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THE KING’S BUSINESS
IV. How A bout T oday ? 1. N ev e r m ind “w hen” the kingdom comes, get ready now . 2. In pleasure, business, labor “do all to the glory o f God." 3. B e clear o f antidiluvian and sodom ic w ickedness and “thoughts." 4. P lant and build as i f you m ight eat o f the’ tree o f life before yo u r orchard bears; and settle in a mansion in the Father’s house, before yo u r ro o f is on. 5. “S e t your affections on things above, n o t on things on the e a rth " and you will not “look back” when the latter perish. 6. See that the K ing and the kingdom are “w ithin you,” that when it comes you may be in the kingdom. /. Do n o t be befooled by false prophets, as that there can be any other kingdom of Gt>d but one that is as manifest “under the whole heavens” as the lightning; nor that there can be any other “w hen” of the kingdom save “When Jesus comes.” (literally “he stationed himself,” ostenta tiously, conspicuously—Matt. 6:5). Stand ing, kneeling or prostrate (1 Sam. 1:26; 2 Chron. 6:13; Matt. 26:39) the soul’s, not the body’s attitude is what counts. “P rayed w ith him self.” Occupied with himself his thoughts and therefore his prayer got no higher than his chin. True prayer prays w ith God (Rom. 8:26) ; says little of self; nothing against, but much fo r others. “God, I thank Thee "—The context shows he lied. There’s much of that in average praying. He thanked himself. “T h a t I am not as the rest (R. V.) o f m en." He should have added, “by Thy grace; since I was and, without that, would now be like the worst of them.” He, probably, spoke truly dis claiming the sins enumerated. It was not for these that he failed of justification, but for the self-righteousness that boasted of them and deemed them sufficient. The forgot his errand,” for his was no prayer. 3. T he Pharisee’s Prayer. He “stood”
cometh”—shall we know it-. “Here!” “There!” “Alas! alas!” but the saints shout “Hallelujah!” again, “Hallelujah!” and again, “Hallelujah!” another, “Halle lujah!” (Rev. 19:1, 2, 3, 6). They that love the disappearing shall perish with it; but they “that love His appearing” “shall inherit all things.” 2. Remem 'ber L o t’s W ife . There’s a “pillar of salt” for you that you may be pre served in that day; let that memorial be no “myth.” The look back shows where the heart is. Who would “save his (old) life, shall lose it; who will lose (gladly exchange it) shall save it.” The one shall be “taken” from, the other “left” to de struction. So vividly our Lord portrayed this graphic separation that the hearers saw it, and excitedly cried, “W here! L o rd ? ” Where? Where there is a rotting carcass there the vultures gather. Where there is a rotten world-system, or a dead soul, there will the judgment fall. I. T h e P h a risee and t h e P ublican . 1. T he A im o f the Parable (v., 9). Clearly stated. It hits all moral braggarts from the 1st to the 20th century. The sect of the Pharisee has passed, his spirit re mains. 2. T he Tw o M en and T heir Purpose. Pharisees professed to keep the Law—and more; their “moral” successors to be “good enough”—and then some. Both hold God their debtor. Jesus’ estimate is different (Matt. 5:20; 16:6; 23:13; Luke 11:39, 42). P ublicans were tax gatherers, Roman offi cials; hated by Jews, and naturally, for they were free and cruel grafters; who squeezed till the blood ran. Their money was “easy come, easy ‘go,” and they were easy livers; and made no claims to righteousness. The two “w ent up to pray." The temple, “the house of prayer” (Matt. 21:13), was on a mountain top; and the highest spot on earth is the place of prayer, for it is near est heaven. The Pharisee “seems to have
LESSON XI.—June 14. — T h e F r ie n d o f S in n e r s . —Luke 18:9-14. G olden T ex L L -/ came not to call the righteous, but sinners .—Luke 19:10.
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