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OUTLINES ON CHRISTIAN WITNESSING
Pages
A Call to Work 5.1 - 5.2
The Royal Priesthood of the Believers 5.3 - 5.4
The Priesthood in the Home 5.5 - 5.6
Work in the Master's Vineyard 5.7 - 5.8
Our Heaven Appointed Mission 5.9 - 5.10
Christian Witnessing 5.11 - 5.12
Teamwork and Its Effect 5.13 - 5.14
Doing Exploits for God 5.15 - 5.16
The Salt of the Earth 5.17 - 5.18
"Such As I Have" 5.19 - 5.20
"What Is That in Thine Hand?" 5.21 - 5.22
Personal Responsibility 5.23 - 5.24
The Ministry of Gratitude 5.25 - 5.26
Self-Consecration 5.27 - 5.28
Christian Surety 5.29 - 5.30
Strength, Service, Reward 5.31 - 5.32
Passion to Save Souls 5.33 - 5.34
God's Well Diggers 5.35 - 5.36
On Fire for God (Part I) 5.37 - 5.38
On Fire for God (Part II) 5.39 - 5.40
Zeal for God 5.41 - 5.42
The Day of God's Power 5.43 - 5.44
The Day of Small Things 5.45 - 5.46
"He Brought Me Forth into a Large Place" 5.47 - 5.48
High Places and Low Motives 5.49 - 5.50
Criminal Neglect 5.51 - 5.52
The Curse of Meroz 5.53 - 5.54
What Meanest Thou O Sleeper? 5.55 - 5.56
"Where is Abel Thy Brother?" 5.57 - 5.58
"Am I My Brother's Keeper?" 5.59 - 5.60
"I Am Your Brother" 5.61 - 5.62
Others and I 5.63 - 5.64
Business Here and There 5.65 - 5.66
"What Do Ye More Than Others?" 5.67 - 5.68
The Iron Did Swim 5.69 - 5.70
The Making of a Missionary 5.71 - 5.72
The Christian Debtor 5.73 - 5.74
Mutual Christian Duties 5.75 - 5.76
God's Soul Winners 5.77 - 5.78
Life's Burdens and I 5.79 - 5.80
Cumberers of the Ground 5.81 - 5.82
A Captain Who Won His Decoration 5.83 - 5.84
The Unconventional Way 5.85 - 5.86
In Memory of Christian Mothers 5.87 - 5.88
In Remembrance of Dorcas 5.89 - 5.90
Camp Meeting Objectives 5.91 - 5.92
When Satan Comes Out Ahead 5.93 - 5.94
The Man By the Side of the Road 5.95 - 5.96
A CALL TO WORK
MATTHEW 21:28-32
A. "SON, GO WORK TODAY IN MY VINEYARD"
1. In reading this text I feel especially impressed:
a. By the endearing name "Son".
b. It is a high honor to be a son of God - 1 Pet.
2:8-11; Heb. 12:6-9; 1 John 3:1-3; John 1:11-13
2. We become sons:
a. By believing in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ
- John 1:12; Gal. 3:26
b. Through the new birth - John 1:11-13; 3:3-6; Rom.
8:11-16
c. Through the adoption into the family of God - Eph.
1:5
B. A CALL TO WORK -- "GO, WORK"
1. It is a pleasure for a son to work for his father:
a. The Son of God considered it a joy to work for His
Father -
(1) ". . . wist ye not that I must be about my
Father's business?" Luke 2:40-52
(2) "I delight to do thy will, O my God . . ." -
Ps. 40:8
(3) "I must work the works of him that sent me,
while it is day: the night cometh, when no
man can work." John 9:4
b. Every child of God is included in this call to
work -
(1) We are co-workers with God - 2 Cor. 6:1
(2) We all are a part of the royal priesthood - 1
Pet. 2:9-11
(3) Had King David been busy working in God's
vineyard, he would never been tempted to take
another man's wife.
2. The sphere of work: "In my Vineyard"
a. The vineyard is, in the first place, the church of
God. Compare Isa. 5 with Matt. 21:33-43
b. The church of God has a wonderful program and
plenty of work for all God's children - Matt.
28:18-20; Acts 1:8-10
c. It is a great honor to know that when I take part
in the activities of the church I am answering the
call of God to work.
C. THE TIME TO WORK: "TODAY"
1. This indicates that our opportunity to answer the call
of the Lord to work in His vineyard is limited --
"today":
2. Our Saviour recognized the fact that the time to work
in God's vineyard is very limited: John 9:4
3. That proves that there is always an end to the time of
service:
a. There was a limited time for Noah to work - Gen.
6:3; 7:1-6
b. There was an end for Lot's opportunity to work in
Sodom - Gen. 19:1-19
c. The story of the ten virgins, too, shows that
there comes an end to every effort - Matt. 25:1-12
4. The Bible gives special emphasis to the limited time
for attempting to win souls for the Lord:
a. ". . . today if ye will hear his voice" - Heb. 3:7
b. ". . . now is the day of salvation" - 2 Cor. 6:1-3
c. "Thus saith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I
heard thee . . ." - Isa. 49:8
5. The work we are called unto:
a. Witnessing for God -
(1) "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord," - Isa.
43:10
(2) ". . . ye shall be witnesses unto me . . ." -
Acts 1:8
b. To make known in this sin sick and troubled world
the praises of Him who called us out of darkness
into His marvelous light - 1 Pet. 2:9
c. To become fishers of men - Luke 5:10. Soul-
winning is the heart of our heavenly assignment.
6. There is a blessing in working in the Father's
vineyard:
a. Our labors shall not be in vain - 1 Cor. 15:58
b. They that go forth sowing the seed of truth shall
doubtless come again bringing their sheaves with
them - Ps. 126:6
THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVERS
1 PETER 2:9-11
A. "BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY
NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT YE SHOULD SHOW FORTH THE
PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS
MARVELOUS LIGHT."
1. With these words, Peter unfolds the mission of the
church of God in this world:
a. "Ye are a chosen generation"
b. "A royal priesthood"
2. That ye should show forth His praises":
a. Ours is a mission to this dying world.
b. It is a demonstrative mission, something to be
seen and demonstrated.
B. THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
1. History of the priesthood:
a. It began in the home of the believer.
b. This is indicated in Cain and Abel bringing
sacrifices to the Lord, independently of each
other - Gen. 4:3, 4, 26
c. This family priesthood was continued in the days
of the Patriarchs -
(1) Noah and his family - Gen. 8:20
(2) Abraham and his household - Gen. 13:18
(3) Jacob - Gen. 35:1
d. With Israel moving to the land of Canaan a change
came in, the ministry of the priesthood was given
to Aaron and his sons, later to the tribe of Levi
- Heb. 7:8, 9
2. The Christian church:
a. Has the priesthood in which all the believers have
an active part.
b. Every believer in Christ is called to witness for
the glorious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ
- Acts 1:8, 9; Rom. 15:9
c. It is called "a royal priesthood" because it
connects the believers with the ministry of the
Messiah, who is a Priest King.
d. We are linked with the work carried on by our Lord
in the heavenly sanctuary.
e. This makes witnessing for Christ a royal
privilege, and places upon us royal obligations.
3. Office of the priesthood:
a. We are God's Ambassadors of good will to this
world - 2 Cor. 5:20
b. We seek to connect the lost world with heaven.
EXAMPLES -
(1) Abraham was called for this work - Gen. 12:1-
3
(2) Moses and Israel - Ex. 32:30-32
(3) Paul and his people - Rom. 10:1-3
c. We are workers for God, witnessing for Jesus
Christ our Lord - 2 Cor. 6:1-3
C. ESSENTIALS FOR AN EFFECTIVE PRIESTHOOD
1. A living sacrifice:
a. This living sacrifice includes, in the first
place, our own selves - Rom. 12:1
b. It includes all we posses, which belongs to the
Lord in the first place - 1 Chron. 29:12, 13
c. It includes the best we have, not the lame or
sickly - Mal. 1:7-10
2. An altar:
a. The altar is a symbol of our surrender and
dedication to the Lord.
b. It is an emblem of loving devotion to God and His
cause. That is indicated in the worship of the
Patriarchs - Gen. 8:20; 12:7; 13:4; 35:1
c. The altar is a constant reminder of the worshipper
of our need of a constant surrender to the perfect
will of God - Matt. 26:42
3. Consecration:
a. The act of consecration was a very solemn event in
the Levitical priesthood.
b. The ceremony was most impressive and very
significant to the priest and the people.
c. A study of the following scriptures will be very
useful to the people of God in our day - Ex. 28:3-
41; Num. 3:1-17; Lev. 7
4. Purpose of consecration:
a. It represents a wholehearted and unreserved
dedication of the individual to God and His
service.
b. It means a complete separation from that which is
sinful and unclean. This is absolutely necessary
for man to be used by the Lord.
c. Finally, consecration indicates that we are
dedicated to the service of the Lord - heart, soul
and body, as indicated in our opening
text.
THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE HOME
JOB 1:1-6
A. WE HAVE LEARNED IN OUR FORMER STUDY
1. That the priesthood of God's people carried:
a. By the heads of the families in the days before
the flood - Gen. 4:1-9, 26
b. In the days of the Patriarchs they followed the
same practice - Gen. 8:20; 12:7; 22:9; 35:1-3
2. As the people of God grew in numbers and the work of
God increased in its influence:
a. God gave to Aaron and his sons the priesthood.
b. Later this same work was given to the tribe of
Levi - Heb. 7:1-28
B. OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO US IS THE FUNCTION OF THE PRIESTHOOD
IN THE HOME
1. The priest of the house was:
a. A representative of God in his own home.
b. He was a connecting link between God and the
members of his family.
EXAMPLES -
(1) Noah and his family - Gen. 8:20-22
(2) Abraham and his household. He has a large
family, about three hundred persons - Gen.
18:17-26
(3) Jacob, too, had a large group of people in
his household - Gen. 35:1-8
(4) Job is another example of the work of the
priesthood in the home - Job. 1:1-5
(5) Joshua is still another wonderful example of
the priesthood in the home - Josh. 24:15
2. The work of the priesthood in the home is fourfold:
a. Intercession - to make intercession is to plead
the case of someone in serious trouble in the
family -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Abraham made intercession for his nephew Lot
and his family, as well as for Sodom - Gen.
18:23
(2) Moses interceded for Israel - Ex. 32:9-12
(3) The woman of Canaan for her daughter - Matt.
15:22-28
b. Stepping into the gap or breach. Read carefully
Ps. 106; Ex. 32:32
c. To serve at the altar - that means that the priest
in the home keeps the family ready and willing to
lay their lives and themselves upon God's altar.
Compare Rom. 12:1 with Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:5
d. To teach the way of the Lord - this shows that the
family altar includes more than prayer; it
includes the study of the Word of God -
(1) That was the program of Abraham - Gen. 18:17
(2) The Bereans followed a similar plan - Acts
17:11, 12
C. BLESSING OF THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE HOME
1. Our finite minds shall never be able to fully
comprehend the benefits derived from the priesthood in
the home:
a. It gives the home the connection with God that it
needs to be saved.
b. It becomes a wall of partition between the members
of the family and the world - Josh. 24:15; 2 Cor.
6:14-17
c. It is a living barrier to sin - Isa. 26:1; Job.
1:10
d. It binds the heart to God and the family at the
same time.
e. It prepares the members of the family for service
in the case of God. The history of the church of
God and its activities indicate that the deeper
roots of dedication are to be found in the
training received in the home.
2. What people miss when they do not have the priesthood
in the home:
a. They lose their connection with God and that means
that they are in a lost condition.
b. They cannot claim the promises of God for
themselves and their household when they fail to
keep connection with the Lord, the source of life
and hope.
c. They expose themselves and their loved ones to the
working of Satan, and that means ruination in the
end.
d. God pronounces a curse upon the families that do
not call upon the name of the Lord - Jer. 10:25
e. The Lord calls it "iniquity" - Ps. 14:4; Isa.
43:22
WORK IN THE MASTER'S VINEYARD
MATTHEW 21:28
A. "SON, GO WORK TODAY IN MY VINEYARD"
1. A divine relationship:
a. An honor to be the son of a ruler or king.
b. Jesus was honored to be the Son of God - Heb. 1:5,
6; Matt. 3:17
2. We become sons of God:
a. Not by nature - John 1:11-13; 1 John 3:1-6
b. By receiving Christ into our hearts - John 1:11-
13; Gal. 3:26
c. When He becomes our personal Saviour - 1 John 5:1-
5
d. By obeying Him - John 8:31; 15:7
B. THE DIVINE CALL
1. "Go work":
a. A true son loves to work for his father.
b. It is a great honor to work for our heavenly
Father; and a disgrace not to work for Him - Matt.
25:14; 2 Thess. 3:10
2. Different kind of work in the Lord's vineyard:
a. We are stones in the Lord's temple. Each stone
fills a particular place and need.
b. Are we faithfully doing what the Lord wants us to
do?
c. ". . . and gave authority to his servants, and to
every man his work" - Mark 13:34
d. ". . . dividing to every man severally as he will"
- 1 Cor. 12:11
3. How long are we to work in the Lord's vineyard?
a. Until the Lord says, "It is enough" - Matt. 24:14
b. Until He says, "It is finished" - John 4:34
c. Until we can say with Paul, "I have finished my
course" - 2 Tim. 4:7
d. Until the gospel has been preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations - Rev. 14:6,
7
C. THE TIME FOR OUR SERVICE
1. "Today":
a. That means that it may include tomorrow, and it
may not. It may mean a week, a month, a year, and
it may mean a day only.
b. As long as mercy lasts - John 9:4; 2 Cor. 6:1-3
2. There is an end to "Today":
a. That was true in Noah's day - Gen. 6:3
b. It was true in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah -
Gen. 19:24
c. ". . . my spirit shall not always strive with man"
- Gen. 6:3
3. This knowledge should arouse us to work harder for the
winning of souls for the truth:
a. The time element is important - Rom. 13:11-14
b. "Today" is a very prominent factor even in the
work of the Lord - Ps. 95:7; Heb. 3:7-9
4. The sphere of our service:
a. "In my vineyard" -
(1) The vineyard of the Lord is His church - Isa.
5:1, 2; Matt. 21:33-41
(2) The world is the field at large - Matt.
13:19-30; 28:18-20
b. This indicates very plainly the field of service
for the Christian worker -
(1) In the Master's service - Rom. 6:16-18
(2) The program is guided by the church of God.
(3) Soul winning is our chief business.
c. That excludes self service - Rom. 14:7
5. Work in the Master's vineyard provides:
a. Talent to do the work of the Lord - Matt. 25:15
b. Talent differs -- one may have five, another
three, and another only one.
c. Important is the fact that the Master will hold us
accountable for the use of the talent.
d. Our stewardship will be brought to an accounting -
Luke 16:1-14
OUR HEAVEN APPOINTED MISSION
REVELATION 14:6-12
A. MESSENGERS OF PRESENT TRUTH
1. Noah preached present truth in his day:
a. He warned the people of the coming flood - Gen.
6:1-22
b. He preached the gospel of righteousness by faith -
2 Pet. 2:5
2. John the Baptist preached present truth:
a. "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
which shall prepare thy way before thee." - Matt.
11:10
b. He was a voice crying in the wilderness - Matt.
3:1
3. Our blessed Lord was a preacher of the gospel of
righteousness by faith: John 12:44-50
4. We, of all men, must have a positive message to a
judgment bound world:
a. ". . . wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing
thou hast no tidings ready?" 2 Sam. 18:22
b. The Three Angels' Message is as positive as any
truth can be.
B. STRESSING THE GREAT FUNDAMENTALS
1. Bible creation: Gen. 1; 2; Ps. 33:6, 9; Heb. 11:1-6
2. Origin of sin: Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:12-18; Gen.
3:1-22; Rom. 5:12-18
3. Salvation through Christ alone:
a. No other name - Acts 4:12
b. His blessed name is the only hope for lost sinners
- Matt. 1:21; Acts 16:31
4. The new birth, the gateway to the kingdom:
a. It is a must - John 3:3-9
b. The work of the Holy Spirit - Zech. 4:6
5. Obedience to the law of the Ten Commandments -- the
fruit of faith in Christ: Matt. 5:17-19; Heb. 10:15,
16
6. The spiritual gifts, among them the gift of prophecy:
Rev. 12:17; Isa. 8:16
7. Loyalty to all the light the Lord has given to us as a
people: 1 John 1:7-9
C. SOME IMPLICATIONS OF PREACHING PRESENT TRUTH
1. Only childlike faith in Present Truth will give us
power to win souls for this message:
a. Truth gives power and authority.
b. It will bring conviction.
c. It gives saving power - Rom. 1:16
2. We must be able to say, as Paul said, "I have kept back
nothing that was profitable unto you." Acts 20:20
3. Our preaching must ever be Christ-centered:
People ought to testify of our message. ". . . Did not
our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by
the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"
Luke 24:32
4. An effective sermon has a fourfold objective:
a. To create a desire in the heart of the hearer to
search the Word of God - Acts 17:10, 11
b. To connect the hearer with Christ; or to connect
every promise in the Bible with Christ - John 5:39
c. To reveal the love of God to a loveless world -
John 3:16
d. We must be able to say with John, ". . . God is
love." - 1 John 4:8; or to say, " "Behold what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, .
. ." - 1 John 3:1-3
e. We must show the awfulness of sin in the light of
the Cross of Christ on Calvary. "But we preach
Christ crucified," - 1 Cor. 1:23
5. Our preaching must be inspirational:
a. Like Stephen's message - Acts 7
b. Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2
c. Paul's sermon on Mars' hill - Acts 17:22-34
d. We are told that a Christless sermon is a wasted
sermon, and that is true. "If I be lifted up I
will draw all men unto me." "Behold the Lamb of
God" must be our burden as we stand before the
people.
