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THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S eth light.” That kind of preaching most needed in the church at any time is expository preaching. This is simply telling the people what the Bible means and applying its principles to the prob lems of daily life. Secular themes soon grow flat, stale and unprofitable. There is a perennial freshness about the Bible. Many a church which eloquent dis courses and artistic music have failed to fill, has become crowded to hear some plain preacher explain the Bible. More over the Holy Spirit is always present to honor and apply the Word. FRIDAY, Sept. 19. Matt. 4:1-11. Jesus and the Word. Eve parleyed with Satan and fell. Jesus met him with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and stood victorious. To every suggestion of the Tempter Jesus replied “It is written,” and when Satan at last him self said “It is written” Jesus simply said “It is written again.” One must know the Word in order to use it, know it intimately and from beginning to end, that any part of it may be instantly available. Even the sword of the Spirit can not be effectively used by a novice. A sword of tempered Damascus steel is an effective weapon in the hand of an expert swordsman. It makes a lot of difference, however, whether the sword be grasped by the blade or the hilt. A man who doubted the sharpness of such a weapon would have his doubts re moved when the sword was run through him. Satan has felt the sharp edge of the Word of God. He quails and flees before its thrust. This is the only weapon of offense in the Gospel panoply of Eph. 6:14-17. All other parts and pieces of the armor are defensive and protective. Rev. 19:15 with 2 Thess. 2:8 show how Anti-Christ is to be un done and overthrown hereafter. Not only in repelling the Tempter but espe cially in soul-winning is the wise use of the Word indispensable. Do not argue with an unbeliever. Meet every argu ment and objection of his with an ap propriate passage of Scripture and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. SATURDAY, Sept. 20. Lute 24:44-49. Jesus Fulfilling the Word. What a wonderful Bible reading it must have been, vs. 27, given by Him self concerning Himself! All Scripture is Christ-centric. That we have not dis covered Christ in some part of the Old
dence that they were written by the men whose names they bear and that they are credible and inspired. Any book is worthy of a place in the Old Testament that was written by a prophet or edited and endorsed by a prophet. The can- onicity of the Old Testament is also es tablished by the Lord Jesus Christ. It existed in His time exactly as we have it now. He endorsed it entirely and re peatedly and we accept it on His en dorsement. Luke 24:27, 44. John 5:39. All hut six of the Old Testament hooks are either quoted or alluded to in the New Testament as genuine. Any hook is worthy of a place in the New Testament that was written by an Apostle or was edited and endorsed by an Apostle. Mark was not an Apostle but he was the traveling companion and probably the amanuensis of Peter, Luke occupied the same position in respect to Paul. Their writings would therefore have apostolic oversight and sanction. The word “canon” is a Greek word that originally signified a straight rod or carpenter’s rule. As applied to the Scriptures it means the books which were regarded and accepted as Divinely inspired and which contained God’s rule of righteousness. Scripture is not made a canon by human authority but only recognized as such. If any book was without Divine authority in the church, it never could acquire it. The church never made any hook authorita tive that was not so before. THURSDAY, Sept. 18. Neh. 8:1-12. The People Taught the Word. It was a long Bible reading hut the interest was sustained, vs. 3. The eighth verse suggests a proper elocution and a simple explanation as the two things combining to make efficient expo sition. Before the saving truths of redemption can do their appointed work of transforming life and character, they must he intelligently communicated and attentively received. The people wor shiped and rejoiced as the result of their knowledge of Scripture, vss. 6, 12. The influence of the Word of God upon nations is as marked as its effect upon individuals. When we compare Eng land and America with Spanish America, and contrast the progress and civiliza tion of the former with the ignorance and superstition of the latter, we know that the difference is simply that of having the Bible and not having the Bible. “The entrance of thy Word giv-
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