THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 3-5-17<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “WHAT ABOUT ME?”<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>

      GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM!  THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO GIVE THIS TIME TO GOD, AS WE TOGETHER STRIVE TO HONOR HIM ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.  THIS MORNING IT WILL AGAIN BE OUR PRIVILEGE TO SING HYMNS ABOUT GOD AND TO STUDY FROM HIS MAGNIFICENT WORD.  AS WE BEGIN THIS SERVICE BEFORE GOD’S THRONE, LET’S BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER!<br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY - THE MANY GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE; THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE YOUR CHILDREN, TO BE SERVANTS IN YOUR KINGDOM. WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS AND THE GREAT SACRIFICE THAT HE MADE DYING ON THE CROSS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE NOT ONLY THE HOPES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS LIFE BUT THE PROMISES IN THE LIFE TO COME. AND FATHER, MAY WE LIVE EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH THAT INSIGHT KNOWING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE STRENGTH AND THE ABILITY AND THE FORTITUDE TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE COMMANDED IN YOUR WORD - THAT WHEN WE ARE FOUND PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT - WE'LL ALWAYS RECEIVE THAT GOOD GIFT AND THOSE WONDROUS PROMISES FROM YOU. THESE THINGS WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS YOUR SON, AMEN. <br> <br>

 	IT’S TIME TO JOIN IN WITH THE BRETHREN AS WE BEGIN OUR SONGS OF PRAISE TO GOD.  WE WILL BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH AN ENCOURAGING HYMN THAT REMINDS US THAT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF MANKIND ON THIS EARTH.  SO, WON’T YOU DO YOUR PART IN SONG TO GOD, AS WE TOGETHER SING, “THE GOSPEL IS FOR ALL!”  

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DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      WE ALL HAVE READ MANY THOUGHT PROVOKING CONCEPTS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT WRITERS.  IN FACT, ONE OF THE BEST WRITERS THAT GIVES US SO MANY OF THESE IDEAS IS SOLOMON.  IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THOUGH, WHO BETTER THAN SOLOMON TO GUIDE US IN THE WAYS OF GOD?  YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT SOLOMON WAS THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED, BECAUSE HE PRAYED TO GOD FOR WISDOM AND IT WAS GRANTED TO HIM.  <br> <br>

      IN PROVERBS 2:21-22, SOLOMON MADE THIS THOUGHT PROVOKING STATEMENT, “FOR THE UPRIGHT WILL DWELL IN THE LAND, AND THE BLAMELESS WILL REMAIN IN IT; BUT THE WICKED WILL BE CUT OFF FROM THE EARTH, AND THE UNFAITHFUL WILL BE UPROOTED FROM IT.”  THIS QUOTE IS DEALING WITH TWO MAIN THOUGHTS. <br> <br>

      FIRST, WE SEE THAT SOLOMON WAS REMINDING US THAT IF WE ARE TRYING WE WILL BE ABLE TO DWELL IN THE LAND WITH GOD.  HOWEVER, THE BLAMELESS, OR PERFECT, ARE THOSE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN IT.  YOU SEE, ALL OF US REAP THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD GIVES TO THOSE OF THIS EARTH.  WE ALL ARE ALIVE, WE BREATHE, AND WE HAVE THE ABILITIES WHICH GOD HAS CREATED US EACH WITH.  WE ALSO KNOW THAT GOD SENDS THE SUN AND RAIN AND IT FALLS ON AND HELPS BOTH THE JUST AND THE UNJUST.  HOWEVER, WHAT IS IT THAT CAUSES A PERSON TO RECEIVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN HIS PROMISES?  OBVIOUSLY, IT IS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL STRIVES TO DO WHAT GOD HAS SAID AND WHAT GOD ASKS US TO. <br> <br> 

