THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 12-10-17

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LESSON TITLE: “ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH”

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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>



      HERE WE ARE ON ANOTHER WONDROUS LORD’S DAY! LET ME WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO OUR PROGRAM THIS MORNING. IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THE LIVING WORD.  THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US FOR THIS TIME OF OFFERING TO GOD. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE OUR PRIVILEGE TODAY TO SING SONGS OF PRAISE TO OUR GOD AND TO STUDY FROM HIS PERFECT WORD! WHAT BETTER ACTIVITY COULD WE TOGETHER ENGAGE IN THIS MORNING FOR THE SAKE OF OUR GOD. I HOPE EACH OF US WILL DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME TOGETHER ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT. NOW, LET’S APPROACH OUR FATHER’S THRONE IN PRAYER.

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      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE MANY BLESSINGS OF LIFE. THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE SERVANTS IN YOUR KINGDOM. AND FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU’LL HELP US TO ALWAYS SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW YOU THROUGH US; THAT WE MIGHT ALL HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO YOUR WILL AND TO HAVE ULTIMATELY THE REWARD OF HEAVEN. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS FOR WE KNOW ONLY THROUGH HIM ARE ALL THESE THINGS POSSIBLE. IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. 

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      THIS MORNING WE WANT TO BEGIN WITH A SONG WHICH REMINDS US THAT OUR LOVING GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND READY TO HEAR THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL. THANKS TO GOD, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NEVER ALONE AND NEVER HAVE TO FACE THE THINGS OF LIFE BY OURSELVES. ISN’T PRAYER A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD? WONT YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER, “SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER!”<br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      AS WE JUST SANG, HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE A GOD WHO LOVES US ENOUGH TO HEAR US AND ANSWER OUR EVERY PRAYER. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT GOD ALWAYS HEARS US AND ANSWER OUR PRAYERS, WE STILL MUST REALIZE THAT WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN OUR SERVICE TO HIM. THE REALITY IS, IF WE WANT TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL TO GOD WE HAVE TO DO WHAT HE COMMANDS AND STRIVE TO BE FOUND PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT. SO, WHAT ABOUT YOU, ARE YOU TRYING TO WALK IN THE PRECEPTS OF GOD?  <br> <br>

      PERHAPS, ONE OF THE GREATEST KEYS TO ACCOMPLISH PROPER CHRISTIAN LIVING AS GOD DESIGNED IS IN GIVING OURSELVES FULLY OVER TO GOD. WE MUST ASK, “ARE WE GIVING OURSELVES TO THE LORD AND LETTING HIM HAVE HIS WAY,” OR, “ARE WE ALLOWING THE WORLD TO TAKE HOLD OF US AND KEEP US FROM OUR SAVIOR?”  

      I THINK WE OFTEN WONDER WHY WE FAIL AT TRYING TO DO OUR BEST OR AT BEING THE TYPE OF CHRISTIAN WE WANT TO. BUT IF WE WOULD ONLY REALIZE IT, THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IT ALONE OR OUR OWN WAY. WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN THAT THE ONLY RIGHT WAY IS GOD’S WAY. THE WAY HE SHOWS US AND TEACHES TO US THROUGH HIS WORD.  <br> <br>

      ISN’T THIS WHAT PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT AS HE WROTE TO THE CORINTHIANS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14 & 15. THERE HE SAID, “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.” AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE NOT HERE TO LIVE FOR SELF BUT FOR THE ONE WHO DIED FOR US: CHRIST JESUS.  <br> <br>

      PAUL ALSO SAID, “I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME; AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME,” GALATIANS 2:20. THE QUESTION IS: HAVE YOU LEARNED TO GIVE YOURSELF WHOLLY AND COMPLETELY TO CHRIST YOUR LORD?  HAVE YOU COMMITTED YOURSELF TO THE GREATEST THING THAT YOU CAN IN THIS LIFE?  WHY NOT GIVE YOURSELF TO JESUS?<br> <br>

