>> 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 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."
[ Singing ]

Now here is your host,
Ray Sullins.
>> In James chapter one we read,
"Let no one say when he
is tempted I am tempted by God
for God cannot be tempted
by evil.
Nor does he himself
tempt anyone."
We're glad that you
have joined us today for
"The Living Word" program.
It is always a privilege
to have you with us
for this time of offering
to our god.
And we welcome you to
this service before our creator.
Today we have the opportunity
together to worship our god
and praise his holy name.
And this morning we
will glorify our god
through songs of praise
and through the study
of his perfect word.
So let me encourage you all
to do your part
in making this time acceptable
in his sight
and according
to his perfect will.
As we begin our homage
to God this morning,
will you bow with me
before his throne in prayer?
Our God and father in heaven,
we thank you for this,
another day of life,
and the great blessings that
we have to not only know you,
father, but
to be called your children.
And help us this day
and every day
to be lights in this world
that we might illuminate
for your sake in glory,
that we might
not only be faithful, father,
but help others to know you
and find faith as well.
And, father, we ask that you'll help us in the end
to receive the great reward
of heaven
when we have been found faithful
through your grace,
your love, and your mercy.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Who do we turn to when we have
trials and burdens in this life?
Or when life gets us down?
Our first song
of the morning reminds us
that we do have a place
to turn for help.
So won't you join in
with the congregation
at this time as we sing together
"Hide Me, Rock of Ages."
>>  Oh, thou blessed
rock of ages 
>>  Rock of ages I am 
>>  Trusting now, dear Lord,
in Thee 
>>  Dear Lord
in Thee I'm trusting 
>>  Keep me till my
journey's ended
>>  Journey's ended, keep me 
>>  Till thy blessed
face I see 
 Hide me,
O blessed rock of ages 
>>  Blessed rock of ages,
hide me 
>>  Till thy blessed
face I see 
>>  Thy face I see in glory 
>>  When the storm
around me rages 
>>  Round me rages, blessed
>> Rock of ages hide Thou me 
 Keep me
when the storm clouds gather,
>>  Storm clouds gather, keep 
>>  Til the sun
comes shining through 
>>  Comes shining
through the shadows 
>>  Keep me till
my work is over 
>> Work is over, keep me 
>>  Till I bid
this world adieu 
 Hide me,
O blessed rock of ages 
>>  Blessed rock of ages,
hide me 
>>  Till thy blessed
face I see 
>>  Thy face I see in glory 
>>  When the storm
around me rages 
>>  Round me rages, blessed 
>>  Rock of ages hide thou me 
 When my journey is completed 
>>  Is completed, Savior 
>>  And there's no more
work to do 
>> No work to do, O blessed 
>>  Savior guide
my weary spirit 
>>  Weary spirit, to that 
>>  Happy land
beyond the blue 
 Hide me,
O blessed rock of ages 
 Blessed rock of ages,
hide me 
>>  Till thy blessed
face I see 
>>  Thy face I see in glory 
>>  When the storm
around me rages 
>>  Round me rages, blessed 
>> One of the hardest things
we often deal with
as followers of God
in this life is temptation.
Oh, how difficult it is for us
to understand why we are tempted
when we're striving
to do the will of God.
However the fact is
God's servants
have always dealt
with temptation.
In fact,
in the bible it seems
that the more faithful
someone was,
the more temptation
they often dealt with.
One example that we find
is very familiar to us
in the servant of God, Job.
This man had always
been greatly blessed by God
because of his faith.
But yet Satan desired
to tempt him,
claiming that he would
not remain faithful
without all
the physical blessings
and all the care
that God was giving him.
Well, we all know the story.
Job does remain faithful
and bows down
before his god and thanks him
after all the trial
is first brought upon him.
You see,
we will suffer if we are living
according to the ways of God.
But even more than that,
we understand that God is
more powerful than Satan
and we can overcome temptation
and not fall away.
In First Peter chapter 4,
verse 15 we also read this.
"If anyone suffers
as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed, but let
him glorify God in this matter."
James also adds,
"Blessed is the man
who endures temptation
when he has been approved he
will receive the crown of life
which the lord has promised
to those who love him."
James chapter 1 and verse 12.
Notice that in these verses they
not only say
that we will suffer, but they
actually say when we suffer.
And ultimately when we endure
we will be blessed by doing so.
Back in James chapter one there
in verse two
and three James also says
that we should even find joy
in trials
because when our faith
is tested,
we actually learn
to be a more patient people
and even to depend more on God.
One final reason
why we should endure
temptation is also found
in Hebrews chapter 2
and verse 18.
