THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT <BR><BR>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 5-16-2021<BR><BR>

<BR><BR>

LESSON TITLE: WHAT SHALL I DO? – FAITHFULNESS UNTIL DEATH  <BR><BR>

<BR><BR>

WELCOME <BR><BR>

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,	I SHALL NOT WANT.

THE QUESTION FOR	YOU THIS MORNING,

WHO IS YOUR SHEPHERD ON	THIS WONDROUS LORD'S DAY?

WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT IS	GOD AND THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US

AS HIS CHILD THAT WE MIGHT	WORSHIP BEFORE HIS THRONE.

AS FOLLOWERS OF	GOD, WE ARE BLESSED

TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE	THIS TO PRAISE OUR CREATOR

AND TO DO ALL THOSE	THINGS AS HE HAS COMMANDED

ACCORDING TO HIS PERFECT WILL.

THE QUESTION AGAIN	MIGHT BE FOR US,

ARE WE WILLING TO DO	OUR PART THIS MORNING

TO MAKE ALL THAT WE	DO AND ALL THAT WE SAY

ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT AND	ACCORDING TO HIS PERFECT WILL?

AS WE BEGIN OUR OFFERING	TO OUR GOD THIS MORNING,

WILL YOU BOW WITH ME BEFORE	HIS THRONE IN PRAYER? <BR><BR>

PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN	HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR THIS DAY AND	EVERY DAY OF LIFE.

FATHER, WE KNOW THAT	YOU HAVE GIVEN US

ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS	AND ALL PHYSICAL BLESSINGS.

AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU	FOR THIS TIME OF WORSHIP.

MAY WE BE RIGHT IN YOUR	SIGHT AND MIGHT WE DO

ALL THOSE THINGS	ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL

THAT WE MIGHT BE	FOUND ACCEPTABLE

AND THEREFORE BE BLESSED	NOW AND ETERNALLY.

AND FATHER, WE KNOW THAT	THESE THINGS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE

THROUGH THE GREATEST	OF ALL GIFTS

GIVEN THROUGH JESUS	CHRIST OUR LORD.

AND IT'S IN HIS	NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <BR><BR>

WHAT BETTER WAY TO WORSHIP	GOD THIS MORNING THAN IN SONG.

SO AT THIS TIME	LET'S JOIN TOGETHER

IN THE FIRST HYMN OF THE DAY,

A SONG THAT MIGHT	HELP US TO UNDERSTAND

HOW PRECIOUS JESUS IS TO US.

THE NAME OF THE SONG,	"BLESSED REDEEMER." <BR><BR>

<BR><BR>

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<BR><BR>

<BR><BR>

THINK OF ALL THE PHYSICAL NEEDS	THAT WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS,	NECESSITIES THAT WE NEED

IN ORDER JUST TO SURVIVE.

WE NEED, FOR INSTANCE,	FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING.

AND GOD HAS SAID HE WILL PROVIDE	ALL OF THESE THINGS FOR US.

IT IS OFTEN SURPRISING	TO ME THAT MANY

WHO CLAIM TO LOVE AND	FOLLOW GOD DON'T SEEM

TO HAVE THE FAITH THAT	HE REALLY WILL PROVIDE

AND TAKE CARE OF US.

I'M NOT SURE AS TO WHETHER	THEY THINK GOD IS UNABLE,

OR IF THEY THINK THAT	HE JUST DOESN'T CARE.

BUT THE REALITY IS,	BOTH OF THESE IDEAS

ARE FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

WASN'T IT JESUS HIMSELF THAT	MADE THE GREAT STATEMENT

DURING THE SERMON ON THE	MOUNT THAT WE READ THAT SAYS,

"NOW IF GOD SO CLOTHED	THE GRASS OF THE FIELD,

WHICH TODAY IS AND TOMORROW	IS THROWN IN THE OVEN,

HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE CLOTHE	YOU, O, YOU OF LITTLE FAITH?"

WE READ THAT IN MATTHEW	CHAPTER SIX AND VERSE 30.

DID YOU GET ALL OF THAT?