      OUR GUEST SPEAKER THIS MORNING IS NO STRANGER TO THE PROGRAM. BROTHER JERRY SULLINS HAS AGAIN JOINED US TO LEAD OUR MAIN LESSON THOUGHTS OF THE DAY FROM GOD’S WORD. BROTHER JERRY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI HERE IN SPRINGFIELD. I LOOK FORWARD TO HIM GUIDING OUR THOUGHTS FROM GOD’S WORD IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. OUR TOPIC TODAY WILL AGAIN FOCUS ON OUR SERIES CONCERNING BEING, “COMPLETE IN HIM!” OUR SPECIFIC STUDY OF THE DAY WILL CONSIDER THE IDEA OF BEING, “ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH.” SO STAY WITH US THIS MORNING AND IN A FEW MINUTES, MY FATHER WILL RETURN AND LEAD US IN OUR THOUGHTS OF THE DAY. NOW IT’S TIME TO JOIN IN OUR SECOND HYMN OF THE MORNING, THE NAME OF THE SONG, “THE GLORYLAND WAY.” <br> <br>





LESSON<br> <br>

JERRY SULLINS<br> <br>

      AGAIN, WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE LIVING WORD BROADCAST AND WE’RE SO HAPPY THAT YOU CHOSE THIS TIME THIS MORNING TO BE A PART OF OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE. IT’S SUCH A BLESSING TO BE IN YOUR HOME AND TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT TO YOU GOD’S WORD. I THINK IF YOU’VE EVER WATCHED THIS PROGRAM BEFORE YOU VERY MUCH KNOW THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD AND PREACHING IT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD AND THROUGH THIS MEANS, WE’RE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS MANY SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST STRAIGHT FROM THE BIBLE. WE’RE SO THANKFUL AGAIN FOR ALL OF THOSE, OF OUR VIEWERS WHO VIEW EVERY WEEK AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOU THROUGH THE TEACHING AND PREACHING OF GOD’S WORD. <br> <br>

      IF YOU HAVE YOUR BIBLES WOULD YOU PLEASE TURN TO THE BOOK OF FIRST JOHN. OUR SERIES IS ALONG THE LINES OF BEING COMPLETE IN CHRIST. WELL, HOW IN THE WORLD COULD ANYONE BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST OR ANY PERSON BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST UNLESS THEY HAVE FAITH? THIS IS ONE OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WAS MADE IN COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2 VERSE SEVEN WHERE IF WE ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST WE MUST BE, “ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH.” THE QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY AND THE QUESTION FOR ME TODAY IS: ARE WE ESTABLISHED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? THE HEBREW WRITER SAID IN HEBREWS 11, CHAPTER 11 VERSE SIX, HE SAID, “FOR WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE WELL PLEASING UNTO GOD, FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK AFTER HIM.” THE WRITER JUDE SAID IN JUDE VERSE THREE THAT WE SHOULD, “CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH WHICH ONCE FOR ALL WAS DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.” AND VERY MUCH IT WAS DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS. IN FACT, THAT’S WHAT THE HOLY BOOK TELLS US AND THOSE HOLY MEN OF GOD, ONE BEING JUDE, WHO WROTE BEING INSPIRED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. SO WE CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH. IT’S A SYSTEM OF FAITH. YOU NOTICE THAT WORD, THAT ARTICLE, THE. THERE IS A FAITH THAT ONE MUST BELIEVE AND ONE MUST OBEY. IT WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL WHO SAID THAT FAITH REQUIRES AN OBEDIENCE. EVERYONE BELIEVES THAT. IN REVELATION (ROMANS) 1 VERSE FIVE, PAUL SPEAKING OF HIMSELF THROUGH HIM, “WE HAVE RECEIVED GRACE AND APOSTLESHIP FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH AMONG ALL NATIONS FOR HIS NAME.” SO THE VERY REASON FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE APOSTLES WAS FOR ONE REASON ONLY AND THAT WAS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF THE FAITH IN ALL NATIONS TO THE FAITH. AND SO YES, TO BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST, WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY EXAMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH. MY FRIEND THIS MORNING THERE’S NO WAY YOU CAN BE IN THE FAITH, THAT IS FOLLOWING THE SYSTEM OF FAITH, UNLESS YOU’VE OBEYED THE GOSPEL PLAN OF SALVATION. UNLESS YOU GET INTO CHRIST. YOU REMEMBER AND MAYBE YOU’VE READ BEFORE OR HEARD BEFORE THE SCRIPTURE IN SECOND CORINTHIANS FIVE VERSE 17 WHERE THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “THEREFORE, IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, IS A NEW CREATURE; OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.” WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN AS WE HAVE THE FAITH THAT IS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE WHERE IT SAYS IN EPHESIANS 1 VERSE 13 THAT WE CERTAINLY ARE GIVEN ALL THOSE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST. WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS IN CHRIST, WHICH IS MENTIONED IN COLOSSIANS 1:13 AND 14. AND CERTAINLY AS PAUL TOLD THE THE CHURCHES AND IN THE PROVINCE OF GALATIA IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 3 VERSE 26 FOR WE ARE ALL THE SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST. SO IT IS IN CHRIST, TO BE IN HIS BODY. THIS IS WHEN WE ARE CONFIDENT OF WHAT? OF BEING COMPLETE IN CHRIST. <br> <br>

