THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT <br><br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 10-7-18<br><br>

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LESSON TITLE: "ETERNAL LIFE" <br><br>

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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>

      WHAT A PRIVILEGE WE HAVE THIS MORNING TO JOIN TOGETHER IN THE STUDY OF GOD'S LIVING WORD. WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR PROGRAM AND WE THANK GOD THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE WITH US TODAY. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TOGETHER THIS MORNING TO GLORIFY OUR CREATOR. MAY WE EACH DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT AND ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. NOW, LET'S APPROACH OUR FATHER'S THRONE IN PRAYER. <br><br>

      PRAYER: OUR WONDROUS FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE SO THANKFUL GOD BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE A GREAT GIVER AND PROVIDER OF ALL THINGS. AND FATHER, WE LOVE YOU AND WANT TO RESPOND TO THE GREAT LOVE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN US ESPECIALLY IN THE GREAT SACRIFICE OF YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST. FATHER, HELP US THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY TO SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW YOU THROUGH US AND THAT BY OUR OBEDIENCE WE MIGHT BECOME RECIPIENTS OF YOUR GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY, AND THEREFORE RECEIVE THE GREAT REWARD OF HEAVEN IN THE END. FATHER, WE KNOW THESE THINGS AGAIN ARE ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT FATHER. AND IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br><br>

      WHAT A WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE WE HAVE AS CHRISTIANS TO LIFT UP OUR VOICES IN PRAISE TO GOD. FURTHERMORE, WHAT A SWEET SMELLING SAVOR THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS IS TO OUR CREATOR. SO, THIS MORNING WON'T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER OUR FIRST HYMN OF THE MORNING. THE NAME OF THE SONG "GOD IS LOVE!" <br><br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br><br>

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      WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU CAUGHT YOURSELF THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE? WE ALL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS FROM TIME TO TIME. WHY? BECAUSE ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO CONTROL DURING OUR LIVES IS OUR THOUGHTS.

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      BUT WHY IS THIS TRUE? PROBABLY BECAUSE NO ONE CAN SEE OR HEAR WHAT WE ARE THINKING. WHEN WE THINK THINGS THAT ARE GOOD OR BAD THEY USUALLY ARE ONLY KNOWN BY THE ONE THINKING THEM. HOWEVER, ONE THING WE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN IS GOD. GOD ALSO KNOWS OUR THOUGHTS, EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT THINK THAT WE ARE ABLE TO THINK EVIL THINGS IN SECRET. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGED AS CHRISTIANS TO THINK ON PROPER THINGS. <br><br>

      IN COLOSSIANS 3:2, PAUL SAID, "SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH." YOU SEE, WE ARE TO THINK ON THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD AND GODLY, FROM ABOVE. WE ARE NOT TO THINK ON EVIL OR EARTHLY THINGS. PAUL PRESENTED THIS SAME IDEA TO THE PHILIPPIANS WHEN 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," CHAPTER 4, VERSE EIGHT.

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      NOW, LET'S CONSIDER ANOTHER REASON WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THINK ON THE RIGHT THINGS. THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS, WE ARE AFFECTED ON THE OUTSIDE BY WHAT IS GOING ON, ON THE INSIDE. TO UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER LET'S READ PROVERBS 23:7, THERE IT SAYS, "FOR AS HE THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE." IF WE CHOOSE TO THINK ON EVIL THINGS OF THIS WORLD, THEN EVENTUALLY IT WILL AFFECT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE WAY WE ARE INSIDE IS WHAT WE WILL BE LIKE ON THE OUTSIDE. WHERE ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FOCUSED TODAY? ON GOD AND HIS WILL OR ON EARTHLY THINGS WHICH ARE CONTRARY TO WHAT GOD WANTS? CHOOSE TODAY TO SET YOUR MINDS AND KEEP THEM, ON THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE FROM ABOVE! <br><br>

      TODAY WE WANT TO CONSIDER A LESSON TOGETHER FROM GOD'S WORD FOCUSING ON, "ETERNAL LIFE." ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT GOD HAS OFFERED US THE GIFT OF ETERNAL EXISTENCE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN? THIS IS THE NEXT STUDY IN OUR SERIES ENTITLED, "AND TRANSFERRED US INTO THE KINGDOM." SO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG I WILL RETURN WITH THIS LESSON FROM GOD'S WORD. IT'S NOW TIME TO JOIN IN OUR SECOND HYMN OF THE MORNING, THE NAME OF THE SONG, "THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY." <br><br>

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LESSON <br><br>

BY RAY SULLINS <br><br>

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      WE'RE SO GLAD THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS DAY AS WE NOW GO TO GOD'S WORD AND LOOK AT ANOTHER LESSON CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. I'D LIKE ASK YOU FIRST OF ALL WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU GOT A GIFT THAT YOU REALLY LIKED? YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT IS VERY EXCITING TO GET GIFTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT OR SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN WANTING FOR A WHILE. SOMETIMES GIFTS CAN BE SMALL AND SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE LITTLE BUT THEY STILL CAN HAVE GREAT MEANING BECAUSE THEY ARE THINGS THAT WE DESIRE OR THINGS THAT WE WANT. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU GAVE A GIFT THAT YOU REALLY ENJOYED GIVING. YOU KNOW I HAVE FOUND AS A PARENT SOMETIMES IT IS WAY MORE FUN TO GIVE GIFTS NOW AND TO SEE THE JOY OF MY CHILDREN AND TO SEE THAT THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY'VE WANTED AND THAT THEY FINALLY HAVE AND TOYS OR MAYBE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GAMES THAT THEY LIKE TO PLAY. AND AGAIN IT IS EXCITING BECAUSE THROUGH THEM I GET JOY IN SEEING THEIR JOY IN KNOWING THAT I'M ABLE TO HELP BRING THEM HAPPINESS. BUT IF I WERE TO ASK YOU, WHAT IS THE GREATEST GIFT THAT YOU EVER GAVE SOMEONE? WELL, SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET CARS IT SEEMS LIKE BUT IT'S NEVER HAPPENED TO ME OR MAYBE HOUSES AND THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED TO ME. BUT WHAT IS THE GREATEST GIFT, NOT ONLY MAYBE YOU HAVE GIVEN, BUT WHAT'S THE GREATEST GIFT THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED IN RELATIONSHIP TO SOMETHING BIG OR MASSIVE? WELL, THOSE GIFTS SOMETIMES ARE EVEN THE MOST PRECIOUS BECAUSE AGAIN THEY MIGHT GET US OUT OF DEBT OR THEY MIGHT HELP US TO GET OVER A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD OR MAYBE SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO AFFORD MAYBE SOMETHING BETTER OR TO  GET SOMETHING BETTER TO GET INTO A BETTER POSITION OR PLACE. WITH THAT IN MIND THEN, WE THINK ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US. AND IF I WERE TO ASK YOU, WHAT IS THE GREATEST GIFT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US? THERE IS A GREAT LIST I THINK IF PROBABLY WE COULD ALL JOT DOWN FROM THE SCRIPTURE OF THE GREAT GIFTS OF GOD. BUT AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT CERTAINLY THEY WOULD ALL SUMMARIZE THEMSELVES WITHIN JESUS AT SOME POINT, BUT REALLY THE GREATEST GIFT THEY WERE OFFERED IS THAT GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. THAT'S WHAT JESUS DID WHAT HE DID FOR, THAT'S WHAT GOD CREATED US FOR, THAT WE MIGHT SOMEHOW DO OUR PART AND THEN HIM HAVING DONE HIS PART WE MIGHT EQUAL AND ACTUALLY COME OUT WITH THE GREAT GIFT OF GOD AND THAT IS ETERNAL LIFE! WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT CONCEPT THEN WE CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TOGETHER IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. <br><br>

