THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 4-23-17<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “LOVE FOR THE LOST” <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. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THIS TIME OF PRAISE AND HOMAGE TO GOD. IT IS OUR DESIRE THIS MORNING TO DO ALL THINGS IN ACCORDANCE TO HIS WILL, AS WE SING SONGS AND STUDY FROM HIS WORD. MAY WE ALL PARTICIPATE AND DO OUR PART, IN THIS TIME OF WORSHIP TO GOD. LET’S BEGIN OUR OFFERING TODAY WITH A WORD OF PRAYER, BOW WITH ME PLEASE. <br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE - THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE YOUR SERVANTS IN THIS KINGDOM. AND FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU'LL HELP US TODAY AND EVERY DAY TO LET OUR LIGHT SHINE THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW YOU THROUGH US. AND FATHER, WE ASK ALSO THAT YOU'LL HELP US TO EVER LOOK TO JESUS, TO FIND THE STRENGTH AND THE GUIDANCE WE NEED THAT THROUGH YOUR WORD WE MIGHT BE OBEDIENT AND FOUND FAITHFUL IN THE END. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.<br> <br>

      WHEN THE LORD COMES AGAIN TO RECEIVE THE FAITHFUL AND TO TAKE US HOME TO HEAVEN, OH WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY THAT WILL BE! OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING DEALS WITH THIS WONDROUS AND DIVINE TRUTH! SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE BRETHREN AS WE BEGIN OUR SONGS OF PRAISE THIS DAY. LET’S SING TOGETHER, “WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN!”  <br> <br>





DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      MANY BUGS IN THIS WORLD ARE FASCINATING CREATURES. IN FACT, IF I WERE TO ASK YOU WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF BUG, I WOULD PROBABLY RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPLIES. MOST BEING, “WHO LIKES BUGS?”  MANY MOVIES TODAY EVEN CENTER AROUND BUGS AND HOW THEY LIVE. I KNOW A REAL FAVORITE OF MY KIDS WAS “BUG’S LIFE.”  IN IT WERE A VARIETY OF INSECTS, FROM THE GOOD GUY ANTS - TO THE BAD GUY GRASSHOPPERS.  <br> <br>

      NOW, WHY DO I SAY ALL OF THIS?  WELL, I READ AN ARTICLE THE OTHER DAY THAT MADE THE STATEMENT THAT MOST OF US HAVE A “GRASSHOPPER MENTALITY.” AT FIRST I THOUGHT, YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING, BUT THEN AFTER READING IT I SAID, “YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.”  <br> <br>

      SO, HOW DOES THIS TIE INTO GOD’S WORD. WELL, THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT MANY KINDS OF BUGS TO MAKE POINTS CONCERNING OUR LABORS AS CHILDREN OF GOD. ISN’T IT INTERESTING HOW WE FIND THE ANSWERS TO ALL THINGS IN THE BIBLE? SO, LET ME ASK YOU, WHERE DOES THE BIBLE TALK ABOUT GRASSHOPPERS?  <br> <br>

      FIRST OF ALL, YOU MIGHT THINK OF THE PLAGUES WHICH WERE EXECUTED UPON THE EGYPTIANS, BUT THAT’S NOT OUR TEXT TODAY.  ANOTHER MENTION OF GRASSHOPPERS IS FOUND IN LEVITICUS 11:22, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THESE INSECTS AS BEING GOOD TO EAT. I GUESS THAT MAKES US ALL HUNGRY, HUH? <br> <br>

      THE TEXT WE WANT TO CONSIDER THIS MORNING IS FOUND IN NUMBERS 13, WHERE THE TEN SPIES GAVE A BAD REPORT ABOUT THE LAND OF CANAAN.  THEY SAID, “THERE WE SAW THE GIANTS; AND WE WERE LIKE GRASSHOPPERS IN OUR OWN SIGHT, AND SO WE WERE IN THEIR SIGHT.” REMEMBER THIS STORY WHEN THE TWELVE SPIES WERE SENT TO SCOUT OUT THE LAND OF CANAAN?  WHEN THEY CAME BACK ONLY TWO OF THE TWELVE GAVE A GOOD GODLY REPORT, THAT IS JOSHUA AND CALEB. THE OTHER TEN SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THE ISRAELITES COULD TAKE THE LAND OF CANAAN FROM SUCH GIANTS.  <br> <br>