      BUT THERE’S ONE THING THAT IS LEFT OUT HERE THAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED. AND THAT IS HOW TO GET INTO CHRIST? IN ROMANS CHAPTER SIX VERSES THREE AND FOUR, WE SEE VERY CLEARLY THAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS. WE ARE BURIED THEREFORE BY BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH AND, LIKE AS CHRIST, WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER. EVEN SO WE SHOULD ALSO BE RAISED TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. SO WE ARE BURIED BY BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH. PAUL SAID OR THAT IS THE WRITER IN THE BOOK OF ACTS CHAPTER 2 VERSE 38 THE APOSTLE PETER SAID IN PREACHING THAT FIRST GOSPEL SERMON HE SAID SIMPLY, “‘REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.’” SO YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION. AND THAT IS HOW DO I GET INTO CHRIST? IT IS THROUGH BAPTISM THAT WE GET INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. BUT IMPORTANTLY, AS WE ARE SPEAKING OF TODAY, BEING COMPLETE IN CHRIST, THERE ARE THINGS THAT FOLLOW OUR INITIAL SALVATION AS WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST, ADDED TO THE CHURCH, AND WE BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD. AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE US COMPLETE. AND I WANT TO MENTION SOME OF THOSE IN TURNING TO THE BOOK OF FIRST JOHN. I ASK YOU TO TURN THE FIRST JOHN AND WE’RE GOING TO READ FIRST OF ALL IN FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 2 VERSES TWO THROUGH THREE. IT SAYS THIS, “AND HE HIMSELF IS A PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS, AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY BUT ALSO FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. NOW BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.” IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. AND HE GOES ON TO SAY, “HE WHO SAYS, ‘I KNOW HIM,’ AND DOES NOT KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM. BUT WHOEVER KEEPS HIS WORD, TRULY THE WORD OF GOD IS PERFECTED IN HIM. BY THIS WE KNOW WE ARE IN HIM.” WE ARE IN CHRIST. WE CONTINUE TO BE IN CHRIST IF WE WHAT? IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. IF WE KEEP HIS WORD. MANY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE TEST OF TRUE FAITH IS OBEDIENCE. HOW CAN ONE SAY I HAVE A PROPER FAITH IN CHRIST UNLESS THEY’RE WILLING TO OBEY HIM. HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS ACCORDING TO JOHN IN FIRST JOHN THREE VERSE 24. WE MUST OBEY TO BECOME CHRISTIANS. THOUGH HE WERE HIS SON YET LEARNED HE OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED. AND HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THOSE OF US WHO OBEY HIM, HEBREWS CHAPTER 5 VERSES EIGHT THROUGH NINE. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE. HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS AS WE SAID IN FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 5 VERSE THREE. BUT THE QUESTION IS ARE YOU COMPLETE IN CHRIST BECAUSE YOU ARE KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS? IF YOU’RE NOT WILLING TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS THEN HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU’RE COMPLETE IN CHRIST? WE MUST FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE. LOOK AT FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 2 VERSE SIX, “HE WHO SAYS HE ABIDES IN HIM ALL TO HIMSELF ALSO TO WALK JUST AS HE WALKED.” WE SHOULD WALK JUST AS HE WALKED. THE BIBLE SAYS IN JOHN EIGHT VERSE 12 HE SAID, “JESUS AGAIN UNTO THEM SAY, ‘I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, HE THAT FOLLOWS ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT SHALL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.” PETER SAID IN FIRST PETER CHAPTER 2 VERSE 21 THAT HE LEFT US AN EXAMPLE THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS ARE YOU FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD? TO BE COMPLETE IN HIM, YOU MUST DO THESE THINGS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE CONCEPT OF, ‘ONCE I GET INTO CHRIST OR ONCE I OBEY CHRIST…” HOWEVER, THEY ASSUME THEY OBEY CHRIST BY WHATEVER MEANS OR WHATEVER MAN HAS TOLD THEM. BUT IF YOU TRULY GET INTO CHRIST OF BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS. THE QUESTION NOW IS, ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST IN YOUR LIFE? ARE YOU TRULY A CHRISTIAN? A CHILD OF GOD? <br> <br>

