International Gospel Hour

Jeff Archey: The blessed hymn says, "Oh, how marvelous! Oh, how wonderful!" Let's talk about the wonderful works of God. Today, from the International Gospel Hour, stay tuned.

Jay Webb: Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For almost 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 Archey of International Gospel Hour, starting now.

Jeff Archey: As always, dear friends, a thank you to our Jay Webb for his kind remarks and greetings to all of you. How good it is to have you join us today for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. As of this recording, for almost 90 years, we have been on the air. We are blessed to be the longest-running radio broadcast within churches of Christ, and we hope that our study of the word of God is of great encouragement to you and, dear friends, to help you with direction in your life.

We have many of you that request study material from our broadcast or reading material. Please know that everything we offer to you is absolutely free, and we love to hear from our listeners. So if you have a moment and it is convenient, our toll-free number is 1-855-IGH-6988 or 855-444-6988. Please give us a call. We would love to hear where you are hearing our broadcast from.

Also, if we can be of help to you and keep you in prayer or whatever the case might be, know this: we're interested in the things that be of God as you are or you would not join us today. For our broadcast today, we're going to consider the theme, "The Wonderful Works of God." I want to do something a little different in the broadcast, our weekly broadcast, if you will. We're going to spend a few moments in the reading of the scripture. Now, there may be various amounts of scriptures we will read or maybe one certain text.

Then I'm going to break down our broadcast into two study segments. That way, if you only hear the scripture reading and you can no longer listen or you're driving and you're getting out of your car, you'll get a complete mini-broadcast, if you will. If you're able to hear the first and the second part, or maybe you've just gotten in your car and you're going to be driving for a while, you can hear the whole broadcast. I want to try this and see how this works. That way we can look at three different areas or three different things of which we can study each time.

So I'm going to give this a try for a while and see how it goes. I mentioned our Jay Webb moments ago. Jay will be back momentarily. He will be talking with you about our free booklet that we have called, "Something is Wrong, but the Bible is Right." You'll hear a little bit more about our broadcast and a little bit of the history. Then our friends at the World Bible School have a wonderful online Bible study available, and Jay will tell you about that later in the broadcast. But for now, let's give attention to certain scriptures that speak of the wonderful works of God.

How about Psalm 40:5? "Many, O Lord my God, are your wonderful works, which you have done, and your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to you in order. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." In Psalm 78:4: "We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength and his wonderful works that he has done."

In Psalm 107:8, as well as verses 15, 21, and 31, we read: "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men." Now, to bring in a thought there, dear friends, consider that the psalmist through inspiration penned that same verse four times. Do you think there is emphasis there? "And let men give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men."

You know, we may be at our highest moment and feel like we're doing pretty well. Let's give thanks to the Lord that we are there. Or we may be in one of the lowest moments of our lives. Let's give thanks to the Lord for his goodness to help us come up from there, because his wonderful works are available to the children of men. Psalm 119:27: "Make me understand the way of your precepts, so shall I meditate on your wonderful works."

Let's add these together and let's sum it up. His wonderful works are more than can be numbered, worthy for every generation, and we can understand his wonderful works through the precepts, his word, his commands. We can see his wonderful works and the things therein. So today, friends, we're going to come back in a few moments and discuss the wonderful works of God. But first, we're going to do so with his precepts, the word of God. Speaking of the word of God, we have a special free booklet that is quite popular among our listeners. We'd love to send it to you. Jay Webb will tell you a little bit more about it.

Jay Webb: Good folks, please allow us to send a special free booklet called "Something is Wrong, but the Bible is Right." This is a study that clears away a lot of the confusion in the religious world and allows us to see that the Bible is always right. Just call toll-free at 1-855-IGH-6988 and leave your name, 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. Now, back to our study.

Jeff Archey: Yes friends, we think you'll find the tract "Something is Wrong, but the Bible is Right." It's a small booklet, and it was put together by our friends of the White Oak Church of Christ in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at this recording well over 70 years ago. They've done a wonderful job with that booklet and have reprinted it through the years. We think you'll find it profitable and it doesn't cost a thing. So we look forward to hearing from you.

