The Oakes times., 1907-03-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

r - AAo 0OANOA 0OxxOOA
LESSON xii,FiRsT QUARTER, iNTERvA-
TlONAL SERIES, MARCH 24.
Text of the Lesson, lisa. xviii. Tia.
Memory Verse, 5-Golden Text, Hos.
iv. II Commentary Prepared by
Rev. ID. M. stearns.
copyright, 1907, by American Pres Association.1
To find merely SO called temper
ance lesson in such a chapter as this is
something like eating the smallest por-
tion of food from bountifully sup
piled table. was asked recently to
write an article for one Of our reviews
on Systematic Gtying," but the sub
stance Of what did write was to the
effect that the need Of the churches is
not more system in giving, but bet
ter knowledge of God and Of the con-
straining love Of Christ.
In reference to intemperance and all
its evils, the whole matter is summed
up in Eph. v, 1s, "Be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filed
with the spirit" The writer goes on to
tell of Christ loving the church and CIV
ing Himself for 1t that He might sane
tify and cleanse it. Until we know and
believe the love that God has to us
u John iv, 16) and have learned to say
''Thy love is better than wine" (Song
!, q there is not much use in merely
trying to lay restrictions on corrupt
and sinful nature which cannot be i'm
proved (Rom. viii, q.
| Our lesson chapter, from which we
are asked to study few verses which
set forth the denominations Of the nat
ural man even in priests and prophets,
| whose one occupation should be to
plead with God on behalf of men and
plead with men on behalf Of God, gives
us the heart of the remedy for all evil
in verse 16, one Of the grandest words
in the book: '"rherefore thus saith the
Lord God, Behold lay in Zion for a
foundation stone, tried stone, pre-
cious corner stone, sure foundation.
He that believeth shall not make
haste" Then see in verse % a sugges-
tion of how He becomes to us the only
foundation, not by trying to initiate
His life, but by seeing Him bruised
for our iniquities" Elsa. iii, 8, g.. He is
| the corn of wheat who said that He
must die for our sakes Qohn XII, "a,
25), and we must first receive and then
follow Him. Put with this foundation
verse Acts iv, II, 49,, I Pet. II, 4-8; John
Z. 12.
There is a drunkenness and stag
gering that is not the result Of wine
or strong drink, but that is the result
of turning away from the word Of God
4 (chapter xxx, 9:13), and this was 1sra-
els guilt and is the guilt of the church
today. Israel mocked the messengers Of
God and despised His words and mis-
used His prophets until the wrath Of
the Lord arose against His people, till
there was no remedy III Chron. xxxvi.
e|!16). ....
4 Literal drunkenness, with lll its dis
gusting flthiness as set forth in verses
z and of our lesson, is but one phase
of the manifestation of the flesh, the
sinful nature in all mankind (Gal. Y,
1921, and those who continue to pos
sess only that sinful nature can never
inherit the Kingdom Of God; but as
some such at Corntl became washed
and sanctified and justified u Cor. vi.
9-11), SO have many others in all ages.
for the only one who can deliver says.
"Him that conleth to me l will III no
wise cast out" John vi, 80. Wcy-
mouths rendering is, "Him who comes
to ME / will never on any account
drive away" TIe is sorry for ana
longs to give Geliverance to every
weary sin Sick soul. but the trouble is
that they will not hear and will not
come. See verse 12 ana compare chapter
XXX, Is. and Matt ri, %: xiii, 81.
/ Verses ., 10, indicate the rebellion Of
the natural heart against the sinplici-
/ ty of Gods way of deliverance. These
proud. self indu.gent rebels seem to
say, Does He think that we are babes
just weaned, that He must prattle to
us with His line upon line. precept
upon precept? So the mere natural
man turns from the things Of God and
counts them foolishness, not knowing
that the kingdom of God must be re-
ce1ved as little Child would receive 1t
(A1att. xviii, 8; Luke xviii, IL; Cor. II,
~. A vision of Christ In His love to
us, bearing our sins in His own body.
dying in our stead, the just for the un-
just, is the only thing that will break
the hard heart, and if that does not
nothing will. Each believer is priest
dealing with God OH behalf Of his fel-
lows and also prophet bearing Gods
message to his fellows. 1t is ours to
tell the message lovingly and faithful
ly, and He who sends us will take care
of the results.
If we would be full of courage and
joy, as the Lords messengers should
always be, we must understand His
plan and be agreed with Him about
everything. for otherwise we chnnot
walk with Him (Amos Iii, 3, y. This
Is suggested by the fact that we are
Il krx4C 1~n, s-p.