      ON THE OTHER HAND, HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE WICKED WILL BE CUT OFF AND THE UNFAITHFUL ROOTED UP.  LET’S FACE IT, IT DOES TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLL ON OUR PART FOR GOD TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ON HIS SIDE.  OUR FAITH HAS TO BE ONE THAT IS SEEN AS ACTIVE, OTHERWISE WE ARE NOT OF GOD - AS IS STATED HERE, WE ARE WICKED.  JAMES PUT IT LIKE THIS, “THUS ALSO FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS, IS DEAD. BUT SOMEONE WILL SAY, "YOU HAVE FAITH, AND I HAVE WORKS." SHOW ME YOUR FAITH WITHOUT YOUR WORKS, AND I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY WORKS,” CHAPTER 2, VERSES 17 AND 18.  ISN’T IT OUR ACTIVE WORKS THAT PROVE OUR FAITH IN GOD?  <br> <br>

      I’M REMINDED OF A STORY TOLD BY JESUS IN MATTHEW 25.  HERE THE LORD HIMSELF, WAS TRYING TO TEACH US THAT WE SHOULD DO GOOD AND CARE FOR ALL MEN.  IN FACT, HE SAID WHEN WE DO GOOD TO OTHERS, IT IS AS IF WE ARE DOING IT TO HIM.  NOW, THIS IS THE VERY SAME POINT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS MORNING.  JESUS SAID THAT HE KNOWS WHEN WE ARE FAITHFUL, BECAUSE HE SEES IT IN OUR ACTIONS.  JUST AS SOLOMON SAID IN PROVERBS, THAT OUR REWARD IS ACCORDING TO WHAT WE DO, JESUS ALSO CONFIRMED IN THIS SAME PASSAGE.  IN VERSE 34, HE TALKS OF THE REWARD FOR THOSE THAT SHOW THEIR FAITH THROUGH ACTION, BUT IN VERSE 46, HE SAYS THAT THOSE WHO DIDN’T PROVE THEIR FAITH WOULD BE DESTROYED. <br> <br>

      START LIVING TODAY IN A MANNER THAT PROVES TO GOD AND THE WORLD THAT WE ARE TRULY FOLLOWING HIS COMMANDMENTS.  THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN WE BE FOUND FAITHFUL AND JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT! <br> <br>

      THIS MORNING WE WILL CONTINUE OUR STUDY TOGETHER ENTITLED, “AND THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”  THIS MORNING OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC WILL ASK THE QUESTION, “WHAT ABOUT ME?”  SO STAY WITH US AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG I WILL LEAD OUR LESSON THOUGHTS OF THE MORNING.  NOW LET’S JOIN IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING, AS WE GLORIFY GOD OUR CREATOR.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN IS “THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.” <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE ARE SO GLAD YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS MORNING AS WE GO TO GOD'S WORD AND LOOK AT ANOTHER LESSON IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR SERIES ON THE CHRISTIAN HOME. AND TOGETHER SO FAR WE'VE SEEN, NOT ONLY ABOUT WHAT MARRIAGE IS IN THE EYES OF GOD, BUT REALLY GOD'S PLAN FOR THE MAN, THE WOMAN, THE CHILDREN, THE PARENTS, AND REALLY THE NEED TO HAVE PROPER LOVE, COMMUNICATION, AS WELL AS BEING THOSE WHO STRIVE TO PUT GOD AS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN OUR LIVES. AND TODAY WE'LL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION AS WE LOOK SPECIFICALLY I THINK AT AN INTERESTING THOUGHT - I KIND OF THOUGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD ENTITLE THE LESSON AND THEN I JUST REALLY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE GOOD ASK A QUESTION - WHAT ABOUT ME? YOU KNOW, IN LIFE WE CAN THINK ABOUT ANY ASPECT OF LIFE AND WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT - WE OFTEN GET OUT OF THINGS WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO PUT INTO THINGS. I THINK YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. WE THINK ABOUT MAYBE A JOB. AND IF WE REALLY COMMIT OURSELVES TO THAT JOB AND DO OUR VERY BEST WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY GET RESULTS BASED ON THE EFFORT THAT WE PUT INTO THAT WORK. SOMETIMES IT MIGHT MEAN A PAY RAISE. SOMETIMES IT MIGHT MEAN THE PROMOTION THAT WE MIGHT GET. THERE MIGHT BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT REALLY ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE EFFORT OR THE FOCUS OR THE ATTENTION OR TIME THAT WE PUT INTO SOMETHING. WE CAN ALSO THINK ABOUT THAT IN RELATIONSHIP TO SPIRITUAL MATTERS. ARE WE NOT THE TYPE OF CHRISTIAN WE ARE BASED ON THE EFFORT WE PUT INTO IT? THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE GIVE TO MAYBE STUDY OR GROWTH? THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE GIVE TO ASSEMBLING TO WORSHIP GOD, TO OBEYING THE COMMANDS OF GOD? CERTAINLY ALL THOSE THINGS AFFECT WHAT WE GET BACK IN RETURN AND HOW STRONG WE ARE. HOW KNOWLEDGEABLE WE ARE. HOW MUCH WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US. YOU SEE AGAIN BY WHAT WE PUT INTO THESE THINGS - IT OFTEN GREATLY AFFECTS THE RESULTS OF WHAT WE GET BACK OUT OF THE THING ITSELF. <br> <br>

      AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT - CERTAINLY THEN WHY WOULD IT NOT BE TRUE IN THE HOME? WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EACH PART OF THE HOME, EACH PART OF THE ROLE OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE HOME - AND AGAIN, WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS WITHIN THE HOME AS GOD PLANNED - WHETHER IT BE THE MAN, THE WOMAN, WHETHER IT BE THE PARENTS, THE CHILDREN. WE KNOW THE ROLES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN A GODLY HOME. AND SO, IS IT NOT TRUE THEN THAT AS THE MAN PUTS OR MAKES A SPECIFIC EFFORT OR THE WOMAN MAKES A SPECIFIC EFFORT OR THAT THE PARENTS COLLECTIVELY MAKE AN EFFORT OR AS THE CHILDREN MAKE AN EFFORT - ALL TRYING TO FULFILL THE ROLES THAT GOD INTENDS FOR THEM - IS NOT THEN GOING TO BE IN DIRECT CORRELATION AS TO WHAT WE RECEIVE OUT OF THE HOME? THE BLESSINGS OR THE PRODUCTIVENESS? CERTAINLY - I THINK THAT IS THE CASE! IF I'M A MAN OR A FATHER WHO NEVER REALLY DOES HIS PART, AM I GOING TO BE CONTRIBUTING REALLY TO A BENEFICIAL HOME OR TO GETTING THE RESULTS I WOULD WANT FROM MY WIFE OR CHILDREN? CERTAINLY NOT! IF THE WIFE IS NEVER THE MOTHER THAT SHE SHOULD BE AND NEVER REALLY TREATS HER HUSBAND AS SHE SHOULD, CAN SHE REALLY EXPECT THAT THEN THE HUSBAND IS GOING TO IN TURN SHOW HER THE RESPECT AND THE LOVE THAT SHE WANTS? OR THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO OBEY HER? CERTAINLY NOT - SO YOU SEE AGAIN IT IS IN DIRECT CORRELATION TO WHAT WE DO AS TO WHAT WE'LL GET OUT OF THESE THINGS. AND SO - THEREFORE, THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT I AM THE BEST MAN, HUSBAND, OR FATHER I CAN BE. BEST PARENT I CAN BE. THAT WOMEN ARE THE BEST WIVES OR MOTHERS OR PARENTS THAT THEY CAN BE. THAT CHILDREN ARE THE BEST OBEDIENT AND HONORABLE CHILDREN HONORING THEIR PARENTS AS THEY CAN BE. BECAUSE WE WILL ALL EITHER BENEFIT AND MAKE THE HOME PRODUCTIVE AND CAUSE THE HOME TO BE WHAT GOD INTENDS BASED ON WHAT WE PUT INTO IT. AND WE SHOULDN'T EXPECT THAT THE HOME IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE IF I OR AND MY WIFE OR MY CHILDREN ARE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THEIR ROLE FROM GOD AND TO GIVE IT THEIR VERY BEST AND TO FULFILL THAT RESPONSIBILITY. <br> <br>

      LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE - WHAT ABOUT WITH SPORTS? IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO WE HAD A SUPER BOWL - WHAT DOES IT TAKE IN ORDER FOR A TEAM TO SUCCEED? IS IT JUST ONE MAN? CERTAINLY NOT! ONE MAN CAN GO OUT ON THE FIELD ALL DAY LONG AND IF THE REST DON'T DO THEIR WORK - NO MATTER HOW GOOD HE, IS HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WIN THE GAME BY HIMSELF. WHAT ABOUT IN RELATIONSHIP TO TWO OR THREE MEN? NO. WHAT DOES IT TAKE? IT TAKES THE WHOLE TEAM. IT TAKES THE WHOLE LINE. IT TAKES THE QUARTERBACK. IT TAKES THE ENDS. ITTAKES EVERYONE INVOLVED. TO DO WHAT? TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK! AND IF ANYONE LETS THE OTHER PARTS DOWN - WHAT CAN HAPPEN? WELL, YOU'LL FIND HOLES. YOU'LL FIND A QUARTERBACK GETTING SACKED. YOU'LL FIND THAT THE GAME WILL BEGIN TO FALL APART OR THAT MAYBE INTERCEPTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE OR TOUCHDOWNS WILL BE MADE. AND EVEN FROM JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE MISTAKE - WE CAN BEGIN TO FIND, EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING THEIR PART. YOU SEE, I'D LIKE TO APPLY THAT AGAIN IN RELATIONSHIP TO SPIRITUAL THINGS. IS THAT NOT TRUE OF THE CHURCH? YOU HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CHURCH AND WHAT CAN ONE PERSON WHO'S REALLY NOT DOING THEIR PART WHO ACTUALLY IS BRINGING THE CHURCH DOWN, WHAT CAN THEY DO TO A PRODUCTIVE CONGREGATION? THEY CAN HARM IT! THEY CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS! THEY CAN CAUSE OTHERS NOT TO FIND INTEREST IN KNOWING THE LORD BECAUSE OF THEIR ATTITUDE AND SPIRIT! WELL, THE SAME IS TRUE IN THE HOME. YOU MIGHT HAVE MAYBE PERHAPS A HUSBAND AND A MOTHER THAT IS DOING THEIR PART BUT YET CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THEIR PART AND FULFILL THEIR ROLE. AND WHAT DO WE HAVE? WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS. WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE HOME CANNOT BE PRODUCTIVE UNLESS WE ALL, BECAUSE OF A LOVE FOR GOD, EXCEPT NOT ONLY THE ROLE BUT THE CHALLENGES FROM GOD TO DO WHAT GOD SAID. SO LET'S LOOK AT THIS PRINCIPLE THEN IN THE WORD OF GOD ITSELF. <br> <br>

