Hints and Helps
Return of a Renegade Luke 15:11-32.
tional. Said as the customary; the proper; the expected thing to say. Prayer should ■be spontaneous; to the occasion; the day’s experience. Prayer should be “ found in the heart,” not the prayer book. We should pray, not “say,” our-prayers. 4. Not Spiritual. We pray and receive not because: see James 4 :3. Get the eye off the body, temporal; fix on the soul and eternal. 5. N ot in Faith. The promise to faith only (James 1:6-8; Heb. 11:6). 6 . Faultless Praying ; If we fail we have a perfect Intercessor (Rom. 8:26, 27).— S. Christian Decision “ Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . as for me and my house we will serve the L ord .”—Joshua 24:15. Judgment and decision—rational gifts. Exercised in favor of sound principles, against present indulgence indicates char acter. 1. “ Choose.”— God forces none; forces no tribute; presses ho troops. /, “ Our wills are free” to make them His. 2. “ Choose y o u .” — Allegiance is per sonal. Among millions each is a unit: in dividually responsible; individually accept able. • 3. “ This day ."—Each day due God; is eternal in possibilities; if lost, worse than lost; may be our last. “ Turn the day before your death,” said a Rabbi. “W e know not that day,” replied a disciple. “ Then turn today,” said the wise man. 4. "Whom .”—Not "what." Both subject and master are persons, individuals. “ Un der which king,” God or Satan? 5- “Serve ."—Men must serve—,do the will of a higher master. The will of God only when done by choice, and that will is service, with all the powers, possessions, and through all the days. Like Joshua, whether others do or not.—A. “ ‘By all ye will, or whisper,
1. Rich father .............. LUL.*.-.-'verse 11 2. Restive boy .....___-fc&j____ ....... “ 13 3. Request granted y "i__ “ 12 4. Restraints removed __..;..........•' “ 13 5. Reckless living _“ 13 6 . Resultant ruin ........ “ 14 7. Reflection “ 17 8 . Resolution ...... “ 18 9. Reformation ..._“ 19 10. Return ¿JLv...,......:.„.4L..........S 20 11 . “ 22 12. Rejoicing .................................... “ 23 —A. Resurrection “ I f a'man die, shall he live again .”—Job 14:14. Ancient and 'anxious question. Revelations conjectural and scriptural. 1. In Nature. — (1) Seed and harvest. (2) Caterpillar and moth. (3) Winter and Spring. (4) Present waste and renewal of the body. 2. In Morals. — (1) Justice asks body and soul (partners) should share rewards or punishments. (2) Benevolence o f God hints at so blessed an end. (3) Honor of God demands glory out of His sin-marred mas terpiece. 3. In Scripture. — Abundantly taught (Dan. 12:2; Mark 12:26; John 5:25; 11:25, etc., etc.) The Easter story crowns and certifies all with irrefutable YES.—5’. Faulty Praying “ Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss.—J ames 4 :3. 1. Too Long. Bible prayers all short. Give others opportunity (1 Cor. 14:29, 30). Applies to public not private prayer; this should be measured by the content of the heart, and proportion of time to other du ties (Matt. 6:7 ). 2. Too Scattering. Bible prayers are to' the point. Prayer is-a- quiver in which are arrows for marks (Prov. 17:24). 3. Too Formal. Stereotyped; conven
By all ye leave, or do; The silent, sullen peoples Will judge your God and you,’
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online