      WE KNOW THERE IN COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 1, WE SAW THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US THE GIFT OF REDEMPTION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND HE'S TRANSLATED US OUT OF DARKNESS OR SIN AND PUT US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS SON. AND IT'S WITHIN THAT KINGDOM THAT WE BEGAN TO LEARN THERE IN FIRST CORITHINIANS CHAPTER 15 THAT SOMEDAY AS A RECIPIENT OF THE KINGDOM OR A PART OF THE KINGDOM WE WILL BE DELIVERED BACK TO THE FATHER ON HIGH. <br><br>

      NOW WITH THAT IN MIND I WANT YOU TO NOTICE WHAT PAUL SAID TO THE ROMAN CHURCH IN A VERY FAMILIAR PASSAGE ABOUT THE GIFT OF GOD THAT WE HAVE. ROMANS CHAPTER 6 AND VERSE 23. HE FIRST SAYS THE WAGES OF DEATH, THE PAYMENT OF SIN IS DEATH. YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT PAYCHECKS AND SOMETIMES THE BONUS CAN BE A GREAT GIFT IF WE'VE DONE EXTRA WORK OR MAYBE WE WEREN'T EXPECTING A BONUS AND WE GET A BONUS FROM OUR EMPLOYEE. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT, THE WAGE AND WHAT WE ARE DUE YOU. AND EVEN MORE THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH. BUT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND NOTICE WHAT HE ADDS TO THAT, "BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD." SO JESUS AGAIN IS THE KEY BUT WHAT IS THE GIFT? THE GIFT IS THAT CONCEPT OF ETERNAL LIFE! <br><br>

      YOU KNOW, JESUS OFTEN SPOKE OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS THE LIFE. IN FACT IN JOHN 14 HE SAID HE WAS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, VERSE SIX, AND THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET TO THE FATHER WAS TO GO THROUGH JESUS. SO AS WE THINK ABOUT JESUS BEING THE LIFE, REALLY WHAT DID HE OFFER US? WELL WE KNOW THAT PHYSICAL EXISTENCE IS TEMPORARY AND WE KNOW WE WILL ONLY BE ON THE EARTH FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND SO CERTAINLY HE WASN'T JUST GIVING US A PHYSICAL LIFE BECAUSE PHYSICAL LIFE IS REALLY TEMPORARY. AND WE KNOW THAT ALL MEN WILL DIE AND BE JUDGED SO WHAT IS THE LIFE THAT JESUS GIVES US THAT IS BEYOND? IT IS ETERNAL LIFE AND THAT'S WHY IN JOHN CHAPTER 1 THAT HE ACTUALLY IS SPOKEN OF, THAT IS AGAIN CHRIST, AS THE LIFE AND THAT THE MESSAGE OF GOD IS WHAT? ETERNAL LIFE. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD. THAT'S THE GOAL SO THAT WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER, THIS TEMPORARY LIFE OF THE FLESH AND THE FLESH AND BLOOD NO LONGER EXIST, WHAT DO WE HAVE? SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE ETERNALLY. AND THAT IS WHAT GOD OFFERS, ETERNAL LIFE. AND HE DESCRIBES IT IN A WAY IN JOHN 14 AS WHAT? MANSIONS. IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION AS STREETS OF GOLD, AS HAVING A GATE THERE BEFORE YOUR HOUSE OR THE CITY THAT IS MADE OF A SINGULAR PEARL, A MASSIVE GATE, A VERY WEALTHY GATE. AND HE TALKS ABOUT ALL THE GLORIOUS THINGS IN HEAVEN. WE SEE AGAIN THE GIFT OF GOD. OH, THE GIFT OF GOD! NO MORE SORROW, NO TEARS, NO CRYING, NO DIFFICULTIES, NO PROBLEMS, NO HEALTH ISSUES. ALL IS PERFECT IN THAT PLACE, ETERNAL LIFE! LIVE FOREVER IN A PERFECT PARADISE, A PERFECT PLACE. WHAT COULD BE GREATER THAN KNOWING THAT THE PROMISE OF GOD IN CONNECTION TO HIS KINGDOM IS THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE? <br><br>