      ALSO TO BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST, GOD’S WORD MUST DWELL IN YOU. LETS AGAIN LOOK AT FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 2 AND WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT VERSE 14. LET’S READ TOGETHER. “I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU, FATHERS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE KNOWN HIM WHO IS FROM THE BEGINNING. I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU, YOUNG MEN, BECAUSE YOU ARE STRONG AND IN THE WORD OF GOD AND THE WORD OF GOD ABIDES IN YOU, AND YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE.” BY WHAT MEANS DO WE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE? BY THE WORD OF GOD DWELLING IN US. REMEMBER THAT VERSE IN COLOSSIANS 3:16 WHICH SAYS, “LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY.” IT WAS JAMES WHO SAID IN JAMES ONE VERSE 21 THAT WE AS CHILDREN OF GOD SHOULD RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS THE ENGRAFTED WORD WHICH WILL SAVE OUR SOULS. IT IS THROUGH OUR WANTING AND DESIRE TO KNOW GOD’S WILL AND TO DO HIS WILL. AND THE WORD OF GOD DWELLING IN US THAT WE KEEP AWAY FROM SIN THAT WILL DESTROY OUR SOULS. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD TODAY WHO ARE LIVING OUTSIDE OF WHAT GOD WANTS THEM TO DO. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MAN. IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE TIME OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WHEN THESE VERY BOOKS WERE WRITTEN. FOR THERE WERE PEOPLE LIVING ACCORDING TO THE FLESHLY DESIRES OF THEIR OWN SELVES AND THEY DESIRE TO COMMIT MANY SINS THAT WERE AGAINST GOD’S WILL. IN FACT, IT WAS ADDRESSED IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 5 VERSES 19 TO 21 WHERE THERE PAUL, WHEN WRITING TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA OF THE PROVINCE OF GALATIA, SAID, “NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST, WHICH ARE THESE: ADULTERY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS…” AND ON AND ON. AND HE SAYS, “THEY WHO DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” TO BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST ONE MUST ABIDE BY THE WORD OF GOD. THAT WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATHWAY, THE PSALMIST SAID AND HOW TRUE THAT IS! IT’S A LIGHT UNTO OUR PATHWAY THAT LEADS US TO HEAVEN AND THAT’S THE WORD OF GOD. WE NEED TO IMPRINT THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR MINDS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT, WE NEED TO IN OUR LIVES DEMONSTRATE IT IN OUR LIVES. WE NEED TO OBEY THE WORD OF GOD, AND IT IS THROUGH THAT, THAT WE KNOW WE CAN BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST. <br> <br>

