>> [ Choir singing "Give Me
the Bible" by Priscilla Owens ]
>> 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 men's questions and need.
This morning your area churches
of Christ welcome you
to a program committed
to that perfect law of liberty.
 Thy light shall guide me,
in the narrow way 
As we present,
"The Living Word".
 Precept and promise,
law and love combining 
 Till night shall vanish
in eternal day 
Now here is your host,
Ray Sullins.
>> Jesus once confirmed
you shall know the truth
and the truth shall make
you free.
Do you know God's truth
and have you obeyed it
in order to be free today?
We thank you for joining
us this morning
for "The Living Word Program."
It is always a privilege
to have you with us
for this time of offering
to God and we welcome you
to this service before
our creator.
Today we have the opportunity
and privilege, as always,
to gather and to worship
and praise our God.
To glorify our creator
through songs of praise
and through the study
of His perfect word.
So why don't you do
your part this morning
to make all that we do
acceptable in His sight.
As we approach our God this day,
will you bow with me before
His mighty throne in prayer?
Our God and Father in Heaven,
we are so thankful for this,
another day of life.
And we are thankful most of all
for the great gift of Jesus.
For we know that it's only
through Him
that we are found
presentable this day
and ultimately will be found
presentable in the judgement.
Father, help us to live
every day to show
how much we love you
by obeying your will
and by doing those things
that lift up your name
and glorify you
in the proper way.
And, Father, we also thank you
for all the good gifts
that you give us,
for we know everything
that we have comes from above.
And in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Well, it's time to start
our songs of praise this day,
so why don't you join in with
the congregation this morning
as we sing together
"The Last Mile of the Way."
>>  If I walk in the pathway
of duty 
 If I work till the close
of the day 
 I shall see the great King
in His beauty 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
 I will rest at the close
of the day 
 And I know there are
joys that await me 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
 If for Christ I proclaim
the glad story 
 If I seek for His sheep
gone astray 
 I am sure He will show
me His glory 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
 I will rest at the close
of the day 
 And I know there are
joys that await me 
 When I've got the last mile
of the way 
 And if here I have
earnestly striven 
 And have tried all His will
to obey 
 'Twill enhance all the rapture
of heaven 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
 I will rest at the close
of the day 
 And I know there are
joys that await me 
 When I've gone the last mile
of the way 
>> Have you ever noticed
all the talk about the truth
and the gospel
and the doctrine that is found
in and throughout
the New Testament?
The inspired writers
often deal with these topics
and certainly showing
us the significance
that these words play
in our understanding.
In fact, we define
that there seems
to be a very specific gospel
and doctrine that is spoken
about and that which
we need to follow if we are
to be pleasing to our God.
You might remember with me,
there in Galatians chapter 1,
verse 6 beginning
when Paul said,
"I marvel that you are
turning away so soon
from Him who called you
in the grace of Christ,
to a different gospel,
which is not another.
But there are some who
would trouble you
and want to pervert the gospel
of Christ.
But even if we or an angel
from Heaven,
preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached
to you, let him be cursed."
Here, we see that Paul
acknowledged the need to believe
and to follow a specific gospel.
Paul also warned Timothy
about the concept there
in another place,
where we find in verse 3
of the text the Bible says,
"Charge some, that they
teach no other doctrine."
You see, when he spoke
to men like Timothy and Titus,
he wanted them to understand
the very same thing.
Obviously what we have
here is a warning
that the gospel needs
to be that which is pure
and from God alone.
Further down in the same
chapter there in verse 10,
Paul goes on to say this,
"Sound doctrine is something
that we must adhere to."
And in verse 11 he again says,
"This is according
to the gospel,
which we have been committed
with there by God."
You see all of these verses
and concepts
in these different passages
show us clearly
that it does matter what
we believe and what we follow.
They also confirm for us,
that God does care about
what we do and say based
on what he has presented to us
by His gospel and doctrine.
Wasn't it also Jesus who said
that the truth would make
us free?
John chapter 8 in verse 32.
And wasn't it also
the Lord who went on there
in John 17:17 to say
that God's word is truth.
You see,
certainly we can all agree
that God has given us
the Bible so that we might
not only know the truth,
but that we might find
freedom through the truth.
