THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 4-9-2017<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE: “LOVE FOR THE CHURCH”<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.

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      THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM.  AS ALWAYS, IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU WITH US, AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO THE THINGS OF GOD. IT IS FURTHER OUR PRAYER THAT WE MAY ALL PRAISE GOD THIS MORNING, AS WELL AS THAT WE MAY ALL BE ENCOURAGED IN THIS JOINT OFFERING TO HIM.  WHAT BETTER WAY TO START THIS LORD’S DAY, THAN TO GIVE THIS SACRIFICE TO HIM.  WILL YOU BOW WITH ME NOW IN PRAYER!<br> <br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSING OF LIFE - THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE YOUR SERVANT'S. FATHER, HELP US THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY TO BE LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD AND TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE MIGHT HELP OTHERS TO KNOW YOU AND THAT THEY MIGHT OBEY YOUR TRUTH. AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF JESUS WHICH MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE KNOWING, THAT THROUGH YOUR GRACE LOVE AND MERCY, WE MIGHT ULTIMATELY RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE. IN JESUS’ NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

      ISN’T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.  WHAT LOVE OUR SAVIOR HAS SHOWN US IN COMING TO THIS EARTH AND DYING FOR OUR SINS.  OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING DEALS WITH THIS VERY PROMISE OF GOD.  SO WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION IN OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THE HYMN, “WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND.” 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      IF I WERE TO ASK YOU “WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING TO CONTROL IN LIFE,” WHAT WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE?   MAYBE YOU WOULD SAY IT IS HARD TO CONTROL MY KIDS - THAT’S A BIG PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, ISN’T IT?  OTHERS MIGHT SAY WELL IT’S HARD TO CONTROL MY WIFE!  THE FACT IS, THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE HARD TO CONTROL, BUT AGAIN, WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING TO CONTROL?  <br> <br>

      WELL, THE ANSWER IS OUR THOUGHTS!  THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.  NO ONE SEES OUR THOUGHTS, NO ONE HEARS THEM.  NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT’S ON OUR MIND AT ANY GIVEN TIME.  I BELIEVE THAT IS WHY IT IS SO HARD TO CONTROL OUR THOUGHTS.  WE CAN THINK ABOUT ANYTHING OR PICTURE ANYTHING WE WANT IN OUR MIND AND AGAIN, NO ONE KNOWS IT.  WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD BAD OR UGLY THOUGHTS AGAINST SOMEONE YOU DIDN’T LIKE?  DID THEY KNOW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING?  WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD BAD THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT PERSON WHO PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF YOU, DID THEY KNOW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING.  I’VE GOT BAD NEWS FOR YOU.  EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T KNOW, GOD DID!  JESUS UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING WHEN HE SAID, “YOU ARE THOSE WHO JUSTIFY YOURSELVES BEFORE MEN, BUT GOD KNOWS YOUR HEARTS,” LUKE 16:15.<br> <br>

      ISN’T THIS WHY PAUL SAID IN PHILIPPIANS 4:8, THAT WE NEED TO THINK ON GOOD THINGS.  THERE HE SAID, “FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE NOBLE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE JUST, WHATEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT, IF THERE IS ANY VIRTUE AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRAISEWORTHY; MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.” SO, OUR THOUGHTS MUST BE GOOD, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE PLEASING UNTO GOD.<br> <br>

      ON THE OTHER HAND, WE MUST HAVE GOOD THOUGHTS BECAUSE THEY MAKE US WHO WE ARE.  SOLOMON SAID, “FOR AS HE THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE,” PROVERBS 23:7.  IN OTHER WORDS, WE WILL EVENTUALLY BE WHAT WE THINK.  IF WE HAVE BAD OR EVIL THOUGHTS, WE WILL EVENTUALLY PARTICIPATE AND DO THAT WHICH IS EVIL.  HOWEVER, IF OUR THOUGHTS ARE GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS, THEN WE WILL ONLY BE PERCEIVED AS BEING OF GOD.  <br> <br>

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE? IS IT PLEASING TO GOD AS IT MUST BE? IS IT MAKING YOU A GOOD PERSON BEFORE THIS WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE? AS COMMANDED, LET’S ALL STRIVE TO THINK MORE ON THOSE THINGS ABOVE.      

