THE KING’S BUSINESS
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Theme: Effective Christian Service. T ext : 1 Corinthians 9 :26, 27; cf. Hebrews 12:1. I ntroduction . So much of our service is uneffective; it is beating the air; is fruitless in its results. There are certain things a Chris tian needs for effective service. I. A definite knowledge of conversion. 1. Not all Christians enjoy assurance, but they should; it is their privilege and duty to know (Romans 8:14, 16; 1 -John 5:13). 2. Not to believe the definite statement of God’s Word about sonship is to make God a liar (1 John 5:10-12). 3. It is not necessary to know the day or the hour so long as we know the fact. Is your conversion a settled thing? Any wavering on this point will inter fere with definite service. II. A definite committal of oneself to God (Romans 12 : 1 ). 1. This does not always take place at conversion. 2. It calls for a definite handing ,over of oneself to God (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Have you done this? III. A cleansing from sin as a continuous and definite experience (1 John 1 : 7 , 9)- - 1. The definite cleansing from known sin (1 John 1:9). ' 2. The continual cleansing from sins that are brought to our attentions as we walk in the light (1 John 1:7). IV. A definite service. 1. Ascertain your place in the body of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4 :1-6). V. A definite prayer life. 1. A life of personal and private prayer. 2. A life of intercessory prayer. VI. A definite knowledge and study of the Bible. 1. A definite study of it for one’s own spiritual nature. 2. A knowledge of it for use in leading j! others to Christ.
“My Lord, dost Thou remember this of me, Forgetting every fall, Forgetting all the treacherous days, Forgetting all the wandering ways, With fulness of forgiveness covering all; Casting these memories, a hideous store, Into the crimson sea, for evermore, And only saying, ‘I remember -thee!’ “My Lord, art Thou indeed remembering me? Then let me not forget! Oh, be Thy kindness all the way, Thy everlasting love today, In sweet perpetual remembrance set Before my view, to fill my marveling gaze And stir my love, and lift my life to praise, Because Thou sayest, ‘I remember thee!’ ” T h em e: T h e C h ristian as th e S e rv a n t of Jehovah. T ext : Isaiah 49:50. I ntroduction . The last half of the prophecy of Isaiah is occupied largely with the service of the true Servant of Jehovah, our Lojd Jesus Christ, and is a pattern of the service we as God’s servants should render. I. The conscience, or motive, ofl true Christian service. 1. It is to be a service to God—“my servant” (42:1). 2. It is to be, not for the glorification of self (43:1-7), but for the glorification of God (42:1, 2; 49:3). II. The nature of true service to God. 1. By His servant witnessing for Him (49:2; 50:4). (a) There must be a consecrated life behind our witnessing (49:1). (b) The power to confess Christ or speak for God comes from soli tude with God (49:2). 2. God breaks forth into glory through us when we thus engage in service for Him (58:6-10). III. The equipment for the service of God ( 42 : 5 - 7 ; 61 : 8 ). It is not by might, nor by power, but by God’s Spirit.
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