Listeners are invited to ponder the alignment of their personal lives with God’s will. Through engaging content from our host and referenced articles, this episode challenges individuals to re-evaluate their worship practices in light of scripture. Discover the importance of returning to the foundations of the Bible, setting aside man-made doctrines, and embracing a life that truly honors God’s desires.
Friends, we need to know what God desires, and He lets us know that through His Word. So today, let’s think on doing what God desires. That’s our study from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
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Thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. Great having you with us, and we appreciate you, our listening audience. Hey, I’ve got a free online tool that I want to mention to you that you can use absolutely free. I’ve mentioned it before, but if you’ve not heard of gospelgazette.com, jot down that website. gospelgazette.com That’s one Z and two Ts, all one word, gospelgazette.com Now, when you go to their website, click on the Archive tab. You’ll see access to over 25 years of articles by Christian men and women. So please check them out at gospelgazette.com Now, speaking of articles, I’d like to share one with you today from my friend Chad Ramsey, and it’s titled, What God Desires. When I read this, I thought, man, what a great broadcast. Individuals are interested in their own desires, but they seldom stop and consider what God wants. Importantly, the Bible mentions several things that God wants. When we consider these desires, we find they revolve around man’s well-being. So, what does God desire?
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God desires for man to be saved. Paul made this plain when he described to Timothy how God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2, verse 4. Jesus also affirmed this point when he stated in Matthew 18, 14, “…it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Because of this desire, God made provisions for the salvation of humanity. He sent His Son to die upon the cross. Second, God desires the best for His children. Just as earthly parents want the best for their children, so our Heavenly Father wants what is best for us. This fact is made abundantly clear in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. When Jesus stated, If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him? Matthew 7, verse 11. One of the ways God makes provisions for us is by answering our prayers when they are offered according to His will. Thus, when our prayers are answered, it is an indication of God’s care. Please see Romans 8, verse 27. Third, God desires man to live righteously. Rather than living in a worldly manner, God wants His followers to be holy people. Paul stated, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12.2 And in his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote, For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality. 1 Thessalonians 4.3 God certainly has our best interest in mind. Let us therefore seek to serve Him. Yes, friends, it is great to know what God desires. Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloucester Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. We appreciate this article via the website centeredonchrist.com. And this is the website of articles, videos, and podcasts provided by Jameson Stewart. That’s centeredonchrist.com. Now, since we’re talking articles, here is our J-Web with our free periodical for this broadcast.
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Our free publication today is Reason and Revelation, a monthly journal courtesy of our friends at apologeticspress.org. International Gospel Hour has secured a limited supply of this awesome publication of apologetics well proven over 40 years. Get your free copy today by calling toll free at 855-444-6988. Leave your name and address and just say, Reason. That’s it. Again, that’s 855-444-6988. Leave your name and address and just say, Reason. You can also send your request through our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab and leave us your name and address and put Reason in the message box. We will send you a copy. Again, we have a limited supply, so get yours now.
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Now, continuing some article thoughts, here is another article from a good brother and friend, Eddie Gilpin, and it’s simply titled, Did That? The short phrase, did that, occurs 40 times in 40 verses in the Bible in the King James Version. The continuing phrase, did that which was right, occurs sixteen times in sixteen verses, and of these sixteen instances the statement, in the sight of the Lord or eyes of the Lord, follows fourteen of these. Hence, of these sixteen verses in which it is stated that the individual, under consideration, did that which was right, fourteen times it is stated that he did that which was right in the sight or eyes of the Lord. Interestingly enough, in the other two instances in which it is stated that someone did that which was right, it is followed by, in his own eyes, Judges 17, verse 5, and Judges 21, 25. Naturally, the outcome of these latter two differed greatly from the former 14. As is clearly revealed in the book of Judges, man’s doing that which is right in his own eyes leads him farther away and not closer to God. So consider then, that one may spend his entire life doing that which is right and still not be commended by God. For instance, as recorded in Matthew 7, 21-23, the Lord revealed, Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Now revealed here are individuals who did that which was right, but it was in their own eyes instead of in the sight or eyes of the Lord. The destiny of these individuals is the same as those in the days of the judges, a separation from God. Isaiah 59, 2. Even though each of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of what we did in life, 2 Corinthians 5, 10, it will be much more than just a matter of doing. We will be judged as to whether we did that which was right. Further, however, we will be judged as to whether we did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord or did that which was right in our own eyes. Man will not be the judge, hence man cannot set the standard of judgment. All who stand in opposition to the Lord’s teachings, by substituting those of man, will be condemned. Not because the did that which was right. but because they did that which was right in their own eyes. Man’s standards are not God’s standards. We must abide in and by His word if we are to receive His reward. Luke 6 verse 46, John 12 verse 48, Hebrews 5 and verse 9, and James 2 and verse 17. We must do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord. Now, friends, when I combine both of these articles that I’ve shared with you today, well, truly what God desires from us is to do right in the eyes of the Lord. That’s what God would desire. And, friends, we need to think on these matters. I love to challenge individuals. Think about where you worship. Think about how you worship. Think about the name of the place where you worship, and just for a few moments, place that in light of the Scripture and ask yourself, does it match up? Friends, we plead with individuals through our broadcast of the International Gospel Hour to not settle for the belief of denominationalism, which is man-made, but rather to turn back to the Bible and the Bible alone and to follow the church of which we read of in the New Testament. the church that is taught simply and plain, purposed in the mind of God, Ephesians 3, 9-12, prophesied of old, Isaiah 2, 2-3, promised by the Christ to build, Matthew 16, 18, and purchased by His blood, Acts 20, 28. Friends, we would encourage anyone to be a part of this church. We have a new Bible study that’s available by mail. We offer one by mail, but we have a new one called God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. We appreciate the good brethren from Beaufort, Georgia, and the use of this book. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s absolutely free. We’d love for you to receive it. We want you to look at it. We want you to study it and to ask yourself, how is my relationship with God and am I doing what God desires? So here’s all you do. Like with all of our offers, you can either call us toll free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name and address, and just say God and man. Or, you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab, and leave us the same information, your name, your address, and type God and man in the message box. It’s another new Bible study that is free from International Gospel Hour. So, from this broadcast today, friends, we will send you a free publication of Reason and Revelation, a free copy of God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin, We also let you know of the website gospelgazette.com with free material. Friends, we’re not interested in the money that we can receive from you. You will never hear us ask for your money. But we are interested in the things that belong to God and we are thankful for your interest in the things that be of God. We want to put aside the denominational teaching, the synods, the manuals. We want to put away the man-made thinking and just simply go back to the Bible and see what the Bible has to say. Please join us in that journey for each and every time we are here at International Gospel Hour, such is our desire. Let’s always follow what God desires. And we’ll continue these studies together at another time. Thank you for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie and friends, keep listening.
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May this study prompt your search of God’s word for his will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.
