King's Business - 1931-01

11

January 1931

T h e

K i n g ’ s

B u s i n e s s

concerning Christ who is to come again and judge the world. He convicts through things and through persons. The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. It divides asunder soul and spirit. It is a critic of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Bible is powerful unto salvation. Tracts also have been used by the Spirit to bring people to Christ. Many a “Jesus Saves” sign has brought conviction to thoughtless souls. However, the Spirit works usually through h'umap be­ ings. The Spirit could have Himself convicted the Jews gathered in Jerusalem, but He was pleased to work through the sermon of Peter and the personal work of the one hundred and twenty Spirit-filled evangelists. The Ethio­ pian eunuch was returning from Jerusalem. He was seek­ ing the truth. He was reading the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. He needed someone to give him the, necessary in­ terpretation. The Holy Spirit, therefore, placed . Philip in the path of the eunuch. The< result,was Conviction, conversion, and then baptism. /jG|poieli«|í.|.ther. centurion, paid alms. He supported Judai.sm.' : He wanted more light". An angel did not give it to him,, but he told Corne­ lius to send for Peter. The apostle pr£ached,ancl through him the Holy Spirit convicted the centurión and his'entire household. I was preaching in Atlanta during á special /scrips;- of meetings. When I gave the invitation one nightj-a ybjing girl came forward sobbing loudly. I questioned her afte.r the service. She said that, two years previous to this, she had left her home in South Carolina. Her mother did not know where she was. The runaway knew that her mother was praying for her, but she would not obey the convict tions of conscience. She saw the “Jesus Saves” sign in front of the church. The Spirit used that to woo her into the service, where she was converted. She Was con­ victed as the quartette sang, “Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight?” The Holy Spirit worked through gospel "singing. This happened about the first of December. She wrote home to her .mother, telling her where she was and what had happened. She asked her mother what she wanted for Christmas. The mother wrote back, “I want you.“ Saved parents may be used by the Holy Spirit to con­ vict sons and daughters who are out of Christ. Christian wives may be used by the Spirit to convict their unsaved husbands. Sayed husbands may be used by the Holy- Spirit to convict their worldly wives. Christians in any walk of life may be used by the Holy Spirit to convict friends, business associates, anyone. Little convicting is done, however, because few Christians are willing to be used. There is so much of the world, the flesh, and the devil in the average Christian heart that the Holy Spirit cannot work. “And he (the Holy Spirit) having come,” is reproving the world “of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” Is He doing this through you? A WORTH WHILE PREMIUM T h e N ew B iblical G u id e (e ig h t v o lum e s) b y Jo h n U rq u h a rt w ill b e sen t w ith o n e y e a r’s sub ­ scription to The King’s Business fo r $ 8 .5 0 . T h e re g u la r p ric e o f th e b o o k s a lo n e is $ 8 .0 0 . In th ese vo lum es, ev e ry p o in t o f criticism a d ­ v a n c e d a g a in st th e B ible u n d e r th e guise of science is m e t fairly a n d squarely .

The Work of th e Holy Spirit and Our Work (Continued from page 8) has no righteousness in himself. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” “as dung.” “There is none rightepus, no, not one.” The most unrighteous are the self-right­ eous. Christ likened them unto whited sepulchres, beau­ tiful on the outside, but full of dead men’s bones. As soon as the Holy Spirit convinces a man of his own unrighteousness, He presents God’s righteousness as a gift. God’s righteousness is Jesus Christ. The heavens could not provide this righteousness because they are un­ clean in the sight of the holy God. The saints are im­ perfect and, therefore, they could not supply this, right­ eousness. God even charges the angels with folly; so perfect righteousness is not found in them. The Father declares righteous the righteousness of Christ, and this is offered to all men. It is revealed to the eye of faith. God looks at the Christian and sees the righteousness of Christ.' J udgment ' The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgment. This word is also translated “condemnation,” “accusation,” “damnation.” The prince of this world is judged. This world, then, has a prince. The prince of the world is not Christ, nor is it man. Man was the ruler, but he fell. His place was taken by the usurper, Satan. “The whole World lieth in the evil one.” Satan lords it over our physical nature. He smote Job with a great swelling from his head to his feet. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh””was a messenger from Satan. Satan lords it over our psychical nature. The affections, desires, and aspirations of the carnal man are saturated with’lust and pride. Satan lords it over our religious nature. Abounding idolatries, “isms,” cults, and false religions attest this truth. Satan .lords it over nations. He of­ fered Christ the kingdoms of the world if He would fall' down and worship him. Christ did not deny his right to give Him these kingdoms. He merely said: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God.” In Daniel we read that the devil has a prince over each nation, who endeavors to per­ suade the leaders of the nations to do the will of the prince of this world. Satan lords it over the heavens. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” But “the prince of this world is judged.” Christ met him at the cross and defeated him. In the mind of God, the head of the serpent is already crushed. He shall be driven out of the heavens, to have access never again to the presence of God. He shall be cast out of the earth into the pit for a thousand years, after which he shall be released for a season. Then, with his followers, he shall be hurled into the lake of fire where he shall suffer tor­ ments for ever and ever. Christ came into the world to destroy the works of the devil. These works have been destroyed. “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” We may, even now, claim victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. As Christ has judged the prince of this world, He has also judged the world. “In the world ye shall have tribu­ lation : but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” T h ing s and P ersons The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of right­ eousness, and of judgment. He convicts concerning Christ who was crucified, concerning Christ who was glorified,

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