The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-07-25
LESSON FOR JULY 28
oBEYlNG GOD.

o. ID.
DEVOTIONAL READING-John. 15:s-17.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Loving God and do
Ing his will.
LESSON Matthew 4:1S-22;
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Obcdience To whom?
Why? How?
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Chron-
icles 16:15; Psalms 1o3:17-1S; Matthew 5:19;
John 15:12-14; l John 1886, II.
Obedience is vital part Of our re-
ligion. The obedience Of the Chris
tian is not legal but filial. Eternal
life Is not secured through obedience,
but obedience is the tangible evidence
that one possesses it.
|. The Call of the First Disciples
(NIatt d 1922.
l. BY whom-Jesus Christ ". 18).
Jesus is the Son of God. Since he
Is equal with God, he has the right to
call. Those who hear his call should
render instant and hearty obedience.
2. The circumstances of their call
". 18).
The call came to them while they
were busy with their business inter-
eSts. God always calls men who are
vitality engaged in some business not
those in idleness.
3. The nature Of ". 19).
1t was definite call, in that def
mite men were called into deanitS
service.
G) To follow Christ. We must fol-
low Christ before we can serve him.
Only Christians can do Christian work.
We should follow him to be like him,
In order to win others to him.
(2) To win men for hm-"Fishers
of men," Christ calls men into work
Of the same character rs that in which
they were engaged. They had been
fishing for fish; now they are to be
fishers of men. When Christ calls
men he does not COLL them to n lower
service. This is fine case Of promo
tion. Men catch fish to kill and feed
upon them, but Christ's disciples catch
men to make them alive and feed
them.
d. Response to Chrlst's call wv. 20
22).
1) They left their business inter-
ests Immediately.
(2) They not only left their busi-
ness, but James and John left their fa-
ther also. Following Jesus sometimes
means turning ones back upon busi-
ness interests and dearest friends and
relations. Regardless Of what it
costs. the true disciple will rem
der instant obedience to the call
Of Christ, because he has right to
call us. and we can trust his wisdom
to not call until he has need
II. The Motive for Obedience (John
Id :22-24).
The grand motive actuating ohsdi-
pnce is love to Christ The proof that
we do love him Is that we obey him.
Even when we may not be conscious
of unusual Outgoings Of the affection,
the conclusive evidence that we love
Is that we obey. Keeping his com
mandmcnts means such regard for
them That we highly treasure them ns
something precious. The reward for
such obedience Is to have Christ's
prayer for us to God to send his Holy
Spirit upon us (John ID: :16. 17). Then,
too the Father will love us, and he
and the Son will take up their abode
With us. This abode is not temporary
but permanent.
III. The Kind Of Obedience That
Counts Games 1 :22-27.
1. The obedience Of deeds (vv 22-
2i).
Hearing Gods Word will do no good
unless it Is accompanied with obcdi-
cncr. Hearing and not doing Is rs
futile rs bcholdng ones face in q
looking glass and forgetting what man
ncr of man he is. Calling Christ Lord,
and not doing what he says, will avail
nothing Matt. 7:21, 22). To pretend
to know God and not keep his com
mandmcnts is to lie (1 John 2:4).
2. The obedience OF perseverance
(v. 25).
We should not only locs, into Gods
Word and admire it's pcrfcctions, but
stcadfastly and persistcntly do the
things required. Only those who thus
pcrseverc shall be blessed in their
deeds.
3. The obedience Of speech ". 26).
The one who has genuine religion
Will control his tongue. Just as tho
physician Ofttimes can diagnose the
physical condition Of the patient by on
examination Of the tongue, so the
moral and spiritual condition Of the
individual can be determined by the
speech Of the individual. The one
who does not control his tongue proves
that his religion is empty and void
4. The obedience of kindness (v. 27).
Those who have received the kind
ness of God will manifest that kind
ness in their lives. This Kindness will
express itself in miniStcring to the Ia
thcrlcSS and widows.
5. The obedience Of purity Of life
". 27).
Tho NV God on ininc rnpr 1,ic