July 1932
T h e
K i n g ’ s " B u s i n e s s
319
omiilehcal HELPS. .. for(preachersan H eacners
The Fellowship of His Sufferings P hilippians 3 :10 any of us are desirous of knowing y -H- Christ and the power of His res urrection, who are not so anxious to experience the fellowship of His suffer ings. W e would be conformable to His life, but we shrink from bearing the cross ‘—for the crucifixion is both painful and shameful. . . . There are four men who stand out with regard to fellowship with David in his sufferings. I. Jonathan Would not Have Fellowship. It was not that he did not love David. He was willing to run a certain amount o f risk for David; he wept with David; but when David went into the wilderness, “Jonathan went into the city” (1 Sam. 20). He still loved David, and David still lpved him, but he shirked his cross and permitted others to have the priv ilege o f suffering with David. II. Mephibosheth Could not Have Fellow ship. He was willing enough, he even gave or der that an ass should carry him out of the city, but his servant deceived him. Robbed of the happy communion into which he had been brought by sovereign grace, he determined that no creature comfort should be enjoyed until that fel lowship should be restored. Surely there are such choice souls, who, were they not laid on beds o f sickness, would be out in the world gladly suffering shame for Christ’s dear sake. III. Ittai Would not Home Anything but Fellowship. He had not been long with David, but he was not to be turned back. He was so keen to share his hardships o f the battle field that nothing could induce him to leave. And he was one o f the three that David set in command over one-third of his forces when Absalom and his host came out to slay him. IV. Hushai IVould Do Anything for Fel lowship. Here we have the highest and most blessed illustration o f true fellowship. He was willing and anxious to go with David, and nothing hindered him. But surpassing Ittai in devotion, love, and loyalty, he was willing to stay behind. He said. Behold thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint (2 Sam. 15:15). So, in the city, Hushai defeated the council o f David’s most formidable enemy. May God im plant a like loyalty -in our hearts for Davids greater Son!—W . C. I rvine . Gospel Proclamations 1. Pardon for the guilty (Acts 26:18) 2. Peace for the troubled (Eph. 2T 7 ) 3. Power for the strengthless (Rom.’ 5- 6 ). 4. Purity for the defiled (Acts 15:9). Plenty for the needy (Lk. 14:16, 23) 6. Pleasure for the dissatisfied (Phil 4- 6 - H ) . 7 22)°dUCtiVeneSS ° f thC Spirit ('GaI' S: —F. E. M arsh .
Spiritual Experiences of Thomas 1. A Daring Utterance (John 11:14-16). 2. A Dimmed Understanding (John 14:5- 8 ). 3. A Dark Unbelief (John 20:24-29). 4. A Dawn Unclouded (John 21:1, 2). —T he I ndian C hristian .
Seven Changes in the Believer 1. A changed relationship (John 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:23). 2. A changed heart (Heb. 10:16, 22). 3. A changed mind (Eph. 4:23). 4. A changed life (Rom. 6 :4 ; Gal. 2:20). 5. A changed standing (Rom. 5 :1 ; 8:1 ). 6. A changed service (Rom . 6:13, 18; Col. 3:23, 24). 7. A changed, body (Phil. 3 :21). —S elected . A Fourfold Exhortation 1 C orinthians 16:13 1. To be a Vigilant Watcher. Watch like a soldier, faithfully; like a gardener, carefully; and like a mother, constantly. 2. To be a Resolute Soldier. “The faith" is the truth of the gospel. To stand fast in the truth means to believe it fully, to practice it wholly, and to grip it tenaciously. 3. T o be a Manly Saint. To be a full-grown saint is to have done with baby ways and childish things. 4. To be a Strong Believer. To be headstrong is to be a fool, but to be God-strengthened is to have His ability to answer to His Word. — P rophetic N ews . He believed God. He had no other rea son for believing in a flood judgment, than the naked word of God. There was no sign o f a flood, but for 120 years Noah plodded on in simple faith, taking. God at His word. In the face of human odds, he believed God and was saved be cause of it. We, too, must be saved by faith if we are ever saved. II. Noah Was Saved by Grace. “ Noah found grace in the eyes o f the Lord” (Gen. 6 :8 ). Grace is undeserved favor, unmerited mercy, and uncomprehended love. By God’s grace, Noah was saved; and by His grace we must be saved, or we will perish eternally. Noah was a sinner by nature. He was not just in himself, but he became heir to the righteousness which is by faith. III. Noah was Saved by Obedience. “ Noah did according to all that God commanded him” (Gen. 6:22; 7 :5 ). He not only trusted, but he did exactly what God told him to do, nothing more, nothing less. Although it was an ex pensive, huge, absurd undertaking, con trary to reason and the advice o f his friends, he built an ark because God told him to. His faith worked. It was not a mere opinion. IV . Noah Was Saved by the Power of God. “ And the Lord shut him in” (Gen. 7 :16). He was saved and kept by the power of God, safe and secure within the ark, with every need supplied. —H. C. F ulton . The Salvation of Noah I. Noah Was Saved by Faith. “ By faith Noah” (Heb. 11:7).
The Magnificat L uke 1 :46-55
This is a message from the heart o f one who listened when God spoke, and who, with all reverence, shared her new-found joy with a fellow-believer who was in a position to understand, because she also had listened and believed. 1. A spontaneous praise (vs. 46-48). 2. A personal experience (vs. 49, 50). 3. A fuller understanding (vs. 51-53). 4. A glad recognition (vs. 54, 55). —L. B. I. B ulletin . v / The Radiant Life of Christ 2 P eter 1 :5-8 I. The Prerequisite. Faith. II. Means of Attainment. “ Giving all diligence.” III. Qualities to Attain. 1. Intellectual qualities. a. Virtue. b. Knowledge. 2. Moral qualities. a. Temperance. b. Patience. 3. Social qualities. a. Godliness. b. Brotherly kindness. 4. An all-inclusive quality— love. IV. Steps Toward Attainment. The believer will be useful in knowl edge o f Christ. — S amuel F isk . Facing the Foe N ahum 2 :1 I. A Formidable Adversary — “He that dasheth in pieces.” 1. A roaring lion, to be resisted (1 Pet. 5:8, 9; Jas. 4 :7 ). 2. An angel of light, to be refuted (2 Cor. 11:14; Tit. 1 :11; 2 John 10). II. A Frontal Attack — “ Is come up be fore thy face.” 1. Incessant persecution (John 15:20; 1 Thess. 2.T5). 2. Insidious propaganda (2 Pet. 2:1-3; Gal. 1:8, 9). III. A Fourfold Admonition. 1. “ Keep the munition” (Phil. 4 :7 ). 2. “Watch the way” (John 14:6). 3. “Make thy loins strong” (Lk. 12: 35; Eph. 6:14; 1 Pet. 1:13). 4. “Fortify thy power mightily.” a. The preaching o f the cross (1 Cor. 1 :18). b. - The Christ (1 Cor. 1 :24). c. The gospel (Rom. 1 :16). —C. H. S. 1. Possession, 2. Abounding. V. Results.
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