There we read,
"For in that he himself
has suffered, being tempted,
is able to show those
who also are tempted
that they have help from him."
You see as those who all
also suffer we know
that Jesus himself suffered
even greater trials.
In fact,
this verse goes on to say
that we will also be helped
through our sufferings
by the very one
who himself suffered, Jesus.
Paul even told the Corinthians
that God will
not allow us to be tempted
beyond what we are able to bear,
but even will give a way
of escape.
That's found
in First Corinthians chapter 10
and verse 13.
The best thing then we can do
as Christians is
to acknowledge the fact
that we will be tempted.
And then to be ready
to deal with trials
when they come our way.
However we can certainly know
that if we find confidence
in God and focus on him
and his promises,
he will always help.
He will always show us the way.
And he will always help us
to overcome temptation
so that we might remain faithful
until the end.
The question for us
this morning is have we learned
to deal with temptation
as Christians.
And because of our readiness,
are we going to be able
to overcome them
with the help of God?
Our topic of study
this morning will again focus
on the better things
from the book of Hebrews.
The next lesson in our series
is entitled A Better Possession.
So won't you stay with us
and in a few minutes our speaker
of the day will return
to lead us in this study
from God's word?
As far as our guest speaker
of the morning,
we're happy to again have
Brother Brent Green with us.
Brother Brent is one
of the ministers
for the Kansas Expressway Church
of Christ
and also a full time instructor
at the Bible Institute
of Missouri.
And we thank him for being
with us this lord's day
to guide us in God's word.
Well, now it's time to join in
our second hymn of the morning.
The name of the song?
>>  I have decided
to follow Jesus 
 I have decided
to follow Jesus 
 I have decided
to follow Jesus 
 No turning back,
no turning back 
 Though none go with me,
I still will follow 
 Though none go with me,
I still will follow 
 Though none go with me,
I still will follow 
 No turning back,
no turning back 
 My cross I'll carry
till I see Jesus 
 My cross I'll carry
till I see Jesus 
 My cross I'll carry
till I see Jesus 
 No turning back 
 I'll follow him 
>> What a joy it is as always
to be able to open the word
of God together and consider it
as we think about what it means
not only as it was said
in the day it was written,
but also what it means
to us today.
This brings us to the book
of Hebrews.
Hebrews chapter 10, verse 34
where we find these words.
It says, "For you had compassion
on me in my chains
and joyfully accepted
the plundering
of your goods knowing
that you have a better
and an enduring possession
for yourselves in heaven."
Throughout the book
of Hebrews you find the idea
of things that are better.
And here's another one of those.
The idea of a better possession.
Think for a moment about maybe a
prized possession that you have
or something you had
in the past.
Maybe it's a favorite
fishing rod
or a favorite piece of clothing.
Or maybe it's just
a heartfelt card
or a memento from a loved one.
For me at the age
of five it was my bass pro hat.
We all have things about our
lives that are special to us.
Now think how would you feel
if something happened
to that prized possession
that you have.
Maybe it would be something
that quit working
or something that wore out.
Maybe it was torn or stained
or maybe it got destroyed.
If something happened
to something that you felt
was your prized possession,
you wouldn't feel good
about that.
And certainly as we think
about our possessions
in this life there are things
that we hold on to dearly.
But here we have in Hebrews
10:34 something that's better
than any possession
we could have in this life.
This is a possession
that is given to us by God.
This is an enduring possession,
a possession that will not fade.
Think about this possession
that we have here
in the book of Hebrews.
Understand
that this better possession is
that home in heaven
that God has promised to us.
This far exceeds anything
that we have on this Earth.
Any prized possession
we've ever possessed
is always going to fail
or going to pale in comparison
that is to the possession
of heaven.
As we think about this
possession that God has given
to us, first understand that
heaven is a real possession.
There are earthly possessions
that sometimes can be fake.
You hear all kinds
of claims in the world today
by different manufacturers.
They may claim that
their products are anti aging
or body sculpting.
Maybe they're going
to double your investments
in some way overnight.
A lot of those claims are puffed
up and inflated
and certainly maybe they
don't always live up
to the claims that they make.
All too often our
earthly possessions fall short,
but this possession
that God has given
to us is one that's better.
One that will not fall short
is a possession that is real.
Jesus spoke of heaven as a
possession that he has prepared
for those who would follow him.
In John chapter 14
he described the fact
that he was going to prepare
mansions in heaven.
And if he did such,
he would come again
and receive us to that place.
He said, "If it weren't true,
I would have told you."
Jesus didn't lie to us.
Jesus' claims of
a better possession weren't fake
or didn't somehow live
up to what he said.
Truly indeed they are real.