      IN SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 9 WE KNOW THAT PAUL IS DEALING PRIMARILY WITH A TYPE OF MONETARY GIVING OR EVEN THE CONCEPTS OF TRYING TO EXCEL IN GIVING OF OUR FINANCIAL MEANS TO BENEFIT THE WORK OF THE LORD, THE CHURCH ITSELF, OR EVEN TO HELP IN A BENEVOLENT WAY. BUT THERE ARE SOME PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN HERE THAT CERTAINLY WOULD APPLY IN CONNECTION TO OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. FOR INSTANCE, IS IT NOT TRUE THAT AS VERSE SIX SAYS, “BUT THIS I SAY,” ( THIS IS PAUL BY THE HOLY SPIRIT ) “HE WHO SOWS SPARINGLY WILL ALSO REAP SPARINGLY.” HE WHO SOWS BOUNTIFULLY WILL ALSO REAP WHAT? BOUNTIFULLY. WELL, A SIMPLE IDEA EVEN IN RELATIONSHIP TO MAYBE SPIRITUAL MATTERS OR TO A PHYSICAL GIVING OF A MONETARY MEANS. BUT WHAT ABOUT IN RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER THINGS? IS THE PRINCIPAL NOT THE SAME? YES. WE'RE GOING TO GET IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT WE GIVE. I LIKE THE WAY JESUS PUT IT THERE IN LUKE CHAPTER 6 IN VERSE 38 WHEN HE SAID BY THE SAME MEASURE WE GIVE. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK ISN'T IT? THE SAME TYPE OF RESULTS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET. IN OTHER WORDS, IF I SHOW SOMEONE LOVE, WHY DO I SHOW THEM? I'M EXPECTING THEM TO LOVE ME BACK. DOESN'T THAT OFTEN HAPPEN? YES. IF I SHOW KINDNESS TO OTHERS, IS IT NOT TRUE THAT MANY ARE GOING TO DO WHAT? SHOW KINDNESS IN RETURN? YES. BUT IF I AM ALWAYS A CRANKY PERSON OR ALWAYS ARGUMENTATIVE OR ALWAYS MEAN-SPIRITED OR NEVER HAPPY, CAN I REALLY EXPECT OTHERS TO BE HAPPY AND KIND AND GENTLE WITH ME? CERTAINLY NOT! WE'RE GOING TO DIRECTLY REAP BASED ON WHAT WE SOW. IF WE SOW GOOD, WONDROUS, GODLY RIGHTEOUS THINGS - ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR CREATOR - WE'RE GOING TO FIND THOSE BENEFITS NOT ONLY FROM GOD BUT WE'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE OTHERS TO WANT TO HAVE THE SAME REACTION TO US. <br> <br>

      THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT HUSBANDS WASN'T IT? WHEN THE HUSBAND REALLY LOVES HIS WIFE AND ACCEPTS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR, PROTECT, AND GUIDE THE FAMILY TO DO ALL THAT HE SHOULD DO OUT OF A TRUE LOVE A WILLINGNESS TO DIE FOR HIS FAMILY, IT'S NOT SO HARD THEN FOR THE WIFE TO WANT TO RECIPROCATE BY BEING WHAT? A LOVING WIFE WHO HONORS HER HUSBAND. WHO EVEN OBEYS IN THE AREAS THAT CERTAINLY GOD REQUIRES. AND SO ON AND SO FORTH WE COULD USE OTHER EXAMPLES AS WELL. IT SHOWS US AGAIN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE DIRECT RESULTS OF WHAT WE FIND HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES OR IN OUR HOMES BASED ON WHAT WE PUT INTO THEM. DON'T YOU THINK THAT WITHIN, CERTAINLY REQUIRE, THAT I NEED TO TAKE MORE TIME STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD AND KNOWING WHAT A PROPER HUSBAND IS? PRACTICING THAT - TRYING TO BE BETTER AS A HUSBAND. WOULDN'T IT ALSO REQUIRE THAT I STUDY THE BIBLE AND KNOW MORE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PROPER FATHER? AND STUDYING THAT - GROWING IN THAT AND THEN APPLYING THAT IN MY LIFE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MY HOME, MY FAMILY BEFORE GOD, IS ONLY GOING TO REACT BASED ON REALLY MY EXAMPLE. THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE PRIMARY STANDARDS THAT IS REQUIRED. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS THAT GOD WANTS IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT ALSO IN TURN DO WHAT? THAT HE MIGHT BLESS ME AND GIVE ME THE THINGS THAT I NEED - AND CARE FOR ME. EVEN GOD SAYS THAT HE'S GOING TO BLESS US BASED ON OUR COMMITMENT OR FAITH. CAN WE EXPECT IF WE NEVER GIVE ANYTHING TO GOD OR GIVE TIME TO GOD THAT HE'S GOING TO BLESS AND BLESS AND BLESS US? CERTAINLY NOT! BUT WHAT DO WE EXPECT IF WE ARE COMMITTED? IF WE DO WHAT GOD ASKS? IF WE ARE FAITHFUL? IF WE DO WHAT GOD SAYS AND GO TO CHURCH AND WE'RE TEACHING OTHERS AND DO ALL THE THINGS THAT GOD WANTS -DO WE NOT EXPECT THAT GOD IS THEN GOING TO BLESS US BASED ON OUR COMMITMENT? YES! EVEN JOHN SAID CONCERNING THESE THINGS AS HE WROTE THERE IN ONE OF HIS EPISTLES THAT HE PRAYED THAT GAIUS WOULD BE BLESSED IN RELATIONSHIP TO HIS SPIRITUAL HEALTH PHYSICALLY. HE SAYS - BOY, I KNOW YOU'RE A MAN OF GOD. A MAN OF TRUTH. A MAN WHO LOVES THE TRUTH, WHO OBEYS GOD AND I JUST HOPE YOU'LL PROSPER PHYSICALLY IN THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN YOURSELF TO GOD TO BE FAITHFUL. YOU SEE, HE KNEW BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT THIS IS THE CASE. AND THEREFORE, ALSO THAT THESE THINGS ARE THE CASE EVEN IN THE CHRISTIAN HOME. <br> <br>

