THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 2-26-17<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “CHALLENGES FACING THE HOME”

<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>

      WELCOME TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY MORNING!   THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO THE THINGS OF GOD.  TOGETHER WE WILL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO STUDY FROM GOD’S HOLY WORD AND TO SING PRAISES TO HIS WONDERFUL NAME.  LET’S EACH DO OUR PART THIS MORNING IN MAKING THIS TIME OF OFFERING ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT.  WILL YOU GO TO GOD IN PRAYER WITH ME AT THIS TIME<br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE MANY GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE - THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE YOUR SERVANT'S. FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU'LL HELP US ALWAYS TO LOOK TO YOUR WORD, THE BIBLE - THAT WE MIGHT FIND DIRECTION, THAT WE MIGHT BE GUIDED BY IT, AND KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO DO TO BE FOUND PLEASING. FATHER, THAT IN THE END WE MIGHT RECEIVE THAT GREATEST OF ALL REWARDS - THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN - LIVING WITH YOU ETERNALLY IN THAT WONDROUS PLACE. AND FATHER, HELP US THIS DAY TO GIVE YOU OUR VERY BEST AS WE IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH WORSHIP AND PRAISE YOUR GLORIOUS NAME. IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN.<br> <br>

      IT IS AGAIN OUR PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING PRAISE OUR GOD THROUGH SONG.  WE BEING THIS DAY WITH A HYMN WHICH REMINDS US OF THE GREAT BLESSING OF PRAYER.  SO WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING. THE NAME OF THE HYMN, “SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER.” <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      GROWING UP, WE ALL HAVE SOMEONE WHO WATCHED OVER US.  USUALLY IT IS PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND RELATIVES WHO REALLY TAKE CARE OF US AND MAKE US WHAT WE ARE TODAY!  WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING IT WAS TO ALWAYS KNOW THAT SOMEONE WAS THERE WHO CARED FOR US, LOVED US, AND LISTENED TO US AND OUR NEEDS.  <br> <br>

      AS WE GET OLDER, WE OFTEN FORGET THAT WE ARE STILL NOT ALONE IN THIS WORLD OF TRIALS AND PROBLEMS.  IN FACT, AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE THE PROMISE THAT GOD HIMSELF IS ALWAYS THERE.  THE PSALMIST DAVID PUT IT IN THESE WORDS, “THE LORD IS YOUR KEEPER; THE LORD IS YOUR SHADE AT YOUR RIGHT HAND. THE SUN SHALL NOT STRIKE YOU BY DAY, NOR THE MOON BY NIGHT. THE LORD SHALL PRESERVE YOU FROM ALL EVIL; HE SHALL PRESERVE YOUR SOUL. THE LORD SHALL PRESERVE YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN FROM THIS TIME FORTH, AND EVEN FOREVERMORE,” CHAPTER 121:5-8.  NOTICE HERE THAT THE LORD HIMSELF IS OUR PROTECTOR, KEEPER AND FRIEND.  HE IS THERE ALL DAY AND NIGHT, FROM TODAY AND FOREVER MORE!   <br> <br>

      WHAT A WONDERFUL ENCOURAGEMENT THIS IS TO KNOW THAT TRULY GOD HIMSELF IS THE ONE WHO IS WITH US AND WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE US.  THE HEBREW WRITER HAD A SIMILAR THOUGHT IN CHAPTER 13, AND VERSE 5, OF HIS BOOK, WHERE HE SAID, “FOR HE HIMSELF HAS SAID, ‘I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.’”  AGAIN, WE HAVE CONFIRMED FOR US THAT GOD CAN BE DEPENDED ON BY THOSE WHO STRIVE TO DO HIS WILL.  <br> <br>

      ALSO, LET ME HELP YOU TO NOTICE THE GREAT STRENGTH AND COURAGE WE RECEIVE FROM THIS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD ALWAYS BEING THERE.  IN THE SAME TEXT, THE HEBREW WRITER WENT ON TO SAY, “SO WE MAY BOLDLY SAY: ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME,’” VERSE 6?  WITH GOD, HIS PROMISES AND THE CONFIDENCE WE CAN HAVE IN HIM - THERE IS NOTHING WE SHOULD FEAR OR HESITATE IN DOING, IN CONNECTION TO HIS WILL!  WHY?  BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS THERE WITH US, HELPING US AND WATCHING OVER US IN ALL WE DO!<br> <br>

      DO YOU HAVE THIS TYPE OF CONFIDENCE IN GOD?  IF NOT, WHY NOT?  ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF HIS, A TRUE CHRISTIAN, A CHILD OF GOD?  CHOOSE TODAY TO BEGIN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK, AND ALLOW GOD TO WATCH OVER YOU AND HELP YOU IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE.  LEARN TO HAVE FAITH IN YOUR CREATOR TODAY!<br> <br>

      OUR BIBLICAL THEME OF DISCUSSION THIS MORNING WILL AGAIN BE CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN HOME. OUR SPECIFIC LESSON THIS MORNING IS ENTITLED, “CHALLENGES FACING THE HOME.”  AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, WE WILL LEAD IN OUR STUDY OF THE MORNING. <br> <br> 

      AS FAR AS OUR SPEAKER, TODAY 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, MO; AND HE IS ALSO A FULL-TIME INSTRUCTOR AT THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING OUR THOUGHTS FROM GOD’S WORD IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.  BUT FOR NOW, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION, AS WE SING OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING - THE NAME OF THIS SONG IS, “THE GLORYLAND WAY.” <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY BRENT GREEN<br> <br>

      WHAT A GREAT PRIVILEGE IT IS AS ALWAYS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE WORD OF GOD. WE FIND THE WORDS OF JESUS IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW - MATTHEW CHAPTER 19 BEGINNING IN VERSE FOUR. JESUS SAID, “HAVE YOU NOT READ THAT HE WHO MADE THEM AT THE BEGINNING MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE? AND SAID FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER TO JOIN HIS WIFE AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. SO THEN THEY ARE NO LONGER TWO BUT ONE FLESH. THEREFORE, WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER LET NOT MAN SEPARATE.” WHAT A GREAT BLESSING IT IS FOR GOD TO HAVE INSTITUTED THE HOME HAVING PUT MAN AND WOMAN TOGETHER MAKING THEM ONE AND THEN THE CHILDREN THAT COME FROM THAT BLESSED UNION TO CREATE THAT FAMILY. WHAT A GREAT BLESSING THAT INDEED IS FROM GOD. BUT IT DOESN'T COME WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES, EVEN HERE AS JESUS SAID, “LET NOT MAN SEPARATE.” GOD HAS PUT THOSE TOGETHER - THAT HUSBAND, THAT WIFE AND GIVEN THEM THOSE BLESSINGS OF THOSE CHILDREN. BUT YET SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT IN THIS WORLD AS IT SHOULD. AND MAN AND EVEN SATAN, TRY TO DIVIDE WHAT GOD HAS PUT TOGETHER. JESUS SAID IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. OUR HOMES SHOULD STAY TOGETHER. HUSBANDS AND WIVES SHOULD REMAIN UNIFIED AND THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL WITH THEM SHOULD REMAIN INTACT AS A CHRISTIAN HOME. THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE REAL. SO LET'S THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE WILL FACE IN OUR HOMES AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE DON'T LET MAN, THAT WE DON'T LET SATAN SEPARATE US AS WE MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO IN THIS WORLD. <br> <br>

      ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE WILL FACE AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES - AS A FAMILY - AS A HOME IS THE CHALLENGE OF PRIORITIES. I WONDER WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS CONCERNING PRIORITIES. VERSES LIKE MATTHEW CHAPTER 6 AND VERSE 33 - THERE WE'RE TOLD TO SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. WELL, THE ENCOURAGEMENT THERE, OR ACTUALLY THE COMMAND FROM THE SCRIPTURE, IS THAT WE'VE GOT A PUT GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES. ALSO THERE - EVEN THE GREATEST COMMANDMENTS GIVEN, EVEN THE LAW OF MOSES AND DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 6, WHAT WERE THEY TO DO? TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS, WITH ALL THEIR SOUL, WITH ALL THEIR STRENGTH. WHAT DID JESUS SAY HIMSELF WAS THE GREATEST COMMAND? MATTHEW CHAPTER 22 AND VERSE 37 - IT WAS THE SAME. AND HE QUOTED THERE FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT GIVING US THE SAME COMMAND TODAY THAT WE ARE TO LOVE THE LORD OUR GOD WITH ALL OF OUR BEING. WELL, WE ARE TO LOVE GOD WITH OUR ALL. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES? IN OUR LIVES WE HAVE TO PUT HIM FIRST. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE CASE IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES INDIVIDUALLY BUT ISN'T THAT THE CASE IN OUR HOMES? THAT IS HUSBANDS AND WIVES, WE AS A MARRIED COUPLE, ARE TO PUT GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES. PUT HIM AT THE TOP OF OUR PRIORITY LIST. ISN'T IT ALSO TRUE THAT AS A FAMILY UNIT, EVEN THE CHILDREN, GOD IS STILL BE AT THE TOP OF OUR LIVES. INDEED IT IS TRUE ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD. THE CHALLENGE IS THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR HOMES. THE CARES OF THIS WORLD OFTEN COME INTO OUR LIVES AND MAY KEEP US FROM MAINTAINING GOD AS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. JESUS MENTIONS THERE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 13 AND VERSE 22 HOW SO OFTEN THE CARES OF THIS WORLD CAN AGAIN ENSNARE US AND ENTANGLE US AND KEEP US FROM LIVING AS WE SHOULD. AGAIN, AS IT'S THE CASE INDIVIDUALLY, ITS' THE CASE FOR US IN OUR HOMES AS WELL. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CARES OF THIS WORLD THAT WOULD KEEP US FROM HAVING GOD AS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN OUR HOMES? WELL, IT COULD BE THINGS LIKE SPORTS AND RECREATION. THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE WRONG IN AND OF THEMSELVES BUT THINGS AGAIN THAT COULD TAKE PRECEDENT OVER GOD IF WE FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS ABOVE GOD. IT COULD BE JOBS AND MONEY. MAYBE IT'S THE FACT THAT WE'RE SO CAUGHT UP AS HUSBANDS OR WIVES SEEKING THINGS IN OUR JOBS AND MAKING MONEY THAT WE FORGET ABOUT PUTTING GOD FIRST IN OUR MARRIAGES. WE FORGET ABOUT PUTTING GOD FIRST IN OUR HOMES. WHAT ABOUT FINANCES? ANY ONE THING IN THIS WORLD THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH - ANYTHING THAT WE PUT BEFORE GOD - CAN TAKE HIM OUT OF THAT NUMBER ONE SPOT AS OUR TOP PRIORITY. AND WHEN WE DO THAT THEN WE BEGIN TO OPEN UP THAT DOOR TO ALLOW MAN, TO ALLOW SATAN, TO ALLOW THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO SEPARATE OUR MARRIAGES AND TO SEPARATE OUR HOMES WHEN THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH THAT CHALLENGE WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? WELL, THINK AGAIN ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD DO TO MAKE SURE YOU MAINTAIN GOD AS THE TOP PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THAT YOU MAKE HIM THE PRIORITY IN YOUR HOME AND IN YOUR MARRIAGE EVERY SINGLE DAY. <br> <br>

      IT STARTS WITH STUDYING HIS WORD. WE NEED TO MAKE THAT WORD A PART OF OUR LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY. THOSE JEWS IN BEREA IN ACTS CHAPTER 17 IN VERSE 11 LEAVE FOR US A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE. THESE WERE THOSE WHO ARE FACT CHECKING THE APOSTLE PAUL. IT SAYS THAT THEY WERE SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY TO FIND OUT WHETHER THESE THINGS WERE SO. THEY WERE CHECKING TO SEE WHAT PAUL WAS SAYING WAS ACTUALLY THE WORD OF GOD. WELL, WHAT WE LEARN THERE IS, IN THEIR EXAMPLE, WAS THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES DAILY. TO MAKE GOD A PRIORITY IN OUR LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY WE NEED TO FOLLOW THAT EXAMPLE. MAKE SURE WE ARE STUDYING ON A DAILY BASIS. THAT WE'RE DILIGENT TO PRESENT OURSELVES APPROVED UNTO GOD - SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE 15. AND NOT JUST IN OUR STUDY BUT IN OUR DAILY LIVING AS WE READ THAT WORD, AS WE STUDY THAT WORD AND THEN FOLLOW THAT WORD. WE SHOULD BE LIVING ACCORDING TO THAT STANDARD EVERYDAY. THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES IN OUR LIVES AND THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE GOD THE TOP PRIORITY IN OUR HOMES. AND NOT JUST IN WHAT WE READ, WHAT WE STUDY, THE WAY WE LIVE BUT ALSO EVEN IN OUR WORSHIP. HEBREWS CHAPTER 10 VERSE 24 - WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THOSE WHO FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER. WE SHOULD BE THERE ACCORDING TO GOD'S REQUIREMENT WHEN THE CHURCH MEETS TO WORSHIP HIM. HOW MANY TIMES THOUGH DO WE AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES, DO WE AS FAMILIES, ALLOW THE CARES OF THIS WORLD THOUGH TO KEEP US FROM STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD ON A DAILY BASIS? HOW MANY TIMES DO WE ALLOW THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO KEEP US FROM WORSHIPING GOD AS WE SHOULD? DO WE LET THOSE SPORTING EVENTS, DO WE LET THE RECREATION, THE JOBS, WHATEVER IT IS KEEP US FROM MAKING GOD THAT NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN OUR LIVES? WE'VE GOT TO WATCH AND BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T ALLOW OUR FAMILIES AND OUR MARRIAGES TO BE TORN APART BECAUSE OF THE CARES OF THIS WORLD. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT GOD IS ALWAYS THAT NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. <br> <br>

      THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE  RISING TO THE OCCASION AND MEETING THE CHALLENGE CONCERNING THAT OF PURITY IN OUR HOMES AND IN OUR MARRIAGES. AGAIN WE HAVE THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE WE FIND IN VERSES LIKE FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER 5 IN VERSE 22. THERE WE'RE TOLD TO KEEP OURSELVES PURE. JAMES CHAPTER 1 IN VERSE 27 WE FIND WHAT PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION IS. AND EVEN A PASSAGE LIKE FIRST PETER CHAPTER 1 IN VERSE 22 THAT WE ARE TO HAVE HEARTS THAT ARE PURE. THERE'S NO MISTAKE OF GOD'S COMMAND FOR US AS CHRISTIANS THAT WE ARE TO HAVE PURE HEARTS AND TO LIVE PURE LIVES. ISN'T THAT ALSO TRUE IN OUR MARRIAGES? ISN'T THAT ALSO TRUE IN OUR HOMES? THAT OUR HOMES ARE TO BE PURE BEFORE GOD? AND THAT AGAIN IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE FACED WITHIN THIS WORLD. THAT HERE COMES MAN, HERE COMES SATAN, HERE COMES THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAT TRY TO TEAR OUR MARRIAGES APART AND TRY TO TEAR OUR HOMES APART. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH THAT CHALLENGE? THINK ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH THAT CHALLENGE IS IN OUR HOMES AND IN OUR MARRIAGES EVERY SINGLE DAY. JEREMIAH CHAPTER 10 VERSE 23 SPEAKS OF THE WAY OF MAN. THE FACT THAT THE WAY OF MAN IS NOT IN HIMSELF, IT IS NOT A MAN WHO WALKS TO DIRECT HIS OWN STEPS. BUT THERE'S A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN BUT ITS END IS DESTRUCTION. IF YOU THINK ABOUT OUR SOCIETY AND WHAT IT IS THAT THE WORLD IS PUSHING AND WHAT IT IS THAT SATAN IS TRYING TO DO TO UNDERMINE OUR MARRIAGES AND OUR HOMES, HE IS REALLY TRYING TO GET AT US BY MEANS OF IMPURITY. IN THE FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT, DON'T WE SEE THINGS ON TELEVISION AND HEAR THINGS ON THE RADIO EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT ARE FULL OF IMPURITIES DEALING WITH PROFANITY, NUDITY, VIOLENCE, IMMORALITY IN ALL SORTS OF THINGS OF A SEXUAL NATURE? WHAT ABOUT ALSO OTHER THINGS OF THIS WORLD; DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO - THOSE THINGS THAT ARE OPENLY USED BY PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY AS IF IT'S NO BIG DEAL? EVEN OTHER THINGS CONCERNING ADULTERY, DIVORCE, IMMORALITY AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER SINS? ANY SORT OF SIN IS AN IMPURITY. ANY SORT OF SIN IS A FILTHINESS, A WICKEDNESS, THAT WILL ONLY SEPARATE US FROM GOD AND SATAN, MANKIND, OR SOCIETIES TRYING TO INTERJECT INTO OUR MARRIAGES AND INTO OUR HOMES - THOSE THINGS THAT WILL DEFILE US AND THOSE TEMPTATIONS THAT WILL PULL US AWAY FROM GOD. I WONDER HOW MANY MARRIAGES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY THESE SEXUAL SINS OF THE WORLD? I WONDER HOW MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN TORN APART BECAUSE THE FILTHINESS THAT IS ALLOWED TO COME INTO THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS? WHAT'S THE SOLUTION WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE IN OUR MARRIAGES AND IN OUR HOMES? THE SOLUTION IS TO BE SEPARATE FROM ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE SINFUL. <br> <br>

