED ON TO GUIDE US IN EVERYTHING. NOT SOME THINGS BUT IN EVERYTHING! IS IT NOT ALSO DAVID WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT? YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT OUR SERIES IS FROM PSALM 126 WHEN DAVID SAID, “‘THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US.’” WHAT DID DAVID THINK ABOUT WHAT THE LORD HAD DONE FOR HIM? WELL, ONE THING THAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS FOUND THERE IN PSALM 119 VERSE 105 WHEN HE SAID, “YOUR WORD...(YOU OWE GOD YOUR WORD)…IS A LAMP TO MY FEET.” AND THEN HE SAID, “AND IS A LIGHT TO MY PATH.” YOU KNOW WHAT DAVID KNEW? DAVID KNEW THAT THE WORD THAT GOD HAD GIVEN HIM WAS GOING TO LIGHT THE WAY. IT WAS GOING TO SHOW HIM THE DIRECTION TO GO AND IT WAS GOING TO HELP HIM TO ALWAYS KNOW WHERE HE WAS GOING AND WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.<br> <br> 

      NOW THE QUESTION WOULD BE: WAS DAVID GOING TO RELY ON THAT WORD AND COUNT ON THAT WORD? DEPEND ON THAT WORD AND REALLY STAND WITH THAT WORD? OR AT TIMES WAS HE GOING TO MAKE THE WRONG DECISION? YOU AND I KNOW THAT DAVID OFTEN MIGHT’VE GOT OFF COURSE. HE CERTAINLY SINNED AGAINST GOD AT TIMES BUT ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE A HEART THAT BROUGHT HIM BACK TO GOD AND THAT CAUSED HIM TO WANT TO GET THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD. BUT NONETHELESS HE STILL KNEW, I COULD ALWAYS TURN TO GOD! I CAN ALWAYS TURN BACK TO GOD! HE WILL ALWAYS HEAR THE PENITENT SINNER, HE’LL ALWAYS GUIDE ME AND DIRECT ME. AND THROUGHOUT THE PSALMS, WE HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PSALMS THAT TALK ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD. THE BEAUTY OF THE WORD, THE CLARITY AND HOW THAT IF REALLY PROVIDES FOR US EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW AND SHOWS US THE PATH, THE DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO GO. <br> <br>

