THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT <br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 2-19-17

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LESSON TITLE: “LOVE AND COMMUNICATION”

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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 TOGETHER AGAIN ON ANOTHER FINE LORD’S DAY!  WE ARE SO GLAD YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE WITH US TODAY, AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO OUR CREATOR.  HAVING THE PRIVILEGE TO STUDY GOD’S WORD AND TO SING PRAISES TO HIS NAME IS SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD BE VERY THANKFUL FOR.  MAY EACH OF US TODAY DO OUR PART IN THIS COLLECTIVE OFFERING TO GOD. NOW, LET’S APPROACH HIS SUPREME THRONE IN PRAYER!<br> <br> 

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE THANKFUL SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE - ESPECIALLY THE GREATEST GIFT OF YOUR SON JESUS. AND WE ASK THAT YOU'LL HELP US TO ALWAYS LOOK TO THE GREAT SACRIFICE TO GAIN STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE SO THAT THROUGH YOUR WORD WE MIGHT KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO DO EACH AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE IN ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO - IN ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SAY. AND FATHER, WE KNOW THAT WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER WE HAVE A GREATER PROMISE AWAITING THE FAITHFUL - ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN WITH YOU. THEREFORE FATHER, WITH THAT INSIGHT MAY WE WORK EACH DAY AND DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ONLY PROPER IN YOUR SIGHT SO THAT BEING FOUND PLEASING IN THE END WE'LL RECEIVE THE JUST REWARD. FATHER, WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR KINDNESS - YOUR GOODNESS - YOUR LOVE - YOUR MERCY AND YOUR GRACE. AND THESE THINGS WE PRAY THROUGH THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS, AMEN.<br> <br>

      OH HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS IS FOR HE HAS DONE SO MUCH IN OUR LIVES AND HE CONTINUES TO BLESS US ON A DAILY BASIS.  OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING CHALLENGES US TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW SWEET OUR SERVICE SHOULD BE TO GOD.  SO WONT YOU JOIN IN OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING, WITH THE CONGREGATION, THE NAME OF THE SONG, “SWEETER THAN ALL!” <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      ONE OF THE GREATEST LESSONS THAT JESUS EVER TAUGHT WAS IN RELATIONSHIP TO “TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK,” WHEN SOMEONE HAS DONE US WRONG.   ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SAME BIBLE ALSO SAYS THAT WE ARE TO “FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.”  NOW WHICH IS IT, LET PEOPLE DO THINGS AGAINST US AND STILL ACT RIGHT, OR MUST WE FIGHT WHEN THE SITUATION CALLS FOR IT?<br> <br>

      WELL, THE ANSWER IS - BOTH!   AT FIRST YOU MIGHT SAY BUT THIS IS A CONTRADICTION, BUT I WOULD SAY, HARDLY. NO DOUBT, WE ARE TO ALWAYS ACT LIKE CHRIST AND TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, JUST AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, AS FOUND IN MATTHEW 5:29.  IN VERSE 45, JESUS TELLS US “WHY,” WHEN HE SAID, “…THAT YOU MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN;…”  YOU SEE WE MUST DO WHAT CHRIST DID AND FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE. <br> <br> 

      NOW, IN RELATIONSHIP TO “FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT,” WE ALSO SEE THAT THIS IS A GODLY PRINCIPLE.  IN FACT, IN 1 TIMOTHY 6:12, THE INSPIRED PAUL SAID, “FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE, TO WHICH YOU WERE ALSO CALLED AND HAVE CONFESSED THE GOOD CONFESSION IN THE PRESENCE OF MANY WITNESSES.”  SO WHAT IS THIS “FIGHTING” THAT PAUL AND OTHER AUTHORS IN THE BIBLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT?<br> <br>

      OUR ANSWER IS FOUND IN EPHESIANS 6:10-12, WHERE WE READ, “FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS AGE, AGAINST SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.”  THIS FIGHT, BATTLE OR WARFARE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS A SPIRITUAL ONE!  OUR GOAL AS CHRISTIANS IS TO STAND UP AND TO FIGHT IN THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE FOR JESUS CHRIST, WHY?  SO THAT WE CAN WIN OTHERS OVER THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OUR WARFARE!  <br> <br>

