THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 3-12-17 

<br> <br>

LESSON TITLE: “SALVATION FOR ALL IN 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>

      THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM.  A WORK OF OUR LORD COMMITTED TO STUDYING HIS WILL AND TO DOING THINGS IN HIS WAY.  AS ALWAYS, IT IS OUR HOPE AND PRAYER THAT EVERYTHING WE DO TOGETHER WILL BE EDIFYING TO EACH OF US, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS OUR GOAL TO GLORIFY GOD, THE ALMIGHTY!  LET ME ENCOURAGE EACH OF US TO DO OUR PART THIS MORNING IN MAKING THIS TIME TOGETHER PROFITABLE IN HIS SIGHT.  NOW, LET’S TALK TO THE FATHER IN PRAYER! <br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSING OF LIFE FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE YOU - TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN. AND HELP US THIS DAY TO DO ALL THAT WE DO IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH, ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU HAVE ASKED IN YOUR WORD - THE BIBLE. AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT GIFT OF JESUS WHICH MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE GIVING US, NOT ONLY IN THIS LIFE WHAT WE NEED PHYSICALLY BUT ALSO ALL SPIRITUAL THINGS THAT WE NEED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL SALVATION. WE THANK YOU FATHER FOR THE AVENUE OF PRAYER AND THIS PRAYER WE OFFER IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. <br> <br>

      ISN’T IT A GREAT BLESSING TO HAVE GOD IN OUR LIVES AND HEARTS AND TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING CALLED HIS CHILDREN!  OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING REMINDS US JUST HOW GOD IS ABLE TO LIGHT UP OUR LIVES IN HIS SERVICE.  SO WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THE HYMN, “THERE IS SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL.”<br> <br>

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR SERVICE TO GOD IS VERY IMPORTANT AS CHILDREN OF HIS.  HOWEVER, WE OFTEN FORGET THE MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS SERVICE.  LETS TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND CONSIDER ONE IMPORTANT QUALITY WHICH WE MUST ALL HAVE TO FIND FAVOR WITH GOD.  READ WITH ME THE WORDS OF PETER IN 1 PETER 5:5, THERE HE SAID, “…YES, ALL OF YOU BE SUBMISSIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY, FOR "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  HERE WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO CLOTH OURSELVES WITH HUMILITY. <br> <br>

      YOU AND I KNOW THAT HUMILITY IS SOMETIMES A HARD THING TO HAVE.  ESPECIALLY IN A COUNTRY AND SOCIETY THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO OFFER, WHERE VERY FEW, IF ANY, HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TRUE SUFFERING AND STRUGGLES IS ALL ABOUT.  EVEN MANY SONGS TODAY ARE WRITTEN ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO BE HUMBLE.   LET ME REMIND YOU OF A FACT YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN.  WE MUST BE HUMBLE BECAUSE CHRIST WAS WILLING TO BE HUMBLE.  <br> <br>

      IN PHILIPPIANS 2:6-7, WE ARE REMINDED THAT JESUS WAS GOD, BUT YET HE WAS WILLING TO BECOME MERELY A MAN.  THERE IT SAYS, “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.   FURTHERMORE IN VERSE 8 OF THE SAME TEXT, PAUL SAID, “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.”<br> <br>

      JESUS WAS WILLING TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, TO LEAVE THE FATHER AND TO BECOME A MAN AND SUFFER  - FINALLY TO THE EXTENT OF EVEN GIVING HIS OWN LIFE AS A SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS.  NOW, YOU TELL ME AGAIN HOW HARD IT IS TO BE HUMBLE.  THE FACT IS, IF CHRIST WAS WILLING TO HUMBLE HIMSELF IN SUCH A GREAT WAY FOR US, SHOULDN’T WE BE WILLING TO LEARN HUMILITY OURSELVES FROM THE MASTER TEACHER?<br> <br>

      LET’S ALSO REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A REWARD TO THOSE WHO LEARN THIS GREAT LESSON.  IN JAMES 4:10, WE READ, “HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND HE WILL LIFT YOU UP.”  ARE YOU WILLING TO PRACTICE THE HUMILITY THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE? REMEMBER THAT BEING CHRIST-LIKE IS LEARNING THE LESSON OF BEING HUMBLE AS HE WAS!<br> <br>

      TODAY, WE WILL BE CONCLUDING OUR SERIES CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN HOME! OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC THIS MORNING WILL BE “SALVATION FOR ALL IN THE HOME.” AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, WE WILL BE LEAD IN THIS STUDY FROM THE BIBLE.  <br> <br>