The promise of heaven as an
eternal dwelling place is real
because that promise is made
by Jesus himself.
Back in the book of Hebrews,
Hebrews chapter 12,
just a couple chapters over,
there in verse 22 we find
these words.
Hebrews 12:22.
"But you have come
to Mount Zion,
to the city of the living god,
to the heavenly Jerusalem,
to an enumerable company
of angels."
Something better
than any place in this world.
The eternal home of God which
will be also our dwelling place
and our possession if we live
and obey him here in this life.
There in Second Corinthians
five verse one it's referred to
as the eternal house built
by God himself.
Truly heaven is
a better possession,
but it's a real possession.
Not fake. Not made by men.
Not something that's going to
fail to live up to its claims.
Truly God has promised it.
Jesus has promised it.
And those mansions
in heaven are real.
Heaven truly is a better
possession for that very reason.
Heaven also is
a better possession
because it is
a lasting possession.
The possessions that we have
in this life simply will
not endure.
Again the claims
of manufacturers again abound.
Certainly sometimes
you might hear products claim
to be indestructible
or those that would have
a lifetime guarantee.
I can remember
as a child there was a comb
that we had in our house and the
words on it were indestructible.
Now we put those claims
to the test as kids
and we found out that we could
find a way to destroy that comb.
But no matter what it is
in this life,
whether it claims
to be indestructible or not,
it won't last.
It will not endure.
It will all be something
that will fall short.
But heaven is a possession
that will not corrode.
It will not decay.
It will not break.
It won't quit working.
Heaven is a lasting possession.
And that makes it better.
Nobody can steal it from me.
You can't lose it.
One day this entire Earth
will be destroyed.
Second Peter chapter 3
and verse 10.
The Earth and its works,
they will all burn up.
But heaven will never
be destroyed.
Heaven is a better possession
because it is a possession
that is lasting.
It will endure.
There in Hebrews once
again chapter 10 verse 34
as we think about this text
for today and this idea,
this better possession,
we again find these words.
"For you had compassion
on me in my chains
and joyfully accepted
a plundering of goods knowing
that you have a better
and an enduring possession
for yourselves."
This idea
of an enduring possession.
Something different
from these things
that these that
these Christians had lost.
The plundering of their goods.
Most likely they had become
those who'd lost
their inheritance
or maybe they lost property
because of persecution.
But in some way they
had lost those things
that were earthly possessions
to them.
But this possession here
was better
because it couldn't
be taken away.
It's an inheritance
that could not be lost,
could not be ripped
from their possession.
Heaven truly is
a lasting possession.
And it will last forever.
There in First Thessalonians
chapter 4 verse 17 the comfort
that we can have
as Christians is
that we will always be
with the lord.
In that eternal realm and heaven
above there with Jesus
and the angels
before the presence of God
we will forever be
with the lord.
Romans 6 verse 23 speaks of the
gift of God that is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our lord.
How long is eternal life?
Forever.
It's hard for our minds even
to fathom something
because we wall gauge things
by time in this world.
But heaven will be forever.
This is a possession
that is lasting.
Again will never have
anything happen to it
because heaven is an eternity
with God.
We should again seek
that better possession.
Also is we consider
this possession
as something that is worthwhile.
Heaven truly is
a worthwhile possession.
There are earthly possessions
that many times cost more
than they are worth.
Maybe because of the amount
of time it takes
to spend to upkeep them
or the money it's going to take.
Sometimes the possessions
in this life require sacrifice
of friends,
maybe even sacrifice of family.
Most people will
not endure persecution
for the things of this world.
Most people would
not endure ridicule
for the items of this life.
If that were the case,
they would give them up.
They would let go of them
because they're not worth it.
But heaven is
a worthwhile possession.
Heaven is going to be
worth the cost
of whatever we have to sacrifice
or give up in this life.
Jesus as he often spoke in ways
that people could understand
as we call them parables
spoke a few short parables there
in Matthew 13 that remind us
of the cost
and how much we should be
willing to give up
to gain this heavenly home.
Matthew chapter 13 verse 34.
Think about the words here,
this treasure
that is worth the cost.
There in verse 44
Jesus said again,
"The kingdom of heaven is
like treasure hidden in a field
which a man found and hid
and for joy over it goes
and sells all that he has
and buys that field."
This treasure is so valuable
that you'd be willing
as this man to sell everything,
to give up everything
you possess,
to gain that treasure in heaven.
Then in verse 45 Jesus goes on
with another parable
and he says again the kingdom
of heaven is
like a merchant seeking
beautiful pearls
who when he had found one pearl
of great price went
and sold all that he had
and bought it.