Furthermore, the fact is,
when we follow God's word
and adhere to it,
this is the very way
which we show
that we love God and that we
are following His commandments.
Then and only then,
brethren and friends,
are we able to be found
acceptable in His sight.
Doing those things which
are according to the truth,
to the gospel and that which is
the sound doctrine of God.
So won't you choose today
to follow God's way
and to stand on His truth
and gospel,
that we might always
fulfill those things according
to the doctrine,
which He has given us to follow.
This morning we are happy
to again have a guest speaker
with us who is no stranger
at all to us.
We welcome Brother Brent Green
with us
for the main study of the day.
Most of you know
Brother Brent is one
of the instructors
at the Bible Institute
of Missouri and we thank him
for joining us, this Lord's day,
to lead out thoughts
from God's word.
Our topic of this day will again
focus on our series called
"The Works of the Flesh".
And our specific study
of the morning is entitled
"Revelries".
So stay with us and
in a few minutes we will return
and be led in these thoughts.
But for now, let's join
together in the second song
of the morning,
the name of the hymn,
"Sing Hallelujah to the Lord."
>>  Sing hallelujah
to the Lord! 
>>  Sing Hallelujah
to the Lord! 
>>  Sing Hallelujah
to the Lord! 
>>  Sing Hallelujah 
>>  Sing Hallelujah,
sing hallelujah 
 Sing hallelujah to the Lord 
>>  Sing Hallelujah
to the Lord 
>>  Jesus is risen
from the dead 
>>  Jesus is risen
from the dead 
>>  Jesus is risen
from the dead 
>>  Jesus is risen 
>>  Jesus is risen,
Jesus is risen 
 Jesus is risen from the dead 
>>  Jesus is risen
from the dead 
>>  Jesus is living
in His church 
>>  Jesus is living
in His church 
>>  Jesus is living
in His church 
>>  Jesus is living 
>>  Jesus is living,
Jesus is living 
 Jesus is living
in His church 
>>  Jesus is living
in His church 
>>  Jesus is Lord of heav'n
and earth 
>>  Jesus is Lord of heav'n
and earth 
>>  Jesus is Lord of heav'n
and earth 
>>  Jesus is Lord 
>>  Jesus is Lord,
Jesus is Lord 
 Jesus is Lord of heav'n
and earth 
>>  Jesus is Lord of heav'n
and earth 
>>  He's coming back
to claim His own 
>>  He's coming back
to claim His own 
>>  He's coming back
to claim His own 
>>  He's coming back 
>>  He's coming back,
He's coming back 
 He's coming back
to claim His own 
>>  He's coming back
to claim His own 
>>  Sing hallelujah
to the Lord 
>>  Sing hallelujah
to the Lord 
>>  Sing hallelujah
to the Lord 
>>  Sing hallelujah 
>>  Sing hallelujah,
sing hallelujah 
 Sing hallelujah to the Lord 
>>  Sing hallelujah
to the Lord 
>> What a great joy
and privilege it is, as always,
to be able to open the Bible
and to study it,
as we are able to look at God's
word and see what it says to us.
I want to begin
in Galatians chapter 5,
beginning in verse 19.
I'm going to read what has
probably been a familiar passage
to many through the years as
you've read through the Bible.
But we have a warning
about the works of the flesh.
Where Paul says
in Galatians 5:19,
"The works of the flesh
are evident,
which are adultery,
fornication, uncleanness,
lewdness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatred, contention,
jealousies, outbursts
or wraths, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies.
Envy, murders, drunkenness,
revelries and the like.
Of which I tell you beforehand,
just as I told you
in time passed,
that those who practice
such things will
not inherit the kingdom of God."
We have here a list of things that actually will keep us
from that heavenly reward.
It's important
to understand each of these
because we don't want
to practice them
lest we lose out
on that reward God has prepared
for His faithful Christians.
Now some of these
certainly are easier
to understand than others.
We can understand pretty simply
what murder is or envy even.
But some of them are
lesser known.
Some of them are words
that we may not even use
in our everyday vocabulary.
The one that we want to consider
for the moment is found
there again in verse 21
when it says there "revelries".