      FURTHER ON IN THE SAME TEXT PAUL GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS WHICH WE NEED IN THIS FIGHT.  HE TALKS OF “GIRDING OUR WAIST WITH THE TRUTH,” “THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,” PUTTING ON OUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,” “TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH,” THE HELMET OF SALVATION,” “AND FINALLY, OUR SWORD - THE WORD OF GOD.  YOU SEE, ALL OF THESE WEAPONS AGAIN REMIND US THAT THIS BATTLE IS NOT A PHYSICAL ONE, BUT ONE SPIRITUAL IN NATURE.  SO LET’S ALL PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD, AND WAGE THIS SPIRITUAL WARFARE, FOR THE SAKES OF THOSE WHO NEED TO OBEY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.<br> <br>

      TODAY, WE WILL AGAIN CONTINUE OUR SERIES ENTITLED, “AND THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC THIS MORNING WILL BE ON “LOVE AND COMMUNICATION.” AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, I WILL RETURN WITH THIS DISCUSSION FROM GOD’S WORD.  NOW, WON’T YOU JOIN IN OUR SECOND HYMN TOGETHER AS WE SING, “TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE.” 

  <br> <br>

LESSON<br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      AGAIN WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE JOINED US TODAY FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED NOW AS WE GO TO GOD'S WORD AND LOOK AT ANOTHER LESSON CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN HOME. THE HOME AS GOD INTENDED. AS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TOGETHER AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ROLES THAT THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS WITHIN THE HOME SHOULD PLAY IF THEY'RE TO BE FOUND PLEASING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. TODAY WE'D LIKE TO ADD ANOTHER IDEA IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME WHICH DEALS WITH THE CONCEPT OF LOVE AND COMMUNICATION. AND WE REALLY WANT HOMES THAT FUNCTION IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THERE ARE SOME FOUNDATIONAL THINGS - SOME CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE REQUIRED - SO THAT WE MIGHT BE AFFECTED AND ABLE TO BE THE HOMES THAT GOD DESIRES. FOR INSTANCE - LOVE. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF LOVE IT'S A SIMPLE BIBLICAL CONCEPT. BUT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND DEEP IDEA PRESENTED BY GOD. EVEN GOD HIMSELF IDENTIFIES HIMSELF BY AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A GOD OF LOVE. BUT NOT ONLY A GOD OF LOVE BUT IN FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 4 WE LEARN THAT GOD HIMSELF IS LOVE. NOW, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT GOD IS LOVE? GOD IS LOVE BECAUSE EVEN IN JOHN 3:16 WE LEARN THAT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE WHAT? HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. WOW! WHAT GREAT LOVE - THAT HE WOULD GIVE HIS OWN HIS SON SO THAT WHAT? WE MIGHT BE SAVED. YOU SEE THE GREAT LOVE THAT IS SHOWN THERE? THE GREAT LOVE THAT IS EVEN IDENTIFIED THERE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN - CHAPTER 15 VERSE 13 - WHEN WE FIND THAT JESUS MAKES THIS STATEMENT, “GREATER LOVE HAS NO MAN THAN THIS THAN TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR A FRIEND.” WHAT WAS JESUS WILLING TO DO? TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US AS FRIENDS - AND THEREFORE, HE SHOWED AN EXPRESSION OF THE GREATEST LOVE. YOU SEE, GOD HAS NOT ONLY LOVED US IN WORD - GOD HAS LOVED US IN HIS ACTIONS. HE HAS LOVED US BECAUSE HE CREATED US AND THE WORLD AND GIVEN US DOMINION WITHIN THE WORLD TO ENJOY. BUT ALSO HE HAS LOVED US BY GIVING US THROUGH HIS SON THE OPPORTUNITY OF REDEMPTION FROM SIN THAT WOULD DESTROY US OR KEEP US FROM ETERNAL LIFE. NO WONDER AS WE LEARN THAT GOD IS LOVE AND WE LEARN THAT GOD HAS SHOWN THE GREATEST EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE AND HE'S DONE EVERYTHING TO PROVE HIS LOVE THEN THAT GOD TURNS AROUND AND ASKS US TO LOVE HIM BACK. AND PROBABLY IT'S NOT ANY BETTER SAID THAN IN THE WORDS OF JESUS IN JOHN 14:15 WHEN HE SAID, “IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.” YOU SEE HOW WE LOVE GOD? WE RECIPROCATE HIS LOVE. WE LISTEN TO WHAT HE ASKS AND WE OBEY GOD BECAUSE WHEN WE OBEY GOD WE PROVE LOVE TO HIM BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT ONLY HEARD WHAT HE SAYS AND ASKS BUT THEN WE DO THOSE THINGS THAT HE REQUIRES. AND THAT PROVES LOVE. <br> <br>

      THINK ABOUT THAT FROM THE ASPECT OF A HOME. WHEN WE HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HOME AND WE ASK OUR CHILDREN TO DO CERTAIN THINGS AND THEN OUR CHILDREN OBEY AND RESPECT WHAT WE'VE ASKED BY DOING THOSE THINGS - DOES THAT NOT SHOW A RECIPRICAL LOVE? AS WE HAVE LOVED THEM THEY ALSO RESPOND AND OBEY AND HONOR AND THEREFORE HAVE LOVED US. THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US. AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT LOVE IN THE HOME IT IS PARAMOUNT. IT IS FOUNDATIONAL BECAUSE AS THE LOVE OF THE HUSBAND GOES FOR THE WIFE - SO WILL GO THE HOME. AS THE LOVE OF THE FATHER HAS FOR THE CHILDREN - SO WILL GO THE HOME. AS THE LOVE THE WIFE HAS FOR THE HUSBAND OR HER CHILDREN - SO WILL GO THE HOME. AND AS THE CHILD AND CHILDREN SHOW LOVE TO THEIR PARENTS, AGAIN SO WILL GO THE HOME. YOU SEE IT IS THAT LOVE THAT EVEN IN FIRST CORINTHIANS THE BIBLE SAYS ALL IS BUILT ON, EVEN IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, THAT LOVE DEMONSTRATES ITSELF IN THOSE POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OR THAT LOVE DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE ITSELF IN NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS. SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LOVE AS GOD IS LOVE AND AS GOD HAS LOVED. AND IF WE'LL ALLOW LOVE TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE DO IN OUR HOMES - HOW WE FULFILL THE ROLE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US IN OUR HOMES - GUESS WHAT TYPES OF HOMES WE'LL HAVE? NOT ONLY CHRISTIAN HOMES BUT EFFECTIVE AND GODLY AND PERFECT OR COMPLETE HOMES IN THE SIGHT OF OUR CREATOR. NOW THAT AS WE THINK ABOUT LOVE AND THE ABILITY THAT LOVE HAS TO HELP US FULFILL EACH ROLE AS GOD INTENDS - AND WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ROLES NOW FOR MANY WEEKS - WE ALSO SEE THAT LOVE IS GOING TO HELP ME TO BE BETTER IN RELATIONSHIP TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY OR ESSENTIAL TO MAKE THE HOME FUNCTIONAL OR EVEN PRODUCTIVE. <br> <br>