To understand again the value
of this heavenly home
that we could be a part of
this kingdom of God in this life
and as that kingdom look forward
to that reward in the next life.
We should understand just
how valuable this possession is.
It is worth everything to us.
And we've got to be willing
to make the sacrifice to make it
to that heavenly home.
Heaven is worth the ridicule
and the suffering
that we might have to endure.
Back in our text there in
Hebrews chapter 10 we can find
that just a few verses
prior here the writer says--
recall in verse 32
"the former days
which after you were illuminated
you endured a great struggle
with sufferings partly
while you were made
a spectacle both
by reproaches and tribulations
and partly
while you became companions
of those who were so treated."
Paul says here-- the writer,
Paul or maybe others
have been attributed
to be the writer of this book,
speak of the fact that
as Christians you will
endure persecution.
You will endure ridicule.
Why would these endure such?
Why would they go through
that struggle?
Because heaven is worth it.
You can consider the
persecutions that many endured
throughout the bible.
In the book of Acts chapter
eight verse one we find
that Saul is wrecking havoc
on the church and persecution
was rampant.
There in Acts 12 another
by the name
of Herod was doing much
to persecute the people of God.
Why would those in the first
century endure that persecution?
Why would they allow themselves
to be ridiculed
or associated with those
who also were ridiculed
and themselves be the recipients
of that ridicule as well?
Because heaven was worth it all.
There in First Peter chapter
3 verse 17 we have another verse
that would remind us of the fact
that truly this possession
of heaven is worth whatever
we might have to endure.
There in verse 17
of First Peter 3 it says,
"For it is better
if it is the will of God
to suffer for doing good
than for doing evil."
You suffer for doing evil you're
simply getting what you deserve.
But if you suffer
for doing good,
if you suffer as a Christian,
you will be blessed by God.
If you live faithfully
and endure to the end,
you will have that better
possession of heaven.
Heaven also is not just
a worthwhile possession,
but a desirable possession.
Many desire what
the world has to offer
whether that be land or
property, vehicles, electronics,
or whatever recreational
equipment it might be.
Just about everything in this
life is desired by somebody,
but heaven truly is
a desirable possession.
Back in the book from which our
text comes, the book of Hebrews,
look just a chapter over there
in Hebrews chapter 11.
You can read and learn
about those like Abel,
Enoch, Noah who all died
in faith.
Verse four through seven.
Men like Sarah and
his wife or men like Abraham,
his wife Sarah there verse 8
through 12 who also died
in faith.
What were they looking forward
to?
There in verse 13 it says
these all died in faith
not having received
the promises,
but having seen them afar
off were assured of them,
embraced them, and confessed
that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the Earth.
They were those who
were following God
and his commandments,
but they had not yet made it
to their heavenly home.
And now just a few verses
later there,
as you can see,
verse 16 in the same chapter.
It says,
"Now they desire a better,
that is a heavenly, country.
Therefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God
for he has prepared a city
for them."
They in this life
when they were living
on this Earth had not made it
to that heavenly home.
But they were seeking it.
And they were living in faith
so that one day they
could be a part of that home.
That's what they were
waiting for.
That's what they were
looking for.
They were desiring a place
prepared by God himself.
Then Philippians chapter
1 verse 23 Paul understood that
to depart and be
with Christ was far better.
As these in Hebrews 11,
even as Paul himself,
they all desired this better
possession, this heavenly home.
As you consider this treasure,
this possession,
it will not fade away.
It will not be defiled.
It will not ever be something
that corrodes or corrupts.
That's what we should
be seeking.
As we seek that,
I want you to again think
of the words here one last time
in Hebrews chapter 10.
There in verse 34 this ensuring
and better possession
that we await for.
Verse 35.
"Do not cast away
your confidence
which has great reward
for you have need of endurance
so that after you have done
the will
of God you may receive
the promise."
This same home is promised
to us.
Make sure that you endure.
Make sure that you never give up
so that one day you
truly can partake
of this better possession,
this home that God has prepared
for all of us
that we will attain
if we are faithful.
>>  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 gone 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 
>> Let me thank you again
for choosing to be
with us this day
for the "Living Word" program.
I hope and trust that
together we have all benefited
from this service to our lord
and let me invite you to join us
every lord's day morning at 7:30
as we give this time
to our creator.
But for now let me ask you
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 4017-869-2284.
How blessed we are
to be a chosen possession
of our lord and savior,
Jesus Christ.
Because of this promise,
we know that God is always
with us and caring for us.
May we therefore always strive
to be that possession
that reflects God
and that shows how much we
want to be faithful before him.
Our question?
Are you faithful 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 following area Churches
of Christ.
[ Singing ]