Now friends, for our segment, consider with me First Chronicles 16:8-12. Let's go back to the Old Testament. As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 15:4, these are the things written for our learning, that through patience and comfort of the scriptures we might have hope. Through that patience and that comfort, we are able to learn from the characters of the Old Testament. We know from Adam and Eve that we need to be obedient unto God and not listen to Satan. We know that through Moses we're able to learn of faithfulness and endurance and to press onward, carrying and watching God's promises every step of the way.

What we learn from Abraham, as he is called the father of the faithful and how the teaching of Abraham in Romans 4 and Galatians 3 teach and comfort us that through Abraham, all seed should be blessed and through the seed of Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:16 and 19. Oh, the thrilling reading of the Psalms, if you will, and also to learn of the kings, the evil kings, the good kings in the days of Israel and in the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. Oh, to read the prophets who would write of the things that be of God and who would tell of those things that would come that we are able to see in the New Testament. Dear friends, the things were written aforetime were indeed written for our learning.

So let's learn from First Chronicles 16:8-12. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing psalms to him, talk of all his," watch it, "wondrous works! Glory in his holy name, let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face evermore! Remember his marvelous works which he has done, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth." Oh my friends, what a prayer and what praise in that prayer.

You know, to begin a prayer by giving thanks to the Lord, that's a beautiful way to begin a prayer. I want to tell you about a friend who has passed on and who is now resting in the bosom of Abraham, if you will. I want to tell you about a beloved friend by the name of Ernie. Ernie was a good encouragement to me and I'm grateful for his friendship. He's been gone a number of years. But I remember in a Bible class we were discussing prayer, and he raised his hand and he commented that as he begins a prayer, he has to take the time to thank God for all he has given him before he would ask of God anything.

I thought, "Wow!" You know friends, that has stayed with me through the years. That has been one of those comments that's engraved in your heart that you just hold on to. To begin a prayer of thanking God for all that he has done. My wife and I, we pray together each morning and I read an article—let me make it that way—I read an article once about what to pray for daily, and it would match up the request with the day of the week. For example, on Monday, we pray about the message, the gospel. On Tuesday, we pray about teaching, the people that are used to do so.

On Wednesday, we pray for Washington or for our government, our state, national, and local leaders in the United States. Also, I pray on Thursday, we call that thanksgiving day, to just spend a little more time in thanking and praising God for what he's given us. On Friday, we pray for family. On Saturday, we pray for saints and shut-ins as we prepare for Sunday when we assemble with the saints to worship. Hope that little thought will help you think about your prayer life.

But going back to being thankful, what a way to begin a prayer. Then in the prayer to seek the Lord and his strength, to seek the things that will help you and I. When one prays to God, how we can reach out to him knowing he is the Almighty. And the wondrous works or the marvelous works, the wonderful works of God. What a wonderful thought. Now, let's move from the Old Testament to the New Testament in Acts chapter 2.

We come to Acts 2 when the Jews and the proselytes have assembled for the Feast of Pentecost. We learn in Acts 2:9-11 a number of people: the Parthians and the Medes and the Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. The Holy Spirit had come upon the apostles and they're preaching the wonderful works of God.

Well, when we go back to Luke 24, beginning with verse 44, Luke's account of the Great Commission, Jesus said unto his apostles, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms concerning me." Oh friends, the things are written aforetime, shall we say. And he opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures. Then he said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry or remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Well, we know they went back to Jerusalem in Acts 1:12, and here in Acts chapter 2, the power had come upon these apostles, the power of the Holy Spirit. So here they are preaching in the tongues, the languages that those that assembled could hear. And when the preaching of Christ pricked their hearts or struck them in the heart in Acts 2:37, they asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" You know, Peter had told them, "You have crucified this same Jesus both Lord and Christ. Here's what you did."

And they said, "What shall we do?" And Acts 2:38, "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." Dear friends, that answer in verse 38 parallels beautifully with what Jesus said in Luke 24:47, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem, and it happened that very day. What a wonderful fulfillment.

So in Acts 2:41, what happened? "Then those who gladly received his word," the word of Peter, the word of the preaching of the apostles, "were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." Friends, they were added by obedience to God. They were not chosen or voted on by man. Then at the end, please note Acts 2:47 where we see the word "church." People who were praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Do you suppose they were grateful for the wonderful works of God? Dear friends, we are grateful how one can be added to the church we read of in the New Testament.

