The Lakeland evening telegram., 1922-08-25
Sunday School
Lesson
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
EOR SEPTEMBER 3Rp

Subject-Nehemiah ReDuilds the
Walls Of Jerusalem.
Scripture-Neh. 3:1-41.
Golden Text-Our God will fight for
us-Neh. APO.
We can separate real prayer from
arate daylight from sunshine-there
cannot be one without the other.
Years ago very sad case of want
was reported in meeting conducted
by Mr.. Moody and he asked J.,V. Far
well to pray that it might be supplied.
His prayer covered all need. AT the
close Mr.. Moody said: "If | had the
money you have I'd answer that pray
er before night" and he did. Nehe-
miah told no one of what he had in
mind and thus he caught the devil
mapping. No wonder he's able to de-
feat so many-as they talk SO much
and do so little. Anyone who is under
taking will make no mistake by max
a good study of this whole chapter
All work that is worth while needs
a whole hearted service. We read this
twice in our Bible. Being n railroad
man nearly all my life | don't know
much about any other calling, but it
sure looks bad to see Christian man
out on the road in a half-hearted serv-
ice. None of US can find life growing
rich without earnest work But this
work CT lesson is work in the church
and this wall is type of the wall be-
tween the church and the world. 1t
was broken down, and does my reader
know that the line or wall is gone
outright. Oh, how blessed to know
that there are as faithful Christians
today as ever and shall ever be-our
God shall ever have his witnesses.
long as there is one man true to his
Lord the cause will go on. The most
of the church people think the devil is
only a joke. but he is a sad reality
and only by the Holy Spirit can he be
shut out entirely. My reader will turn
to Ezra 1 4:1-3 and see the devil trying
TO get in the church to do his dirt, as
he knows he can do his worst work
inside, but he failed as you see. Then
in verses 4 to 6 you see his next drive
fighting on the outside,-but he
must fail outside. In our lesson to-
day he is inside. The Sanballats have
their names on our church records
BE it remembered once for all that
name is not a part OF the church of
Christ-of God-Of which Jesus is the
head His maine is not ON the Lambs
book of life in glory. The HOlp Spirit
Of God himself puts all the names in
there and the devil can't touch that
book In the book Of LeYiticus we
read it was unlawful TO take a cripple
into the temple. so we see the type OF
that in Acts 3:2-the cripple was TAX
en- to the gate, or door, Of the temple
dared not take him inside. So no
cripples Gype of the unconverted) are
in the church or cannot be part of
the body of Christ,
In Eph. 4:11-16 we can see what is.
being done in the church membership
OF Jesus Christ. Does my reader ask
what one that is?
We can see the well between the
church sects Of today and it is quite
an expense. We may not understand
but there is a wall between the world
and the body of Christ. Some people
look at the church as a very cheap
thing and | know of some congrega-
tions that are cheap indeed, but the
church of God is to outshine every
thing and all but Christ himself Is
my. reader a part of it? Christ him
self was cast down as low as a god
less world could put him-on the cross
between two robbers, and, mind you,
it is the true Christian in the hands
of Christ that is changing this old
world from a hell to heaven by the
spirit of Christ in kindness to the
other fellow. Sure some will take ad-
vantage of you in that service but are
you going to let them cheat you out
of your part of this blessed service?
Let me tell you, if you do, you will
prove by that act that you are mem
Der of the sect only and not part OF
his body; that you are not included
in 1st John s.: 1-3. II that is true of
you, know that Christ by the Holy
Spirit is knocking at the door of your
heart to take you in. See Rev. 1920.
And all such shall see the wall fin
shed Then you, like Nehemiah,
shall be on the side that wins. Our
blessed Lord created the home, the
son, the daughter and the wife, and
he who fights against them is like the
rat fighting the buz saw. The church
is made up of the family-the second
best gift of God. All enemies of the
good are enemies of our loved ones
in our homes and if we would fight on
Gods side against all kinds Of sin in
all and on all sides; If we don't, we
dare not object to the devil taking
part of our home, and before you
answer decide which one you'll give
limits to you-not the devil. When
the parents of home have the word
Of God hid in the heart and family
altar erected, the church Of God Is in
that home and they have a wall about