CHRISTIAN WITNESSING
ACTS 10:8
A. "YE ARE MY WITNESSES" Isa. 43:10
1. A witness is one who affirms the claims of God in His
word:
a. "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are
witnesses." - Acts 2:32
b. Effective witnessing - Acts 3:14-16; 5:32; 10:39
2. The testimony which is based upon personal experience
works:
a. The blind man who received his eyesight - John
9:25
b. The lame man that could walk - Acts 3:1-10; 1 John
1:1-6
B. OUR LORD IS OUR EXAMPLE IN EFFECTIVE WITNESSING FOR THE
TRUTH
1. Much of His ministry was personal visitation in the
homes:
a. Mark 2:1-11
b. Mark 10:10. Chapter 14:3
2. He brought comfort to the heart and health to the body:
a. Healed the brokenhearted - Luke 4:18; Isa. 61:1
b. Of Him it is written, "How God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who
went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." -
Acts 10:38
3. He never thought of His own comfort or convenience, but
rather of bringing blessings to the needy:
a. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He
became poor, that ye through His poverty might be
rich." - 2 Cor. 8:9
b. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air
have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to
lay his head" - Matt. 8:20
c. He could send a message to John, in prison, "The
blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the
dead are raised . . ." - Matt. 11:1-5
4. His method of labor:
a. He was very tactful -
EXAMPLES -
(1) His conversation with the woman of Samaria -
John 4:1-28
(2) His talk with Nicodemus - John 3:1-36
b. Think of how gently He treated Zacchaeus - Luke
19:1-9
c. He approached each case best suited to the needs
and understanding of the individual - Luke 24:32
d. His method of working for souls is indicated
further in some of His parables -
(1) The lost coin.
(2) The lost sheep.
(3) The prodigal son - Luke 15:1-32
C. EFFECTIVE METHODS OF CHRISTIAN WITNESSING
1. "Learn of me" sayeth the Master of the art of
witnessing:
a. Secret prayer was the key to His success in His
work - Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16
b. Reliance upon His heavenly Father is still another
factor entering into the success of His ministry -
John 5:19, 30
c. Absolute loyalty to the Word of God is the very
foundation of His ministry -
(1) Think of how He met the temptation of Satan!
Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-9
(2) He followed the same line of reasoning with
the Pharisees and others - John 5:39-46;
7:17; 10:35
d. It was the Holy Spirit that enabled the Son of man
to perform the many miracles! Acts 10:38
2. Christian witnessing by us depends upon several related
factors:
a. Are we motivated by the Love of Christ? 2 Cor.
5:14-17
b. Are we possessed of the soul passion that
energized Paul? Rom. 9:1-3
c. Do we sense the value of the souls Christ died
for? 1 Cor. 8:11
d. Are we willing to pay the price connected with
Christian witnessing? Acts 7:59, 60
e. Is our faith in our cause and in the integrity of
men strong enough to persist even when the odds
are against us?
TEAMWORK AND ITS EFFECT
MARK 2:1-14
A. OUR TEXT BRINGS TO OUR MIND
1. Our Lord's method of working for the salvation of
souls:
a. "It was noised abroad that he was in the house"
b. That is the most effective advertising for
soulwinning - Matt. 9:1; Luke 5:18; John 1:38, 39
2. A transformed home becomes the center for the ministry
of our Lord:
a. It became a light tower of the gospel.
b. The center of dispensing divine mercy - Matt.
5:14-16
B. CHRISTIAN TEAMWORK IS THE BURDEN OF MY MESSAGE
1. "And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the
palsy"
a. The burden they carried.
b. He was a hopeless, helpless, suffering person that
suffered great mental remorse because of a life of
sin and shame.
c. He had heard that the great physician had come to
the community; his neighbors gave him hope of
being healed.
2. He was carried by four:
a. That indicates Christian teamwork.
b. And what is needed today to finish the work God
has given to us.
c. Said Moody, "Give me four men who are on fire for
God and I will set the world on fire."
d. Said President Lincoln, "United we stand, divided
we fall."
e. There is no limit to our achievement when we are
united in our efforts to win souls for Christ.
3. Their implicit faith:
a. That there was hope for that helpless man.
b. That Christ would honor their effort in behalf of
the impotent man energized them to put forth the
effort.
c. It was a great faith - hope against hope!
d. Such a faith is needed today to do effective work
for God.
C. LET US TAKE A PRAYERFUL LOOK AT THEIR FAITH AND ITS RICH
REWARD
1. Jesus saw their faith:
a. Christ saw their faith when they inspired the
Paralytic with new hope.
b. He saw it when they sought means to bring their
burden to Christ.
c. He saw it when they encountered difficulty on
their way -- many obstacles.
d. He saw it when they raised the roof to bring him
near to the Lord.
e. He saw their faith when they succeeded at last -
Mark 2:1-14
2. What a challenge to us!
a. Does our Lord see us near the bedside of the
hopelessly sick and seeking to inspire them with
new hope for life?
b. Does He see our faith when we seek ways and means
to win souls for Christ?
c. Does He see our reaction when we encounter
difficulties on the way?
d. Are we willing to do the unconventional to bring
souls to Christ?
e. How many people will be saved because of our
faith?
3. Let us look at the reward of their teamwork:
a. Said Jesus, "Son, be of good cheer". Those words
must have turned night into day for that helpless
man.
b. What the world needs more than anything else today
is the words of cheer! That means words of hope.
If our mission would bring cheer to the
disheartened, it would bring glory to God.
c. "Thy sins be forgiven thee." What a message to a
poor sinner! Sin was the difficulty in that man's
life; it brought the sickness upon him.
d. Sin is the great problem that seems to make life
so difficult for so many people in the world
today.
e. Friends of mine, is our teamwork responsible for
our Lord speaking words of forgiveness to poor
sinners?
DOING EXPLOITS FOR GOD
DANIEL 11:32, 33
A. "AND SUCH AS DO WICKEDLY AGAINST THE COVENANT SHALL HE
CORRUPT BY FLATTERIES: BUT THE PEOPLE THAT DO KNOW THEIR
GOD SHALL BE STRONG, AND DO EXPLOITS"
1. This text shows that there are two classes of people:
a. One group is swayed by flattery and betray the
cause of God.
b. The other group is loyal to God and the church;
they are strong in God and do exploits.
2. It is by pointing out the difference between the two
groups in the church that God teaches His people some
timely lessons:
B. LET US CONSIDER THE TWO CLASSES OF PEOPLE AS PORTRAYED IN
OUR TEXT
1. Their similarity:
a. They belong to the same people, at least in name.
b. Yes, they bear the same name.
c. Live under the same environment.
2. Their dissimilarity:
a. They are different in their conduct - that is what
counts.
b. They are dissimilar in their outlook and deeds.
3. Of one group God says:
a. That they do wickedly.
b. This type of wickedness differs from other
iniquities; it is a sin that is based upon
knowledge which is harmful to the cause of God.
(1) Judas belonged to that group - Matt. 26:14-16
(2) Gehazi, too, belonged to this group - 2 Ki.
5:20-27
(3) Ahithophel a key actor in this group - 2 Sam.
15:12
(4) Doeg is still another case in question - 1
Sam. 21:7; 22:22
(5) Enemies in the church are among the most
dangerous to God's cause. They know the
inside of the church and use their knowledge
to harm God's cause.
4. They do wickedly against the covenant:
a. They betray the sacred relationship set forth in
the covenant.
b. This is practicing in the highest sense possible.
c. We have already indicated that Judas was guilty of
this conspiracy - Luke 22:47
C. THE LOYAL BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH
1. "But the people that know their God shall be strong":
a. They have strength of character and for that
reason they cannot be bought or sold.
b. They are strong in faith which helps them to
surmount all difficulties - 1 John 5:1-6
c. God has supplied us with a roster of such worthies
in Hebrews chapter 11.
2. "They shall do exploits": The word "exploits"
indicates that their accomplishments were out of the
ordinary, outstanding.
EXAMPLES -
a. Zadok - 1 Chron. 12:28
b. Benaiah - 1 Chron. 27:6
c. Abijah - 2 Chron. 13:47
d. David - 1 Sam. 17:40-47
3. A very instructive lesson for God's people in the
remnant church:
a. There are the builders in the church -
(1) They know and love the Lord.
(2) They hold their membership in the church very
sacred.
(3) No amount of flattery will make them disloyal
to God's cause.
(4) They do exploits - accomplish the unusual in
the cause.
b. And then there are the destroyers -
(1) They are, so to speak, parasites to begin
with.
(2) They are a plague to the church.
(3) They will, thank God, eventually leave the
church - Isa. 49:17
c. My friends, to which of the two groups do we
belong - not only in theory but much more in
practice!
THE SALT OF THE EARTH
MATTHEW 5:13
A. OUR LORD, THE MASTER TEACHER OF TRUTH, USES SOME OF THE
COMMON THINGS IN LIFE TO EMPHASIZE GREAT GOSPEL TRUTHS
1. Things in nature:
a. ". . . consider the lilies of the field, how they
grow" - Matt. 6:28
b. ". . . the kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven,
which a woman took and hid in three measures of
meal" - Matt. 13:33
2. In our text he calls attention:
a. To the salt of the earth.
b. The light of the world.
B. "YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH" IS THE BURDEN OF MY MESSAGE
1. The universality of the mineral known as salt:
a. It is esteemed highly for its beneficial
properties.
b. Ancient nations used salt for money.
c. Homer called salt, "the favor of the gods".
2. Ancient Israel had many ceremonial uses for salt:
a. To them salt was a symbol of friendship.
b. They used salt in connection with their sacrifices
-
(1) The Bible speaks of "the covenant of salt" -
Lev. 2:13; Num. 18:19; 2 Chron. 13:5
(2) Bread and salt on the table of the king
symbolized perpetual submission to the king.
3. Domestic use of salt:
a. It is, as our Lord said, a savor or seasoner of
food - Mark 9:49, 50
b. It is a preservative of animal food; it keeps meat
from spoiling.
c. Some people use it to disinfect wounds; my mother
used it to cleanse our wounds on many occasions.
d. Salt is a food, without which no animal life can
continue; that is true, also, of the vegetable
kingdom.
e. Salt is a thirst creator.
f. It is used to kill weeds.
g. These and other uses of salt make it indispensable
in our domestic life, including men, beast, and
vegetables.
4. The action of salt:
a. It works silently.
b. It penetrates other substances very readily.
c. It gives up its visible identity; it becomes a
part of that which it penetrates.
d. It is very powerful or effectual in its work.
5. But, our opening text makes it clear that salt is
perishable:
a. When it is exposed to the elements in nature.
b. When it is exposed to that which will destroy its
life.
C. ITS SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICATION
1. "Ye are the salt of the earth":
a. This shows the universality of the Christian
believer -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Of Abraham God said, ". . . in thee shall all
the families of the earth be blessed." - Gen.
12:3
(2) Of John the Baptist, our Lord said, "He was a
burning and a shining light . . ." - John
5:35
b. That is especially true of the church of God -
Matt. 28:18-20; Rev. 22:17
2. God uses Christians and their sanctifying influence:
a. To preserve integrity among the nations -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39
(2) Daniel in Babylon - Dan. 1:8; 6:1-10
b. Christians preserve the world from being
destroyed-
(1) That would have been the case with Lot, had
he been the salt of the earth - Gen. 18:17-32
(2) That is true of the children of light in the
world today.
3. "But if the salt has lost its savor":
a. We think of Judas, one of the twelve - Matt.
26:14-16; 27:1-5
b. We think of Solomon, one of the world's wisest men
- Neh. 13:26
c. These facts demonstrate that one is in constant
danger of losing spiritual power when exposed to
the elements of sin.
d. Are we truly the salt of the earth?
"SUCH AS I HAVE"
ACTS 3:1-9
A. THE HOUR OF PRAYER
1. Key to the story of the miracle of personal evangelism:
a. Peter and John on their way to prayer meeting at
the hour of prayer.
b. A lame man at the beautiful gate of the temple
begging alms.
b. A conversation which led to the healing of the
lame man.
2. Community prayer a life saver on many occasions:
a. The Jews in the days of Queen Esther - Esth. 4:15-
17
b. Daniel's prayer group saved the wise men of
Babylon - Dan. 2:17-23
c. The apostles in prison - Acts 4:24; 12:12-17
3. Regular community prayer ought to be had by God's
remnant people at all times:
a. Such a call is made to God's people - Zeph. 2:1-3
b. Especially so in times of stress and danger to
God's people - Joel 2:15-17
B. THE BURDEN OF MY SERMON IS EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM
1. Look at us:
a. A daring invitation by God's witnesses to discover
Christ and the power of God unto salvation in our
personal lives - Gal. 1:15, 16
b. It shows that Christ and His influence can be seen
in the believers - Matt. 5:14-16
c. It shows also that Christianity is more than a
form of godliness - Gal. 2:20
2. Such as I have:
a. True Christians are never bankrupt; they will
always have something to share with others -
"share your blessings with others".
b. Their possessions are not necessarily measured by
the gold standard. That does not mean that gold
may not be used for the furtherance of the work of
God; but it does mean that our connection with the
resources of heaven enable us to have some
blessings to share with others.
3. Peter shared five blessings with the lame man:
a. He gave him an incentive for a new outlook upon
life - "rise up and walk". This was something no
other person had ever suggested to him since he
had been lame from the time of his birth. He had
heard before of the miracles of Christ performed,
but never had opportunity to meet Christ.
b. He filled him with faith and new hope for a better
future.
c. He helped him on his feet; for the first time in
his life he stood up and walked.
d. He connected him with the Redeemer of men; that
was the greatest blessing that ever came to this
poor man.
e. Finally, this experience brought praise and
thanksgiving to this man - he became an ardent
follower of the Lord.
C. LESSON FOR US
1. Do we possess the moral courage:
a. To invite a sinful and doubting world to examine
our personal lives to discover Christ?
b. Let us be honest with God and ourselves. What
would others discover in us if they were invited
to search our lives?
c. Would they discover the power of God unto
salvation? Or would they find a form of godliness
but a denial of a living experience?
2. Why is it that in spite of our Bible knowledge we have
so little to offer to a sin-sick world?
a. Is it because we do not live as close to the Lord
as we ought to?
b. Or is it that we lack the dynamic faith to draw
divine strength and vitality from the storehouse
of divine grace?
c. These are not idle questions, but rather an
attempt to find a reason and a remedy for our
weakness!
"WHAT IS THAT IN THINE HAND?"
EXODUS 4:1-4
A. SETTING OF OUR TEXT
1. Time for the deliverance of God's people had come:
a. God's promise to Abraham - Gen. 15:13, 14
b. Its fulfillment was at hand - Ex. 2:23-25; 3:8
2. The training period for Moses was about over:
3. This was clearly indicated by his answer to God's call
to lead his people out of Egypt:
a. ". . . Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh,
and that I should bring forth the children of
Israel out of Egypt?" - Ex. 3:11
b. "And Moses said unto the Lord, O my God, I am not
eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast
spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech,
and of a slow tongue." Ex. 4:10
c. ". . . who am I of uncircumcised lips" - Ex. 6:12
B. "WHAT IS THAT IN THINE HAND?"
1. This question by the Lord reveals His reasonableness in
the call:
a. He is willing to use what we have.
b. The rod was Moses' occupational tool.
2. Moses' rod becomes the rod of God:
a. It was no longer in the common service of the
shepherd in the land of Midian.
b. It now became the emblem of redeeming power.
3. The rod of God became the symbol of power:
a. With it Moses performed miracles - Ex. 4:17
b. Locusts - Ex. 10:13, 14
c. Blood - Ex. 7:19, 20
d. Frogs - Ex. 8:5
e. Lice - Ex. 8:16
f. With it he overcame the counterfeit - Ex. 7:9-12
C. WHAT IS THAT IN THINE HAND?
1. God has, in past times, used many tools as common as
the rod of Moses:
a. David's sling - 1 Sam. 17:40, 50
b. Elisha's stick - 2 Ki. 6:6, 7
c. Samson's jawbone - Judg. 15:15
d. Peter's fishing hook - Matt. 17:27
2. What we possess must be in the service of God to become
the symbol of power:
a. We all have some talent which, if consecrated to
the service of the Lord, can become a potential
for the saving of souls.
b. God speaks to us this morning, asking us, as He
did Moses, "What is that in thine hand?"
(1) Is it money? Use it in the service of the
Lord - Prov. 3:9
(2) Is it your working tool to make your
livelihood? Dedicate it to the Lord and His
cause - 1 Chron. 29:12-18
3. Our subject shows very plainly the reasonableness of
God:
a. He does not expect of us what we do not possess.
b. But he does ask of us to use what He has blessed
us with to the glory of God and for the benefit of
mankind.
c. This was emphasized by our Lord in the parable of
the talents - Matt. 25:14-30
ILLUSTRATIONS
(1) God frequently takes the most trivial
possession of men to teach great truths.
This shows the divine adaptation to the
circumstances of men. This shows the divine
wisdom in making insignificant things teach
divine truths. It shows the divine
simplicity of the plan and purpose of heaven.
(2) God takes up the weakest instruments to
accomplish His mightiest ends - a rod, a
ram's horn, a cake of barley meal, an earthen
pitcher. Men imagine that the splendid ends
can only be reached by splendid means; but
such is not God's way, He can use the
crawling worm as well as the scorching sun, a
gourd as well as a violent east wind.
(C.H.M.)
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
JOHN 21:22, 23
A. "WHAT IS THAT TO THEE, FOLLOW THOU ME"
1. The context shows Peter's concern for the future of
John:
2. Our Lord assured Peter that He would take care of John:
3. He admonished Peter to follow Him:
B. LET US NOTE, BRIEFLY, THE IMPLICATION OF THE WORDS OF OUR
LORD TO PETER
1. The Lord Jesus Christ has a personal and essential pre-
eminence:
a. He and His cause ought to be our first and
greatest concern -
(1) "Follow thou me"
(2) Make all else secondary to Me and my cause -
Matt. 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; Luke 9:59
b. First things come first; and Christ is first -
Matt. 6:33
2. This truth is revealed in the two great commandments:
a. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind." This is the first commandment.
b. And the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself." Matt. 22:37, 38; Deut.
