THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 9-24-17

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LESSON TITLE: “THE GREATEST CREATION”

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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>



      HERE WE ARE TOGETHER AGAIN ON ANOTHER WONDROUS LORD DAY!  AS THE GREAT PSALMIST DAVID SAID, “THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE; WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.” HOW TRULY BLESSED WE ARE TO BE GIVEN THIS NEW DAY IN THE SERVICE TO OUR GOD. SO LET’S START OUT THE DAY RIGHT BY SINGING PRAISES TO HIS NAME AND BY STUDYING HIS WORD.  FURTHERMORE, LET’S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO SPEAK TO OUR CREATOR IN PRAYER. BOW WITH ME PLEASE!<br> <br> 

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOU ARE A MAGNIFICENT, A WONDROUS GOD WE THANK YOU FATHER FOR THE LOVE THAT YOU'VE SHOWN US BY GIVING US ALL THE SPIRITUAL THINGS WE NEED AS WELL AS ALL PHYSICAL THINGS. WE THANK YOU MOST OF ALL FOR THE GIFT OF JESUS, THE GREAT SACRIFICE THAT HE GAVE OF HIS OWN LIFE ON THE CROSS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE, NOT ONLY TODAY BUT ETERNALLY. AND FATHER, HELP US TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ALWAYS HELP OTHERS TO KNOW YOU BY THE EXAMPLES THAT WE LIVE. AND CERTAINLY FATHER HELP US TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE'LL RECEIVE THAT GREAT REWARD IN THE END. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. 

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      ISN’T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT IN JESUS CHRIST WE HAVE A MASTER WHO SHOWS US THE WAY TO GO. HE ALSO GUIDES US IN WHAT TO DO AND TELLS US WHAT IS EXPECTED. ANOTHER THING WHICH IS ENCOURAGING TO ME IS TO KNOW THAT HE LOVED US ENOUGH TO GIVE HIS OWN LIFE FOR US, THAT THROUGH HIM WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND LIFE ETERNAL. THIS MORNING, OUR FIRST SONG REMINDS US OF THE GREATEST OF GIFTS WHICH JESUS GAVE TO US AS HIS FOLLOWERS. SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME, AS WE TOGETHER SING, “THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD.” <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      AS CHRISTIANS, WE OFTEN BECOME INTROVERTED FROM THIS WORLD AND REALLY SEEM FOCUSED MAINLY ON THOSE THINGS RELATED TO THE CHURCH AND OUR BRETHREN. HOWEVER, WHAT ABOUT THOSE IN THIS WORLD WHO NEED HELP. AREN’T WE TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED HELP OR DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR OUR FELLOW MAN?  <br> <br>

      WELL IF WE LOOK INTO GOD’S WORD, THIS IS THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST.  IN FACT, THROUGHOUT HIS MINISTRY WE FIND THAT JESUS WAS WILLING TO HELP ALL OF THOSE HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH AS BEST HE COULD, BUT WHY?  BECAUSE JESUS SAID HE CAME TO SERVE IN THIS WORLD, NOT TO BE SERVED.  READ WITH ME HIS WORDS IN MATTHEW 20:28, THERE IT SAYS, “THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.” JESUS WAS FOCUSED ON SERVING OTHERS AND IN HELPING THIS WORLD KNOW HIM IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.<br> <br> 

      ANOTHER QUESTION WE MIGHT ASK IS, “WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE DID HE SERVE?” THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT JESUS DIED FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, 1 JOHN 2:2! IT ALSO TELLS US THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL BE SAVED, JOHN 3:16. SO CHRIST WAS A SERVANT TO ALL.<br> <br>

      NOW THIS IS THE VERY REASON THAT WE SEE THE WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRMING OUR DUTY OF SERVICE TOWARD ALL MANKIND.  JOHN SAID, “BELOVED, YOU DO FAITHFULLY WHATEVER YOU DO FOR THE BRETHREN AND FOR STRANGERS,” 3 JOHN 1:5.  PAUL SAID, “THEREFORE, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO ALL, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH,” GALATIANS 6:10. THESE MEN REALIZED THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY TO DO GOOD TO OUR BRETHREN, BUT ALSO TO THE WHOLE WORLD.  <br> <br>