      ALSO, THE LOVE OF GOD MUST RULE OUR HEARTS. IN FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 5 AND WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT VERSES ONE AND TWO. THE WRITER SAID, WHOEVER BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD, AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES HIM WHO BEGOT ALSO LOVES HIM WHO WAS BEGOTTEN OF HIM. BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE LOVE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, WHEN WE LOVE GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.” IT RULES OUR HEARTS. IT INVOLVES THE LOVING OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. HOW CAN ANYONE REALLY BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST UNLESS LOVE IS A PART OF THEIR EXISTENCE. IN MATTHEW 22 JESUS GAVE THE FIRST AND THE SECOND GREATEST COMMANDMENTS. HE SAID, “‘THE FIRST IS THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, SOUL, AND MIND. AND THE SECOND UNTO IT IS: YOU SHALL LOVE OR THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.’” LOVE IS DEPICTED AS BEING GOD IN THIS VERY SAME BOOK IN FIRST JOHN. GOD IS LOVE, AND THOSE OF US WHO FOLLOW GOD MUST ALSO DEMONSTRATE LOVE IN OUR LIVES AND WHAT? WE MUST ALSO SHOW THE LOVE OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS OR IN OUR LIVES AND THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE HEART. THE QUESTION IS TO BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST ARE YOU DEMONSTRATING THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOUR HEART? AND WE MUST NOT LEAVE OUT WHAT JOHN SAID IN FIRST JOHN TWO VERSE 29 CONCERNING BEING COMPLETE IN CHRIST. “IF YOU KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BORN OF HIM.” RIGHTEOUSNESS MEANS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD. AND SO TO BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST WE NEED TO DO WHAT? WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE IN OUR LIVES THE FAITH THAT INVOLVES WHAT? RIGHTEOUSNESS, DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IN EVERY WAY IN OUR LIFE. THE ACID TEST OF A CHRISTIAN IS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE ACCORDING TO FIRST PETER ONE VERSE 10 WHICH IS WHAT ALL CHRISTIANS SHOULD STRIVE TO DO, THEN WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO, NOT ONLY TO SEEK AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN OUR LIVES. WE’LL NEVER MAKE IT TO HEAVEN UNLESS WE DO. <br> <br>

      SO WHAT WE’VE BEEN TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE THIS MORNING, WHAT I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TEACH YOU FROM GOD’S WORD, IS THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THAT TO BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST YOU FIRST MUST GET INTO CHRIST BY BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE OBEDIENT TO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GOD IS GIVEN US IN THIS LIFE TO BE OBEDIENT TO OR FOR THEN WE MUST POSSESS IN OUR LIVES THAT JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF AND FOLLOW THAT GREAT EXAMPLE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US. LOVE GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS AND DEMONSTRATE THAT IN OUR LIVES AND PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS. AND UNDERSTANDING THESE THINGS, THEN CERTAINLY WE CAN CERTAINLY SAY IN OUR LIVES THAT WE ARE TRULY COMPLETE IN CHRIST IN EVERY WAY. <br> <br>

      NOW OUR PRAYER FOR YOU THIS MORNING IS THAT YOU STRIVE TO NOT ONLY GET INTO CHRIST BUT THAT YOU ALSO STRIVE AFTER YOU’VE GOTTEN INTO CHRIST THAT TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT WILL BRING YOU TO THE SITUATION IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU PASS FROM THIS LIFE THAT GOD CAN SAY TO YOU THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS, ‘WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. ENTER THOU INTO THE JOYS OF THE LORD.’ THIS IS OUR PRAYER FOR YOU THIS MORNING AND WE’LL BE PRAYING ON YOUR BEHALF THAT YOU DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.<br> <br>





CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN 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 ALSO 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:  <br> <br>



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      MAY WE ALL STRIVE TO HAVE THE FAITH IN GOD THAT IS REQUIRED BY HIM. FOR AS THE BIBLE SAYS, “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD!” SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS DAY, “ARE YOU LIVING WITH A PROPER FAITH BEFORE YOUR CREATOR, THE VERY GIVER OF LIFE?” CERTAINLY HE IS WORTHY OF OUR BEST EFFORT!

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