      WITH THAT IN MIND THEN WE WANT TO MOVE INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT BECAUSE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WE FIND THE VERY SAME THING, AND I FIND IT ALWAYS SIGNIFICANT THAT AS WE ARE INTRODUCED TO JESUS, EVEN WITHIN SOME OF THE GOSPELS LIKE THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, WE FIND THAT HE IS DESCRIBED AS THE WORD. NOW, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, CERTAINLY THE WORD OF GOD, THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THIS DAY, THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD IS WHAT WE NEED TO WHAT? TO BE SAVED, TO UNDERSTAND THE SALVATION, TO UNDERSTAND WHO GOD IS. SO IT’S THAT WORD THAT WE NEED. AND JESUS HIMSELF WAS WHAT? THE WORD! THE WORD THAT WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD AND WAS GOD. HE IS THAT DEITY WHO, WITH THE FATHER, CERTAINLY EXIST AND WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT CERTAINLY DWELL, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WHAT WE NEED. AND THEN IT WAS THROUGH THE PLAN OF GOD THAT ULTIMATELY THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER JESUS LEFT THE EARTH THAT HE DETERMINED IN JOHN 14 HE WOULD SEND THE COMFORTER. AND THAT COMFORTER WOULD GUIDE THEM, AS CHAPTER 16 SAYS, IN ALL TRUTH. THEY WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO KNOW BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUTH. AND THEREFORE, THROUGHT THAT TRUTH YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR DIRECTION, YOUR PATH TO FREEDOM, THE SALVATION THAT IS NECESSARY. YOU SEE, THE BIBLE TODAY IS STILL THAT SAME GUIDE. IT IS STILL THAT THING WHICH GIVES US, AS CERTAINLY PETER INDICATES, ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS. NOT SOME OF THE THINGS, NOT A FEW THINGS BUT ALL THINGS. IN FACT, THAT’S ONE OF MY REALLY, PROBABLY I WOULD SAY, FAVORITE PASSAGES BECAUSE OF WHAT IT TIES TO HOW GOD DOES THAT. AND YOU MIGHT KNOW WITH ME THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE TIED BUT SPECIFICALLY THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT THE MOST IS THE IDEA OF THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD GIVES. LOOK WITH ME THERE SPECIFICALLY IN THAT TEXT AS WE CONSIDER TOGETHER WHAT VERSE THREE SAYS OF SECOND PETER CHAPTER 1, “AS HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN US ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO WHAT? LIFE AND GODLINESS.” HOW? THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE. NOW, IF YOU WERE TO GO ON YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THE WORD KNOWLEDGE, KNOWLEDGE, KNOWLEDGE KEEPS COMING UP THROUGH THIS TEXT. THAT VERY KNOWLEDGE THAT IS GIVEN US. HOW? PROPHECY. THAT’S WHAT THE END OF THE CHAPTER TALKS ABOUT. HE SAYS PROPHECY NEVER CAME BY MAN OR THE WILL OF MAN. IT’S NOT FROM ME. IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT MAN THINKS OR WHAT MAN WANTS…PROPHECY IS WHAT GOD GAVE THROUGH MAN AS THEY WHAT? VERSE 21, “WERE MOVED BY (OR THROUGH) THE HOLY SPIRIT.” GOD MOVED MAN TO WRITE WHAT? THE WORD, THE BIBLE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO DO WHAT? GUIDE US IN ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS. THE PARALLEL PASSAGE THAT PAUL WROTE TO TIMOTHY THERE IN SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3 VERSE 16, ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED OF GOD. YOU SEE, THOSE VERSES WORK BEAUTIFULLY HAND-IN-HAND. IT THOROUGHLY OR COMPLETELY EQUIPS OR FURNISHES THE MAN OF GOD. YOU KNOW, THAT’S WHAT THE BIBLE. THAT’S WHAT IT’S BEEN GIVEN TO US FOR. THAT WE MIGHT KNOW, NOT SOME OF WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW, BUT ALL THAT WE NEED TO KNOW. WHETHER IT’S HOW I WANT TO LIVE EVERYDAY OR WHETHER IT’S WHAT I NEED TO DO SPIRITUALLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF THE FAITHFUL. <br> <br>

      NOW WITH THAT IN MIND THEN I WANT YOU TO THINK WITH ME A LITTLE BIT OF APPLICATION IN RELATIONSHIP THEN TO THE BIBLE, THE WORD. WHAT IS IT THAT WE BEGIN TO LEARN ABOUT THIS WORD THAT MAKES IT SO EFFECTIVE? AND ONE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO BRING OUT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS WRITTEN BY THE HEBREW WRITER IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 4. AND YOU MIGHT RECALL WITH ME THAT WE LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORD THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY SURPRISE SOME PEOPLE! VERSE 12 INDICATES, “THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL.” YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT LOOK AT THAT WORD AND WE MIGHT FIT IT ON THE TABLE AND WE MIGHT SAY, ‘WELL, THIS WORD IS DEAD! IT’S NOT ANYTHING THAT’S ALIVE OR BREATHING…IT’S NOT EVEN LIKE A PLANT. IT’S COMPLETELY DEAD.’ NO, IT’S ALIVE BECAUSE OF WHAT IS WRITTEN. IT IS LIVING AND IT GIVES LIFE TO THE ONE WHO READS AND OBEYS IT. THAT’S WHY THERE’S POWER, POWER UNDER SALVATION, ROMANS 1:16. SO IT IS THE WORD OF GOD. THAT BIBLE THAT WE’VE BEEN GIVEN THAT GIVES ME WHAT? THAT WHICH IS LIVING AND POWERFUL SO THAT I MIGHT ULTIMATELY FIND SALVATION.<br> <br> 