      BUT AGAIN, YOU MIGHT ASK WHY? READ WITH ME FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19. THERE IT SAYS, “FOR THOUGH I AM FREE FROM ALL MEN, I HAVE MADE MYSELF A SERVANT TO ALL, THAT I MIGHT WIN THE MORE.”  PAUL SAID, WE SERVE OTHERS AS CHRIST DID, SO THAT WE MAY INFLUENCE THEM FOR HIS SAKE AND SO THAT WE MAY TRULY LET THIS WORLD SEE GOD IN US.  IF WE WANT THIS WHOLE WORLD TO FOLLOW JESUS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LET THEM SEE THAT HE DOES WONDERFUL THINGS IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM.  <br> <br>

      SO I ASK YOU, ARE YOU ALLOWING THIS WORLD TO SEE CHRIST IN YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE TO THOSE WHO LIVE AROUND YOU IN YOUR DAILY LIFE? ARE YOU HELPING YOUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHRIST, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS YOU DO AND SAY IN YOUR LIFE? IF SO, PRAISE BE TO GOD. BUT IF NOT, WHY NOT BEGIN TODAY SERVING GOD THROUGH DOING GOOD TO OTHERS IN THIS WORLD. REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JESUS, “THEN HE WILL ANSWER THEM, SAYING, 'ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME,’” MATTHEW 25:45!<br> <br>

      TODAY, WE WILL AGAIN CONTINUE OUR SERIES ON “THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US.” OUR SPECIFIC LESSON OF THE DAY IS, “THE GREATEST CREATION.” SO, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING, AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER I WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD.  THE NAME OF OUR NEXT HYMN IS, “THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD!” (X-X-X)<br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS DAY AS WE NOW GO TO GOD'S WORD AND ENJOY ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS CHRISTIANS. AND CERTAINLY TODAY WE CONTINUE A NEW SERIES THAT WE BEGAN LAST WEEK THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON JUST WHAT OUR GOD HAS DONE, WHAT OUR GOD IS DOING, AND WHAT OUR GOD CONTINUES TO DO FOR US AS HIS CHILDREN. AND OUR THEME IS REALLY BASED THERE IN PSALM 126 AND VERSE THREE WHERE THE BIBLE SAYS, “THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US, AND WE ARE GLAD!” NO DOUBT THE LORD OUR GOD HAS DONE SO MANY WONDROUS THINGS FOR US AND CERTAINLY THAT BRINGS US GREAT JOY IN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND WE KNOW THAT HE CONTINUALLY LOVES US AND IS THERE FOR US AND THAT HE CARES FOR US. IN FACT, LAST WEEK WE BEGAN BY LOOKING AT WHAT A GREAT THING GOD HAS DONE AND HIMSELF BEING GOD THE ONLY TRUE GOD AND THE ONLY LIVING GOD. AND SO THEREFORE, AS WE THINK ABOUT GOD, WHAT A GIFT OF GOD IS AND WHAT JOY THAT BRINGS US. HOW GREAT IT IS TO KNOW THAT OUR GOD IS OUR ACTUAL CREATOR AND THAT HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW AND THAT WE SEE. AND THEREFORE TODAY WE CONTINUE WITH THAT THOUGHT IN BUILDING ON THE NEXT IDEA OF TRULY HOW GREAT OUR GOD IS! IN FACT FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE AND EVEN CREATING ALL THINGS AND SPECIFICALLY THE ULTIMATE CREATION OF MAN. <br> <br>