6:4, 5
3. Our obligations to Jesus Christ are personal,
independent of others:
a. Anything they may or may not do cannot affect our
individual obligation to God -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Aaron was forbidden to mourn over the death
of his wicked sons - Lev. 10:3-7
(2) Samuel was a man of God, but his sons were
wicked; that did not change his loyalty to
his God - 1 Sam. 8:1-3
b. Our responsibility to God and His Word remain the
same, regardless of what others may or may not do.
"What is that to thee, follow thou me."
c. Those who make their relationship to Christ
contingent upon others are not wholeheartedly for
Christ - 1 Ki. 18:21
C. LET US TAKE STILL A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR OPENING TEXT, IF THAT
IS POSSIBLE
1. There can be but one perfect pattern for us to follow:
CHRIST! Heb. 12:1, 2
a. To pattern after others may or may not be approved
by God.
b. Such guidance is extremely human and limited -
Isa. 29:13
c. The Psalmist warns against this error - Ps. 62:8,
9; 146:1-3
d. The prophet Jeremiah warns us against leaning upon
flesh - Jer. 17:5-7
2. It follows, therefore, that our duties to God are up
and above:
a. Those to our concept or attitude of our fellow
men.
b. It matters not what they may or may not do or
think, our duty to God is personal just the same -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Adam knew that Eve did wrong when she ate the
forbidden fruit; yet he ate of that same
fruit, telling God that it was the woman that
God gave him that was mainly responsible for
his transgression - Gen. 3:8-19
(2) The man of God knew what God wanted him to
do, yet he went back with the false prophet
and ate - 1 Ki. 13:1-22
c. The principle of action is plainly stated by Peter
upon two separate occasions - Acts 4:19; 5:29
d. We will not be weakened in our loyalty to God,
regardless of what the price of such loyalty may
be -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:1-16
(2) The three young Hebrews in Babylon - Dan.
3:17
e. We know that God's remnant people will be called
upon to pay a price for their loyalty to God -
Rev. 12:17
f. But it is worth it at all points. Let us in
closing consider the loyalty of the Lord of glory
- Phil. 2:6-11.
THE MINISTRY OF GRATITUDE
LUKE 4:39
A. "AND IMMEDIATELY SHE AROSE AND MINISTERED UNTO THEM"
1. When we read the context of Luke 4:38, 39, we learn
that Simon's mother-in-law had been sick with a great
fever:
a. Our Lord entered the house of Simon.
b. He rebuked the fever, and it left her.
2. Immediately she arose and ministered unto them:
B. THIS EXPERIENCE IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON SHOWS THE MINISTRY OF
GRATITUDE
1. The fact that this restored woman began at once to
minister to Christ and His disciples proves:
a. The certainty of her cure; and it is the highest
expression of her gratitude to God for being
healed!
b. It is a positive sign of the cure wrought by
Christ.
OTHER EXAMPLES -
(1) Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast out
seven devils ministered unto Him - Matt.
26:7; Luke 8:2
(2) Zacchaeus, the tax collector, too, expressed
humble gratitude to God for what had happened
unto him - Luke 19:8
2. Such an attitude is a sure sign of true conversion:
a. There can be no better way to prove that we have
been born again, that we have been healed from
sin, than to dedicate our lives to the service of
God.
b. It is indicative of the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit - Acts 10:38
3. It is to be noted that the ministry was of the humble
kind:
a. So was the ministry of Mary when she washed the
feet of the Lord - John 11:1, 2
b. Thus it can be seen that we may serve the Lord in
the common everyday duties of life.
c. Our Lord recognizes such services more than any
other efforts on our part - Matt. 25:34-45
4. Her act in ministering to Christ and the disciples was:
a. An expression of her personal appreciation of our
Lord's ministry to her physical needs.
b. Salvation is personal, and gratitude to God is
personal -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Christ cleansed ten lepers, but only one
returned gratitude to Him - Luke 17:11-17
(2) Simon Peter showed his appreciation of having
found the Saviour when he brought his brother
to Christ - John 1:40, 41
C. THIS WOMAN'S MINISTRY TO CHRIST REVEALS THE CONDESCENSION OF
THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
1. He, who healed her of the fever, did not need her to
minister unto Him:
a. He, who had power to free her from the fever,
surely had the power to care for Himself.
b. If Christ could heal the sick, raise the dead,
turn water into wine, He most certainly was able
to care for His own needs.
2. Yet, and this is so important, He accepted the humble
service of gratitude:
a. Thus he honored the sincere expression of
gratitude -
EXAMPLES -
(1) A cup of cold water given in the interest of
heaven is appreciated - Matt. 10:42; Mark
9:41
(2) A visit to the sick room is appreciated -
Matt. 25:35, 36
3. I am thinking this morning of the ministry of our
sisters, doing the work of Dorcas. They may feel that
their needlework is not appreciated but it is, and it
will be rewarded in the kingdom.
4. Yes, God accepts the ministry of gratitude; the Bible
is full of vivid illustrations of God's acceptance of
such acceptance:
a. He accepted the ministry of a widow to Elias and
blessed her for it - 1 Ki. 17:10-24
b. He made the memory of Mary Magdalene immortal by
calling attention to her ministry of love for his
burial.
c. He did the same for another widow who gave all her
living to God - Mark 12:41-44
SELF-CONSECRATION
1 CHRONICLES 29:5, 6
A. "WHO THEN IS WILLING TO CONSECRATE HIS SERVICE THIS DAY UNTO
THE LORD?"
1. With these words, David appealed to the leaders of the
people and to the congregation to make special
sacrifices for the building of the house of God:
2. He had been denied the building of the house of the
Lord himself because he had shed too much blood:
B. SELF-CONSECRATION UNTO THE LORD IS THE BURDEN OF MY MESSAGE
1. God claims the loving surrender of our life to His
service:
a. He has the right to our life because He is our
Maker - Gen. 1:26, 27; Deut. 4:32
b. He says to man, ". . . thou art mine" - Isa. 43:1
c. ". . . I have created him for my glory" - Isa.
43:7
d. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works . . ." - Eph. 2:10
2. God claims us and all we have because He is our
Redeemer:
a. ". . . thou . . . hast redeemed us O God . . ." -
Rev. 5:9
b. ". . . I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer
. . ." - Isa. 49:26; 54:8
c. He has redeemed our soul from destruction - Luke
1:68
d. ". . . ye are bought with a price . . ." - 1 Cor.
6:19, 20
3. Nature of our self-consecration:
a. Present our bodies unto God as a living sacrifice
- Rom. 12:1-3
b. Dedicate all we have to the Lord -- body, soul,
and spirit - 1 Thess. 5:23
c. Such consecration includes our talent, all the
power of our mind - Matt. 25:14-30
d. How inclusive is our dedication to our God and His
cause!
e. When we come to Him and give ourselves to Him,
that means all we have and are!
C. LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE GROUNDS OF OUR SELF-CONSECRATION
1. We have already established the facts:
a. That God has a full right to us by reason of
creation and redemption.
2. But here are still other binding reasons:
a. We are free moral agents and God will and cannot
do anything for us until we of our own free will
have placed ourselves into His service - Rev.
22:17
b. "Who then is willing?" Only willing service is
acceptable to the Lord; it must be voluntary to be
acceptable.
3. David's appeal was blessed wonderfully:
a. Because the people offered willingly of a free
heart - 1 Chron. 29:6-9
b. It was a joyful consecration by all the
congregation - 2 Cor. 9:7
c. Our Lord taught us that "It is more blessed to
give than to receive" - Acts 20:35
4. Shall I dare to believe that everyone in this
congregation will consecrate self to God this morning?
5. Friends, do it earnestly and with no reservations:
Rom. 12:1-3
6. The result of such a self-consecration cannot be
measured by us at this time:
a. It will bring a new experience to all of us. Our
relationship with the Lord will take a new and
added meaning.
b. Others will catch new inspiration and who knows
the end results from such a consecration!
c. It will make our witnessing for the truth much
more effective.
EXAMPLES -
(1) Think of the reformation day of ancient
Israel in the days of Elijah - 1 Ki. 18
(2) Or recall the results of Queen Esther's
resolve to dedicate her life to the saving of
her people - Esth. 4:16, 17
(3) We must never forget the dedication of our
early Pioneers to the cause of
truth.
CHRISTIAN SURETY
GENESIS 43:1-12
A. HISTORIC BACKGROUND TO OUR SUBJECT TITLE
1. Jacob and his family in need of food:
2. The ten Patriarchs:
a. Went to Egypt to buy provisions for themselves and
their livestock - Gen. 42:27; 43:24
b. They soon found themselves in difficulty over
their youngest brother.
c. Judah becomes surety for Benjamin - Gen. 43:8, 9
B. CHRISTIAN SURETY
1. Implied in our opening text:
a. Our love and affection for our brother will lead
us to become responsible for him.
b. "I will be surety for him" -
(1) Abraham for his nephew and his family in
Sodom - Gen. 14:11-16
(2) Moses for Israel - Ps. 106:23
(3) Paul for Onesimus - Philemon 8-14
(4) Judah for Benjamin - Gen. 44:18-32
(5) Christ for us - 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1-3
2. That means that we all make ourselves responsible for
the safety of our brothers:
a. ". . . of my hand shalt thou require him: if I
bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee,
then let me bear the blame forever" - Gen. 43:9
(1) Jonathan for David - 1 Sam. 20:2
(2) Job for his family - Job 1:5
(3) Paul for the believers - 1 Cor. 9:19
b. That takes love, born from above - 1 John 2:8-11;
4:8
c. That was the motive of Christ in becoming surety
for me - Gal. 2:20; Rev. 1:5
3. We will, if need be, step into the breach caused by
sin:
a. That is what Moses did for Israel - Ex. 32:32
b. That is what Paul did for his son Onesimus -
Philem. 1-14
C. CHRISTIAN SURETY THE SECRET OF TRUE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
1. It is the law of church relationship:
a. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the
law of Christ." - Gal. 6:2
b. "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in
this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." -
Gal. 5:14
c. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law." - Rom. 13:10
d. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love
one another; as I have loved you, that ye also
love one another." - John 13:34
2. This new commandment is forcefully illustrated:
a. In our Lord's story of the good Samaritan - Luke
10:33
b. This relationship is explained by Paul in his
Epistle to the Romans - Rom. 14:1-7
3. Furthermore, we find that our Lord's new commandment is
implied:
a. In the golden rule - Matt. 7:12
b. In the sermon on the mount - Matt. 5:1-48
c. In the two basic laws of life - Matt. 22:34-40
4. Christian surety:
a. Is the goal of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To
restore a loving relationship between men is the
highest assignment the gospel places upon those
who profess Christianity.
b. "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love." - 1 John 4:8
c. ". . . he that hateth his brother is in darkness,
and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither
he goeth, because that darkness hath blindeth his
eyes." - 1 John 2:11
d. Brethren, do you feel toward one another, as Judah
felt toward Benjamin, his youngest brother?
e. Has your relationship with Christ brought you into
a new relationship with your neighbor?
STRENGTH, SERVICE, REWARD
2 CHRONICLES 15:1-7
A. "BE YE STRONG THEREFORE, AND LET NOT YOUR HANDS BE WEAK:
FOR YOUR WORK SHALL BE REWARDED."
1. This is a most timely message to God's people:
a. Israel had forsaken the true God, "Now for a long
season Israel had been without the true God, and
without a teaching priest, and without law." -
verse 3
b. "Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be
horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the
Lord. For my people have committed two evils;
they have forsaken me the fountain of living
waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken
cisterns, that can hold no water." - Jer. 2:12,
13
2. This message was to bring the people back to the true
God:
a. Ancient Israel was accused of being a perpetual
backsliding nation - Hos. 4:16, 17
b. But God promised to heal their backslidings --
love them freely - Hos. 14:1-9
B. THIS MESSAGE IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR OUR DAY
1. Apostasy is indicated in many faces of those who hold
membership in the church: 1 Tim. 4:1-6; Acts 20:29, 30
2. We are living in a time of great strain and stress:
Luke 21:25, 26
3. This is the time when God's people need to be on guard
against the sinister allurements of the world:
a. The lust of the eye.
b. The lust of the flesh.
c. The pride of life.
1 John 2:15, 16
4. We are to learn from the experience of God's ancient
covenant people:
a. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience
and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." -
Rom. 15:4
b. Note what Paul writes in 1 Cor. 10:1-11
C. OUR OPENING TEXT OFFERS TO US A THREEFOLD ADMONITION WITH
ITS ATTENDANT BLESSINGS
1. Strength: "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your
hands be weak:" - 2 Chron. 15:7
a. The Bible makes it very clear that God wants His
people to be strong - Josh. 1:6, 7; Eph. 6:7
b. Our strength comes from a fourfold source -
(1) Receiving our commission to witness from the
Lord Jesus Christ - Matt. 28:18; Ps. 24:7, 8
(2) The Word of truth - Heb. 4:12, 13; Jer. 23:29
(3) The presence and indwelling of the Holy
Spirit gives strength - Zech. 4:6; Judg.
13:25; Acts 1:8
(4) Prevailing prayer is a must to be strong -
Jer. 33:3; Jas. 5:16
2. Service: "Let not your hands be weak" -
a. Christ is our example of loving service - John
9:4; 17:4. The best text about our Lord's
services is found in Acts 10:38
b. Our services belong to Him who has called us out
of darkness unto His marvelous light - 1 Pet. 2:9-
11
c. This service is threefold -
(1) To witness for the Lord with our lives - Isa.
43:10; Acts 1:8
(2) To make our lives a shining light in this
sin-darkened world - Matt. 5:14-16; Phil.
2:15
(3) To make converts for the truth - John 1:40-
42; Luke 5:10
3. Reward: "for your work shall be rewarded" -
a. Faithful service for God and humanity has its
reward, whether one sees that in his day or not.
b. Of God's people we read, ". . . blessed are the
dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea,
saith the Spirit that they may rest from their
labours; and their works do follow them." - Rev.
14:13
c. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not
in vain in the Lord." - 1 Cor. 15:58
PASSION TO SAVE SOULS
ROMANS 9:1-3
A. OUR TEXT IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE ONE WHOSE BURDEN FOR SOULS
HAD FLAMED INTO SANCTIFIED SOUL PASSION
1. "I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my
heart."
2. "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ
for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh."
3. Two very special characteristics of a successful
soulwinner stand out:
a. Eternal values were pressing upon his soul. That
was true of David's attitude toward Absalom, his
son - 2 Sam. 18:33. And that was true, in a
special sense, of our Lord's attitude toward
Jerusalem - Luke 19:41
b. Self and whatever life may be had in store for one
is willingly laid upon the altar of service. That
was true of Moses - Ex. 32:32
B. PASSION FOR SAVING SOULS
1. What it is not:
a. It is not an outburst of blind human emotions.
b. Neither is it a temporary excitement that lasts
until the excitement has died out.
2. What it is:
a. When sanctified knowledge of values is involved,
self-sacrificing love and an undying faith in
human values have been unified in a life of
service, the soul becomes aflame with passion to
save souls.
b. All this is exemplified in the life of Paul, as
shown in our opening text. His passion for souls
was not an outburst of human emotions, but rather
the effect of his undying love for his kinsmen.
c. The Bible is full of examples of real soul
passion. You will find a mother pleading for her
daughter - Matt. 15:22-28; Abraham pleading for
Sodom - Gen. 18:18-26; Paul pleading for Onesimus,
his spiritual son - Philem. 16-20
3. This soul passion is generated by the Holy Spirit:
a. It is the Holy Spirit that made John the Baptist a
burning and shining light - John 5:35
b. That is true, also, of the Lord Jesus Christ in
the days of His flesh - Ps. 69:9; acts 10:38
c. It was true of Stephen, who lost his life when
preaching the great sermon recorded in Acts, the
7th chapter.
C. WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?
1. The curse of this generation:
a. Sensual passion seems to be flooding our younger
generation. Statistics show that sensual passion
has invaded the lives of untold numbers of
teenagers.
b. Worldly amusements are the main attraction of our
times. Many millions and millions of dollars are
paid at the gateways of modern amusements.
c. These and other sinful pleasures are, in fact, the
greatest dangers facing the church of God - 2 Tim.
3:1-7
d. These are some of the things against which our
Saviour warns us, who live in the last days of
world history - Luke 17:26-29; Matt. 24:37-42
2. Our greatest need as a people:
a. We need church members that are aflame with a
passion to save souls. This passion, being
generated by the Holy Spirit will prevent the
passion created by the lust of the flesh and the
pride of life - 1 John 2:15, 16
b. We need church members that have grasped the
eternal values of a soul for which the Son of God
dies.
c. We need a people that realize that we have lived
in the judgment hour ever since 1844 and none of
us know when the work of judgment will begin with
the living.
d. The burning question is, do I as a member meet the
above qualifications?
e. One might well re-examine himself in the fear of
God to know our state of soul passion.
GOD'S WELL DIGGERS
GENESIS 26:17-20
A. THE PATRIARCHS WERE WELL DIGGERS
1. They devoted much of their time to raising livestock;
they dug many wells to provide water for men and
beasts: Gen. 24:43; 26:15
2. We think of Jacob's well of which the Samaritans were
so proud: John 4:6-28
3. Hagar was found by a well: Gen. 16:7-11
4. Our opening text informs us that:
a. Isaac reopened the wells dug by his father.
b. This he did in direct opposition of other cattle
men.
B. GOD'S WELL DIGGERS IS THE BURDEN OF MY MESSAGE
1. God's soul winners are, in a spiritual sense, well
diggers:
a. They open up wells of salvation to many for whom
life has been the vale of tears - Gen. 21:15-19
b. Writes the Psalmist, "Blessed is the man whose
strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways
of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca
make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools."
- Ps. 84:5, 6
EXAMPLES -
(1) Joseph was one of those well diggers in
Egypt.
(2) King David was still another well digger.
Think of what the Psalms, written by David, mean
to God's pilgrims in the vale of tears!
2. They reopened the wells that served their fathers:
a. That is a wonderful thought. That which was
blessed in the life of our fathers is still a
blessing to us.
b. They did not despise the achievement of others -
John 4:38
c. We are indebted to the pioneers for much light and
truth which we now enjoy, but was sought out by
the pioneers with much prayer and many tears.
d. The great framework of present truth was set up by
the early pioneers; let us appreciate it; they
were God's well diggers.
C. SOME GREAT AND USEFUL LESSONS FOR THE CHURCH OF GOD TODAY
1. The Bible speaks of the wells of salvation:
a. "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation." - Isa. 12:3
b. God charges His people that they have forsaken
God's fountain of living water, and have made
themselves cisterns which cannot hold water - Jer.
2:12, 13
2. Our Saviour speaks of the wells of salvation:
a. Faith in His Word - John 7:37-39
b. The church of the living God is for thirsty souls
a well of salvation - Rev. 22:17
3. God's well diggers -- who are they?
a. He who carries the message of truth to thirsty
hearts is one of God's well diggers.
b. He who digs deep in the study of the Word of God
is one of God's well diggers -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Paul wrote fourteen epistles of truth which
have satisfied untold millions with the water
of life.
(2) The prophet Isaiah is known as one of the
very greatest gospel evangelists; he, too,
has dug deep into the well of salvation.
(3) Ellen G. White, a very humble soul, is one of
God's well diggers. Think of the wealth of
divine information she has left for God's
people in the last days!
4. Blessings of the wells of salvation:
a. They are an open fountain against all uncleanness
- Zech. 13:1
b. They are for the health of the nations as seen by
the prophet Ezekiel - Ezek. 46:1-11
c. They are free to all thirsty souls, without price
or money - Isa. 55:1-3
d. Dear reader, are you one of the well diggers of
God's people?
e. How many thirsty souls have been satisfied by your
dedication to the truth?
ON FIRE FOR GOD
PART I
JEREMIAH 20:7-9
A. A MOST REVEALING PRAYER
1. About a very difficult ministry:
a. The call - Jer. 1:4-10
b. The people's attitude - Jer. 18:18; 20:9
2. A very discouraged preacher:
a. ". . . I will not make mention of him, nor speak
in his name." - verse 9
b. That is what Jonah attempted to do - Jonah 1:3-17
c. Elijah, too, became discouraged - 1 Ki. 19:4
d. Even John the Baptist became discouraged; he was a
very disheartened preacher - Matt. 11:1-5
3. But the fires within those mighty men of God kept them
aglow: "his word was in mine heart as a burning fire
shut up in my bones"
a. Said the Psalmist, "My heart was hot within me,
while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I
with my tongue" - Ps. 39:3
b. This, dear friends, is the great secret of
successful preaching -
EXAMPLES -
(1) John Wesley, one of the church's greatest
revivalists, was on fire for God to such a
degree that all England seemed to be on fire.
(2) A. B. Earle, that famous evangelist, is
reported to have traveled 325 miles in the
United States and Canada to preach Christ.
4. Our text shows that the Word of God is the divine power
which sets a life on fire for God:
a. There is a great difference between a "head"
message and one that comes from the "heart".
b. Said the two disciples about our Lord's
conversation with them, "did not our heart burn
within us, while he talked with us by the way, and
while he opened to us the scriptures?" - Luke
24:32
c. Consider the power of the simple sermon by Peter
on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2
d. May God grant to us this experience to be more
effective in witnessing for Christ.
B. THE LIVING WORD IN THE HEART IS A CREATIVE FORCE WHICH WILL
1. Free God's witnesses from all human impediments, and
make them without favor of fear:
a. That was true of Stephen, who lost his life
because of preaching the truth - Acts 7
b. That was true of the unlearned disciples on the
day of Pentecost - Acts 2:7, 8
c. That was the secret of Peter and his fellow worker
to defy the threatenings of Jewish leaders and
preach the truth - Acts 4:29; 5:19
2. It will create an unquenchable passion for perishing
souls:
a. That was true of Paul - Rom. 9:1-3
b. That was true of Moses in behalf of his nation -
Ex. 32:32
3. Let us note, briefly, some of the forces that set a
person on fire:
a. The baptism of the Holy Spirit - Matt. 3:11; Isa.
6:6-11
b. Much secret prayer. More prayer, more souls; more
souls, more passion to save souls.
c. Said a certain believer to a woman who sought to
win him for Christ, "Your man must be very thick
with the Almighty; that is why he is so mighty."
d. The study of the Word of God is a must to be
mighty in our preaching -
(1) Ignorance of the Word of God is one of the
reasons why so many sermons are empty and
useless.
(2) It is the sanctified knowledge of the Word of
God that gives power in our preaching.
e. Living the truths that we seek to bring to others
is a must to be effective in our preaching.
f. That was the weakness of the Pharisees and
scribes; they knew the Word, but failed to
practice it - Matt. 23:1-5
g. Friends, our time demands of us to be on fire for
God.
ON FIRE FOR GOD
PART II
JEREMIAH 20:7-9
A. A REMARKABLE TESTIMONY BY JEREMIAH THE PROPHET
1. He had a most difficult mission: Compare Jer. 20:7-9
with chapter 18:18
2. Continued and bitter opposition discouraged him to a
point where he sought to give up the ministry - verse 9
3. Burning fire within kept him going: Compare Jer. 1:4-9
with Isa. 6:6-10
B. FORCES THAT SET THE SOUL ON FIRE FOR GOD
1. God's Word in the heart:
a. Jeremiah's experience - Jer. 5:14; 23:29
b. Think of Peter on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:14
c. Stephen is still another example of what the Word
of God will do in the heart - Acts 7:1-53
2. Sensing the worth of eternal values will set the heart
on fire:
a. Paul and his kinsmen - Rom. 9:1-3
b. Moses and his nation - Ex. 32:32
c. John Knox and Scotland - "Lord give me Scotland or
let me die."
3. The love of Christ constraineth us:
a. The love of Christ is stronger than death - John
13:1; Isa. 54:8
b. It is the impelling power that moves men to live
and, if need be, die for him - Acts 21:13
c. We have a panorama of witnesses who gave their
lives for Christ - Heb. 11:34-40
4. The presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit sets the
soul on fire:
a. John the Baptist was a burning and shining light -
John 5:35
b. Apollos, an eloquent man, was mighty to preach the
gospel of Jesus Christ - Acts 18:24, 25
c. Paul was, perhaps, one of the greatest preachers
of all times because he was full of the Holy
Spirit.
C. COMPELLING REASONS WHY EVERY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST OUGHT TO
BE ON FIRE FOR GOD
1. Present truth:
a. The Three Angels' Message ought to set us on fire
for God - Rev. 14:6-14
b. The gospel of restoration ought to burn in our
hearts - Acts 3:19-21; Isa. 56:1-6; 58:1-14
c. Preparing a people for translation is still
another impelling reason for being on fire for
God.
2. The shortness of time is a compelling power which ought
to motivate us to be on fire for God:
a. Paul's statement - Rom. 13:11-14
b. Signs point to the end of all things - Matt. 24:33
3. The open door in the mission field is a compelling
reason to be on fire for God:
a. Never before in the history of the world was there
such a thirst for knowledge as there is in the
world today.
b. The doors are wide open to enter new fields for
soul winning.
c. This will not be long; Satan will do his utmost to
stop the progress of the Word of truth - 1 Pet.
5:8; Rev. 12:12
4. But there are still other factors that ought to arouse
us to action:
a. The lukewarm condition among so many of our people
is good reason to be on fire to help them find a
new experience in the things of God - Rev. 3:14-17
b. What the world needs today is men and women that
are literally aglow with the light of present
truth to help others to accept it to their joy and
salvation.
5. Do you see people on fire for God?
a. They will be busy spreading the good news of the
soon coming of Christ.
b. They will live a life of constant sacrifice for
God and His cause.
c. Dear reader, are we among the people in whom the
light of present truth is so powerful that it
cannot be stopped?
ZEAL FOR GOD
A. "I BEAR THEM RECORD THAT THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF GOD, BUT NOT
ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE" - Rom. 10:1-3
1. Every time I read these words by Paul, I think of the
great potentials of "zeal":
a. It was zeal that fired Saul of Tarsus to persecute
the Christians -- ". . . breathing out
threatenings and slaughter . . ." - Acts 9:1
b. It was zeal that made him say ". . . I am ready
not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 21:13
2. Zeal is dynamo either for good or for bad, depending on
the basic motive:
B. SANCTIFIED ZEAL
1. When our knowledge of God and His Word takes hold of us
and motivates our life to a point where holy fervor
impels us to give all to God's cause, that is zeal for
God:
a. It may, at times, be misguided zeal, as in the
case of Saul - Acts 22:3, 4
b. It was true and God-directed zeal when the life of
Jeremiah became aflame with power - Jer. 20:9
c. It was sanctified zeal that made John the Baptist
a burning and shining light - John 5:35
2. Living faith and love of the truth are two great
generating forces to create holy zeal in our lives:
a. ". . . I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able . . ." - 2 Tim. 1:12
b. This explains why the martyrs of our Lord defied
the flames of fire and sang hymns of praise to God
unto death - Heb. 11:20-40
3. Love for perishing souls is still another motive for
godly zeal:
a. ". . . I could wish that myself were accursed from
Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to
the flesh" - Rom. 9:3
b. "Now if thou wilt not forgive their sins . . .
blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book . . ." - Ex.
32:32
4. How do men get holy zeal for God?
a. When the Holy Spirit rests upon them.
b. Think of the day of Pentecost - Acts 2
c. Sensing the lateness of the hour in which we live
will also generate energy in our soul to be
zealous for God.
d. Holy zeal cost Stephen his life - Acts 7:60
e. Knowledge of existing dangers will cause men to be
full of zeal for God - Num. 14:6-9
C. FRUIT OF SANCTIFIED ZEAL FOR GOD
1. Deborah saved her nation through her zeal for God:
a. The story of her life is a great source of
inspiration in the hour of crisis - Judg. 4
b. Barak the son of Abinoam lacked this zeal, and God
used a woman to inspire the people to rise up to
their national defense - Judg. 5
2. The men of the tribe of Levi stayed the plague by their
zeal for God: Ex. 32:27, 28
a. Israel had sinned grievously and God was ready to
destroy them, but the Levites saved God's people.
b. That was when God gave them the ministry in the
sanctuary.
3. It was holy zeal that caused our Lord to drive out of
the temple all who had desecrated the house of God with
their merchandise: John 2:13-18
4. The history of the church of God is alive with the
godly zeal of its many heroes:
a. We think of John Huss who sang hymns of praise
when he faced the flames that consumed his body.
b. Martin Luther was fired with a zeal that
emboldened him to face the dignitaries of the
church of Rome, and gave him victory over his
enemies.
c. Dear reader, I plead with you, pray God that He
will fill your souls with holy zeal to win many,
many souls for this wonderful truth.
THE DAY OF GOD'S POWER
PSALMS 110:3
A. "THY PEOPLE SHALL BE WILLING IN THE DAY OF THY POWER" - Ps.
110:3
1. Look and listen wherever you please, and you are made
aware of some kind of power:
a. The radio.
b. The television.
c. The very atmosphere seems charged with some kind
of power.
2. Our age is rightly called:
a. The age of the atom.
b. The space age.
3. Who can doubt that God has His hand in the
manifestation of power in this power conscious age?
B. BUT OUR OPENING TEXT IS THE SPECIAL BURDEN OF THIS MESSAGE
1. "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,
in the beauties of holiness":
a. What is to be regretted is -
(1) That men discover and harness the powers in
nature; yet, morally they are, by and large,
slaves to immorality and lawlessness.
(2) Violence plagues the nations - Luke 21:25,
26; 2 Tim. 3:1-13
b. The world has produced mental giants, who are, in
many instances, victims of vice and corruption.
c. Even God's professed people profess impotence in
the face of worldliness and temptation.
2. But our text points to the day of God's power:
a. When the beauty of God's holiness adorns the
saints.
b. That was true in the days of Pentecost - Acts 1:8;
2:1-17
c. That will be true in the time of the end - Rev.
18:1; Acts 2:17
d. The loud cry of the third angel is the revelation
of the power of God to close the work of the
gospel of Christ.
e. Bible prophecy focuses upon our day as the
outpouring of the early and the latter rain. This
is the day, dear friends - Acts 2:17
C. NATURE AND FRUITAGE OF THIS DAY OF GOD'S POWER
1. God's power, manifested in the lives of God's people,
is His saving grace:
a. Power of moral character that defies sin and
temptation -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:1-22
(2) Daniel and his friends in Babylon - Dan. 3:6
(3) Peter and Paul in the face of persecution;
also, Stephen.
b. Power of prayer -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Elias prayed and heaven was sealed against
rain - Jas. 5:17, 18
(2) Elisha prayed and an army was blinded - 2 Ki.
6:18, 19
(3) Peter prayed and Dorcas came back to life.
2. Channels of God's saving power:
a. The Holy Spirit - Zech. 4:6; Acts 1:8
b. The Word of God - Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29
c. The blood of Jesus Christ - Rev. 12:11
d. The transformed lives of God's people are a
channel of God's power. No other agency is as
convincing as a transformed life.
e. Think of the words found in 1 Pet. 2:9; Acts 3:1-
9; John 4:22-28
3. Effect of God's power:
a. "Thy people shall be willing in the day of God's
power - willing to sacrifice; willing to undertake
for God; willing to endure hardship for the cause
of truth."
b. The church needs this power to set it on fire to
finish the work of the Lord.
c. We need John the Baptist, of whom it is written
that he was a burning and shining light - John
5:35
d. We need the experience of the prophet Isaiah, who
experienced the power of cleansing and the grace
to say, ". . . here am I; send me." - Isa. 6:1-11
e. Our attitude toward the work of God will attest to
the power of God in our life.
THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS
ZECHARIAH 4:10, 11
A. "WHO HATH DESPISED THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS?"
1. This is one of the most thought provoking questions in
the Bible:
a. It was a rebuke to the disheartened Jews, who had
lost heart in the reconstruction of the temple.
b. And it is a message of assurance to Zerubbabel,
the governor, to continue the work that had a very
small beginning - Zech. 4:1-14
2. But its signification goes beyond the experience of
ancient Israel; it applies to God's people and their
work in all ages:
a. The history of the church has been marked by "the
day of small things".
b. Our blessed Lord alluded to this in a number of
His parables -
(1) "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven,
which a woman took and hid in three measures
of meal . . ." - Matt. 13:33
(2) Said Paul to the Corinthians, "A little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump" - 1 Cor. 5:6
(3) The Lord spoke of the small mustard seed -
Matt. 17:20
B. BUT THERE IS A BRIGHTER SIDE TO OUR OPENING TEXT
1. The day of small things has been in the past and still
is God's day:
a. Who raised Joseph from prison and made him the
father of Egypt? - Gen. 45:8
b. Who called David from the care of his father's few
sheep to become the greatest king Israel ever had?
- 1 Sam. 16:3
c. Who placed Moses into the royal house of Egypt;
trained him in the science of law to make him one
of the world's greatest legislators of all times?
d. Who would have chosen a few uneducated fishermen
and made them the stars of the gospel of Jesus
Christ? - Rev. 12:1-6
2. Let us take a closer look at the days of small things
in the cause of God:
a. Christ used a few little fishes to feed a
multitude of people - Matt. 15:34
b. He compared the work of God to the growth of
vegetation - Mark 4:28
C. TRUTHS WORTHY OF OUR PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION
1. There are really no small things because great things
spring from small or little things:
a. The atom is so small that to see its substance, it
has to be magnified many times; but it is so
mighty that the whole world lives in great fear of
its power.
b. A broad river has its source in very small
springs.
c. Great cloudbursts consist of tiny drops of water.
2. Do we, dear friends, appreciate the days of small
things?
a. Said the Lord to Saul, "When thou wast little in
thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of
the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee
king over Israel?" 1 Sam. 15:17
b. We recall the small beginning of this movement;
the literature it had for the world could be
carried in a very small container; but behold what
this small beginning has developed into today!
c. God knows human limitations, what might be called,
"The day of small things" -
(1) Little knowledge.
(2) In need of being fed with milk.
(3) Defective in character.
(4) Weak in faith.
(5) Nothing to boast of but the grace of God.
3. How grateful we must ever be that God does not despise
the day of small things as far as we are concerned:
a. We are comparable to "miry clay" - Ps. 40:2
b. "A worm and no man" - Ps. 22:6
c. All the nations are "counted as nothing" - Isa.
40:15
d. That God in mercy thought of us, and gave his only
Son to raise us from a life of total unworthiness
to a place of honor in His kingdom!
e. Let us, therefore, not despise the day of small
things; but rather be grateful that in God's sight
there is nothing small.
"HE BROUGHT ME FORTH INTO A LARGE PLACE"
A. "HE BROUGHT ME FORTH ALSO INTO A LARGE PLACE" - Ps. 18:19
1. This was literally true in the experience of King
David:
a. The Lord found him caring for the few sheep of his
father - 1 Sam. 17:15, 28
b. The Lord trained him to be king over Israel by
letting him care for the sheep of his father to
keep them safe from the lions and the bears - 1
Sam. 17:37
2. The study of the Bible shows that God has moved
individuals from obscurity to great responsibilities:
a. He took Elisha from behind the plow and made him a
prophet in Israel - 1 Ki. 19:19
b. He took Amos, a herdsman, and made him a prophet
in Israel - Amos 1:1
c. He took Abraham Lincoln from poverty and obscurity
and made him President of the United States of
America.
d. He took a little girl out of the sick room and
made her one of His last days' messengers to guide
the remnant people of God in safe paths toward the
kingdom of God.
B. LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS IN OUR OPENING TEXT
1. The words of the Psalmist are an acknowledgement:
a. That the Captain of our salvation is the author of
our placement in the cause of God.
b. This is the experience and encouragement of all
dedicated workers for God.
c. He knows our lives and also our whereabouts; it
matters not how humble the station or how
unimpressed men may be with us.
2. Our text indicates further that:
a. Christianity broadens the usefulness of all who
accept Christ as their personal Saviour.
b. This fact disproves the charge that Christianity
deprives a person from expansion. The opposite is
true.
C. THE LARGEST PLACE POSSIBLE FOR ANY PERSON IS
1. Negatively:
a. Not wealth or fame.
b. Not the making of a name.
2. Positively:
a. To become witnesses to Christ and His mission to a
sinful world.
b. Winners of souls have obtained the highest place
possible.
c. No other station in life can compare with being a
co-worker with God in the saving of souls from sin
and damnation - 2 Cor. 6:1
3. But one must not forget some of the qualifications
needed for larger places:
a. Talents are basic to larger responsibilities -
Matt. 25:15
b. Character is a must - think of the reason why God
rejected the oldest son of Jesse - 1 Sam. 16:6
c. And the reason why He accepted David to be king in
Israel - Acts 13:22
d. Consecration is another must. That is why the
Lord rejected Esau and accepted Jacob - Gen.
25:28-34; Heb. 12:16
e. Humility is still another condition to larger
responsibilities. The humbler the man, the more
blessed will be his influence in life - Num. 12:3
f. Sterling honesty is also a must for larger
responsibilities. Think of Daniel and his office
in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian kingdoms - Dan.
6:4
g. That was true of Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:8
h. All these truths add up to the opportunities
Christianity offers to people when they dedicate
their lives to Christ and His cause. That is
especially true of our youths.
HIGH PLACES AND LOW MOTIVES
MARK 10:35-48
A. "GRANT UNTO US THAT WE MAY SIT, ONE ON THY RIGHT HAND, AND
THE OTHER ON THY LEFT HAND, IN THY GLORY."
1. A little while before this, the Lord was speaking of
some sitting on the twelve thrones to rule over the
twelve tribes of Israel: Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30
2. This brought strife among the disciples; each one
wanted to have the seat of honor: Luke 22:24
B. LET US NOTE
1. A false conception of spiritual truth:
a. The disciples entertained the idea that the
promotion in God's kingdom depended upon
favoritism.
b. But the Bible reveals that such promotion is based
upon character - Dan. 12:3, 13
c. The concept of the disciples was based upon the
same desires that caused Lucifer to rebel against
the government of Christ - Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek.
28:12-18
2. It should be noted:
a. That selfishness is one of the main obstacles to
greatness in God's kingdom.
b. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;
and he that shall humble himself shall be
exalted." - Matt. 23:12
c. The requested advancement of the two disciples
would have been, if granted, at the expense of
others.
d. That is not according to the golden rule - Matt.
7:12
3. The request failed:
a. Because it lacked fitness for such a high place.
b. Moses felt different when he was asked to lead
Israel - Ex. 3:11
c. Saul, too, felt unworthy to be king over Israel -
1 Sam. 9:21
d. Normally, he who is best qualified for duty feels
least fit for it.
4. Experience teaches that the way to high places means:
a. Large investments -
(1) Time - it belongs to the position.
(2) Energy belongs to the position.
(3) Sacrifice is a part of the position.
(4) Loyalty belongs to the position.
b. Choosing the hard places -
(1) The form and the place of a servant.
(2) Do what others refuse to do.
(3) Be in front in time of danger.
c. Serving instead of ruling -
(1) Our Lord set the pace.
(2) They who serve best will be best qualified to
sit with our Lord in the kingdom.
C. HIGH PLACES AND LOW MOTIVES
1. We have already pointed out that the motives of the two
disciples was the same as that of Lucifer:
a. At first he aimed to be next to God. That is as
high as anyone can aim.
b. Then he went a step further, he wanted to be equal
with God; that was aiming higher than was possible
for him.
c. In all this he sought to advance his ego and not
the glory of the Creator - Isa. 14:12-18
2. Those who aim for high places in the kingdom of God
forget:
a. That the place of any is the sole prerogative of
God the Father alone.
b. This was made clear by the Son of God, "But to sit
on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine
to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it
is prepared." - Mark 10:40
c. "Lift not your horns on high: speak not with a
stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the
east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But
God is the judge: he putteth down one, and
setteth up another." Ps. 75:5-7
d. It would be a calamity to be in high places and
follow low motives.
CRIMINAL NEGLECT
PSALMS 142:4
A. "I LOOKED ON MY RIGHT HAND, AND BEHELD, BUT THERE WAS NO MAN
THAT WOULD KNOW ME: REFUGE FAILED ME; NO MAN CARETH FOR MY
SOUL."
1. This is an awe-inspiring complaint by the Psalmist:
a. About the indifference of man to man "no man
careth for my soul."
b. It was uttered to God in prayer "I cried unto
thee, O Lord"
2. This complaint may have reference to:
a. The experience of our Lord at His trial and on the
shameful cross.
b. Or it may have reference to David's flight before
Saul.
3. Experience shows, however, that loneliness or
abandonment by man is quite common in human
relationship:
a. Who has not felt, at times, utterly forsaken even
by professed friends.
b. That is true, particularly, when things go hard.
B. "NO MAN CARETH FOR MY SOUL"
1. This experience of bitter disappointment reveals:
a. Men's interdependence.
b. We are, by reason of creation, interdependent, one
is dependent upon the other -
(1) A child is completely dependent upon the care
it receives by parents for a normal
development and life itself.
(2) A sick person is dependent upon a physician
or a nurse - Rom. 14:7
2. This is true, also, socially, morally, mentally, and
spiritually:
a. "Ye are the salt of the earth."
b. "Ye are the light of the world" - Matt. 5:13-16
3. The complaint reveals:
a. That some people follow Cain's attitude - Gen. 4:9
b. Others take after the ten older brothers of Joseph
- Gen. 37:18-34
4. The complaint of our opening text seems to apply mainly
to God's professed children:
a. "No man careth for my soul" -
(1) Man's soul represents all he is or can be and
sums up life itself.
(2) Heaven places great value upon the soul -
Luke 12:20; Matt. 16:26
b. That makes one's indifference to others a crime -
Gen. 4:9
5. A solemn responsibility rests upon all, who accept
Jesus Christ as their Saviour:
a. Christ's relationship to all men makes all men His
primary concern; He died for all - 2 Cor. 5:15
b. His death ties all men to us, His children; there
is no exception - Rom. 14:7
C. OUR SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD AND MEN
1. The complaint in our opening text emphasizes:
a. The responsibility God places upon the church and
its members -
(1) "Ye are the salt of the earth."
(2) "Ye are the light of the world" - Matt. 5:13-
16
2. It points out to me my personal responsibility to share
my faith with my neighbor; with my own relatives, and
with spreading the gospel in all the world: Matt. 28:
18-20; Acts 1:8-10
a. It shows how serious life is, and how alert one
must be to the needs of others - Gal. 6:1-3
b. This truth is illustrated very forcefully in our
Lord's story about the good Samaritan - Luke
10:30-37
c. How much of my personal life is in service for
others?
d. Is there any needy person waiting for my
assistance?
e. Our blessed Lord speaks of my duty to others in
Matt. 25:34-46
f. Let us imitate the Master; of Him it is written,
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;
for God was with him." Acts 10:38
THE CURSE OF MEROZ
JUDGES 5:23
A. "CURSE YE MEROZ, SAID THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, CURSE YE
BITTERLY THE INHABITANTS THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY CAME NOT TO
THE HELP OF THE LORD, TO THE HELP OF THE LORD AGAINST THE
MIGHTY."
1. Rarely has God employed such strong words to show His
displeasure with some of His people:
a. In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned
against God, He cursed the ground for their sakes
- Gen. 3:18, 19
b. Moses enumerated the blessings and the curses to
Israel - Deut. 28:
2. Deborah is the speaker for the angel:
a. She was a natural leader, very gifted.
b. She recounted the events leading to the victory
God gave His people during the battle with the
enemy.
B. CURSE YE MEROZ - WHY?
1. The hour of great crisis:
a. The context of Judges 5 shows that the battle
between Israel and Sisera, the captain of Jabin's
army, brought on a great crisis for Israel and
God's cause.
b. There was visible danger that Israel would be
subjected to brutal treatment and slavery if they
lost the battle.
2. In the face of all this, the inhabitants were totally
indifferent and inactive:
a. They paid no attention to the crisis.
b. They cared less to see Israel lose the battle.
c. Their crime against God and His church was doing
nothing while others laid down their lives on the
battlefield.
3. All this suggests:
a. That God's cause comes first - Matt. 6:33
b. To be indifferent to His cause is high treason -
that was the sin of Meroz!
c. Here is a real lesson for all the members in the
church of God; let us heed it!
d. I have difficulty reading the curse pronounced
upon Meroz and not be affected by its moral
lesson.
C. A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR OPENING TEXT
1. We all are, by our very relationship to Christ, co-
workers with God:
a. He has identified with us in that He took the
nature of the seed of Abraham - Heb. 2:14-16
b. He gave Himself to save us from destruction - Gal.
2:20; John 3:16
c. He has placed at our disposal the resources of
heaven.
2. God has, therefore a right to use the redeemed in His
battle with Satan:
a. To fail the Lord in the hour of need is a sin that
will bring swift retribution.
b. The Sin of Meroz was a sin of total indifference
to the cause of God.
3. That sin was a sin of inaction:
a. We have no information why those people failed to
come to the help of the Lord.
b. But that does not remove the curse.
4. Let us note, briefly, the seriousness of inaction in
the church of God:
a. Souls may be lost because of our doing nothing.
b. Our own indifference to the work of God,
doubtlessly, discourages others to do their honest
part.
c. The real danger of inaction is that we will be
lost just because we are doing nothing.
5. Why I bring this strong message to this congregation:
a. We are about to enter upon a strong soul winning
campaign in this community.
b. We have, what we believe, worthy objectives to
double the membership of this church.
c. Some of you are planning on doing your part to
make the effort a success.
d. But I fear that there are some in this audience
that have not, as yet, seen the seriousness of our
undertaking.
e. You may feel that it is up to the preacher and his
associates to make the coming campaign a success.
f. But will you believe that God wants every one of
us to do our part to win in the effort? God help
us.
WHAT MEANEST THOU O SLEEPER?
JONAH 1:6
A. SETTING OF OUR TEXT
1. God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn that city
against the terrible sins the people were guilty of:
2. But Jonah, not liking this assignment, went to Joppa,
boarded a ship that was to sail to Tarshish:
3. The Lord disrupted this flight by sending a great storm
which threatened the lives of the voyagers:
4. The mariners, in fear of their lives, prayed to their
gods; while Jonah, the Lord's runaway messenger, was
sound asleep in the bottom of the boat:
5. The shipmaster sought him out, woke him up and asked
him, "What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon
thy God, if so be that he will think of us, that we
perish not."
B. LET US ANALYZE THE SEARCHING QUESTION OF THE SHIPMASTER
1. How can you, Sir, sleep in such a time as this?
a. When the sea is raging.
b. When our lives are in great danger.
c. When everyone else on the ship is praying?
2. "Thou sleeper":
a. Do you not know that when the saints sleep the
devil works overtime to destroy them!
b. There is no temptation so weak but it is strong
enough to foil a Christian that is napping in
security!
EXAMPLES -
(1) Samson asleep - while Delilah cut his locks,
the secret of his physical powers - Judg.
16:19
(2) Noah was asleep, and his graceless son has
fit time to discover his father's nakedness -
Gen. 19:22
3. It is most unreasonable to sleep in time of danger:
a. The birds and the beasts know danger by instinct
and flee to save their lives.
b. Can we do less?
C. WHAT A LESSON FOR GOD'S SLEEPERS IN THE CHURCH OF GOD
1. The question of our opening text comes from an idol
worshipper:
a. It is addressed to a messenger of truth!
b. It reveals that this shipmaster expected much more
from a professed believer of truth.
2. Those idol worshippers had faith in the prayer of
Jonah; that if he besought his God, their lives would
be spared:
3. Brethren, suppose a person having less light than we
have would put this question to us; what would our
answer be?
4. We know that the delay of the coming of the Lord has
made some among us sleepy:
a. Think of the parable of the ten virgins - Matt.
25:1-12
b. Recall what Paul gives as one reason why some of
the believers fall asleep - 1 Cor. 11:30
c. We are nearing the final great test that will come
to God's people; will we have made the needed
preparation to stand?
d. Let us heed the solemn admonition of the Apostle
Paul, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk
honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not
in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof." - Rom. 13:12-
14
5. Think of it, dear brethren, the harm caused by God's
people being asleep when they should be wide awake
preaching Present Truth!
6. What would we have done had we been in Jonah's place?
a. Just what we are doing today!
b. If we are asleep in such a time as this, we would
have the same that Jonah did.
"WHERE IS ABEL THY BROTHER?"
GENESIS 4:9, 10
A. THIS, YOU WILL RECALL, IS GOD'S SECOND QUESTION
1. The first question was directed to Adam, the first
responsible man - "Where art thou?" - Gen. 3:9
2. This second question is directed to Adam's oldest son,
who had killed his brother, "where is Abel thy
brother?" - Gen. 4:9
3. Both questions show God's interest in the state of man.
B. WHERE IS ABEL THY BROTHER?
1. This question by God:
a. Reveals my personal responsibility to my fellow
men.
b. My very relationship to others indicates my
responsibility toward others to treat them as I
would want to be treated by them - Matt. 7:12
c. "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye
also to them likewise." - Luke 6:31
2. My personal responsibility toward others is dictated by
factors outside of my decisions:
a. My responsibility toward my brother is determined
by my relationship to Christ our Lord - 1 Cor.
8:11
b. Let us keep this fact in mind as we seek to
understand the subject before us.
c. My personal responsibility to my brother is
indicated further by our being members of the
mystical body of Christ, the church - 1 Cor. 12:26
d. But what makes my responsibility doubly great is
the fact that Christ died for him - 1 Cor. 8:10,
11
e. Since Christ valued his life to a point where He
gave himself for the brother, I cannot be
indifferent to him - Gal. 2:20
f. If this truth was observed by God's people there
would be a closer relationship between all of us;
we would truly love one another even as Christ
loved us - John 13:34
3. My personal responsibility is indicated, also, by the
fact that as members of the body of Christ, we are
interdependent, one cannot be happy without the
happiness of the other:
a. This fact has been forcefully illustrated by the
Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians - 1
Cor. 12:12-25
b. Also, Christ is the head of the church, his body,
and my life is controlled by Him; but that is
true, also, of my brother; if both of us are
controlled by Christ, then it must follow that our
relationship with Christ is very close, and also
that between us as brethren.
C. THE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH TO ALL ITS MEMBERS
1. The church of the living God is a great Mutual Benefit
Society, the Brotherhood of men:
a. Its bylaws include these immortal words - "Love
one another as I have loved you" - John 13:34
b. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the
law of Christ." - Gal. 6:2
c. "Forgive one another even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you" - Eph. 4:32
d. "Let no man seek his own, but every man another
man's wealth." - 1 Cor. 10:24; 13:5
2. Where is Abel thy brother?
a. If this question came to us in the light of our
present attitude to one another, what would our
answer be?
b. Would we seek to evade the weight of the heart
searching question of our opening text by
attempting to make excuses?
c. To be a Christian is the most wonderful privilege
that anyone can have; but it is also a very great
responsibility, and who is able to measure up to
it?
d. Let our answer be - "My brother is a child of God,
enjoying Christian fellowship; I have heard him
testify and also pray; he is daily on my prayer
list; and his joy is my joy because he is my
brother."
"AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?"
GENESIS 4:1-11
A. BACKGROUND TO OUR SUBJECT TITLE
1. The first murder scene: "Cain rose up against Abel his
brother, and slew him."
2. Where this murder took place: "when they were in the
field."
3. The first murderer was brought before the highest
tribunal:
a. He had been warned against this crime - Gen. 4:6,
7
b. But he ignored God's warning.
4. God's heart-searching question:
a. Reveals the nature of a murderer.
b. He seeks to hide his crime behind a brazen lie.
B. AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?
1. This question of Convict Number One proves to me:
a. That going through a form of worship is no
evidence of godliness -
(1) Judas and his master - Luke 22:21
(2) Saul - 1 Sam. 15:13
(3) Simon - Acts 8:18-25
(4) The Pharisees - Matt. 23:27-29
2. That religion often serves evil-minded persons as a
cloak to hide their evil intent:
a. It is said that during the dark ages priests would
kiss the cross before they burned their victim.
b. How often have religious reasons been given for
the zeal to destroy Christian people, who may have
differed with the persecutors.
3. The question of Cain before the highest tribunal makes
it plain to me:
a. That we are responsible for our attitude toward
our fellow men.
b. That was made clear to the prophet Ezekiel - Ezek.
3:17, 18
c. Paul, too, states our responsibility to others
very clearly - Rom. 14:7; 2 Cor. 2:15, 16
d. A child of God will soon recognize a mutual
responsibility.
C. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
1. There can be no neutrality on our part:
a. I am my brother's keeper - Ezek. 3:17-21
b. Or, in one way or another, I become his murderer -
2 Cor. 2:15, 16
2. To be my brother's keeper means:
a. That I love my brother to the extent that I will,
by the grace of God, make his safety my first
concern -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Jonathan did that for David - 1 Sam. 18:1-4
(2) Benjamin was treated in the same manner by
Judah - Gen. 43:9; 44:32
(3) David is still another example in his
attitude toward Saul - 1 Sam. 24:5-7; 26:11
b. It means that we love our brother as our own
selves - John 13:34; Matt. 22:34-38
c. We will do nothing in thought, word, and action to
bring grief to our brother.
