546
T h e
K ì n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
September 1928
There is nothing that will build up the work of God except the Word of God.
B I B L E B R I E F S i*---- r------------------------------------------------ i J. H. Thayer, in his Dictionary of New Testament Greek, makes a collection from all the writings of, Paul, of words pecu liar to him. He finds 848 such words which are the apostle’s contribution to the vocabulary o f the New Testament. * * * In Col. 1 :13 the words “kingdom of His dear Son” are literally: “kingdom o f the Son o f His love." The kingdom is what it is to its happy subjects because’ its King is the beloved Son through whom subjects are not merely subjects but sons and “ beloved in Him." * * * Comparison o f 2 Pet. 1 :1S with Lk. 9: 31 shows that Peter learned on the mount that death for the Christian was not destruction or suspension but “decease." The Greek word means “a departure.” He thought of his own death as like his Lord’s—leaving for a time the tabernacle in which his spirit had been dwelling. * * * Was Paul in favor of Christians con ducting debates? Read 2 Cor. 12:20. * * * In Christ “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9)'. The word for “ Godhead” ftheotes') , used here alone in the New Testament, is as strong a word for deity as possible. It means not simply divinity, but is a word much more elastic. The word for “dwelleth" indicates a permanent dwelling. Some taught that divinity came upon Jesus at His baptism and left Him before He died on the cross. • * * * God sets two limits, inside o f which He asks us to live—sunrise and sunset (Matt. 6 :34). Our troubles are delivered to us in small parcels. God never intended us to bear them in big lumps. “ Our cares are all today; Our joys are all today: And in one little word—our life— What is it but—today?” * * * “ Begotten unto a lively hope by the resurrection” (1 Pet. 1:3). Alford gives it, “begotten unto a life in which hope is the energizing principle.” The word “mammon” in Matt. 6:24 does not necessarily mean money. It means “gain” o f any kind—that which men serve rather than God. It may be worldly honor or the pleasures of time. * * * lie fervent today (Rom. 12:11); for get yesterday (Phil. 3 :13) ; fret not about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). * * * Weymouth’s rendering of Rom. 4:18 ( “who against hope believed in hope”— referring to Abraham) is suggestive—
Depressed Many o f God’s children are depressed in these days. Many have peculiar trials and suffer ings. And therefore we all need HIM , yea, need Him every hour to keep us, to carry us through the hard and trying places, to shield and cover us, to give us the victory. Our victorious Lord and Christ is above all; H e can not be affected by what is going on in this dying age. H e has all power in heaven and on earth. His power is on our side. He has pledged His Word never to leave nor forsake His own. All He expects o f us is that we cast ourselves in dependence u p o n Himself. That we trust Him in our weakness. Oh, let us own it, “I need Thee every hour." — Dr. A. C. Gaebelein.
Feed the sheep instead o f trying to amuse the goats. The less knowledge and piety a church has, the more clubs, socie ties, oysters, ice cream and fun it takes to run it, and the faster it runs from God. “ There is no class of men whose calling so emphatically demands honesty as the professed servants o f Jesus Christ. All their dealings with their fellow men should be characterized by above-board dealings and sterling honesty. It is ex pected o f the servants o f God that they should have consciences void o f offense toward God and toward men ; their pro fession demands it, and solemn prom ises made by them render it obligatory that they should implement them.” That is from the Presbyterian Magazine, and it’s the naked truth for preachers. Whenever a preacher loses his temper in public, he has lost his cause. You’ll have many occasions which.itry you, but to use the occasion to lose your temper, is to abuse the opportunity. When one becomes irritated and speaks in anger, he is sure to say things he will regret. You will have to do a lot o f explaining afterwards, and one is always in a sorry fix when he is trying to justify and ex plain his position. Self-restraint and calmness under provocation will gain those who may not quite agree with you, while to show petulance and anger will alienate your strongest admirers. If ever tempted to speak in anger—don’t!— Rev. W. H. Baylor. —o— Dr. Francis L. Patton, preaching at Princeton University, used the following language which may well apply to many present-day ministers: “There. ,are men who stand, in our pulpits and preach on the patience o f Job and the moral courage of Daniel; who- find material for senti mental sermons on the seasons, and prac tical sermons on the importance of sleep; of the need of restricting immigration, but who are silent respecting the tremendous fact o f sin, and the dogmatic significance o f atoning blood. I do not say that such men are handling the Word o f God de ceitfully^ for j l am willing to have them plead guilty, if they prefer, to an unschol- arly stupidity that prevents them from seeirfg that the bleeding Christ is the cen tral fact of Scripture.” One minister writes complainingly of the sister with the “ lingering handshake.” She simply takes hold and hangs on. One is sometimes tempted to accuse them of holding hands under the guise o f a hand shake. This is an innocent trick, indicat ing if anything a trusting disposition and ?. desire to lean upon other people. The common reaction is a desire to get away. At any rate, look out for the sister with the lingering handshake. How to Carry Riches Rowland Hill used to say : “ Humility is the bag into which Christ puts the riches of His grace.”
"who u n d e r utterly hopeless circum stances hopefully believed.” * * * The meaning o f the word atonement in the “ Old Testament” is shelter. It is used of Noah’s ark, which was pitched with pitch, or sheltered from the water by a protective covering (Gen. 6:14). All of its Authorized Version translations are suggestive o f shelter o f some kind. It is rendered villages (1 Chron. 27:25), ransom (Exo. 30:12), satisfaction (Num. 35:31), bribe (Amos 5:12). The feminine form, kapporeth, is reserved for the name of the mercy seat, or propitiatory. Hence the great Antitype may be called the Shelter o f all who have faith in His blood. * * * “ By His stripes we are healed” (,Isa. 53:5). “By whose stripes ye were healed (1 Pet. 2:24). The word “stripes" means to scar, and comes from a root which means to join, as Newberry says, “Scar, Chaburah, from Chabar, to join.” The root word sig nifies to have fellowship with, to couple together. It is rendered “ coupled to gether" in speaking o f the curtains of the Tabernacle (Ex. 26:3). He was joined to our own sin in having joined to Him the punishment that was due to it ; and we who believe in Him are now joined in His benefit, for, in His death for us, we have died with Him.
P U L P I T P O I N T E R S
Here’s one for you from the Meth odist Protestant: “ It is no use to use a sledge hammer to crush a turnip.”
A sympathetic house-going preacher makes a church-going people.
Ventilate your meeting house; sleeping in church is due more to physical causes than to bad manners.
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