      AND WE GO BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE BIBLE AND WHAT WE LEARN QUICKLY IS THAT GOD TELLS US, NOT ONLY THE PLAN THAT HE FULFILLED IN CREATION BUT HOW HE DID IT. AND IN THE SCALE OF SIX DAYS, WE KNOW THAT HE CREATED ALL OF THE HEAVENS AND ALL THE EARTH AND THAT HE RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY. AND IN ALL THE CREATION, WE KNOW THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY AS HE MADE THOSE THINGS AS HE HAD PREDETERMINED, WE KNOW THAT GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD AND CERTAINLY HE WAS SATISFIED AND PLEASED WITH THE CREATION THAT HE HAD MADE. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT GOD AS THE CREATOR IS A PERFECT GOD, IS AN ALL POWERFUL GOD. IS A GOD WHO KNOWS ALL THINGS AND THEREFORE WHO CAN DO ANYTHING, DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES, AND IS ALWAYS PERFECT IN EVERYTHING. WITH THOSE THINGS IN MIND WE THINK ABOUT THE CREATION THAT GOD MADE. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL AND WONDROUS CREATION BUT PERHAPS WHAT WE MIGHT CALL THE GLORY OF GOD'S CREATION OR THAT WHICH WAS TO BE REALLY THE CROWN OF HIS CREATION IS TRULY SEEN IN THE CREATION OF MAN. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY THE BIBLE TRULY DESCRIBES FOR US THAT WE CAN KNOW THAT GOD'S GLORY WAS IN MAN.<br> <br> 

      IF YOU'LL GO THERE WITH ME TO THE BEGINNING OF THE BIBLE THE BOOK OF GENESIS, AFTER THE CREATION MOVING UP TOWARD THE END OF CHAPTER 1, NOTICE WHAT GOD REVEALS THROUGH MOSES IS REALLY THE BEAUTY OR THE GLORY OF MAN. WE WILL BEGIN READING THERE IN VERSE 26, “AND THEN GOD SAID, ‘LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR OWN IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR OWN LIKENESS; AND LET HIM HAVE DOMINION OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA, OVER THE BIRDS OF THE AIR, OVER THE CATTLE, OVER ALL THE EARTH AND OVER EVERY CREEPING THING THAT CREEPS ON THE EARTH.’” AND THEN VERSE 27 SAYS, “AND SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE.” IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, HE CREATED HIM, MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. WHEN YOU LOOK AT GOD'S CREATION UP TO THIS POINT AND WE SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT TRANSPIRED THE FIRST FIVE DAYS MOVING INTO THIS SIXTH DAY OF CREATION, WE SEE THAT GOD MADE EVERYTHING AND IT WAS GOOD. BUT WE SEE AND WE LOOK AROUND THE CREATION THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF CREATION THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LIVING AND PERHAPS ALIVE IN A SENSE LIKE THE GOOD GREEN EARTH THAT GOD HAS GIVEN AND THE TREES AND THE ANIMALS, ALL THESE THINGS WERE ALIVE AND LIVING IN A SENSE BUT NOT IN THE SAME SENSE AS MAN THAT WAS ABOUT TO BE CREATED AS WE HAVE JUST READ. FOR MAN WAS MADE IN A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE WAY. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT? WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE HE WAS MADE IN THE VERY IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD. YOU SEE, WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE EARTH AND THE EARTH BEING ONLY OF FLESH, THE THINGS THAT GOD MADE BEING OF THE DUST OF THE DIRT OF THE GROUND, IS CERTAINLY NOT MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, FOR GOD IS A SPIRIT AND THEREFORE GOD IS NOT OF A FLESHLY OR A PHYSICAL NATURE. SO THESE THINGS WERE NOT MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, INCLUSIVE OF ANIMALS. ANIMALS WERE NOT MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. FOR AGAIN THEY'RE NOT SPIRITUAL THEY ARE FLESHLY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND PLACED ON THIS EARTH BY GOD. BUT MAN IS DIFFERENT. MAN BEING THAT GLORY OF GOD, BEING THAT GREATEST OF CREATIONS OF GOD IS A CREATION MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS. AND THE FACT THAT GOD AGAIN JOHN CHAPTER 4 VERSE 24 IS A SPIRIT. WE KNOW THAT MAN IS NOT MADE IN THE PHYSICAL IMAGE OF GOD BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ONLY OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE BUT A FLESHLY NATURE. <br> <br>