      AND ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT I THINK SOMETIMES CAN BE THE GREATEST DESTROYER OF HOMES AND RELATIONSHIPS IS COMMUNICATION. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT COMMUNICATION - HOW MANY MARRIAGES HAD BEEN DESTROYED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF COMMUNICATION? HOW MANY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FATHERS AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF COMMUNICATION? AND WHAT ABOUT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN? HOW MANY TIMES HAS COMMUNICATION BEEN DETRIMENTAL AND HARMED INDIVIDUALS? YOU SEE, THE DIFFICULTY WITH COMMUNICATION IS THAT THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO COMMUNICATION. THERE'S SOMEONE WHO IS SPEAKING OR WHO IS SAYING SOMETHING BUT YET THERE'S ALSO THE PART OF THE RECEIVER. NOW, AS YOU WELL KNOW, SOMETIMES I MIGHT SAY SOMETHING AND IT MIGHT BE RECEIVED IN THE VERY WAY THAT I SAY IT AND IT CAN BE PRODUCTIVE. IT MIGHT EVEN, AS PAUL SAYS BE WITH GRACE TO THE HERE AND AFFECTED, BUT I MIGHT SAY SOMETHING AND SOMEONE CAN ACTUALLY RECEIVE IT IN A NEGATIVE WAY WHEN PERHAPS I REALLY DIDN'T EVEN MEAN FOR IT TO BE NEGATIVE. SOMETIMES, EVEN ON THE TELEVISION PROGRAM, I'LL NOTICE THAT INDIVIDUALS - SOME AND MANY WILL RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING IN THE SPIRIT AND THE ATTITUDE THAT IS INTENDED. BUT THEN SOME WILL RESPOND TO THE PROGRAM AND THEY'LL FEEL THAT THE WAY THAT IT WAS SAID OR THE THING THAT WAS SAID WAS ACTUALLY DONE OR SAID IN A NEGATIVE WAY. YOU SEE, BRETHREN COMMUNICATION IS SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY THAT THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IS CLEAR AND PRECISE AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT THEY SAY IS SAID TO MEAN WHAT THEY ARE INTENDING, BUT ALSO IN THE RIGHT WAY. BUT IS THERE NOT ALSO A REQUIREMENT OF THE HEARER TO DO SO AS WELL? YOU KNOW, WHAT WE OFTEN DO AS HEARERS - AND I'M GUILTY OF THIS AS WELL AS MANY OF YOU - WHAT WE OFTEN DO AS HEARERS IS WE HAVE THE PRECONCEIVED IDEAS AND NOTIONS. WE HAVE ALREADY IN OUR MINDS WHAT IT IS THAT WE THINK THE INDIVIDUAL IS GOING TO SAY. IN FACT, IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, I DON'T LIKE THOSE KINDS OF FOLKS TOO MUCH THAT I TALK TO AND EVERYTHING I'M SAYING THEY'RE TRYING TO ALREADY RESPOND TO BEFORE I GET IT OUT OF MY MOUTH AS IF THEY KNOW EXACTLY EVERYTHING THAT I'M GOING TO SAY OR THE WAY THAT I'M GOING TO SAY IT. AND WHY DO WE NOT LIKE THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE? BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW IS THEY'RE NOT LISTENING. THEY'RE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY. BUT WHAT THEY'RE REALLY WANTING TO DO IS THEY ARE WANTING TO GO AHEAD AND RESPOND AS JUDGE AND JURY AND SOMETIMES EVEN EXECUTIONERS OF THINGS THAT THEY'VE NOT EVEN HEARD COME OUT OF OUR MOUTH. WE'VE ALL BEEN GUILTY OF THAT. WE'VE ALL GOTTEN OURSELVES ALL WORKED UP EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST WORD COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THAT HUSBAND - THAT WIFE - THAT SIBLING - THAT FRIEND. AND SO THEN - WHAT I'M CHALLENGING US TO UNDERSTAND AS HEARERS - THAT WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO HEAR AND ACCEPT WHAT IS BEING SAID FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT IT IS BEING PRESENTED. FROM THE WAY THAT IT IS BEING PRESENTED AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEONE MAY NOT BE OUT TO GET US. SOMEONE MAY NOT BE TRYING TO HARM US. SOMEONE MIGHT BE JUST TRYING TO SPEAK TO US AND INFORM US OR TEACH US OR SHOW US LOVE OR KINDNESS - AND YET, WE AS HEARERS HAVE THE PROBLEM. HOW MANY MARRIAGES DO YOU THINK WOULD BE HEALTHIER IF WE AS HUSBANDS WOULD SIMPLY HEAR WHAT OUR WIVES HAD TO SAY RATHER THAN DETERMINING WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY EVEN BEFORE THEY SAY IT? OR EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE SAID IT AND READING INTO WHAT THEY HAVE SAID MUCH MORE THAN REALLY WHAT THEY INTENDED. OR LADIES - HOW MANY MARRIAGES WOULD BE FAR BETTER IF YOU DID NOT REALLY CONSIDER THAT THERE WAS MAYBE AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE OR AN ADDITIONAL EMOTIONAL EMPHASIS BEING PUT ON SOMETHING WHEN PERHAPS THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT AT ALL? YOU SEE, WE NEED TO BE BETTER COMMUNICATORS - BETTER SPEAKERS - AND BETTER LISTENERS BECAUSE THE VERY BASIS OF SUCH COMMUNICATION CAN GIVE US - AGAIN, THE ABILITY TO SHOW THAT LOVE; THE FOUNDATION THAT GOD WANTS AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES OR AS PARENTS TO OUR CHILDREN OR AS CHILDREN TO OUR PARENTS. IT CAN REALLY REFLECT WHO WE ARE AND IF WE ARE DOING WHAT GOD REQUIRES. LET ME ALSO ADD ANOTHER ELEMENT TO COMMUNICATION - AND THAT IS THE ELEMENT OF BODY LANGUAGE. <br> <br>

      YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT I MIGHT TELL SOMEONE TO STOP DOING SOMETHING. I MIGHT SAY - PLEASE STOP THAT. AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND NOT SO OFFENSIVE. I MIGHT BE ONE WHO SAYS - STOP DOING THAT. AND AGAIN, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT EMPHASIS THERE. AND I MIGHT JUST HOLLER - STOP DOING THAT ALTOGETHER! AND THEN I MIGHT EVEN PUT MORE BODY LANGUAGE INTO IT AND I MIGHT SAY - STOP IT! YOU SEE HOW THAT OUR BODY LANGUAGE CAN REALLY AFFECT THE THINGS WE SAY AND PERHAPS HOW THEY ARE PERCEIVED? I KNOW MANY TIMES MY WIFE AND I HAVE GOTTEN TICKLED ABOUT THAT AND I'LL HEAR HER SAY SOMETHING TO ME AND PERHAPS SHE SEEMS LIKE SHE SNAPPED A LITTLE BIT OR WAS VERY SHORT IN HER RESPONSE. AND THEN I'LL GET ALL OFFENDED AND ALL WORRIED ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID WHEN REALLY PERHAPS THAT SIGH THAT SHE MADE ON THAT SIGH THAT I MADE WAS NOT INTEND TO BE HARMFUL. <br> <br>

      YOU SEE BRETHREN, HOW AND WHY WE'VE GOT TO BE GOOD LISTENERS? WHY WE'VE GOT TO BE PEOPLE WHO HEAR WHAT IS BEING SAID RATHER THAN HEARING WHAT WE THINK WAS SAID? YOU SEE HOW MUCH MORE LOVE THERE WOULD BE IN OUR HOMES AND AMONGST OUR FAMILIES IF WE WOULD GIVE ONE ANOTHER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND SHOW IN LOVE THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE SAYING ARE FOR THE INTEREST CONCERN AND WELL-BEING OF THE HEARER? BUT AS HEARERS - THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID BY THOSE WE LOVE ARE FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. <br> <br>

      YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ADMONITION I MIGHT GIVE US ALL IS THAT WE BE BETTER LISTENERS. THAT WE OPEN UP OUR EARS. I'VE OFTEN HEARD THE IDEA THAT GOD GAVE US WHAT? TWO EARS TO LISTEN WITH, TO HEAR WHAT IS BEING SAID. BUT SOMETIMES I SAY WE ALL COULD USE A GOOD PAIR OF HEARING AIDS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT OTHERS ARE SAYING TO US. WE MIGHT EVEN AT TIMES NEED AN INTERPRETER TO REALLY TELL US THAT WHAT WAS SAID HAD NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE AT ALL. OH - HOW MUCH BETTER CHRISTIAN HOMES COULD BE IF WE WOULD LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMUNICATION IN OUR HOMES BASED ON LOVE CAN BE PRODUCTIVE AND FRUITFUL AND BENEFICIAL AND HEALTHFUL AND EXACTLY WHAT GOD INTENDS FOR THAT COMMUNICATION TO BE. <br> <br>

