THE KING’S BUSINESS
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work. How solemn, yet how splendid it all is! Imagine yourself standing in the midst of a million people; multiply them by hundreds of millions; multiply again by thousands of years; then think of the thou sands of worlds—and yet the Creator of it all has destined you to be a part in the working out of His plan. What a joyful service it must be. PRACTICAL POINTS (G) Men must be with Him, before they can go for Him. (2) Men must be taught by Him before they can teach. (3) God’s plan for the prosecution of His work, is through men. (4) Whom He employs, them He empow ers. (5) Every believer was chosen before the foundation of the world. ( 6 ) He chooses and appoints that men may bring forth fruit. (7) He gave Himself for us that we might give ourselves to others. ( 8 ) An apostle is a “sent one” ; you can be an apostle, if you give assent to His call. he ought to say, he left his busy office for a week and retired to his old country home. Here he sat with his mother, in simple con versation; here he allowed her to fill his mind again with the sithple Incidents of God’s dealing with her. At night he allowed her to tuck him in bed and kiss him good night as when a boy. Here, in meditation, he dwelt upon the love and mercy of God till his soul was flooded with tenderness. When he returned to make his speech, it is needless to say that it did all and more than was expected; for it was filled with the warmth and sympathy of a Godly home. Luther said if he had a great amount of work to do, he must be up that much earlier, in' order to spend more time alone
Then, He selects us for some service and sends us forth. He does not send all on the same errand. Some He sends as apostles; some, evangelists; some, pastors; some, teachers; some, helpers; but He sends, and those whom He sends, He equips. All are saved to serve. The thirteenth verse tells us that He called unto Him whom He would, and then He chose twelve for a specific pur pose. In Eph. 1:4 we are told that we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. This Sovereign of the uni verse selected u s; purposed in His heart to bring us into being, and then to,make us vessels, to His glory. This thought is so wonderful that we can hardly comprehend it. He has a work to do; He must have workmen } He selects them and thrusts them into the field. Note the order: (1) He calls to salvation at the cross. (2) He calls to His side for fellowship. (3) He calls for servants. (4) He calls for specific work. How wonderfully gracious is all this! The great God setting His love upon us, putting us into His great plan; making us a part of His program in His age-abiding J ESUS had two ways of blessing the crowds. First by withdrawing from them, and second by touching them. Here is God’s method for everyone who would be a blessing to the multitude. First, seclu sion; second, popularity. Moses in the desert—Moses with the people. Elijah at Cherith-—Elijah on Carmel. Paul in Arabia—Paul on Mars Hill. Jesus withdrawing Himself—Jesus heal ing the multitudes. The story is told of a southern statesman who was to give an address that would turn jthe tide of events in many lives. It was important that his speech should win. After he had framed up what he thought
PERTINENT ILLUSTRATIONS B y W . H. Pike.
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