Well, what are revelries?
What is this work
of the flesh that will keep one
from that heavenly reward?
Well, this particular word
is just used three times
in the New Testament and
it's translated as revelries,
as we can look at it.
We want to look at those
three occasions
and learn from them what
this word means
so we can know the meaning.
Also be able to choose
a proper side,
be able to choose God's side
and walk accordingly.
And then finally be
able to stand out in this world,
not to be like the world,
but to be strange if the world
so calls us such, that's okay,
if we're living properly
in the sight of God.
Well, let's start
with the definition
because certainly this is
a word that probably we do
not use in our everyday
language, therefore,
to understand what it
means let's know the meaning
of this word "revelries".
Well, this word means
a carousal,
as if letting loose a rioting
or a reveling.
Coming there from Strong's.
A few of the definitions
that we might consider
to help us maybe gain
greater insight
into what this particular
sin is, this work of the flesh.
There the New American
Standard dictionary.
It says a village festival,
revel, carouse.
You might read a definition
like that and think,
well, that doesn't sound so bad,
a village festival.
But continue on with some
more definitions of this word.
From the Exegetical Dictionary
of the New Testament it says
that this word revelries
comes from the Greek word
"komos" originally designated
the festival procession
in honor of Dionysus,
then the joyous meal.
The feast. It appears
in the New Testament only
in a negative sense.
Well, there we begin
to learn that this idea
of a festival or a feast
within a city
was directly connected here
to a certain idolatrous god.
So idolatry is involved
in this particular sin as well.
Even more definitions help us
to understand even greater
into what this word means.
From Thayer's lexicon
he says concerning this word
that it is a nocturnal
and riotous procession
of half-drunken and frolics
and fellows,
who after supper parade
through the streets
with torches and music in honor
of Bacchus or some other deity
and sing and play
before the houses
of their male
and female friends.
Hence used generally,
a feast and drinking
parties that are protracted
until late at night
and indulge in revelry.
Well, now we begin to learn
that it's more
than just a group
of people getting together late
at night or parading
through the streets.
We see again it connected
to idolatry.
With other practices there again
that would be related to it.
Drinking parties,
so alcohol is also here involved
in this idea of revelry.
Continue with me on still with
just a few more definitions.
This one from Vincent's
Word Studies.
He says the word originally
signifies merely a merry making.
And so originally nothing
necessarily wrong,
but in time it probably came
to relate to more
than just the idea of having
a feast or making merry.
It comes from a word related
to the idea of a village.
And so thus a village festival.
But what was included in these?
It says, in the cities
such entertainments grew
into carouses in which the party
of revelers paraded the streets
with torches, singing,
dancing and all kinds
of frolics.
These revels also entered
into religious observances,
especially in the worship
of Bacchus, Dementor,
and the I demand Zeus in Crete.
So again we see that
these revelries were included
specifically with the idea
of worshiping some sort
of false god.
And that false god might vary
from place to place.
But this drinking party,
this reveling in the streets,
this rioting
all was connected in time
to the worship of false gods.
One such example was
further recorded there
in Vincent's word studies.
It gives a quotation here
of an occasion
where such a revelry
was taking place.
It says, "There is
to be such a torch race
with horses in honor
of the goddess Diana.
This riot grew furious
and ecstatic.
Crowds of women clothed
with fawn skins bearing
the sanctified thyrsus,
a staffed wreath
with vine leaves,
flock to the solitudes
of Parnassus, Cithaeron,
and Taygetus during
the consecrated triennial period
and abandon themselves
to demonstrations
of frantic excitement,
with dancing and clamorous
invocations of the god.
They were said to tear
animals limb from limb,
to devour raw flesh and
to cut themselves
without feeling the wound.
The men yielded to
similar impulse by noisy revels
in the streets,
sounding the cymbals
and tambourines
and carrying the image
of the god in procession.
So again, as we would
read through an example,
again to associate again
with this definition
of what this word means,
we see idolatrous practices.
People basically, we might say,
losing their minds,
giving themselves over
to these fleshly desires.
Doing things they
wouldn't normally do.