IF GOD LOVES THIS	WORLD WHICH HE CREATED

AND THE THINGS OF IT, AND IF	HE CARES FOR THOSE THINGS,

HOW MUCH MORE WOULD	HE THEN CARE FOR US,

THOSE WHO ARE MADE IN HIS OWN	IMAGE AND HIS OWN LIKENESS,

HIS OWN CREATION, THAT	WE MIGHT BE HIS CHILDREN?

YOU SEE, OUR GOD IS A	GOD WHO NOT ONLY MADE US

BUT PLACED WITHIN	US A LIVING SOUL.

DOWN LATER IN THE SAME	TEXT, VERSES 32 AND 33,

I WANT YOU ALSO TO NOTICE	WHAT JESUS GOES ON TO TELL US,

THAT WE NEED TO STOP	WORRYING LIKE THE GENTILES.

THERE WE READ, "ALL THINGS	WILL BE ADDED UNTO THEM."

YOU SEE WHAT THESE VERSES SAY?

FOR THE GENTILES WERE	SEEKING AFTER MANY THINGS.

AND THEY REALLY	SEEMED TO QUESTION

THAT THE HEAVENLY FATHER	WOULD CARE FOR THEM.

BUT WHAT DO WE READ	THERE IN VERSE 33?

"SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM	OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

AND ALL OF THESE THINGS	SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU."

JOHN ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE	LOVE AND THE CARE OF OUR GOD

WHEN HE SAID, "NOW,	THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE

THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT	IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING

TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US.

AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE	HEARS US, WHATEVER WE ASK,

WE KNOW THAT WE	HAVE THE PETITIONS

THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM."

FIRST JOHN CHAPTER	FIVE, VERSES 14 AND 15.

SO LET ME ENCOURAGE US ALL	TO TURN TOWARD GOD TODAY

AND TO HAVE THE FULL CONFIDENCE	AND THE FULL ASSURANCE

IN HIS CONSTANT LOVE AND CARE	AND BLESSINGS AND PROMISES.

MY FRIENDS, GOD IS	REAL, HE DOES CARE,

AND HE WILL ALWAYS DO	WHAT HE PROMISES FOR US.

HE'LL NEVER LET US DOWN.

THE QUESTION MIGHT BE FOR US,

ARE WE WILLING TO DO OUR PART?

ARE WE WILLING TO SERVE GOD?

ARE WE WILLING TO	PUT HIS KINGDOM

AND RIGHTEOUSNESS	FIRST IN ALL THINGS?

IF SO, THEN CERTAINLY	WE'LL BE BLESSED BY GOD.

BUT IF NOT, WHY NOT TODAY	DO WHAT GOD HAS COMMANDED

THAT YOU MIGHT BE FOUND	FULLY PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT

AND RECEIVE THE MANY GIFTS	THAT YOUR CREATOR HAS PROMISED?<BR><BR>

<BR><BR>

LESSON <BR><BR>

BY RAY SULLINS <BR><BR>

<BR><BR>

WE ARE SO THANKFUL	THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED

WITH US THIS MORNING.

NOW AS WE GO TO GOD'S WORD	AND LOOK AT ANOTHER LESSON,

IN RELATIONSHIP TO REALLY	NOT ONLY BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

AS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT	IT NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS,

BUT ALSO WHAT WE THEN	DO AS A CHRISTIAN.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN	ABLE TO, I THINK,

CLEARLY ESTABLISH	FROM THE BIBLE,

NOT WHAT WE THINK OR FEEL,	BUT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE EVERY	LESSON HAD BEEN WELL PRESENTED

WITH THE COMMANDMENTS OF	GOD BY DIRECT SCRIPTURE

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,	AS WELL AS EXAMPLES

OF SUCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,	CONCERNING CONVERSION.

AND WE'VE SEEN TOGETHER THAT	THE REACTION THAT SOMEONE

WHO HEARS THE WORD HAS	TO BE BECOME A BELIEVER,

AND BELIEVING IS ALL	ABOUT THEN TAKING ACTION

IN RELATIONSHIP TO	WHAT GOD HAS SAID.

AND SO ONCE YOU BELIEVE,	THE QUESTION IS,

ARE YOU WILLING TO CONFESS	THAT BELIEF BEFORE MEN?

AND THEN ONCE YOU	CONFESS THAT BELIEF

THAT JESUS IS THE	CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD,

THEN THE QUESTION MIGHT	BE, ARE YOU WILLING

TO REPENT AND FURTHER SERVE GOD,

LEAVING THE WORLD	AND SIN TO SERVE WHO?

TO SERVE YOUR CREATOR.

BUT THEN LAST WEEK WE ALSO	SAW THE NEED FOR BAPTISM.

AND BAPTISM IS SIGNIFICANT	BECAUSE IT IS THAT MOMENT

WHEN SOMEONE LITERALLY IS BURIED

AS CHRIST WAS BURIED AND	THEN RISES FROM THE GRAVE

AS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE	GRAVE ON THE THIRD DAY.

THE SYMBOLISM IS THAT WE	DIE TO THE OLD MAN OF SIN

AND WE RISE TO	THAT NEW CREATION.

IN FACT, READ	ROMANS CHAPTER SIX,

AND THEN YOU EXPLAIN TO	ME WHY THAT'S NOT SO.

BUT UNDERSTANDING ALL OF THAT,

I THINK SOME PEOPLE	THEN SAY, "OKAY,

WELL, I HAVE CONFESSED THE	NAME OF JESUS AND REPENTED

AND I'VE BEEN BAPTIZED,	AND SO I'M SAVED."

WELL, YES, YOU ARE SAVED.

YOU'RE ADDED BY	GOD TO HIS CHURCH.

HOWEVER, WHAT	ABOUT FAITHFULNESS?

A LOT OF TIMES WE FORGET	THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TO DO.

AND THE REASON THAT THAT	IS THE CASE IS BECAUSE MANY

IN THE DENOMINATIONAL	WORLD BASICALLY

HAVE PROMOTED FALSE	DOCTRINES AND ERRORS

THAT TEACH THE OPPOSITE	OF WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS,

THAT TEACH ONCE I	HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS

OR ONCE I BECOME A CHRISTIAN,

THERE'S NOTHING THAT	I CAN DO TO BE LOST.

SOMETIMES THEY TEACH	DOCTRINES LIKE PREDESTINATION.

GOD'S ALREADY CHOSEN ME	SO NOTHING THAT I CAN DO

OR EVER REALLY	ACCOMPLISH CHANGES

WHAT GOD ALREADY DETERMINED.

I'M SAVED OR LOST	BASED ON WHAT GOD

ALREADY PREDESTINED IN MY LIFE.

HOW SAD, HOW SAD,	BECAUSE EVERY EXAMPLE

THAT WE'VE STUDIED TOGETHER	AND EVERY VERSE IS A RESPONSE

OF SOMEONE TO DO WHAT GOD SAYS.

AND SO BEING A CHRISTIAN	MEANS HAVING FAITH,

AND FAITH MEANS ACTION.

IT MEANS DOING THINGS	THAT GOD REQUIRES.

ISN'T IT JESUS HIMSELF	WHO SAID, "IF YOU LOVE,

IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP	MY COMMANDMENTS"?

YOU SEE THERE'S SOMETHING	TO DO, MY FRIEND.

THERE'S A FAITHFULNESS REQUIRED.

AND THE VERSE WE ALWAYS	GO TO IS REVELATION 2:10,

A GREAT VERSE THAT SAYS,	"BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH

AND I WILL GIVE YOU	THE CROWN OF LIFE."

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GET	TO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER

IN OUR DISCUSSION, BUT THAT	SETS WELL THE DISCUSSION

THAT WE HAVE,	FAITHFULNESS UNTIL DEATH.

ARE YOU FAITHFUL?

YOU SEE, I'M NOT ONLY INTERESTED

THAT YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, BUT	ARE YOU A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN?

OR HAVE YOU TURNED	AWAY FROM GOD?

SOMETIMES CHRISTIANS TURN	AWAY FROM GOD, THE BIBLE SAYS.

SOMETIMES THEY FALL	AWAY FROM THE FAITH.

SOMETIMES THEY BEGIN TO BE	FALSE TEACHERS OR APOSTATE.

SOMETIMES THEY BEGIN TO	PRACTICE THINGS CONTRARY TO GOD

AND THUS ARE CONDEMNED.

SO THAT'S THE QUESTION,	ARE YOU FAITHFUL?

AND WILL YOU BE	FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH?