      NOW, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE FLESH? WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE WORLD AND THE FLESH IS PASSING. IN FACT, HOW OFTEN DOES THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT IDENTIFY FOR US THAT THE FLESH IS TEMPORARY ARE TEMPORAL? HOW OFTEN DOES IT TALK ABOUT THAT IS CORRUPTIBLE? THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS PASSING? EVEN THE WISEST MAN THAT EVER LIVED THERE IN ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 12 IDENTIFIES THAT WHEN WE DIE, OUR FLESH RETURNS TO THE DUST. YOU KNOW WHY? HE SAYS, “FROM DUST IT CAME.” REMEMBER THERE IN GENESIS CHAPTER 2? GOD FROM THE DUST OF THE GROUND THE DIRT OF THE GROUND MADE WHAT? MAN. AND WE FIND THERE THE IDEA OF, NOT ONLY MAN, BUT ALSO THE WOMAN BEING MADE IN THAT FLESHLY SENSE. THESE THINGS RETURN TO WHAT? THE DIRT, THE DUST, THE FLESH REMAINS THE FLESH AND WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO FLESHLY THINGS. SO WHEN IT SAYS WE'RE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO BE REFERRING TO? WHEN IT SAYS WE ARE MADE IN HIS LIKENESS IT HAS TO BE REFERRING TO THE SPIRITUAL CONCEPT. <br> <br>

      AND SO THEREFORE WHEN WE MOVE OVER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT WE SEE, FOR INSTANCE, VERSES LIKE FIRST CORINTHIANS 15 THAT IDENTIFIES FOR US THAT MAN HAS BEEN MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF ADAM, A FLESHLY BEING BUT IS ALSO BEEN MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD. A WHAT? A SPIRITUAL BEING. YOU SEE A MAN HAS BEEN GIVEN THE BLESSING OF A SPIRIT, HAS BEEN GIVEN THE BLESSING OF LOGIC OF REASON, OF UNDERSTANDING, OF LEARNING UNLIKE ANY OF THE REST OF GOD'S CREATION. FOR THE REST OF GOD'S CREATION WAS NOT CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD, ONLY MAN WAS CREATED IN HIS LIKENESS AND IMAGE. THEREFORE, AS THOSE WHO HAVE BOTH FLESH THAT WILL RETURN TO THE EARTH AND SPIRIT, WHICH AS AGAIN ECCLESIASTES 12 SAYS WILL RETURN TO BE WITH WHAT? RETURN TO BE WITH GOD IN THE END. IT'S THAT SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF MAN THEN THAT IS ABLE TO BEHAVE OR TO DESIRE GOD AND THEREFORE ACT OR TO HAVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD. AND SO THEREFORE BECAUSE GOD LOVED, WE WHAT? WE LOVE. BECAUSE GOD DID THAT, WE DO THAT. YOU SEE, WE IMITATE. WE FOLLOW BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ABILITY HAVING BEEN CREATED IN HIS IMAGE TO THEREFORE STRIVE TO LIKEN OURSELVES UNTO HIS IMAGE, HIS SPIRITUAL LIKENESS, HIS PERFECTION. NOW, WE MAY NOT REACH PERFECTION AND CERTAINLY WE NEVER WILL AS FLESHLY BEINGS BUT WHAT WE CAN STRIVE FOR IS TO BE AS MUCH LIKE GOD AS POSSIBLE. IN IMITATING GOD, IN IMITATING HIS LIKENESS AS HIS DEAR CHILDREN - IT SAYS IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5 TO BE IMATATERS OF GOD. THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GOD HAS CHALLENGED US TO DO. <br> <br>

