The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-10-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ~, FOURTH QUARTER. INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. %.

Text of the Lesson, Ez. iii, 10, to- iv,
6-Memory Verses, 10, IL Golden
Text, I Cor. iii, IL Commentary
Prepared by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
copyright, 1905, BY American Press Association. ]
We need to bear in mind that the
central fact Of this book is the house
Of the Lord" mentioned fifty times,
and it is most practical and applica-
Bile to us who IN this age of our Lord s
absence are engaged in building the
church Of the living God, the body Of
Christ Il Tim. iii 1Ys Eph. i, %, 23).
In chapter ii. SO, 62, we see some peo-
pie who could not show that they be-
longed to Israel. Their names were not
found on the register. and consequent
y they were put away and could not
take part in the work. Only those
whose names are in the Book Of Life
can enter the city Rev. xxi, 20, and
they only can take part in the building,
for they that are In the flesh cannot
please God Rom viii, s.. Those who,
being born again, do take part are only
expected to DO as Of the ability which
God giveth QI Cor viii, u; Pet iv,
1D, but it must be willingly or Cor.
il, +; Ex- XIV, .; xxxv, 5, p, %, % 29).
The people gathered as one man to
Jerusalem, and in the Acts Of the Apos-
ties, which records the beginning Of
the building Of the church, we have the
phrase "one accord" eleven times, sew
en- times for and four times against
the church. In the opening verses Of
our lesson chapter we see the altar
builded and the sacrifices offered unto
the Lord, as the duty Of every day re-
ouired Gii, 8, a. There will never be
day while we continue in these NOR
tai bodies when we will not need con-
tinually the precious blood which
cleanseth from all sih Although the
sacrifices were regularly offered, there
was delay in laying the foundation Of
the house and setting forward the
work. In our own Gay too many are
content to be saved, as if that was
all, and are Indifferent to giving the
gospel to every creature, that the build:
ing may be FASTENED to completion.
not seeming to understand the plan
and purpose Of God (Eph. lii, III.
In the second month Of the second
year Of their return to Jerusalem
(verse s. the foundation of the house
Of the Lord was laid with praise and
giving thanks unto the Lord (1Q 1D,
but, while many shouted aloud for JOY.
there were many who wept with loud
voice, some looking backward and
thinking Of the glory which had been
and others looking forward to the glory
before them 1t is we'll to consider oil
tie way by which the Lord has led US,
but it is not we'll to weep as If all the
glory was behind US, for the best days
for the church and Israel and the
world are before US and not behind US.
There is cause to sigh and cry when
we consider the denominations Of In
iouity which are about US (Ezek. ix, y,
but the glory to be revealed, of which
we are partakers, should cause US to
rejoice in that blessed hope and be
patient under our trials Rom. viii, IS;
V, is; Pet. ", 13).
The foundation has been laid, the
only foundation laid by God Himself,
and happy Is he who buildeth thereon,
for he shall never be put to shame be-
cause Of his foundation Qsa. xviii, 16;
1 Cor. iii, IL; Eph. ii, 1922. When the
foundations Of the earth We're laid the
morning stars sang together, and all
the sons Of God shouted for Joy Dob
xxxviii, 4, Z. When Jesus was born
in Bethlehe5l the angels sang, GLORY
to God in ire highest" Duke ii, 13, 14(.
When the work is finished the Head
stone shall be brought forth with shout
ings Of "Grace, grace unto it, and we
should ever greatly rejoice that He
who laid the foundation shall finish it
and bear the glory and sit and rule,
priest upon His throne Czech. ", I, 9;
vi, IL, l3). If we fully believed that
He has made us kings and priests unto
God and that we shall reign with Hin
in His kingdom we would be more
whole hearted for Him this little While
Rev. i, 5, 6; V, 8, 10; II Chron. xvi, 81.
The opening verses Of chapter ",
which are assigned to US, tell OF the
work Of adversarles who first wanted
to help in the building and when not
permitted to help did all in their pow
er to hinder the work and succeeded
so well that the work upon the house
ceased until the second year OF Darius
{verse ~. The powers which seek to
hinder In the Lords work are not to be
despised, and they often seem to sue
ceed for q time. Even the angel Ga
briel was hindered for three weeks on
one occasion while on his way to Dan
iel (Dan. <, 2, 13).
We are told by the Spirit that we
wrestle against principalites and pow
ers, the rulers Of the darkness OF this
world, wicked spirits in heavenly
places, and that we need the whole
armor Of God to enable US to stand
and withstand in this evil day (Eph-
81, u, 49,, but because we are unoe-
lieEing and ignorant Of Satan's devices
be often gets an advantage over US.
We greatly need to watch and pray
(,1ark xiii, 33). Mere professors weo
are not possessors cannot be used ID
building the temple. These adVezsar1es
said, 1--WE seek your God, as ye 90, and
we do sacrifice unto Him; let US build
with you" (verse p, but the governor
and the high priest and the others IN
charge knew, what was afterward
made very manifest, that they were
enemies and not friends and 80 refused
to let them take any part in the work
There cannot be an outpouring OF the
Spirit upon people who are associated
with unbelierers in the Lords work,