      NOW WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO REPORTS? WELL, THE TEN SPIES HAD A “GRASSHOPPER MENTALITY.” THEY LOOKED AT THINGS FROM A SMALL, WORLDLY, AND PHYSICALLY STANDPOINT, LACKING FAITH IN GOD.  HOWEVER, JOSHUA AND CALEB LOOKED AT THE FACTS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GOD AS THEIR LEADER, SAYING, “LET US GO UP AT ONCE AND TAKE POSSESSION, FOR WE ARE WELL ABLE TO OVERCOME IT.”  

      WHAT GREAT THINGS WE COULD ALL ACCOMPLISH FOR GOD, IF WE COULD START HAVING A GREATER FAITH, AND STOP LOOKING AT THINGS AS GRASSHOPPERS. MAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT, “ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” WE CAN TRULY DO ANYTHING WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE<br> <br>.   

      IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER WITH US THIS MORNING.  WE THANK BROTHER BRENT GREEN FOR JOINING US THIS DAY. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, HE WILL BE LEADING US IN OUR BIBLE STUDY OF THE MORNING. OUR TOPIC OF STUDY WILL AGAIN CENTER AROUND THE NEED FOR A CHRISTIANS LOVE TO GROW MORE AND MORE!  THE SPECIFIC LESSON TODAY WILL BE, “LOVE FOR THE LOST.” SO STAY WITH US AND WE WILL ENTER INTO THIS DISCUSSION AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER. NOW LET’S SING TOGETHER, “I’LL FLY AWAY.” <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY BRENT GREEN<br> <br>

      IT COULD BE SAID THAT'S IN MANY WAYS THE CHURCH TODAY HAS LOST ITS FOCUS. MAYBE IT'S LOST ITS FOCUS BECAUSE IT'S BECOME FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE ENTERTAINMENT OR MAYBE EVEN FOCUSED ON PHYSICAL BUILDINGS OR MAYBE EVEN SIMPLY STRIVING TO PLEASE MEN. WELL, HOW DO WE REGAIN THE FOCUS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AS THE CHURCH? WE'VE GOT TO START THINKING ABOUT SOULS ONCE AGAIN. THINKING ABOUT THAT PART OF MAN THAT IS NOT GOING TO JUST RETURN TO THE EARTH LIKE THE BODY DOES. THE PART OF MAN THAT IS GOING TO SPEND ETERNITY IN ONE OF TWO PLACES: EITHER IN HEAVEN OR IN HELL. IF WE THINK ABOUT MAN LIKE THAT IT REALLY CHANGES OUR PERSPECTIVE. IT REALLY HELPS US TO FOCUS IN ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN LIFE. IT'S NOT ABOUT ENTERTAINING PEOPLE. IT'S NOT ABOUT HAVING A PLACE TO GO THAT'S SOMEHOW FUN TO GO TO OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S REALLY ABOUT THINKING ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN OR HELL. WHEN JESUS CAME TO THIS EARTH HE CAME FOR ONE PURPOSE - THERE IN LUKE CHAPTER 19 IN VERSE 10 IT SAYS, “THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK AND SAVE THAT WHICH IS LOST.” JESUS CAME FOR A PURPOSE AND THAT WAS TO SAVE MANKIND. WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE AS THE CHURCH? DO WE HAVE A FOCUS ON SOULS THAT ARE LOST? DO WE HAVE A LOVE FOR THOSE SOULS THAT ARE LOST JUST LIKE GOD DOES? <br> <br>

