THÉ KING’S BUSINESS
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(5) If we please Him He hears us (John 3:22). (6) That God may abide with us (John 8:29). Sunday, October 5 Fruit Bearing Christian Endeavor- ers.—Gal. 5:22. CONSECRATION MEETING. 1. The products of life and labor are called fruits, whether of the soil or the soul. 2. Fruits are of two sorts —good and evil (Matt. 7 :17) ; because plants are of two sorts—good and evil. The quality of the plant is known .by its fruit (Luke 6:44). The quality of the soul is known in like manner (Matt. 7:15, 16). 3. Whether one is a Christian is known by the quality of the moral or spiritual fruit; whether an Endeavorer, by the quan tity. 4. Every plant bears “after its kind” (Gen. 1:11). Make the tree good and the fruit will be good; make it evil and the fruit will be bad (Matt. 12:33). 5. By nature none of us can bear other than evil fruit. The works of the flesh (our sinful nature) are named in Galatians 5:19-21. “They that are in the flesh can not please God” (Rom. 8:8). “How can ye do good, that are accustomed to do evil?” (Jer. 13:23). 6. Therefore, before we can be “fruit bearing” the “tree” must be made good (Matt. 12:33); we must be born again, become new creatures in Jesus. Now none can change the natur'e of a tree or a soul but God. So we read that we “must be born again” (or from abovei i. e.t from God). A soul “in Christ,” i. e., a be liever (a real Christian) is a “new crea ture” (2 Cor. 5:17). Nothing men do is reckoned (spiritually) good until “they bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom. 7:4). All our endeavor falls short of being "Christian” until we are in Christ. 7. It is nonsense to call ourselves Chris tian Endeavorers unless we are endeavor ing to bear Christian fruit. (1) Christ chose and ordained us to bear fruit (John 15:16).
Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Ps. 62:5). We may " wrestle” in prayer, and then rest well after it. Leave your “bur den at His feet.” Sunday, September 28 Pleasing Men or Pleasing God.— Gal. 1:10. 1. Pleasing and Not Pleasing, Men. The lesson August 24th was: Please men even at the price of not pleasing self (Rom. 15:2). Today it is: Do not please men at the price of displeasing God. 2. Why Men Would Please Men. The praise of men pleases us, so we please men not to give pleasure but to get it, by winning their approval. The de sire for praise is a gift of God to incite us to do well. For it is presumed that we would seek only the good word of good men and of the good God: But we abuse the gift, and value the praise of men more than the praise of God, so that we seek to please them and forget pleasing Him (John 12:43). 4. Examples of Displeasing Cod to Please Men. Aaron (Exod. 32:21-24); Absalom (2 Sam. 15:1-6); Ahab (1 Kings 22:6); Pilate (Mark 15:15); Herod (Acts 12:1-3); and Felix (Acts 24:27). 5. Plow Some Dared Displease Men to Please God. Micaiah by his faithful testimony (1 Kings 22:14, 24-27); Shadrach, Meshach and Abedego in not worshipping the image (Dan. 3:16-18); John the Baptist in re buking Herod (Mark 6:i6-19) ; Peter and John before the council (Acts 5 :27-29) ; Paul in preaching to Felix (Acts 24:24, 25) ; and countless confessors, martyrs, and faithful men, women and children, in all the ages. 6. Why Please God Rather Than Men. (1) It is our first duty to glorify God (Ecc. 12 :13). | (2) What pleases men and not God is sin (Jas. 4:4). (3) To seek His approval is to grow in holiness and in virtue. (4) If we please Him He will deliver us from offended men (Prov. 16:7).
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