Spirit seeks to please God, renounces the self-life, desires a holy life, fellow- ship with God and yields true worship, love, trust and service to God. The flesh manifests itself against the new nature in us, resisting every Spiritual thought, action, word. On the other hand the new nature resists the old na- ture with all its ways. (5) The Be- liever's Crucifixion, v. 24. The believ- er, in the person of Jesus Christ, has been nailed to the Cross and there also was crucified the old nature with its inclinations and passions. Let us treat it as on the Cross. (Cf. Bom. 6:3-4-6; Gal. 6:14; Col. 3:3). (6) The Believ- er's Exhortation, v. 25-26. We are to live " b y the Spirit" (Cf. v. 16) as to our inward life, and ' ' walk by the Spir- i t " as to our outward conduct. The inner spiritual life and the outward FOUB ESSENTIALS FOB SEBVIOE. LESSON 10. Sept. 4, Bight Relationship. Bom. 12:3-8. Our theme for the month is "Serv- ice." The foundation of service is, first of all, a right relationship. Be- fore we can become servants we must become children. God does not ask or desire service from those who are re- belling against His Son. He wants servants, but He wants those to serve who first worship His Son. Worship always precedes service. First, the servant must h^ve the right thought of himself. He must rec- ognize that God has called him, Bom. 1:6, and God does not call many wise men after the flesh, 1 Cor. 1:26-29. Whatever gifts He has are from God, and there is no room for self-glory, 1 Cor. 4:7. Our gifts differ, but we are to use such as God bestows for His service, every one working in his or her own place, according to the measure of faith given by God. Second, the servant must have the right thought of God. Come boldly, Heb. 4:16; 10:19. We have a right in the presence of God. The blood of Jesus has provided a way of access into the holiest of all. His blood offer- ing has been accepted, and in full con-
practice will correspond. The walk will not be spasmodic or occasional but sin- cere, incessant, permanent. Especially should the believer shun vainglory; it is so easy in these days on the part of believers to shun "wine wherein is ex- cess," the voice of God speaks against it and the voice of man re-echoes the dangers of it, but we are liable to for- get that man may become drunken upon power, pride of place, position and serv- ice, the appetite for power, place, dic- tatorship, approbation and applause is in us all. Some will go farther, spend more and labor harder for their secur- ing, than the drunkard for his drink. Beware. The effect is two-fold upon others; provoking those that are strong- er and causing envy on the part of those who are weaker. fidence of faith and persistence of pur- pose we pass through into the presence of the mercy seat where the sprinkled blood of Christ had made a way for us. Let us draw near; we are welcome in His presence. He wants us near to Himself, verse 22. Worship Him in sincerity and in truth, John 4; in confi- dence of our acceptance through the all-sufficient sacrifice of our mediator.. Where He is we have the right to be. Let us hold fast, verse 23. We profess to believe that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord, and this confession is es- sential to our salvation, Bom. 10:9-10. 1 Jno. 4:15. Let us consider one an- other, not in envy but in love, to ex- cite a godly rivalry, to provoke to good works, consider the need, the temptations, the trials, the burdens, and help one another; put no obstacle in the way, but help to remove them, Bom. 12:15, Gal. 6:1, Phil. 1:9. Let us lay aside, Heb. 21.1, every- thing which hinders our progress in the Christian life. The old nature, Eph. 4:22. Habits, pleasure, selfish desire, even legitimate things which hinder, Bom. 11:13-14, Col. 3:8-6, 1 Tim. 6:9-10. Add to your faith, 2 Pet. 1:5-7, Faith is the foundation and the first thing in matters of importance. It lies at the base, and all other virtues are added to it.
Timly Topics for Young People BY T. C. HORTON FOB SEPTEMBER.
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