The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-05-31

Lesson N. Second Quarter, For
June z, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

TesA os 4hs Lesson, Matt. VII 1-1e
Msmory Verses, 2, s--0oiden Text
Matt. vi, q. V.--cOmnensaFy Pre-
pared BY Rev. o. NJ. stearna-
We have our choice today Of the req
ular lesson in order or special lesson |
on the Holy Spirit from Acts u, Ill;
but, inasmuch an only By tbs Spirit can
the teaching Of the regular lesson on |
almsgaving, prayer and fasting be put
in practaca, wa win take the regular
portion With look at the whole chap
ter. as we do not seem to have the rest
OF the chapter in any suhsequent Les
son. The heart Of the whole Bible
seems TO be ''the kingdom Of God and
Els righteousness (verse ssS. The
Lord Jesus came t0eet mp this kingdom
on the earth, but an they rejected Il
and Him it win not be set up till He
shallcone again in glory Meanwhileail
who become children Of God by receiy"
ing Jesus Christ and joint heirs with
Him should walk worthy Of His king
dom and glory while they wait for It
Il Thess. ii, 12). Their motto should
ever and always be. First the king
dom of Cod" Then there would be no
anxious thought about aught else, for
He gives the assurance that all win be
provided by our Father, who knoweth
all our need (verses 81. 32). Whether Il
be the service or prayer or fasting OK
the daily life, there is one principle to
govern all. 1t must be unto the Father,
who seeth I'm secret who looSeth upon
the heart and TO whom all things are
naked and open. 'Not as pleasing men,
but God who trieth our hearts" q,
Thess. Il, ~, Is principal always to be
observed. In contrast to that the most
religious people Of our Lords time did
everything to be seen Of men (Matt-
xxiii, 81. It was even so in the days OF
the prophets, and special feature OF
the last days OF this age viii be turn
ing away from the truth and a form
OF godliness without any power Qsa.
xxx, 1S; Ezek. xxxiM, 81; III Tim. iii,
1-5: tv, 8, A.. In each of the three para
graphs OF our lesson there Is contrast
between a present reward or approval
OF men and a future reward from God
Himself, spoken OF in verse 20 as
treasure in heaven" We cannot serve
God and Mammon or God and the
devil, for the friendship of this world
| is enmity with God, and that which is
| highly esteemed among men is aboms
ination In the sight Of God (verse "a;
Luke xvi, 10; Jas. iv, A.. There was only
one who always and in all things
pleased the Father, but He desires to
| live His life in us and win If we Yield
fully to Him (John viii, %; III Cor. iv,
10, III. He was manifestly approved Of
God by the miracles and wonders and
sights which God did by Him (Acts II,
22). Our instructions are to study, to
show ourselves approved unto God,
workmen that need not be ashamed
Oh Tim. ii, 15). This can be done only
as we are Spirit filed like the disciples
on the day OF Pentecost and like them
we must be willing to be mtsunder-
stood and even counted drunken or be-
side ourselves for His sake. The old
word to Abraham is always helpful,
walk before Me and be thou sincere"
| (Gen. xvii, /, margin,, and also the on
repeated words in Leviticus, '1unto the
Lord and before the Lord" Con-
cerning giving to any good work, the
motive of the donor is everything. II
the gift is wholly and only unto the
Lord" desiring only His approval, then
1t does not matter IL people do know
Of it. 1t should be the love Of Christ
constraining. ana according to III Sam.
xiv, "a, / win not offer unto the Lord
of that which doth cost me nothing.
and also according to Chron. xxx, Ia.
%All things come Of thee, and thine
own do we give thee" Concerning
prayer, Il 10 real access to God by Jesus
Christ, remembering John v, IA, IS.
! "This is the confidence that we have in
Him, that IL we ask anything accord
ing to Ills viii he heareth us. and il
we know that He hear us. whatever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions
we desired OF Him" AS TO this form Of
prayer which He gave at this time and
which we spoke of In q former lesson
on the beatitudes, the late DR.. SaphiI
said of It: EFT is model prayer and
as such conmends itself to the most
superficial glance approves itself al
: once to the conscience of man. The
prayer is short, that 1t may be quickly
learned, easily remembered and FIRE
Quently used, but It contains all Things
pertaining 10 life and godliness. In its
, simplicity it seems adapted purposely
for the weakness Of the inexperienced
and ignorant, and yet none can say
/ chat he is familiar with the heights
j and depths which 1t reveals and witt
4 the treasures Of wisdom It contains
e In verses IL, Is, OF our lesson note tina
8 communion with God as our Father de
pends upon our forgiving others as Hc
eCrgave us. This, Like all the discourse
ID not q condition Of salvation, but an
other word for His disciples AS 3;
lasting, the best comment / know Il
i lisa. lviii Bill, remembering that, Like
: giving and praying, it must be iron
h the heart unto the Lord. The forty da,
s Easts Of Noses and Elijah and the L.ors
Jesus were peculiar and unique, bu
. the record Of HASTINGS In the Acts D
a the apostles Is for our example, ant
q Dur Lord spoke Of the power OF praye
! ! and fasting In Matt. xvii. q. Conside