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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
March, 1939
might work the works of God?” Jesus an swered, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28,29). W e cannot work for God until we have first believed in Him and in His Son, our Saviour. Neither can we keep His commandments, except as His right eousness is accounted to us and worked in and through us. The law is good, but only in so far as it reveals to us God’s holy and perfect standard, our utter inability to measure up to it, and our need of a Sav iour. "Wherefore the law was our school master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal. 3 :24 )—or by believing. Some of the importance laid upon “believing” may be seen from the fact that, in the Gospel of John alone, the word "believe” in its different forms is used ninety-eight times. Blessed are: 1. "T he poor in sp irit” A recognition of our own poverty, need, and utter help lessness is necessary before we may enter upon the Walk of faith. W e must realize, as the Laodicean church (Rev. 3:14-17) did not, that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. 2. "T hey that mourn." After the real ization of our need, the next step is that of repentance, or a godly sorrow, a mourning, if you please, because of sin, "for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation" (2 Cor. 7:10). 3. "T he m eek.” This is the step that brings new life, for, when we are “meek,” we are humble and yielded, laid low at the feet of the Lord Jesus, crying out in sub mission even as did Paul, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Thus we come, poor in spirit, mourning for sin, yielded and broken, only to find that “the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psa. 34:18). 4. "T hey which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Food is the first re quirement for the growing child, and as in the physical, so in the spiritual. If the babe in Christ hungers for the Word and the things of God, we may be sure that he is a healthy and growing Christian, and we have the assurance that he “shall be filled.” "Wherefore,” says Peter, "desire the sin cere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:1, 2). 5. "T he merciful." A life cannot con tinue to take in without giving out. As we hunger and are filled, we give of our bounty. W e stand, as it were, with one hand up to God, and the other down to man. W e are told that there is no exercise better for the heart than “reaching down and lifting people up.” However, we can never be “the merciful”—we can never help others—until we have first been helped ourselves by the Lord’s touch upon our lives. 6. "T he pure in heart.” As the Word of God satisfies the hungry and thirsty heart, it also purifies and makes clean. Christ prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” This purifying process, this sanctification of our hearts Helps for the Leader “B e - attitudes ”
Helps for the Leader I. T he F act of the R esurrection
Y O U R PART in O . ! C k r i i t i a n S e r v i c e . T o d a y ’s d istra u g h t world needs the witness of courageous, consecrated, C h ristian leaders. Every worker should have personal knowledge of the message of the Bible. And he should know, by training and experience, how to take the message of that Book to a needy world. The Moody Bible Institute, chosen by 2,996 students last year» is equipped to prepare you for world-wide Christian service. • Co-educational . . . Interdenominational. TUITION FR E E , except for private music lessons (2-year complete course available). Write for information on 7 courses offered. Early enrollment advisable.
Hugh Price Hughes, a well-known Lon don minister, was accused by an eminent lawyer of preaching a gospel which could not be proved in any law court in the land by the laws of ordinary evidence. Mr. Hughes replied: “If the lawyer will arrange a judge and jury in any court in London, I will on twenty-four hours’ notice produce five hundred men who will enter the wit ness box and prove by the ordinary laws of evidence the truth of the gospel which I preach.” The offer of live hundred wit nesses was particularly appropriate, for af ter His resurrection the Lord Jesus was "seen of above five hundred brethren at once” (1 Cor. 15:6). Lord Salisbury declares his belief in the resurrection of Christ on the following grounds: "First, because it is testified by men who had every opportunity of seeing and knowing, and whose veracity was tested by the most tremendous trials, both of energy and endurance, during long lives; second, because of the marvelous effect it had upon the world. As a moral phenome non, the spread and mastery of Christian ity is without a parallel. I can no more be lieve that colossal moral effects lasting for two thousand years can be without a cause than I can believe that the various move ments of the magnet are without a cause, though I cannot wholly explain them.” —Adapted from 1,000 A cts and F acts, by P ickering . . II. T he N ecessity of the R esurrection A minister, while crossing the Bay of Biscay, became greatly alarmed as he be held what he thought was an approaching hurricane. Tremblingly he addressed him self to one of the sailors: “Do you think she will be able to go through it?” "Through what?” inquired the sailor. “That awful hurricane that is coming down upon us.” The old sailor smiled and said: “That storm will never touch us. It has passed us already.” So, in regard to the believer, judgment as to the penalty of our sins is past. W e were tried, condemned, and executed in the person of our Surety, Jesus Christ. The resurrection is the seal of this finished work —God's mark of approval.—S elected . III. V ictory for the B eliever Algernon Sidney was executed in 1683, on Tower Hill for denouncing the vice of King Charles’ court. As he knelt with his head upon the block, the headsman said to him: “Are you ready, sir? Will you rise again?” “Not till the resurrection," was the calm and fearless answer. "Strike on!” Yes, “thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).—P ickering . APRIL 16, 1939 WHAT SHOULD A CHURCH MEMBER BELIEVE? E xodus 20:13-17; M atthew 5:1-12 Meditation on the Lesson You will remember that when the people asked Christ, “What shall we do, that we
As the Titanic sank, the ship’s band played “Nearer My God T o Thee.” Sarah Fowler Adams wrote this hymn when ill health altered her career and brought her closer to God. In countless churches, “ TA BERNA C LE HYMNS NUM BER THREE” is helping bring souls to God through this and hundreds of other inspired hymns. This matchless collection imparts revival power to your church and school. Touches all the great redemp tive themes. Beautifullybound in lacquered green cloth, gold stamping tarnish proof, price per 100not prepaid, only$50.00; Bristol binding $32.50. Completely orchestrated. Mall Coupon Below. Examine a returnable sample of this great hymn collection— the “Song Book of the Nation”
360-C North Waller Avenue» Chicago» Illinois Gentlemen: Please send returnable sample of “ TABER NACLE HYMNS NUMBER THREE. We need nevy song books for the following uses: G Worship Service G Sunday School G Young People G Evan. Meetings Official Name______________ _______________ ___T itle______ Address____ _________ ___ _____________ Church and Total Denom_ ____ _________________ Membership. Pastor. Address-
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