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votion. He- wants us. He owns us. He has purchased us. He should have every drop of our blood. Our lives must be transformed in a practical manner. Despise the allure ments of the age; hate it; keep your bodies under. The body is a good ser vant, bu't a poor master. Yield your selves to the Holy Spirit for service. How can we prove th a t we are doing the acceptable will of God? (Eph. 5:10-17). • (2) DEPORTMENT OF BELIEVERS, - vs. 9-21. We find here sixteen aspects of the dedicated life,— twelve which have spe cial application to our relation to fel low believers, and four which have to do with our relation to those without. Each one is worthy a discourse. 1. “Let love be without dissimula tion” (v. 9). In other words, “let your love be in sincerity” (2 Cor. 6:6; John 12 : 6 ). 2. “Abhor evil * * * choose good” (v. 9). It is necessary to exer cise sagacity in detecting good and evil, for Satan is foxy and calls evil, good, and good, evil. , We are to hate sin of every kind and turn away from it. (Heb. 1:9; Psa. 36:4; Prov. 8:13). 3. “Be kindly affectioned” (v. 10). Courtesy is a rare gift and one to be coveted, especially among the saints. (1 John 2:9-11; Col. 1:4; Phil. 2:3). 4. “Not slothful in business,”—-that is, God’s business (v. 11). We are to be filled with energy, not of the flesh, but of the Spirit (1 Thess. 4 :1 1 ,1 2 ; Matt. 24:12; 1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 6:6, 7). . 5. "Rejoicing in hope” (v. 12). There should be a buoyancy of spirit. The best is always before us. (Phil. 4:4; Psa. 16:9, 10; 1 John 3:1-3). 6. “Patient in tribulation” (v. 12). Tranquility of soul (Rom. 5:3-5; 8:25; 2 Thess. 1:4, 5). 7. “Instant in prayer” (v. 12). Constancy is needed. We are to be al ways ■a t it, always mindful, always
died to deliver us from this age (Gal. 1:4). Satan is the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). “The age” means the present order of things. This age is worldly, earthly, sensual, devilish. Its influence is un godly. It is without God. Its atmos phere is opposite to the will of God. Its tendency is hellward, hypocritical, an awful deadening, oppressive power. It is God-hating and devil-serving. We must reject its maxims and methods. What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. Why should We be conformed to this world? (John 7:7; 2 Cor. 4 :4 ). Transformation equals transfigura tion. There is a positive, as well as a negative attitude. The attempt to re sist the age and live a godly life, with out a new power, is hopeless. All in tellectual effort, all commands, all pledges, all promises, will fail. All systems will be Insufficient. There must be the inworking of a new life, a new affection. The Spirit of God lives within the believer. Give Him sway. The light within must shine out. The mind must be renewed. The mind is the faculty which has been most weakened by sin. It needs the energy of the Holy Spirit so th a t the moral perceptions will be clear. The heathen become like their gods. It is God’s purpose for His children th a t they should become like Him. (2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10.) The demand for such a dedication is necessary th a t we may test and attest the will of God,^-4-make the life con form to God’s will. His. will is good,- but He can make it known only to the dedicated life. Self-surrender without God-surrender is a failure. We must prove to our selves the value of His will, and prove to the world th a t we are surrendered to His will. God’s goodness is a proof of His de
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