The Elbert County tribune., 1918-07-26
naPRovED UNIFoRM INTERNATIONAL
.S()lllXSQlOOL
LESSON
by REV. p. B. FTTZWATER. D. D..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1918, Western Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR JULY %
oBEYINo GOD.


Ing his will.
LESSON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 4:1s-1;
James 1:22-27.
INTERMEDIATE. SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Obedience: To whom ?
Why? How7
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL chron-
icles 1918: Psalms 1os:17-1s: Matthew 5:1s:
John 15:12-A; John 2:3-6. II.
Obedience is a vital part of our re-
iigiOn. 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 1t.
I. The Call OF the First Disciples
(AIatt 1920.
/. BY whom-Jesus Christ ". 1S).
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
". 1S).
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 a definite call, in that def
mite men were called into a definite
service.
"a 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 him-"Fishers
OF men," Christ calls men into work
of the same character as 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 call them to lower
service. This is fine case of promo
ton. Men catch fish to kill and feed
upon them, but Christ's disciples catch
men to make them alive and feed
them.
4. Response to Christ'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 IA
ther also. Following Jesus sometimes
means turning ones back upon busi-
ness interests and dearest friends and
relations. Regardless Of what 1t
costs, the true disciple will rem
der instant obedience to the call
of Christ, because he has a right to
call US, and we can trust his wisdom
to not call until he has need.
u. The Motive for Obedience (John
IA :22-24).
The grand motive actuating obedi-
ence 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
mandments means such a regard for
them that we highly treasure them as
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 IA :16, 179. 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 (James 1 :22-2O.
1. The obedience of deeds wv. %
24).
Hearing Gods Word will do no good
unless 1t Is accompanied with obedi-
ence. Hearing and not doing is as
futile as beholding ones face in a
looking glass and forgetting what man.
ner 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
mandments is to lie Il John 2:4).
2. The obedience of perseverance
". 25).
We should not only look into Gods
Word and admire its perfections, but
steadfastly and persistently do the
| things required. Only those who thus
perseyere shall be blessed in their
deeds.
| 8. The obedience of speech ". 26)
The one who has genuine religion
will control his tongue. Just as the
physical condition of the patient by an
examination of the tongue. SO the
/ moral and spiritual condition of the
individual can be determined by the
I 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 ". 27)
Those who have received the kind
ness of God will manifest that kind
ness in their lives This kindness will
express itself in mlnistering to the ia
therless and widows.
8. The obedience of purity Of life
". 2D.
The Law Of God enjoins upon his
children not only purity Of life, but
abstinence from all appearauce of evil