Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-11-23
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlkSOIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 26
A LIVING SACRIFICE.
By p. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright, 1919, Western Newspaper Unlon.)
LESSON TExT-Romans 70.


u living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which IL your spiritual SERVICE
Rom. 1911 II, V.
The first II chapters Of this let
ter teach and Illustrate the great
/ principles of the Christian life. Paul
calls 1t "my Gospel" It's funda-
mental principle is that justification
rcgenerates men, and nothing else.
The second section is the practical ap-
pllcatlon Of these truths.
I. The Exhortation to Gratitude
| (vv 1-2). Therefore" because of the
work of Christ on our behalf, we are
, to present our bodies rs living
| sacrifices unto God, to be used for
his glory and service. (See chapter
! G:13, 10, 10). Paul urges, he beseeches;
he is wlnsome, though he might COM
mand. To ''present" technically means,
"brlng an Offering to God" The body
is the sum of all human faculties,
physical and spiritual. 1t must not be
defiled by being yielded as an instru-
ment to sin, for It is the temple of
God. Il Cor. BIG, ~. A Living Of
fering," mot as the bodies of slain
animals offered by Jews) Is conse-
Grafton of the body, and not n destruc-
ton of life. The original means that
thls--the offering of ourselves as Il
living sacrlflce-is reasonable, ra-
tlOnal service. God has the right of
ownership of every member of our
| body, and there never was day when
there was greater need of insisting
upon q Christianity that affects the
bodies of men than today. Hands, lips,
ears, eyes-every member should he
constantly presented to him who pur-
chased 1t by the blood of his own Son.
Il Cor. 600; l Pet. 1:1S.10) This
Is spiritual, religious service be-
cause 1t is our spirit which presents
the offering of the body which he in-
habits. Too many of us are fash.
Toned according to this age"
u. The Expression Of Gratitude
wv. 3-S). Or the right use of the gifts
of God. ~ Avoid "self-Conceit wv.
3-5). These verses indicate how i'm
pOrtant this subject is. Concelt is en-
tertaining an exaggerated opinion of
ones own ability. The church has
many members, and they do not all
have the same Office; there is variety
in the unity of the body. SO in the
church there are many members In
one body" each of which Is important;
all are essential. (2) prophecy"
". O., not necessarily forGtelling, but
the revelation of spiritual truth and
20 hn
ton of our faith Ups. 80 :3), the living,
spiritual experience of the presence Of
God within us. (3) ministry" ". y.
The business side of the church, col
lecting of its money ana the dlstribu-
ton to the poor. Some can best at
tend to such business. Many churches
fail by not selecting wise leaders for
this work. (D HE that tencheth."
The true pastor is combined proph-
ct, pastor and teacher, We are all
teaching, whether we wish to or not.
1t is n privilege as well us an obllga-
ton.
III. Conduct Toward All Men wv.
CPD. The renewed soul needs guild
Rnce, encouragement and instruction.
w III AONt W. W. lht hSDtNllAC
wears mask, Notice the close con-
nection of "abhor that which Is evil"
with "cleave to that which Is good"
The word for cleaVe means literally
TO glue 1t, so that nothing can separate
you from love which is the supreme
good. "In honor preferring one an
other" ". 10). Let others carry the
hOnnnV,---fnNNr pf ng stand thfa Opih
test. (3) "Dlllgent in business" ".
~. Whatsoever your hands find to
do, do 1t with your might, being fer
vent or boiling in spirit, the reverse OF
the previous exhortation, In that which
we are thus to serve the Lord. Few
need exhOrtation to be dlllgent in their
own business, but all of us need this
exhortatlon with regard to the "king's
business" (D Rejoicing In hope ".
12). Trlumphing over trials and diff
culties in the way. Looking for that
blessed hope" (Titus 2:13). (5) Pa
thence and trlbulatlOn ". 12). The
Latin "tribulum" was the threshing In
strument or roller whereby the hus-
bandman separated grain from the
husk. Sorrow, distress and adversely
are the means for separating men from
the chaff of their lives. Sometimes
small annoyances, long continued, be-
come great tribulations. (See Joshua
24:12) (6) Continuing in the school
of prayer ". 12). Steadfast, urgent,
pressing, persevering prayer duke
12:D. "a 'tiiven to hospitality" w.
18l; literally, pursued 1t.
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