      WE PROBABLY KNOW VERY WELL JOHN 3:16. IT BEGINS BY SAYING, “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.” ONE VERSE LATER WE'RE REMINDED AGAIN OF WHY HE SENT THAT SON. THERE IN JOHN 3:17, GOD SENT HIS SON FOR, AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF SAVING THE WORLD. THERE ALSO IN MATTHEW ONE IN VERSE 21. WHAT DOES THE NAME JESUS MEAN? WELL, “YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS,” WHEN MARY WAS TOLD WHAT TO NAME THE CHILD. WHY? BECAUSE “HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.” WHEN JESUS CAME, WHEN GOD SENT HIS SON, WHEN WE'RE EVEN REMINDED OF THE VERY NAME JESUS ITSELF, WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE? IT WAS TO SAVE THE LOST. WHY? BECAUSE GOD HAD A LOVE FOR THOSE SOULS THAT WERE LOST. I WANT US TO FIRST THINK ABOUT THE LOVE THAT GOD DOES HAVE FOR THE LOST AND IT SERVES AS A REMINDER FOR US AS A LOVE THAT WE, TOO, SHOULD HAVE FOR THE LOST IN THIS WORLD AS WELL. BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON SOULS. NOT JUST SELF. WE NEED TO BE THOSE AS THE CHURCH THAT'S FOCUSED ON SALVATION NOT JUST SOCIALIZING. WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON SEEKING AND SAVING THAT WHICH IS LOST. THAT WAS GOD'S PURPOSE. THAT WAS GOD'S PLAN. AND IT NEEDS TO BE OUR PURPOSE AS WELL AS WE LOOK AT THE WORLD AND THE WORLD THAT'S FULL OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO STILL NEED TO BE SAVED. LET'S THINK ABOUT THE LOVE THAT GOD DOES HAVE FOR SOULS AND THE LOVE THAT HE HAS FOR THE LOST.<br> <br> 

      IN ROMANS CHAPTER 5 IN VERSE EIGHT, WE BEGIN WITH THIS VERSE. AND IT SAYS THAT, “GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” WHAT A GREAT REMINDER OF THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS TOWARD US. WE WERE IN SIN. WE WERE LIVING OPPOSED TO GOD. WE WEREN'T LIVING ACCORDING TO HIS STANDARD, IT SAYS IN GENERAL THERE, THAT THE WORLD HAD TURNED ITS BACK ON GOD BECAUSE OF SIN. AND YET GOD LOOKED DOWN AND SAW A NATION OF PEOPLE, A WORLD OF PEOPLE, THAT WAS LOST. AND WHAT DID HE DO? HE SENT HIS OWN SON TO DIE FOR US WHILE WE WERE STILL IN SIN. THAT'S THE LOVE THAT GOD HAD AND CONTINUES TO HAVE FOR SOULS THAT ARE LOST. <br> <br>

      ANOTHER GOOD PASSAGE THAT SERVES AS A REMINDER FOR GOD'S LOVE TOWARD US IS THERE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2. EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 AS WE READ THAT PAUL, THE WORDS HERE THAT PAUL WROTE, THAT THE BRETHREN AT EPHESUS REMINDING THEM ONCE AGAIN OF WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN TOWARDS THEM AND WHAT HE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE. EPHESIANS 2 THERE IN VERSE FOUR BEGINNING SAYS, “GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US, EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES, MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED)”. GOD WHO IS FULL OF MERCY AND ALSO HIS GREAT LOVE THAT HE SHOWED TOWARDS US, THE VERSE STATES. WE WERE DEAD, JUST LIKE WE WERE LOST IN SIN. WE WERE ALSO DEAD BECAUSE OF THAT SIN. BUT YET GOD STILL LOVED US! WHAT A GREAT THING IT IS TO THINK ABOUT: THE LOVE OF GOD. A LOVE THAT HE HAD AND A LOVE HE CONTINUES TO HAVE FOR SOULS THAT ARE LOST. <br> <br>

      AS WE THINK ABOUT GOD'S LOVE FOR THE LOST, THERE ARE THREE GREAT REMINDERS IN LUKE CHAPTER 15 AS JESUS GIVES THESE PARABLES ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE LOST. I THINK THEY HELP US TO REMIND OURSELVES OF THE WAY THAT GOD LOVES THE LOST AND HOW WE CAN THINK ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD LOVE THE LOST IN THE SAME WAY. THERE IN LUKE CHAPTER 15 WE FIRST HAVE VERSES ONE THROUGH SEVEN, THE PARABLE OF WHAT COULD BE CALLED THERE THE LOST SHEEP. AND AS YOU GO TO THAT PARABLE YOU SEE THERE INDEED THE SHEPHERD HAS 100 SHEEP AND 99 OF THEM ARE IN THE FOLD SAFELY. BUT ONE HAS GOTTEN LOST AND GONE ASTRAY. AND WHAT DOES THAT SHEPHERD DO? THE SHEPHERD GOES OUT LOOKING FOR THAT WHICH IS LOST. HE LOOKS FOR THAT LOST SHEEP UNTIL HE FINDS IT, UNTIL HE CAN CARRY HIM BACK AND BRING IT BACK AMONG THE FOLD SAFELY ONCE AGAIN. IN VERSE SEVEN OF LUKE CHAPTER 15 TELLS US THIS: JESUS SAYS, “I SAY TO YOU THAT LIKEWISE THERE WILL BE MORE JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS THAN OVER 99 JUST PERSONS WHO NEED NO REPENTANCE.” WHERE'S THE REJOICING? WHEN THAT WHICH IS LOST HAS COME HOME. WHEN ONE HERE WHO WAS AMONG THE FOLD IS NO LONGER OF THE FOLD BECAUSE OF SIN AND COMES BACK. YOU SEE, YOU COULD BE LOST BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN SAVED OR YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED AND BEEN LOST ONCE AGAIN. BUT EITHER WAY, WHAT IS YOUR SHEPHERD HERE SHOWING US? HIS GREAT CONCERN FOR THAT WHICH IS LOST. GOING TO SEEK AND FIND THAT WHICH WAS LOST AND NOW HE COULD FIND IT AND THERE'S GREAT REJOICING OVER THE SINNER HERE WHO REPENTS. <br> <br>

      ANOTHER PARABLE IN THAT SAME CHAPTER, LUKE CHAPTER 15, STARTING THERE IN VERSE EIGHT. THREE VERSES HERE GIVING US THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN. HERE THE WOMAN HAS LOST A COIN IN THE HOUSE AND SHE SWEEPS AND SEARCHES EVERYWHERE UNTIL SHE FINDS THAT COIN THAT HAS GREAT VALUE TO HER. WELL, THERE AGAIN WE SEE THE SAME LESSON BEING TAUGHT IN VERSE 10 OF LUKE 15. IT SAYS, “LIKEWISE, I SAY TO YOU, THERE IS JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS.” JUST LIKE THE LOST COIN THAT WAS FOUND, THE GREAT REJOICING THE WOMAN HAD TO FIND THAT WHICH WAS LOST. JUST LIKE THAT IN HEAVEN WHEN THAT WHICH IS LOST, A PRECIOUS SOUL, IS FOUND ONCE AGAIN. OH, THE REJOICING THAT GOES ON BEFORE EVEN ANGELS IN HEAVEN. <br> <br>