IS THIS A STRANGE	CONCEPT IN THE BIBLE?

CERTAINLY NOT.

WE GO BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT.

DID GOD REQUIRE ISRAEL	TO OBEY HIS LAW?

YES.

WHY DID HE GIVE THEM THE	COMMANDMENTS THERE AT SINAI

AND ACTUALLY GIVE	THEM THE LAW OF MOSES?

DO YOU THINK THE HEBREW	PEOPLE, THE ISRAELITES,

FELT THEY WERE REQUIRED	TO OBEY THE LAW OF GOD?

YES.

DO YOU THINK THEY WERE	UNDER THE FALSE ASSUMPTION

THAT SOMEHOW THEY DIDN'T	HAVE TO BE FAITHFUL

AND GOD WAS GONNA SAVE THEM?

CERTAINLY NOT, THEY	UNDERSTOOD THAT REWARD

AND BLESSINGS WERE	IN DIRECT RESULTS

AND RESPONSE TO ONE'S	FAITHFUL COMMITMENT

TO WHAT GOD HAS	ALREADY DONE FOR THEM.

AND THAT'S THE SAME	UNDER THE NEW COVENANT.

WE THEN MISUNDERSTAND	WHAT FAITHFULNESS IS

AND OBEY THAT FAITHFULNESS.

JESUS OFTEN SPOKE OF THIS.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IN DIRECT	RESULTS OF WHAT HE SAID THERE

ABOUT LOVING HIM ENOUGH	TO OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT IN THE	GREAT SERMON ON THE MOUNT

THERE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER SEVEN?

WHEN WE READ THERE IN	VERSE 21, THAT JESUS

IN HIS OWN WORDS SAID, "NOT	EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME,

'LORD, LORD' LORD WILL ENTER	THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN."

WOW, YOU MEAN I'VE GOT TO	SAY MORE THAN LORD, LORD?

YOU MEAN I'VE GOT TO	DO MORE THAN REPENT?

YOU MEAN I'VE GOT TO	DO MORE THAN CONFESS?

YOU MEAN I'VE GOT TO DO	MORE THAN BE BAPTIZED?

YES.

WHAT IS THE DISTINCTION?

MAYBE THAT'S HOW	I TURN TO CHRIST.

MAYBE THAT'S HOW I OBEY CHRIST.

MAYBE THAT'S HOW I BECOME	A PART OF THE CHURCH.

BUT THE DISTINCTION HERE SAYS,

"BUT HE WHO DOES THE	WILL OF MY FATHER."

ARE WE DOING THE WILL OF GOD?

ARE WE LOVING GOD	ENOUGH TO DO HIS WILL?

IN FACT, HE GOES ON	TO GIVE THE EXAMPLE

IN VERSE 22 TO SAY, "MANY	IN THAT DAY ARE GONNA SAY,

'LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT	DONE THIS IN YOUR NAME?'"

AND HE'S GONNA SAY WHAT?

"DEPART FROM ME YOU	WHO WORK INIQUITY."

HE'LL EVEN SAY, "I	NEVER KNEW YOU" WHY?

THEY DID NOT DO	ACCORDING TO HIS WILL,

ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENTS.

WE ALSO SEE SEVERAL	ILLUSTRATIONS AND STORIES

AND EXAMPLES THAT JESUS ALSO	USED TO PROVE THIS VERY POINT.



ONE THAT I LIKE IS MATTHEW 25.

IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 25, WE READ	THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.

AND THERE, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER,

WITHIN THE PARABLE OF THE	TALENTS, DIFFERENT TALENTS,

WHICH IDENTIFIED ACTUALLY	MONEY IN THAT DAY,

WERE GIVEN TO	INDIVIDUALS, FIVE TALENTS,

TWO TALENTS AND ONE TALENT.

AND AS THE MASTER OR THE	LORD, AS IS DESCRIBED HERE,

TOLD THEM WHAT TO DO,	THEY EITHER WERE FRUITFUL

OR FAITHFUL IN THEIR	COMMANDMENT AS SERVANTS OR NOT.

AND SO WHAT DO WE SEE?

