>>  Give me the Bible 
>> 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 meaning.
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 
 Til night shall vanish
in eternal day 
>> Now here's your host,
Ray Sullins.
>> Good morning.
Thank you for joining us today
for The Living Word program.
I hope that we have all had
a great week,
and I hope you're ready
to begin this new week
by giving this day of service
and offering to your god.
As always,
it is our commitment
through this program
to proclaim the simple truth
of our Lord and savior,
Jesus Christ, which is confirmed
for us in the Bible.
And I hope you have
your Bibles handy,
and I hope you're ready
to worship God together
as we sing songs of praise
and as we study
from His perfect word.
As we begin our offering
to God at this time, will you,
as always, bow with me before
His mighty thrown in prayer.
Our God and Father in heaven,
we thank for this,
another day of life
and the great blessings
of life and the gifts of life,
for we know all good gifts
come from you.
And father, we are ever mindful
of the love that you show us,
not only daily in the things
that we have physically
and spiritually but also
in the greatest of all gifts,
your son, Jesus Christ.
And father,
we know because of the love
that was demonstrated by you
and your son,
we today are able to be
found justified and presentable,
according to your will,
which is found in the Bible.
And help us, therefore,
live every day and to respond
in a loving way every day,
to be obedient
and to do only those things
which bring glory and honor
to your perfect name.
Father, we thank you
for the opportunity
that we have to speak
to you in prayer
and to make these petitions
and to speak these things
before you as such an awesome
and wondrous God that you are.
And in Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Well, it's time to, again,
join in with the congregation
as with join
in our songs of praise.
Our next hymn of the morning,
Do You Know My Jesus?
>>  Have you a heart
that's weary 
 Tending a load of care 
 Are you a soul
that's seeking 
 Rest from the burden
you bear? 
>>  Do you know 
>>  Do you know 
>>  My Jesus? 
>>  Do you know 
>>  Do you know 
 My friend? 
>>  Have you heard 
>>  Have you heard 
 He loves you 
 And that He will abide 
 Till the end 
>>  Till the end? 
>>  Where is your heart,
O Pilgrim? 
 What does your light reveal? 
 Who hears your call
for comfort 
 When naught but sorrow
you feel? 
>>  Do you know 
>>  Do you know 
>>  My Jesus? 
>>  Do you know 
>>  Do you know 
 My friend? 
>>  Have you heard 
>>  Have you heard 
 He loves you 
 And that He will abide 
 Till the end 
 Who knows
your disappointments? 
 Who hears each time you cry? 
 Who understands
your heartaches? 
 Who dries the tears
from your eyes? 
>>  Do you know 
>>  Do you know 
>>  My Jesus? 
>>  Do you know 
>>  Do you know 
 My friend? 
>>  Have you heard 
>>  Have you heard 
 He loves you 
 And that He will abide 
 Till the end 
>>  Till the end? 
>> In the first verse
of the Bible,
Moses emphatically introduces us
to a God of all creation.
As he proclaimed,
in the beginning God created
the Heavens and the Earth.
In this important statement,
we are not only introduced
to the creator of all,
but we also are able to see
the origin of all things.
In fact,
Moses answers many questions
for us
as he uses the same proofs
that many of our scientists
would even use today.
First, he clarifies the time
in which these things happen,
by stating that
in the beginning.
He then answers the who
of the matter when he says, God.
Next, he tells us what God did
or the force involved
when he uses the verb
that God created.
And finally,
he confirms for us
what God's creation
was all about
when it says that he created
the Heavens and the Earth.
However, Moses did not alone
in this thought help us
to understand these things,
but we really find it
in eloquent speeches or ideas or
text throughout the scripture.
We even see that the psalmist
spoke of such things
in Psalm 90, there verse 1
and 2, where we read,
"Lord, you have been
our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains
were brought forth
or even you had formed the Earth
and the world,
even from everlasting
to everlasting, you are God."
Furthermore, remember
there what John said in John 1,
there in verses 1 through 4,
"In the beginning was the word,
and the word was with God,
and the word was God, and he is
in the beginning with God.
All these things were made
through him
and without him nothing
was made that was made.
In him was life, and
the life was the light of men."
I finally would like us to look
at something that Paul said
in Ephesians Chapter 3,
beginning in verse 8.
This is concerning the ministry
of God, our creator.
