THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT     <br><br>     

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 8-26-18     <br><br>     

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LESSON TITLE: “THE KINGDOM IN PATTERN”     <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>     

      THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY MORNING. IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THIS TIME OF OFFERING TO GOD. WE WELCOME YOU TO THIS SERVICE FOR OUR CREATOR. TODAY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TOGETHER TO WORSHIP AND PRAISE OUR GOD. THIS MORNING WE WILL GLORIFY OUR LORD THROUGH SONGS OF PRAISE AND THROUGH THE STUDY OF HIS PERFECT WORD. WON’T YOU DO YOUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME TOGETHER ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT? NOW, LET’S BEGIN OUR PRAISE TO GOD IN PRAYER.     <br><br>      

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE. WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY BLESSING FOR WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS COME FROM YOU FATHER, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL. AND FATHER, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR PROMISE AND WE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH AND ENDURE IN THIS LIFE AND HAVE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED AND TO BE BLESSED. AND ULTIMATELY THAT WE'LL AS WELL HAVE THE GREAT REWARD OF HEAVEN IN THE END. WE THANK YOU THAT ALL THIS IS POSSIBLE THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST AND THE GREAT, GREAT SACRIFICE THAT HE MADE ON THE CROSS AS WELL AS HIS RESURRECTION. AND THESE THINGS WE PRAY IN HIS NAME, AMEN.      <br><br>     

      THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD IS THE SACRIFICE WHICH JESUS GAVE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. THIS MORNING WE WANT TO SING A SONG WHICH REMINDS US OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS TO US ALL! SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE BRETHREN AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER, “THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD.”     <br><br>     

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS     <br><br>     

      JAMES ASKED A QUESTION IN CHAPTER 3 AND VERSE 13 OF HIS BOOK. THERE HE SAID, “WHO IS WISE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG YOU?” OH, TO BE WISE! USUALLY WHEN WE THINK OF WISDOM WE THINK OF SUCCESS, POWER, OR CONTROL, BUT REALLY THIS IS NOT WHAT WE FIND IN THE BIBLE.  OUR SOCIETY HAS TAUGHT US THAT WISDOM IS OF THIS WORLD, BUT AGAIN THIS IS NOT WHAT WE FIND IN GOD’S WORD. IN FACT, THE VERY OPPOSITE IS TRUE. IN THE SAME VERSE THAT WE READ EARLIER, JAMES WENT ON TO SAY, “LET HIM SHOW BY GOOD CONDUCT THAT HIS WORKS ARE DONE IN THE MEEKNESS OF WISDOM.” DOES THIS SOUND LIKE POWER AND CONTROL? THE INSPIRED JAMES SAID THAT GOOD CONDUCT, GOOD WORKS, AND GENTLENESS ARE A PART OF WHAT TRUE WISDOM CONSISTS OF. IN THE SAME CHAPTER, JAMES CONTINUES HIS THOUGHTS IN VERSES 14-18, WHERE HE GOES ON TO CONFIRM THAT TRUE WISDOM IS OF GOD AND NOT OF EARTHLY THINGS.      <br><br>      

      WHEN WE FOCUS ON GOD AND HIS WILL, WE START DOWN THE ROAD TO BECOMING WISE. TRUE WISDOM COMES FROM NOT ONLY KNOWING WHAT GOD SAYS AND WHAT HE WANTS, BUT BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE WHAT HE SAYS AND WANTS IN OUR EVERYDAY ACTION. YOU SEE WISDOM IS REALLY LEARNING TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, IN CHRIST JESUS.      <br><br>     