      I MIGHT CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A VERSE THAT WE FIND IN SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6. SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6 AND VERSE 17 - WE ARE CHALLENGED TO BE DIFFERENT FROM THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. WE ARE CHALLENGED TO BE SEPARATED FROM ALL THAT FILTHINESS THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY. SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6 THERE IN VERSE 17 SAYS THIS, “’THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE,’ SAYS THE LORD. ‘DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU.’” A QUOTATION, EVEN FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT, ONE REMINDING US THAT GOD'S PEOPLE ARE TO BE SEPARATE. THAT'S WHAT HE DEMANDED OF HIS PEOPLE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - THAT THEY COME OUT FROM THE SINS OF THE WORLD - THAT THEY BE A DISTINCT AND A SEPARATE NATION. NOW, WE ARE NO LONGER A PHYSICAL NATION BUT STILL A SPIRITUAL NATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE. AND AS A PART OF THAT SPIRITUAL NATION, WHAT DOES GOD DEMAND OF US AS CHRISTIANS? THAT WE BE SEPARATE. WHAT THEN DOES THAT MEAN HE DEMANDS OF US AS HUSBANDS AND AS WIVES AND AS CHILDREN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN HE DEMANDS OF US AS THOSE WHO ARE LIVING AND TRYING TO CONTINUE AS CHRISTIAN HOMES? WE'VE GOT TO BE PURE. THAT'S WHAT GOD COMMANDS. THAT WE BE SEPARATE FROM ALL THE IMPURITIES OF THE WORLD. THAT WE DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD - FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 2 VERSES 15 THROUGH 17, “THAT ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD; THE LUST OF FLESH, A LUST OF THE EYE, THE PRIDE OF LIFE IS NOT OF THE FATHER BUT IS OF THE WORLD.” WE CAN'T ALLOW THOSE THINGS TO ENTER INTO OUR HOMES IF WE'RE GOING TO REMAIN THOSE WHO ARE PURE. WE'VE GOT TO BE SEPARATE. WE'VE GOT TO KEEP OUR MARRIAGES UNDEFILED - HEBREWS CHAPTER 13 VERSE FOUR. THAT'S WHAT IS HONORABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. WE'VE GOT TO KEEP ALL THOSE IMPURITIES OUT OF OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS BEST WE CAN. TURN OFF THOSE TELEVISIONS IF NECESSARY. TURN OFF THOSE RADIOS IF NECESSARY. REMOVE ALL THOSE FORMS OF IMPURITIES THAT COME BEFORE YOUR EYES. MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T ENTER INTO YOUR HOMES. BE SEPARATE. BE PURE AND FACE THAT CHALLENGE. <br> <br>