      ANOTHER CLEAR SIGN THAT MAN IS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF GOD'S CREATION HAS ALSO BEEN MENTIONED THERE IN VERSE 26 WHEN WE READ A MOMENT AGO, “LET THEM HAVE DOMINION.” WHO? MAN. HE DOESN'T JUST SAY IT THERE. HE SAYS IT OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURE. BUT LOOK THERE IN VERSE 28 JUST TWO VERSES DOWN, “THEN GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID TO THEM, ‘BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY; FILL THE EARTH, SUBDUE IT; HAVE DOMINION OVER…’” WHAT? ONLY OVER THE TREES? NO. HAVE DOMINION OVER ALL OF GOD'S CREATION INCLUSIVE OF THE FISH OR THOSE THINGS IN THE SEA. THE BIRDS OF THE AIR. OVER, NOT SOME, OVER EVERY LIVING CREATURE AND EVEN THOSE THINGS THAT CREEP ON THE EARTH. MAN HAS BEEN GIVEN DOMINION. YOU KNOW WHY? MAN IS CREATED IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE MAN IS THE ONLY THING OF GOD'S CREATION THAT HAS THE ABILITY BY REASON, UNDERSTANDING, AND LOGIC AND OBEDIENCE TO ULTIMATELY SOMEDAY BE OFFERED ETERNAL LIFE. TO WHERE WE KNOW THAT IF WE OBEY GOD AND WE SERVE GOD WE CAN ACTUALLY SOMEDAY GO AND EXIST WITH HIM ETERNALLY IN THE SPIRITUAL FORM THAT WE HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF. NOT THE FLESHLY FORM. PETER TELLS US THAT THE EARTH AND THE ELEMENTS OF THE EARTH AND THE FLESH ALL THOSE THINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. WILL BE BURNED WITH FIRE. AND ACTUALLY WILL MELT WITH FERVENT HEAT. HE EVEN USES THE GREEK WORD TO BE DISSOLVED WHICH MEANS THAT IT NO LONGER EXISTS. IT'S GONE. SO WHAT SHOULD WE CLING TO? THE SPIRITUAL LIKENESS, THE SPIRITUAL IMAGE THAT GOD HAS MADE US IN. THAT SOUL THAT HAS BEEN PLACED WITHIN US SO THAT WE MIGHT FOCUS ON GOD'S CREATION; THAT GREAT CREATION. ONE WHO IS WORTHY OF NOT ONLY HAVING BEEN CREATED BY GOD BUT HAVING BEEN GIVEN DOMINION OVER ALL THAT GOD'S CREATION IS. AND SO WHEN I READ A VERSE LIKE THERE IN PSALM VERSE EIGHT AND I CONSIDER THE FACT OF THE QUESTION THAT DAVID ASKED IN RELATIONSHIP TO MAN WHEN HE SAID WHAT IS MAN? AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THERE WHAT HE SAYS WHAT IS MAN (VERSE FOUR) THAT YOU ARE EVEN MINDFUL OF HIM, THAT YOU HAVE VISITED HIM? WELL, WHAT MAN IS THE CREATION OF GOD, THAT BEING MADE IN THE VERY IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD, THAT BEING GIVEN DOMINION OVER ALL THINGS MADE BY GOD, HEAVENS AND EARTH, AND THEREFORE THAT MEANS WHO ALONE HAS THE ABILITY TO SOMEDAY GO AND LIVE ETERNALLY WITH GOD IN THAT SPIRITUAL BLESSED HOME OF HEAVEN. <br> <br>