WHAT WE NOTICE TOGETHER	IN VERSE 23 IS THIS,

THE LORD TELLS THE ONE	WHO HAD FIVE TALENTS

AND THE ONE WHO HAD	TWO TALENTS THIS,

"WELL DONE, GOOD AND	FAITHFUL SERVANT."

WOW, WELL DONE.

WHY WERE THEY DOING GOOD?

WHY WERE THEY CONSIDERED	TO HAVE DONE WELL?

BECAUSE THEY HAD OBEYED GOD

AND BEEN FAITHFUL TO THEIR	MASTER'S REQUIREMENTS.

IS THAT NOT ALSO TRUE FOR	YOU AND I AS CHRISTIANS,

YOU AND I AS THOSE WHO SERVE?

BUT THEN HE ALSO GOES ON TO	SAY THIS IN THE SAME VERSE.

"YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL	OVER A FEW THINGS,

AND THEREFORE," HE SAYS,

"I'LL MAKE YOU RULER	OVER MANY THINGS."

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A SERVANT

OR AN EMPLOYEE WHO	DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB,

WHO'S REALLY FAITHFUL,	WHO NOT ONLY DOES

WHAT THEY'RE ASKED TO DO, BUT	THEY SEEM TO ALWAYS DO MORE?

WHO NOT ONLY DOES A GOOD JOB,

BUT ALWAYS DOES BETTER	THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT?

WELL, YOU PROMOTE	THAT INDIVIDUAL.

YOU GIVE THEM MORE	RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU TRUST THEM MORE.

YOU MOVE THEM UP IN	THE CHAIN OF AUTHORITY.

YOU EVEN PUT THEM OVER	OTHERS BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND

THE PRODUCTIVITY THAT	WILL COME FROM THEM

AND THEIR LEADERSHIP IS	GOING TO BE MUCH BETTER

THAN SOMEONE WHO COULD CARE LESS

OR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT WILLING	TO OBEY WHAT THE MASTER

OR THE EMPLOYER SAYS, THE WILL	OF THOSE WHO ARE OVER THEM.

YOU SEE, WE MUST FOLLOW THE	WILL OF GOD, NOT JUST THERE.

WE ALSO SEE THAT IN LUKE CHAPTER	16 ANOTHER PARABLE IS TOLD.

AND WITHIN THIS PARABLE,	WHAT WE LEARN IS

THE PARABLE OF THE	UNJUST STEWARD.

AND IN THIS PARABLE,	WHAT WE FIND IS A STEWARD

WHO IS PLACED BY THE MASTER,	AGAIN, OVER MANY THINGS.

AND WHAT THE	STEWARD BEGINS TO DO

AS HE REALIZES THAT HE	HAS BEEN UNFAITHFUL,

HE COMPREHENDS THAT MAYBE	HE'S ABOUT TO BE LET GO.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS,	GUESS WHAT HE DOES?

HE BEGINS TO TRY TO	WORK BEHIND THE SCENES

AND THE BACK OF THE	MASTER TO BENEFIT HIMSELF.

AND I WANT YOU TO NOTICE, AGAIN,

THE OUTCOME OF THESE THINGS.

AS WE LOOK LATER IN THAT	PARABLE THERE IN VERSE 10,

WE READ THIS.

"HE WHO IS FAITHFUL	IN WHAT IS LEAST

IS FAITHFUL ALSO IN MUCH.

AND HE WHO IS UNJUST IN WHAT	IS LEAST, WILL ALSO BE" WHAT?

"UNJUST IN WHAT IS MUCH."

YOU SEE THERE THE IDEA THAT WHEN

SOMEONE HAS PROVEN THEIR FAITH,

CERTAINLY IT IS SOMETHING	THAT IS VISIBLE.

SOMETHING THAT IS SEEN,	SOMETHING THAT WILL BE BLESSED.

SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REWARDED.

SOMETHING THAT WILL	CAUSE ONE TO BE PROMOTED.

THAT'S NOT ONLY IN	PHYSICAL THINGS,

IT'S IN SPIRITUAL THINGS.

AND SO THERE'S A TON	OF PLACES WE COULD GO

THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT.

MANY OF THE EPISTLES,	FOR INSTANCE,

START OUT BY TALKING	ABOUT THE FAITHFULNESS

OF THE BRETHREN WHO	ARE BEING ADDRESSED.