      NOW BACK TO POWER. SOLOMON SAID THIS IN PROVERBS 24:5, “A WISE MAN IS STRONG, YES, A MAN OF KNOWLEDGE INCREASES STRENGTH.” HERE WE SEE THAT STRENGTH AND POWER ARE AN OUTCOME OF TRUE GODLY WISDOM, BUT THEY DO NOT PRODUCE WISDOM IN AND OF THEMSELVES. WE ALSO FURTHER SEE THE EXTENT OF THE STRENGTH OF WISDOM IN CHAPTER 12 AND VERSE 18, OF THE SAME BOOK. THERE SOLOMON SAID, “THERE IS ONE WHO SPEAKS LIKE THE PIERCING OF A SWORD, BUT THE TONGUE OF THE WISE PROMOTES HEALTH.” OVER AND OVER IN THE BIBLE WE SEE THIS SAME IDEA BEING PROMOTED, HOW A WISE MAN ACCOMPLISHES GOOD AND PROMOTES HEALTH, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE FOOLISH CHOOSE TO REJECT GOD’S WISDOM FOR THE WORLD’S WISDOM. IT IS THIS SAME SOLOMON WHO PRAYED TO GOD FOR WISDOM, TO LEAD GOD’S PEOPLE PROPERLY.      <br><br>     

      LET’S READ TOGETHER, 2 CHRONICLES 1:7-12,  SO WE CAN SEE HOW THIS GREAT STORY UNFOLDED. “ON THAT NIGHT GOD APPEARED TO SOLOMON, AND SAID TO HIM, ‘ASK! WHAT SHALL I GIVE YOU?’ AND SOLOMON SAID TO GOD: ‘YOU HAVE SHOWN GREAT MERCY TO DAVID MY FATHER, AND HAVE MADE ME KING IN HIS PLACE. NOW, O LORD GOD, LET YOUR PROMISE TO DAVID MY FATHER BE ESTABLISHED, FOR YOU HAVE MADE ME KING OVER A PEOPLE LIKE THE DUST OF THE EARTH IN MULTITUDE.  NOW GIVE ME WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, THAT I MAY GO OUT AND COME IN BEFORE THIS PEOPLE; FOR WHO CAN JUDGE THIS GREAT PEOPLE OF YOURS?’  AND GOD SAID TO SOLOMON: ‘BECAUSE THIS WAS IN YOUR HEART, AND YOU HAVE NOT ASKED RICHES OR WEALTH OR HONOR OR THE LIFE OF YOUR ENEMIES, NOR HAVE YOU ASKED LONG LIFE; BUT HAVE ASKED WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE FOR YOURSELF, THAT YOU MAY JUDGE MY PEOPLE OVER WHOM I HAVE MADE YOU KING;  WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE ARE GRANTED TO YOU; AND I WILL GIVE YOU RICHES AND WEALTH AND HONOR, SUCH AS NONE OF THE KINGS HAVE HAD WHO WERE BEFORE YOU, NOR SHALL ANY AFTER YOU HAVE THE LIKE.’” NOW I HOPE YOU ARE BEGINNING TO SEE WHAT GOD’S WISDOM IS LIKE! ALSO NOTICE THE GREAT REWARDS FROM GOD IN RESPONSE TO ONE PROVING THEIR WISDOM BEFORE HIM.      <br><br>     

      ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF GOD’S WISDOM IS FOUND IN JOSHUA 24:15, WHEN HE CONFRONTED THE PEOPLE AS TO WHETHER THEY WOULD SERVE GOD OR REJECT HIM.  NOTICE WHAT JOSHUA SAID IN THIS VERSE, “AND IF IT SEEMS EVIL TO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE GODS WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, OR THE GODS OF THE AMORITES, IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” HERE WE SEE TRUE GODLY WISDOM. PUTTING THE CREATOR ABOVE EVERYTHING AND ANYONE ELSE.  STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD AND NOT THIS EARTH.      <br><br>     

      THIS MORNING WE WILL CONSIDER OUR NEXT LESSON IN OUR SERIES ENTITLED, “AND TRANSFERRED US INTO THE KINGDOM...”  OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC OF STUDY TODAY WILL DEAL WITH “THE KINGDOM IN PATTERN!” SO PLEASE STAY WITH US THROUGH OUR NEXT SONG AND AFTER THAT I WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. NOW IT’S TIME TO JOIN IN OUR SECOND HYMN OF THE MORNING, THE NAME OF THE SONG, “I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.”      <br><br>     