The Bible says,
to me, who am less than
the least of all the saints,
this grace was given
that I should preach among the
gentiles the unsearchable riches
of Christ
and to make all see what is
the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of
the ages has been hidden in God,
who created all things
through Jesus Christ.
The fact is, the Bible
and its inspired authors
readily confirmed the fact
that not only there is a God
and that he is the creator
and giver of all,
but that still we
should believe in such today.
Unfortunately,
although that is the case,
many do reject God,
and they choose not to obey
his will or to follow him
or to believe any
of what he has said.
Well, let's be those who
not only know God,
but stand up for God but let the
world know that God is the one
and only true God,
the creator, the giver of life,
and that we will love and
serve him until the very end.
We are happy today to have
Brother Cory Orr with us.
He will be presenting
our message in just a moment.
He is a minister
for the Bona Church of Christ
in Bona, Missouri.
He is also an instructor at
the Bible Institute of Missouri,
and we're always thankful
when he joins us
to lead us in thoughts
of God's word.
Today, we will be continuing
our series concerning
the better things
from the Book of Hebrews.
Our specific lesson
of the day will deal with
a better endurance.
So please continue
with us this morning
and after our next song
together.
Brother Orr will return
with this study from God's word.
So, now, let's join 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
to the Lord 
>>  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 from the dead 
>>  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 heaven and earth 
>>  Jesus
is Lord of heaven and earth 
>>  Jesus is Lord
of heaven and earth 
>>  Jesus
is Lord of heaven and earth 
>>  Jesus is Lord,
Jesus is Lord 
 Jesus is Lord
of heaven and earth 
>>  Jesus
is Lord of heaven 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 
>> Thank you so much
for being here today
and tuning into the show
with us.
We thank you so much
that we are able to come to you
and in your home today and to
share with you the word of God.
When we think about the theme
that we have been looking at
for the past several weeks here
throughout the Book of Hebrews,
and today with are
on Hebrews Chapter 12.
And we get to look at
a better endurance,
and we think about looking at
our lesson
from Chapter 11 of Hebrews,
and that great chapter of faith,
and those that demonstrated
their faith,
everything that they did
about their faith was an action.
And it's no different as we
continue on through Chapter 12,
and we think about how Chapter
11 ends there in verses 38
and 39 of whom the world was
not worthy.
They wandered
in deserts and mountains
and dens and caves of the Earth,
and all these,
having obtained
the good testimony
through faith did
not receive the promise,
God having provided something
better for us,
that they should not
be made perfect apart from us.
They demonstrated their faith
in everything that they did.
And Chapter 12
of Hebrews picks right up
with the word therefore, and we
look at what came before this.
In thinking about
Hebrews Chapter 11
of everything that they did,
their actions on Earth,
and understanding
and realizing
that those actions led
to them having
that better possession,
as we saw a couple of weeks ago
with Brother Brent
in his lesson,
and we think about
that better possession,
that being heaven,
and therefore,
we think about those who are
all there in Hebrews Chapter 1.
And notice how the Hebrew
writer continues here
in Chapter 12 in verse 1.
He says, therefore, we also,
since we are surrounded by
so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight
and the sin
which so easily ensnares us
and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us.
Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross,
despising the chain,
and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
You notice there that word we.
He's talking about us today.
Therefore, we.
We look back and we see
those great heroes of faith
and everything that they did
and the way
that they lived their life,
that they were able to obtain
that greater possession.
In fact, if you go back
and you look at
in verse number 16
of Hebrews Chapter 11,
but now they desire a better,
that is a heavenly country,
and therefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God
for he has prepared a city
for them.
God is not ashamed, I love that,
that he is not ashamed
to be called their God.
Why? Because they endured
to the end.
That better endurance
that we look at
in our lesson today
from Hebrews Chapter 12
specifically here the first
couple of verses that we read,
notice that it's up
to you and I.
We demonstrate this great faith.
You know, when I was younger
in high school,
I ran cross country.
And our races were 3.1 miles.
We ran a 5K.
And there was a lot
of training that went into it,
and in that training
that we had to go through,
one of the days that we ran
each week was repeat day.
I hated repeat day.
We ran half mile repeats,
and you would run it as fast
and as hard as you could,
and when you got back,
you would take a couple of
seconds to take a deep breath,
and then you are right back
into it,
and it seemed like a couple
of seconds, perhaps.
We had about 30 seconds
between each one,
but it wasn't very long
that we had that break
to be able to catch your breath,
to be able to rest
until you were right back at it.
