March 1926
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
130 eyes upon them we have abundant reason for dlsheartenment, for we have no might against this great com pany; but our eyes are toward— Whom? toward Him "who is the head (the primate) of all principality and power”— the superior officer to whom all principalities and powers are sub ordinated.* (Col. 2:10.) There is. then. One who is mightier than they. Mighty they may be and are, and even terrifying in their might, but He is ALL-mighty. To Him has been “ given all power and authority in Heaven and in earth,”— “ and He is with us all the dayB, even to the end of the age!” This primacy of authority, this su periority, He holds by a three-fold warrant: (1) By virtuenpf CREATION. For (Col. 1:16) "by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or prin cipalities or powers,— all things were created by Him. (Compare John 1 :3 ). And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (or are held together.) These dreaded principal ities and powers, then, are the crea tures of His hand, and His primacy rests upon His having CREATED them. (2 ) This primacy rests upon the right of CONQUEST. (Col. 2:15) “ Having spoiled— (apekdusamenos,— having put off, shaken from Him, as a mighty athlete hurls from Him one by one weaker assailants), the principal ities and powers, He made a show of them openly, (held them up to deri sion and contempt), triumphing over them in His cross.” They,have already felt His superiority.' Conquered, they cringe at tfiei feet of their Master,— are bound tb His chariot wheels in triumph. I (Eph. 4 :8 ) He is their ac knowledged Master. (Mark 1:24-27; 5:7-13, 9:25.)
Therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy (instead of lamenta tions of gloomy apprehension and despair). I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Jehovah!” (Psa. 27:6). One thing yet remains as a neces sary corollary to all the above, (Rom. 8:31-39): “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (They that are for ns are far more than they that are with them.) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuad ed that neither death, nor ■ life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things in the future, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor. 16:67). “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable (by the motions of sins in the flesh, bringing us, alas, too often into captivity; un dismayed by the roaring billows of evil, or the darkening clouds full of dread possibilities on the horizon)— always abounding in the work of the Lord, (going on undaunted in the work and duty assigned, as the occa sion calls), forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Hallelujah! “ Who then is there among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light. Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God!” “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee!” Nay, “ I will trust and not be afraid!” Surely herein have we “ An Antidote to Pessi mism!”
(3 ) More than that, "God hath highly exalted Him, raised Him from the dead,' and set Him at His own right hand, far above all principality and power and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this, but in the coming age, (so by OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT He hath been exalted to this primacy over them) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.” “ Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. Now in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him." (Heb. 2 :8 ). Not only so, but (Eph. 2:4-7) “ God who is rich in mercy for His great love wherewith He loved us, quickened us who were dead in trespasses and in sins, together with Christ, and raised us up together with Him, and set us together with Him in the heavenlies," (That is where our dreaded foes, the spiritual hosts of wickedness are, “ in the heavenlies,"— but He is “ far above all principalities and powers,” Eph. 1 :21 )— “ that in the coming ages He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us, in Christ Jesus.” So, not' only Is He “ the Captain of our salvation,” far above our enemies, but we also with Him, through the unfathomable grace of God, are exalted to the same high position of superior ity; and these powerful foes, these hosts of wicked spirits, are "beneath our feet!”—cringing at the foot of the throne which we share with Him, their Conqueror, their acknowledged Mas ter! Now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me for “ He hath set me up upon a rock, and put a new song in my mouth (sup planting the dirge of Rom. 7:24).
MÈ É i Sii?
T H E L O V E O F H I S A P P E A R I N G William Olney, Champion Hill, England
The task He has given I gladly pursue, And keep through my labors His glory in view; But welcome the day, when the wages are given— He comes to appoint me my mansion in heaven. I would not be slothful nor sadly repine, Life’s furnace I trust will the pure gold refine; But how grateful the hour when I wipe the last tear, And the Bridegroom at last for His bride will appear!
Amid the temptations which Satan suggests, As my soul he would lead to obey his behests, My strength against all is this happy refrain— “ My Lord who redeemed me is coming again!” The burdens I bear are a troublesome load, And many the thorns in Life’s wilderness road; But I lift up my heart in a glorious song— “ The Lord whom I love will be here before long!”
Then come, my Redeemer! my King! and my Friend! Thine advent my toils and my troubles will end: Good-bye to all sinning, to sorrow and pain! Yes, “ Jeeus is coming— IS COMING AGAIN!”
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