      IT IS GREAT TO HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER WITH US TODAY, BROTHER JERRY SULLINS. BROTHER JERRY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI HERE IN SPRINGFIELD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING OUR THOUGHTS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.  <br> <br>

      THIS MORNING HE WILL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ENTITLED, “I PRAY THAT YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND STILL MORE AND MORE.”  THE SPECIFIC LESSON TODAY WILL FOCUSED ON “LOVE FOR THE CHURCH.”  PLEASE STAY WITH US FOR THIS EXCITING DISCUSSION FROM GOD’S WORD, AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER. NOW, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION, AS WE SING OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER. THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.”   <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY JERRY SULLINS<br> <br>

      GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND WELCOME AGAIN TO THE LIVING WORD BROADCAST. IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU IN OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE TAKEN THE TIME TO SIT DOWN JUST FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN THIS BUSY TIME OF OUR LIVES TO LISTEN TO A PRESENTATION FROM THE WORD OF GOD THAT IS A PROCLAMATION OF HIS WORD. <br> <br>

      THIS MORNING WE'RE DEALING WITH THE SUBJECT WHICH IS NEAR AND DEAR PROBABLY TO MOST OF OUR HEARTS AND THAT IS CONCERNING THE CHURCH ITSELF. AND OH HOW WE LOVE THE CHURCH. AND BASICALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVING THE CHURCH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOVING OURSELVES BECAUSE WE WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS HAVING BEEN ADDED TO THE LORD'S CHURCH. ACTS 2:47 SAYS, “THE LORD ADDED TO HIS CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS WERE BEING SAVED.” NOW THE QUESTION IS WHAT CHURCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? BECAUSE WE LOOK ALL OVER THIS WORLD TODAY, AND I KNOW THIS MAY HAVE BEEN EXAMINED IN OTHER LESSONS, BUT WE LOOK OVER THIS WORLD TODAY AND MANY PEOPLE ARE CLAIMING TO BE THE CHURCH. BUT WHEN WE LOOK INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT, AS SOMEONE ASKED ME ONE DAY, “WELL, WHAT CHURCH DO YOU BELONG TO OR WHAT DENOMINATION DO YOU BELONG TO? I SAID, “WELL, I'M NOT A MEMBER OF ANY DENOMINATION BUT I'M A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH THAT YOU READ ABOUT IN ACTS 2. THAT'S THE ONE I JUST MENTIONED IN ACTS 2:47, “THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS WERE BEING SAVED.” NOW, HE WAS ADDING THEM TO THE CHURCH THAT HAD JUST BEEN ESTABLISHED. WHEN PETER STOOD UP ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST IN ACTS CHAPTER 2 AND HE PROCLAIMED TO THOSE JEWS WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS THAT THIS SAME JESUS WHOM YOU CRUCIFIED WAS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST THEY CRIED OUT MEN AND BRETHREN WHAT SHALL WE DO? AND PETER SAID REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERYONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT CHURCH. <br> <br>

      YOU SAY, “OH WELL, YOU'RE PART OF THE DENOMINATIONAL.” NO I'M NOT. I'M A PART OF THE CHURCH THAT YOU READ ABOUT IN ACTS 2. DO I HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT? YES, AND YOU MUST ALSO TAKE THAT RIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT AND PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD - ACTS CHAPTER 20 VERSE 28. IT'S THE CHURCH THAT JESUS PROMISED IN MATTHEW 16:18 TO HIS DISCIPLES WHEN HE SAID TO PETER, “AND YOU ARE PETER AND UPON THIS ROCK,” MEANING THE STATEMENT THAT PETER MADE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.” HE ONLY BUILT ONE MY FRIENDS. HE DIDN'T BUILD A DENOMINATION. DENOMINATIONS DIDN'T COME INTO EXISTENCE AT LEAST UNTIL 300 - 310 YEARS AFTER THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED AND IN WHAT IS CALLED THE REFORMATION MOVEMENT. AND EVEN SINCE THAT TIME IN OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE RAISED UP MANY CHURCHES THAT ARE REALLY NOT CHRIST'S CHURCH. THEY'RE NAMED AFTER THIS PERSON OR THAT PERSON OR THIS IDEA OR THAT IDEA, THIS CREED, THIS SYNOGUE, THIS EVERYTHING - BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY MAN'S MIND WORKS. WELL, WHAT'S WRONG WITH US? AS AFRICANS HAVE BELIEVED AS WE HAVE PRESENTED THE GOSPEL TO THEM HAVING LIVED THERE FOR 20 YEARS WHAT'S WRONG WITH US DROPPING ALL THESE TITLES AND INDIVIDUAL THINGS? LISTEN, I LOVE THE CHURCH. I DON'T LOVE THE DENOMINATED CHURCH. IN FACT, IS IT REALLY THE CHURCH? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TEACH WHAT THE CHURCH OR WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. BUT I LOVE THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT THAT'S MENTIONED IN ACTS CHAPTER 2. IT'S HIS KINGDOM. WE ARE WHAT? WE ARE BROUGHT OUT OF WHAT? WE ARE BROUGHT OUT OF DARKNESS, COLOSSIANS 1:13, “AND TRANSLATED INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.” IT'S HIS BODY. THAT IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE CHURCH BECAUSE I CAN SAY TRULY AND SINCERELY THAT I'M A PART OF THE CHURCH THAT IS CHRIST'S BODY. AND HE'S THE HEAD OVER THAT BODY, EPHESIANS 1:22. I DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE TO SPRINGFIELD TO FIND WHERE THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH IS. I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO ROME TO FIND WHERE THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH IS. I DON'T NEED TO GO TO THOSE PLACES. I GO TO THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM TO BE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY THE FULLNESS AND THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL. SO THE CHURCH IS HIS BODY AND THE CHURCH IS HIS KINGDOM AND THE KINGDOM IS HIS BODY ON AND ON AND ON. THOSE THREE TERMS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT MENTIONED THE CHURCH THAT JESUS PROMISED TO BUILD IN MATTHEW 16 VERSE 18. IT'S HIS HOUSE. YES, ACCORDING TO PAUL IN FIRST TIMOTHY 3:15, IT IS THE HOUSE OF GOD. BUT I LIKE THE TERM THAT SAYS IT'S A FAMILY OF GOD THAT WE SEE MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE ITSELF.<br> <br>

      IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE PART OF A FAMILY. WHEN MOST CHRISTIANS, THAT IS IN THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST, WHEN WE MENTION OUR FAMILY, A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR PHYSICAL FAMILY. BECAUSE, AS YOU WELL KNOW, SOME IN YOUR OWN FAMILY MAY NOT EVEN CARE ABOUT GOD. THEY MAY NOT CARE ABOUT THE CHURCH. BUT OUR REAL FAMILY IS OUR HEAVENLY FAMILY. EVEN WHEN JESUS WAS ASKED THE QUESTION CONCERNING IS THIS NOT YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS? HE SAID NO. MY MOTHER, MY FATHER, MY BROTHERS, MY SISTERS ARE IN THE KINGDOM OR THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH THAT HE WAS GOING TO BUILD THAT'S WHERE HIS FAMILY IS AND SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK US SOMETIMES ABOUT THOSE WHOM WE CAN REALLY DEPEND UPON, OH YAEH, WE CAN DEPEND UPON OUR PHYSICAL FAMILY IN MANY CASES, BUT I TELL YOU WHERE WE CAN REALLY DEPEND UPON PEOPLE AND THAT IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER SUNG THE SONG "THE FAMILY OF GOD" BUT OH WHAT A WONDERFUL SONG THAT IS. IN FACT, MANY OF OUR MEMBERS WHEN WE SING IT AT KANSAS EXPRESSWAY, AND BY THE WAY WE DO OUR OWN SINGING AT KANSAS EXPRESSWAY, WE DON'T USE INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC BECAUSE THERE'S NO AUTHORITY IN THE SCRIPTURE FOR INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC. BUT EVERY CHRISTIAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER SINGING PRAISES TO THE LORD OUR GOD AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO. AND WHEN WE SING THAT BEAUTIFUL SONG, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO MANY PEOPLE IN THAT AUDIENCE? THEY START CRYING. BECAUSE WE LAUGH TOGETHER, WE CRY TOGETHER, AND THAT SONG TALKS ABOUT IT SO BEAUTIFULLY. WHAT A BLESSING! I LOVE THE CHURCH! SOMETIMES THE ONLY RELIEF I GET DURING THE WEEK IS WHEN I GO TO THE SERVICES, THAT IS TO THE WORSHIP SERVICES, OR GO AND STUDY THE WORDS OF GOD, THE WORD OF GOD WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. THAT'S WHERE I REALLY RECEIVE THE ENCOURAGEMENT, THE STRENGTH. AND I'M NOT SAYING WE CAN'T GET IT FROM OUR OWN FAMILY, IF INDEED THEY ARE CHRIST'S CHILDREN OR GOD'S CHILDREN. I'M NOT SAYING WE CAN'T GET IT THERE. BUT THE REAL SOURCE IS FOUND IN THE CHURCH - THAT BLOOD BOUGHT INSTITUTION. THAT INSTITUTION THAT WAS FORMED IN THE MIND OF GOD BEFORE THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. THAT'S WHY I LOVE THE CHURCH. BECAUSE WITHOUT THE CHURCH I KNOW THERE'S NO WAY ON EARTH THAT I COULD EVER BE SAVED! JESUS LOVED ME SO MUCH HE DIED UPON THE CROSS. BUT GOD LOVED ME SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. AND WHEN PEOPLE DO THOSE THINGS, WHEN THEY SUBMIT TO GOD'S WILL TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEY'RE ADDED TO THE CHURCH. AND WHAT A BLESSED INSTITUTION IT IS! CHRIST IS THE HEAD OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD. HE'S BEEN MADE TO BE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH, AS WE SAID EPHESIANS 1, THAT'S HIS BODY AND WE ARE HIS BRETHREN.<br> <br>

      THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT IN HEBREWS 2 VERSE 12 WHICH TALKS ABOUT US BEING BRETHREN, THAT IS BELONGING TO A BROTHERHOOD. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD TODAY AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN UNITED STATES WHO JOIN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT FEELING OF WHAT? BROTHERHOOD. WHY, I TELL YOU THERE'S NO GREATER ORGANIZATION ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH. BECAUSE IT'S GOD'S ORGANIZATION THAN THE LORD'S CHURCH, THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. THE LORD'S CHURCH WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND THEY CAN DEPEND UPON ONE ANOTHER. THEY KNOW AND THEY SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE CHURCH. <br> <br>

      WHAT ABOUT YOU? WELL, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT CONCERNING THE CHURCH. HOW IS IT I WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY APPROACH MY FATHER IN HEAVEN IF I WERE NOT ONE OF HIS CHILDREN? HIS CHILDREN HAVE THAT BLESSED OPPORTUNITY, AS JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW SIX WHEN THE DISCIPLES WERE WANTING TO KNOW HOW TO PRAY. HE SAID START IT OUT LIKE THIS, “OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN.” OUR FATHER. BOY, THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME. DOESN'T IT TO YOU? WELL CERTAINLY IT SHOULD BECAUSE WHAT GREATER FATHER COULD YOU HAVE THAN GOD HIMSELF? THAT ONE WHO LOVES YOU. WHO WILL SHARE WITH YOU. THAT IS WHO WILL CARE FOR YOU IN EVERY WAY. HE'S OUR VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE. WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING IT IS TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE GOD HIMSELF THAT WE CAN APPROACH AS OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN AND HAVING CHRIST STANDING THERE WITH US WHEN WE PRAY. NOT LITERALLY BUT FIGURATIVELY. <br> <br>

      WHO IS THE MEDIATOR? WHO IS MEDIATING BETWEEN US AND THE FATHER? NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER MAN. WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PRAY FOR US. ALTHOUGH IT'S OKAY FOR PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. WELL, TO DO THAT, WE PRAY DIRECTLY TO THE FATHER THROUGH THE MEDIATOR JESUS CHRIST. WHAT A BLESSING THAT IS! THAT'S WHY I LOVE THE CHURCH. BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND UPON SOMEONE ELSE FOR MY SALVATION. I DEPEND UPON GOD AND CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. I DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND UPON SOMEONE ELSE FOR MY PRAYERS. I CAN PRAY MYSELF DIRECTLY TO THE FATHER THROUGH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. WHAT A WONDERFUL AND PRECIOUS BLESSING THAT IS TO KNOW THAT CHRIST IS OUR ADVOCATE! <br> <br>

      I'D LIKE TO TURN OVER TO HEBREWS CHAPTER 4 VERSES 14 THRU 16. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH AND HOW WE CAN DEPEND UPON HIM. THAT'S HEBREWS CHAPTER 4. IF YOU HAVE YOUR BIBLES, MANY OF YOU I HAVE HEARD ACTUALLY OPEN YOUR BIBLES DURING THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD, AND CHAPTER 4, VERSES 14 THRU 16, THIS IS A STATEMENT THAT IS MADE, <br> <br>

      “SEEING THEN WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS PASSED THROUGH THE HEAVENS, THAT IS JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD, LET US HOLD FAST OUR CONFESSION. FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR OWN WEAKNESSES, BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS LIKE US TEMPTED AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN. SO LET US COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.” <br> <br>

