International Gospel Hour

Jeff Archey: A good name is to be more desired than great riches, according to Proverbs 22, verse one. Oh, friends, to have a good name, a good reputation, one of good influence. Well, let's pursue such today with our studies from the International Gospel Hour. Please stay right here.

J Webb: Hi, this is J Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Well, greetings to all of you. So great having you with us today. We appreciate also our J Webb and his kind words, and we appreciate him sharing with you some materials of which you can study and things of which you can access through our work here at International Gospel Hour. We appreciate our listeners who desire to pursue the truth and to know the truth as Jesus stated, such is possible from John 8:31 through 32. May we seek God's word with an honest heart and diligently to do the things that He desires us to do.

A few moments ago, I mentioned Proverbs 22 and verse one: "A good name is to be more desired than great riches." But let me conclude that verse: "Favor is better than silver and gold." You know, we hear the names of family and friends and coworkers and acquaintances on a daily basis. We hear names, and when we hear an individual's name, it quickly suggests their character, their reputation, their influence of how they live and how they walk.

And you know, sometimes one's name is mentioned, that's beneficial and good, but other times, one's name is a great tragedy. Things that come to mind are simply not favorable. Now I want you to think with me for a moment. When your name is called, friends, what do people think? When my name is called, I wonder what people think. In 1 Peter 4:14 through 16, Peter has much to say about the reputation of the Christian.

He says, "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." When the Spirit and glory of God and the Spirit of God rest upon us, then let the glorifier shine through, dear friends. God helps one's name. God helps one's reputation, to which we can say, "Amen."

So today, let's talk about when your name is called and look at a few names from the Scripture. But first, are you looking for any previous broadcast? Are you thinking, "You know, I remember there was a lesson that you did?" Well, you can find those, and here is how you can easily find our previous broadcast from our J Webb.

J Webb: Hello friends, the "previous shows" tab is available at our website, internationalgospelhour.com, and also available on several podcast platforms. Maybe we are on your favorite podcast site. Just search for International Gospel Hour and you can find previous broadcasts. They are always there 24/7 for you to listen or even to download either at our website or your favorite podcast site. Check it out today.

Jeff Archey: When the name of Adam is called, what do we think? Well, we can think he's the first man, for in Genesis 1:27, "And God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." We may think about the Garden of Eden where in Genesis 2 and verse 8, "The Lord God planted a garden toward the east in Eden, and there he placed the man whom he had formed." And later in verse 15, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it."

Well, we may also think about the first sin. In Romans 5 and verse 12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." When we hear the name of Adam, we may think he's the first man, the Garden of Eden, the first sin. There are a number of things that come to mind. But let's think about this. In Romans 5 and verse 15, Paul says, "But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many." So when we think of Adam, eventually let's think about Christ.

When the name of Job is called, what do we think? Now when we're introduced to Job in Job chapter one, verses one through three, he's referred to as a good man and as a rich man. We also think of one who suffered greatly. For in Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." This is when he lost his children. We think about Job and his patience, his endurance. For in James 5:11, "Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."

Maybe you think about Job as being blessed because as we read the rest of the account and how it ends, in Job 42 and verse 12, "And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand camels and a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand female donkeys." When we read that book, what do we think about Job? Well, we think about one who rose above because of his faith in God. And friends, we will rise above when we are faithful to Christ and we live for Him.

Here's a third one. When the name of Judas is called, what do we think? Well, we can easily think that he was one of the twelve that Jesus had chosen. For in Acts 1 and verse 25, it mentions of his ministry and apostleship. And he's always distinguished from Judas, not Iscariot. There is always the distinguished description there as they mention which Judas. And I'm thinking of the one who was the betrayer. In Matthew 26, verses 23 and 24, Jesus says there at the Last Supper, "He who dipped his hand with me in the bowl is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man is to go just as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."

And we learn that he was the guide to those who arrested Jesus. We see that in the Gospel accounts, but that's also mentioned in Acts 1 and verse 16 when they are looking at replacing Judas because Judas hanged himself. Matthew 27:3 through 5. I think of the challenging, stunning words of Jesus in Luke 22:48: "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" The end result is we think of Judas as one who betrayed Christ, and we must learn a lesson from his reputation that we not betray Christ.

Here's a last one. When the name of Jesus is called, what do we think? Oh, friends, this could go on and on and on. We think of Him as the Son of God as Peter declared in Matthew 16 and verse 16. We think of Him as a teacher, which was the word most used to address Him. In Acts 10 and verse 38, Peter says Jesus went about doing good. We think of how sinless He was, for in 1 Peter 1:18 through 21: "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers..." How are we redeemed, Peter? "With the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

We think about His death, His burial, and resurrection from 1 Corinthians 15:1 through 4. And how Paul takes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and runs a parallel of those who are dead in sin, one is then buried in baptism and raised to walk in a newness of life. Romans 6:3 through 6. In 1 Corinthians 11 and verse one, we're taught by Paul, "Be a follower of me as I also am of Christ." So we must make certain that we are following Christ and that our light would shine on His behalf.

Now, friends, let's wrap this up a little more. When your name is called, what do people think? Do they think of your reputation, your home, your education level, your workplace, your community, your church? What do they think? But friends, as we noted earlier from 1 Peter 4:14 through 16, does your name reflect the name of the Lord? Friends, we'd like for you to think on these matters, and we'd like for you to study these matters on your own to make certain when your name is called, what do people think? But also to keep in mind that one day our name will be called on the Day of Judgment. Will we be prepared? Here is our J Webb with our free Bible course by mail just for you.

J Webb: Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say "home study." 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 "home study" in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it's free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

Jeff Archey: And friends, we are delighted to share with you a number of materials to help you in your study of the Word of God. You can also refer to our previous broadcast on our website as J mentioned. But let us also send you that free Bible course by mail that we have sent to so many individuals to help you in your study and your search of the Word of God. We appreciate you listening, and we hope that you'll join us once again as we continue our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. Thank you for joining me today. We'll continue these studies further. I'm Jeff Archey, and friends, as always, keep listening.

J Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.