The Red Cloud chief., 1912-02-29

GOLDEN TENT-Thc harvest truly "
plcntcous. but the lnborcfs arc rev. tfap |
Sc therefore. the Lord of the harvest. |
that Ne VIII send forth laborcrs into ms |
harcst-Matt. 9:3'-%.
(This exposition of tho lesson 10
based on the narrative In Luke 5:l11O |
Already In our previous lessons we
have seen Christ as the founder ~
Tho Kingdom of Heaven upon the carth.
lIo was born q king; his baptism was |
In u sense the inauguration of the
king; tho temptation. the testing OF
tho king. Being himself thus pre-
pared. we see him starting out to re-
cruit tho first members of his king
dom, who, In addition to being mem.
bcrs of the kingdom themselves.
should also be instrumental in enlist.
Ing others under its banner
In the call of these first disciples,
we recognize the essential conditions
which were to underlie all subsequent
calls of discipleship. To discover these
conditions should bo the purpose OF
all who teach this lesson. Tho
fundamental condition, or condi.
tions underlying entrance Into the
Kingdom Of God, are forever the same
with each succeeding generation. THE
gifts and calling Of God are without
change"
We are told that the "crowds press.
ed upon Jesus to hear the Word OF
God" The preaching Of the Word OF
God ia always drawing card. Tho
| crowds have not wcaried OF the preach.
Ing OF the gospel. but only OF the aver
age preacher who fails to preach tho
gospel. Wherever you find n man who.
like Moody. Torrey. Spurgcon. and
many others, breaches the Word OF
God, there you will find the streets full
of men and women still pressing 10
hear the message. Fire will always Mt.
tract those who are cold. and food
those who are hungry. SO will tho
preaching Of the simple gospel attract
the hearts OF men for whom 1t Is pre-
pared. The world was made for the
gospel, and the gospel for the world.
All great sermons in the Bible were
preached in the open air. II the peo.
pie will not come to church, then let
us take the church to them. If It was
not beneath the dignity Of Jesus Christ
to hold open air meetings. 1t surely
cannot be beneath any pretended and
assumed dignity we may profess to pos
sess. Let some ministers who, dur
ing the hot months OF the year. preach
to but a corporal's guard, go out into
tho open air and preach to the crowds
The best way to reach tho masses is tt
go after them.
Jesus requested Of these men the
loan OF their boats, and they at once
compiled with the Masters request. In
other words. he asked these men to
surrender their business for little
while to him. And they did. How
magnificently no repaid them Is seen
in the miraculous draught Of fishes
No man can surrender his business tC
Jesus Christ without eventually be
ing a gamer by It, He "shall receive
O hundredfold more In this life, and
in the world to come life everlasting
Next. Jesus requires that these mel
recognize him as knowing more about
their business than they do them
selves. He requires them to do what
their own common sense tells them
there is no use In doing. This Is evi
dent by tho answer of Peter: Lore
we have toiled all night and caught
nothing, nevertheless" etc. The wore
lord" meaning "shipmaster."
Christ required from these men tht
surrender of their whole lives. The!
forsook their nets, and their business
and followed him. This was final ant
complete obedience. Ever after the!
were to devote their lives to catching
men, not fish.
No man can enlist under the ban
ner Of Christ, nor become a membe
} of the Kingdom Of God. who Is no
willing to make an absolute surrende
: of himself and all that he has AM
! expects to be to the Christ and hi
I service. 80 likewise. whosoeyer h
7 be of you that forsaketh not all that h.
I hath, he cannot be my disciple" o
! course, Christ may not, In fact doe
! not call upon us all to leave our dali,
vocation and become preachers or mis-
! sionaries. No; ofttimes he calls upol
/ US to do what is very much harder
to stay In business and use 1t for hin
. and his kingdom. There can be NJ
question, however. but that ere We cal
E become Christ's disciples there mus
j be the complete surrender Of ourselve
I to his absolute and authoritative con
troll. This is the crucial test of Chris
tianity. And 1t is just at this point o
unconditional surrender that many pee
pie hesitate and ofttimes refuse [,
comply with the terms OF disciple
> ship.
, Implied, yea, clearly stated, in thi
: call to membership In the kingdom
,, was was the conservation CT thcs
, fishermen to the task OF catching men
!, In some Sunday schools, there is KEEP
,, what Is called a "Flshermen's Roll" ol
|, which there Is recorded each Sunda,
, the names of those who have brough
in new mcmbers. 1t Is Il great worl
to bring others to Sunday school ant
TO church; 1t is greater still TO brnt