Jay Webb: Since 1934, the International Gospel Hour has been heard over the radio and to God be the glory. We are blessed to remain on the air through gracious giving of congregations of churches of Christ, faithful Christians, and devoted friends. That's why you will never hear us asking for money from you, our listeners. Our offers of material and study aids are absolutely free. We want you to grow in the knowledge of the word of God. Thank you always for listening.

Jeff Archey: And now friends, let's go back to Acts 2:47 for our third segment that says, "praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Now dear friends, might we ask: what church are we speaking of? Which church? Friends, it would have to be the one of which Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18. Would it interest you to know that this church of which we are speaking is not a denomination? That Jesus died to save man, but he did not die to purchase every denomination. He did die to purchase his church of which he promised.

In Matthew 16:13, the Bible says when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

Now friends, if I take the Bible and the Bible only and do what it says, and if I do what they did on Pentecost that we studied in our first segment, can I be added to the same church? Yes indeed, without a doubt. Can I be added to the church that Jesus promised to build? Yes. Now friends, if I am a member of that church, can I be certain of the blessings and the salvation and the redemption that is in Christ? Absolutely.

You know, when we look on the day of Pentecost, we can simply see that they heard what was preached. I mean, they had to hear it in order to believe it. We know that they believed in God because they were assembling together at a feast that God had commanded. We have no doubt there was faith on the day of Pentecost, and without faith, well, it is impossible to please God according to Hebrews 11:6. For he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Now I understand that when I believe in God, friends, that belief by itself is simply not enough. True biblical faith moves us toward obedience, and when Peter said repent, if they would have failed to repent, their faith would not have done them any good. Because they believed in God, they were embracing the teaching of God, and as Jesus taught that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, that's a clear command. And also Jesus taught repentance in Luke 13:3 and Luke 13:5.

And when we repent of our sins and confess him, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 10:32, we find Peter making the confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And we even find later in Acts 8:37 the eunuch making that confession of his faith. And then friends, on the day of Pentecost, they were baptized into Christ. They were baptized for the remission of sins. Was water used here? Yes. We learn later that water was used in baptism with the eunuch in Acts 8. Why, even John the Baptizer, John the Baptist used water to immerse.

And studies and research of archaeologists—is that the word I'm looking for? Those that are searching for the earth, those involved in geology—let me be a little more accurate there, words are not coming to me at the moment, but how they have found around Jerusalem deep-rooted or deeply built by stone baptistries for immersion. That's rather interesting. They were baptized for the remission of sins, for their sins to be washed away, Acts 22:16, and added to the church.

Friends, it's that simple. And then one that is baptized is raised to walk in a newness of life, Romans 6:4-6. One is placed in Christ when one is baptized, Galatians 3:27, added to the church based upon one's faith, repentance, confession, and baptism. Yes friends, it's that simple. It's the wonderful works of God and how grateful we are that they have come to us that we may be obedient unto him. We're going to pause one more time as our Jay Webb will come back. And we'd like to encourage you between broadcasts to engage in personal Bible study, and our friends at the World Bible School have a great online course that you may find of interest. We'd like for you to try it, and here are the details from our Jay Webb.

Jay Webb: Our friends at World Bible School have a wonderful online Bible study available and it is free. That's right, it's free. Please visit worldbibleschool.org and register. You will be provided a study helper who can answer questions and provide feedback for your lessons. Please sign up today. That's the free online study at worldbibleschool.org.

Jeff Archey: And dear friends, we hope that that online study will be of interest to you, that you can go online at your convenience and register at worldbibleschool.org. It's been a good broadcast today, and we hope that you'll contact us for the free booklet, "Something is Wrong, but the Bible is Right." Again, that's 855-IGH-6988 or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com through our contact tab and leave us the same information, whichever works best for you.

We're grateful to come to you once again with our studies today, and we hope that the breakdown of our studies has been of interest to you, and we're going to do this for a while and let's see how things work. Again, we would love to hear from you, so feel free to reach out to us. But how thankful we are to talk about the wonderful works of God and to see the salvation that is in Jesus Christ. Only in Christ and in his church will we have the salvation, the redemption, and the spiritual blessings that are only available in Christ, Ephesians 1:3. Let's continue our studies together another time, shall we? Thanks for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour radio broadcast. I am Jeff Archey and friends, keep listening.

Jay Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today. To God goes all the glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to his word, to walk in his way. To listen to it again or other broadcasts, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. God be with you till we meet again.