      AND THEN FINALLY THERE IN LUKE 15 PROBABLY THE MOST POIGNANT OF ALL THE PARABLES HERE THAT WHICH IS LOST. THAT IS WHAT WE USUALLY CALL THE PRODIGAL SON OR COULD BE CALLED THE LOST SON. HERE YOU HAVE A STORY OF A FATHER AND TWO SONS AND THE YOUNGER SON, OF COURSE, ASKING FOR HIS INHERITANCE. AND HE GOES OUT AFTER HE RECEIVES THAT AND SQUANDERS IT ALL. WASTED IT ALL AND HE FINDS HIMSELF A PRETTY DIRE SITUATION WHERE HE'S FEEDING THERE THE SWINE AND HE'S EATING SOME OF FOOD THAT IS LEFT FOR THEM. HOW BAD IT MUST'VE BEEN. BUT WHEN HE COMES TO HIS SENSES, WHEN HE ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SIN AND COMES HOME, WHAT DOES HE FIND? I WANT YOU TO FIND WITH ME THERE WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN TWO PLACES. DOWN IN VERSE 24, AS HIS FATHER GREETS HIM WITH OPEN ARMS, VERSE 24 SAYS, “’FOR THIS MY SON WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE AGAIN; HE WAS LOST AND IS FOUND.’ AND THEY BEGAN TO BE MERRY.” WHAT BROUGHT THE FATHER SUCH JOY? WHEN HIS LOST SON CAME HOME. AND THERE AGAIN, THERE IS THAT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE OLDER SON. THE OLDER SON DOESN'T UNDERSTAND. WHY ARE YOU CELEBRATING? WHY ARE YOU MAKING MERRY? AND IT IS REPEATED DOWN IN VERSE 32 THE VERY SAME THING. IT SAYS, “’IT IS RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD MAKE MERRY AND BE GLAD, FOR YOUR BROTHER WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE AGAIN, AND WAS LOST AND IS FOUND.’” DOES GOD LOVE LOST SOULS? WELL, JESUS GIVES THESE PARABLES TO HELP US IN PART TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GOD DOES LOVE THE LOST. AS HE SEEKS LIKE THE SHEPHERD DOES THAT LOST SHEEP, AS HE SEARCHES LIKE THAT WOMAN DOES FOR THAT WHICH IS LOST, SENDING OUT HIS GOSPEL THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HEAR IT AND BE FOUND BY HIM. AND JUST LIKE THOSE WHO WOULD TURN AWAY FROM GOD AND THOSE WHO COME BACK, THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON TEACHES US HOW MUCH GOD LOVES EVERY SOUL REJOICING WHEN ONE IS FOUND AGAIN. WELL, AS GOD LOVES THE LOST HE WANTS THOSE WHO ARE LOST TO HAVE SALVATION. NO ONE IS BEYOND SUCH. NO ONE HAS SINNED TOO MUCH TO BE SAVED. NO ONE HAS SINS THAT ARE TOO GREAT TO BE SAVED. NO ONE HAS SINNED FOR TOO LONG AND IS TOO FAR GONE TO BE SAVED. ANYONE CAN BE SAVED IF THEY WILL FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION. AND EVEN THOSE WHO ONCE WERE SAVED AND HAVE FALLEN AWAY ONCE AGAIN CAN COME BACK AGAIN JUST LIKE THESE PARABLES TEACH US. <br> <br>

      WHAT IS IT THAT GOD DESIRES? ACTS CHAPTER 17 IN VERSE 30, GOD COMMANDS REPENTANCE. “TRULY, THESE TIMES OF IGNORANCE GOD OVERLOOKED,” IT SAYS, “BUT NOW COMMANDS ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT…” WHAT IS IT THAT GOD WANTS TO HAPPEN? HE WANTS TO SEE THOSE WHO ARE LOST TO COME BACK TO HIM. THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE WORD OF GOD TO HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART THAT LEADS THEM TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES. TO LEAVE SIN AND THEN COME AND LIVE FOR HIM ONCE AGAIN. <br> <br>

      SECOND PETER CHAPTER 3 DEALS IN PARTS WITH THE FALSE TEACHING OF PETER'S DAY. THAT SINCE JESUS HADN'T COME BACK AGAIN THEN HE MUST NOT BE COMING BACK. “WE WAITED SOME 30 YEARS AND HE HASN'T COME YET SO HE MUST NOT BE COMING.” WELL, HOW ILLOGICAL THAT STATEMENT WAS FOR THEM TO MAKE IN THAT DAY. WELL, PETER ADDRESSES THE REASON WHY. GOD MADE A PROMISE THAT JESUS CHRIST WOULD COME BACK BUT HE HASN'T COME BACK YET. IS IT A DELAY? IS HE GOING TO FAIL IN KEEPING HIS PROMISE? IT'S NOT SO MUCH A DELAY IS WHAT SECOND PETER 3:9 TEACHES US IT IS. AND THAT IS GOD'S LONG-SUFFERING. SECOND PETER 3:9 TEACHES US THAT, “GOD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISES, AS SOME COUNT SLACKNESS, BUT IS LONG-SUFFERING TOWARD US, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” WHY IS IT THAT GOD IS LONG-SUFFERING? WHY IS IT THAT HE CONTINUES TO WAIT BEFORE HE SENDS JESUS CHRIST BACK IN THE SECOND COMING? BECAUSE HE WANTS ALL TO REPENT! BECAUSE HE'S NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH! BECAUSE HE WANTS THEM TO BE SAVED BECAUSE HE LOVES THE SOULS OF THE LOST! OH, HOW GREAT LOVE. HOW MUCH GREAT LOVE GOD HAS FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE LOST. AREN'T YOU THANKFUL FOR THAT LOVE? AREN'T YOU APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT HE DID SEND HIS SON TO GIVE US A WAY THAT WE COULD BE SAVED? <br> <br>

