Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

cross."me."worry?"nay."SABBATH SCHOOL LESSONDecember 4, 1955Rev. W. 3. McBurney(Lessons based on International Sunday SchoolLessons ; the International Bible Lessons forChristian Teaching, copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education.)Memory Verse. If any man would comeafter me, let him deny himself, and takeup his cross daily, and follow9:23LukeTHE MEANING OF DISCEPLESHD?"Let him deny himself and take uphis Jesus had just told His disciples about His own cross. If Satan couldobstruct the cross, that would destroyChrist's plan of salvation. Unable toconquer Christ in a direct attack, Satan used Peter to voice His words. Andso, as recorded in Matt. 16:22, Peterbegan to rebuke Him, saying, "Be it farfrom thee,Lord."Jesus addressed thereal author of the thought, and said,Satan.""Get thee behind me, But Healso addressed Peter, who had voicedSatan's words. Satan prompts us to desire what suits ourselves, We must denyourselves, and say "yes" to Christ, if wewould be His disciples.The words save and lose each havetwo sides. We might extend the 24thverse to read, "Whosoever will selfishlytry to hold his life in his own hand forhimself alone, shall lose all the valuethat it might have to him. But whosoever will turn his life loose from hisworldly desires, that it may be used forChrist, shall save it for himself as wellas for others.The selfish desire to possess the wholeworld cannot be realized,more thanthe baby's desire when he cries for themoon. But if the moon could be tossedto the child, it would crush him. Andif a man could gain the world, it wouldcost him his life. How we do labor forour own destruction! Very soon now,folks will be wearing party badges, displaying them to all that they meet.What about showing in our daily lifethat we are followers of Christ? If wehesitate, or are just a little ashamed toconfess in social or business circles thatwe belong to Christ, can we expectChrist to be proud of us in the courts ofHeaven?The Kingdom of God! Some were tosee it even in this life. Who, and when?Did Christ refer to the three discipleswho were on the Mount of Transfiguration? Now the Kingdom of God is thedominion over which God is King. It'shere, everywhere. The servant of Elishacould not see the chariots and horsementhat filled the mountain until his eyeswere opened. There are some so blindthat they will not see the Kingdom ofGod though it is all around them. The330Kingdom is here. Pray that the Lordmay open our eyes.In the mountain, Christ prayed, andHis raiment became white and glistening. Just what was the nature of thatlight in His raiment? I don't know.You don't know what causes the light ofthe glow worm or the fire-fly. Anyonediscoveringthe nature of that lightwould be ranked with Edison. Whyspeak of the physical nature of the lightin Christ's garments? We know that insome small way, it showed forth Hisglory.In what form did Moses and Elijahappear to the disciples, and how werethey known? Elijah was translated toHeaven without passing through death.Moses died and God buried him. Thereis no evidence of the truth of the lines,"The angels of God upturned the sod,And laid the dead man there." Mosesmust have appeared in the form of aman, that would not show who he was.The disciples had never seen either Elijahor Moses. They were doubtless revealedby their conversation as they talked withChrist of His returning to Heaven byway of death on the cross.When the disciples awoke and sawChrist in the light of His glory, theCross that Peter had seen as a thing ofhorror to be shuned, they now saw in theglory of Christ's plan. Peter wanted tostay right there in that glorious vision.He did not know what he was talkingabout. There was a crowd waiting forthem below. In the strength of that vision, theycrowd and work.were to go down into thatPerhaps Peter thought of the tabernacles only as a memorial to which theycould return occasionally and live thatwere to live invision over again. Theythat vision not occasionally, but continually.Peter's suggestion was interrupted bya cloud, and answered by a voice whichsaid, "This is my beloved Son." Thecloud shut out Peter's earthly dream,and left the disciples with Christ alone.Since only three of the disciples werepermitted to be present at that wonderful vision on the mount, it is plain whythey should not be telling it to the otherdisciples or others that were waiting forthem below. Even after their experienceon the mount, they did not understandthe mysteryof the cross which wastalked of there. But when Peter had seenthe whole tragedyperformed before theworld, he was able to write with understanding, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables when we madeknown to you the power and coming ofour Lord Jesus Christ; but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For He received from God the Father honor andglory, when there came such a voiceto him from the excellent glory, '"Thisis mybeloved Son in whom I am wellpleased. And this voice which came fromHeaven we heard when we were withhim in the Holy Mount."To the men of the world, this lessonbrings a distinct challenge. Recent discoveries of what is or may be beyond thevisible stars excite our curiosity, thoughit is hard to see what benefit the knowledge could bring to us. But when visionsof present opportunity that may open tous a lifethat in riches and extentreaches far beyond the realm of stars,how can this challenge to investigatethis heavenly glory be lightlyset aside?And to those who have seen the visionof this Heavenly Glory, there is the challenge to invest our lives in the serviceof the King of kings, even to be "crucified with Christ," as Paul calls it (Gal.2:20). A sinner may have an experiencethrough which he is transformed byfaith into a Citizen of Heaven, and intothe enjoyment of the wonderful privileges that belong to the Sons of God.Psalms:PRAYER MEETING TOPICDecember 7, 1955James 5:7-20. RESTORATIONM. K. Carson, D. D.143:1-3, page 34637:4-6, page 9134:1-6, page 79119:4-6, page 312.References: Found in the discussion.James turns from the oppressor (5:1-6) to the oppressed. It is in our suffering,disappointments and trials that patienceproduces her perfect work in us (1:4).In this way the excellent quality of endurance will be developed, as was manifested in the sufferingand yet patientprophets. Job also was an outstandingexample. The Lord's pity and compassion sustained these sufferers. Are weexperiencing the Lord's love and compassion? Being repelled and rejected dowe find our repose and defence in Christand in the assurance of His second coming? How needless then, is it for us toresort to oaths. We cannot "make onehair white or black" (Matt. 5:33-37).Often in our trouble and excitement welose control of the tongue. James has already spoken about this sin (3:1-12).The simple statement of the truth ismore effective than an oath. We are tolet our yea be yea and our nay,5:12). This simplicity is one of thecharacteristics of the patient man.Prayer."Why should we pray when we canOf course worry is no solutionto any problem, but so many of us seemto be using this method rather thanprayer in seeking to solve our problems.COVENANTER WITNESS