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me,” He says, “ ye can do nothing.” And on the Spirit of Christ we may unhesitatingly depend. W e do not see Him. W e may be too unaware o f His working. But He will not fail us. Results will come. This faith which banishes care is fed by the promises, by the past history of the church, by the knowledge o f the unchanging Christ, and by the abiding Spirit. Do not try to invent new efforts. Let them grow. The lilies “ toil not, nor spin” ; they are passive in the Creator’s hand. God said'to Hudson Taylor: “ I am going to work in China; you may come with Me if you like.” Let the work develop rather than be pushed forward. Often “ stand still,” as to human effort, and see “ the salvation of the Lord.” Then take every "possible means of conserving bodily and mental strength. Satan would have us overwork, and so hinder our efforts. When giving this sound warning to Gipsy Smith, one said to him : “ The devil would delight to dance a hornpipe on your grave.” “ Do thyself no harm.” And, lastly, keep in close touch with the Master. The seventy came back and reported all their work to Him. Only believe, and thou shalt see How wise, how strong His Hand.
workers for God have been happy men and women. Times of revival always are marked by new outbursts o f song. “ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Spurgeon and his hymn book, Luther and his music, Fletcher (o f Madeley) and his shouts of gladness, the Wesleys and John Newton with their hymns— these are all illustrations of the sacred merriment which may (and should) accompany Christian service— and this, not in public worship alone, but in heartfelt, inward experience. 3. Faith is a sure cure fo r care in Christian work. A striking instance of this truth was in the ministry o f Dr. F. B. Meyer. Probably fifty years ago, I heard him address a company o f ministers in Christ Church, West minster Bridge Road. I heard him for the last time, again speaking to ministers at Llandrindod Wells. In both ad dresses he used the same illustration. It was that o f the saw pit. The one workman is visible at the top, holding the saw, and working with it up and down. But the success of his efforts depends on the equally active worker-S invisible— down in the pit, holding the other end o f the saw. The man you see could do nothing but for his comrade below. W e are seen in the work—but the success o f our task depends upon the Invisible Comrade. “ Without
HELPS for'T reachers a n d Teachers B y P a u l P r i c h a r d
good, misery and happiness, death and life, heaven and hell, is effected only by the change from the old nature to the new, the old sphere of life to the new— through the power of God in Christ on Calvary.— -J ames K. M oorhead . The Development of a Leader J udges 6, 7 “ Gideon . . . who through faith subdued kingdoms” (Heb. 11:32, 33). I. The Leader’s Call (Judg. 6:1-12). 1. Darkness prevailing in Israel. a. Political—bondage (vs. 1-7). b. Spiritual — altar o f Ba a l , groves (v. 1; cf. v. 25). 2. Light sent by God (vs. 8-12). a. A prophet (vs. 8-10), b. An angel of God (vs. 11, 12). II. The Leader’s Commission (Judg. 6: 13-16). 1. His might (v. 14). 2. Basis o f his might (v. 16). III. The Leader’s Doubts (Judg. 6:13- 24). m m 1. Doubts expressed (v. 15; cf. Ex, 4). 2. Doubts allayed (v. 16). 3. Doubts removed (v. 22). IV. The Leader’s S in c e r ity Tested (Judg. 6:25-33). V. The Leader’s Enduement for- Ser vice (Judg. 6:34, 35).- VI. The Leader Proves God (Judg. 6: 36-40). VII. The Leader’ s Faith (Judg. 7). 1. Faith tested (vs. 1-8). 2. Faith encouraged (vs. 9-15). 3. Faith rewarded (vs. 16-25). Faith’s army—300; faith’s weap- , ons—trumpets, pitchers, lamps; faith’s cry—“The sword o f the Lord . . .” VIII. The Leader Victorious (v. 22). —J ohn B echtel .
V. Christ—A Personal Refuge. 1. Cities for those who realized their sin. 2. For those who took advantage of safety. 1. Occupants changed their lives by living with the Levites. 2. We are changed if we keep in contact with Christ. 1. Needs of those inside city sup plied. 2. Christ supplies our temporal mid ’ spiritual needs. —J ohn B echtel . This Thing Called Sin 1 J ohn 3:3-12 “ Sin” is an obsolete word in the minds of many, but it is a perennial and uni versal experience. The Christian’s con stant attitude should be: Detect, depose, and depart from sin. I. The Definition o f Sin (vs. 3-6). 1. Beginning in an evil principle (v. 3). . 2. Carried out in evil acts (v. 4). 3. Forming evil habits (v. 6}. 4. Developing an evil character (v. 6 ). . M mm II. The Design o f Sin (vs. ;7-12). 1. To seduce the unwary (v. 7). 2. To exalt the devil (v, 8). 3. To breed hatred o f God (v. 12). 4. To promote hostility to righteous ness (v. 12). III. The Destiny o f Sin (vs. 5-12). • 1. Removal by grace_ (v. 5), 2. Destruction by Christ (v. 8). 3. Abandonment by believers (v. 9). 4. Suppression by love (v. 10). The distinction between sin and right eousness is exemplified in Cain and Abel (v. 12). The difference between evil and VI. Christ—A City o f Growth. VII. Christ—A Satisfying Refuge.
Jesus Only M atthew 17 :8
At the close of the transfiguration scene, when the disciples “ had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” . 1. Gone were the hasty suggestions of Peter. 2. Gone were the bright companions of Jesus. 3. Gone was the cloud that overshad owed them. 4. Gone was the voice o f God from the cloud. 5. Gone was even the shining glory of Jesus. 6. But the Lord Jesus remained. 7. He alone remained. 8. It would be well, therefore, to sug gest : Jesus only — God provided cities of refuge for Israel (Ex. 21:13; Num. 35:6 ; Deut. 19:2-9; and Josh. 20). God has provided a city of refuge for us (Heb. 6:18). I. Christ—Our Refuge o f Hope. Cities of refuge were the only hope. II. Christ—A Common Refuge. 1. Cities open to all sinners. 2. No distinctions between rich and poor. 3. But no self-righteous admitted. III. Christ—A Ready Refuge. 1. Cities easily accessible. 2. Always available. IV. Christ—A Safe Refuge. 1. Killers were secure inside walls of city of refuge. 2. W e are secure in Christ. a. As an object in life. b. As a motive in life. c. As a Saviour in life. Christ, Our City of Refuge P salm 62:8
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