The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-19
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY 20.
Lesson Text: "Faith Encouraged"
Luke Will, 43-55-Golden
Text: Luke viii. As
Commentary.

1e4C: Luke WILL, TO
Commentary.
43. "a woman had spent all her living
upon nhvsicians. neither could be healed OF
| any," Another helpless case, an opportun-
| ity for the Lord TO work. 1t is still true that
We are slow to come to the Lord until we
| have come to the end OF ourselves. Or,
| that the Lord would bring US quickly to see
| our nothingness and the vanity OF all earthly
| things, that we might find In Him our all.
| tidings OF the kingdom OF God" (verse u
that He may allure US to Himself. but be-
cause 80 many will not read.
A. "Immediately her issue of b!ooi
stanched'' The life of the flesh is in the
blood Gev. xviii, 11), and for twelve years
her life had been ebbing away. The story
Of the little girl of our lesson is that OF
twelve years development Of life suddenly
cut of, and just as suddenly restored by the
same Jesus. who healed the life that was
ebbing away. Mere natural life. whether
steadily developed or steadily f1ttersd away,
is nothing until 1t Is touched by Jesus, who is
the life. He was crucifled at 1.-THE place OF
skull" and all that is on the earth of human
greatness or glory is as empty as skull,
apart from the cross of Christ.
As. "And Jesus said, Who touched Me?" '
4uo WOu6u udu uCdlO VI oOouS, POI "eS
acquainted with someone who had been
healed by Him, and by their testimony was
encouraged to believe that II she could but
touch the hem OF His garment she would be
whole. Faith cometh by hearing and hear
ing by the word Of God (Rom. X, I'D, so If
we would strengthen others and increase
their faith we must communicate that which
God has done for US and through us to HIS
glory Phil. viz.
46. "I perceive that virtue Is gone out OF
Me-" Thus spake Jesus in answer to the dis.
ciples' statement that the multitude thronged
Him. As He preached to the household the
power OF the Lord was present to heal
Iuke ", 18). but we read Of no one being
healed except the one who came through
the roof. So in this case power went from
Him to only this one poor woman. AS He
sat at another time over against the treas
ury His heart went out more to one poor
woman than to all the others. Not all who
70 to church or read the Bible are blessed,
but only those whose hearts 70 out to Him
in conscious need or worship.
Al. "She declared unto Him before all the
people for what cause she had touched Him
and how she was healed Immediately" 1t
seemed hard fo1this poor. timid, trembling
woman thus to testify before all the people.
but observe that she did 1t "unto Him" and
it was in gratitude for blessing received.
Unto Him Is the key to all service. and when
thus we serve we do rot mind the people,
whether few or many.
4S. Daughter, be Of good comfort. Thy
faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace"
Surely it was worth while to confess Him
publicly in order to receive this graciops
word from His own lips right to her heart.
II those who feel very weak and timid only
would declare unto Him before the people,
what blessing they might receive! AS far
as is recorded she is the only woman He
ever addressed as daughter" Think how
the words "good cheer" "made WHOLE"
''go in peace" would keep coming to her In
49. 'sThy daughter is dead. Trouble not
the Master" The incident we have just been
studying occurred while Jesus was on His
way to the house Of Jairus to heal his little
girl, who seemed to be dying when Jairus
left the house to so for Jesus (vsrse Al, 42).
Put yourself In the place of Jarus and imag-
inc his heart, as every moment seemed an
hour that Jesus tarried in order to speak TO
the poor woman. Then think OF the agony
of soul as this message comes.
so. "Fear not. Believe only, and she shall
be made whole" Ere the father has time TO
say, or perhaps even think, "Oh. IL He had
only come without delaying!' these gracious
words fall from Jesus's lips. In Mark v, 96,
It is, BE not afraid, only believe"
81. "He suffered no man to go in save
I6C6[ duQ JdLucS duu oOuu ouu tuO ioNhCi
and the mother Of the maiden" That would
make Just seven, with the little girl. seven
altogether, the perfect number. On two
other occasions these three disciples were
the favored ones. Why, we shall know some
day. II we are willing to be His choice
ones, "set apart for Himself" "a people for
His own possession" (Ps. iv., 8; Titus H., IA,
RV.) do not know why we may not.
SO. Weep not. She Is not dead. but
Do pon pnt
and bewailed her. In the case Of Lazarus
He callei death sleep (John XII, 1l-14). The
body sleeps, but as to the spirit, the person.
the word is, Absent from the body; present
with the Lord" Departed to be with
Christ" (Phil. l., 81, 23; II Cor. ", 81. For
the Christian who lives for Christ, to die is
gain.
knowing mat she was dead" They had
only natural sight. They believed what
they saw, and seeing Is believing with the
natural man. But to the spiritual man, be-
lieving is seeing. Said I not unto thee
that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldest
see?" Blessed are they that have not seen,
vet have believed" (John XII, 40; Xxx, 29).
The believer is to believe God rather than
his own eyes or feelings or thoughts or any
thing. No matter how things look We are
ever to say, II believe God that 1t shall be
even Tvs IL Was tplu llc ShCto AAfh., 6V|'
Abraham considered not his own body nor
thoughts nor feelings, but just believed that
God was able to keep His promises, and 1t
was not for Abraham to ask how.
81. "And He put them all out and took her
by the hand and called. saying Maid. arise"
The weeping, wailing unbelieving ones may.
not be permitted to see His power. Only
faith cnn see, and unbelief hinders. There
fore it must depart. Weeping Mary could
not recognize Him on the resurrection
morning. Neither could the unbeieving
two who walked to Emmaus.
IS. "And her spirit came again, ard she
arose staaightway, and He commanded to
give her meat" Some OF the resurrection
thoughts that At in here will be found in the
last lesson In connection with the widows
son. often wonder how this earth and
things of earth would appear to one who
had seen the realities Of the heavenly land;
even though but for an hour. We are to
| live in some measure as such, for we are
dead with Christ. and, risen with Christ, are
| to have our affections set on things above
and live as strangers here.-Lesson Helper.