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LESSON     <br><br>     

RAY SULLINS     <br><br>     

      THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING WITH US THIS DAY AS WE NOW GO TO GOD'S WORD AND LOOK AT ANOTHER GREAT LESSON FROM THAT PASSAGE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US CONCERNING HIS CHURCH. AND THAT IS THE TRUE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE DEAR SON OF HIS LOVE, COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE 13. TOGETHER WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CHURCH AND AN OVERALL IDEA OF NOT ONLY IT'S PROPHECY BUT IT'S COMING TO FRUITION AND BEING ESTABLISHED. WE HAVE LOOKED AT A LOT OF GREAT LESSONS TOGETHER AND BEING ABLE TO COMPREHEND REALLY THAT AFTER THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED THAT IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE GRABBED HOLD OF AND WANTED TO BE A PART OF AND THEY BEGAN TO PRACTICE THOSE THINGS WHICH THE APOSTLES HAD COMMANDED THEM BY AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND SO TODAY WE WILL BEGIN TO ALSO, AS WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES, LOOK AT A LOT OF LESSONS ON THE PATTERN ITSELF. AND THE FACT THAT WE SEE THAT THE CHURCH CONTINUED STEADFASTLY AND THEY BEGAN TO PRACTICE WHAT IT WAS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT THEY SHOULD DO BY EXAMPLE AND COMMAND. THEN WHAT WE WILL BEGIN TO DO IS LOOK AT DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAT REALLY ARE A PART OF THE PATTERN GIVEN THAT COMMAND AN EXAMPLE THAT WE SEE PRACTICED.      <br><br>     

      AND THE FIRST THING THAT WE WILL START WITH IS VERY SIMPLE AND THAT IS THE CONCEPT OF WORSHIP. I THINK ANYONE WITH A COMMON SENSE OF ANY LEVEL WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WORSHIP WOULD BE REQUIRED OF A GOD. WHY WOULD GOD MAKE US WITHOUT ANY SORT OF BENEFIT FOR HIMSELF? AND SO WORSHIP IS REALLY OUR RESPONSE TO GOD TO SHOW HIM A WILLINGNESS TO MAKE COMMITMENT OR SACRIFICE OR TO REVERE HIM TO HOMAGE, TO SHOW THAT GLORY OR PRAISE THAT IS WORTHY OF AND SO IT'S AN ABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY THAT MAN HAS TO REALLY RESPOND TO THE GREAT GIFTS OF A CREATOR OR GOD AND THEREFORE, TO SHOW HIS COMMITMENT OR HIS ALLEGIANCE TO SUCH. THEREFORE, AS WE ARE THOSE WHO WORSHIP GOD, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A CLEAR COMMAND AND PRECEDENT SET IN SCRIPTURE FOR WORSHIP. IF WE LIVED UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT TIME, WE COULD GO TO THE OLD TESTAMENT AND WE COULD LOOK AT THE PENTATEUCH AND WE COULD SEE VERY CLEARLY WHAT WAS REQUIRED FOR WORSHIP AND WHAT ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IN ORDER TO WORSHIP AND MAKE LITERAL PHYSICAL SACRIFICES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. HOW THEY WERE TO APPROACH THE PRIEST AND WHAT THEY WERE TO DO AND WHEN DURING THE YEAR AND WHAT TIMES AND HOW THEY WERE TO BE DONE AND HOW THE SACRIFICES WERE TO BE CHOSEN AND MADE AND HOW ALL THE DETAILS WERE SO IMPORTANT.      <br><br>     