      ANOTHER GREAT CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE AS CHRISTIANS AND EVEN WITHIN OUR HOMES IS A CHALLENGE TO HAVE PEACE. WE KNOW AGAIN FROM THE WORD OF GOD THAT WE ARE DEMANDED TO HAVE PEACE IN OUR HOMES. THERE IN FIRST PETER CHAPTER 3 AND VERSE 11 AND MANY OTHER PASSAGES WE ARE TOLD TO SEEK PEACE. TO SEEK PEACE IN OUR LIVES, TO BE AT PEACE EVEN AMONG OURSELVES. BUT ISN'T THAT AGAIN A CHALLENGE WE FACE? I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES THAT HOMES ARE DESTROYED BECAUSE THERE ISN'T PEACE. THAT MARRIAGES ARE TORN APART EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULDN'T BE BECAUSE PEACE DOES NOT EXIST. RATHER, WHAT EXISTS IS DISCONTENTMENT, STRIFE, SEPARATION. WHEN MANY DON'T HAVE AN INWARD PEACE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR STATE IN LIFE. WHEN MANY ARE TRYING TO MAYBE KEEP UP WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THERE IS NO PEACE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER. ALWAYS LOOKING AS WE SAY FOR THE GRASS TO BE GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE FAILED TO HAVE A PEACE WITH GOD AND THUS CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO HAVE A PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THEIR FAMILIES? HOW MANY TIMES DOES A PEACE OF RELATIONSHIPS FAIL BECAUSE SPOUSES ARE FIGHTING? BECAUSE PARENTS AND CHILDREN ARE FIGHTING? MAYBE IT IS A LACK OF RESPECT OR A LACK OF DISCIPLINE. MAYBE IT'S SIBLINGS WHO ARE FIGHTING AND BICKERING. FAMILIES AREN'T PERFECT AND GOD DOESN'T EXPECT US TO BE PERFECT. HE REALIZES THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHERE WE AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES ARE NOT GETTING ALONG. HE REALIZES THAT IN LIFE THERE CAN BE TIMES WHEN THE CHILDREN IN THESE FAMILY UNITS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AS THEY SHOULD BE. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T FIND PEACE ONCE AGAIN. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T WORK THROUGH THOSE PROBLEMS AND SIT DOWN, IF YOU WILL, AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AND RESOLVE THOSE DIFFERENCES AND FIND AN ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN AND HAVE PEACE. THE CHALLENGE IS THERE. AND WHAT DOES THE WORLD, WHAT DOES SATAN WANT TO DO WITH THAT CHALLENGE? HE WANTS TO USE IT TO AGAIN SEPARATE WHAT GOD HAS PUT TOGETHER. LET'S DON'T LET OUR MARRIAGES FALL APART BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PEACE. LET'S NOT LET OUR HOMES FALL APART BECAUSE OF LACK OF PEACE. LET'S FIND AGAIN THE SOLUTION FROM GOD'S WORD. WE NEED TO SEEK THE PEACE OF GOD - ROMANS CHAPTER 5 IN VERSE ONE. AND AS WE SEEK THAT PEACE OF GOD, THEN WE CAN LET THAT PEACE OF GOD RULE IN OUR HEARTS. PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4 IN VERSE SEVEN IS A GOOD REMINDER FOR THAT PEACE THAT IS TO BE IN OUR HEARTS. PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4 IN VERSE SEVEN SAYS, “THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.” WE HAVE A GUARD. WE HAVE SOMETHING THERE TO HELP US WHEN THESE TIMES COME WHEN WE ARE AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WHEN WE'RE FIGHTING. WE CAN USE THAT PEACE OF GOD AGAIN TO GUARD OUR HEARTS, TO ALLOW US TO BE THOSE WHO BEAR THAT FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. THAT FRUIT OF PEACE AS WELL. <br> <br>

      THE CHALLENGE IS GONNA BE THERE. SATAN IS GONNA WANT TO USE THIS TO DESTROY US AND TO TEAR US APART. MAN'S GOING TO WANT TO DIVIDE THE HOME IN THIS WAY. LET'S RISE TO THE OCCASION AND NOT ALLOW HIM TO DO SUCH. LET'S NOT ALLOW SATAN AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO TEAR US APART. YOU KNOW, WE FACE THESE CHALLENGES ALL THE TIME IN OUR LIVES. INDIVIDUALLY AS CHRISTIANS WE FACE THE CHALLENGE OF MAKING GOD OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE FACE THE CHALLENGE OF MAINTAINING PURITY AND BEING THOSE WHO ARE AT PEACE WITH GOD AND WITH OUR BRETHREN IN THIS WORLD. BUT THE SAME CHALLENGES WE FACE INDIVIDUALLY ARE THESE MIGHTY CHALLENGES WE FACE AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES. THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AS PARENTS AND CHILDREN - THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN OUR CHRISTIAN HOMES. YOU KNOW THAT GOD PUT US TOGETHER. GOD INSTITUTED THE HOME AND AS WE READ BEGINNING IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 19 - LET'S REMEMBER THOSE WORDS ONCE AGAIN. JESUS SAID, “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. SO THEN THEY ARE NO LONGER TWO BUT ONE FLESH. THEREFORE, WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER LET NOT MAN SEPARATE.” GOD PUT THE HOME TOGETHER. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT HE IS OUR PRIORITY. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT PURITY, THAT PEACE AND THAT WE DON'T ALLOW OUR HOMES TO BE TORN APART.

      <br> <br>

      CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU FOR PUTTING GOD FIRST AND CHOOSING TO GIVE THIS TIME TO HIM. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.  WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO WORSHIPING GOD IN HIS WAY!  <br> <br>

      NOW, LET ME ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR 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>



The Living Word

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      LET’S ALL STRIVE TO HAVE CHRISTIAN HOMES WHICH REFLECT THE DESIRES AND COMMANDS OF CHRIST.  MAY GOD ALWAYS BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AS WE STRIVE TO HAVE PURITY, PEACE, AND PATIENCE IN OUR GODLY HOMES!

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