ONE SUCH WAS IN	COLOSSIANS CHAPTER ONE,

AND THERE IN VERSE TWO	AS HE ADDRESSES THOSE

WHO ARE IN COLOSSAE,	HE CALLS THEM THIS,

THE SAINTS WHO ARE FAITHFUL,

THE SAINTS AND FAITHFUL	BRETHREN IN COLOSSAE.

WHY WERE THEY FAITHFUL?

WE CAN GO DOWN IN THE SAME	TEXT AND GUESS WHAT HE SAYS?

HE SAYS, "I HAVE HEARD OF	YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST."

WHAT DID HE HEAR?

OH YEAH, THOSE	PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT.

THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING GOD	SAYS, BUT THEY ARE BELIEVERS.

DOES THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE?

I'VE HEARD OF YOUR	FAITH, YOUR FAITH.

AND IF WE GO ON TO	NOTICE IN THE BOOK

IT TELLS US OF ALL THE	THINGS THAT SHOW THEIR FAITH

AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD,	FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH.

WE ALSO SEE THAT HE SAYS,	"I'VE HEARD OF YOUR FAITH."

AND THEN HE SAYS, "I'VE	HEARD OF YOUR LOVE

FOR ALL THE SAINTS,"	YOUR ACTIVE LOVE.

YOU'VE HELPED YOUR BRETHREN,	YOU CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE	SOMETHING YOU SHOW, AGAIN.

IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP	MY COMMANDMENTS.

IF YOU LOVE ME, LOVE	YOUR BRETHREN AND DO	WHAT THEY'VE SAID.

AND THEREFORE WHAT	IS THE OUTCOME?

YOUR FAITH IS VISIBLE.

YOU THINK THE FAITH	OF NOAH WAS VISIBLE?

READ HEBREWS 11.

YOU THINK THE FAITH	OF ABRAHAM WAS?

CERTAINLY, BY FAITH,	THEIR ACTIONS WERE THERE.

THE ARK WAS VISIBLE.

THE TRAVELING AND THE	THINGS THAT ABRAHAM DID

LEAVING HIS OWN HOME.

YOU SEE THE VISIBILITY OF	FAITHFULNESS UNTIL DEATH.

AND WE'LL END THERE AS WE BEGAN	IN REVELATION CHAPTER TWO.

AND YOU MIGHT REMEMBER	THE CHURCH THERE

THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED	IS THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA.

AND IT'S A CHURCH THAT WAS	UNDER GREAT PERSECUTION.

IN FACT, BECAUSE OF THE	PLACE THAT THEY LIVED,

IT IS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED	IN THE SAME VERSE 10

THAT SOME OF THEM WERE ACTUALLY	GOING TO BE PUT IN PRISON.

AND WITHIN THE STATEMENT	WE'VE ALREADY MADE,

SOME OF THEM WERE GONNA DIE.

THAT TAKES A LOT OF	FAITHFULNESS, DOESN'T IT?

TO BE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO	SAY YES, I BELIEVE IN JESUS.

YES, I'M GOING TO	DO WHAT HE SAYS.

AND SOMEONE SAYS, "IF YOU SAY	IT AGAIN, YOU'RE GONNA DIE.

IF YOU DO IT AGAIN,	YOU'RE GONNA DIE.

IF YOU DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIM

AND IF YOU DO NOT WORSHIP OUR	GOD AND FOLLOW THE ROMAN GOD."



SO WHAT WAS IT THAT HE WAS	TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM WITH?

HE SAYS, "THE DEVIL	IS ABOUT TO THROW

SOME OF YOU IN PRISON."

SOME OF YOU ARE ACTUALLY	GONNA DIE FOR YOUR FAITH.

AND THEN AT THE END	OF VERSE 10, IT SAYS,

"BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH

AND I WILL GIVE YOU	THE CROWN OF LIFE."

AND WHAT BETTER EXAMPLE THERE

IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION	THAN THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA,

OR EVEN AS WE TURN	TO CHAPTER THREE,

THE CHURCH IN CHAPTER THREE,	VERSE SEVEN, OF PHILADELPHIA.

CONGREGATIONS THAT WERE	TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST

UNDER PERSECUTION AND DURESS	TO LIVE FAITHFULLY FOR GOD.

