The Brinkley argus., 1919-04-04
LESSON FOR APRIL 6
GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY.

GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY.
 LESSON TEXTS-GenesIs 1:1. 27; Psalms 1C31-14; Matthew s:A-34.
 GOLDEN TEXT-Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.-Mat- thew ss.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Deutero my e:4 s; Psalms 145:1-21; Isaiah 6:1-3; Matthew 23:35-3S; John 4:24 John 4:7-16 PRIMARY TOPIC-The Heavenly Fa- ther's care for his children.
 JUNIOR TOPIC-God our Creator and Father.
 INTERMEDIARY ToPIC-what we owe to our Father in Heaven.
 [. God the Creator (Gen. II, 2D.
 God was before all things. God the uncaused cause Is the cause of all things. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (Psalm 9O:2). The uni verse came into being by the will and act of the personal being called God. In verse one Is enunciated the sub- lime philosophy of every right life. In the beginning of all science and philos- ophy-God in the beginning of every life-God; In the beginning of every year-God; in the beginning of every day-God; in the beginning of every business-God; in the beginning of ev- cry thought, plan and human relation ship-God Conviction as to this sets one free from the false philosophy of the age. Man himself is creation of God, not an evolution. Man was ere ated in the likeness and image of God This precludes the foolish idea that man ascended from and through a brute. He came into being by spe- cial creative act of God, having been preceded by special council of the Godhead (Gen. :26, 27). Those who believe this record repudiate the Dar- winian theory of mans origin as not only human vagary, but vicious philosophy inspired by the devil. When man came forth from the Creators hands he was neither a savage nor a baby he possessed the powers of a mature man. As an example of the
 
 animals as they passed before him.
 II. God the Preserver (Psalms 103 !: 1-1G.
 All created things would perish were 1t not for the preserving mercies of God. 1t embraces the following grac- ieus beneficial acts: 1. Forglves all iniquities (v. 3)se Pardon is the prime necessity if moral things are to be preserved. 2. Healeth all diseases (v. 3. This refers to the healing of the body and the soul Renovation of mans moral nature Is necessary. 3. Redeemeth the life from destruction (v. 4). Redemption implies the pay ment of all demands against the debt or. God in Christ performs the part which the individual failed to perform and crowns him with the full right of citizenship in his kingdom. 4. sat isfeth thy mouth" (v. 5. This means that God satisfies all legitimate desires and thus the youth is renewed The original capacities are restored to their native vigor 5. Executeth righteous ness and judgment (vv. 6-14). The wrongs of life are righted and thus man is relieved of the burdens which they entail. He extends his pity to- ward us.
 III. God Our Father (Matt. 6 :24-34).
 Christ came to reveal the Father The subjects of the kingdom will love him as a child loves its father.
 l. Undivided affection (v. 24) The child of the heavenly Father makes the unequivocal choice between God and the world, for unless God has the first place he has no place.
 2. Not anxious about food and cloth ing (vv. 25-32). CD It is useless (v. 27. Anxiety can bring nothing. My God will supply all our needs" (Phil. 4 4:19). (2) It shows dlstrust of the Father (vv. 2S-30). In the measure that one Is anxious about these things he shows his lack of faith in the abil- ity and love of God. If we would please God we must come to him in faith (Heb II ;6) The birds and flow CTS shame US in this (vv 26-2s). (3) It is heathenish (v 32). We do not wonder that those who are ignorant of God should manifest anxiety but for his children to do so is to play the heathen He knows that we have need of temporal things and if he cares for the flowers and birds he VIII surely not allow his children to suffer.
 g. He diligently seeks the kingdom Of God (yv. g, 34). He subordlAates temporal things to things of the spirit This shows the right relationship that a child of God Is to sustain to secu- lar affairs. This does not mean that a child of God does not exercise proper forethought in making support for himself and family. The warning is not against legitimate forethought, but anxious worry.
 Expenditures of Self.
 true perception of the Gospel Is the entire forgetfulness of self. utter