Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1947-03-14
INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH
CHRIST

INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH
CHRIST
LESSON rExr-Joha N.iS. n.is:
MEMORY sELEcnoN-ye are my
Artsed., Y " do Whatsoever ] command
yoU.-Jshn is:il
The hour had come for our Lords
1nsl intimate words with his dis
eiples. II was indeed . solemn. but
also . blessed. hour.
u wss The night before he dark.
~ day In the worlds history. On
IT, morrow the Son Of man was to
hang On calvary's tree for the sins
q he world-for your sins and FOR
mine. But for the moment he was
alone with his disciples.
1hs last Passover had been eaten
together. the betrayer had been dis
covered. and the Lord has told them
Inst he was soon To 20 where they
could not follow. Peter had. BY his
oold self-assurance. brought forth
~ prophecy Of his denial.
The disciples were disturbed In
heart end mind. Then came from
the Savlo,r's lips the words Of COM
mt assurance and power which
have been the strength and solacs
~ his people through all the cen.
turtles. Our life both here and here.
after ID In his mighty hands.
We learn In this precious portion
q Scripture that
L The Christian Need Net BE
Fearful N4;i-O.
That b indeed . good words
seeded wordi Troubled hearts are
evsrywhere--in the palace and In
ths cottage, on land. In the cir and
~ the sea. There 10 . place Of
rest thank God! There Is One who
stu speaks the majestic words,
LET not your heart be troubled.
believe In God. believe also in
me-"
His comfort Is one which covers
the future life. for he says. Il 60
- prepare a place" ". ~. Concern
about future destiny IL settled at
once when Christ Jesus becomes
eur Lord and Saviour. We need
worry no longer. He has gone on
before to the Fathers house to pre-
pare place for his own. When we
come to that ever-peaceful shore
We shall not come as strangers. but
90 sons and daughters to pre-.
pared place in our Fathers house.
His words. II will come again"
". -. gives present meaning to the
future promise. He not only pre-
pared the place. but he it is who
brings US there. The glorious hope
Of his coming again Is the Chris
tian's greatest comfort and might
lest incentive to useful, holy living.
n. The Christian Need Not Be
IoWerIess u4:l2-15).
Christ's followers are not here In
. world Of sin and need as a little
group Of hymn-singing weaklings
thinking only Of the day when they
shall be in a brighter land. All, yes.
they sing hymns and rejoice In
them: they leok for a better land;
their weapons Of warfare are not
.carnal. But weaklings? Oh. no! God
uses them to do great and mighty
things for his glory.
Note the blessed words Of Jesus.
ssHe that believeth on me" ". lO,
The army Of God carries the roy al
banner Of faith in a living Christ
'Greater works shall he do
". ~. Jesus only began his work
On earth: its greatest development
was to be the joyous privilege Of his
followers. We are ashamed that we
have not lived up to this great prom
Use. but by his grace we will do bet
ter.
II ye ask will do" ". l4.
Someone has called this a signed
blank check on all the resources Of
God.
Ill. The Christian Need Not Be
Distressed u4:l6-l8).
The Holy Spirit, promised by
Christ as the abiding comforter.
came so to abide in the believer on
the day Of Pentecos, tActs %.
The ministries OF the Holy Spirit
are many, but here the emphasis
b on his work as Comforter. Wha,
. blessed and helpful ministry. and
how much needed by distressed and
disturbed soulsl The Christian may
count on him and not be dis.
tressed.
~. The Christian Need Not BE
Detached OSLO.
What Is worse than the feeling
dat one does not belong TO any.
ons else, that one Is . detached
individuall That 10 never true OF
he believer In Christ We are as
eioss to him as the branch 10 to the
zine. We are In him.
Christ Is the vine. and the be.
nsver ~ true branch Is united
VIII him. There 10 . oneness here
which 10 difiicult to express, but de.
nghtful 10 receive and believe. He
who Il the vine needs no cleansing,
w the branch needs constant. daily
purincation BY the word. Are we
permitting Gods Word 10 keep US
clean! Only II we are reading it.