      NOW, WHAT IS THE BENEFIT THAT EVEN HERE IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 9 WE LEARN? IF YOU'LL DROP DOWN TO VERSE EIGHT WE LEARN THAT THOSE WHO LEARN TO GIVE - YES, GIVE OF MONETARY MEANS BUT GIVE TO GOD BY OBEYING GOD AND DOING THE WILL - FUFILLING THE ROLES THAT WE HAVE IN LIFE, WHATEVER THEY BE, FULFILLING OUR ROLE IN THE CHRISTIAN HOME. WHAT IS IT THAT GOD IS ABLE TO DO? VERSE EIGHT, GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE. ALL FAVOR ABOUND TOWARDS US THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY - EVERYTHING WE NEED. IN EVERYTHING - ALL THINGS - THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE EVEN AN ABUNDANCE FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. SO, WHAT IS GOD ABLE TO DO? GOD IS ABLE TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO GIVE ME ALL THAT I NEED. TO STRENGTHEN ME, TO HELP ME, TO GUIDE ME, TO PROTECT ME IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT I KNOW AND LEARN THROUGH HIS WORD SO THAT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHAT? BENEFITED AS A PROPER STEWARD, A SOLDIER OF GOD. ONE WHO HAS SHOWN THEMSELF TO BE WORTHY BEFORE THEIR CREATOR. AND SO THEREFORE, WE HAVE AN INCENTIVE. AN INCENTIVE AS THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO SERVE GOD, TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE KNEW WHAT GOD HAS ASKED THERE'S EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS GOING TO BLESS HIS CHILDREN. WHEN I'M THE HUSBAND AND FATHER I NEED TO BE AND I SHOW MYSELF TO BE WORTHY BEFORE GOD, WHY WOULD HE NOT BLESS ME AS A FAITHFUL CHILD? <br> <br>

