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THE KING’S BUSINESS
A dults : Let us review the steps- in Her od’s sin and fall: Untrue to-his own w ife; abused brother’s hospitality; sinned in mar rying Herodias; persisted in sinning when
rehuked; imprisoned John; getting drunk at banquet; permitting Salome tQ dance; making foolish promise ffekeeping foolish promise.
HEART OF THE LESSON
By T. C. Horton.
\ \ T E are in the second year o f our * * Lord’s ministry. The disciples have been with their Master for these many months; they have sat at His feet; they have learned o f H im ; have seen His mar vellous works; they know Him as their Lord. W e need schooling; we need fellowship with Himself. The best school in all the world is the school o f experience, with the Bible in our hands, and practical experience in daily life with the Lord Jesus. This is the best equipment for service in His behalf. The disciples are to become apostles; an apostle is “one sent.” They are to gp forth on their own initiative. They go out with Authority. He empowers His own, and He owns His empowered. The preach ing o f the Gospel is accompanied by signs. This is a lesson on service, and we may learn some practical lessons from it. First, —there is Association. The disciples had been with the Master for more than a year, they had eaten and drunk with Him, they had been at His feet. This is the first great lesson for a disciple to learn. We need familiar association with Him. We need to go with Him through His life as recorded in the Gospels until we know Him. Thin we need to know Him in our own experience; to know His power in our lives; be eye-witnesses o f His power over our own habits and passions. As His apos tles He sends us out to do His service; He gives- us authority to represent H im ; to speak for H im ; to act for Him, and do business for Him. He has lost .none of His power, and He is the Lord o f the harvest. Authority from Him supersedes all other authority. He has a plan, also, for His servants. He sends them out two by’two. There is to
be fellowship in service. “When two o f you agree as touching anything, it shall be done for you.” “Where two or three o f you are gathered in my name.” . There is power in fellowship. They went out in His name, to do His bidding. Activity characterizes the true apostle. There are captives to loose, and demons to drive out; there are sick to min ister to ; there are ignorant to be instructed; there are deeds o f valor to perform ; there are souls to save. W e should go out will ingly, gladly, joyfuljy, to the greatest o f all services. Go out to labor for H im ; go out to spend and be spent; go out to devote our lives in His blessed ministry.. And there is an Accounting for service. W e are to report to Him and tell o f the hearts comforted, the souls rescued, the jewels gathered for His crown. The twelve were highly honored, and so are we. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) T oo much baggage may become a bur den. Travel light. (2 ) Self-indulgence has severed many from service. (3) When we learn to trust Him for • means, we will know how to trust Him in the means. (4) A “rule o f two” is a rule that is true. (5 ) When the Lord employs, He empowers. (6) Before He says “go,” He gives power. (7) It was the in-working Christ mani fested in the outworking miracles. (8) Go out and call upon men to repent. (9) While they worked, He prayed, and so ' it is today. “ He ever liveth to make intercession.”
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