September 1924
T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
566
SEPTEMBER 28, 1924 Organizing to Get Things Done Neh. 1 :1 -6 ; 2 :1 -6 ; 4:1-6
SEPTEMBER 14, 1924 How Can We Serve Our Sunday School? John 21:15-17
The most helpless thing in the world is a mass of wonder ful machinery and no power. Organizations are dead, helpless things until touched by the energizing power of the Holy Spirit. Organize as carefully and wisely and prayer fully as though the entire success of the work depended alone upon the organization, and then trust God alone as though there were no organization. Note in the Scripture lesson the preparation by prayer. In Nehemiah 1, we find a heart burdened for kinsmen, sor rowful for the distress of Jerusalem and zealous for the glory of the Lord. We find a prayer of confession of sin, of intense earnestness and great length. In Nehemiah 2 when the opportunity for action came, he was ready, and sent an ejaculatory prayer for wisdom to the Lord and received from God plans for his organization. In Nehemiah 3 we find him organizing the people for work, and the fourth chapter tells of the success of the work. Organization is important but not supremely impor tant. Many Christian organizations fail because their inception and development have been by man’s wisdom and in the energy of the flesh. Every organization is assured of success that is born in prayer, when the plan and pro cedure emanate from the Omniscient One. (Jas. 1:5, 6). OCTOBER 5, 1924 In His Steps (1 0 ): How Jesus Cheered the Fearful and Discouraged Matt. 9 :2 ; Matt. 10:24-33; John 14:1-3 (Consecration Meeting) Matthew 9 :2 : By forgiving sins. This is on the ground of the atoning work on the Cross of Calvary. Cheer and com fort follow His words of forgiveness. Matt. 10:24-33: By warning them that persecution and even death is to be expected. There is an optimism that is cruelty; if there is danger ahead we ought to know, then, facing the facts, go forward. (2 Tim. 3 :1 2 ; Jno. 15:19-21; 16 :33 ). By promising them that though the body may be killed the soul cannot be. By telling them of the Father’s care over the bird and contrasting the worth of a man with the worth of a sparrow. We are safe in His hands for He careth for us. John 1 4 :1 -3 : By the promise of a “Home Over There,” and the promise of His personal return. The same four teenth chapter promises the gift of another Comforter who would come to and dwell within them. (v. 16; chap. 15:16; 16 :17 ). What a comfort is the privilege of prayer that He gives us? (John 14:13, 14; 16:24; Phil. 4:6, 7). The con sciousness that He prays for us is cheering. (John 17¡IS IS; Heb. 7 :2 5 ). No words ever fell on human ears comparable to the words of the Lover of souls, and the most gracious of His utterances were addressed to the disheartened. His words and promises of cheer are Peculiar, in that no other words ever uttered or written are like them. They are Personal. They invite the discouraged ones to a Person, not to a reli gion or institution or organization. They are Practical. Millions of saints through the centuries have appropriated the promises and found rest and comfort. They are Pro phetic of the eternal peace and rest and bliss that await the believer. (Heb. 4 :9 ; Rev. 21:3, 4). 1 Pet. 3 :1 4 ; 4:12-16; 5 :7 ; Heb. 12:11; 2 Tim. 1 :12; Rom. 8:28-39; Jno. 14:27, 28; Isa. 2 6 :3 ; Matt. 14 :31 ; 16:18; 17:17, 20; 6:24-25; Psa. 34:9, 10.; $ 7 :3 ; 55:22.
There is danger of some C. E. Societies becoming “ closed corporations”— failing to recognize the importance of the Sunday School and failing to remember that the Sunday School has a definite place and work for them. One of the best ways to help your Society is to help your-Sunday School — most of your members come from that organization. As Endeavorers we can help our Sunday School by— Regular Attendance, thus setting the example for the younger boys and girls who often think that the Sunday School is only for little children. By Teaching a Class. Nearly every Sunday School is short of teachers, and substitute teachers are always needed. By Ushering. By helping the little ones and the strang ers to find their places. By Helping in the Music. In rendering special music or in orchestra work. By Assisting the Superintendent in the opening or clos ing exercises. Placing the whole society at the service of the S. S. Superintendent. By Systematic House to House Calling to bring new mem bers to the Sunday School. By Aiding the Home Department and Cradle Roll in their work. By Definite, Daily, Intercessory Prayer for the whole Sunday School Matt. 18:1-14; 19:13-15; Mark 9:33-37, 42; 10:13-16. SEPTEMBER 21, 1924 “The Beatitudes” of the Psalms Psa. 1 :1 ; 3 2 :2 ; 34:8. Psa. 1 :1 : “ Blessed” is a plural word— “Oh, the blessed- nessess” of the man who is separated from sinners— their words, way, and work-—and separated unto the Scriptures, — its meditation and study. V. 1 is negative. Note the progression of the sinner: listens to advice of ungodly,— , i. e., careless men who have forgotten God; then, associat ing with sinners who openly violate God’s laws; then, abid ing with the scornful,-—mockers who glory in their shame and teach others to sin. BUT blessed is the man who walks, stands and sits in the counsel, way and seat of the godly. (Isa. 5 5 :7 ; Prov. 4:14, 15, 18-19; 1 9 :20 ; Jas 1 :1 2 ). V. 2 is positive. Happy is the man who meditates in the Word of God. An intense, minute, spiritual study of the Bible brings joy and delight. (Prov. 7:1-3 Psa. 19:7- 11; 119:103, 105; 2 Tim. 2 :15 ; Rev. 1 :3 ; 22:7, 14). The PICTURE of the BLESSED MAN: Separated, V. 1; Delighted, V. 2; Planted, V. 3; Prospered, V, 3; Delivered, Y. 6. Psalm 3 2 :2 must be considered with the verse that pre cedes it. The first verse is negative; the second is positive. A great cry of gladness springs from the heart of a man who has been forgiven his sins. The ground of forgive ness is the atoning blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. Sin is a burden,'— forgiveness removes it. Sin is pollution, foul, vile and loathsome,— forgiveness covers it so the eye of God cannot see it and judge it. Sin is a debt— for giveness cancels it. (Rom. 4 :6 -8 ). V. 2 tells of the blessedness of justification. This is more than forgiveness. Forgiveness is the blotting out of sin, while justification is the adding to of righteousness. Right eousness is imputed to the man whose sins are covered by the blood of Christ. (Rom. 3 :2 2 ). Happy is the man who is in such a case! Psalm 3 4 :8 . Trust in the Lord always produces joy. This blessedness comes through experience. The Lord Himself is all-sufficient. (Isa. 57:20, 21; Psa. 2 :1 2 ; 33:12; 84:4, 5, 12; 119:2; 128:1; Isa. 32:20; Matt. 5 :3 -11 ).
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