      SO WHAT SPECIFICALLY THOUGH DOES IT DO? HOW DOES IT ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK? NOTICE WITH ME IN THE SAME VERSE WHAT HE GOES ON TO SAY. IT’S SHARP. SHARPER EVEN THAN A TWO EDGE SWORD. THAT SWORD THAT IS ABLE TO CUT IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN IF YOU PULL IT BACK TO CUT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IT IS THAT TYPE OF POWER OF REALLY THE NATURE TO COMPLETELY ACCOMPLISH THE TASK. NOT JUST HALFWAY ACCOMPLISH THE TASK BUT COMPLETELY ACCOMPLISH THE TASK. THAT GOD’S WORD IS ABLE TO DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO. HE THEN USES THE WORD PIERCING EVEN ABLE TO PIERCE WHAT? NOT JUST THROUGH THE FLESH OR THE SKIN, AS WE SOMETIMES GET FLESH WOUNDS, BUT PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVISION OF THE SOUL AND THE SPIRIT IN CONNECTION AND IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO JOINTS AND MARROW. YOU KNOW, I KIND OF LIKE WAR MOVIES SOMETIMES AND LIKE TO WATCH SOME OF THAT BUT IT’S REALLY GRUESOME BUT AMAZING IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN SOME OF THOSE BATTLES AND HOW DESTRUCTIVE SOME OF THE WEAPONRY IS. HOW EVEN IN A PRIMITIVE AGE A SWORD COULD DO SO MUCH DAMAGE. OH, THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD! BUT THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT WRITTEN TO DAMAGE AND DESTROY. IT IS WRITTEN AS A LIVING POWERFUL THING THAT IS ABLE TO HELP US TO, IN OUR HEARTS, TO DISCERN HE SAYS. TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE THOUGHTS, THE INTENTS, AND MAKE SURE WHAT WE’RE DOING IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT GOD HAS SAID. ULTIMATELY, THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED. <br> <br>

      YOU KNOW AGAIN, PAUL THERE IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS USES THIS TERMINOLOGY IN A SIMILAR WAY. AND NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS HERE AS HE DESCRIBES THE ELEMENTS OF THE SOLDIER, THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER. AND NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN RELATIONSHIP AGAIN TO THE WORD OF GOD. HE SAYS HERE (VERSE 17) THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT IS THE WORD OF GOD. YOU SEE, THAT SWORD, THAT SAME CONCEPT GIVEN THERE IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 4, IS IDENTIFIED HERE. AND WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE? IT IS, AS WE BACK UP TO VERSE 10 TO INCLUDE POWER, VERSE 11, “TO STAND”…EVEN THE WORD WITHSTAND IS USED THERE SOMETIMES…”TO WITHSTAND THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.” IT IS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT? VERSE 13, “TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY,” AND ALSO, “TO STAND.” YOU THINK ABOUT A SOLDIER, WHAT DOES THAT SWORD HELP THEM TO ACCOMPLISH? TO STAND FIRM. TO STAND AS THE ARMYS APPROACH, AS THE INDIVIDUALS, THE ENEMIES COME TOWARD THEM. IT’S ABLE TO DEFEND AND ALL OF THESE ASPECTS OF THE SHIELD, ABLE TO DEFEND. ANOTHER CERTAINLY IS AN OFFENSIVE ASPECT AS WELL BUT IT SEEMS LIKE HERE THAT THIS ARMOR IS BEING PUT ON TO SECURE. TO STAND. TO STRENGTHEN. TO DEFEND. AND NOTICE THAT REALLY AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF THAT WONDROUS, SPIRITUAL ARMOR IS THIS SWORD BUT THE WORD OF GOD. I ALSO LOVE IT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK WITHIN THE CONTEXT NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IS AT REALLY THE VERY BASE OR THE HEART. IF YOU’LL NOTICE THERE SPECIFICALLY IT SAYS IN VERSE 14, “HAVING GIRDED YOUR WAIST WITH TRUTH.” WHAT IS THE TRUTH? WELL AGAIN, JOHN 17:17, YOUR WORD, GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH. SO THE VERY FOUNDATION IS TRUTH. AT THE VERY NEED FOR WHAT WE HAVE ON OUR FEET TO MOVE US ABOUT THERE THE FEET HAS SHOD ON THEM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, VERSE 15. AND THEN EVEN THAT WORK EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO WHAT WE SEE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE OTHER ASPECTS. RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BACK TO FAITH, COMES BACK TO SALVATION. <br> <br>