You kept going,
and you kept going time
after time after time,
and usually we would run 10
or 11 of those
at a practice each week,
and it was
so that we could make sure
that we kept that endurance.
It helped us to build endurance,
faster
and faster we went each time.
I think back to those days,
and I think about
my Christian life,
and the walk that I have today.
It takes endurance.
It is not a sprint.
But one thing that I remember
about those races is the people
that were cheering me on,
that I would come across
and around that course,
and there were different places
where spectators would stand.
And they would yell for you,
and they would tell you
that they're cheering for you
and they want you
to do a good job,
and they encourage you
to be able to push through
and to make it all the way
to the end.
You notice here that's what
the Hebrew writer gives
us a picture of.
In Hebrews, Chapter 12,
we are surrounding in verse 1 by
this great cloud of witnesses.
Those that we read about
in Hebrews Chapter 11.
Those like Noah and Abel,
Enik, Abraham,
even getting down to David,
and we think about all
of them sitting in a stadium,
sure that we've watched
a sporting event
on television before,
perhaps gone,
and you think about
that stadium,
and you're cheering
on your favorite team is there,
down there, playing their hearts
out and doing their best,
and the crowd is cheering them
on.
Well, think about that
with our Christian walk.
There are people cheering you
on.
Are you living your life in such
a way for them to cheer you on?
You think about that great cloud
of witnesses
that we read about here in
Hebrews Chapter 12 and verse 1.
Do we think about our own life
and what it looks like?
If people were looking
down on us and cheering us on,
would we be able to demonstrate
the endurance it takes?
We look at their example,
an example of what it takes now.
You know, nowadays,
I'm excited because my
two oldest children are in high
school, and I actually get to be
the assistant cross
country coach for them.
And so I get to go
to practice every day,
and I get to motivate a team
to be able to run
and to have that endurance
to make it.
I love
to go to cross country races
because I get to run all
over the course.
I get to go to a couple
of mile markers
and be able to shout
out times to them.
I would get to see them as
they run throughout the course
and to yell for them
and to yell for their teammates.
It's an exciting thing.
And it helps them,
I hope to be able to push
through
and to have the endurance
it's going to take
to get to the finish,
to get to the end.
And that's what we want is
for them to be able to do so,
to get the finish,
to get to the end.
And that's what we should want
in our spiritual life as well.
In Revelation 2, the last
sentence of verse number 10,
Jesus there speaking says
be faithful unto death,
and I will give you the crown
of life.
You know what it takes
to get there?
It takes endurance.
And what does that look like
for us?
We also think about verse number
two here of Hebrews Chapter 12,
Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith.
You understand that it means he
is the originator of our faith?
It's where our faith begins,
with him, believing
that he is the son of God.
And Romans chapter 10 and
verse 17 tells us
that faith comes by hearing,
hearing by the word of God.
John Chapter 1
and verse 1 tells us that
in the beginning was the word.
The word was with God.
The word was God.
You see it's him
where our faith begins.
He is the author,
the originator of our faith.
We think about that verse 2,
the author and finisher.
It is him that begins our faith,
and it's him we look to all
the way to the end of our faith
so that this life that we have,
to be able to have
that endurance,
to carry on so that we can
receive that greater possession.
When we think about all
that Jesus went through,
all that he did,
that he suffered the shame,
he endured the cross,
he despised the shame,
having set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
A perfect man
went to the cross for you and I,
those that were
not going to be perfect.
You see, he went to the cross
for our sake.
He endured a perfect life.
With everything that took place
with him,
I want you to think about
the person perhaps
in traffic this week
that pulled out in front of you.
What did you think about
that person?
Perhaps what did you even say,
or did you honk your horn
or shake your fist at them?
You know that Jesus never
would have done those things?
Instead, Jesus never had even
an ill thought about somebody,
an ungodly thought
about somebody,
let alone a foul word
or a cross word for somebody.
He despised everything that came
at him, he put up with.
We think about Jesus
and the life that he lived
and it continues
in verse number three there
of Hebrews Chapter 12.
It says, for consider him
who endured such hostility
from sinners against himself,
lest you become weary
and discouraged in your souls.
He endured.
He gives us that better example
that we see.
In First Peter Chapter 2,
there in verse number 21,
notice with me,
for to this you were called
because Christ also suffered
for us,
leaving us an example that
we should follow in his steps.
