it is to make us conscious of our need, so that our prayers shall be definitely real. Why are not our prayers always answered? Is it because He sometimes calls and we do not answer? Because He seeks, and we deny Him our fellow- ship? He knocks, and we will not open the door of our will? "Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded" (Prov. 1:24). Does He sometimes so treat us in order to bring us to our knees in confession? We ask and re- ceive not, because we ask amiss (.Jas. 4:3). "How much more?" This is the fullness of the assurance of the pro- vision there is for us, in this blessed promise. Good gifts await us. " H e that spared not His own Son, but de- livered Him up for us all, how shall He not, with Him, also, freely give us all things?" The greater includes the lesser. If you are in fellowship with Him, go in and help yourself; the door is open. (4) SQUARE DEAL. "Do ye even so to him." This section of the teaching closes with these memorable words, with which the Lord clinches the whole ar- gument of their relation to the world; all -the law and prophets are here summed up. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 22:39-40). Owe no man anything but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law—for all the law is fulfilled in one word—thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Gal. 5:14). This is Christ's law of • reciprocity. It is the fundamental law for judg- ment. It is the two-foot rule of Chris- tianity, with which you can solve all the problems of life, social and family. Corifuciiis taught this law from the negative side, "Do not do to others." Christ puts it from the positive side. It is heaven's law; it was exemplified by Christ. Put yourself in the other man 's place. This is a hard task for sinful men ai>d an impossible one. It is a high mark. We talk about giving a man a square deal! If the church gives the heathen a square deal, it will give them the Gospel. If we give our fellow men a square deal wo will tell them the whole truth—about sin, about judgment, about Christ and salvation, about heaven and hell. POINTS PRACTICAL. Have a high standard of judgment;
sit on your own bench and judge your own sins first, then the sins of others. Stop seeking to spy the spots in your neighbor's house and dust the dirt in your own. He is best fitted to find fault with others in whom no fault is to be found. More self-examination would lead to less condemnation of others; and more discrimination to less recrimination. God is not deaf; why should men be dumb? When prayer ascends like a flame, blessings descend like a flood. If righteousness reigns in our hearts, our lives will be regulated by the Golden Rule. LESSON IX. Sunday, February 27, 1910. Matt. 7:13-29. Golden Text—Matt. 7:21. FALSE AND TRUE DISCIPLESHIP. OUTLINE. (1) Way of Life .. 13-14 (2) Warning Against False Teach- 1 ers ..... 15-2Q (3) Will of the Father... 21-23 (4) Wise Builder 24-27 (5) Word of Authority 28-29 This is the closing lesson of the won- derful sermon. It will not bo a ques- tion of matter, but a question of se- lection in this lesson: the material is superabundant. For the teacher of the lower grades, the theme of "Cho i c e" should be taken; choice of gates, roads, will, fruit, foundation, etc. Eternal destinies may be wrapped in the teach- ing of this lesson: teach for eternity. No teacher should dare to handle this lesson without first steeping it in prayer. You may have, those in your class who have never made a confes- sion; you may have unsaved church members; now is the time to bring the truth elearly and forcefully to their hearts. (1) WAY OF LIFE. Narrow is the way . . . unto life. The Lord closes the Sermon with a striking command. If any are to be disciples in His Kingdom and practice the precepts He sets forth, they must enter into life through a door. There are many who talk glibly about taking the Sermon on the Mount for their creed, who never get to this verse, yet this verse is at the threshold of the Kingdom life. The Oate Is Open —Over its portals is the invitation, " En t er ye i n . " Luke
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker