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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
July, 1941
Notice the way the steam can be seen as it comes out of the teakettle, hut it soon becomes invisible. In the verse I read to you about vapor, the Apostle James had in mind the shortness and uncertainty of life, as compared to eter nity. In speaking o f its vanishing, he meant that the life could no longer be seen on earth. He did not mean that it ceased to exist. And in view of the
fact that life was so short and uncer tain, James was trying to get Chris tians to be “doers o f the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). This glass of/cold water will help us understand what happens to the spirits of Christians after death. I will hold the glass in the steam. First it looks frosty, and then we see drops of water collecting'on it. The steam which would otherwise become invisible is made to collect in a condensed form on the glass. If I can cause the vanishing steam to become visible again in drops of wa ter on the glass, do you not think that God can easily cause the spirits of those whose bodies are dead, to appear in His presence in heaven? • In 2 Corinthians 5:8, we read that, for a Christian, death is “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” make you perfect, stabllsh, strengthen, settle you. / GOLDEN TEXT ; «Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Pet. 4tl6). DEVOTIONAL READING; Matt. 5:3-12, Outline and Exposition I. S uffering from the W orld , (4:12-19) f p ^ H E PRESENT trial is called “fiery” (v. 12). This fact is not 1 strange, when one considers the place in which the Christian finds him self—In a world opposed to God and therefore opposed to all that comes from God. In the world, the Christian is an exile and a stranger, and this condition brings trial. But there may be rejoic ing, nevertheless, because the testing brings one into fellowship with Christ’s sufferings, and precedes the glory which is to be revealed. Reproach for the name of Christ brings the spirit of glory and of God to rest upon the one who suffers thus. We are not to be surprised at trials (v. 12), nor disheartened by them (v. 13), nor ashamed for them (v. 16). In all their sufferings and trials, Christians are exhorted to ^commit the keeping of their souls to him in well do ing” (v. 19)—unto Him who wisely ar ranges all providences, fully understands all experiences, and triumphantly de livers through' all cirpumstances. The word “commit” has the force of "deposit,” meaning to lay away in a safe place. n . ' S uffering from the F lesh ( 5 :6 ,7 ) Verse 6 emphasizes the fact that God gives grace to the humble. There is need of humility in order that God may
fine thing to do. You ran a great risk.” The husband, with s h i n i n g eyes, looked at his wife and said, “No, we ran no risk; we just did our Christian duty.” —J. E. Reilly in the Methodist Recorder. Every Good Gift J ames 1:17-22; G enesis 1:1 MEMORY VERSE: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father” (Jas. 1:17). . APPROACH: Has any one had a birthday l a t e l yD i d you receive some giftsv who bought them for you ? Per haps your mother, or y o u r brothers and sisters selected them, but it was your f a t h e r &ho p a i d for t h em, wasn’t it? In a fam ily the gifts usually come from the fath er. In God’s family it is like that, too. Every good gift comes from our heavenly Father. LESSON: Last week we learned that the greatest gift God gives to His chil dren is eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. God expects us to make use of what He gives. If you received a new dress, or a new suit of clothes, you wouldn’t want just to hang it in the closet where no one could see it, would you? You would want to put it on and wear it. God has given us Jesus Christ to be our Saviour, and He tells us in Romans 13:14: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” If Jesus Christ has come into youi- iieart, you ought to wear Him before the world so that people can see Him. James tells us how to do this when he says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). One of the last things the Lord Jesus Him self said before He went to His cruci fixion was, “If ye know these things,' happy are. ye if ye do them” (John 13:17). Let us decide to make use of this wonderful gift of salvation by being doers of the Word, and making the Lord Jesus real to others. OBJECTS: A boiling teakettle, and a tumbler filled with ice-cold water. (An electric plate will be needed to keep the water boiling during the demonstra tion.) LESSON: You have all heard of a "singing teakettle,” but I am wonder ing whether you have ever heard of a “talking teakettle.” This talking tea kettle reminds me of a verse in the Bible. It reads, “What is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for 4 little time, and then vanisheth away” T?s. 4:14).' Object Lesson A T alking T eakettle
AUGUST 17, 1941 PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING CHRISTIANS 1 P eter 4:12-19; 5:6-11
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trail which is to try youi as though some strange thing happened unto yout 13 But rejoice» inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; t h a t » when his glory shall he revealed, ye may be glad (also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon yout on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. . 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man s u f f e r as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is ' come that judg ment must begin at the house of .God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end, be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And i f . the righteous Scarcely be saved, where, shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore, let them that suffer ac cording to the will of., God commit the keeping of -their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 5;6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you' in ’’.ue timet 7 Casting nil your care upon bini; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may .devourt 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are In the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called mi unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while,
BLACKBOARD LESSON
• ip fins) m fin su f fe r a s a c h r is t ia a . LETHim n o t BE ASAAfTIED: BUT LET Atm OLORIFS) OOP OP THIS BEHALF” ipET.4-.ifr
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