the deep thoughts of God and the defi- nite things in practical service. The commission is direct and includes five things: Preach, " t h e kingdom of heaven is at h a n d" (Matt. 3:2, 4:17); heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons. A mis- sion and message to both soul and body. He had abundantly blessed them; they were to bountifully bestow the blessing upon others. Without money and with- out price He had ministered to them of His fullness and now they were to go forth in His name—in the power of His spirit—to do mighty deeds. The Scope of Their Ministry, verses 5-15. To the house of Israel. The King was sending them out to His subjects, therefore they were not to make pro- vision for themselves but to depend upon the people (Luke 10:7). After- wards when they were sent among the Gentiles they were commanded to do so (Luke 22:35-36). Invitations and warnings were to go hand in hand. If they were received the blessing of the King was to come on the house, and if rejected, barrenness followed. Respon- sibility would attend their mission and the day of Judgment would reveal the character of the people who accepted or rejected the message. There was to be no charge for healing the sick. It was a spiritual operation. The thought of consideration for healing in the name of the Lord Jesus is very repulsive (Acts 8:18-23). Suffering for Christ (Acts 16:23). Suffering, persecution and hatred await- ed them and will await their brethren who carry out the commission in an- other age. Security (Acts 16:24-33). They were dear to the Master, therefore they would be preserved to the end. The Sword That Severa (Aets 16:34- 39). There would be division in the families, and among friends. The mes- sage would be a separating one, and the messengers, if allied to the King, would be alienated from His enemies. Sweets of Reward (vs. 40-42). The King would keep account of service and rewards would be rendered for faithfulness. The very personality of the messengers was so identified with that of the Master Himself that receiv- ing or rejecting them was the equivalent to receiving or rejecting him. This truth is tremendous if properly assimi- lated and should solemnize many hearts (2 Cor. 5:20; Gal. 4:14).
Prayer prepares the hearts of men and women for the message (Acts 10: 4-6). What men pray for, they work for; it is impossible to make a genuine prayer for the spread of the gospel without putting ourselves at the Lord's disposal for the answer to the prayer (2 Cor. 8:5). When we make a real prayer that the Gospel may be given to Africa, we will mean that what we have and are, are at God's command for that work. So He said, " P r a y ye the Lord of the harvest,'' and they did. (3) SEPARATING HIS SERVANTS. ' 'He called His twelve disciples.'' Their prayers are answered. They are to have the joy of service in the whitened fields. Twelve of the most noted men in all the history of the world are these twelve obscure, un- lettered, uncultured men. They were without large means, without social standing—some were despised. They were not leaders amongst the Jews, but He made them that day mighty. The Apostles' Band. They are to rule over the twelve tribes of Israel in a regenerate earth and their names are to be blazoned upon the foundations of the heavenly city (Rev. 21:14). God's ways are not man's ways (Isa. 5-5:9), His choice is not the world's choice (1 Cor. 1:27). This is the first ordination service in the new dispensation. We have their names in couples, for so were they sent forth. Twq by two (Luke 10:1). Two are better than one (Eeci. 4:9-10), but the two must be agreed, else how can they walk together (Amos 3:3) t Bit- terness and strife in service can only be avoided by agreement in the Spirit (Eph. 5:2). Their deficiencies drove them to dependence upon Divine power. Even Paul the scholar stripped himself of all his fleshly-furnished equipment (1 Cor. 2:1-4) when he undertook the task of teaching the truth. The Lord compensated their human insufficiency by fitting them with a fur- nishing impossible to the schools (Acts 1:8). If Christ be not Divine, what sacrilege is this:—in selecting, ordain- ing and giving a message to men in- volving eternal destinies. (4) SENDING FORTH SHEPHERDS. "Go to the Lost Sheep." Theory and practice ¡are beautifully combined in our Lord's training school. He taught, He trained, He instructed in word and initiated in work. They had
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