      AS FAR AS OUR GUEST WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE BROTHER JERRY SULLINS WITH US AGAIN.  BROTHER JERRY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI RIGHT HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.  WE THANK HIM FOR JOINING US TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING OUR THOUGHTS FROM GOD’S WORD.  NOW, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING, “THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD.”  <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY JERRY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AGAIN TO THE LIVING WORD BROADCAST. AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE TURNED THE TELEVISION ON AND TURNED IT TO THE PROPER STATION SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR THIS BROADCAST THIS MORNING. WER'E SO THANKFUL FOR THOSE WHO CONTACT US AND LET US KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE PROGRAM. IT MEANS A LOT TO US AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE EVERY SUNDAY MORNING - THOUSANDS THROUGHOUT OUR LISTENING AUDIENCE - WHO VIEW THIS PROGRAM EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF YOUR MORNING AND HOPE THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE YOU TO KNOW GOD'S WILL, TO SEEK TO KNOW HIS WILL AND TO STUDY THE WORD OF GOD, AND TO SEEK TO DO HIS WILL IN YOUR LIFE. <br> <br>

      NOW, FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS WE'VE BEEN STUDYING THE CHRISTIAN HOME - THE HOME AS GOD INTENDED IT. AS WE KNOW, FROM THE BIBLE ITSELF, THAT GOD CREATED TWO DIVINE INSTITUTIONS. ONE OF THEM WAS THE HOME WHICH STARTED IN GENESIS CHAPTER 1,2, AND 3. AND SO WE KNOW THAT GOD PLACED A HOME AND IN HIS DESIGN FOR ALL MANKIND HE WANTED A MAN TO MARRY A WOMAN AND TO PRODUCE A FAMILY. BUT HE ALSO HAD A DIVINE INSTITUTION WHICH IS CALLED THE CHURCH WHICH WE READ ABOUT ITS BEGINNING IN ACTS CHAPTER 2. BUT FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS YOU'VE BEEN STUDYING WITH US ABOUT WHAT GOD EXPECTS FOR US TO ALL HAVE IN OUR HOMES.NOW THE REASON WE SEE IN OUR WORLD TODAY THE DISSOLVING OF SO MANY HOMES IN DIVORCE. IN FACT, NOW THE FIGURE IS ABOVE 50% OF ALL MARRIAGES END IN DIVORCE. AND THAT MEANS A HOME IS DESTROYED. FROM THAT WE SEE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN OUR SOCIETY - PROBLEMS THAT ARE INVOLVED OR SUCH THINGS AS SINS OF THE FLESH BECAUSE PEOPLE SEEK AFTER SOMEONE ELSE TO BE A PART OF THEIR LIVES AND IGNORE GOD'S TEACHINGS. WE SEE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE CHILDREN OF THOSE MARRIAGES BECAUSE SO MANY CHILDREN ARE SUBJECTED TO A FATHER AND A MOTHER WHO DID NOT LOVE EACH OTHER, WHO WON'T STAY TOGETHER, WHO WON'T DO WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING, AND SO FOR THAT REASON WE SEE SO MANY CHILDREN HAVING SO MANY EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS. THAT IN MANY, MANY CASES ARE VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AROUND THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMS. <br> <br>

      TODAY I WANT TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING ALL THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO MONTHS ON THE HOME AS GOD WOULD HAVE IT. AND I WANT YOU TO APPLY IT TO THE THOUGHT AND THE IDEA OF WHAT CAN I DO TO BE THE PERSON THAT I NEED TO BE TO ACTUALLY HELP THOSE PRECIOUS MEMBERS OF OUR HOME TO GO TO HEAVEN? YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. AND SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO PROPOSE TO USE CERTAIN IDEAS AND CONCEPTS THAT WILL HELP YOU TO GET TO THAT POINT. <br> <br>

      YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE IN OUR HOMES TODAY THERE JUST NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT ATTITUDES THAT WILL HELP US ALL BE MUCH HAPPIER PEOPLE IN GOING TOWARD THAT HEAVENLY HOME. FOR INSTANCE, IN YOUR HOME AS YOU VIEW IT RIGHT NOW, ARE THERE INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR HOME; THAT IS THE FATHER AND THE HUSBAND, AND THE MOTHER AND THE WIFE, AND THE CHILDREN - ARE YOU SEEKING TO BUILD EACH OTHER UP? WELL, A COMMON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE THAT IS FOUND IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 10 VERSE 24 IS LET US PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER UNTO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS. LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER UNTO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS. WOULD YOU SAY, AS YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF AS A FATHER OR AS A MOTHER OR AS A HUSBAND OR AS A WIFE OR AS CHILDREN IN THE HOME, THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HELPING OTHERS OR HELPING YOUR LOVED ONES GET TO HEAVEN BY ENCOURAGING THEM? ONE SCRIPTURE THAT IS STATED IN THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3 VERSE 21 IS SPEAKING TO THE FATHERS, “DO NOT PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN LESS THEY BECOME DISCOURAGED.” AND SO WE SEE THE CASE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SORT OF GOING ALONG LIKE THEY'VE BEEN TAUGHT IN THIS SECULAR HUMANISTIC WORLD TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN NEEDS AND NOT REALLY BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF ANYONE ELSE IN THE FAMILY. WELL, OF COURSE THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT CONTRIBUTORS TO FAMILIES NOT STAYING TOGETHER - FOR FAMILIES NOT DOING WHAT GOD WANTS THEM TO DO. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU AS A HUSBAND REALLY ENCOURAGED YOUR WIFE? PETER SAID IN THE BOOK OF FIRST PETER CHAPTER 3 VERSE SEVEN - HE SAID (AND THIS IS GOD ACTUALLY SPEAKING THROUGH HIM), “HUSBAND'S LIKEWISE DWELL WITH THEM WITH UNDERSTANDING, GIVING HONOR TO THE WIFE AS THROUGH THE WEAKER VESSEL AND AS BEING HEIRS TOGETHER THE GRACE OF LIFE THAT YOUR PRAYERS MAY NOT BE HINDERED.” FROM WHAT PEOPLE TELL ME, EVERYONE IN MOST HOMES HAS THEIR OWN AGENDA. AND THAT AGENDA DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OTHER. OH, THERE'S A PASSING BY AND SAYING HELLO - HOW ARE YOU DOING? HOW WAS YOUR DAY? BUT NOTHING IN-DEPTH. NO WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT – “OH, YOU'RE SUCH A WONDERFUL WIFE.” “YOU DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO AND I'M SO PLEASED WITH THAT.” IT HELPS US ALL GET TO HEAVEN OR CONVERSELY IT MIGHT BE THE SAME TYPE OF STATEMENT OR HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD STATEMENTS LIKE THAT IN YOUR HOME? THE CHILDREN ARE SO BUSY IN THE FAMILY - SO BUSY ON THEIR CELL PHONES, WATCHING TELEVISION, TAKING CARE OF THEIR SO-CALLED NEEDS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND OTHER THINGS, AND THEY FORGET ONE ANOTHER. THEY DO NOT ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER. LOOK AT THAT PERSON, THAT PERSON THAT YOU CHOSE TO LOVE. THOSE CHILDREN THAT YOU CHOSE TO BRING INTO THIS WORLD. WHETHER YOU CHOSE THEM OR NOT THEY'RE YOUR CHILDREN - YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM. LOOK INTO THEIR EYES AND SEE THE HURT THAT IS THERE. LOOK INTO THEIR EYES AND SEE THE NEEDS THAT ARE THERE AND FULFILL THOSE NEEDS! PUT THAT TELEVISION OFF. JUST TURN IT OFF. PUT DOWN YOUR CELL PHONES AND LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND HELP ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO GET TO HEAVEN. <br> <br>

      ANOTHER THING - HOW EMPATHETIC ARE YOU TOWARD YOUR MATE AND ALSO TOWARDS YOUR CHILDREN? EMPATHY IS A STATEMENT OR A WORD THAT ACTUALLY MEANS GETTING INTO THEIR FEELINGS. FEELING LIKE THEY FEEL. NOT SYMPATHY BUT EMPATHY. IT'S WHAT JESUS SAID WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE MULTITUDES IN MATTHEW NINE VERSE 36 AND SAYING TO HIS DISCIPLES THAT BASICALLY THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE HAD COMPASSION ON THE MULTITUDES BECAUSE HE JUST BEEN HEALING THE SICK AND DOING SO MANY THINGS FOR THEM AND THEN THEY STILL WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE LOST. AND HE SAID, “LOOK INTO THE FIELDS FOR THEY ARE WIDE UNTO HARVEST.” LOOK INTO THE EYES AND BE EMPATHETIC WITH THOSE WHOM YOU LOVE IN THE HOME. THEY NEED TO FEEL THAT YOU CARE FOR THEM. NOW, EVERYONE IN THIS LIFE HAS STRUGGLES. WE HAVE PHYSICAL STRUGGLES, WE HAVE EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES, FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, SOCIAL STRUGGLES - HOW CAN WE HELP ONE ANOTHER? TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AS WE SAID. TO REALLY EMPATHIZE WITH THOSE PEOPLE'S NEEDS. WILL THEY EVER MAKE IT TO HEAVEN? OR WILL WE EVER MAKE IT TO HEAVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE EMPATHY FOR ONE ANOTHER? IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT! SO THINK ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE BEFORE YOURSELF. YOU KNOW, THAT HAS A COMMON RING IN THE BIBLE AND IT'S CALLED LOVE. THAT IS THE AGAPE LOVE, WHICH IS A SELFLESS LOVE, WHICH PUTS EVERYONE ELSE BEFORE YOURSELF. IS THAT WHAT WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING IN OUR HOMES TODAY?  NO DOUBT THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTING FACTORS FOR OUR HOMES ENDING IN DIVORCE AND BEING DIVIDED. <br> <br>

      WHAT ABOUT COMMON RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER? ARE YOU TAKING YOUR PROPER PLACE IN THE HOME? AS THE FATHER AND THE HUSBAND, AS THE MOTHER AND THE WIFE, OR AS THE CHILDREN, OR THE PARENTS TO THE CHILDREN - ARE YOU TAKING YOUR PROPER PLACE IN THIS LIFE AND RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER FOR THE ROLE THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN US TO PLAY IN THIS WORLD TODAY AS IT RELATES TO OUR FAMILIES? REMEMBER WHAT PETER SAID THERE, THAT IS GOD SPEAKING THROUGH PETER. HE SAID THAT THE HUSBAND AND THE WIFE ARE HEIRS TOGETHER OF THE GRACE OF THE LIFE. HEIRS TOGETHER OF WHAT? HEIRS THAT WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IF WE DO GOD'S WILL. THIS TAKES AN EXTRA EFFORT ON OUR PART TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. TO RESPECT HER AS WHO SHE IS IN THE HOME AND HER RESPECTING YOU AS TO WHOM GOD WANTS YOU TO BE IN THE HOME AS HER HUSBAND AND AS THE FATHER OF HER CHILDREN. RESPECT - THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. AND ISN'T THAT WHAT PAUL WAS SPEAKING TO AND SAYING TO THE CHILDREN OR TO CHILDREN IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6: 1 AND 2? THAT THEY ARE TO OBEY THEIR PARENTS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S AS FAR FROM THE MINDS OF SOME CHILDREN AS IT CAN BE BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL THE LOVE. THEY DON'T FEEL THE RESPECT. THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THEY'RE BEING EMPATHIZED WITH, CONCERNING AS THEIR PARENTS ARE TREATING THEM, AND SO THEY - JUST LIKE THEIR PARENTS - ARE LIVING THEIR OWN LIVES. WE NEED TO HELP ONE ANOTHER GET TO HEAVEN. WE NEED TO RESPECT AND TO ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. IT'S THAT SELFLESS LOVE. YOU KNOW, PETER SAID CONCERNING LOVE - WELL, FIRST OF ALL THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANY OF US ARE GOING TO GET TO HEAVEN UNLESS WE LOVE EACH OTHER. THERE'S NO WAY! IN FACT, THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR ON THAT MATTER. IN FIRST PETER CHAPTER 1 VERSE 22, “SEEING YOU HAVE PURIFIED YOUR SOULS IN OBEYING THE TRUTH, SEE THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER WITH A PURE HEART FERVENTLY.” NOW, I KNOW THAT'S TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH AND WE AS CHRISTIANS. BUT AFTER ALL - IF WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD LIVING IN THE HOME, ARE WE NOT SUPPOSED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER FERVENTLY AS GOD HAS LOVED US? IN FACT, THE BOOK OF FIRST JOHN TELLS US VERY CLEARLY THAT IF WE DO NOT LOVE THEN THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN CLAIM THAT WE KNOW GOD! THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN CLAIM THAT WE FOLLOW GOD IF WE DO NOT LOVE! <br> <br>

