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T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
October 1932
cross
ears
WITH CHRIST
Æ&ÊÊÈÊË
By M ARK A. M ATTHEW S * Seattle,1 ash.
has fulfilled His promises. History reveals the fact that since His ascension He has personally abided with and man ifested Himself to His church in a glorious manner. Let Paul, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, the Wesleys,, the Spur geons, the Moodys, and the mighty men of evangelistic fervor and power speak! They testify to the fact that they were ever conscious of His presence, of His power, and of His daily bath of grace. Would it be thought presumptuous for us to give our humble testimony? (a) No other power could have regenerated a boy, and carried him through the conditions and the awful squalor following the Civil War. No other power could have sus tained one and overcome the difficulties that labor, study, work, and struggle entailed until the pulpit was reached. No other presence, personality, or power could have guided the first churches, magnified the work, increased the fields, and multiplied the membership, except Jesus Christ. (b ) It was in the height and glory of that Southern pastorate when His voice was heard and His call was an swered. “ Come over into the West and help us.” Those were happy days and the most loyal people that ever lived were faithfully at work, and untiringly assisting in evan gelizing that section. His voice was supreme, His command was sufficient, and we turned our back on the land of our nativity and came to the city of matchless beauty and opportunity, accompanied all the way by Christ. Without fear, and in the full confidence of His presence and power, we entered this pulpit thirty years ago today to proclaim the unsearch-
"And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end o f the world” (Matt. 28:20). ^C ( hrist had just announced that all authority had been vested in Him, that He was supreme in earth and heaven, and that the absolute authority and power of the Godhead residing in Him would be exercised by Him over the church and through the church. The significant word “ therefore” indicated that that authority would be exercised at once. It was manifested in the giving of the commission. The final commission was issued, “ Therefore, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.” It was the only commission given by Christ to His church. By the authority vested in Christ the commission was issued, and, in that authority, the minister of the gos pel goes forth to evangelize the world. He does not go in his own strength, in natural power, or by the authority of nations, but by divine authority, by divine right, and by supernatural power. He does not wait for nations to invite him, nor does he ask the permission of nations to go, but in spite of all things—even the objections of the combined powers of the world—he goes forth to proclaim the good tidings o f salvation. The commission itself would indicate to one the suffi ciency of power and authority, but Christ knew human weakness and the need of encouragement, support, and fel lowship, therefore He gave the everlasting promise of sus tenance and protection when He said, “ Go, and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.” One will never exhause the study of this commission or His promise of personal support. The commission and the promise. were given to the whole church, the body of Christ, His bride. It was also given to the individual min ister, Christian worker, and untiring evangelist. We rejoice not only in the commission, but in the promise of Christ to accompany the individual. No worker is too small for Christ’s attention; no one ever gets big enough to walk alone. Without Him and His presence, it is impossible to carry out the terms of the commission, or to do the work therein authorized. We heard the call and the promise in the hour of regen eration and have never doubted either and can testify to the fulfillment o f the promise in the daily experiences of a lifetime. 1. T he P romise G uarantees C hrist ’ s P ersonal P resence God had made similar promises to His servants. He promised to be with Jacob, with Moses, with Joshua, with the judges, with Jeremiah, and with Israel in the land of exile. His presence was manifested to Abraham and to all of the mighty men o f those ages. His promises were ful filled. He never neglected nor deserted His own. Christ *Pastor o f First Presbyterian Church, at which this thirtieth anni versary sermon was delivered.
Jesus Calls B y K a th r yn ,D ick To a life o f fruitful service, Service wrought with love for Him, Not to be a passing fancy Or a changing whim. To a life o f consecration, And a passion fo r the lost,' Thinking not o f self or pleasure, Counting not the cost. To a life o f prayer and giving, Faithfulness and all things true, To a life o f daily blessing, Do you hear God’s call to you?
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