      BUT AGAIN, LET'S THINK ABOUT OUR OWN LIVES AS CHRISTIANS. LET'S THINK ABOUT THE CHURCH. HAVE WE LOST OUR FOCUS? HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THE VERY LOVE THAT GOD SHOWS TOWARDS US AND FAILED TO SHOW THAT SAME LOVE TO THE SOULS OF THOSE IN THIS WORLD WHO ARE STILL LOST? YOU SEE, AS CHRISTIANS, WE MUST LOVE THE SOULS OF THE LOST JUST LIKE GOD LOVES THEM. JUST LIKE THE SHEPHERD WHO WENT OUT TO FIND THE SHEEP. JUST LIKE THE WOMAN WHO SEARCHED THE HOUSE FOR THE COIN. JUST LIKE THE FATHER WHO WAITED WITH OPEN ARMS FOR THAT SON TO COME HOME. THE LOVE THAT GOD SHOWED FOR THE SOULS THAT ARE LOST. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A LOVE FOR THE SOULS THAT ARE LOST AS WELL. LET'S LOVE THE LOST SOULS OF THIS WORLD ENOUGH TO SET A PROPER EXAMPLE FOR THEM. SOMETIMES WE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS PUT ENOUGH STOCK IN THE POWER OF OUR EXAMPLE. PAUL WOULD SAY IN FIRST CORINTHIANS 11 AND VERSE ONE, “IMITATE ME AS I ALSO IMITATE CHRIST.” HE'S TALKING ABOUT EXAMPLE. AN EXAMPLE SO POWERFUL, LIKE THERE IN FIRST PETER 3 VERSE ONE THAT WIVES COULD WIN THEIR HUSBANDS OVER WITHOUT EVEN A WORD BUT SIMPLY BY THEIR CONDUCT. THE POWER IN OUR EXAMPLE. IF WE LOVE THE SOULS THAT ARE LOST IN THIS WORLD SHOULDN'T WE SET A POWERFUL EXAMPLE FOR THEM BY THE WORDS WE USE? BY THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE? BY THE WAY THAT WE LIVE OUR LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY? YOU SEE, IF WE LOVE THEIR SOUL, WE'LL WANT TO NOT JUST PREACH THE WORD OF GOD AND TEACH IT TO THEM, BUT WE WILL WANT TO LIVE IT BEFORE THEM TO SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE SERIOUS AND SINCERE ABOUT THE WAY WE LIVE, SO THEY CAN ASK ABOUT US. “WELL, WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK LIKE THE WORLD? WHY DON'T YOU LIVE LIKE THE WORLD? WHY DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME SERVING GOD; WORSHIPING HIM AND OBEYING ALL HIS COMMANDS?” BECAUSE WE'RE SETTING THE EXAMPLE THAT GOD HAS SHOWN US. BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM AND WANT TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND BECAUSE WE LOVE THE SOULS OF THE LOST ENOUGH TO SHOW THEM HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE. <br> <br>

      LET'S LOVE THE SOULS OF THE LOST ENOUGH ALSO NOT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM BUT ALSO TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THEM. WE KNOW JESUS' GREAT COMMISSION THERE IN MARK 16 VERSE 15. “HE SAID TO ‘GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.’” HE GAVE US THAT COMMAND TO GO AND TO PREACH. WELL, HOW ARE WE TO GO? WE COULD GO BY FOOT, WE COULD GO BY PLANE, CAR, TRAIN. WE COULD EVEN GO BY AN ANIMAL. OR WE COULD GO USING MODERN METHODS, BY EMAIL, BY THE INTERNET, BY FACEBOOK, OR ANY OTHER MEANS THAT WE HAVE. JESUS SAID TO GO. SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WE'RE TO GO! PLEASE GO! THE SCRIPTURES BEG US TO FOLLOW JESUS' COMMANDMENT TO GO UNTO ALL THE WORLD. WHY? BECAUSE SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH THE LOST IS WHAT'S GOING TO BRING THEM SALVATION WHEN THEY OBEY THAT SAVING PLAN. LOOK FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR LIFE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. <br> <br>