Covering themselves
in animal skins
and tearing animals limb
from limb and again,
eating raw flesh, things
they wouldn't normally do,
but doing here in the names
of false gods.
As we read those definitions,
as we think about that example
that fits that definition given
to us there in this word study.
As we seek to know the meaning
of this word, revelries.
Do any of those things sound
like things that Christians
should involve themselves in?
It's no doubt Paul would
include the practice
of such things as this in
this list of works of the flesh.
Here as we read
these definitions
and think about this example,
revelries include things
like gluttony, drunkenness,
dancing, lewdness,
late-night indulgence,
even idolatry in nearly every
single one of these definitions.
The definition
of this word is important
to understand because
it shows us clearly
why this is a work of the flesh,
not something in any way
that Christians
should be involved in.
You might think, well, thanks
for giving us that definition
and showing us what
that word means,
but we don't have
this problem today.
You mean we don't have
the problem
of people having parties
and getting drunk
and celebrating at late hours
and rioting
in the streets and reveling,
according to the usage
as we see here?
It might not be
an idolatrous practice as it was
for these in this day,
but it might be some other idol.
It might be some recent
trophy gained
at some sort of sporting event.
It might be the name
of some ideological profession
or philosophy.
People still have idols today,
people still get drunk today,
people still go out
into the streets and riot today.
But that's not behavior
befitting of Christians.
Understand the meaning
and then you can apply it to
such behavior that still exists
in its own way, even today.
As we understand the meaning
of this work
of the flesh of revelries,
I ask you next to choose a side.
Look with me if you would
at Romans chapter 13.
This is the second
of the three occasions
where this specific word
is used in the New Testament.
Romans chapter 13,
beginning in verse 12,
I'd like for you to read
with me here three verses
at the end of this chapter.
Paul here says, "The night is
far spent, the day is at hand.
Therefore let us cast
off the works of darkness
and let us put on the armor
of light.
Let us walk properly as
in the day, not in revelry,
in drunkenness,
not in lewdness and lust,
not in strife and envy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ
and make no provision
for the flesh to fulfill
its lust."
What we see as we look through
these verses is a stark contrast
and I want you to think
about each of these sides.
First consider the side
of darkness.
There in verse 12 Paul speaks
of this side and he says,
"It is of the night."
We understand even
generally speaking that
more crime occurs at night
than it does in the daytime.
And that doesn't mean that crime
doesn't occur in the daytime
but we associate crime and evil
with darkness, with night.
He goes on to say there
in verse 12 that Christians are
to cast off the works
of darkness.
We're not to have anything to do
with these things considered
to be works of darkness
or as we just read about
and studied there
in Galatians 5,
what are there called
the works of the flesh.
Furthermore on this side,
there in verse 13 we're told
how not to walk.
We as Christians are not to walk
in this list of things given,
here again, "Not in revelry,
not in drunkenness,
not in lewdness, not in lust,
not in strife and envy."
There's our word in that list,
not in revelry.
So we're not to walk in those
things and there in verse 14,
to make no provision
for the flesh.
Paul gives us clearly
describing here for us a side
of darkness that we're
not to partake of.
You could chose that side,
but let's think about
the other side,
the other option that
you could choose from.
On the other side, going again
back up to verse 12, Paul says,
"Those who walk
as Christians are of the day."
The idea is that
they're not afraid
to be seen because they're
not doing anything wrong.
They're not trying to hide
or conceal their evil
because they're not practicing
such, they're of the day.
He goes on there in verse 12
to say,
"As Christians we are
to put on the armor of light."
We are clothed as Christians
with God's light,
with His truth.
That's what we wear.
And we're not ashamed of that.
There in verse 13 he gives
the admonition
that as Christians we are
to walk properly as in the day.
We as Christians are
to choose to walk according
to God's standard
and that's synonymous
with the idea of light
that comes in the daytime.
And then finally there
in verse 14 the admonition
to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The contrast is
between the side of darkness
and between the side of light.
You must choose a side.
If you are already a Christian,
you have chosen a side.
You chose to leave darkness
and you chose
to walk in God's light.
If you are presently
a Christian,
you must continue
to make that choice.
Never go back to the works
of the flesh.
Never go back to these things
that we're not to be a part of.
