T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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NOVEMBER 28, 1919 JESUS CORRECTS JOHN’S NARROWNESS. Golden Text: “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” Eph. 6:24. LESSON TEXT Luke 9:46-56. (Read Mark 9:33-42: 10:13-16; Luke 9:46-56.
(46) Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. (47) And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, (48) And said unto them. Whosoever shall re ceive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. (49) And John an swered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. (60) And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. (51) And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he Outline: (1) The Selfish Spirit vs. The Humble Spirit, 46-48. (2) The Sectarian Spirit vs. the Tol erant Spirit, vs. 49, 50. (3) The Spiteful Spirit vs. the Merci ful Spirit, vs. 51-56. (4) The Specious Spirit vs. the Sterling Spirit, vs. 57-62. We should add the last six verses to the Scripture assigned for this les son because they so admirably fit into the lesson as we shall try to expound it, taking for the theme LESSON “The Spirit of Ser- EXPOSITION vice.”; T. G. Horton As our Lord and His disciples journeyed from Cesarea Philippi to Galilee, the disciples were discussing the merits of each other, and the question arose whq was to be the greatest in the coming kingdom. Knowing what was in their hearts,—when they were gathered in Peter’s house in Capernaum, Jesus takes the matter up again by asking questions of them. “What was it ye disputed
steadfastly set his face to go to Jeru- salem. , (52) And sent messengers be fore his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samari- saMfc£$° make ready for him. (53) And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. (54) And when his dis ciples James and John saw this, they said Lord, wilt thou that we com mand fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? (55) But he turned, and rebuked them and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. f56) For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. among yourselves by the way?” (Mark 9:33 ). He asked not because He did not know, but because He desired to present the matter to them from their own viewpoint, and this is the basis of tjie lesson. (1) The Selfish Spirit vs. The Humble Spirit, vs. 46-48. The selfish spirit is the spirit of the natural man,—desiring the best things, the best places. This is the worldly spirit—unholy ambition. This is the Satanic, self-seeking spirit. This is the spirit of hell, not of heaven. This is the spirit that moved Satan to rebel against God. Over and over our Lord taught by precept and example the lesson of self- abnegation—that lesson which is so hard to learn. He taught it in the Parable of the Guest who desired the chief rooms (Luke 14:7-11). He taught it at the Last Supper when again the disciples argued as to who was to be the great est. (Luke 22:24-27). Paul taught it in Romans 12:3-10, and in Galatians 5:25, 26.
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