The Dolores star., 1924-06-20
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sl1nadaySc]lool .
Lesson '
(By REV. p. b. FITZwATER, DID. Teacher
Of EDgliah Bible in the Moody Bible Insti.
tute of Chlcago.)
20. 1924 Western Newspaper Union.D
Lesson for June 22
REVIVAL UNDER EZRA AND NE.
HEMIAH

LESSON TEST-keh. S:1-1S; 13:l-6;
1881.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Return unto me.
and 1 will return unto you. saith the
Lord of hosts."-Mal. 3:7.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Lenrning From
Gods Word.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Value of Bible Study.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Bible in the Life of Nation.
The lesson committee has desig-
mated this as reforms. but 1t was more
than reform. 1t was a revival. 1t re-
quires the quickening of Gods spirit
to induce men, especially whole ma
ton, to turn to God from their sins.
This Is fine Illustration of the right
full place of Gods word In the life of
q nation.
!. The Word Of God Being Read
(Neh. S:1-3.
!. The Eager Assembly ". ~. The
people gathered themselves together
and spake unto Ezra to bring the
book of the law. The people with
yenrning hearts requested the reading
Of Gods Word.
.. A Representative Assembly ".
~ IL was ''p VI ihtll, "oileI
and children. Tie men did not leave
the spiritual affairs to the women,
neither We're the children left at home.
3. An Appreciative Assembly ". 81.
So eager were they to know Gods
Word that they did not get tired, al
though the lessons lasted for five or
six hours. Their ears were attentive
from morning until midday.
~. The Peoples Attitude Toward
Gods Word (Neh. $500.
1. Reverence Shown Gods Word
wv. 4, -. When Ezra opened the
Law, all the people stood up out of
respect for Gods Word.
.. They Joined Heartily in the
Prayer. AS Ezra led them in prayer
they Joined heartily in saying, "Amen,
| Amen" bowling their faces to the
ground.
III. Gods Word Being Interpreted
(Neh. ST, 81
The attitude of the people toward
Gods Word largely depends upon the
minister.
1. He Stood Up Where the People
Could See Him. ". 81.
.. He Read Distinctly ". 81. Much
Bible reading Is greatly to the dis
credit of the Word and the reader.
3. Caused the People to Understand
the Reading ". 81. The supreme busi-
ness of the minister and teacher is to
make the Word of God so plain that
all-old and young-can understand.
~. The Effect Of Applying Gods
Word to National Life (Neh. S:0-1S).
1. Conviction of Sin ". 81. The
Word of God is quick and powerful
Heb. 4:12). 1t brings conviction of
sin (Acts :3D. Gods method of con-
victing men of sin is to have His
Word applied by the Holy Ghost.
2. Weeping Turned Into Joy wv.
10-12). When sins have been per-
ceived and confessed God would not
have His children to be sad. Con-
tinued mourning will not atone for the
sins that are past. 1t units one for
present tasks and dIshonors a pardon
ing God.
3. They Shared Their Blessings
With Others wv. 1O-12). True joy
manifests itself in giving to others.
4. lUe oDtSeu WV. lO-lSJ. \.
In their acquaintance with the Scrip
lures they found that the Feast of the
Tabernaces had been long neglected.
They went to work and kept this sa-
cred feast In n way that it had not
been kept since the days of Joshua
". 10.
5. Separation From the Ungodly
(Neh. 13 :1-3). AS soon as they had
heard the Word of God, they sepa-
rated themselves from the mixed null
titude.
g. The House of Worship Was
Cleared and Order Restored (Neh.
10 :4-14). No nation can be strong
which neglects its worship pf the true
God.
Z. Restoration of the Sabbath (Neh.
13:15-2). Israel had long violated the
Sabbath. Unnumbered evils follow in
the wake of Sabbath desecration. To
ignare the essential law of the Sab
bath is national suicide.
8. Restoration Of Gods Law of Mar
riage (Neh. 13 :23-3D. When those
who had intermarrIed with the
heather were brought face to face
with their sin, they separated them
selves from their ungodly companions,
because they could not have Gods
favor while living In disobedience to
HE Word