We put them off
and we have chosen as Christians
to walk in God's light.
We must continue to do such.
Again, as we think
about revelries,
what side are they on?
They're on the side of darkness.
They're on the side opposed
to those things that are of God.
It is evident again
by the definition of revelries,
things that would be included
like gluttony,
drunkenness, dancing,
lewdness, late-night indulgence.
Again, all
of these different aspects that
even include idolatry.
That's not of the light.
That's not of the pathway that
God has set before Christians.
Which side are you on?
Are you on the side of darkness
that includes revelries?
Or are you on the side of light
that does not include revelries?
One last verse and the third
and final verse
in which we find this word
in the New Testament,
is what we find in First Peter,
chapter 4.
If you would read
with me these verses,
as we find there beginning
in verse 1
this admonition
from Peter this time.
Peter says, "Therefore,
since Christ suffered
for us in the flesh,
arm yourselves also
with the same mind.
For he who has suffered in
the flesh has ceased from sin,
that he no longer should
live the rest of his time
in the flesh for the lust
of men, but for the will of God.
For we have spent enough
of our past lifetime
in doing the will
of the Gentiles,
when we walked in lewdness
and lust, drunkenness,
revelries, drinking parties,
and abominable idolatries.
In regard to these,
they think it's strange
that you do not run
with them in the same flood
of dissipation,
speaking evil of you."
Here's a third and final time
where this word revelry is used,
again, in a negative sense.
Not something that we
should be a part of.
Rather we as Christians,
verse 1,
should have ceased
from the mindset of sin.
Jesus showed us that example,
he was perfect giving
us an example to follow.
We too should be of the mindset,
"I don't want sin in my life."
There in verse 2,
"We should be living
for God's will, not man's will."
There in verse 3 as Paul says,
"We have spent enough
of our past lifetime
in doing the will
of the Gentiles."
And then he gives us a list
that includes, guess what?
Revelries.
That's to be a part of our
past life, not our present life.
So we should have given
up all those things included
within the idea of revelries.
And we there in verse 4
may very well to be thought of
as being strange by the world.
But let me say this, so be it.
If the world thinks we're
strange
because we've given up
the former life,
then let us be strange.
Just because the world
says we are
doesn't mean we're unfaithful
to God.
Let us us understand
what revelries are.
Let us avoid them
and be strange in this world.
>>  He is my everything,
He is my all 
 He is my everything,
both great and small 
 He gave His life for me,
made everything new 
 He is my everything,
now how about you? 
 Some folks may ask me,
some folks may say 
 Who is this Jesus
you talk about every day? 
 He is my Savior,
He set me free 
 Now listen while I tell you
what He means to me 
 He is my everything,
He is my all 
 He is my everything,
both great and small 
 He gave His life for me,
made everything new 
 He is my everything,
now how about you? 
>> Let me thank you again
for choosing to be
with us this day
for "The Living Word Program."
It is my hope and trust that
together we've all benefited
from this time together
before God's throne.
And let me invite you
back every Lord's day morning
at 7:30 as we give this time
to our creator.
But for now let me ask
if you have any questions
or comments
about today's lesson.
Maybe you'd like
a free transcript or free CD
or DVD of the program
or possibly we could assist you
with free Bible materials
or free Bible correspondence
courses.
No matter what your need is,
please feel free to contact us
at the following address.
The Living Word 2540
North Kansas Expressway,
Springfield, Missouri, 65803.
Many of these items are
also available on our website,
that address
TheLivingWordProgram.com,
or if you prefer you
may call us at 417-869-2284.
May we all strive to do
those things which are according
to the character of Christ,
that we might always do His will
and thus be found acceptable
in His sight.
The question this morning,
are we obedient to God today?
>> Our prayer is
to help the world know more
about God through
this television program.
"The Living Word"
has been brought to you
under the oversight
of the elders
of the Kansas Expressway Church
of Christ in Springfield,
Missouri,
with the assistance of the
follow area Churches of Christ.
>>  Seek and save the lost 
 Give me the Bible,
holy message shining 
 Thy light shall guide me
in the narrow way 
 Precept and promise,
law and love combining 
 Till night shall vanish