3. Christianity causes us to look at our brothers in a new
light:
a. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you,
with all malice."
b. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you." - Eph. 4:31, 32
c. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave
you, so also do ye." - Col. 3:12, 13
4. My brother's keeper! How can I do it?
a. I can include him in my daily prayer - Jas. 5:16
b. I can give him encouragement in the hour of need.
c. I can share his burdens as a brother -
Gal. 6:1-3
"I AM YOUR BROTHER"
GENESIS 45:4
A. BACKGROUND TO OUR TEXT
1. You will recall that the sons of Jacob sold Joseph and
told their father that a beast had killed him:
2. They had forgotten Joseph altogether; never did they
dream of meeting him under the circumstances they did:
3. And now, to be told by him, "I am your brother", must
have given their conscience a rude awakening:
a. "What will he do to us now?"
b. "How will we explain this thing to our old
father?"
c. "What will our father think of us now, discovering
how we lied to him, and what we actually did to
our brother?"
d. Their minds must have been the center of unusual
torment and accusations.
B. I AM YOUR BROTHER
1. That is the language of the children of God:
a. "We be brethren" - Gen. 13:8; 14:14
b. "Our brother" - Gen. 37:27
c. "I am distressed for thee, my brother" 2 Sam. 1:26
d. "All ye are brethren" - Matt. 23:8
2. Joseph, a true pattern of the brotherhood of men:
a. He made himself known to his brethren -
(1) Open-hearted
(2) Without guile - Ps. 32:2
b. Nothing seemed more dangerous to Paul than to fall
among false brethren - 2 Cor. 11:26
3. This is in sharp contrast to pretense by false
brethren:
a. Judas betrayed his Master - Matt. 26:49
b. Paul considered false brethren the most dangerous
to his life - 1 Cor. 11:26
c. We are told to beware of them - Matt. 10:17
4. He had a forgiving attitude:
a. "Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves" - Gen.
45:5
b. "Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you." - Eph. 4:32
c. This attitude of forgiveness toward our brethren
cannot be terminated by us at any time and under
any circumstances - Matt. 18:21, 22
d. This spirit of forgiveness is a test of
discipleship - Matt. 6:14, 15
5. He sees the brighter side of his experience:
a. He sees that God had a hand in his experience -
Gen. 45:6-8
b. Can we see the brighter side in our relationship
with the brethren?
c. If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom.
8:28
C. JOSEPH'S BRETHREN ARE A TYPE OF CHANGED LIVES
1. They had changed their attitude toward their brethren:
Read carefully Gen. 44:32-34
2. Had deep sorrow in their hearts because of what they
had done to Joseph:
3. They repented of their deeds:
4. They asked for forgiveness: Gen. 50:16, 17
5. They became his messengers: Gen. 45:26, 27
D. THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE OF ALL WHO ARE BORN AGAIN
1. They show that they have passed from death unto life
because they do love the brethren: 1 John 2:10; 3:14
2. They will forgive from the heart, hold no grudge
against one another: Jas. 5:9; Lev. 19:18
3. They seek to carry out the golden rule in their
relationship with others: Matt. 7:12
4. They have the mind of Christ, and for that reason they
are a new creation: Phil. 2:1-11
5. That makes the difference between the old and the new;
between the carnally minded and those that are
spiritually minded: 2 Cor. 5:17
OTHERS AND I
A. THE SIN OF SELF-SEEKING
1. It is the fountainhead of temptation:
a. It began in the heart of Lucifer - Isa. 14:12-18;
Ezek. 28:12-17
b. It led Eve to yield to temptation - Gen. 3:1-6
c. It caused the first murder--one brother kills the
other - Gen. 4:1-8
d. It separates brethren - Gen. 13:1-14
e. It brings trouble into the church - Acts 6:1-3
B. UNSELFISHNESS
1. Is the price of brotherly love:
a. Abraham's attitude toward Lot - Gen. 13:8
b. Jonathan toward David - 1 Sam. 18:1-4
c. Joseph and his brethren - Gen. 45:4
2. Unselfishness will not seek her own:
a. Lives the golden rule - Matt. 7:12
b. The language of unselfishness is found in these
inspired words, "If thou wilt take the left hand,
then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to
the right hand, then I will go to the left." -
Gen. 13:9
3. Our Lord expressed the Christian attitude of one to the
other this way:
a. "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn not thou away." - Matt.
5:42
b. "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he
said, It is more blessed to give than to receive"
- Acts 20:35
c. "Freely ye have received, freely give" - Matt.
10:7
d. "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his
master, and the servant as his lord" - Matt. 10:25
e. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" - Matt.
22:39
f. "Love one another as I have loved you" - John
13:34, 35
C. OTHERS AND I
1. When I think of others and my relationship to them:
a. I must look at them in the light of Christ's
relationship to them, "he died for all" - 2 Cor.
5:15
b. That fact changes their standing and it places new
responsibilities upon me, "But when ye sin so
against the brethren, and wound their weak
conscience, ye sin against Christ." - 1 Cor. 8:11,
12
2. When we see others in the light of Christ's
relationship to them, it makes it much easier for us to
love them:
a. That is the way Paul looked at others - 1 Cor.
10:33; Rom. 14:13
b. This is true, in a very special sense, of members
of the church - 1 Cor. 10:15, 16; 12:14-24
3. We shall think of them as being worthy of our
respectful consideration:
a. Think of David's attitude toward Saul, who
actually sought to kill him - 2 Sam. 1:11-17
b. Or remember the specific instructions of our Lord
in the sermon on the mount - Matt. 5:38-48
4. Contrast the attitude of the following persons:
a. Abraham and his nephew Lot - Gen. 13; 14;
b. David and Saul - 1 Sam. 24:1-18
c. Our Lord and Judas
5. To consider others more and better than ourselves:
a. Takes the love of God in our own hearts. This is
what is fading away from many believers in the
church - Matt. 24:12, 13
b. When the law of love motivates my life, it will
surely affect those with whom I associate.
c. This is the one great lesson that is understood
easier than lived.
d. When I think of others, I must look at them in the
light that heaven sees me and them also.
BUSINESS HERE AND THERE
1 KINGS 20:40-42
A. HISTORIC SETTING OF OUR TEXT
1. Benhadad, King of Syria, had been given into the hand
of Ahab, the king of Israel:
2. Ahab neglected to destroy the enemy of God's people:
3. A prophet uses a parable to point out to Ahab the
consequences of his neglect:
B. "AND AS THY SERVANT WAS BUSY HERE AND THERE, HE WAS GONE"
1. Ours is a busy age:
a. One finds plenty of opportunity to keep occupied -
Luke 14:16
b. The cares of this busy age endanger our soul's
salvation - Luke 21:34, 35
2. The Lord warns against this danger:
a. The cares of this world are, according to the
Master, foremost in weakening the believers in
their spiritual relationship to the truth and to a
life of prayer - Luke 12:16-21
b. The ever increasing clamor for riches - Mark 4:19;
Jas. 5:1-7
c. Ours is a pleasure made generation - 2 Tim. 3:1-9
3. These conditions have dimmed the vision of some church
members:
a. They have lost interest in the activities of the
church.
b. The prayer life seems to have died so completely,
there is no more reading of the Bible; the family
altar is a forgotten institution.
c. The enticements of the world have become the main
attraction for these deluded people.
4. Our opening text shows that:
a. Golden opportunities are the gift of the Lord;
that was true in the experience of Ahab; he failed
to make use of them.
b. That was true of the people before the flood, they
flaunted His appeal for repentance - Gen. 6:1-20
c. The Lot family--some of the children failed to
heed God's invitation - Gen. 19:1-20
5. Golden opportunities come but once in a lifetime:
a. The foolish virgins learned this truth - Matt.
25:1-12
b. The requirement for ancient Israel to put the
blood of a lamb on the doorposts of the home came
but once - Ex. 12:7
c. Esau's birthright came but once to him - Heb.
12:14; Gen. 25:30-33
C. HERE IS A GREAT LESSON FOR US TODAY
1. We are a very busy people:
a. Our ever increasing problems to make a living and
keep up with the Jones' keep us very busy.
b. Daniel speaks of our times in terms of running to
and fro - Dan. 12:4
2. And yet, ours is more than making a living; we have a
job to do, a work to finish:
a. We are duty bound, under God, to share our faith
with others.
b. This is the great day of carrying the message to
the ends of the world - Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20
c. The fields are ripe for harvest; and the Lord is
looking to us to do our part in this great harvest
of souls - John 4:34-36; 9:4-8
3. Only eternity will reveal the harm done through
neglecting to make use of the golden opportunities that
come our way but once in a lifetime:
a. Ahab was sorry afterward, but that did him no
good.
b. The five foolish virgins were so sorry afterward,
but that gave them no oil for their lamps.
c. We ought to pray daily for wisdom to know how to
use every opportunity to the glory of God and for
the advancement of the cause of truth.
4. What a sad acknowledgement it was on the part of Ahab
to say, "And as thy servant was busy here and there, he
was gone."
a. But how much more sorrowful will we be to discover
that we have had golden opportunities to prepare
for God's kingdom, but did not use them.
b. Or when we learn that we had a chance to help a
soul into the kingdom of God, and failed.
"WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS?"
MATTHEW 5:47, 48
A. THINGS THAT ARE NATURAL TO MEN
1. Love those that love us: Matt. 5:46; Luke 6:32
2. Do as others do: Gen. 3:12; John 21:3
3. Be satisfied with our personal achievements:
Luke 18:11, 12; Rev. 3:17, 18
B. "WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS?"
1. Out of love to God:
a. The poor widow - Mark 12:43
b. Mary Magdalene - John 12:2
c. Abraham - Gen. 22:1-12
2. Do more for others:
a. Our blessed Lord - Acts 10:38
b. Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:1-23; 45:8
c. The little Hebrew maiden - 2 Ki. 5:1-3
3. Real acts of living faith:
a. Elijah's contest with the priests of Baal - 1 Ki.
18:32-37
b. Elisha and Naaman the leper - 2 Ki. 5:1-14
c. The four that carried the impotent man - Mark 2:1-
7
d. The mother and a demon-possessed daughter - Matt.
15:28
4. All these things are written for our admonition:
a. We profess to be more enlightened than some other
people, and it is only reasonable that we show
this in our life.
b. Here is food for much prayer and serious thoughts
on our part.
c. It is not enough for me to know the truth--I must
show in my daily life that the truth has made me
free.
d. If the faith I have is real, the fruit of my life
will be healthy and strong.
e. That is what our Lord says - John 7:37, 38; Matt.
5:16-26
C. WHO DOES MORE THAN OTHERS?
1. Men of living faith:
a. David - 1 Sam. 17
b. Paul - 1 Cor. 15:10
c. Jochebed - Ex. 2:1-10
2. Men of much prayer:
a. Think of the words found in Jer. 33:3; in Jas.
5:16; and in Gen. 20:17
b. People who dare for God - Helen Keller, Booker T.
Washington, Gideon, Deborah and others.
3. Some reasons why the question of our text affects us as
a people:
a. We claim more - "For unto whomsoever much is
given, of him shall be much required: and to whom
men have committed much, of him they will ask
much" - Luke 12:48
b. We have, indeed, been entrusted with more -
(1) God has, in mercy, given us light from a
chain of Bible prophecies - Dan. 2; 7; 8;
Rev. 12; 13; 14; 16; 18; 20
(2) To us God has committed the proclamation of
the Three Angel's Messages; which in itself
is an awe-inspiring commitment to a small
people.
c. Our opportunities are much more extensive than our
pioneers ever dreamed of -
(1) Scientific developments have made
communication a modern miracle.
(2) That has made it possible to hasten the
message of truth to the ends of the earth in
short time - Rom. 9:28
d. Never, in the history of the church, have
opportunities been greater than now -
(1) There is an awakening among the nations.
(2) A great effort for more enlightenment among
the backward peoples - Joel 3:9
(3) People are inquiring of the reason for the
conditions in this world today. Bible
prophecy has the answer.
e. Are we ready to share our faith with
others?
THE IRON DID SWIM
2 KINGS 6:6
A. BACKGROUND TO OUR SUBJECT
1. A building project by the prophet Elisha and his
students:
a. They needed more classrooms.
b. It was to enlarge a student project, allowing them
to have a part in the construction of the school
for the prophets.
2. A borrowed axe fell into the water which brought some
anxiety to the student that had used the axe to fell
the trees:
a. That shows character on the part of the student.
b. He felt responsible for the loss of the axe.
3. The man of God knew how to retrieve the axe:
a. He had them cut off a branch from a tree.
b. The young man showed to the prophet the place
where the axe had fallen.
c. The prophet used the stick to touch the axe, and
upon touching the axe it came above the water, it
actually swam.
B. THIS UNUSUAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE SUSPENSION OF THE FUNCTION
OF THE LAW OF GRAVITATION OFFERS SOME WONDERFUL LESSONS:
1. It shows that:
a. A man, connected with the Lord, finds a solution
to the problems that beset us so often in this
life.
b. He is the man of the hour in time of difficulties
EXAMPLES -
(1) David, the army of Israel, and the challenge
of Goliath - 1 Sam. 17:1-54
(2) Joshua and Caleb and Israel in the hour of
confusion in the congregation - Num. 14:6
(3) Queen Esther and her Uncle Mordecai in the
hour of great crisis for the Jews - Esth. 4
2. He relies upon the power of God, and here is his great
secret:
a. "Not by might nor by power" - Zech. 4:6
b. "Without me ye can do nothing" - John 15:5
c. This was the secret of making the iron swim;
Elisha knew that God is above the law of
gravitation.
3. The iron did swim:
a. Unexpectedly.
b. Just like the water burned - 1 Ki. 18:30-39
c. All through the supernatural power - John 2:7-11
4. God has always had persons that did exploits for God;
a. Paul - Acts 27:33
b. Moses - Num. 12; 13; 14;
C. THE SPECIAL LESSON FOR US TODAY
1. We see so little of the supernatural:
a. The world knows a lot about the working of the
natural laws; but knows very little about the
supernatural operation.
b. Even God's professed people are more able to
demonstrate the things based upon the natural laws
than those resting upon the spiritual laws.
2. Too many have had the axe fall into the water:
a. They have lost all ambition to work for perishing
souls.
b. They reason from cause to effect.
c. You hear very little about God's special
intervention in behalf of His work.
3. Well might we ask the following searching questions:
a. Where is the modern Paul when dangers beset the
church of God?
b. Where is the modern Caleb when a spirit of
defeatism plagues the church?
c. Where are the modern Elijah and Elisha that can
make the water burn and the iron swim?
4. Our opening text proves that our Lord was very right
when He spoke the following immortal words:
a. "With men this is impossible"
b. "But with God all things are possible" - Matt.
19:26
c. "All things are possible to him that believeth" -
Mark 9:23
d. "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye
shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to
yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing
shall be impossible unto you" - Matt.
17:20
THE MAKING OF A MISSIONARY
ISAIAH 6:1-8
A. A VISION OF GOD
1. Time and occasion:
a. "In the year that King Uzziah died" -- History of
Uzziah - 2 Ki. 15:1-5
2. The vision:
a. "I saw the Lord"
(1) A change from the earthly to the heavenly
glories.
(2) Moses on the mount - Heb. 11:24-27
(3) Paul in a trance - 1 Cor. 9:1
b. "Sitting on a Throne"
(1) High and lifted up - Dan. 7:9-11; Rev. 20:11
(2) His train filled the temple - 1 Ki. 8:10, 11
c. "I saw Seraphims"
(1) Each having six wings, with two he covered
his face, with twain he covered his feet, and
with twain he did fly.
(2) One cried unto the other "Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God of Hosts"
(3) The whole earth is full of His glory.
B. EFFECT OF VISION
1. Self-discovery: "Woe is me! for I am undone; because
I am a man of unclean lips."
a. Job had a similar experience - Job. 42:1-3
b. So did Peter - Luke 5:8
c. Saul of Tarsus experienced the divine glory - Acts
9:1-6
2. "Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
a. Seeing the King of glory will lead to real self-
discovery.
b. The unprepared inhabitants of the world will
understand the signification of the divine glory,
but too late - Rev. 6:15, 16
c. What an impression the vision of seeing the great
King on the throne of His divine Majesty must make
upon poor mortals!
C. A VISION OF DUTY
1. Isaiah hears God's call to service: "Whom shall I
send, and who will go for us?"
a. He who reads the hearts of men, knew before hand
who would answer the call of duty.
b. But God wants volunteers for His service; He wants
us to take a personal interest in the service of
soul winning.
2. Isaiah's response:
a. He was a changed man; he had a vision of the
sacredness of the ministry; he had been cleansed
from all uncleanness.
b. He was willing and fully surrendered to God; that
is the main prerequisite for service--surrender -
dedication!
c. Ponder, if you will, the deep significance of
Isaiah's response to the call of duty -
(1) He had a vision of God; that is basic to the
service of the Lord.
(2) He had a vision of himself; that is a must if
we are to realize our need for divine help to
do acceptable service.
(3) He experienced a cleansing; that makes the
difference in fruitful service.
(4) He had a burden for lost souls; that was the
impelling power for him to say, "Here am I,
send me."
3. Thus we learn these essentials for entering the service
of the Lord:
a. A vision of God is imperative! "Where there is no
vision, the people perish" - Prov. 29:18
b. "We see not our signs: there is no more any
prophet: neither is there among us any that
knoweth how long" - Ps. 74:9
c. A vision of the perishing souls, for whom Christ
died - Ezek. 37:1-14
d. A vision of a clean and sanctified life to be the
representative of the King of glory - Isa. 52:11
e. A vision of the Lord who will make us fit vessels
of His grace to bear the message of truth - 2 Cor.
3:6
f. Finally, it is wonderful to be called to serve the
King of kings and the Lord of lords.