      NOW, WITH THOSE THINGS IN MIND THEN I WOULD LIKE US TO TURN TO A FAMILIAR TEXT IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIAN CHAPTER 2. AND THERE AS PAUL TALKED TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS AND REALLY ENCOURAGES THEM IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE OPPORTUNITY BY AND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AS GIVEN BY GOD OF GRACE AND THE CLARIFICATION THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN SAVED BY GRACE HE ALSO IDENTIFIES THE FACT THAT WE PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART AS SPIRITUAL BEINGS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD; THAT WE MUST DEMONSTRATE FAITH WHICH IS OBEDIENCE AND ACT OF OBEDIENCE TO THE THINGS THAT GOD ASKS. BUT NOW WHAT I WANT YOU TO NOTICE WITH ME AS THE CREATED BEINGS OF GOD WE MIGHT THEN ASK THAT QUESTION AGAIN THAT DAVID WAS ASKED: WHAT IS MAN THAT GOD IS MINDFUL OF HIM? WHAT IS MAN THAT GOD CREATED HIM? HE MADE HIM. HE MADE HIM IN A GLORIOUS WAY. HE GAVE HIM DOMINION. HE IS THAT WONDROUS, THAT SPECIAL CREATION, THAT HIGHEST CREATION OF GOD. BUT IF YOU'LL NOTICE THERE WHAT DO WE READ HERE IN EPHESIAN CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE 10? HE SAYS THERE, “WE,” (THOSE WHO LIVE, THOSE WHO ARE OF THIS WORLD), “WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP,” AND HERE IT IS, “CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS.” YOU SEE, WE ARE THE WORKMANSHIP FASHIONED BY GOD. OH, YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU SEE THE BEAUTIES OF CREATION, YOU SEE THE BEAUTIES OF THE OZARKS AND YOU SEE THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S CREATION, THE BEAUTY OF THOSE THINGS FASHIONED BY GOD. AND WHAT DO WE READ HERE? WE READ THAT WE ARE THAT WORKMANSHIP, WE ARE THAT CLAY THAT THE POTTER TOOK IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND MADE IN HIS LIKENESS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WHAT? AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL WHAT HE HAS ASKED OF US. WHAT DOES HE ASK OF THOSE WHOM HE HAS MADE IN HIS LIKENESS AND IMAGE? THAT WE HAD BEEN CREATED FOR A PURPOSE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE? TO BE THOSE WHO WORK, WHO DO HIS WORKS, WHO FULFILL HIS WORKS. AND IN FACT, IF YOU'LL NOTICE THERE IN THE SAME VERSE IT SAYS, “WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.” HE SAYS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH. THERE IS A WAY THAT WE FULFILL WHAT GOD HAS ASKED AND THE WAY THAT WE SHOW THAT CERTAINLY WE ARE FAITHFUL TO HIM. AND THEREFORE, RECIPIENTS OF THE GRACE MENTIONED IN VERSE EIGHT. AND THAT IS BY AS THAT FASHIONED WORKMANSHIP OF GOD THAT WE DO THE GOOD WORKS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US BY GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF BEING THOSE WHO FUFILL WHAT WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO BE AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO DO. <br> <br>

      YOU SEE, BRETHREN, AS THE GLORIOUS CREATION OF GOD, WHAT BETTER WAY CAN WE RETURN AND SHOW OUR LOVE TO GOD THAN AS HIS GLORIOUS CREATION AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WORKMANSHIP THAT WE DO THOSE WORKS THAT WE OBEY HIM, LOVE HIM ENOUGH TO OBEY HIM, AND OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS, SO THAT HE MIGHT KNOW WE ARE COMMITTED TO HIM. UNDERSTANDING THAT WE THEREFORE HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE THEREFORE HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF THE LIFE TO COME. ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM FOREVER AS THOSE SPIRITUAL ETERNAL BEINGS THAT HE HAS PROMISED OF US. ARE YOU LIVING IN SUCH A WAY TO BE GOD'S TRUE WORKMANSHIP? <br> <br>



CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US THIS MORNING. I HOPE WE ALL HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED THROUGH OUR TIME SPENT TOGETHER. PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD.

NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON? MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A FREE CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM? POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES? NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  

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      WHAT A WONDROUS GIFT FROM GOD WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, OUR VERY LIVES!  THANKS BE TO GOD THAT HE WAS SUCH A LOVING CREATOR AND THAT HE CHOSE TO FULFILL HIS WILL THROUGH JESUS CHRIST HIS SON. ARE YOU LIVING US TO BEING GOD’S MOST WONDROUS CREATION?  

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