      SO WHAT MIGHT THIS CHALLENGE US THEN TO DO OR TO NEED TO DO? WHAT ABOUT A SELF-EXAMINATION? WHAT ABOUT AS MEN AND WOMEN IN THE HOME TO REALLY LOOK AT OURSELVES? TO REALLY CONSIDER ARE WE WHAT WE NEED TO BE? HOW CAN I IMPROVE? HOW CAN I CHANGE? HOW CAN I MAKE THE HOME BETTER BECAUSE I'M GOING TO PUT MORE INTO IT? MORE TIME AND EFFORT. I'M GOING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY WIFE - MORE TIME WITH MY CHILDREN. I'M GOING TO PLAY GAMES WITH MY CHILDREN. I'M GOING TO DO THINGS WITH THE FAMILY. I'M GOING TO MAKE MY HOME PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO PUT MORE TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT. DOESN'T THAT SOUND BEAUTIFUL? THE SAME CAN BE TRUE AND SAID OF THE WOMAN IN THE HOME. YOU SEE, WE ALL NEED TO GIVE A SELF-EVALUATION - AND BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES. ARE WE DOING OUR BEST? ARE WE COMMITED OR ARE THERE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT? IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, WE CAN ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE ARE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING I CAN DO BETTER. SOMETHING THAT I COULD LEARN, SOMETHING THAT I COULD GROW IN SO THAT I MIGHT MOTIVATE PERHAPS MY WIFE OR EVEN MY CHILDREN TO DO BETTER. I KNOW SOMETIMES I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AS A FATHER TO SIT DOWN WITH MY CHILDREN AND TO REMIND THEM OF THE NEED THEY HAVE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE HOME, TO REALIZE THEIR BLESSINGS, TO REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY ARE LOVED, TO REALIZE HOW MUCH WE'RE WILLING TO DO FOR THEM - TO KNOW THAT I'M WILLING TO DIE FOR THEM. BUT THAT I NEED THEM TO BE THE CHILDREN THAT THEY NEED TO BE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES MY WIFE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED SIMILAR THINGS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE DO EACH OF OUR PARTS AND WE FULFILL THE FUNCTION THAT GOD REQUIRES WE CAN HAVE A HOME THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. BUT GREATER THAN THAT A HOME THAT IS SO BLESSED BY GOD. BECAUSE WE KNOW AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORE WE PUT IN THE HOME THE MORE WE ACCOMPLISH ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL WHAT HE REQUIRES THEN THE MORE SUCCESSFUL IT WILL BE. OH, WE NEED TO LOVE! WE NEED TO LOVE LIKE GOD. WE NEED TO HAVE A LOVE THAT IS UNCONDITIONAL IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE WILLING TO PUT UP WITH A LOT FROM EACH OTHER. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A LOVE THAT IS CONDITIONAL - THAT ALSO REQUIRES PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THE HOME IN ORDER TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS. NOT JUST A BLIND LOVE BUT A LOVE THAT IS ABLE TO MOTIVATE US INDIVIDUALLY TO SEE OUR ROLE AND FULFILL IT. BUT A LOVE THAT IS ABLE TO ALSO MOTIVATE OUR WIVES OR CHILDREN. OR FOR WIVES, TO MOTIVATE OUR HUSBANDS AND OUR CHILDREN. THE  LOVE, THE ROLE IN THE HOME, THE OBEDIENCE TO GOD THAT SHOWS, NOT ONLY MY LOVE FOR GOD, BUT SHOWS MY FAMILY THAT I'M NOT ONLY IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL BUT I'M IN IT FOR THEIR SAKE BECAUSE I LOVE THEM AND I'M WILLING TO DO MY PART. <br> <br>

      YOU SEE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND FRIENDS THIS MORNING, IF WE'LL LEARN TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE FROM GOD TO NOT ONLY KNOW OUR ROLE IN THE CHRISTIAN HOME BUT TO FULFILL THAT ROLE WITH ALL OF OUR MIGHT. THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE HOMES THAT ARE NOT ONLY ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD BUT HOMES THAT ARE EXEMPLARY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD - SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR HOMES AND SAY, “CERTAINLY THIS IS THE HOME OF GOD!” AND WE DON'T DO IT FOR THAT PURPOSE BUT CERTAINLY WE NEED TO BE EXAMPLES OF CHRISTIAN HOMES SO WE MIGHT CHALLENGE OTHERS TO DO IT AS WELL. SO MAKE SURE THIS DAY THAT YOU'RE PUTTING GOD FIRST. THAT YOU ARE THE MAN OR THE WOMAN OR THE CHILD IN THE HOME THAT YOU NEED TO BE SO THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED - BUT THAT ULTIMATELY IN THE END YOU MIGHT RECEIVE THE REWARD AND I MIGHT RECEIVE THE GREAT REWARD OF HEAVEN. <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 THE SERVICE OF GOD!  <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>

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

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Or if you prefer, you may call us at:

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



      MAY WE EVER UNDERSTAND THAT OUR EFFORT TO MAKE THE HOME WHAT GOD WANTS IS UP TO US.  ONLY THOSE WHO PUT THE NECESSARY EFFORT AND GIVE THE APPROPRIATE TIME WILL HAVE THOSE TYPES OF HOMES WHICH GOD DESIGNED.  WILL YOU DO YOUR FULL PART? 



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