      AND SO THEN THE NEXT THING THAT I WOULD ASK US TO THINK ABOUT IS A QUESTION THAT WAS ACTUALLY ASKED OF JESUS IN SEVERAL OF THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS BUT WILL ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT WAS SAID THERE IN MATTHEW 19. AND IF YOU TURN THERE TO MATTHEW 19 NOTICE THIS QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED OF JESUS BY A YOUNG RULER WHO WAS VERY WEALTHY AND WHO HAD MUCH IN THIS LIFE. AND THERE IN THE VERSE IT SAYS THAT HE CAME TO JESUS AND HE SAYS GOOD TEACHER, IN WHAT THING OR THEREFORE FOR WHAT THING SHALL I DO TO HAVE GUESS WHAT? ETERNAL LIFE. HE SAYS I KNOW, HERE'S A YOUNG MAN. HE HAS EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD. HE HAS ALL THE PHYSICAL THINGS THAT HE COULD EVER WANT, BUT HE UNDERSTANDS THERE IS SOMETHING BEYOND LIFE. HE UNDERSTANDS THERE'S AN ETERNAL PROMISE, THERE'S A CONCEPT OF ETERNAL LIFE AND HE WANTS TO KNOW THAT WHEN I DIE I'M GOING TO BE WITH GOD ETERNALLY FOREVER. THAT MEANS NOT TEMPORARY BUT FOR AGE UPON AGE WITHOUT END. THERE IS NO END TO ETERNITY ONCE WE HAVE THAT LIFE ETERNAL. AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT HE IS SAYING, 'HOW DO I GET THAT ETERNAL LIFE? I KNOW I'M GONNA DIE. I KNOW I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED NOW. I KNOW I'M GONNA DIE. HOW AM I GONNA HAVE THAT LIFE THAT IS FOREVER AND EVER WITH YOU?' AND SO THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT HE IS ASKING HERE AND SO THAT IS THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK. AND WE CAN LOOK THERE AND CERTAINLY JESUS GOES ON TO SAY THAT YOU MUST KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. AND HE SAID, 'WELL, I'VE KEPT ALL THE COMMANDMENTS EVEN FROM MY YOUTH.' BUT THEN HE TELLS THEM ACTUALLY TO GO AND SELL ALL YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR. IF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, ONE OF THE BASIC TENANTS OF JUDAISM WAS BENEVOLENCE. IN FACT, ONE OF THE GREAT WORKS OF THE CHURCH IS ALSO BENEVOLENCE. THE KINGDOM OF GOD TODAY IS JUST AS UNDER THE OLD LAW. AND SO WE KNOW WHAT HIS PROBLEM WAS. HIS REAL ISSUE WAS REALLY BEING GENEROUS TO OTHERS WHO HAD NEEDS AND HE WASN'T WILLING TO DO WHAT JESUS PRACTICED. IN FACT, IT SAYS HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL. HE WAS SADDENED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT WILLING TO MAKE THAT SACRIFICE AND REALLY DO ALL THAT HE NEEDED TO DO TO HAVE WHAT? ETERNAL LIFE! NOW, IF HE UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS ETERNAL LIFE HE ALSO KNEW THERE WAS ETERNAL DEATH. SO HE KNEW THE OPPOSITE WOULD COME IF HE DID NOT DO WHAT HE SHOULD DO. IT IS SAD HOW THAT MANY IN THE WORLD TODAY WILL ACTUALLY CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW GOD KNOWING THE OUTCOME. MANY WHO BELIEVE IN GOD AND THEY WILL SAY THEY BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND THE CONCEPT OF HEAVEN. THEY BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE AND YET THE SAME BOOK TEACHES ABOUT THE LOST STATE OF MAN, THE DAMNATION OF MAN. AND YET THEY WILL STILL CHOOSE WHAT? THE TEMPORARY LIFE. THE BLESSINGS OF TEMPORARY LIFE RATHER THAN WHAT? THE REWARD OF ETERNAL LIFE. THAT IS NOT ONLY SAD, THAT'S CONFUSING. AND SO THEREFORE WE SAY WHAT MUST WE DO? WE NEED TO ASK THAT SAME QUESTION AS NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS. AS THOSE WHO NOW IN THE CHURCH WILL BE DELIVERED BACK TO THE FATHER SOMEDAY. AND A GREAT PLACE WE CAN GO TO DO THAT IS IN FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER 6. BECAUSE AS PAUL TALKED TO THE YOUNG EVANGELIST HE SAYS SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE IN THE LATTER PART OF CHAPTER SIX, FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER SIX, AND HE SAYS THEM IN THE CONTEXT OF SOMETHING THAT AN INDIVIDUAL STRIVES FOR. AND SO NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 12. HE SAYS, "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE." HE DOES'NT JUST MENTION ETERNAL LIFE. HE'S SHOWING THAT THERE IS AN ACTION, THERE'S AN EFFORT THAT MUST BE TAKEN. I LIKE THAT WORD LAY HOLD BECAUSE IT CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED TO TAKE HOLD, TO GRAB HOLD OF SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR CHILD DO SOMETHING THEY SHOULD NOT DO? AND YOU HAVE TO SAY NO! DON'T DO THAT! TO GRAB, TO LAY HOLD. AND THIS CONCEPT CAN MEAN A SEIZURE, TO SEE SOMEONE, WHETHER BEING A POSITIVE SENSE FOR MAYBE DISCIPLINE OR WHATEVER ELSE OR TO ENCOURAGE OR IN A NEGATIVE SENSE. TO SEIZE SOMEONE OR ARREST THEM AND PUT THEM IN JAIL. WELL, YOU SEE THAT CONCEPT, TO SEIZE; TO LAY HOLD OF WHAT? ETERNAL LIFE. THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A DIRECT AND A SPECIFIC INTENDED ACTION TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE. <br><br>

