The Dolores star., 1923-10-05

lIESSpN l-ptha A''
17-1S: 22:i5-ls.
GOLDEN TEXT-"In Thee shall all
families of the earth be blessed
Gen. 1873.
PRIMARY TopIC-Being Blessing
to Others.
JUNIOR ToPIC-A Man Who became
n Blessing to the World.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Abraham. a Religious Pioneer.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Abraham. a Religious Pioneer.
l. Abraham,s Ancestors (Josh. "a ..
IA.
Abraham's people were idolaters.
Very likely us young man, he himself
worshiped idols. Tradition furnishes us
with some interesting stories touching
his struggle against idolatry. At any
rate, his experience was such ms TO wen
qualify him to be the head of people
whose God was the Lord. He knew how
h0pelessly disastrous idolatry was to
the morals Of the people, and, there
fore. would be able to lead them back
to God
u. Abraham's Call (Gen. 12:1,
cf Acts 7:2-3).
God came to him in Ur of the Chal-
dees and said unto him:
|. "Get thee out of thy country
One Is tied TO his country with a
strong bond Abraham had lived long
enough TO have formed strong attach
ments TO his country.
.. Get thee out from thy kindred
Abraham was not only to leave be-
hind him his native land, but his rela-
tlves ms well, even his fathers house.
Since his kindred were idolaters, he
must leave them. Abraham was TO
become II pilgrim. to be without a
home. Even in Canaan, the only land
he ever owned, was a burial place.
3. Unto the land that ! will show
thee" He was not told what or where
the land was. lie went out not know
ing whittier he went (leb. IL :S).
While he dwelt in tents during his
earthly sOjourn, yet ''he looked for
city which hath foundations whose
builder and maker is God" (Heb.
S:l0). And thus he was a typical be
lever called out from his family and
country, and renouncIng idoatry, he
walked by faith testifying to his and
succeeding generations to the faithful
ness Of God. II costs to obey God, but
there is an abundant recompense.
III. Gods Promise to Abraham
(Gen. l. :2-3; 1S:l7-1S).
!. The Father of Great Posterity
". y. This has been literally fulfilled.
lie was not to go out primarily for
what he could get, but for what he
could do. The minister and mission
ary forget their own personal bless
ings In the supreme joy of their con-
verts who are the fruits OF their labor.
No name in all history equals that Of
Abraham In Its honorable influence.
his Is the name Of honor among Jews,
Mohammedans and Christians. They
all acknowledge him as father.
z. Blessing to Others wv. 2. 81.
lie was not only to become great and
to share Gods blessings. but to be n
pressing to others. He has become n
pressing to countless multItudes. This
Is the prevailing law Of the spiritual
lfe-belng blessed to be a blessing.
Those who respond to this law become
{ the very touchstone of God, so precious
that God VIII bless them who bless
them and curse those who curse them
God makes common cause with His
people. SO vitally Is He one with
.hein that 1t Is serious thing to mis-.
treat them. To maltreat Gods chill
dren Is to lift the hand against God.
No one who goes against Him can
prosper. Not only Is this so with ref.
erence to wilful acts against His cbil.
dren, but neglect or refusal to do good
to them. Christ regards all nets ,or
or against them as for or against
Him.
". God Testing Abraham (Gen.
22:2-1s). >e"'
Abraham's faith was shown in TINT
ne obeyed the call Of God and left bIs
iahd and kindred, but his faith
reached Its highest point In. Offering
isaac. For many years, he bad waItad
ror the fulfllment Of Gods promise a.
10 MS heir. At last that promise wa.
reality. Abraham's hope was not the
ofuihary nope which fills the heart Of
every father' that his name and work
may De perpetuated through his son
a new nation and the worlds Savior
were to spring up from Abraham
through this son. Through this great
ordeal, his faith responded enoh,ynn
MN 10 believe that God would give
isaac back from the dead (Heb
IL u, :i'-l9). God tries all His children
.n ne more Important, the more severe