Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-05-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson vIl.-Second Quarter, For
May l3, 1917.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, John Ky, lie.
Memory Verses, 7, Golden Text,
John XIV. documentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
1t certainly does seem strange to
have no lesson given from John xiv or
xvii. but we must not pass them by.
1t is true that part of chapter xiv was
suggested in connection with the last
review. but that gave no opportunity
for the study Of such a chapter
In the end Of yesterdays lesson
chapter Peter insisted that he was
ready to lay down his life for Christ's
sake. but the Lord. who knew all that
was in him. said that the cock would
not crow before Peter would thrice
deny Him xiii, 36-3S,. II our Lord
Immediately added the words. Let not
your heart be troubled" and the words
following He would seem to say. Al
though | know you so well, Peter, and
how weak you are. l would not have
you troubled. for some day | viii get
you all home to the mansions prepared
for you. and then there will be no
more failure on your part, but you will
each have a throne and reign with me
over the tribes of Israel luke xxi.
90, 30). 1t is truly pathetic to hear
Him say to Philip. Have been so
long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known Me?" xiv, o. But
that was His continual lament Israel
doth not know. They know not the
thoughts of the Lord. II thou hadst
known: o righteous Father, the world
hath not known Thee lisa. |, 8; Mic
~. II: Luke xix, AZ: John xvii. 25,. II
we only knew Him. and through Him
the Father. how very different the life
of believer would be- If the Com
forter. the Spirit of Truth. had full.
control of us, then the peace of God
neither be troubled nor afraid. We
would ask and receive to the glory of
God. and it would be manifest to 9th
ers that the Father. Son and Holy Spir-
it We're making their home in us xiv.
ID, IA. 16. II. %, 26. 20. The one
thing that we are here for. as the
Lords redeemed ones, Is to bear fruit.
more fruit. much fruit, that He may
be glorified (xv. Isl. The fruit of the
Spirit Is fully described in Gal. v
222-25. and all else is from the evil one
the prince of this world of John xiv. 80
According TO Eek XIV, the vine is good
for nothing if it does not bear fruit,
for nothing can be made of the wood
of 1t.
In Ps. Xxx. Sis. Israel is spoken of
as vine out of Egypt which filed
the land and covered the hills. vine
yard which His right hand had plant
ed, but which the enemy had wasted
In lisa. v. II. He again speaks of Is
rael as His vineyard and the men Of
Judah His pleasant plant and asks.
What could have been done more tc
my vineyard that have not done in
it!" Then He expresses surprise that
instead of the grapes He should have
had she gave Him only wild grapes:
instead of righteousness, oppression.
All is only failure. and always failure
on mans side and never but In one
instance could the Father say. In
Him ! am well pleased and only He
could say. Il do always those things
that please Him" Matt. xvii, 5: John
viii. 29i. He is the True Vine, the
True Bread. the True Light. the True
Tabernacle. the Truth. He never fail
ed in any detail of His life. and He
cannot fail to accomplish all that He
has purposed He is also the Branch
of the Lord. beautiful and glorious.
David's righteous Branch. the King
who shall reign and prosper; the serv-
ant the Branch: the man whose name
is the Branch. who shall build the tenn
pie OF the Lord lisa. Nv, 2: Jer. xiii. 5;
Zech. ILL., 8; vi. i2l. He is the only
source Of all fruit. for apart from Him
We are nothing and can do nothing
verse D. and He is our only example.
As the wise husbandman prunes his
vines, even though they bleed. and ties
them up and trains them as seems best
to him, we must not think Him unwise
or unkind If He deals so with us. but
consider Him who endured for us;
who. though He were a Son, yet learn
ed obedience by the things which He
suffered Heb. xii. 8: V. 81. As He
lived in His Fathers love. so He would
have US live in His love and remem-
Der that love Is always kind (verse o
and Cor. xiii. A.
1t should not he difficult to let such
love have its own way with us: but.
not having always the assurance that
It ia love. because It does not look to
US like it. We waver and fail. Hudson
Taylor thought that it is weakness that
abides. SO If we are consciously weak
We may always abide. Some perplex-
ing sayings in this lesson will seem not
difficult II We remember that He was
talking to true disciples. eleven really
saved men. and the truths concerning
fruit bearing were for these and all
saved people. From Cor. i'll. IA. Is.
we learn that 1t Is possible to be saved