      YOU SEE, THERE ARE MANY TIMES IN SCRIPTURES THAT THE BIBLE DEALS WITH WORDS. IN FACT, YOU CAN GO BACK IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS WE FIND MANY EXCERTATIONS ABOUT SPEECH AND THE WAY THAT IT CAN BE SWEET AS HONEY OR HOW IT CAN BE BITTER. WELL, WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE WAY WE SPEAK BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE RECEIVE THAT SPEECH AND HOW WE HEAR IT AS WELL. BUT DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT PAUL SAID IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 VERSE 29? HE ACTUALLY SAID, “LET NO CORRUPT WORD PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.” BUT NOW NOTICE THE PURPOSE OF WORDS OR COMMUNICATION. HE SAYS, “BUT ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR NECESSARY EDIFICATION.” HE SAYS WHEN YOU SPEAK DO SO TO ENCOURAGE THE HEARER. BUT NOT ONLY THAT, HE SAYS THAT YOUR WORDS MIGHT EVEN MAY IMPART GRACE TO THE HEARER. YOU KNOW WHAT GRACE IS? IT'S FAVOR. YOU MIGHT SAY - WELL, IF MY WIFE WOULD TREAT ME BETTER THAN I'D SPEAK BETTER TO HER. OR YOU MIGHT SAY - WELL, IF MY HUSBAND WOULD TALK KINDER TO ME THEN I'D TALK KINDER TO HIM. WHAT DOES THIS VERSE SAY? WHEN I SPEAK I SHOULD SPEAK WITH FAVOR WHETHER THEY DESERVE IT OR NOT. DIDN'T GOD OFFER US GRACE WHETHER WE DESERVED IT OR NOT? THAT I'LL SPEAK WITH FAVOR SO THAT IT MIGHT ACTUALLY DO WHAT? EDIFY THE HEARER. THAT IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL AND NOT FORGETTING - DON'T FORGET THOSE LITTLE EARS THAT ARE ALSO LISTENING TO THE WAY YOU'RE TALKING TO EACH OTHER. <br> <br> 

      WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE THINGS NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN TRYING TO CHALLENGE US TO BE THOSE WHO REALLY HEAR AND WHO REALLY SPEAK WITH GOD AS HIS ORACLES - AS THOSE THINGS THAT HE DESIRES OF US, AND ACCORDING TO WHAT HE REQUIRES IN HIS PERFECT WILL. DO YOU REMEMBER THERE ALSO IN COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3 VERSE 16? WE LEARNED THERE THE IDEA THAT WHEN THE WORD OF GOD DWELLS IN US RICHLY... DO YOU SEE THERE AGAIN WHAT CAN PERHAPS, NOT ONLY GIVE US THAT LOVE, BUT THAT FOUNDATION WE NEED TO REALLY BE FULFILLING THE ROLE IN THE HOME THAT WE NEED? WITH LOVE AND WITH GOOD COMMUNICATION SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT? BY GOD'S HELP AND THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, GLORIFY OUR CREATOR. <br> <br>

      DO YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT FROM ALL MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND COWORKERS? I WANT THEM TO SEE CHRIST IN ME. I WANT THEM TO SEE, THAT AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER, THAT CHRIST IS IN ME. I WANT THEM TO SEE, WHETHER THEY'RE AT MY HOME OR WHETHER THEY'RE AT THE PLACE OF WORSHIP OR WHETHER THEY'RE AT WORK - I WANT THEM TO SEE CHRIST IN ME. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? ARE YOU CONSISTENT IN RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR LOVE AS GOD HAS LOVED AND COMMUNICATED AS YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE? ARE YOU SHOWING FORTH TO GOD'S GLORY THAT YOU ARE HIS CHILD NOT YOUR OWN? THAT YOU ARE THE EXAMPLE! THAT YOU WILL SET THE STANDARD SO THAT AS HUSBANDS AND MEN OUR WIVES WILL DESIRE TO FULFILL THE ROLE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM. AS HUSBAND AND MEN, OUR CHILDREN WILL DO THE SAME. AND AS WE ALL DO WHAT GOD DESIRES WE'LL BE FOUND FAITHFUL SO THAT WE'LL RECEIVE THE GREAT REWARD IN THE END.<br> <br>



CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY, AS WE GAVE THIS TIME TO GOD. IT IS ALWAYS A BLESSING TO HAVE YOU WITH US.  WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO DOING THE THINGS OF GOD IN HIS WAY!  <br> <br>

      IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN HELP YOU WITH?  LET ME ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A 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:   <br> <br>



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      MAY WE ALL LEARN TO LOVE EACH OTHER MORE IN OUR FAMILIES AND TO COMMUNICATE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PROMOTE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST AMONG THOSE IN OUR HOMES.  OH, HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS WHEN OUR FAMILIES FUNCTION ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF GOD!

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