      NOW, WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM, BY THE WAY, WITH YOU LOVING YOUR WIFE? THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY WITHIN YOURSELF. YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR - YOU DON'T TAKE TIME FOR - YOU DON'T RESPECT HER, YOU DO NOT EMPATHIZE WITH HER NEEDS - THAT IS YOU'RE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN THOSE THINGS - YOU'RE JUST GOING ALONG IN A MUNDANE LIFE AND MAYBE IN MANY CASES THE WOMAN IS THE SAME IN THIS SOCIETY WHERE THE WOMAN HAS SUPPOSEDLY BEEN FREED. MAYBE SHE'S DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN HER LIFE AND NOT TRULY RESPECTING HER HUSBAND AND NOT TRULY BEING EMPATHETIC TO HIM AND NOT WANTING TO ENCOURAGE OR TO EXHORT HIM IN ANY WAY BUT JUST LIVING HER OWN LIFE. HOW CAN WE GET TO HEAVEN UNLESS WE LOVE? AND OF COURSE, GOD EXPECTS US TO LOVE EACH OTHER. LOOK AT ROMANS CHAPTER 12 VERSE 10, “BEING KINDLY AFFECTIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE AND HONOR GIVING PREFERENCE TO THE OTHER.” NOW, I KNOW THAT'S TALKING ABOUT A CHRISTIAN TO A CHRISTIAN - BUT BY THE WAY, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR WIFE IS A CHRISTIAN? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOD'S HOME. SO LET'S SAY YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, YOUR WIFE IS A CHRISTIAN, AND SOME OF YOUR CHILDREN ARE ALREADY CHRISTIANS - WELL, ARE WE TO PREFER OURSELVES ABOVE THEM? OR TO PREFER THEM? THAT IS TO HONOR THEM AND RESPECT THEM AND TO CARE FOR THEM ABOVE OUR OWN NEEDS? WELL, CERTAINLY WE ARE! BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT. GOD IS LOVE AND HE LOVED US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON TO DIE UPON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS. <br> <br>

      NOW WHAT ABOUT DOING THIS? WHAT IF YOU AS A MAN AND AS A HUSBAND AND AS A FATHER - TRULY LOVE, RESPECT, HAVE EMPATHY FOR, AND WANT TO EXHORT AND ENCOURAGE YOUR WIFE AS YOU NEED TO AS SHE'S A CHILD OF GOD AND YOUR CHILDREN - WHAT IF YOU TRULY STRIVE TO DO THAT? WELL, YOU WILL HELP THEM GET TO HEAVEN. WHAT IF YOU DON'T DO THAT? THEN YOU WILL NOT SEE THEM GO TO HEAVEN! I'M CONVINCED OF THAT! I BELIEVE THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT - THAT'S THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE AS THE FATHER WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY AND THE HEAD OF THE WIFE JUST AS CHRIST ALSO IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH. NOW, WHAT IF YOU AS A CHRISTIAN MOTHER AND AS A CHRISTIAN WIFE DO NOT EXHORT, DO NOT LOVE PROPERLY YOUR HUSBAND OR YOUR CHILDREN, DO NOT CARE FOR THEM, ARE NOT EMPATHETIC TOWARD THEIR NEEDS, YOU DO NOT ENCOURAGE THEM IN ANY WAY - HOW WOULD YOU EXPECT YOURSELF TO GO TO HEAVEN MUCH LESS YOUR CHILDREN BE DIRECTED IN THE SAME PATHWAY? YOU KNOW, MY FRIENDS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST TODAY - THERE'S A TREMENDOUS NEED IN OUR WORLD TODAY AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEN WE AS CHRISTIANS REALIZE WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF US IN THE HOME THEN WHAT WILL THAT ENCOURAGE? THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THAT ALL OF US SOMEDAY WILL BE IN HEAVEN TOGETHER. NOW OF COURSE, THERE WON'T BE ANY FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS KNOWN UP THERE BECAUSE WE'LL BE IN THE SPIRIT. BUT WON'T IT BE WONDERFUL! I BELIEVE THE BIBLE TEACHES WE'LL KNOW ONE ANOTHER. WON'T IT BE WONDERFUL TO SEE OUR WIVES THERE OR OUR HUSBANDS IN THE OTHER CASE? WON'T IT BE WONDERFUL TO SEE OUR CHILDREN THERE? AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WILL KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT THERE, BUT WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN ONE ANOTHER SO THAT WE WILL ALL AS A FAMILY BE IN HEAVEN TOGETHER SOMEDAY. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.<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 PARTICIPATE IN THE THINGS OF GOD!  <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

2540 N. Kansas Expressway 

Springfield, Mo.  65803

<br> <br>

Many of these materials are also available on our website:  

That address is: www.thelivingwordprogram.com

<br> <br>

Or if you prefer, you may call us at:

(417) 869-2284  <br> <br>



      AS FAMILIES BEFORE GOD, MAY WE STRIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY MEMBER PUTS GOD FIRST AND HAS THE OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE.  THERE IS NO GREATER GOAL FOR US ALL THAN MAKING SURE THAT ALL IN OUR HOMES MAKE IT TO THE ETERNAL REWARD. <br> <br>