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.