McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-02-08

were to take his place, but, like every
other act, he desired to teach lesson
to those who were so carefully observ-
ing him. In verse IA we are told that
he chose twelve, which was signifi-
cant number, corresponding to the
twelve tribes, and at once confirmed
his assumption to the Messiahship and
meant that the wondrous prophesies
were being fulfilled. 1t also served to
stimulate those upon whom the choice
fell. Jesus, as we know from other
passages, retired to the mountains to
pray. The call came from on high
". 1877, and those called went up" to
him for preparation and for quail
fication. The call is a purpose
full one, for 1t Is not enough to 90 up;
we must also go down and out. hence
these are "sents wv. IA, 15). Only
those who are authorized, however. are
sent. Those whom Jesus sent out were
10 found new kingdom and to do q
greater work than merely to Judge the
people, because they were not only to
judge results, but they were to change
results BY altering causes; hence they
had power over demons, even as the
Master, for evil has no rights. The
source Of their power Is to be Jesus,
for he Is to be with them, our own pro-
lection as well Matt. % :20) and their
power Is to grow with its usage, for
we learn by doing. These men were
originally united, not by creed but
by an ideal; not by doctrine or teach
ing. but by actions; not by subscrip-
ton to confession. At once they met
with conflict. First Of all by BIAS
phemous unbelief. The Holy Ghost Is
no more holy than Jesus; but, If we
SANDER him in his yelled condition and
before his unfinished work, great shall
be the penalty. Those who hate God
shut out the light Secondly, by con-
flict with misdirected zeal. There were
those about Jesus who watched over
him, whereas rather they should have
had him watching over them ". Ply.
On the other hand, the scribes accused
him of being possessed Of devils. They
attributed to the devil the work that
the Holy Spirit and Son were doing.
What strange picture! Friends seek
Ing to restrain, enemies accusing and
relatives interposing, yet nothing can
stop the onward march Of the kingdom
Of God. Luke tells us that these twelve
were selected from among the rest Of
the disciples. They were to have
greater nearness and more extended
authority and. Of course, greater test
ings than the others who were dlsci-
pies or learners" These disciples are
to be the light of the world. The Chris
tian, "who Is the salt Of the EARTH"
loses his identity and will lose his salt
ness and become like the world, II he
keeps not near unto Christ. As light
is good thing to preserve, purify and
to cleanse, SO are the Christians, yet
there Is q greater thing, when we ener-
gize, direct and believe. This Is what
the apostles were to do. The agrees
sive Peter and the other "Son of
Thunder" the reflective, cautious
Thomas, these were the men who were
sent forth as public heralds John
1 :36) Some they are to win by per-
sonal solicitation Games 1:41). 9th
ers by public proclamation (Acts
2:39-41.) Men are saved through men,
and those whom he sends forth are
those who have first learned to follow.
Their work is made permanent only as
"they abide In him." God wants the
hearing ear, the believing heart and
the confessing mouth from. 1919.
The one who would preach Jesus and
have power In his name must first Of
all "be with him." that Is, he must en-
Joy a deep, abiding. victorious life Of
fellowship with Jesus. Jesus gave d.
rections to those he sent out, first to
preach; second, to heal illness: third,
to cast out demons; and they were pre-
pared for the work they had to do, by
the Lord imparting power to them to
do 1t ". IS; see Matt. 10:1; Acts
1:5, 81 Our mission is to both body
and soul, but Christ puts the spiritual
needs first wv. IA. 10; see Matt.
1877, 81 The difficulty with many
healers Of today is that they invert
this order. Those whom Jesus sends
out are to offer his kingdom to men
and not command men to receive 1t.
Their work will bring variance upon
the earth, even among those in the
same family; but those who will not
60 are not worthy of me-" Jesus saw
plainly that the victories of his king
dom We're often hindered rather than
helped by the presence of great
crowds ". 12). Why send Judasf
Undoubtedly he had all the desired
qualifications for leadership ana eho-
sen az he was that she might be with
him." He need not have hardened his
heart. bringing upon himself a greater
condemnation. Jesus has three-fold
work, the spiritual need Of which is
foremost; then comes the ministry of
healing; to invert the order Is to invert
the teachings of the Book. The church
las ministry to perform, but Its min
istry to the moral leper is first, cleans
Ing them and raising those dead IN