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Do we go to God our Father when we don’t want anything, j ust to be near Him ? , :,i(t^SELECTED. MARCH 24, 1935 How Does God Guide People Today? R o m a n s 8:12-14 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn—“He Leadeth M e: O Blessed Thought.” Prayer. Hymn—“Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me.” • Scripture—Romans 8 :12-14. Violin Solo. Leader’s Message. Luther pronounced the book of Romans “the chief book o f the New Testament and the purest Gospel.” Godet described it as “the cathedral of the Christian faith.” Our lesson is from a chapter which is in some respects the climax of the epistle to the Romans. Every Endeavorer should memorize this eighth chapter. In our passage, verses 12 to 14, we have the “flesh” , life contrasted with the “spiritual” life. Most solemn is the decla ration that “if ye live after the flesh; ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Then the great truth follows: “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” This verse is seen to follow in natural sequence, for we perceive that putting to death the deeds o f the body by the Spirit is an evidence o f one’s being led by the Spirit. Following the leading o f the Spirit is the only way to be pleasing to God, for “they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” The “ flesh” is the Biblical term re ferring to the whole of the natural or un regenerate man. If we are sons o f God, we will long to keep His commandments. And one o f these is : “ Let not sin there fore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Dr. J. M. Stifler has expressed the case thus: “The believer in Christ is not in the flesh, but the flesh is in him; and the problem of salvation is not how to transmute the flesh into something good, but how to live with this devilish thing every day without being overcome by it. The presence of the Spirit solves the problem.” The more fully the believer yields to the guidance o f the Holy Spirit, the less in sistent will the flesh be, for “know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom. 6:16). Let us consciously seek the guid ance of the Spirit o f God. Leader’s Helps I. H e C h o s e T h is P a t h for T h e e He chose this path for thee, No feeble chance, nor hard, relentless fate; But love—His love hath placed thy foot steps here; He knew the way was rough and des olate— Knew how thy heart would often sink with fear. Yet tenderly He whispered, “ Child, I see This path is best for thee.” Testimonies. Quiet Hour. Hymn—“Where He Leads Me.” Benediction—Numbers 6:24-26. Meditation on the Lesson
ers for whom Christ died. Jesus said: “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matt. 7:3). The closing portion of verse 16 may cause some confusion, but in the light of the general teaching of God’s Word, the meaning becomes clear. Timothy’s taking heed to his life could not be accomplished by human power. And his own life, how ever holy it might become, would be inad equate to “ save” his hearers. But his dili gence in seeking the Lord’s power and cleansing, and his continuance in “doc trine” (R. V., “teaching” ) would by the grace of God issue in spiritual fruitage. God would bless His Word to the hearers. It is such a standard for which the world watches in the ministry o f -those' who represent the Lord Jesus Christ. Leader’s Helps I. F ou rfo ld S t e w a r d s h ip An old writer, speaking of men as stew ards of God, urges upon them as wise traders and servants to look to themselves carefully and take care of four houses which are under their charge: 1. Their warehouse, or heart and mem ory, wherein they should store up precious things, holy affections, and the like. _ 2. Their workhouse, or their actions wherein they retail to others 'for God’s glory the grace intrusted to them, teach ing the ignorant, comforting the poor, vis iting the sick. W e must be active, or we canno( be acceptable servants. 3. Their clock house, meaning their speech, which must always, like a well- timed bell, speak the truth accurately; and meaning also their observance o f time, as they redeem it by promptly doing the du ties of every hour. W e must use time well, or our spiritual gains will be small. 4. Their counting house, or their con science, which is to be scrupulously watch ed and no false reckonings allowed, lest we deceive our own souls. The Master will call for our accounts:» let us keep them honestly. — C h a r l e s H a d d o n S p u r g e o n . II. P o w e r f r o m t h e H e ig h t s In driving piles, a machine is used by which a huge weight is lifted up and then made to fall on the head o f the pile. O f course, the higher the weight is lifted, the more powerful is the blow. Now if we would tell upon our age, we must see to it that we are uplifted as near to God as possible. All our power will depend upon the elevation o f our spirits. Prayer, meditation, communion, and devotion are like a windlass to wind us up aloft; it is not lost time which we spend in such sacred exercises, for we are thus accumu lating force, so that when we come down to our actual labor for God, we shall des cend with an energy unknown to those to whom communion in unknown. — C h a r l e s H a d d o n S p u r g e o n . III. F e l l o w s h ip A little boy used always to come to his father with everything. It happened one day that the father was engaged in his study when the little boy came to him. When the father heard the well-known tap at the study door, he said, “ Come in,” and the child entered. “Well, my little man; what do you want now ?” “ Nothing, Papa; I only want to be with you,” he replied as he made his way to the corner o f the room and remained quietly alone with his father.
FULL REDEMPTION SONGS Compiled and edited by REV. GEORGE BENNARD (Author of “The Old Rugged Cross”} One church organization has already placed its orders for thirty thousand copies. A 192-page book. The best all purpose song book to be found any where. The choicest of the old hymns and gospel songs. Great choruses for your church choir, an unusual selection of songs for boys' and girls' meetings and for Sunday school work. Some rich solos and duets. Priced for the times. 25c per copy in manila, 35c in cloth. $17.50 per 100 in manila, 27.50 in cloth. Not prepaid. Address Dept. K. B. The Bennard Music Company 108 West Porter Street, Albion, Michigan SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS that TEACH THE BIBLE for every department of Y O U R Sunday School — Nursery, Beginners' Primary, Junior, Intermediate, Young Peoples' and Adult Departments. FREE PROSPECTUS of Department in which you are interested and full information on CHRIST - CENTERED TRUE-TO-THE-BIBLE Graded and Uniform Lessons will be mailed on request. £ P P £ | A I in c lu d e s 65c worth of O E actual teaching materials V e tte r an
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