      AND SO THEN AGAIN WE MUST ASK THE QUESTION, SO WHAT IS THAT ACTION? WHAT IS REQUIRED? THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE SEEN IN THIS TEXT. HE'S JUST MENTIONED IN VERSE 12 FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. WHAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE FIGHT AGAINST THE MOST? SIN. AND WE JUST LOOKED AT THAT EARLIER, WAGE OF SIN AND DEATH. THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE. BUT IF YOU WILL BACK UP TO VERSE 11 WHAT HAS PAUL WARNED TIMOTHY ABOUT? HE SAYS, "O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS," THAT ARE WHAT? THAT ARE BAD! THAT ARE EVIL! AND IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU LOOK AT IT HE TALKS ABOUT THE LOVE OF MONEY, ABOUT RICHES, AND ABOUT THINGS THAT WILL BRING YOU DOWN AGAIN. THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAT WILL TAKE YOU FROM GOD. AND RATHER HE SAYS, HE SAYS FLEE THE THINGS THAT ARE BAD AND RATHER PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH AND LOVE PATIENCE AND GENTLENESS. SO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. HOW DO I FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT? TO LAY HOLD AND SEIZE ETERNAL LIFE? WELL, I MUST BE RIGHTEOUS, HAVE GODLINESS, HAVE FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, AND GENTLENESS IN ORDER THAT I MIGHT WHAT? VERSE 14 SAYS BE BLAMELESS, BLAMELESS IN KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. KIND OF SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO WHAT JESUS TOLD THE RICH YOUNG RULER. KEEP ALL THE COMMANDMENTS. 'OH, I'VE KEPT ALL THE COMMANDMENTS.' WELL THEN BE BENEVOLENT AND SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR. HE WAS NOT WILLING TO DO THAT. SEE, A LOT OF TIMES WE CAN LIKE TO PICK AND CHOOSE. WE SAY WELL, I WANT TO SEE WHAT I CAN GET BY WITH AND STILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. ARE WE REALLY WILLING TO SERVE GOD IN EVERY WAY THAT WE SHOULD? AND THEN IF YOU WILL GO DOWN GUESS WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 19 OF FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER 6? HE SAYS, "STORING UP FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE TIME TO COME THAT THEY MAY LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE." AND AGAIN YOU MIGHT SAY, 'OKAY, SO WHAT ELSE IS INVOLVED?' NOT JUST FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT AND STAYING AWAY FROM SIN AND TRYING TO LIVE AS I SHOULD. IT GOES ON TO SAY TO PUT MY TRUST, IN VERSE 17, AND WHAT I SHOULD TRUST IN? THE LIVING GOD. NOT RICHES BUT THE LIVING GOD THAT I MUST WHAT? VERSE 18, THAT I MUST DO GOOD. MY OBJECTIVE IS TO DO GOOD TOWARD GOD AND ALL MEN. THE WORKS THAT I DO ARE GOOD WORKS IN ORDER TO DO WHAT? SEIZE OF LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE. AND THEN IN VERSE 19 AS WE JUST READ HE SPEAKS ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, THE GOOD FOUNDATION. WE KNOW THE FOUNDATION IS JESUS, THE BEST FOUNDATION, BUT THEN WHAT DO WE DO? WE BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION. SO ARE WE NOT THEN A PART OF THE FOUNDATION? A PART OF THE BUILDING THAT MAKES UP WHAT WE NEED TO BE IN ORDER TO BE SERVANTS OF GOD, FAITHFUL IN HIS SIGHT? CERTAINLY WE ARE. AND THEREFORE THOSE THINGS AFFECT WHETHER WE DO OR DO NOT LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE. <br><br>