That's what Hebrews Chapter 12
and verse 3 is talking about,
that example that he set for us,
that example of suffering.
He endured it.
He went through it.
He made it through it
so that you and I
would have that opportunity
to be able to go to heaven.
We think about that offer
and finisher of our faith.
We think about Jesus
and what he did.
Everything that he endured
to be beaten, to be scourged,
to be thrown down onto a cross,
to be nailed to it,
to hang there for six hours.
We think about that crown
of thorns being beaten
into his head.
We think about those who stood
below him shaking their fists
at him, insulting him,
crying out at him.
He endured all of that.
He made it through everything
so that you
and I would have
that opportunity
to live eternally with him.
We have to endure.
If you look with me
at First Corinthians Chapter 9,
we think about what
we have to so as Christians
who endure to the very end.
In first Corinthians Chapter 9,
Paul writing
to the church or Corinth,
beginning in verse 24,
he says this.
Do you know that those who run
in a race all run
but one receives the prize.
Run in such a way
that you may obtain it,
and everyone who competes
for the prize is temperate
in all things.
Now, they do it
to obtain a perishable crown,
but we
for an imperishable crown.
Therefore, I run thus,
not with uncertainty.
Thus, I fight
not as one who beats the air,
but I discipline my body
and bring it into subjection
lest when I have preached
to others, I, myself,
should become disqualified.
We are to run in such a way
that we may obtain the prize.
It's not a sprint, friends.
It is-- it takes--
it's a marathon.
It takes time.
It takes endurance.
We are going to face things
in this life
that we are going to be
uncomfortable with.
We are going to face things
in this life
that are not going to be easy.
It wasn't easy for Jesus,
but he knew what was waiting
for him when this life was over.
And we, too, can know that better possession
that we can have
if we have that trust in God,
that faith in him,
and the endurance
to make it all the way
to the end.
There's the responsibility
that we have.
Look back with me
at Hebrews Chapter 12,
and I would invite you to go
down to the end of the chapter,
in verses 28 and 29.
It says, therefore,
since we are receiving a kingdom
which cannot be shaken,
let us have grace by which
we may serve God acceptably
with reverence in Godly fear,
for our God is a consuming fire.
You see, God means what he says.
Both the good and the bad.
For those who remain faithful
unto him, who endure to the end,
they're going to receive
the crown of life.
For those who choose not to,
for those who give up,
for those who never
even start that race,
let alone have the endurance
to the finish it,
their reward is
not going to be heaven.
Instead, they are going
to have torture and torment
for all eternity.
What will you look like
for all eternity?
What will your race be like?
Will you endure to the end
so that you too,
can obtain that crown of life,
so that you too can have
that better possession.
We must endure to the end.
 >> Someday you'll stand
at the bar on high 
 Someday your record
you'll see 
 Someday you'll answer
the question of life 
 What will your answer be? 
 What will it be? 
 What will it be? 
 Where will you spend
your eternity? 
 What will it be,
oh, what will it be? 
 What will your answer be? 
>>  What will it be? 
>>  Sadly, you'll stand
if you're unprepared 
 Trembling, you'll fall
on your knee 
 Facing the sentence of life
or of death 
 What will that sentence be? 
 What will it be? 
 What will it be? 
 Where will you spend
your eternity? 
 What will it be,
oh what will it be? 
 What will your answer be? 
>>  What will it be? 
>>  Now is the time to prepare,
my friend 
 Make your soul spotless
and free 
 Washed in the blood
of the Crucified one 
 He will your answer be 
 What will it be? 
 What will it be? 
 Where will you spend
your eternity? 
 What will it be,
oh what will it be? 
 What will your answer be? 
>>  What will it be? 
>> What a wondrous time we've
had together to participate
in the things
of God this morning.
Those things that pertain
to worshipping him.
I hope we have all been encouraged
through our time spent together,
but let me remind you
to join us each
and every Sunday morning
at 7:30 on the Lord's day
as we gather to 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 like a free transcript,
or a 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 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,
TheLivingWordProgam.com,
or if you prefer,
you may call us at
417-869-2284.
Are you striving to endure
in your walk
as a Christian each
and every day?
If not, why not choose today
and understand
how important it is
to follow this commandment
of God
and commit yourself fully
to enduring in what God demands?
Remembering that we have
every incentive to do so
because God always gives
a full reward
to those who choose
to endure to the end.
>> 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.
>>  To 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 
 Til night shall vanish...