July, 1941
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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Because God Cares 1 P eter 5:6-11; L uke 12:24-30 MEMORY VERSE: “Trust . . . in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). APPROACH: Do you remember when you were quite little and you bumped your head ? To whom did you go to have it fixed up? You left your playmates and ran to Mother, didn’t you ? You know that Mother cared and she would
I read it to her, “Beloved, think it not strange.” As a matter of fact, to ex perience no suffering at all would be the strange t h i n g , “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Heb. 12:6). Those who never have any “fiery trials” are no true sons of the Father. “But let none of you suffer as . . . an evildoer, or as a busybody” (v. 15). While it is the will of God that all of His children should be tested by suffer ing, we should never forget to inquire carefully into the cause of our suffering, when it comes. 2. “Rejoice . . . that, when his glory shall be r e v e a l e d , ye may be glad” (v. 13). The writers of Holy Scripture never get very far away from the hope of the coming of the Lord. In victory and defeat, in pain and pleasure, in suc cess and failure, these men keep point ing our eyes to one great and grand event toward which the whole creation moves. That, it is no mistake to say, was one of the secrets of the power of the early church. They had the “up ward look.”. Today, the religious lead ers of Christendom are teaching men to look down instead of up for the world’s deliverance. And as a result men are getting discouraged. Little wonder, considering what they see! But if you look up, if you have your eves fixed steadfastly on the Sovereign Lord of all, if you are expecting Him to break through the heavens at any moment, you will find courage and strength to work harder for righteousness here and now. 3. “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh a b o u t , seeking whom he may devour” (5:8). W h e n Peter wrote these words, he was not merely Writing as one borne along by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but he was also writing out of his own personal experience as a disciple. Peter knew about these matters. What mem ories must have filled his mind of the times when the devil tried to devour him, and only the infinite grace of the Saviour had preserved his soul! (cf. Matt. 16:23 and Lk. 22:31, 32). Suffering that is bom willingly for Christ’s sake allows the note of'joy and boldness to be heard in a Christian’s testimonv in the hardest of circum stances. In Life and Light there ap peared the following example of this truth: “In Armenia, a whole village of sixty families embraced Islamism under threats of torture and death. There was only one exception—a woman aged 110, who refused, saying, ‘I am too old to deny my Lord.’ The fierce Turks snatched her Bible from her hands, tore it up, and burned it. She said very calpily, ‘You can do that—but you can not tear the promises out of my heart.’.” Golden Text Illustration 1 P eter 4:16
be given opportunity to exalt the Chris tian. The great example of humility and its ultimate reward is found in our Lord Himself who humbled Himself and is now exalted (cf. Phil. 2:5-11). •The self-exalted one will be abased (cf. Lk. 18:9-14). It is pride that seeks for recognition apart from God. P r i d e springs from "the flesh,’’ or satisfaction in what can be done, or known, or ob tained, by one’s own efforts. Pride wars against any subjection to another, even to God Himself. It was pride that led Satan to exalt himself and to say in his heart, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (Isa. 14:13). Another aspect of "the flesh” is re vealed 'in anxious care with regard to experiences or circumstances. Here we are told plainly what course the Christian should follow and at the same time be free of anxious care: The trou ble •should be frankly recognized; the care should be presented to the Lord, and the assurance should be relied upon: “He careth for you” (v. 7). HI. S uffering from the D evil (5:8-11) The devil is a real personality, and the danger arising from his activity is real, or else the exhortation of this passage would be without meaning. The Chris tian must withstand the evil one by steadfastness in the faith (v. 9). The "faith” means the body of doctrine or teaching contained in the Scriptures. That the Word of God is sufficient to silence all the devil’s accusations was proved by our Lord in the wilderness (cf. Matt. 4:1-11). The Christian’s refuge at all times is in the “God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory.” And this Gne not only permits trying experiences for the benefit of His own, but He also uses these testings as a part of the di vinely appointed process to perfect, es tablish, and settle those who believe. "Think it not strange . . . as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1 Pet. 4:12). The strange thing is not that Christians suffer, but that most of us think it strange when we do suf fer. For, no matter how well taught in the Word we are, no matter how experienced we are in the things of God, the “fiery trial” generally catches us by surprise. We may counsel others to be prepared. But when suffering comes into our own lives, we are sel dom prepared. I recall very well, in the early years of my ministry in the pastorate, that a fine Christian woman who was passing through a very diffi cult experience of suffering' said to me, “It seems so strange that God would permit such an experience to come into my life»” What she said recalled to my 'mind the passage in 1 Peter 4:12, and , Points and Problems 1.
kiss it, and you would feel better. When you needed a n ew p a i r of shoes, to whom did you go ? If you talked about it to y o u r f r i e n d s , y o u k n e w they wouldn’t pay any attention. So you w e n t r i g h t to
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Father, and he Supplied your need. It is ourheavenly Father who heals our hurts, and supplies our needs, today. LESSON’ When the Lord Jesus was upon earth, He taught His disciples many things. One of the lessons He especially wanted them to learn was not to worry. Our friends like to tell us that, too, but often they don’t do anything to help us. God tells us not to worry because He will care for us. Jesus pointed out the ravens to His disciples, and reminded them that God looks after ravens. Then He told them they were more important than ravens. He showed them the lilies and reminded them that, although lilies neither toiled nor spun, they were dressed more beauti fully than Solomon in all his glory. Do you think He told them this because He wanted them to be lazy, and to let God drop food and clothing into their laps? No, indeed. But we mustn’t be so busy getting something to eat and wear that we forget about Him and His work. He wants us to put first things first. If we do His will, He will look after our needs (Lk. 12:30).
OBJECTS: A large magnet, several nails, a yellow bag, a grey bag, and a red cardboard cross. (Line the grey bag with the inner tube of a tire.) LESSON: These nails, like unsaveS people, are too far from the cross.
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