m
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
December, 1941
led (Mark says “driven” ) by the Spirit into the Wilderness to face the adver sary and his charges. IL T h e M a n n e r (2-11) As a man, Christ was tempted con cerning the Word of God (vs. 2-4). The taunt was along this line: “If thou be” God’s Son, prove it. This was an as sault upon His person, touching His physical life. He was tempted to act independently of the Father, as the first man had acted. Blit His kingdom was to be spiritual in its nature, hence the material side could not predominate. The church and the individual Chris tian today are often likewise tempted, along physical lines. As Messiah, He was tempted con cerning the way of God (vs. 5-7). The enemy brought an assault upon His soul, touching His psychical being, in volving His death and His people. He was tempted to act by sight; to test God in this regard. But faith needs no proof. It does not. presume; it simply believes. Christ’s kingdom was to be spiritual in its method, hence God’s way would be the only right way by, which to secure it. Similarly, the church and the individual Christian today are tempted, along psychical lines. As Son of man, He was tempted concerning the will of God (vs. 8-11). This was an assault upon His spirit as touching His kingdom upon earth, and involved His dominion. He was tempt ed to take the easiest way to the throne. But His kingdom was to be spiritual in its resources, hence He could not compromise in order to gain His end. In like manner are the church and individual Christians tempted to day, a,long spiritual lines. The first temptation concerned the Word of God and was met with simple faith. The second concerned the way of God and was met; by refusal to seek any other way. The third concerned the will of God and was met by re fusal to compromise, or to seek world ly assistance in God-appointed work. III. T h e W a y o f V ic t o r y There was and is just one Weapon to be used against the devil, that is, the Word of God. And that Word must be properly used. Jesus drew that weap on from its scabbard and wielded it to the overthrow of all the devil’s designs. Quoting from the Book of Deuteronomy, He put Satan to flight. That book tells how God’s people should live and act in their promised land. Jesus was in that land as the representative of His people, and hence He drew from that book. Thus He would show His own that entire dependence upon the Holy Spirit is necessary in the conflict with Satan, because the Holy Spirit is the Author of the Word and the Guide in its use. There was and is just one method of
BLACKBOARD LESSON
TOC LUEHAUE-AD HIGH PRIEST - in ALL POIAT5 TEfTlPTED LIKEAS LUEARE, MET LUITHOUT Sin” «E6.V.I5
By Cecelia Margaret Rudln, M. A. Who wrote “ America the Beauti ful— ‘Silent Night“ — “ God Will Take Care of You” ? , Why?— What Circumstances? In a perfectly fascinating style this book gives you the inspiring stories of our loved hymns. NOW IN 9th EDITION
400 Years of Hymnody chronologicaUy fromLathertothe ‘ ‘OldBoned Cross makes these messages of comfort and S eace vividly and tenderly anew for oar ay.88 pages, 165subjects, beautifully bound, richly illustrated, only $1.00. The book to own. read, GIVE. Order from your church supply house: or writs direct JOHN RUD1N & COMPANY INC. Publishers of The Book of Life 1018 S. Wabash Avenue Dept« KB Chicago» Illinois Money for YourTreasury Over 1,500,000 Sunflower Dishcloths were sold in 194-0 by members of Sunday Schools, Ladies' Aids, Young People’s Groups, etc. Finest quality cloths. They enable you to earn money for your treasury and make friends for ^our organization. Sample Free to Official Sangamon Mills— Est. 1915— Cohoes, N. Y. GOSPEL TENTS CANVAS TABERNACLES METAL SEAT ENDS SMITH MFG. CO.. OAi.TON. GA. 40 Years in B u s in e s s _______ "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" By Louis S. Bauman One hundred thirty-three pages of authentic information concerning the present world-wide persecution of the Jewish race—written in the light of the prophetic Scriptures. Illustrated. Price 3Sc per copy— 3 for $1, postpaid ALAN S. PEARCE, Distributor 1925 E. 5th St., Dept. K, Long Beach, Calif. m Chöir& A A U / M C P u / p i f t f U l r Y P l 3 1 Fin© materials, beautiful work, pleasingly low prices. Catalog and samples on request. State your needs and name of church. DeMoulin Bros. & Co. 1126 S. 4th St. Greenville, 111. HAVE YOU READ THE BACK COVER? THERE MUST BE A REASON . . . When thousands of homemakers do ALL their shopping at ONE group of stores. . . Only by giving QUALITY foods . . . with CHEERFUL service . . . in CLEAN, CONVENIENTLY LO CATED stores . . . at “ SELLS-FOR-LESS” prices . . . could RALPHS maintain this position as Southern California’s favorite food-shopping centers I Closed Sundays No Liquor Sold
I /Z 5 /+Z
victory over the devil. This method is threefold. It involves absolute depend ence upon God, absolute confidence in God, and absolute obedience to God. In the outworking of this method the first man failed miserably, but the Second Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, was com pletely victorious. Careful note should be taken of the fact that Satan regarded the Word quoted by Jesus as God’s Word, though wise ones today would question that fact. We should also notice, what is so clearly taught in this lesson, that the devil is an actual person, of great dig nity, and possessing marvelous power. He is. “the adversary,” of whose wiles the believer cannot afford to be igno rant. But, because of Calvary, he is a defeated foe, and the Lord’s followers must stand in that victory, moment by moment. Points and Problems 1. The record of the Temptation of our Lord has raised a problem which is often wholly overlooked. For the most part, the incidents, events, and teach ings which are found in the Gospel records were of such a character that the writers could either have heard and seen these things personally or else could, have secured the facts from oth ers who had seen and heard. For ex ample, even such a tremendously super natural event as the resurrection fell easily within the realm of human ob servation. While no'one, so far as we know, actually sa\Y the resurrection of the body of our Lord, there were men who saw Him dead and later saw Him alive, thus- being able to bear their testimony as eyewitnesses. But the story of the Temptation belongs in am other category entirely. The Lord went into the wilderness alone. There He met the great Adversary in conflict. No human being was there to hear and see what took place. The Gospel stories of the Temptation, therefore, could have been secured by the writers in only one of two possible ways: Either the Lord Himself gave the information, or it was given by direct revelation from the Holy Spirit. Personally, I am inclined to, the view that Christ gave to His disciples an account of what happened out there in the wilderness. It would be hard to believe that He would have left the story untold. 2. The experience of our Lord In temptation and its record are both mat-
i
Made with FlippingBook Online document