THE CHRISTIAN DEBTOR
ROMANS 1:14
A. HUMANITY AT THE POINT OF COMPLETE BREAKDOWN
1. Moral debt:
a. As it was in the days of Noah; and in the days of
Lot - Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26
b. The earth literally groans under the ever
increasing weight of sin - Compare Isa. 24:1-20
with 2 Tim. 3:1-9
c. Effect upon the human race is very evident - Rev.
6:15-17
2. Financial debt is beyond calculation:
a. The U.S.A., the richest country in the world, has
over $300,000,000,000.
b. It would take five generations to pay the interest
alone, much less the principle.
B. THE CHRISTIAN DEBTOR
1. "I am a debtor, both to the Greeks and to the
Barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise."
a. Paul has many names, none of them lofty, all of
them lowly; the highest of them is ""I am an
apostle". He calls himself "a prisoner"; "least
of the saints"; "chief of sinners"; here he calls
himself "a debtor".
b. To whom is he a debtor?
(1) Not to the flesh - Rom. 8:12
(2) But to God; to Christ; to the world!
2. How he became a debtor:
a. He became a debtor when Christ died for him - Gal.
2:20, 21
b. When he became in possession of the priceless gift
of salvation which must be shared with all for
whom Christ died - Rom. 9:23; 11:33; Eph. 2:7;
3:8, 16
c. When he was commissioned to preach the gospel of
Jesus Christ our Lord - 1 Cor. 9:16
d. When he experienced in his own life the
transforming grace of Jesus Christ!
e. This experience alone made him a debtor to others
- 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 3:7
f. When the Spirit of God moved him to share his
faith with others - 2 Cor. 5:13, 14
g. He became a debtor when he realized the infinite
price heaven paid to redeem men from sin!
C. HOW HE PAYS HIS DEBTS
1. By sharing God's blessings with others:
a. Jonah learned his lesson - Jonah 1:3; 2:1-9
2. By living the truth day by day:
3. By withholding nothing from the service of the gospel
of Christ: Acts 21:13
4. By laying down his own life in the defense of the
gospel of Christ:
D. WE, TOO, ARE DEBTORS
1. Not to the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof but we are
debtors:
a. To God and to Jesus Christ our Lord for the
priceless salvation offered to us.
b. To the great second advent movement for the light
it has brought to us about the truths for the last
days.
c. It is in deep humility that I say that no other
people have ever been blessed with more knowledge
of the Bible than this people.
d. It is this knowledge of the truth that obligates
us to the world to make known the mystery of Jesus
Christ as unfolded in Bible prophecy.
2. The nearness of the coming of our Lord makes us special
debtors to warn the world and prepare a people for His
coming!
a. How could we be guiltless if we failed to proclaim
the blessed hope of the coming of our Lord!
b. What excuse would we give for failing to
faithfully witness to the Three Angels' Messages?
c. But, we, like Paul, are debtors to God for His
love so undeservedly bestowed upon us in making us
willing to leave all and embrace Present Truth.
d. Personally, I feel that I, of all people am a
debtor to God and His dear Son in sparing my life
and letting me share the blessings of the gospel
with others!
MUTUAL CHRISTIAN DUTIES
HEBREWS 10:23, 24
A. "AND LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER, TO PROVOKE UNTO LOVE AND
TO GOOD WORKS"
1. This exhortation by Paul is a continuation of his
effort for Christian constancy in both:
a. Their public profession.
b. Their inner church relationship.
2. It reveals his vision of living faith and Christian
fellowship:
a. He was, indeed, a Master Builder in the great and
living temple of faith - 1 Cor. 3:10
b. He recognized the great essentials of the inner
affectionate relationship of the believers to the
winning of souls.
B. NOTE, PLEASE, THESE THREE SALIENT POINTS IN OUR OPENING TEXT
1. Mutual consideration:
a. "Let us consider one another." The word
"consider" means to give serious thought to; to
make it a point of special interest.
b. We are called upon to "consider our ways" (Hag.
1:5, 7); to "consider our latter end" (Hos. 7:2);
to "consider the wondrous works of the Lord" (Job
37:14); to "consider our great high priest" (Heb.
3:1).
2. Consider one another:
a. The frailty of our common human nature - Jas. 3:2;
Rom. 6:19; Heb. 5:2
b. The oneness of our calling.
c. Our common exposures to affliction and temptation,
as well as dangers.
d. Our reciprocal duties to the church and the world,
indicated in the working of the human body - 1
Cor. 12:12-25
3. Consider each other in our relationship to Jesus Christ
our Lord:
a. We should think of our brother in his relationship
to Jesus Christ - 1 Cor. 8:11
b. We should have the same attitude to one another
that our Lord has toward us.
c. Many of our difficulties come because we do not
consider one another in our relationship to Jesus
Christ, who is no respecter of persons.
C. END RESULTS OF OUR MUTUAL CONSIDERATION
1. It will lead to:
a. A better understanding among ourselves.
b. Many difficulties are due to misunderstanding
among the brethren.
2. It will help us, by the grace of God, to esteem one
another higher than ourselves: Phil. 2:3; 1 Thess.
5:13
3. It will, in the words of Paul, "provoke one another
unto love":
a. That word "provoke" is to call forth; to stir up;
to incite action or activity - 2 Cor. 9:2
b. Love the brethren - 1 John 4:6-8; Rom. 13:8
c. Love sinners - John 3:16; Rom. 9:1-6; 10:1-3
4. Provoke unto good works:
a. To bear one another's burdens - Gal. 6:1-3
b. To be good Samaritans - Luke 10:30-37
c. To share our faith with others - Acts 1:8, 9;
10:38
d. To care for the poor - Jas. 1:27
e. To be an example in humility, in faith, in love,
and in charity - 1 Tim. 4:12
5. In doing these things:
a. We reveal the virtues of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ - 1 Pet. 2:9-11
b. We shall be both the light of the world and the
salt of the earth - Matt. 5:13-16
6. Last, but not least:
a. No one among us can be a true Christian and not
sense our mutual obligations.
b. Cain attempted to be irresponsible for his brother
Abel, but it did not work.
c. The prodigal's brother felt no burden for his
erring brother; to the contrary, he felt hurt
because his father took an interest in the
prodigal - Luke 15:11-32
d. Even men in official positions in the church need
to be on guard - Luke 10:30-37
GOD'S SOUL WINNERS
JOHN 1:40-42
A. A BIBLE EXHIBIT OF GOD'S SOUL WINNERS
1. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; and
bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God liveth." -
Isa. 52:7
2. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he
that winneth souls is wise." - Prov. 11:30
3. "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that
goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his
sheaves with him." - Ps. 126:5, 6
4. "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of
the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness
as stars forever and ever." - Dan. 12:3
B. WHAT THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY SAYS ABOUT SOUL WINNING
1. It is the greatest, the noblest effort in which men can
engage: "Gospel Worker", page 18.
2. It is the highest science to aspire to: "Ministry of
Healing", page 398.
3. Its excellency is unsurpassed: "Testimonies for the
Church", Vol. 9, page 398.
C. QUALIFICATIONS OF GOD'S SOUL WINNERS
1. Negatively:
a. Extraordinary and oratorical talent, wonderful as
it may be, is not necessary to be a real
successful soul winner.
b. Paul had a measure of these excellent qualities;
yet when he mixed with the people, he decided that
he wanted to use none of them, lest the gospel of
Christ should be hindered - 1 Cor. 2:1-4
2. Positively:
a. I can think of seven qualifications basic to
successful soul winning -
(1) Knowledge of God, His Word, His power, and of
the people we work for - Prov. 11:30; Luke
15:4-12; Matt. 16:26
(2) Love for souls - John 3:16; 11:36. There are
times when soul winning will require special
effort and sacrifice, even unto death; the
love of God in the heart alone can qualify -
EXAMPLES -
(a) Paul and his kinsmen - Rom. 9:1-3; Acts
21:13
(b) A mother and her suffering daughter -
Matt. 15:22-28
(c) Our Saviour and Lazarus - John 11:35, 36
(3) Faith: Simple child-like faith in the gospel
of Jesus Christ, its power to save, and also
in the people you labor for.
EXAMPLES -
(a) A centurion's faith - Matt. 8:8-10
(b) Paul's unbounded faith - 2 Tim. 1:12;
Rom. 8:38, 39
(4) Prayer: It is said that persevering prayer
is to the act of soul winning what the dew is
to the tender plant in the field - Hos. 14:1-
6
EXAMPLES -
(a) Moses and Israel - Ex. 32:31, 32
Greater and more wonderful things are
wrought by prayer than through any other
means - Jer. 33:3
(5) Total consecration to our assignment, in
heart and life itself. The effective
consecration of a soul winner is a must to be
successful. Read and compare prayerfully
John 17:19; Acts 21:13; Rom. 10:1-3
(6) The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the one
great essential - a must or failure is
certain. No person is capable to meet and
defeat our great and cunning adversary. Read
very carefully the following Bible
references: Acts 1:8, 9; 2:1-17; 10:38;
Zech. 4:6
(7) Perseverance: It is not enough for one to
start to work for souls and when things go
hard to flee: No, we must see our efforts to
a finish line. Too often we give up when we
should have continued with all the grace
given to us. The great secret of success is
in the patient persistence in the work we are
doing to save souls. God will give the
increase.
LIFE'S BURDENS AND I
GALATIANS 6:1-3
A. SIN AND THE EFFECTS OF SIN BRINGS WITH THEM BURDENS FROM
WHICH NO LIFE IS EXEMPT
1. Some of these burdens are personal; no one else, no
matter how close he or she may be to us, can bear them
for us:
a. The burden of parenthood. Sorrows that came to
Adam and Eve when Cain killed his brother
illustrate my point.
b. That was true of Job when Satan used the storm to
destroy Job's children.
c. David's sorrows when Absalom sought to kill his
father to take the kingdom.
d. Then we have the burden of sickness. Some of us
have prayed for God to remove a certain infirmity,
our friends are sympathetic, yet they cannot help
us.
2. Other burdens are brought upon us by the performance of
our public duties:
a. Moses was loaded with burdens from morning till
evening - Num. 12:3
b. Paul speaks of the "cares for all the churches" -
2 Cor. 11:28
c. The higher the position, the greater will be the
burdens.
B. BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER'S BURDEN
1. Our opening text reminds us that there are burdens
common to men which we can share or help to bear:
a. Helping to bear one another's burden is included
in the law of Christ.
b. This truth is wonderfully illustrated in our
Lord's story of the good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-35
c. In this story the Lord shows that our moral duties
go beyond the religious ceremonies, important as
they may be; they include actual aid to those who
need our help.
d. In this the priest and the Levite failed
miserably.
e. But the Samaritan, looked down upon by the Jews,
did nobly share the burden of the wounded man in
the hour of great need.
C. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BURDENS COMMON TO ALL MEN, WHICH WE ARE
TO SHARE ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF CHRIST?
1. Being helpful in time of need is a moral duty of moral
people:
a. Feed the hungry - Matt. 25:35; Isa. 58:7
b. Visit the sick - Matt. 25:36
c. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the
Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world." - Jas. 1:27
d. Shield others against harmful influences when and
wherever this is possible for us.
e. Include them in our daily prayers, which is a
wonderful stimulant to the discouraged.
2. The blessedness of bearing one another's burdens:
a. We shall never, in this present life, know the
full blessedness by sharing with others their
burdens.
b. The importance of this grace receives strong
emphasis in our Lord's pointing out the difference
between those who are indifferent to the need of
others and those who care - Matt. 25:25-36
c. A memorial book will be written for them by the
angels of God - Mal. 3:16-18
d. Words of encouragement sincerely spoken will be a
healing balm to the wounded heart.
3. How best to share other peoples' burdens:
a. By putting ourselves into their difficult
position; only in this way can we really help them
in their difficulty.
b. By forgetting our own advantages and allowing
others to share with us do we bear one another's
burdens.
c. The statement of our opening text is one of the
gems of Paul's great understanding of the
principles of Biblical Christianity.
CUMBERERS OF THE GROUND
LUKE 13:7
A. "CUT IT DOWN; WHY CUMBERETH IT THE GROUND?"
1. Christ was a Master Teacher, who knew the needs of men,
and for that reason He used divers illustrations taken
out of the life of the common people:
a. In this instance a man planted a fig tree in his
vineyard.
b. For some reason the tree bore no fruit.
c. The owner of the vineyard saw no need for the fig
tree to take up ground that could be used by a
more fruitful plant.
d. He asked the vineyardist to cut it down, but the
gardener pleaded with his master to give it
another chance to produce.
2. There is a spiritual lesson in the parable of our Lord
worthy for our prayerful consideration:
B. THE CUMBERER IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD
1. Dead trees:
a. A dead tree is devoid of life and for that reason
cannot produce fruit. It occupies the ground that
should be used for a living and fruit-producing
tree - John 15:6
b. There are some members in the church who manifest
no spiritual life for any usefulness in the
church. They are cumberers of the ground!
2. Rotten trees:
a. Rotten trees are loathsome; all they reveal is
rotten -- their language, their business
transactions, and their reputation are rotten.
b. A rotten tree is light, worthless; so their
conversation, their promises, and their conduct
are worthless to God's cause.
3. Withered trees:
a. When the tree has lost all sap and is withered
away, it cannot bear fruit.
b. Some look green, but have lost all fruit-producing
energy and must be cut down.
4. Sick trees:
a. Plant life is plagued with all manner of
infections; that is what makes them sick. They
need care and medications to restore them to
health, to bear fruit.
C. THIS BRINGS US TO THE SPECIAL APPLICATION OF OUR LESSON
1. How and in what respect do these nonproductive trees
cumber the ground?
a. They take up room, precious room, that might be
better occupied.
b. There is no advantage to the owner to continue
them.
c. Some of them take the nourishment away from the
tree that bears fruit.
d. Thus the cumberers of the ground are not only
unprofitable to the owner, but they are hurtful to
other plants.
2. This brings us to the high point of our sermon:
a. The nonproductive tree symbolizes the
unfruitfulness of some members in the church.
b. What shall the church do with them?
(1) Not fellowship with them? Remove them from
the church? Pay no attention to them, just
leave them to themselves?
c. By no means! Follow the suggestion in our text.
Work with them, preach more spiritual life into
them, give a message that will awaken them to a
new life. Pray for them!
3. Our text shows:
a. God's forbearance with those of us in the church
that are unproductive to His cause.
b. He urges the church to work with the nonproductive
members, love them, think kindly of them, give
them another chance!
c. Let us not be hasty in our judgment towards them,
but rather attempt to awaken in their soul the
spark of new hope and new life.
4. There is, however, a more serious side to our text:
a. Our text shows that there is a limit to even God's
long-suffering and forbearance.
b. The cutting down of the unproductive life means
that it will be removed out of the church of God.
c. Finally, let us not sit in idle judgment upon
others, but examine ourselves and know that we are
not guilty of cumbering the ground.
A CAPTAIN WHO WON HIS DECORATION
LUKE 7:2-10
A. THE STORY OF THE CENTURION EMBODIES A NUMBER OF VITAL GOSPEL
TRUTHS WORTHY OF OUR PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION
1. Its prominence in the Bible:
a. Not because he was a Roman officer,
b. Not because nobility was uncommon among such men,
c. Not because he built a synagogue for the Jews,
d. But because he possessed a faith lacking among
God's people in Israel.
2. That was the testimony of the Lord and Saviour of
Israel: Matt. 8:10
3. Such a faith will be lacking among modern Israel in the
last days: Luke 18:8
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
1. At the centurion:
a. He was a man of great integrity and very high
principles.
b. These principles are revealed in his attitude
toward his servant - Matt. 8:5, 6
c. He was benevolent toward a good cause - Luke 7:5
d. He was modest in his relationship to others -
Matt. 8:8; Luke 7:6-8
2. The quality of his faith:
a. There was national prejudice to overcome - Acts
10:28
b. Official pride could have hindered him from coming
to Christ for a special favor - Matt. 8:8
c. Lack of precedent might have kept him from
appealing to Jesus.
d. A deep sense of unworthiness was in the way - Luke
7:6, 7; Matt. 8:8
e. He, by faith, surmounted all these and other
difficulties.
f. His faith centered in the Great Physician who
never turns anyone away, if sincere in motive -
John 6:36, 37
g. Such a faith was very rare in Israel.
3. Effects of the faith of the centurion:
a. It secured the life of his servant - Matt. 8:13;
Luke 7:10
b. How many people live today because of our faith?
4. Christ honors the childlike faith that takes hold of
His grace:
EXAMPLES -
a. The touch of the hem of his garment by a woman -
Matt. 9:20-22
b. The cry of blind Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52
c. The perseverance of a mother for the deliverance
of her daughter - Matt. 15:28
C. A SPECIAL LESSON FOR US, LIVING AT THE VERY END OF TIME
1. The faith of the centurion is a very strong reminder to
us:
a. That saving faith is not confined to members of
the church.
b. This fact has been demonstrated on many occasions
in our ministry.
c. That there are many unknown to us, who have a
living faith in the power of God to save sinners.
2. True and effective faith is not circumvented:
a. By position - 2 Ki. 5:1-8
b. By popularity.
c. By prejudice or other obstacles.
3. Living faith is:
a. Christ-centered.
b. It is humble and unassuming.
c. Cannot be influenced by outward circumstances.
d. It is ever venturesome.
e. It is altogether unselfish.
f. It never fails.
g. It is the one power that can surmount mountains of
difficulties; and it has in the past, and still
does, move the heart of God.
h. This faith manifested itself in the Captain, who
won his decoration at a moment when it did the
most good--the saving of a life.
THE UNCONVENTIONAL WAY
1 KINGS 18:30
A. CONVENTIONALITY DEFINED
1. That which grows out of custom or usage is
conventional: See Webster's Dictionary.
a. Customs do not necessarily represent the highest
ideals - Jer. 10:3
b. Customs change with the times, and are usually
controlled by traditions which brought them into
being to begin with.
2. The Jews were experts in cleaving to the traditions of
their fathers:
a. The Lord testified to that - Mark 7:1-13; Isa.
