46
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
January 1930
with the message of salvation. Let us see, feel, pray, go. 3. Apostles are “sent ones”—sent on a mission for Christ. Have you found your appointed work for Christ? Ate you doing it? 4. Jesus Christ can use men of various talents. Some, like Peter and John, are given public service which makes their names honored among men. Others, like most of the Twelve, have a ministry less known by men but perhaps not less hon ored by God. 5. Christ always prepares His work ers for their work. “ Pray not for work equal to thy powers, but for power equal to thy work.”— Phillips Brooks. 6 . “As ye go, preach” —let your whole life be a sermon. 7. If you would be rich, receive much from God and pass it all on to your fel low men. 8 . He who receives a prophet of Christ, receives profit (reward). 9. Commenting on verse 8 , Chrysostom says: “ See how He cares for their morals, not less than for the miracles, showing that the miracles without the morals are nought.” 10. Truly great workers for Christ are happy to be called His “ little ones.” Paul assumed the title, “less than the least of all saints.” —o— Golden T ext: “The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37, 38). G olden ^T ext I llustration “Five hundred millions of souls,” ex claims a missionary, “are represented as being unenlightened! I cannot, if I would, give up the idea o f being a missionary, while I reflect upon this vast number of my fellow sinners, who are perishing for lack of knowledge. Five hundred mil lions intrudes itself upon my mind wher ever I go, and however I am employed. When I go to bed, it is the last thing that recurs to my memory; if I awake in the night, it is to meditate on it alone; and in the morning, it is generally the first thing that occupies my thoughts.” —From “ The Biblical Museum,” by Gray. —o— Jesus’ Helpers at Work Matt. 9:35-10:1, 40-42. Memory Verse: “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6 : 8 b). Prayer. Approach. —Boys and girls, how many of you go on errands for your mother? She tells you just where to go and what to say, and often when' you return she
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V. 37. To what did He liken the great multitude (cf. John 4:35, 36)? What did lie ask the disciples to do ? Did they share His feeling of compassion? Why pray God to thrust forth laborers (Rom. 10: 15)? . Matt. 10:1. Whom did Jesus send forth in answer to the disciples’ prayer? Why did He send them at this time? How did He equip them for their service? Could He have given such power to the disciples if He were not God? Over what kinds of disease were they given power? What is there in the expression “unclean spirits” which indicates that demon pos session was not merely a kind o f disease? Vs. 2-4. How many lists of the twelve apostles are given? Whose name is al ways first? Why? Whose name is last? Why ? How did Matthew describe him self? Do any o f the other Gospels de scribe him thus? Which o f the twelve were given special privileges by Jesus? On what occasions? V. 5. Where were the Twelve forbid den to go? Why was it unwise to go there at that time? Did any one go to those parts with the Gospel later (Acts 1 : 8 )? V. 6 . What is the meaning of the ex pression “lost sheep” (Isa. 53: 6 ) ? Had the shepherds of Israel neglected the flock (Zech. 14:2) ? V. 7. What proclamation were the Twelve to make? Who else had given that message (3:2; 4:17)? V. 8 . What five things were the dis ciples told to do (cf. v, 1 )? Why were they not permitted to receive money for their service? Do Christians still have obligation to freely minister to souls and bodies of men? Which is more impor tant, the spiritual or the physical need? V. 40. Were the disciples received by all to whom they were sent? If we re reive Christ’s messenger, Whom besides do we receive (Matt. 25 :40) ? If we re ceive Christ, do we receive God (John 6:37)? V. 41. How can we receive a prophet’s reward? A righteous man’s reward? Are there also false prophets? What should be our attitude toward them (7:15)? V. 42. Who are meant by “ these little ones” —the Twelve, or any servants of Christ? What is the best “water” to give the thirsty (John 4:14; 6:55; 7:37)? What food can we offer the hungry (John 6:32, 35)? Can we expect reward from Christ if we neglect the hungry and thirsty ? P ractical P oints 1. Jesus went into all the cities. His disciples are told to carry His message to all the world. Why are they not do ing it? 2. Many Christians mingle daily with crowds but never look upon them as lost men; some recognize their lost condi tion but do not feel it; some feel it and do not pray ; some pray and do not go
When Jesus was here upon earth He had twelve friends, or disciples, whom He chose to be His helpers. I hope you will learn the names o f these twelve dis ciples. O f course you remember Peter, Andrew, James and John, the fishermen who left all to follow Jesus. (See Matt. 10:2-4 for the names of the Twelve.) Jesus, with these friends, went about from place to place healing the sick, and preaching the good news that God had sent His Son into the world to save men. Crowds o f people followed Him, eager to hear His gracious words and to have their sick ones healed, and as Jesus looked upon these crowds of people He felt so sorry for them. They seemed to Him just like poor sheep, wandering about without a shepherd. So Jesus called His twelve disciples, or friends, and told them of His plan to send them out as His helpers to reach these crowds o f needy people. These twelve disciples had been going about with Jesus, and had learned many things from Him. They were now ready to be Jesus’ helpers. Before Jesus sent them out, He pre pared them in every way for the work they were to do. He gave them power to do wonderful things: to heal the sick, to raise the dead, and to cast out demons. This would not only help the poor suf fering people, but would let them know that it was Jesus who had sent them forth. They were to preach also the same message that Jesus had been preaching: “ The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus told them what to take with them and where to go. He told them to go to their own people, the Jews; He also told them of the hardships they might meet, but that they were not to be afraid, for their heavenly Father, who sees even a sparrow when it falls, would care for them. How this must have encouraged them! Jesus said that to receive these, His friends, would be just the same as receiv ing Him, because they were sent forth by Him, and that whosoever would give even a “ cup o f cold water", to one o f these should not go unrewarded. You can see that Jesus is mindful even 'of the little things that are done for Him. Then, after Jesus had prepared His helpers in every way, He sent them out two by two throughout the cities and vil lages o f Galilee. This is the way, boys and girls, that Jesus is still carrying on His work; He wants those who hear the “good news” to tell some one else. He is waiting to hear you say from your heart, your Mem ory Verse for today: “Here am I, send me.” Prayer.
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calls you “mother’s helper,” does sh e not? (Discuss dif ferent w a y s of h e l p i n g in the home; in the Sun day school. Even little tasks can be done for Jesus, and children c a n be Jesus’ h e l p e r s . ) O u r missionaries go to the l a n d s
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where the people do not know Jesus. They also need helpers, to train the na tive boys and girls so that they can go out and tell others the story o f Jesus.
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