AND ACTUALLY WERE	NOT REBUKED BY JESUS.

BUT YOU MIGHT ALSO	REMEMBER WITH ME

THAT THERE ARE FIVE OTHER	CONGREGATIONS MENTIONED.

EPHESUS, PERGAMUM,	THYATIRA, ALSO SARDIS.



AND THEN THE LAODECIANS.

ALL THESE CHURCHES	WERE TOLD THAT

ALTHOUGH THEY HAD	SOME GOOD WORKS,

THEY HAD THINGS TO CHANGE.

THEY HAD THINGS TO REPENT OF.

THEY HAD THINGS THAT	THEY NEEDED TO TURN AGAIN

TO BE FAITHFUL IN OR	ELSE, HE WARNED THEM,

YOU'LL HAVE YOUR	CANDLESTICK REMOVED.

YOU'LL BE PUNISHED.

YOU'LL NOT BE A PART OF THE	REWARD, YOU'LL NOT OVERCOME.

READ THOSE VERSES, READ	CHAPTERS TWO AND THREE

AND SEE, AND NOTICE	THE FAITHFULNESS,

THE CHALLENGE TO BE	FAITHFUL THAT THE WORDS

OF JESUS GAVE TO THOSE	CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR.

MY BRETHREN, LET ME HELP	YOU TO UNDERSTAND TODAY

THAT YOU HAVE TO OBEY	GOD AND BE ACTIVE

IN THE SERVICE OF GOD TO	RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD.

AND THAT'S THE VERY WAY	THAT A GOOD SERVANT,

A PROFITABLE SERVANT, A	FAITHFUL SERVANT BEHAVES

WHEN THEY'VE HEARD THEIR MASTER

AND WHEN THEY DO WHAT	THE MASTER HAS SAID.

IT'S SIMPLE, IT'S	EASY TO UNDERSTAND,

BUT ONLY COMPLICATED BY	THE FACT THAT MAN CHOOSES

NOT TO SERVE GOD TRULY	OR GIVE HIM THEIR BEST.

IF YOU'RE NOT A CHRISTIAN,	WHY NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL TODAY?

WHY NOT CONFESS WITH YOUR	MOUTH, REPENT OF YOUR SINS?

WHY NOT BE BURIED WITH YOUR	LORD AND SAVIOR IN BAPTISM?

AND AFTER BECOMING A CHRISTIAN	AND THE LORD ADDING YOU

TO THE CHURCH, WHY NOT	BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH?

YOU'LL NOT ONLY RECEIVED	THE GREAT BLESSINGS

OF GOD TODAY AND EVERY	DAY OF LIFE, BUT ALSO

IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE GREAT	REWARD OF HEAVEN SOMEDAY. <BR><BR>

        <BR><BR>   

CLOSING COMMENTS   <BR><BR>   

WHAT A BLESSING IT HAS BEEN	TO JOIN TOGETHER THIS MORNING

IN THE THINGS OF GOD.

AND THANK YOU FOR	DOING YOUR PART

THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND	ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT

AND WORSHIP HIM ACCORDING	TO WHAT HE COMMANDS.

AS ALWAYS, WE INVITE YOU	BACK 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 ADDRESS: <BR><BR>   

THE LIVING WORD   <BR><BR>   

2540 N. KANSAS EXPRESSWAY    <BR><BR>   

SPRINGFIELD, MO.  65803   <BR><BR>   

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THANKS BE TO GOD THAT HE	HAS GIVEN US A CLEAR COMMAND

ON HOW TO BE SAVED	ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.

FURTHERMORE, HE HAS	GIVEN US MANY EXAMPLES

IN HIS WORD OF THOSE WHO DID SO.

SO THE QUESTION FOR	US THIS MORNING IS,

HAVE WE OBEYED EVERYTHING	THAT GOD REQUIRES TO BE SAVED?

AND SECONDLY, IF SO,	ARE WE CONTINUING

TO DO EVERYTHING REQUIRED BY GOD

TO BE CONSIDERED	AS LIVING FAITHFUL?

WHY NOT SUBMIT FULLY	TO YOUR GOD TODAY? <BR><BR>   

<BR><BR>