presence, blessing and power to those who gather in His Name. How many Christians rob themselves of these price less blessings by absenting themselves from the church services! Corporate worship also makes pos sible a united witness unto Christ. The church is the most influential institution in the world. Any gathering of God’s people, under the conditions laid down in this verse, brings spiritual blessing into the entire area. Christians thus inspired are the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13-16). Corporate worship encourages the be liever to persevere in his Christian life (Heb. 10:25). Fellowship with God’s people, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and with His special presence, fortifies the believer to face the world, and to fight the good fight of faith. Christians need this encouragement more and more as we see “ the day approaching,” that is, the day of Christ’s return attendant with so many tragic developments in the world (Matt. 24:6-14,21).
When We Worship We Are Engaged in the Service of God True worship includes many things, all of which are vitally important in the service of the Lord. The Christian worships in prayer. Prayer is not only asking but it is also intercession and supplication for the cause of Christ throughout the world. There are some things God cannot and will not do until His people pray. (Jas. 5:16b; 2 Chron. 7:14, etc.) Think of some of the things the Bible commands the Christian to pray for. The Christian worships God in praise (Psa. 100). The singing of hymns and choruses is worship. Let us sing unto the Lord from the heart, knowing that He loves to hear us praise His holy Name. The Christian worships in giving. Too often giving is looked upon as only a duty. When we bring our tithes and offerings, we ought to do it enthusias tically, with praise in our hearts that
we have the privilege of sharing in the work of evangelizing the world (2 Cor. 9:6,7). The Christian worships in listening and giving heed to the message from the Word. Paying reverent attention to the preaching of the Word, asking God to make the truth real to one’s heart, determining to obey the truth as it is given—this is worship at its best. When We Worship We Greatly Aid Ourselves There is tremendous subjective value to worship. The man who worships grows into the likeness of the Lord through close association with Him. This development into the likeness of Christ takes place without the full realization of the believer. Like Moses, who was not aware of his shining coun tenance, he knows not that his life be comes more Christlike. It is the purpose of God, through fellowship with His Son, and through obedience to the Word and submission to the Spirit to trans form every believer into the likeness of His Son (Rom. 8:29). In worship the believer learns to trust. In trust is perfect peace (Isa. 26:3). He who has conquered his fears and worries has learned how to worship (Phil. 4:6,7; Isa. 40:29-31). In worship the believer learns to appreciate the Person of God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Thus he grows in grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18) and develops in every virtue. There are two extreme views we must avoid in discussing this subject: one that the world will improve steadily under the influence of the church until peace and justice are universal; the other that the church has no place in the world and ought not to bother her self with the betterment of humanity. Jesus said “ occupy until I come” (Luke 19:13). This statement comes in the parable of the pounds. Each servant of the nobleman received a talent with which he was to trade until he had expanded his original capital as far as he and his ability permitted. In this way our Lord instructs His people that they, too, should be industrious to extend His kingdom and influence throughout the entire world. See also Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:16-20. On the other hand, the Scripture is clear that the preaching of the gospel and the influence of the church will never convert the world or usher in world order. Prophecy is very definite on this matter; the world will conclude this dispensation in chaos economically, politically, socially, and religiously Oct. 19, 1952 HOW CAN THE CHURCH AFFECT WORLD ORDER? Acts 17:24-28; Isa. 2:2-4
land or HlAtTVUAK — War-ravaged Korea — fleeing refugees, imprisoned Reds hearing the Gospel, Korean Christians praying at dawn. 20 minutes, i----c— 4 thrilling nn sound color films JAPAN WELCOMES TM WORD
COMMUNISM AND NATIONALISM are fast closing the doors of the Orient to the Western world — and to the Gospel. Yet at no time in missionary history has the Gos pel message enjoyed such a warm and en thusiastic reception. Four dramatic films portray the stirring c hallenge o f the Orient. BOOK THESE 16 MM, FILMS NOW.
Postwar Japan—— her customs* her mood, her thrilling response
r to the G ospel. 30 minutes.
JAPAN AT THECROSSROADS — P ortrayal of the deep spiritual and so
NOW OR NEVER — a stirring _ portrayal of the race against / time to bring the Gospel to ' Japan, Formosa and the Philip pines. 30 minutes.
cial needs of Japan— includes official atom bomb pictures. 30 minutes. information, write: ALFRED A. KUNZ, Executive Director THE POCKETTESTAMENT LEAGUE, Inc.
PTL
For
156JFjfl|^venue^NevjJioj|HO^NJ^^^
"TO TRAMUPA CHILO ••• £QUfP THC T£ACH€%
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON HELPS should con tribute not only to the training of the child, but also to the training of the teacher. Too few Sunday School teachers are spe cially trained for this important work. Most get their training “on the job." Hence the vital importance of Lesson Helps that really
help. And that He-L scribes ASSU Lesson Helps.
Send today for free samples. Look them over carefully. See how skillfully they are edited to give doctrinally true-to-the-Word help to both teacher and pupil. Write to Dept. K
Based on International Uniform Lessons
AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION t i l t CHES TNUT S H E E T
P H I L A D E L P H I A 3, FA.
Page Twenty-four
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs