Sept. 17, 1950 JAMES. LEADER IN THE JERUSALEM CHURCH
must have been with special interest. Mark must have acquitted himself well while engaged in this ministry for it was not long until he had won his way back into the favor of Paul who said of him in Second Timothy 4:11: “ Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” The grace of God transformed His servant from weakness to strength, from failure to victory. Helps for the Children John Mark, the Helper Mark 14:51,52; Acts 12:12,25; 13:4, 5, 13; 15:36-40; Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philemon 24; 1 Pet. 5:13 Memory Verse: “W e are labourers to gether with God” (1 Cor. 3:9). John Mark had failed! He had been asked to work with some of God’s great servants, and he had not done his best. But he did not (like some people) re fuse to try again. His heart longed to serve his Lord. He wanted to help those who were serving the Saviour. Mark had come from a Christian home. We read in Acts 12:12 that in Mark’s home many were gathered for prayer when Peter had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel. Barnabas and Saul asked Mark to join them on their great missionary journey. Perhaps John Mark became homesick; we do not know the reason, but before long he decided to leave Paul and Barnabas and return to his home. When Paul and Barnabas decided to go on another journey to visit the churches that they had founded, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again. They could not agree about taking Mark, so Paul chose Silas as his helper and Barnabas and Mark went another direc tion. Later when Paul wrote a letter to the Colossian Christians, he sent greetings to them from Mark; so we know that Mark must have found favor in Paul’s sight once more. When Paul was in prison, he wrote to Timothy and said, “ Take Mark and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the minis try.” Mark at last had made good! At last he had become a true helper to those who were serving the Lord Jesus! Again, when Paul wrote to Philemon he sent greetings from Mark. In one of his letters, Peter called Mark his son, so we know he was a help to Peter also. Perhaps you have failed your Lord in some part of His service. Perhaps you have said that you would never try to serve Him again. Remember, “We are labourers together with God.” With His help you may be sure of success when you are in His will. Write our Circulation Department fo r information with regard to the Special Offer o f Seven Issues fo r One Dollar.
THE HOME OF ONESIPHORUS,
Acts 15:13-20; Gal. 2:9-12 Pointers on the Lesson
while maintaining its two Homes in China, is expanding its ministry to Lebanon. There homeless Mohammedan boys find Christ, even as more than 2000 children have been cared for and won through the
There are three men of note in the New Testament by the name of James. There is James the son of Zebedee who was one of the twelve apostles. Then there is James the son of Alphaeus who also was one of the twelve (see Matt. 10:2,3). And there is James “ the Lord’s brother,” (Mark 6:3) also called “the just,” who became the leader of the church in Jerusalem. The latter James is the one who appears in the lesson today. He is sometimes called the first bishop of Jerusalem. His conversion did not take place until after the resur rection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before that time he was a strict legalist. James Outlines God’s Plan A cts 15:13-18 In Acts, chapter 15, appears the ac count of the first council in the Chris tian church. It was over the matter of law and grace. Certain Judaizers from Jerusalem came down to Antioch teach ing that it is not enough that Gentiles accept by faith the gospel. They must also be circumcised like the Jews. Their teaching, therefore, was that grace plus the law resulted in salvation. This teaching was not in harmony with the message of Paul and so no small dis sension was stirred up over the matter. A delegation to Jerusalem to consult with the mother church leaders was de cided upon. Peter spoke in defense of salvation by grace alone (w . 7-11). Paul and Barnabas showed what the mes sage of pure grace had accomplished in many Gentile lives (v. 12). Then James spoke and in his address he showed first what is God’s plan for the present dis pensation. Speaking, as he was, to many believing Pharisees (v. 5), who had the Old Testament Scriptures in their hands and knew of a day to come when Gentiles were going to turn to God and be blessed through Israel in the millennial reign of Christ, James proceeded to show them that God was not accomplishing this at that time. In stead God was now taking out from the Gentiles a people for His name (v. 14). He told how Simon Peter opened the door to the Gentiles in the home of Cornelius. Since that time God has been calling out His church from among the various nations and tribes of the earth. This is His program for today. His followers have a definite part in it. Then, James makes clear, God will es tablish His millennial kingdom and all nations will be blessed through Israel at that time. But that time has not yet arrived and will not arrive until after the “ calling out” process has been com pleted and the church is a full body. In the meantime the message of grace apart from law is to be proclaimed. James Gives His Decision A cts 15:19, 20 In view of God’s plan now in opera tion, James handed down the sentence T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Homes in China. Truly a modern day miracle! ep t. II 1
. isss Learn more .about this fruitful , m in is try by writing for free i literature to M G . A. LUNDM ARK, Pres. I 3930 N . Hamlin Ave.. Chicago 18, III. I
A P E N N Y A D A Y (N ot such a large sum to invest for eternity) Will give spiritual sight to the blind ' H OW ? For information write to THE CHRISTIAN A SSO C IAT ION FOR THE BUND, INC. 430 East 141st Street - — New York 54, N. Y. Chas. E. Gremmels, Pres. ; James E. Bennet, Treas. NEW BEAUTIFUL GOSPEL TRACTS Richly lithographed in 4 colors. Nothing com parable. Send 10c today for samples of 4-color tracts, or 25c for packet of all available titles, both lithographed and letter press (1-color) Gospel Tracts. Clear, short, appealing messages . . . the kind of tracts folks will receive, read and heed. Get your samples now. BOOK AND BIBLE ROOM P. O. Box 35-K Hesston, Kansas
Have your dealer showvoa thewide varietyofS m a d e d tu i^ a ^ o m tm e u b X p S FOE COMPUTECffittog SESDTO SUDBURY BRASS GOODS CO. Si SUDBURY STREET, Bos^.” U 1,S . *JUSI(W 14, MASS.
"T h e R esurrection Body” “Bible and Science,” "Image of Christ Jesus,” “ Noah’s “ Ark,” "Lake of Fire,” “ The Card with a Red Border,” “ Old Testament Pictures of the Cross,” "The Holy Spirit,” “ God's Man and Satan's Man in Final Conflict,” “ God'S World and His Word,” "How God Saves and Keeps,” “ Roots, Fruits and Suits,” “ Scattering the Seed,” “ Lessons from Jacob,” “ God's Contacts,” “ The Christian Home,” “ Crowns for Christians,” "Salvation Security and Assurance.” All 18 for $4.00 HUMBERD PRESS FLORA, IND. L I G H T and “T il G U I D A N C E \ For these days of the Age-End Are YOU reading PROPHECY MONTHLY? Editors: Keith L. Brooks, V. C. Oltrogge Official organ of American Prophetic League.^ Inc., to which the most competent prophetic specialists con tribute study material and vita( information. You need this monthly handbook of timeiy helps. $1 bill for 10-month trial. U.S. $1.20 year, foreign, $1.35. Box BB, Eagle Rock Sta., Los Angeles 41 Page Thirty
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker