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(my people are w r o n g ) . Here no quarter is given to self nor is any false courtesy shown to others. This indictment of self and sin agrees with the Word of God (cf. Job. 42:5, 6; Dan. 10:8; Rom. 7:18; Isa. 64:6; 1 John 1:8, 10; Rom. 3:18, 23). Preparation for worship also com prises a cleansing and a call (vs. 6,7). The cleansing is accomplished by the Lord alone and immediately upon confession of sin. Above the angel’s song, the Lord hears and answers the sob of the contrite heart which seeks to be cleansed. When the repentant one is cleansed, then his ears are open to the call of the Lord (v. 8). “Whom shall i .send?” asks the Lord. One may not go; he must be sent (cf. Heb. 10:9; John 1:6). “And who will go for us?” Only a volunteer can be used,-not a conscript (cf. John 4:32; Psa. 40:8). The only acceptable an swer to God’s call is, “Here am I”— ready to be sent (cf. Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20); and, “Send me”—not an other in my place. Self with all its rights yields fully to the Lord. God requires that we walk in wis dom. Alas, many walk without any reference to God, as if He did not even exist! They are the fools, making the days "evil.” Christians have the op portunity of “redeeming” or making the most of their time upon this earth. In order to walk aright, there must first be an understanding of the will of God. This cannot be discovered by natural ability nor by secular studies, but is revealed through the Word of God by the Holy Spirit of God. One cannot worship acceptably unless he is willing to live the Christian life. III. T he P ower for W orship (E p h . 5:18-21) If one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he will possess a singing heart. It will be sweet to the Lord who listens to the inside music rather than to the notes emanating from the throat. The thankful heart results from the knowl edge of the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only happy and grateful, but submissive as well, will be the heart of' the Christian who is truly yielded to God. He will feel not a fear and dread of his Father, but filial awe resulting from a realization of the holy and loving character of his God. By the operation of the Holy Spirit in the life, each believer may make a melody that will please the Lord, give such thanks as will honor Him, and submit to His authority with all joyfulness. Only a Spirit-filled Chris tian can worship and serve acceptably. T he R equirements for W orship . (E p h . 5:15-17)
For the Children H appy T imes in our C hurch A cts 2:44-47; 4:32-37 MEMORY VERSE: “Love-one an other” (1 John 4:7). AIM: To teach that in a church where the Lord Jesus Christ is really loved, the members will show love for one another, and be willing to sacrifice if necessary in order that they may ’help one another. APPROACH: Our Bible story today is about the first group of Christians to meet together after the Lord Jesus:' returned to His Father in Heaven. Let us think how we may make our churclt more like this first one. LESSON STORY: After the Lord Jesus returned to Heaven, the Holy Spirit came to live within those who received the Saviour into their hearts. At the close of a sbrmon by Peter, who was one of Jesus’ disciples, three thousand people became Christians and were baptized. All of these Christians sold all that they owned and had all things in common. Not one of them said that anything that he ownecf' was his own. Those who owned houses and lands sold them and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. If any Christian had any need the other Christians helped him. Each day as they came to the temple to worship, others learned about the Lord Jesus and accepted Him as their Saviour. These Christians were happy and had favor with all the people. In our churches today, we do not all own everything in common, nor do we live as did the first Christians. The thing that made them happy, however, may still make us happy in our churches. They loved the Lord Jesus so miuch that they were willing to sacrifice that they might show their love to others. Most Christians think only of their own needs and try only to make them selves happy. Those who truly love the Lord Jesus Christ will show that love by loving others, as the first Christians loved one another. LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 11 The Fruits of Public Worship . L E S S O N M A T E R IA L : sia n s 5:15-21. G O L D E N T E X T : “ I Isaiah 6:1-8; Ephe- w ill praise the Lord in the assem bly of co n gre ga tion " (Psa. Outline and Exposition I. T he P reparation for W orship ( I s a . 6:1-8) Preparation for w o r s h i p includes conviction and c o n f e s s i o n of sin, which is always brought about by a vision of the Lord Himself (vs. 1-5). “Woe is me! for I am undone” (my deeds are wrong); “I am ... unclean” (my heart is wrong); “I dwell in the tui dai « f a oeqfils of unclean lips” w ith m y whole heart, the upright, and in the 11T:1).
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