Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-07-28
MIEpNkT
SUNIlEYS.QOOL
LESSON
(By r. o. SELLERS. Acting Divecturrot
the Sunday School Course in the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago,
Copyright. 1917 Western NJ .wspaper Union.
LESSON FIR JULY 29
GODS GRACIOUS INVITATION.

The Bible is throughout forward
looking book. No matter how dark
the light. if looks forward to the dawn
of a new and better day. Whenever
written, the prophet looks forward TO-
ward the end of the BabylOnian exile.
Isaiah died about 142 years before that /.
event. That scene is laid in BABY
lonia. Isaiah prOphesied in Jerusalem
I. The Invitation, wv. 49, In or
der TO understand the fullncSS ana .
blesscdness of this invitation, we /
should read in its connection chapters .
SO and 81. In chapter 53 we have .
prophecy and vision of the Messiah .
making his atonement for sins, .
"yvoupded for our tranSgreSSionS.
Again we have in this connection
nicture Of the Messiah as our leader
and Savior. In chapter % we have
the invitation and joyous welcome TO
the beautiful city which he is estaD-
fishing for us.
~ Who Is Invited? The word "lio'
is perhaps an abbreviatlon~of the
word Hold" used to excite attention.
This invitation is extended to every
one: (a) the thirsty" TO those VINO
are needy; (b) the poor and the rich;
those "vithout mOley," and the supply
Is abundant. even IS the water. Every
one is invited without limitation or
| distinction. The greatness OF Il man
spirit is measured by the numbers Of
his desires and tlErsts, by their quail
tiles and by his capacities or the in
tensity of his thirst. Those invited
were to have "wine," a luxury, and
"milk." a staple necessity, without
money and without price. The cur
rency Of the kingdom Of Heaven Is
grace ". ~.
(2) Who VIII cSme? ". 81. Only
those who are 4is4eAing and who are
attentive. Many Lail of eternal life
because they do not pay attention to
the claims of religion. "Come unto
me-" Matt. IL :2$). We go to God
for salvation and help, and we find
life. Life is moae than mere exist
ence. 1t is the natural, harmonious,
joyous activity of every part of our
being. The result of coming is, ''your
soul shall live" and the surety Of it
is, IAN everlasting covenant" Liter.
ally, an agreement with promises
. which can never be broken, namely,
!. "the sure mercieslof Davia1 (see Il
Sam. u 20; Corl IL :7-27t Ps. 50 IA
Ttalso Luke 20:41. 4D. Aare bouRhi
8Dnu,~a-saa.-~ok Il, -aa.s eautceun001l
"a -~--~f<~ - v@---s r--,1n.-~.< L. :.
our Savior; the me- ~
satisfaction Is IN lat Ill Il L ~ -
Wv. 2. 81. Christ ibey faithful witness
the exalted one, tbreD to this cove
4 nant.
E (s) When to CT 81. While
. he may be found and while he i;
? near. implying d time when he may
q not be found and d time when he viii
| not be near. All Of Gods promises are
conditional.
(4) The Way to Come ". y. For
sake open sin, turh from unrighteou'
8 thought, turn to THE Lord and receiv'
+, his multiplied pardon" Man is every
;, where depicted in the Scriptures al
wandering away Rom the true Coz
and there is no salvation If We insis
i on continuing In sip.
II. The Transformation wv. S-13)
Gods promises havb back of them al
> the power Of the universe and are a
IL certain as the process Of the seasons
In working out his transformation II
IS the character of ma n, we are to thinl
al his thoughts after him. We see ant
m know only very little of this spirit
20 but God sees, knows and controls tn
=, universe, which is at his command
Il Cor. 10 10; Phil. :19). We are t
enter into his ways, and his ways ar
as the heavens, higher than those o
>e the earth. Having entered into hi
~ ways we are to bring his fruits (se
lr John 15). If the Divine seed ". II
lg is implanted within US, then we may ex
m pect to see the fruits of the kingdom
of God, which are born Of the spirit
" (Gal. s :22-26). This transformatio
bo involves service, for we are to have
!. mission, "go out to oil the earth" be
ing led by the Messiah and thus re
- ceive "joy and peace" AS sure q
81 'the rain cometh down and the snON
from heaven and returneth not bu
a. watereth the earth" so is the seed G
nj the Word In the hands of the sower,
1t become bread to the eater. AS we G
if forth we have his promise ". III tina
nd at shall not return void but shall az
=. complish that which please, and
-, shall prosper in the thing whereto
:, sent it," -
AS a result the "thorns" (evil
u shall be displaced by "fg trees
We (good). Gods word bears fruit In In
nG planted lives. John 8 :S3; James is
nc ! Peter :23). God calls this wort
=" which is spoken Of by the prophet, M
Of word" What the prophet says, Go
says, What On inspired man says, Go
NJ inspires him TO say. Gods promis
;. will be consummated in redeeming $,
:. ciety, as well as redeemlng creatio
~ wv. 1918; Oh. 80 10; 40 :e,1o; 81 II
Jer. 81 :12-14; lisa. 35.1,2). The lal
ne guage about the mountains and hill
ic- breaking forth into singing, Is il
ION terpreted in Psalms 65:11,l3,
sct
not