29:13
b. Painful observance of certain customs do not
produce holiness - 1 Sam. 4:1-11
3. Conventionalism is impossible in an imperfect world:
a. In many instances, strict adherence to certain
rules have been detrimental to the cause of soul
winning.
b. At times it leads to despotism among God's people.
c. There is no divine guarantee that God will tie
Himself to any man-conceived method of doing God's
work.
B. UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS HAVE BEEN USED BY GOD
1. In the case of Elijah versus the priest of Baal:
a. No one has ever used water to start a fire, but he
did - 1 Ki. 18:21-39
b. It worked very effectively as far as the cause of
truth was concerned - verse 39.
2. Elisha made the iron swim by touching it with a stick:
2 Ki. 6:6, 7
3. Think of the method used by God's people in the days of
Queen Esther:
a. In a national crisis. It worked. Esther 4:11-16
4. What some of our able generals have thought of Joshua's
command for Israel to walk around the walls of Jericho
to subdue it?
a. But that was God's plan.
b. It worked very effectively - Josh. 6:1-21
What God blesses works.
C. BIBLE HEROES, AS WELL AS OTHER WITNESSES FOR GOD, USED
UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS WITH GREAT SUCCESS
1. In the days of ancient Israel:
a. Gideon and his army used broken pitchers to win
the battle against a superior enemy - Judg. 7:16-
25
b. David used a sling and a stone to kill Goliath the
challenger - 1 Sam. 17:45-50
c. Abimelech and his group of soldiers used bows from
trees to destroy the enemy - Judg. 9:47-49
2. Our blessed Lord used unconventional means and methods
to bring life and health to the people:
a. He applied clay mixed with spittle to open the
eyes of a blind man - John 9:7, 8
b. He sent Peter to catch a fish and to open the
mouth of the fish to find the money to pay His and
Peter's tax - Matt. 17:27
3. John Wesley, one of the great soul winners of all
times, was marked as "a Methodist" because much of his
work was done the unconventional way, according to the
concept of the church:
4. Some have told me, on different occasions, that my
method was too unethical, governed by too much
emotionalism: Said they,
a. "Shedding of tears during a sermon is very
unethical and borders on nervous exhaustion."
b. "It is highly improper to weep in the pulpit and
make the people nervous."
5. God's answer to these charges:
a. "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy! He
that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him." - Ps. 126:5, 6
b. "Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh"
- Luke 6:21
c. "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,
assemble the Elders, gather the children..let the
priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between
the porch and the altar" - Joel 2:16, 17
d. When the Son of God stood at the tomb of Lazarus
He wept - John 11:35
IN MEMORY OF CHRISTIAN MOTHERS
2 TIMOTHY 1:5
A. MOTHERS' DAY
1. A national Memorial Day:
a. A time for the American people to pay their
respect to the memory of worthy American mothers.
b. A time for reflection upon the devotion and
sacrifices of motherhood.
2. The church of God has good reason to use this occasion
to give emphasis to the memory of God-fearing mothers
in all ages:
a. Christ set the pace for Mothers' Day with His
dying words, "Behold thy Mother" - John 19:26, 27
b. The Bible chronicles the memory of God-fearing
mothers.
c. Eternity alone will bring to light the life story
of the mothers in Israel.
B. LET US, TODAY, CONSIDER, IN PART, THE DESTINY OF MOTHERHOOD
1. Ancient Israel had the life of many godly mothers as
the background to its glories:
a. In a time of national crisis, God used mothers to
carry the day -
(1) Jochebed, the mother of Moses - Gen. 2:1-4
(2) Jael, Heber's wife - Judg. 4:21
(3) Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth - Judg. 4; 5;
b. In judicial service -
(1) Huldah - a judge in Israel - 2 Ki. 22:14
(2) Deborah - Judg. 4:4
c. Noble characters -
(1) Naomi and Ruth - Ruth 1:1-22
(2) Elisabeth - Luke 1:5, 6
2. Notable women that adorn the history of America: Mary
Lyon; Clara Barton; Frances Willard; and many other
noble characters that have contributed to the fame of
America.
3. Motherhood is the embodiment of love and sacrifice:
a. A typical example is found in Rizpah - 2 Sam.
21:8-12
b. Moses' mother is another example - Ex. 2:1-9
4. It molds the life, and, in many cases, determines the
future of the children:
EXAMPLES -
a. Eunice has much to do with the life of her son
Timothy - 2 Tim. 1:5
b. Josiah, one of the kings in Israel, was prepared
for that service by his saintly mother Jedidah - 2
Ki. 22:1, 2
c. Abraham Lincoln attributed his success to his
stepmother.
C. WE SALUTE OUR CHRISTIAN MOTHERS TODAY
1. Their faithfulness and sacrifice is worthy of note by
all of us:
a. I think of my sainted mother, who sacrificed her
very life out of love for her children.
b. On a very cold night she took her own quilt and
covered me, and she took a sheepskin coat and
covered herself with it.
c. My own wife has, on many occasions, taken her own
food and given it to the children.
2. Let me enumerate some of the blessings Christian
mothers are to be remembered for:
a. Love: The love of a Christian mother comes
nearest to expressing the love of God.
b. Patience: Who has more patience than the mother
that has to raise a family and keep them happy and
contented?
c. Prayerfulness: What can be more effective than
the prayer of a loving and God-fearing mother!
d. Some years ago I conducted a revival meeting in
one of our schools when many students gave their
hearts to Christ. At one of the testimony
meetings about 95% of the students thanked God for
their praying mothers!
e. Implicit and unshakable faith in God and in the
potential of their children! Most every mother
sees a glorious future in the life of her
children.
f. Lovers of the Bible, the Word of God! My dear
mother planted her love into my very life--the
Bible--I love it! This was the charter of her
life.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF DORCAS
ACTS 9:36-42
A. FAMOUS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE
1. Jochebed, Moses' mother: Ex. 2:1-10
2. Ruth: Ruth 1:16
3. Esther: Esth. 4:16
4. Tabitha called Dorcas:
B. IN REMEMBRANCE OF DORCAS
1. The story of Dorcas is full of pathos and inspiration:
a. She was full of good works.
b. And almsdeeds which she did.
2. She occupied herself:
a. Not to gratify self-interest;
b. Not to accumulate material wealth or fame;
c. But to relieve suffering; to aid the poor.
d. She worked for those, who were unable to
compensate her for her labor.
e. In all this she emulated her Lord and Master;
f. And came to live a life of service without
compensation by men.
3. The church of God, in all ages, has been blessed by the
life of Dorcas:
4. It brought into being:
a. The inspiration of Christian women to follow her
example in working for the poor and unfortunate.
b. That brought our Dorcas Society into being and
into prominence in our organization.
c. This blessed Advent Movement has been made that
much more useful and prominent by the unselfish
ministry of thousands of dedicated Christian
women.
5. The humble ministry of Sister Dorcas indicates:
a. That living for others is the highest virtue
anyone can aspire to.
b. No effort by men can give the satisfaction as does
the unselfish and loving ministry for the needy.
c. This is made very evident by our Lord's words as
recorded in Matt. 25:34-40
C. BLESSING OF THE MEMORY OF SISTER DORCAS
1. God did for her what He, to the best of my knowledge,
did not do for the greatest preacher in the church:
a. He raised her from the dead - Acts 9:40
b. I know of no preacher that was brought back to
life to continue his service, as was Dorcas.
c. That, in itself, is thought provoking to any
believer of God's Word.
2. What is important in our consideration of the memory of
Dorcas is:
a. That the convincing argument for her resurrection
is not found -
(1) In sentimentalism or human emotion.
(2) Not because she wanted to live a little
longer, as Hezekiah did; but the fruit of her
labor and its need for the poor was
sufficient for God to honor the prayer of
Peter and those standing by.
b. "and all the widows stood by him weeping, and
shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made,
while she was with them" - Acts 9:39
c. This is, dear friends, what counts on the glorious
resurrection morning -- deeds of mercy and
unselfishness!
d. Living for others is the mark of true piety.
e. That is what will count in the judgment - 2 Cor.
5:10
3. A word of encouragement to our sisters, who immortalize
the memory of Dorcas:
a. You may never come into the limelight of the world
by reason of oratory or other exceptional talent.
b. You may never be extolled by anyone, but those
almsdeeds will speak more convincingly on the day
when the reward for faithfulness will be given to
you.
c. I sincerely hope and pray that the original
purpose of the Dorcas Society to work for the poor
will never be lost sight of by you and the church
of God.
CAMP MEETING OBJECTIVES
HOSEA 9:5
A. OUR TEXT POSES A SOLEMN QUESTION TO EVERY ONE OF US ON THIS
CAMP GROUND -- "WHAT WILL YE DO IN THE SOLEMN DAY, AND IN
THE DAY OF THE FEAST OF THE LORD?"
1. We are living in the most solemn day:
a. The day of a world encompassing crisis - 6 T, p.
16.
b. This is the prophetic hour of God's judgment -
Rev. 14:7; 11:19, 5 T, p. 573.
2. And yet, it is the day of God's gospel feast:
a. This suggests a plan for this camp meeting.
b. Our opening text excludes all lightness and
worldly gestures - Joel 2:14-18
c. It indicates a spiritual feast - Eph. 5:15-20;
Rom. 13:11-17
B. SOME PRIMARY OBJECTIVES FOR THIS GATHERING
1. To devote a few days exclusively to seeking the Lord in
prayer: 2 T, p. 601
a. A revival of the family altar - 1 Ki. 18:30-35
b. To make every tent a prayer chamber - Zeph. 2:1-3;
Joel 2:15-17
c. A time when every one of us will do some very
serious self-examination - 2 Cor. 13:5
d. Follow the example of the early disciples in the
upper room - Acts 1:13, 14
2. Another worthy objective of this gathering is that we
may feel our constant danger of being overcome with the
cares of this life: Luke 21:34
a. This danger is very real to all of us - Compare
Matt. 13:24-40 with Luke 21:34-36
b. The daily cares of life engulf us so much that we
are tempted to forget our daily devotions at the
family altar.
3. A third objective of this gathering must be:
a. To promote more spiritual life among our own
people - Phil. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:2-9
b. This necessity is clearly indicated by the
testimony of the true witness - Rev. 3:14-17
c. A deeper experience in the realm of the Spirit is
overdue by all of us - Rev. 3:18
4. Still another worthy objective for this gathering must
be to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit:
a. That was the important objective of the gathering
of the disciples in the upper room - Acts 1:8-15
b. We cannot do less at the close of the gospel
dispensation - Rom. 13:11-14
5. And, finally, all the great objectives stated serve
this great objective:
a. To become better equipped to finish the work God
has given this people to do - John 9:4
b. To lead us to remove out of our personal lives the
things that are sinful - Heb. 12:1-11
c. Thus we shall hasten the coming of our blessed
Saviour for whom we are waiting - Rev. 22:20
C. HOW DO THESE OBJECTIVES APPEAL TO YOUR HEARTS, DEAR FELLOW
BELIEVERS?
1. Do these sentiments express your own conviction?
a. We know that it is high time for us to seek the
Lord - Jer. 30:7; Hos. 10:12
b. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us
cast off the works of darkness, and put on the
armor of light - Rom. 13:11-14
2. God will watch our personal attitude during this
encampment:
a. Who knows but what the angel of the Lord, with the
inkhorn is in our midst - Ezek. 9:1-11
b. What makes this hour so solemn is the
investigative work now going on in the courts of
heaven - Rev. 14:7, 8
c. We know not when the cases of the living will come
into review before God - 1 Pet. 4:17, 18
3. Our young people are still another reason for us to
make this occasion the special time for us to seek the
Lord in prayer:
a. Many of the sons and daughters in Zion, the
precious gold of the church, are without a living
connection with the Saviour.
b. We need to claim the promise of God in Joel 2:28;
3; Acts 2:17
c. Let us take courage from God's promise in Isa.
49:25, 26. That promise belongs to us!
WHEN SATAN COMES OUT AHEAD
MARK 9:14-29
A. OUR LORD'S MINISTRY IN THIS WORLD WAS TWO-FOLD:
1. To seek and to save that which was lost:
a. He came to call, not the righteous, but sinners -
Luke 15:7
b. That, of course, includes all of us - Isa. 53:6; 1
Pet. 2:25
2. But He came, also, to train workers for the work of the
gospel:
a. One can see this fact in most of His ministry; He
always took some of His disciples into His daily
ministry.
b. Our text is a vivid illustration of this training
for His disciples.
B. OUR OPENING TEXT BRINGS TO OUR MINDS A DUAL SCENE
1. Mountain top glory: - Matt. 17:1-5
a. The transfiguration of our Lord. What a scene
that must have been for the disciples!
b. It gave them a preview of coming glory in Christ's
kingdom.
c. The three disciples became so enchanted by the
divine panorama that they would have continued
there.
d. Little did they sense the gloom and frustration of
their fellow disciples at the foot of the
mountain.
2. Valley gloom and defeat:
a. A different scene meets us when we leave the mount
of Transfiguration and re-enter the valley below -
(1) A devil-plagued child.
(2) A perplexed father.
(3) A group of defeated disciples - Mark 9:14-29
b. This scene is quite typical of Christ's modern
disciples.
c. Some of them, too, have mountain top experiences,
while some of their brethren have experiences of
defeat because of sin in their lives.
d. Worldliness, in one form or another, keeps them
powerless to cope with ever present problems of
their Christian profession.
3. When Satan comes out ahead:
a. The afflicted boy - verses 18, 19
b. The troubled father - verses 17, 18
c. The perplexed and defeated disciples -
(1) The multitude pressed them for action to
prove their connection with God.
(2) Their heart condition was such that they were
woefully unprepared for their mission.
(3) They had been separated from their Master,
and spent much of their time in faultfinding
with each other.
C. THE SPECIAL LESSON FOR MODERN ISRAEL
1. In the school of Christ we find that God leads His
people in mysterious ways:
a. He invites us to see and taste the glory of things
to come - 1 Cor. 2:9-11
b. We are, at times, enchanted by the glory that is
portrayed in Bible prophecy.
c. The scene before us helps us to forget, for the
time being, the trials and disappointments of the
everyday life. That is one of God's ways to
encourage us in our experience.
d. Even the Son of God was strengthened, by the joy
that was set before Him, to take the cup of
suffering that faced him - Heb. 12:2
2. But there is another side to our opening text:
a. We are not ready to continue in the rapture of
heavenly glory.
b. There are souls to save; they are waiting for us
to bring them the message of salvation.
c. We have a work to do - John 9:4
3. Of special importance for us is:
a. That whenever we become involved in our sinful
pleasures, Satan comes out ahead; he uses our
weakness to hinder the work of God.
b. That is, I believe, one of the primary lessons to
be gathered from our opening text.
c. Whenever we become separated from the Lord, we
lose connection with the power to win against
Satan and sin.
d. Fasting and prayer, according to the Words of
Christ, is the key to power to become useful in
the cause of soul winning.
THE MAN BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
LUKE 10:25-37
A. MANY OF OUR LORD'S PARABLES WERE CONNECTED WITH THE EVERY
DAY HAPPENINGS. THE PARABLE OF OUR TEXT IS NO EXCEPTION
1. The scene portrayed in our text was vivid in the minds
of His listeners because robbers, on the road to
Jericho, were a constant threat to the traveling
public:
a. There were many so-called wayfarers who robbed the
traveler, and in some instances killed them.
b. The terrain lent itself to hideouts for the
robbers.
2. Our Lord, the Master of applied truth, answered the
lawyer's question - "Who is my neighbor" by relating
the incident of our text:
B. THE MAN BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
1. His nationality:
a. It seems evident that he was a Jew.
b. To the Jewish lawyer, one of another nation would
not come into consideration.
c. Our Lord knew the attitude of His people toward
other nationalities - John 4:1-28; Acts 10:28
2. Had he indicated that the man that had been waylaid by
the robbers was a Samaritan:
a. His listeners would have lost interest in His
message.
b. Only one of their nation was considered a neighbor
- Matt. 22:39
c. The inquiring lawyers would have resisted the
interpretation given by the Lord.
d. There existed considerable hatred in the hearts of
the Jews toward the Samaritans.
3. The application of the parable:
a. A wounded man lay beside the road.
b. He was in need of urgent help by someone with any
compassion, regardless of nationality.
(1) Two clergymen passed on the road to Jericho,
who, of all men, should have come to his aid,
but they failed to even touch him; they
passed by on the other side.
(2) What a reflection upon the clergy!
4. Let us take a closer look at their attitude toward the
helpless victim of the robbers:
a. Both of these men wore the garb of God's ministers
of mercy.
b. They, of all men, should have rendered help to the
suffering.
c. They failed utterly to even so much as turn a
finger for the man.
d. What a reflection on God's ministers!
5. Then comes the Samaritan:
a. Hated by the Jews and looked down upon as
undeserving.
b. He was full of compassion; he did not ask of what
nationality the wounded man was.
c. He tended to him; saved his life.
C. THE GREAT LESSON FOR US THIS MORNING
1. My neighbor:
a. Not a question of religious philosophy, but
action, help, mercy, deeds!
b. One who needs my help, regardless of race, color
or creed?
c. One for whom Jesus died.
d. One to whom I am able to give help or assistance.
2. The tragedy as revealed in the parable:
a. The exposure of pretenders to holiness.
b. Their utter blindness to the meaning of their
office.
c. Their total lack of the spirit of the God of
mercy, at a time when mercy was to be dispensed.
d. Their attitude -
(1) Was a reflection on the priesthood of God.
(2) It showed that to be in the garb of a priest
did not mean that he was possessed of the
spirit of Him who came to minister to the
needs of others.
e. But let us take the lesson home to our own lives.
Do we have the form of godliness and lack the
spirit of service?
f. How many people by the side of the road have seen
us pass by them without giving the help they were
in need of?
g. Let us practice the love and compassion of the
good Samaritan. Deeds, and not form, is what is
needed in the cause of God today.
