Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-03-06

No teacher Of this lesson should
omit a study of chapter Is, even
though he may not refer to 1t explicit
ly in this connection. We have there
presented a believers privilege, %
friendship ". 10 (a) with God, I'D
with man. (2) lntercession, ". %;
(S) knowledge, v. %, l C. The art,
the power, the place, the glory, the
spirit, Of intercession, yes, the bless
ing of intercession is to be coveted
by all believers. Abraham's interces-
sion prevailed though outwardly 1t
seemed to fail, see 1926. The pre-
pared teacher ought also be famil-
lar with the story of the change of
Abrams name and Of Gods dealing
with Abroham and Sarah as re-
corded in chapters II and 18.
Lot and Sodom.
I. The Warning, Wv. 17.23.-Lot had
pitched his tent towards Sodom."
and now the time for the execution OF
another judgment upon sin had ar
rived. God, however, here gives us
another illustration Of his mercy
which always precedes judgment. That
mercy was not only to a righteous
man, one who had therefore a degree
of ~worthiness, but also to an uhde-
serving member of the same family.
see IL and Acts 1851. First Of all,
Lot is called upon to separate himself
from his neighbors. Lot attempted to
convey this warning to his sons-in-law,
but it was toe late, his testimony, his
manner OF life, his aims, and his am
billions had correspondent with theirs
for such a period of time that the
fact Of his belonging to the family Of
the promise was forgotten and he
semed as one that Knocked unto his
sons-in-law." God is calling US from
the corruptions and the plaques Of
Babylon (Rev. 1S:4) and to separate
ourselves from Sodom, see the golden
text. While God is long suffering
q Peter, 3:9) we must also remem-
Der that If men will sin willfully, il
they persist in their wickedness, judg-
men is sure to follow, v 10, also 2
Peter $40, II. When Judgment does
come, as 1t did In this case, God knows
how to save his own, 2 Peter 1913.
The voice of sin cries from our cities
today. The voice of poverty, Of in.
temperance, Of injustice, and 1t
reaches before the face of the Lord"
(Jas. 5:4) and unless America heeds,
unless men repent, God will most GER
tainly punish, Acts 1880, 81. This
punishment Of Sodom was not only
the development Of their own wicked
pess, but by direct agency of Gods de-
stroying angels. Look up the subject
CT Judgments.
Lot, we are told, was a righteous
man, 2 Peter 81, but he was most
sadly connected with the world, and
hence lost his testimony ". 14). The
church Of today is constantly hinder
ed by the incubus of believers of this
type. God expects the disciple to SO
separate himself from things hat
though he may be lin the world, he Is
not of the world"
Even Lot was loath to leave wv.
Is, 16), and later many Of the Isreal-
ties were full Of regret over the miss
ing flesh-pots Of Egypt. The angels
Of God had to fairly drag Lot out Of
the doomed city. He came near losing
his very life as he persistently chung
to his property. The greatest weapon
and the most efficient one the devil
has to use in his warfare for human
souls is procrastination.
Gods Patience.
The long suffering and patience of
God are most wonderfully shown in
verse 16, and the whole secret of Lots
salvation was that the Lord was mer-
ciful unto him." Eph. 2:S.
II. The Destruction, w. 23-29.-Lot
escaped to a little city, Zoar, which
God in his mercy promised not to de-
stroy ". 21), and it was not till Lot
al clear Of Sodom that destruction
came. God could not break his word.
He had promised Abram, and had
Abram pursued his opportunities,
chapter IS, doubtless even Sodom
might not have been 80 utterly de-
btIOS Gu. luclo Wdb, db LAB Dccu
suggested, probably a volcanic erup-
ton Of gases, petroleum, etc, but
there accompanied 1t a supernatural
manifestation also, for it "rained
down." v. "a. The words looked
back" referring to Lots wife, imply
more than a mere passing glance. Her
heart was in the city she vas leaving,
that city 30 full Of pride, of bread.
and Of ease, Eek. 16:49. She died as
did Pliny at Pompeii, suffocated by
the gases, and her body became in.
crusted with the salt.
Life is a gift Of God, we hold It only
upon certain conditions; we can
choose good or evil. God loves US
and wishes all men to be saved, prom
ises pardon to the penitent and fore
tells doom for the impenitent. Mr..
Moody's story of Judge Lot" would
be effective in presenting this lesson.
Present to the boys the slogan of
clean living; clean speech; clean ath-
Forget not to show love to
strangers. Heb. 1872. Sodom needed
ten men to redeem II. What Ameri-
can city has but ten righteous men
In IL? Read Dent 32.30 The MIN.