      SO I CHALLENGE US TODAY, OBVIOUSLY AS THOSE WHO LOVE GOD OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T BE SPENDING THE TIME THAT WE ARE TOGETHER TO WORSHIP OUR GOD. BUT AS THOSE WHO GOD LOVES. I CHALLENGE US ALL TO CONSIDER WHAT ARE WE DOING TO LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE? TO SEIZE ETERNAL LIFE? WHAT ACTIONS ARE WE TAKING? ARE WE DOING WHAT WE SHOULD DO? ARE WE SAYING WHAT WE SHOULD SAY? ARE WE THINKING WHAT WE SHOULD THINK? ARE WE GROWING IN A WAY THAT WE SHOULD GROW? ARE WE DOING WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO? ARE WE OBEYING THOSE COMMANDMENTS? AND THEREFORE KNOWING THAT WE HAD THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE. PRAISE GOD IF SO! BUT IF NOT REPENT AND CORRECT YOUR LIFE. FULLY SUBMIT TO GOD THAT YOU MIGHT NOT ONLY LAY HOLD OF THE GREAT BLESSINGS AND PROMISES OF THIS LIFE BUT YOU MIGHT ALSO LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST BENEFIT THAT YOU COULD EVER KNOW FOR EVER AND EVER! <br><br>

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CLOSING COMMENTS<br><br>

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      LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM. I HOPE AND TRUST, THAT TOGETHER WE HAVE ALL BENEFITED FROM THIS SERVICE TO OUR LORD. LET ME ALSO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US EVERY LORD'S DAY MORNING AT 730 AS WE GIVE THIS TIME TO OUR CREATOR. <br><br> 

      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 CD 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:     <br><br>   

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      ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO STUDY ABOUT HEAVEN? WHAT A GLORIOUS BLESSING ETERNAL LIFE WILL BE FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE RECEPIENTS TO GOD'S BLESSING AND PROMISES, THUS BEING FOUND FAITHFUL IN THE END. THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS COMPLETE LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY BY WHICH WE ARE ULTIMATELY SAVED! <br><br>

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