758
December 1928
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTLINE
homes to let the light flood the room. We do not have to pray for the Spirit to come. He is here, and if we are saved, He is within (1 Cor. 6:19). What He de sires is permission to fully possess us. “I f we live in the Spirit, let us also zvg lk in the S p i r i t (Gal. 5:25). . ■, . For the enjoyment of the Spirit s ful ness, we may note two negative condi tions: (1) “Grieve not the Spirit” (Eph. 4:30-34) by the practice of that which is forbidden by God’s Word. (2) Quench not the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19) by resist ing His promptings within. There are three important positive conditions: (1) Yield —Rom. 6:13—let there be utter abandonment to His will. (2) Drink— Jn. 7:37-39—that is, appropriate, by tak ing1God at His Word. (3) Pra y—Acts 4:24-30—for prayer brings us into Gods presence in a receiving attitude. The only true test of the fulness of the Spirit is His sanctifying influence on our hearts and lives. His work is evidenced by His fruit in the life (Gal. 5:22-23). One may talk of the baptism of the Spirit, but if “love, joy, peace, , longsuf- feving, gentleness, goodness, faith,^ week - ness and temperance” are not manifest in the life, they are self-deceived. The Spirit is first and always the HOLY Spir it, and where He is in control, sin will not reign (Rom. 6:12-13). He will make the believer’s body a “living - sacrifice, HOLY and acceptable unto God” (Rom. 12 : 1 ) . The constant manifestation of the Spir it depends upon abiding in Christ and permitting Him to abide in us (Jn. 15:4). “He that hath my commandments" said Jesus, “and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). Those who are ever seeking and doing His will are those in whom the life of the vine constantly flows. This will mean that we hold no known sin unconfessed (1 Jn. 1:9) ; that we maintain no interests in our lives into which He is not permitted to come; that all our burdens are taken to Him and all our wisdom drawn from Him. S uggestive T eaching The Holy Spirit’s saving work: 1. To convict of sin (Jn. 16:8; Acts 7 :51; Heb. 3:7-8; Isa. 63:10). 2. To reveal the remedy for sin (Jn. 15:26; ; 16:14-15).: 3 To regenerate (Jn. 3:5; 6:63; 2 Cor. 3:6; Tit.3:5). * * * Sins against the Spirit committed by unbelievers : 1. Blasphemy attributing the work of the Spirit through Christ to the devil(Mt. 12:31). 2; Resisting (Acts 7:51). 3. Doing despite (Heb. 10:29). * * * Sins against the Spirit committed by believers : 1. Grieving (Eph. 4:30, 31). 2. Quenching (1 Thess. 5:19). * * * The Holy Spirit’s work in believers : 1. Joins us to the Body of Christ, the Church (1 Cor. 12:12, 13). 2. Imparts gifts for service to every member of the Body (1 Cor. 12:7-11). 3. Guides in their service (Acts 16:6-7). 4. Is to them their power in service (Acts 1 :8; 2 :4; 1 Cor. 2:4). 5. Abides in the company of believers, making them corporately a tem ple (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
really accepted Christ the Saviour, have they been putting our heavenly Father first, have they been heeding the Holy Spirit our helper? Possibly they need today’s lesson, in which •we learn that though Christ did “go away/’ we are not fighting our bat tles alone;-since He has sent “another,” the Holy Spirit, who is also called the Comforter, the ‘‘one sent alongside to help” us in so many ways. For example,- He is on our side against the “world” and “the prince of this world” (16:8-11). Just at the right time, the Holy Spirit will help and “guide into the truth” so that we may know about Christ and His will for our life (16:12-15), for God has a way for each boy and girl to live (Rom. 8 : 11 - 12 ). The Holy Spirit will help us to know in our own hearts that we are God’s chil dren, and all that that means to us now and shall mean later (Romans 8:15-17). The Holy Spirit will help us to pray so that the heavenly Father knows just what is in our hearts, and we shall know what is in the Father’s heart concerning us (Romans 8:26-27). TELL.ME, TEACHER-. What am I to understand by it being “expedient” for us that Christ go away? (John 16:7.) Two weeks ago you told me what you meant by the “world,” but tell me again, will you ? I see that today’s lesson also speaks of the “world” and “the prince of this world” (John 16:8, 11). Did you say that my body is like a house,- and that God lives in me and knows what I think and say and do ? (Romans 8:11.) What does it mean for boys and girls MY age to “live after the flesh,” and to “suffer with” and be “glorified together” with Christ? (Romans 8:12, 17.) Can boys and girls in all parts of the world be “children of God” just the same as I? (Romans 8:16-17.) TELL ME, CLASS : Are you glad that our heavenly Father has so made us that there will always be something new for us to know about him? (John 16:12-13.) The Holy Spirit does not speak about Himself, but about Christ; and if we did that, what do you suppose we could say about Him? (16:13.) Others get in touch with us by means of telegraph and telephone and radio; and don’t you suppose God also has a way of getting into touch with us? (Ro mans 8 :27.) Do you boys and girls always say “Now I lay me down to sleep” or some other prayer you have been taught; or are you now old enough to use different words and pray about other things as well? (Rom. 8:26.) When does it seem easier for you to pray to the heavenly Father, when you think you have pleased Him or displeased Him ; and what did we learn in the lesson of two weeks ago about that? (1 John 1:9.) “Nothing is more shallow and preten tious than the attempt to reform church or creed by giving the Bible the go-by, or pooh-poohing its theology in the inter est of an esthetic or an idealistic construc tion of religion.” Thus one editor writes, and he tells the truth.
T h e H oly S pirit
E n t r e a t s —Rev. 2 2 : 17 . NLIGHTEN S—Jno. 16:13, NCOURAGES—Jno. 14:15. MPOWERS—Acts 1:8. “Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, With all thy quickening powers 1” Some titles of the Spirit: 1. Holy Spirit (Lk. 11:13). 2. Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9). 3. Spirit of truth (Jn. 14:17). 4. Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13). 5. Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29). G olden T ext I llustration For as many as are led by the Spirit of God these are the Sons of God (Rom. 8:14). —o— In early times when land was sold, the owner cut a turf from the greensward and cast it into the cap of the purchaser as a token that it was his. Sometimes he tore off the branch of a tree and put it into the new owner’s hand to show that he was entitled to all the products of the soil. When the purchaser of a house re ceived a possession, the key of the door or a bundle of thatch plucked from the roof, signified that the building was yielded up to him. The God of all grace has given to His people the perfections of heaven to be their heritage forever, and the earnest of His Spirit is to them the blessed token that all things are theirs. The Spirit’s work of comfort, leading and sanctification is a part of heaven’s covenant blessings, a turf from the soil of Canaan, a twig from the tree of life, the key to mansions in the skies.— Spur geon. T h e H oly S pirit O ur H elper John 16:7-11; Romans 8:12, 17, 26, 27 As we come to the close of this first month’s teaching in the New Year and notice the topics for the month’s lessons, why not let us try to find out whether our boys and girls have been “Putting Our Heavenly Fa ther F i r s t ” a n d “Facing S i n Sin cerely” by accepting “C h r i s t the Sav iour” and listening to “The Holy Spirit Our Helper”,? Have we developed th e month’s l e s s o n s with this in mind, or have we just been “teaching a class” from week to week? Have our boys and girls found out this month that with our heavenly Father, Christ our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit on our side, sin cannot get the better of them? Or, to put it more positively, have they found out that they can be “more than conquerors” over sin? If not, which lesson have they failed to heed? Have they been facing sin sincerely, have they
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