January, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
33
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II. P a n g s of C o n sc ie n c e
Satan, the great adversary, knew just when to appear. Taking advantage of Jesus’ weakened physical condition, Satan suggested insidiously that Jesus should command the stones to become bread. Why would it have been wrong for Christ to have done this ? Unless it was wrong, there was no temptation. To have yielded to Satan would have destroyed our Lord’s power and defeated His mission as the Saviour of men. He could not have been tempted as we are if He had used His supernatural power to save Himself from hunger, for we have no such power. More over, His power of example would have been lost. To have obeyed Satan would have meant Christ’s exchanging His divine mission for something to eat, the selling of His soul for a mess of pottage. The Lord Jesus won the battle with the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” In the second attack, the devil was more subtle. Christ would not distrust God: therefore, Satan inferred, why should Christ not show His perfect trust in God by casting Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, and thus attract attention to Himself as One of whom the angels of heaven had charge? “It is written again,” said Jesus, “thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” The third temptation was an appeal to our Lord's ambition, an appeal to act in dependently of God. The nation was ex pecting a Messiah who would be an earthly King; why not meet its expectations, win the people to Him as loyal subjects, and then lead them on to higher and better things ? Satan used a new attack. He vir tually said, “I will use all my influence and power to make You the greatest King in the world, like Alexander or Caesar. Your hopes shall be realized.” It was Satan’s masterpiece. But Jesus said again, “It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” The victory was won, and angels came and ministered unto Christ. His victory shows us that we also can triumph in our time of trial. His weapons are those that we must use, and His consolation accom panies our testing, for “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is com mon to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted about that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Leader’s Helps I. K eep A w a y from T e m pt a t io n “Pray that ye enter not into temptation” was Christ’s counsel to His disciples. He taught them to pray: “Lead us not into temntation; but deliver us from evil.” “No man,” said Ruskin, “can honestly or hopefully expect to be delivered from temptation unless he has himself honestly and firmly determined to do the best he can to keep out of it.” Said Henry Ward Beecher, “Men should deal with themselves as they do who carry dynamite to and fro. A man who is ladened with explosive materials does not go into foundries and blacksmith shops. He does not resort to places where sparks are flying abroad.” II. A L e sso n from t h e M oth The little fluttering moth gives us a warning. If the window is left Open on a warm summer evening, after the lights are lit, you may often see moths flying in and dashing themselves against the light. You think you would never be so stupid as a
A man was found dead, hanging from a tree in North Dakota. On his breast was pinned a confession that he had murdered a woman in Ohio thirty years before. At tached to the confession was a piece of the dead woman’s veil, which he had preserved all those thirty years. What must have been his pangs of conscience! “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same” (Job 4:8). — S elected . III. “W hatsoever a M a n S o w e t h ” One day, a master said to his servant, Lukman, “Go into such a field and sow barley.” Lukman sowed oats instead. At the time of harvest, his master went to the place, and, seeing the green oats spring ing up, asked Lukman, “Did I not tell you to sow barley here ? Why, then, have you sown oats?” The servant answered, “I sowed oats in the hope that barley would grow up.” His master said, “What foolish idea is this? Have you ever heard of the like?” Lukman replied, “You yourself are con stantly sowing in the field of the world the seeds of evil, and yet you expect to reap in the resurrection day the fruits of virtue. Therefore, I thought also I might get bar ley by sowing oats.”— S elected . IV. S o w in g a n d R e a pin g Before reaping, there must have been seed, soil, and the influences of heaven, seedtime, and harvest. Seed sown, hidden until it generates, is not lost. The summer reveals it, and the harvest renders it back. The kind of fruit gathered depends upon the seed sown. Seed takes a while to bring forth fruit. Spring, summer, and autumn must revolve, but there must and will be an eternal harvest. What shall the harvest be?— S a y les . FEBRUARY 18, 1934 HOW TO MASTER TEMPTATION M a t t h e w 4:1-11; 1 C o r in t h ia n s 10:13 Suggestions for th e Meeting Hymn—“Faith is the Victory.” Hymn—“Living for Jesus.” Prayer. Scripture—1 Corinthians 10:13. Hymn—“Yield Not to Temptation.” Piano Solo. Leader’s Message. Meditation on th e Lesson In the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we are given this marvelous truth: “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Three of the Gospel writers give an ac count of the temptation of the Lord Jesus, thus showing the importance of the event in His life. Because we can read the de tails of His temptation and how He met it, we are enabled, by His grace, to use the same weapons He did, and thus rout the enemy who pursues us. After the Lord Jesus had been alone in the wilderness and had fasted there for forty days, He hungered. The wonderful words from heaven at His baptism, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” must have been ringing in His ears, as He thought on His Messiahship. Testimonies. Quiet Hour. Benediction—Jude 24, 25.
“ In Song — ” W ithout doubt, the Good News in song is one of the most beautiful of all messages. During the past year, it has been the privilege of the Women’s Glee Club, shown en tour above, to spread both the Gospel and a knowledge of Wheaton’s educational advantages as well. These Christian young ladies have sung to delighted audiences in the leading cities east of the Mississippi. Wheaton College enjoys the highest scholastic rating conferred upon an American College; and Wheaton ' College Academy has been continu ously accredited since 1911. The stu dent at Wheaton therefore receives the highest grade of intellectual and musi cal culture. In addition, clean athletics promote sound physical development. And an earnest Christian atmosphere fosters vital spiritual growth. Wheaton graduates therefore possess a balanced poise and equilibrium calculated to bring them to the front in the contest of life. ALife Annuity Contract with Wheaton College cannot become lost or destroyed. Secures for elderly persons a larger rate of return than any other strictly high grade invest* ment. And gives the holder a sense of satis* faction th a t his funds are already employed in the work of Christian education.
For complete in formation, ad dress Office of Vice President, Box KB-134 Wheaton College, Wheaton, III.
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