In this episode of the International Gospel Hour, Jeff Archie guides us through the profound lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, particularly focusing on how Jesus compares the birds of the air to humanity in terms of value and divine provision. Through various scriptures, Jeff elaborates on the concepts of forgiveness, abundant life, and the importance of letting one’s light shine in the world, encouraging listeners to embrace these truths in their everyday lives.
Jesus said, Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? A great text. Well, a text that is valuable. And that is our study today, just ahead from the International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ.
SPEAKER 01 :
Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you always to our J-Web. And greetings and hello, everyone. It’s great having you with us again for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. Let’s return to what we just mentioned. From Matthew 6 and verse 26, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? We love the teachings of Jesus. He was indeed the greatest preacher that ever lived and also noted as the Master Teacher. And do we not also love the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7, called the greatest sermon ever preached, from where our lesson text comes forth that provides the question today, Are you not of more value than they? Referring to the birds of the air. God provides for them, and we are of more value. Let’s see some values that God grants to us, and that’s our study today that we’ll begin in just a moment. But first, we would all agree there is value in studying the Word of God, as our J-Web shares with us some news from our friends at the World Video Bible School.
SPEAKER 02 :
World Video Bible School is at wvbs.org. That’s wvbs.org. You can check out over 2,400 videos on a number of biblical subjects, and you can also enroll in their online school and work at your pace. And friends, it’s absolutely free. That’s wvbs.org. Again, that’s wvbs.org.
SPEAKER 01 :
Are you not of more value? You are forgiven. Think about it. We can be forgiven individuals, just like those on the day of Pentecost who were forgiven of their past sin. When Peter told them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 1 and verse 7, speaking of Christ in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. And oh, what about the wonderful teaching concerning the new covenant, the covenant of which we live under, that in Hebrews 8 and verse 12, I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more. The beauty of past sins, a life that is taken away when one is obedient to the gospel. There’s even forgiveness of present sin. In 1 John 1 and verse 7, writing to the Christian, If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. And if we say we have no sin, we make him a liar, and his truth is not in us. But listen to what he tells the Christian, But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He’s able to do that because the Christian is walking in the light, having the advocate, Jesus Christ, 1 John 2 and verse 1, who pleads on their behalf. The assurance of Hebrews 4, 14 through 16, seeing then that we have a great high priest which has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confessions. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Ecclesiastes chapter 2 expresses a simple phrase in light of all the world’s riches. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor which I had told. And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2 and verse 11. You see, all the things that we may attain on this earth, we can build them all up, we can have all the riches, but they cannot buy us forgiveness. But you see, we are of more value, friends, because we are individuals who God will forgive when we come to Him in simple faith with a repentant heart, confessing that faith, Baptism into Christ for the remission of sins. Added to his church. Walking in the light. Forgiven and continually forgiven as one walks faithfully. That’s valuable. Second, let’s ask again. Are you not of more value? You live abundantly. You know, Jesus in John 10, the latter part of verse 10 into verse 11, said, I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Abundance. Jesus said, I come to have, you can have not only life, but an abundant life. Think about it. There’s abundance in one’s purchase. 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 20, and reminded again in chapter 7 and verse 23, you are bought with a price. The purchase price of the blood of Christ, what a great price paid, an abundant life. How for the Christian there is abundance within the prayer of the Christian. You see the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers. 1 Peter 3 verse 12. And in 1 Peter 5 and verse 7 we’re reminded of how we should cast our cares upon him for he cares for us. To the church, the Christians at Philippi, in Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. Abundance, oh yes, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. There is an abundance in one’s purchase, one’s prayer, one’s perception. I love Luke 14, 27 and 28 when Jesus says, And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you intending to build a tower sits not down first and counts the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it? You sit down and you evaluate what is before you. And to think all that is before one with this abundant life. Are you not of more value? Absolutely. You can be forgiven. You can live abundantly. Here’s a third one. Are you not of more value? You allow your light to shine. The value of an individual. Take an individual who is forgiven by Christ. An individual who lives abundantly in Christ. that individual is going to be valuable to the home, to the community, to wherever they may be. You know, in Matthew 5, verses 14 through 16, the passage that says, You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel or a basket, but rather will put it on a candlestick that it gives light to all that are in the house. Therefore let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Individuals can see the difference in your life as one who is forgiven and who lives abundantly. Now think about the value to one’s nation. You know, Proverbs 14, 34 says, Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Think of the impact of individuals who allow their forgiven and abundant life to shine that they indeed are of great value to one’s nation. Think about one’s value to other people. The influence that people have in the lives of others. I’m reminded of a dear friend that has passed from this life, Brother Wendell Winkler, who passed a number of years ago, and he had written material dealing with influence. And the first chapter was simply titled, Influence, well, you have it. How we can influence other people. 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 33, Be not deceived, evil communication corrupt good manners. how things can come upon us and lead us away from God, but yet the impact that we have in the lives of other people. In 1 Peter 3, beginning with verse 1, of how the women conduct their lives, and that how husbands, without the word, can be converted by the lives of their wives. I’m reminded of a congregation of a church of Christ in Kentucky. And all the elders, the overseers of that congregation, those men, all of them had wives that converted them from the world. What a beautiful thought. And the power of that influence. You see, we can never forget our influence upon others. We never know who’s watching. We never know who’s listening. And we need to be greatly concerned with that. Friends, I will not kid you. When people listen to our broadcast around the world in a variety of different ways, I have to be careful with what I’m doing and strive to be the very best that I can be and to help direct people to the Word of God. And I’m grateful for that opportunity. Friends, how thankful we are that we can be of value. And we are. We’re of more value than the birds of the air. And God provides. He provides forgiveness, abundant living, and for lights to shine in the world. I’m going to pause and share with you a good little study booklet that I think will be of help to help us indeed be people of more value. Here’s our J-Web with the details, and I’ll come back and wrap up our broadcast today.
SPEAKER 02 :
In a world of division and even confusion in the religious world, friends, please know this. The Bible is always right. The free booklet, Something is Wrong, But the Bible is Right, is available from International Gospel Hour. Please call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, your address, and just say, Bible Tract. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Bible Tract in the message box. We will get it to you right away.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, are you not of more value? Indeed, friends, yes we are. How thankful we are for the God that looks upon us and will provide. And let us continue these studies at another time. Thanks for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time.
