Arizona republican., 1916-03-11
International Sunday School Lesson
 for March 12
HEROES AND MARTYRS OF FAITH


 things not seen. t32) And what shall more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak. and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also and Samuel, and of the phophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righte- cusness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of hons,I (3G Quenched 1 the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong. WaXed valiert in fight. turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting dellNer- ance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (36) And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourg- in9s. yea, moreover of bonds and inn i prisonment: (S1) They were stoned, 1 they were sawn asunder, were tempt ed, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins: being destitute, afflicted, l tormented; (3S) Of whom the world was not worthy; they wandered in l deserts, and in mountains, and ln l dens, and caves of the earth. t3S) 1 And these all having obtained good report through faith received not the promise: t4) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made per 1 feet. CD Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great q cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside | IL; z. 90 easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set be- 1 fore us @ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the l shame, and is set down at the right I hand of the throne of God.
 ] Time.-Uncertain Place.-Uncer- 1 tain.
 l Exposition-l. What is Faith? l. In verse 1 We have a very explicit 1 and suggestive definition of faith; in the verses that immediately follow many illustrations of faith; and in the closing verses of the chapter Of | description of the triumphS of faith. As to what faith is it is the assur- ance of things hoped for, the convic- tion of things not seen" GA. R. VI. The ground of this assurance and conviction is Gas we clearly see in the illustrations that folloW) the Word of God (cf. Rom. 10: ID. Faith looks a the Word of God and that alone; sees what God promised and rests assured that it will all come to pass just as He says. It puts all to the test by l acting as if it were so. Faith asks no questions beyond what God says, | believes exactly what God does say 1 will come to pass, and Obeys what God commands. To believe God is to rely upon or have unhesitating assur- lance of the truth of Gods testimony, even if it is unsupported by other evidence, and to rely upon and have unfaltering assurance of the fulfill ment of His promises, even though everything seems against such full filment (cf. l Jno }: 10, R. V; Jno.
 ,: A, R. V; Ac. 27: 22-25; Rom i
 3. 1921. R. V: Heb II: 13).
 H. The Heroes and Victories Of
 Faith, vs 32-40. The Holy Spirit in verses 43l has recorded some of the most outstanding manifestations and achievements of faith, and now come; a brief but suggestive catalogue of
 ether heroes not mentioned in detail, and summary of their victories
 Ten things that they did are men
 tioned: illustrations of these ten things are found in the old Testa-
 ment: CD "Subdued kingdoms" @
 Wrought righteousness" (3) "Ob-
 tained promises. (D Stopped the
 mouths of lions - Daniel, (5D
 "QUenched the power of fire" Shad-
 farh. Meschach and Abednego. (e)
 Escaped the edge of the sword @
 From weakness were made strong,
 S) "Waxed mighty in war" (9)
 Turned to flight armies of aliens" 10 Received their dead by a resur-
 rection.' Then follows a list of things suffered of many of the illus
 tratiOns are found in the old Testa-
 ment. But all the suffering was to issue in far greater reward and the suffering was not worthy to be com pared with the glory which was to come out of it (cf. Rom. s. IS: ? Cor. 1: 17, 1S. Of those who suff-
 cred and died the world was not worthy The world thought that they
 were not worthy of it and so sent them out of it; but while the world despised, rejected and slew them. God
 bore witness to them because of their
 faith (v. 39, R. V). They did not re-
 ceive the promise which God had made but the promise had not failed,
 they will vet receive it when tn.
 number of heroes of faith is perfected
 md we together with them shall "be
 made perfect (vs. 39, 4O)
 | III. Therefore let us also" 12: 1 ,. The Holy Spirit mentions this long list of heroes of faith to stir up believers still living to their full duty
 The thought of verse l is not .hat
 these who have gone before into the
 eternal world are looking at us today
 there is no place in the Bible that
 teaches us thaD. This interpreia-
 tiOn comes from misunderstanding If the Eibie usage of the word wit
 ness" witness in the Bible does testifies. Their witness does not con
 sist in looking at us, but in their l eGtifying to Cod and the truth of
 lis Word. But on the ground of the
 testimony of this great cloud of tes-
 Ifiers, our duty is plain G) Hay aside every weight" No runners ever
 -8rry any extra burden. There are
 things which we may not be able to
 prove are sin but which are certainly