      WELL, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WE CERTAINLY NOW ARE UNDER CHRIST AND WE'RE NO LONGER UNDER THE OLD LAW AS WE HAVE SEEN WHEN THAT WHICH IS NEW HAS COME THE OLD HAS BEEN MADE OBSOLETE, THERE IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 8 AND VERSE 13, AND THEREFORE, AS WE ARE UNDER THE NEW COVENANT WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE COMMANDMENTS THAT ARE GIVEN ACCORDING TO WHAT? THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE. ISN'T THAT WHAT WE BEGAN TO SEE EVEN IN ACTS CHAPTER 2? VERY EARLY ON WHAT THEY BEGAN TO PRACTICE, THE THINGS THAT THEY LEARN FROM THE APOSTLE'S BY AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT SUCH AS AGAIN FELLOWSHIP AND AS WE WILL ADD THERE THIS MORNING THE CONCEPT OF THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND PRAYERS. I'D LIKE TO START AT THE CONCEPT OF PRAYERS HERE FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S JUST COMMON SENSE AGAIN! BASIC STUFF. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW GOD TALKS TO US IT IS THROUGH HIS WORD. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITY AND THE METHOD GOD GIVES US TO SPEAK TO HIM IT'S PRAYER. AND SO WE CAN GO THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT AND WE CAN EVEN GO THROUGHOUT MANY OF THE GREAT INDIVIDUALS AND HEROES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND WHAT DID THEY DO TO WORSHIP GOD? THEY PRAYED TO GOD. PRAYERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF COMMUNICATION AND WORSHIP AND TELLING GOD WHAT WE THINK...WHAT WE NEED OR ADORING HIM AND LIFTING UP HIS NAME. AND SO WHY WOULD IT BE SO STRANGE THAT TODAY WE ALSO SEE PRAYER WITHIN WORSHIP AND THAT WE SEE CHURCHES PRAYING FOR OTHER CHURCHES OR PRAYING FOR BRETHREN OR PRAYING FOR HELP FROM GOD OR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING OR PRAYERS OF ADORATION LIFTING UP THE NAME OF GOD? CERTAINLY PRAYER IS AN INTRICATE PART OF A CHRISTIAN'S LIFE. IT IS AN INTRICATE PART OF A CHRISTIAN'S INDIVIDUAL WORSHIP AND AS AN INTRICATE PART OF THE COLLECTIVE WORSHIP OR FORMAL WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH. THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, CERTAINLY WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO PRAY AS WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD.      <br><br>     

      THE OTHER THING THAT IS MENTIONED THERE IS THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND I WANT YOU TO NOTICE WITH ME THAT IN THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE BREAKING OF BREAD THAT IT DOES DISTINGUISH IT FROM JUST COMMON MEALS BECAUSE LATER IN VERSE 46 OF ACTS CHAPTER 2 IT SAYS THAT THEY WERE CONTINUING DAILY FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND BREAKING BREAD. WHICH IS A MUCH DIFFERENT CONCEPT IN THE SPIRITUAL CONCEPT OF THOSE HAVING BEEN BAPTIZED CONTINUING IN THE APOSTLES’ DAILY DOCTRINES OR TEACHINGS, FELLOWSHIP, PRAYERS, AND BREAKING OF BREAD. THAT'S THE SPIRITUAL BREAKING OF BREAD. AND THAT'S THE PATTERN THAT JESUS LAID DOWN IN THREE OF THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF WHEN HE ASSEMBLED WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND HE SAID NO LONGER IS THIS PASSOVER FEAST TO BE A MEMORIAL ABOUT THINGS OF OLD OR EGYPT. NOW IT'S GOING TO BE A MEMORIAL OF MY DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESSURECTION. IT IS GOING TO REMIND YOU OF THE BODY THAT I GAVE ON THE CROSS AND THE BLOOD THAT I SHED AND GAVE ON THE CROSS. THE VERY LIFE I SACRIFICED FOR YOU. AND SO WE SEE THAT AND THEN INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH AS WE MOVE OVER TO THE BOOK OF CORINTHIANS IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11 WE THEN SEE IN EXAMPLE AND PRACTICE THE CHURCH AT CORINTH BEING TOLD BY PAUL TO GUESS WHAT? PARTAKE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. IN FACT IN CHAPTER 11, HE ACTUALLY IS REBUKING THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABUSING IT LIKE A COMMON MEAL. AND HE SAID, DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER YOU ARE PARTAKING OF THE BODY AND THEREFORE YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU PARTAKE AND THAT YOU PARTAKE IT IN THE MANNER, VERSES 23 THROUGH 26, THAT JESUS ASCRIBED WHEN HE WAS WITH HIS APOSTLES. AND DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE PARTAKING OF THE BLOOD THAT YOU MIGHT EVEN BE DRINKING DAMNATION TO YOURSELF IF YOU'RE NOT WHAT? IF YOU'RE NOT DOING SUCH ACCORDING TO THE PLAN. THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH WAS CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINES AND THEY WERE PARTAKING OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. WHEN? EVERY FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WITHIN THE BOOK OF ACTS ONCE AGAIN AS PAUL DEALS WITH THE BRETHREN THERE AT EPHESUS AND IN RELATIONSHIP TO HIM COMING TO EVEN TRAOS, WE FIND THERE THAT HE DOES WHAT? ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IT SAYS, VERSE SEVEN, THAT HE GATHERS WITH THE BRETHREN AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER AS DISCIPLES AND THEY CAME TOGETHER TO GUESS WHAT? BREAK BREAD. THEY CAME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER THAT FEAST. AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS A CONCEPT HERE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF A CONTINUAL THING. THIS WAS A REGULAR THING. THEY WERE GATHERING WHEN? FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. THEY WERE SINGING PRAISES TO GOD WHEN? FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. THEY WERE PRAYING TO GOD WHEN? FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. THEY WERE STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD WHEN? THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. THEY WERE PARTAKING OF THE LORD'S SUPPER WHEN? FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.      <br><br>     

