Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-27
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

ger, Just as the allies have had of los
ing the material. munitions and men,
that have been sent over to help win the
war from American ports, for the trip
from Babylon, whether over the desert
or not. was infested by bands of rob-
bers who would welcome the prospect
OF capturing such caravan and its
rich treasure. The responsibility for
the safety of the women and children,
as we'll as of the gifts worth fully
si.000.00o. rested heavily upon Ezra. He
was ashamed after his boasting of
Gods protection to request a convoy
of the kings troops. He put his faith
to a test by committing the care and
protection Of the caravan in Gods
keeping after season of prayer and
fasting. His trust In God was reward
ed. for, in due season. they reached Je-
rusalen safely, so that Ezra praised
gel of the Lord had watched over them
during their whole pilgrimage.
Prayer fitted them for Gods service.
Modern psychology has given men some
light upon the value Of prayer, SO that
they can understand its power. 1t
teaches that men are not like impene-
trable rocks, but like a lake fed by
subterranean streams. Through prayer
ones personality. or spirit. is brought
into communication with God SO that
one receives power. One opens up not
only the unseen powers of the human
soul through divine worship, secret
prayer and the study of the Bible, but
such spiritual service opens up chan
mel to Gods love and life, through which
one obtains blessings from the Lord
Faith without works is dead" To each
member of the caravan was assigned a
special service SO that the responsible
lty for the pilgrimage WAS divided
among all the members.
Ezra sought to efface himself. He in
trusted to the chosen men who were
holy unto Jehovah" the care of the
free Will offerings for the religious
work Of the temple. He recognized
that only spiritual men could be de-
pended upon to perform spiritual serv-
ice. 1t is still true, for only those
souls whose hearts have been renewed
by the ragenerating grace of the Lord
Jesus. filled with love for souls and an
nointed with the power of the Holy
to do effective service. During the pill
grimage to glory every Christian is in
trusted with the priceless message of
the gospel. which must be proclaimed
were held accountable for the gifts in
trusted to them. All disciples of the
Lord will be compelled to render unto
Him at the day of judgment an ac-
count of how they have used the tai
ents committed to them. Service dem
onstrates ones fidelity to the Lord Je-
sus.
Ezra recognized that the success of
his Journey to Jerusalem was due to
Gods blessing, for he relates that the
hand of our God was upon US. and He
delivered US from the hand of the en-
envy and of such as lay in wait by the
way" Five times in his account of
the pilgrimage Ezra refers ito the
hand OF our God" This Is the key to
His success and heroism. The private
that prayed amid the taunts of his
bunkies at Fort Meade demonstrated
that he had the stun of which officers
are made. He received his promotion
because Of his loyalty to God.
The man who fails is the one who
shuts God out of his life. The man
who trusts God and seeks to do His
will always wins victories. Stonewal
Jackson. one Of the worlds greatest
strategists. and Chinese Gordon. mill
tary genius of Great Britain. found
their. Inspiration for military success
In prayer.
- Finding. following. ksep struggling.
Il He sure "a, b3sss7 g..
Angus, martyfs. saints and psophsf9
Answer s'Yss."