Middletown transcript., 1899-09-23
THE .El'I SUNDAY ~ 1 SCHOOL.
LESSON XIII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES. SEPT. "a.

NATIONAL SERIES. SEPT. "a.
Text Of the Lesson, q Comprehensive
Review OF the Quarter Golden
Text, Ps. xxxiv, documentary Pre-
pared by the Rev. ID. M. stearns.
copyright, 1899. by D. NJ Stearns.1
LESSON L-Gracious Invitations, Hos.
xiv, 10. Golden text, Hos. vi, i, "Come,
and let us return unto the Lord" The
Lord made man for Himself, that man
might enjoy Him and that He might enjoy
and dwell with man and be glorifed In
him. He wants us for his peculiar
treasure and desires that we should find
in Him our portion (Ex. xix, 8; Lam. iii,
24). This He sought to fulfill in Adam,
In Noah, in Abraham, in the prophets
and apostles, but it was only fully ex-
emplified in Christ Jesus.
LESSON 1I.-Daniel in Babylon, Dan.
4, S-21. Golden text, Dan. /, 8, Daniel
purposed in his heart that he would not
defile himself" 1t is one thing to be a
child Of God. but to be such choice
one as Daniel, who would separate him
self from even seemingly lawful things
that God might be glorifed in him, is
a rare thing. This is the narrow way,
and few there be that find 1t, but those
who do find it learn to know God as
others cannot. See in verses 8, IL, IL,
20, how God wrought for and in these
men because Of their special devotion to
Him.
LESSON III.-The Hebrews in the
Fiery Furnace, Dan. iii, 14-2S. Golden
text, Dan. iii, II, "Our God whom we,
serve is able to deliver u.s." If we are
willing to be His choice ones, set apart
for Himself Cps. iv, 81, true Nazarites
(Num. vi, 1-S) fearing not the frown and
seeking not the &yor Of any man, and
not fearing even. death, we must expect
to be hated for His kake John xv, 20,
2Di but he tells us not to fear suffering
or even death Rev. Ii, 10; Math. <, 28,
for to die is gain, and to be with Christ
Is very far better (Phii. !, 81, 23).
LESSON IV.-The Handwriting on the
Wall, Dan. v, 1874. Golden text, Ps.
lxxv, z, God is the Judge" A drunken
feast, God dishonored and defed, one
word from Him of solemn import, and
Belshazzar passes from time into eterni.
ty. He knew how God had warned and
humbled his father, but gave no heed to
It, and Daniel summed up the story when
He said to him, "The God in whose hand
thy breath is and whose are all thy ways,
hast thou not glori6edT' (verse 23).
LESSON V.-Daniel in the Den of
Lions, Dan. vi, 1923. Golden text, Ps.
cKxi, 5, "The Lord is thy keeper" We
have again the truth that to fear God Is
to fear no man and not even to fear
death. Daniels friends would not bow
their heads nor bend the knee to save
their lives, and Daniel will not stop pray
ing nor close his windows when he prays
to save his life. When there Is fear Of
man there is forgetfulness Of God Qsa.
ii, IL. 13).
LESSON vI.-The New Heart, Eek.
xxxvi, 1886. Golden text, Ezek. xxxvi,
26, "a new heart also win give you"
How can we get. over SHINING against
God and become brave and true people
for God, like Daniel and his friends? The
natural man cannot do 1t, and no amount
of education or reformation can make
him do it, but God can give a new heart, !
q new nature, even put Himself in Us,
and God In us can do as He did In Dan /
iel and his friends, for it was By the /
Spirit Of God in them that they did as
they did.
LESSON V1t.-Ezekiel's Great Vision,
Eek. xxxvii, LA. Golden text, Ezek.
xxxvi, ~, 't viii put My Spirit with
In you." Not only does God give new
life which we never had before, but by
His Spirit who comes to live In us He
will live that life. The believer be-
comes a mansion in which Father, Son
and Spirit dwell John xiv. 1923; a
temple Of the Holy Ghost q Cor. Iii,
16; vi, 19), and If we yield fully our
life viii be that Of one alive from the
dead, a resurrection life.
LESSON VIII.-The River of Salvation,
Eek. Xvii, 1-12. Golden text, Rev. xii,
IL, "Whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely" While all who re-
ceive Christ are equally saved, there is
no limit to the degree of yieldedness
which he may enjoy. Our enjoyment of
Christ may be as water to the ankles or
to the knees or to the loins or as a
mighty river, and it all depends upon our
willingness to be wholly or only In part
set apart for God Himself
LESSON IX.-Returning From Captiv.
ity, Ez. i. Iii. Golden text, Ps. cxxvi,
3, 'The Lord hath done great things for
us, whereof we are glad" This is not
the age Of subduing the world unto God,
but Of gathering out of all nations an
elect people who will rule with Christ
when He comes again; in other words, 1t
Is the age OF gathering out the church, OF
building Eve, His body and bride, and all
believers are commissioned to take part
In this by either going themselves to
hall rrsry he 20 ofvry.o
by helping with their money and prayers
those who do 60.
LESSON X.-Rebuilding the Temple,
Cor. lii, IL, 'The temple of God Is holy,
which temple ye are" There were many
and very persistent hindcrers to the work
in the days Of Zerubbabel, who for q
time actually caused the work to cease,
and yet IN due time the temple was fin
ished. There are many hinderers and
hindrances to the work Of completing
the church, and yet He shall see Of the
travail Of His soul and shall be satisfied.
4 LESSON XI.-Encouraging the Build
era, Hag. Il, 10. Golden text, Hag. ii,
4. ''Be strong, all ye people Of the land,
saith the Lord, and work--for am with
you.n The people, being hindered, grew
Indifferent, ana were atten0lng 10 thef
own affairs while the house Of God lay
waste, consequently they labored In vain,
worked hard and accomplished little, and
when they had somewhat By their toll
It all seemed to blow away. God raised
up Haggai and Zechariah to show the
people their sin, and to guide them In
the right way, and from the day when
they began to resume building the tenn
pie, God began to bless them (Hag. Il,
IS. 19).
LESSON xTf.-Power Through the Spir-
It, Zech. ", 1.14. Golden text, Zeeh. ",
Q, 'sNot by might, nor By power, but by
Ny Spirit, saith the Lord Of Hosts" This
is the great lesson OF the whole quarter
apart from God nothing but failure, but
by His Spirit great things are accomplish.
ed. Daniel and his friends, Ezekiel,
Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and
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