      NOW, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. WHAT PLACE DO YOU HAVE ON THIS EARTH THAT YOU CAN FULLY DEPEND UPON OR ANY PEOPLES THAT YOU CAN FULLY DEPEND UPON? YOU MIGHT SAY, OKAY, THERE ARE SOME. AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. YOU HAVE A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE. SOMETIMES, AS YOU HAVE NOTICED, WHEN SOMETHING VERY DRASTIC HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE CHILDREN OF GOD. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WHAT DO YOU DO? TO WHOM DO YOU TURN? WELL, SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR YOU'VE JUST WALK INTO A SITUATION AND THERE'S ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES THAT JUST PASSED AWAY, YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE SAY AND NOT IN A FLIPPANT OR UNGODLY WAY? THEY SAY, “OH MY GOD.” AND THAT MEANS HELP ME. NOW I WANT TO SAY THIS RIGHT QUICKLY. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT. IF YOU'RE USING THAT WORD FLIPPANTLY OR THOSE THREE WORDS FLIPPANTLY YOU WILL BE JUDGED. GOD SAID HE WILL NOT HOLD GUILTLESS THOSE WHO TAKE HIS NAME IN VAIN. BUT SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE IN GREAT DISTRESS WE SAY, “OH MY GOD!” OR “OH GOD!” AND RIGHTFULLY SO BECAUSE, WE AS HIS CHILDREN, GOD IS OPEN TO OUR PRAYERS. BE NOT ANXIOUS FOR ANYTHING. BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION MAKE YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. SO NOT ONLY IS JESUS STANDING THERE AS A MEDIATOR BUT HE'S STANDING THERE AS A PERSON WHO WILL PRESENT OUR CASE BEFORE THE LORD GOD HIMSELF. HE'S OUR INTERCESSOR. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALSO OUR INTERCESSOR. AND GOD IS GOING TO CARE FOR US. THAT'S WHY WE APPROACH HIM IN GREAT TIMES OF DISTRESS. AND WHAT DO WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT? SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS, AND JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, FOOD, ARRAIGNMENT, AND PLACES TO LIVE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. IF YOU’RE WHAT? SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD - BECAUSE WHO'S GOING TO CARE OF YOU? WELL, WE HAVE SEEN THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T REALLY DO IT. AND WE KNOW SOMETIMES OUR RELATIVES WON'T AND OUR FRIENDS CERTAINLY WON'T MOST OF THE TIME. SO WHO'S GOING TAKE CARE OF US? I'LL TELL YOU WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU IF YOU'RE ONE OF HIS CHILDREN. THAT IS GOD HIMSELF. <br> <br>

      SO THE THING TO CONSIDER THIS MORNING IS, ARE YOU A CHILD OF GOD? I LOVE THE CHURCH BECAUSE ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN ARE IN THE CHURCH. YOU CAN READ ABOUT THAT CHURCH IN ACTS CHAPTER 2. DOESN'T HAVE THE NAME OF A MAN, AN ORGANIZATION, A CREED, A DOGMA - ANYTHING ELSE. IT HAS THE NAME OF CHRIST. YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST? YOU MIGHT SAY, “WELL, HOW DO I DO THAT?” BASICALLY HOW YOU'VE BEEN TOLD BEFORE. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD, CONFESS THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD, YOU HAVE TO REPENT OF YOUR SINS. AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY, “WELL, THAT'S RIGHT AND THEN I'M A CHRISTIAN.” NO, LET'S WAIT JUST A SECOND. WHAT DOES JESUS HIMSELF SAY? HE SAID, “NOW YOU GO OUT INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.” HE WAS TALKING TO HIS APOSTLES. “HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.” HE WHO BELIEVES NOT SHALL BE CONDEMNED. IF YOU'RE WILLING MY FRIEND, TO REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS, ACTS CHAPTER 2 VERSE 38, THEN YOU WILL TRULY BECOME A CHILD OF GOD AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY WILL BE PART OF YOUR POSSESSION AS A SPIRITUAL CHILD OF GOD. NOT JUST IN NAME ONLY BUT ONE WHO IS TRULY A PART OF HIS CHURCH! <br> <br>

      NOW, WHAT GREATER THING COULD YOU HAVE IN THIS LIFE GREATER THEN THAT? GOD LOVES YOU AND JESUS LOVES YOU! HE GAVE HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS AND SHED HIS BLOOD TO FORM HIS CHURCH OF WHOM WE ARE A PART THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS AND WE PRAY AND WE HOPE THIS MORNING THAT YOU WILL TAKE THESE ETERNAL TRUTHS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED AND THAT YOU WILL APPLY THEM TO YOUR LIFE AND THAT EVENTUALLY YOU WILL ENJOY THE JOYS OF HEAVEN! <br> <br>



CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      WE PRAISE GOD THAT YOU HAVE PUT HIM FIRST THIS MORNING, BY CHOOSING TO GIVE THIS TIME TO HIM. IT IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU WITH US.  WE INVITE EACH OF YOU TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO GOD’S SERVICE!  <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<br> <br>

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      MAY OUR LOVE FOR GOD CHALLENGE US TO LOVE HIS CHURCH, WHICH WAS PURCHASED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF HIS SON AND OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. OH, HOW WONDROUS THE BODY OF CHRIST SHOULD BE TO THE FAITHFUL!

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