      THERE IS AN OLD ENGLISH PROVERB THAT SAYS SOME MEN GO THROUGH THE FOREST AND SEE NO FIREWOOD. I'M AFRAID THAT SOME CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE WORLD AND SEE NO SOULS. THEY DON'T LOOK AT PEOPLE BEING LOST. THEY DON'T LOOK AT A WORLD OF PEOPLE, BILLIONS OF PEOPLE, WHO HAVE NOT YET OBEYED THE GOSPEL. LOST SOULS ARE EVERYWHERE. LET'S OPEN OUR EYES AND LET'S SEE THEM. MILTON BERRELL ALSO SAID, “IF OPPORTUNITY DOESN'T KNOCK BUILD A DOOR.” ARE WE WAITING FOR LOST SOULS TO COME TO US OR ARE WE GOING TO THEM? HAVE ENOUGH LOVE FOR THE SOULS THAT ARE LOST IN THIS WORLD TO SHARE WITH THEM THE GOSPEL USING WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. AND FURTHERMORE, INVEST IN THAT PROCESS. YES, YOU CAN GO SPEAK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, AND THOSE YOU MEET EVERYDAY BUT WHAT ABOUT SENDING MISSIONARIES TO FOREIGN FIELDS? WHAT ABOUT SENDING TRACKS AND BIBLE MATERIALS, NOT ONLY LOCALLY BUT ABROAD? WHAT ABOUT INVESTING IN THAT MEANS THERE OF TRYING TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THE LOST WORLD? DO WE LOVE THE LOST ENOUGH NOT JUST TO USE OUR OWN TIME AND RESOURCES BUT TO TAKE WHAT WE HAVE AND HELP OTHERS IN THE CHURCH DO THE SAME? EVERYWHERE YOU GO HAVE A LOVE FOR SOULS. THERE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, IT SAYS PERSECUTION WOULD SCATTER THEM. THERE WAS SOMETHING THEY DID AS THEY WENT ABOUT. NO, THEY DIDN'T RUN AND HIDE. THEY DIDN'T RECANT THEIR FAITH. THEY DIDN'T STOP BELIEVING GOD. WHEN THEY WERE SCATTERED BECAUSE OF PERSECUTION, THEY CONTINUED TO DO THIS VERY THING. ACTS EIGHT VERSE FOUR SAYS, “THEREFORE, THOSE WHO WERE SCATTERED WENT EVERYWHERE PREACHING THE WORD.” WHAT DID THE CHRISTIANS IN THE FIRST CENTURY LOVE? THEY LOVED THE SOULS OF THE LOST. NO, PERSECUTION WASN'T GOING TO STOP THEM FROM SHARING THAT SAVING MESSAGE. THEY WENT EVERYWHERE TELLING THE WORLD OF LOST SOULS AND WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO BE SAVED. AND THAT HAS TO BE OUR GOAL AS WELL. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR THE SOULS OF THE LOST AND IN OURSELVES, WE ALSO HAVE THAT SAME LOVE. THINK ABOUT WHY JESUS CAME AND THE BLOOD THAT HE SHED AND WHY GOD SENT HIS SON IN THE FIRST PLACE TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS. IF YOU OBEY THAT SAVING PLAN, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES? DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THE LOVE THAT GOD HAD FOR YOU? AND NOW YOU NEED TO GO AND SHARE THAT SAME LOVE WITH THOSE IN THE WORLD. HAVE A LOVE FOR THE SOULS THAT ARE LOST. REKINDLE THAT FIRE FROM WITHIN. AND LOOK TO THOSE AROUND YOU; IN THE MARKETPLACE, ON THE STREETS EVERYWHERE, AND SEE THE LOST SOULS AND HAVE A LOVE FOR THEM!<br> <br>





CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      IT HAS BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE AND BLESSING TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING. WON’T YOU JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD!    <br> <br>

      NOW LET ME ASK, IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN HELP YOU WITH? DO 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 HAVE A GREATER LOVE FOR THE LOST OF THIS WORLD. LET US LOVE THE SOULS OF OUR FELLOW MAN JUST AS GOD OUR CREATOR DOES. WILL YOU STRIVE TO LOVE THE LOST?  <br> <br>