The Spirit of Righteousness

The Spirit of Righteousness

Prepared on October 19, 1937 By W.H. Wood late afternoon

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment , and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed , he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more , when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said , He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Luke 10:25-37

Introduction:  Story of Good Samaritan

Three philosophies

1.      Thieves – What is thine is mine.  A desire to rob, such as John Dillinger – caused him to kill 16 bankers in robberies.  Such was the philosophy of the world’s war, etc.

2.      The Levite – What is mine is mine.  A spirit of hording – no desire to help others.

3.      The Good Samaritan – What is mine is thine.  A spirit of helpfulness.  What we own is God’s – we are stewards for Him.  He expects us to utilize all our time, energy, and talents for Him.  

Lessons From the Life of Moses

Lessons from the life of Moses

By Estelle Nazary

            God has a purpose for His own and He will preserve us for that purpose.

           

            God can make man sensitive to His mission and eventually reveal His plan to him.

            It is one thing to be surrendered to a job or task; it is another thing to be surrendered to the Lord.

God used one method of making His will known to Moses and He can use others to help us to know His will.

           

When God calls a man he may feel his inadequacies and may be inadequate, but God’s sufficiency equips him.

            There may be difficulties and hardships in the way, but God can give victory.

            Fellowship with God permits God to reveal His will.

            Fellowship with God makes a difference in the inward person and also in his/her facial expression.

Moses’ concern was so great for his people that he prayed that God would blot him out of God’s book, if He would not have compassion and forgive them their terrible sin.

Lack of faith prevents us from enjoying many blessings of God.

God’s leaders can lay down the burden of leadership without despair.

No matter how long it takes, every promise God has made will be fulfilled just as He made it. 

The Sinner's Twenty-Third Psalm

The Sinner’s Twenty-Third Psalm

By W. H. Wood

Satan is my master:  I am never satisfied.

He makes me to lie down in barren pastures,

he leadeth me besides the troubled waters

He destroyeth my soul, he leadeth me in paths

of sin for his wicked purposes.

Yea though I walk in the high places, I am

always afraid, for he is ever with me, his

rod and staff, they continually oppress me.

He makes me many promises in the presence of

mine convictions, he anoinest my head with sinful

desires; my cup is forever empty.

Surely sin and misery shall follow me all the

days of my life, and I will dwell with the

devil in hell forever. 

Fellow-Citizens with the Saints

Fellow-Citizens with the Saints

By W.H. Wood

Churches can improve human relations if they are composed of people who are born from above.  The only thing which can save a human life in time and in eternity is the power of Jesus Christ.  A church is a little colony of heaven on earth.  A church, above all earthly organizations should be God-like.  The fellow-citizens with the saints are the sowing salt of the earth. 

The churches can improve human relations by proclaiming the Gospel.  Before Christ returned to heaven he gave his church a great commission.  That commission is to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  The missionary enterprise is the organized effort of the churches to give the Gospel to all men.  The improvement of human relations is a product of the proclamations of the Gospel.  A soul-winning church in a wicked community can improve that community. 

Churches can improve human relations by behaving like Christians in church life.  In a Baptist church everybody ought to be somebody.  A Baptist church is a spiritual democracy.  All have equal rights and privileges.  Every church ought to demonstrate to the world how church members can love one another, help one another, and live together in a glorious, transforming fellowship. 

Churches can improve human relations by demonstrating Christ-likeness in the world.  Just as Christ opposes hypocrisy, sham, and all sorts of evil in the world so should His churches oppose them.  Churches are militant forces for righteousness.  They are to go forth clad in the whole armor of God.  We must remember, as Paul told the Ephesians, that this is composed of the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the girdle of truth, and feet that are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.