April, 1934
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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
T arrying for the S pirit Jesus told His disciples that when He went to the Father they would be able to do even “ greater works” than He did (John 14:12). Why was this? Because His going to the Fathèr meant the sending o f the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). Recall what natural gifts and endowments Jesus pos sessed ; and then ponder over the fact that it was necessary for Him, nevertheless, to wait and rely upon the Holy Spirit for power. What about those o f us who have no such natural endowments? Can we, should we, dare we venture out into the service o f Christ without the endue ment o f power that comes from the infilling o f the Holy Spirit? Yet, presumptuously we often do. Now, after this distinct command o f the Master to “ tarry,” it will be sin, will it not, not to “ tarry” ? There He stands waiting, that perfect Saviour, for the anointing, while we rush im petuously into service without waiting. God forgive us! Too often, without even a word o f prayer or waiting, we rush thoughtlessly and heedlessly into service. T he U nique W ork of the C hurch The absolute necessity for this waiting and tarrying
service; we must not be too literal nor too figurative in our interpretation. For example: The washing o f the dis ciples’ feet by Jesus is an act to be understood as illustra tive o f the humble, yea, menial service we should be willing to render one to another, rather than as an explicit command to actually “ wash one another’s feet” : “ If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed'your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an ex ample, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13 :14 ,15 ).* Nor should the teaching o f the rest o f the New Testa ment (outside the teachings o f Jesus) be excluded in seek ing our pattern o f true service to God, for “ all Scripture is given by inspiration o f God, and is profitable . . . . That the man o f God may be perfect . . . unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). “ Back to Jesus” should not, need not, certainly must not mean “ away from Paul.” “ Back to the Gospels” must not mean “ away from the Epistles” and the rest o f the New Testament. P rinciples of T rue S ervice What principles, then, can be rightly deduced from the teachings o f Jesus and the New Testament with regard to Christ’s mastership over our service ? First, as to our equipment fo r service. This is most vital. And Picture Jesus standing in the Jordan, ready to enter upon His life work. See Him standing—and waiting. Waiting for what ? For the enduement of the Holy Spirit, the power from on high: “ And he saw the Spirit o f God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him” (Matt. 3 :16 ). And with this significantly descriptive Jordan scene agree the words o f Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth, uttered as He was about to begin His great ministry: “ The Spirit o f the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the p oo r; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to/the captives, aind recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable-year o f the Lord” (Lk. 4:18, 19). Peter, in reviewing the life and service of Jesus Christ, declares: “ God anointed Jesus"df‘Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed o f the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). - Thus, Jesus did not venture into public service until He had received the enduement o f the power o f the Holy Ghost from above. And it is not without significance that, when leaving His apostles, He told them to “ tarry . . . in the city o f Jerusalem,” “ for the promise3o f the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard o f me [yea, and seen in My example] . . . But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upoii y °u : and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1 :4-8). * While Dr. Evans’ interpretation o f this passage is the one which is accepted by the majority of. Christians, the K ing ’ s B usiness recognizes that among devoted and deeply taught believers are some who hold another view .—E ditor . Jesus is here, both by precept and example, our Leader and Guide. As we have said, He was the perfect Servant o f Jehovah, rendering a perfect life and ser vice : /“ Behold my servant, . . . in wh(jm my soul delighteth” (Isa. 42 :1 ).
may be realized when we remem ber that the kind o f work and service the Christian and the church are called upon to render is both unique and spiritual, such as can be done only in the might and power o f the Holy Spirit. “ This is the word of the Lord . . . . s a y i n g , Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord o f hosts” (Zech. 4 :6 ). The
SERVICE Serve ye, fo r only he who serves
doth truly live.
All noble life is measured not
by “get,” but “ give:
To what extent?- Is there a limit us to guide? Yea, limit if ye will— One set it, and He died!
-—F. H oward O akley .
task is too big to be done otherwise. No wonder the dis ciples feared and trembled when Jesus, after breaking to them the news o f His departure, revealed to them the world task that was to be theirs (John 14 to 16). No wonder, if they asked,.“ Who is sufficient for these things?” that the answer o f Jesus that calmed them, encouraged them, and enabled them to set their faces hopefully and courageously to the world task, was : “ I will send him [the Holy Spirit] unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world,” etc. (John 16:7-11). Jesus told the disciples that that stu pendous task was not theirs, but one belonging to the Holy Spirit; that H e would convict; that H e would witness; that all this was His work. They were witnesses— that is true, but so also was the Holy Ghost (John 15 :26,. 27). L ike D ry B ones The world in which we are to render service is like Ezekiel’s valley o f dry bones— “ very many and very dry.” In the midst o f our service, we hear a voice saying : “ Son o f man, can these bones live ?” W e answer : “ O Lord God, thou knowest.” Here is the divine answer : “ Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones ; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live” (Ezék. 37:3 -5 ). The Spirit must give life. W e cannot argue dry bones into life, nor can we reason dead souls into salvation. The Holy- Spirit must breathe into them and regenerate them. W e cannot convince men o f sin by our reasoning and logic. W e may roll the thunders o f oratory, we may diffuse the light o f science, we may scatter the flowers o f poetry, we may resort to arguments o f logic—and yet men will remain in their sins. It is the Holy Ghost who must “ reprove the world of sin” and bring men to a saving knowledge o f Jesus Christ. [To be concluded ]
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