      DO YOU SEE HOW INVOLVED THE MESSAGE OF GOD IS? THREE REALLY OUTCOMES OF WHAT THE MESSAGE DOES IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE THREE PARTS OF THE ARMOR THAT REALLY SPECIFY THE MESSAGE ITSELF, THE TRUTH, THE GOSPEL, AND THE WORD. YOU SEE, THAT’S THE PATH THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE DIRECTIONS TO GO IN THIS LIFE, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO FIND IT IN DENOMINATIONALISM, IN THOSE MAN-MADE INSTITUTIONS THAT DETERMINE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY BELIEVE. WHAT THEY ADMITTEDLY DENOMINATE THEMSELVES BY, THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS. WE’VE CHOSEN TO BELIEVE THIS AND THEY’VE CHOSEN…AND WE CAN ALL GET THERE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THAT NOT ALL WHAT GOD INTENDED BY HIS WORD! HE DETERMINED THAT BY HIS WORD THAT A MAN COULD KNOW TRUTH, SINGULAR AND IS BY THAT TRUTH THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MIGHT BE SAVED. THAT SAME TRUTH THAT HAS THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US! AND IN THE FACT THAT THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US, ONE OF THE GREATEST IS THAT HE HAS GIVEN ME THE PERFECT MAP, THE PERFECT GUIDE, THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT THAT ALLOWS ME TO BE ABLE TO FIND MY WAY IN THIS LIFE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THE GREATEST PART IS? IT’S ALSO A BLUEPRINT THAT IS ABLE TO HELP ME FIND MY WAY AS THE PSALMIST SAID EVEN IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH GOD’S GONNA BE THERE. THAT WORD THAT WILL NEVER DIE. HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL DESTROYED. JESUS SAID MY WORD WILL NOT BE DESTROYED. IT WILL BE FULFILLED. YOU SEE, THE WORD OF GOD IS GOING TO ENDURE. IT IS GOING TO LAST FOREVER AND IT IS BY THAT WORD THAT SOMEDAY WHEN THE LORD COMES AGAIN WE’RE GOING TO BE RECEIVED AS THE FAITHFUL, REWARDED AS THE FAITHFUL, BLESSED AS THE FAITHFUL AND WE’LL RECEIVE THE MANSION THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. THE QUESTION IS WILL YOU RESPECT? WILL YOU OBEY? WILL YOU FULLY TURN TO THE WORD OF GOD TODAY?

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CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      THANKS FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM. I HOPE AND TRUST, THAT TOGETHER WE HAVE ALL BENEFITED FROM THIS SERVICE TO OUR LORD. LET ME INVITE YOU TO JOIN US EVERY LORD’S DAY MORNING AT 7:30 AS WE GIVE THIS TIME TO OUR CREATOR.   <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:  

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The Living Word

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      ISN’T IT GREAT TO HAVE SUCH A WONDROUS GIFT FROM GOD: THE BIBLE!  FOR WITHIN ITS PAGES, WE ARE GIVEN EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW GOD, TO UNDERSTAND HIS WILL, AND TO FIND OUT WHAT WE RECEIVE WHEN WE ARE FAITHFUL. HAVE YOU TURNED TO GOD BY KNOWING AND OBEYING HIS WILL TODAY? WHY NOT FULLY COMMIT TO YOUR CREATOR TODAY!<br> <br>