The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-10-06
JESUS PROGRAM FOR
MEETING LIES PROBLEMS

JESUS PROGRAM FOR
MEETING LIES PROBLEMS
LESSON TExT-Matthew ALA: 6:3l-34:
Luke 4:l6-2l
bread alone, but by every word that pro-
ceedeth out Of the mouth Of God.-Mat.
thew "a
Problems, sorrows, needs, anxi-
eties-how they press in on man.
kind from every direction. What
is he to do about them? He cannot
meet them in his own strength. They
worry him almost to the point OF
distraction. What shall he do?
There is just one answer, and it
Is blessedly simple and completely
satisfying. Take your burdens to the
Lord and leave them there! Cast all
your care upon Him, for He careth
for you Il Pet. SD.
From the teachings of Jesus our
lesson tells us why and how we may
do this. Let us not miss its glorious
and convicting-message.
I. We Can Overcome Temptation
Through Christ Matt. <4:1-4).
Temptation is the common lot OF
all mankind Il Cor. 1919. The
strongest and most noble of men are
subject to- it. Angels were tempted,
and our scripture reveals that even
Jesus was tempted. We recognize
that Jesus was tempted as the Mes
siah wv. 8, 81 and as one without
sin (Heb. 4:15), but it is also true
that He was tempted in all points
as we are, apart from sin, and that
we may learn from His temptation
how we may meet and be the VIC
tors over temptation.
We learn of our Lord that tempta-
tions may be VIGOROUSLY over
come
/. BY the right use of Scripture.
# Jesus needed that weapon, how
can we do without it? But how can
we use Scripture if we do not study
1t and hide it in our hearts?
2. BY dependence on God. Every
Scripture used by Jesus honored God.
We cannot fight Satan in our own
strength. To attempt to do so is to
fail utterly. The real victory for the
Christian is to bring Satan back to
the cross where Christ won a
decisive victory over him.
3. BY denouncing Satan. Jesus sent
him on his way. We may do the
same in Jesus name. It is always
a serious error to try to argue with
Satan or to engage in any discus
sion with him. Let us meet him with
Scripture and say "Get thee hence"
III. We Can Learn to Trust God
for our Daily Needs (Matt. 6:31-3N.
Some want to be rich. Their folly
is made clear in verses 1924. But
then there are some who while not
wanting to be rich, are in con-
slant anxiety about food and
raiment for the morrow.
What is the answer of the Lord
Jesus? Consider the birds. They are
not able to work, nor are they able
to pray, but God feeds them. Con-
slider the glory Of the flowers of the
fields, for not even a king can dress
himself in such beauty. care We not
much better than they?" ". 26).
"AS far as known, no bird ever
tried to build more nests than its
neighbors; no fox ever fretted be-
cause it had only one hole in which
to hide; no squirrel ever died Of
anxiety lest he should not lay up
enough nuts for two winters instead
of one; and no dog ever lost any
sleep over the fact that he did not
have enough bones laid aside for his
declining years" public Health
service).
Proper forethought is good and
right, for we are intelligent beings,
but anxiety about our daily needs
is always dishonoring to God.
Yes, says someone that's all very
well, but how about the future?
Well, why should we fret about that?
1t is in Gods hands, and even if it
were in our hands, what could we
do about it? Even tomorrow, with
its needs and its blessings, with it's
joy and its sorrows, is not yet
here, and when it does come, there
win be Gods gracious provision for
each passing hour.
III. We Can Follow Christ in Sac
Yificial Service duke 4:16-21).
Let us be clear at once that we
cannot do what Christ did, for He
is the Son of God. He had a special
ministry to perform as the Messiah.
But we may learn much from this