      WELL, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS, AND CERTAINLY THEY ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY SHOW US THAT PAUL DID THAT. AND THEN EVEN IN THE SAME TEXT AS THEY GATHERED WHAT IS ANOTHER THING THEY DID BESIDES PRAYER AND PARTAKING OF THE LORD'S SUPPER OR THE BREAKING OF BREAD? IT SAYS HE PREACHED TO THEM. AND SO PREACHING OR THE DECLARATION OF THE MESSAGE OF GOD'S WORD IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT ONE HEARS WHAT GOD SAYS TO THEM THROUGH THE WORD FROM A HERALD OR A PREACHER OF THE TRUTH. SO WE SEE THE HERALD OR THE MESSENGER PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE FORMAL GATHERING OF THE CHURCH. WE SEE THE LORD'S SUPPER BEING PARTAKING OF EACH AND EVERY FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AND AS WELL WE SEE THE CONCEPT OF PRAYER BEING USED.     <br><br>      

      WE ALSO KNOW ABOUT GIVING. WE KNOW THERE THAT PAUL GAVE ORDER TO THE CHURCHES OF CORINTH JUST LIKE TO THE CHURCH AT GALATIA OVER IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 16. AND THE COMMAND THAT HE GAVE THEM WAS AN IMPORTANT COMMAND BECAUSE IT WAS THE VERY THING THAT WOULD HELP TO FULFILL THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IN EVANGELISM, IN BENEVOLENCE, AND IN MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE FULFILLING ALL OF THOSE CENTRAL KEY CONCEPTS: EVANGELISM, BENEVOLENCE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT. THAT'S THE WORK OF THE CHURCH. AND SO AS WE LOOK THERE HE SAYS, “ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK,” SAME TERMINOLOGY USED, AS YOU GATHER ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, EACH AND EVERY FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, “LET EACH ONE OF YOU LAY SOMETHING ASIDE, STORING UP AS HE MAY PROSPER, THAT THERE BE NO COLLECTIONS WHEN I COME.” EVERY FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK GIVE. I'VE ALWAYS FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT SO MANY DENOMINATIONAL GROUPS ALWAYS REQUIRE GIVING EVERY FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. AND THE SAME WORDING THAT IS USED FOR GIVING IS APPLIED IN ACTS 20 AND VERSE SEVEN TO THE BREAKING OF BREAD. NOW WHY WOULD THEY WANT ONE OVER THE OTHER? ONE’S ABOUT THEIR BANK ACCOUNT, THE OTHERS ABOUT SPIRITUAL THINGS. YOU SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE BE CONSISTENT? THAT WE DO WHAT GOD SAYS? YES, THEY HEARD THE WORD OF GOD. YES, THEY PRAYED TO GOD. YES, THEY GAVE OF THEIR MEANS. AND YES, THEY PARTOOK OF THE LORD'S SUPPER AS THEY GATHERED AT THE CHURCH ON THE LORD'S DAY. EACH AND EVERY LORD'S DAY THAT THEY MIGHT WORSHIP GOD.      <br><br>     

