Middletown transcript., 1920-11-06
; IllRIoyflp .tnrol,i INTERNATIONAL
,SOlY|(YSC|lO0L.
i LESSON
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 7
PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN .LIv.
ING.
By REV. P. p. FITZWATER, d. D.,
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
Ca 1890. Western Newspaper Union)

LESSON TEXT-l91tt. Gilt: L
GOLDEN Texts ELK We first the king
1om OF God and his RI ;hteousness: and all
these things shall b. added unto you.-
Matt. 6:3a
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Mark 10:
n-a1: Luke 11:24; 12:22-2.
PRIMARY TOP1C-Our Heavenly Fa-
ther's Care.
JUNIOR TOP1C-Jesus Teaching How
! 70 Pray.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Golden Rules for Living.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Counsels for Daily Living.
Having set forth in the previous
chapters the standard of righteous
ness, Christ now exhibits the under
lying principles which control the heir
to the kingdom.
!. As to Giving (6:14).
Doing aims before men is not con-
demned. as that would contradict
Matthew 5:16, but the doing of them
before men to be seen Of them. To
seek publicity in doing our aims is
to miss the reward of our heavenly
Father.
u. As to Praying (6:5-15).
]. False prayer wv. s, y. This con-
sists (1) in praying to be seen and
heard of men ". 81. (2) Using vain
repetitions ". y. This does not mean
that. We should ask but once, for we
| nf Hhv3e, DovV
praying three times for the same thing
Matt. 26 :3946; II Ger. 1877, 81. but
the using Of meaningless repetitions.
2. True prayer ". g.. Since prayer
| is transaction of the soul with God.
we should have real desire for fell
lowship with the Father, then go and
meet him in secret.
3. The model prayer wv. 9-15). This
involves (1) right relationship-"Ou
Father" ". 81; (2) right attitude
"Hallowed be thy name" wv. 8. 10Y
t3) right spirit-"Give us our daily
bread" Forgive us our sins," lead
us not into temptation" wv. 11-13).
III. As to Fasting wv. 1924.
AAN Lulu hACW lAlC
which would befall his children in
their pilgrimage here below touching
wordliness, and the anxiety to which
1t would lead; therefore, he sets forth
the proper attitude toward them:
1. The nature of earthly riches wv.
10, Ply. () Uncertain wv. 10. 20).
Earthly treasures corrode, or are taken
from us. (2) Seductive ". Ply. Christ
called riches deceitful (Matt. 13 :22).
It is not wrong to possess earthly
treasures, but when earthly treasures
possess us they become snare.
2. The effect of earthly riches wv.
22-24). (D They blunt the moral and
spiritual perceptions wv. 22-23). When
the heart Is upon earthly treasures 1t
is taken off God. (2) They render
null and void all service ". 24).
~. As to Faith in the Heavenly
Father wv. 25-34).
1. Be not anxious about food and
clothing wv. 25-32). Because (D It
shows distrust for God ". 3O). (2)
1t is useless ". 31). Anxiety can
bring nothing. (3) 1t Is heathenish
". 92). Those who have not learned
to know God may worry over tenn
poral affairs, but those who know him
as q loving Father should be free
from care.
2. Be anxious to seek the kingdom
Of God and serve him wv. SO. 34).
This does not forbid proper fore
thought in making q reasonable sup
port for ones self and family.
v. As to censorious Judgments
T:1-12).
1. The sin and folly of censorious
judgments. This does not forbid US
making an estimate of the lives of
those about us, for ''by their fruits
ye shall know them;" neither does
It prevent US from administering re-
buke to those who deserve 1t. It re-
Dukes that readiness to blame others
and to magnify their weakness and
errors.
2. The duty Of discrimination in
dealing cut holy things ". g.. The
gospel should be preached to all, but
there should be discrimination, for
"dogs and swine' have no comprehen-
sion as to holy things.
8. Qualification for discrimination
wv. 7-12). ~ A life Of prayer (vv.
7-11). A life Of prayer is a requisite
for rightly divining the word Of truth.
(2) A disposition to treat others as
one would be treated ". 12). In all
doubtful questions between man and
man we should deal with our fellows
as we would have them treat us. The
whole law concerning the human rela-
ton is compressed into this one rule.
It is not merely to refrain from do
ing injury. but positively to do that
for others which we would desire to
have done unto us under similar cir
cumstances. Confucius set forth this
principle negatively, but only the
Christ could do it positively. Between
the negative and positive sides Of this
rule is found the difference between
heathenism and Christianity. No man
can live this rule unless he has been
born from above and abides with
Christ in the school of prayer, till he
becomes like Him.