      BUT ANOTHER THING THAT'S NOT STRANGE TO ANY OF US IS THAT THEY WOULD SING TO WORSHIP GOD, OLD COVENANT AND NEW COVENANT. AND CERTAINLY SINGING IS AT THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL. WHAT IS THE PRAISING OF GOD THROUGH SONG? WE HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES GIVEN TO US. FIRST OF ALL, IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5 AND VERSE 19 AS HE TOLD THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS TO, “SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS.” IT'S A COLLECTIVE REFLEXIVE ACTION. YOU TO ME AND ME TO YOU COLLECTIVELY AT THE SAME TIME ACCORDING TO THE TENSE USED IN THE GREEK. AND IT SAYS HERE THEY WERE DOING SO FROM THE HEART MAKING MELODY TO THE LORD. I REALLY LIKE ALSO HOW PAUL TO THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH REALLY HAS A PARALLEL ACCOUNT AS HE TOLD THE BRETHREN AT COLOSSI. COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3 VERSE 16, “LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM.” WISDOM HOW? “TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD.” BUT I LOVE VERSE 17 AS WELL BECAUSE AS HE'S TALKING ABOUT WORSHIP, SINGING IN WORSHIP FROM THE HEART WITH OUR MOUTHS SPEAKING TO GOD ONE TO ANOTHER ALL OFFERING OUR OWN WORSHIP NOT BEING ENTERTAINED, NOT SOMEBODY WORSHIPING FOR ME. NOTICE WHAT VERSE 17 SAYS, “AND WHATEVER YOU DO…” WHATEVER...THAT INCLUDES IT ALL, “WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.” DO ALL BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE LORD JESUS. DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LAW. WHEN A POLICEMAN TELLS YOU DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LAW, I'VE GOT AUTHORITY BY THE LAW, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. AND WHAT IS SEEN HERE IS BY THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST.      <br><br>     

      DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS? SO LET'S, IN PATTERN, FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND SING PRAISES TO GOD FROM OUR HEART WITH OUR MOUTHS COLLECTIVELY AT THE SAME TIME! LET'S HEAR THE PREACHING OF GOD'S WORD! LET'S GIVE OF OUR MEANS! LET'S ALSO PRAY TOGETHER AND PARTAKE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER! LET'S ALL DO ALL THAT IS COMMANDED THAT WE, AS THEY DID IN THE FIRST CENTURY, MIGHT CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN THE TEACHINGS OF THE APOSTLES WHICH WERE GIVEN TO THEM NO DOUBT DIRECTLY BY AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT GOD HIMSELF. BECAUSE GOD IS THE ONE THAT WE WANT TO PLEASE AND YOU AND I ARE NO STRANGERS TO THE BLESSINGS OF GOD. WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE PLEASE GOD, WHEN WE GET IT RIGHT, WHEN WE DO WHAT HE ASKS, HE'S GOING TO BLESS US TODAY AND GIVE US ALL THAT WE NEED. AND MORE THAN THAT HE'S GOING TO BLESS US ETERNALLY AND PREPARE FOR US A MANSION IN HEAVEN SOMEDAY WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER.     <br><br>     

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      CLOSING COMMENTS   <br><br>   

      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 7:30 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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    MAY WE ALL AS CHRISTIANS FOLLOW THE PATTERN FOR WORSHIP WHICH IS GIVEN TO GOD.  WHY NOT SUBMIT TO A PERFECT PLAN FROM A PERFECT GOD?  THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS COMPLETE WILL WHICH IS FOUND IN THE BIBLE. MAY WE ALL FULLY OBEY IT.

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