Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-06-19
IMPROVED UNiFoRM INTERNATIONAL
Sil1gldaySchool
' Lesson '
stBy REV P. b. FITZwATER DID, Teacher
Of English Bible in the Moody Bible Insti-
3 tute Of Chicago.)
20, 1924 Western Newspaper Union.)
REVIVAL UNDER EZRA AND Me-
HEMIAH

LESSON TExT-Neh. s:1-1s; 1915;
| 1881.
| GOLDEN TEXT-"Return unto me,
and l will return unto you, saith the
Lord of hosts. NAL. 81.
| PRIMARY TOPIC-Learning 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 it was more
! than reform. 1t was revival. 1t re-
| quires the quickening of Gods spirit
to induce men, especially a whole ma
ton, to turn to God from their sins.
This is a fine illustration of the right
full place of Gods word in the life of
a nation.
|. The Word of God Being Read
(Neh. S:1-3)
1. The Eager Assembly ". y. The
people gathered themselves together
and spake unto Ezra to bring the
book Of the law. The people with
yearning hearts requested the reading
of Gods Word.
2. A Representative Assembly ".
p. 1t was made up of men, women
and children. The men did not leave
the spiritual affairs to the women,
neither were 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.
II. The Peoples Attitude Toward
Gods Word (Neh S:4-6)
j. Reverence Shown Gods Word
wv. 4, 81 When Ezra opened the
Law, all the people stood up out of
respect for Gods Word.
2. 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
l. He Stood Up Where the People
Could See Him. ". 81.
2. He Read Distinctly w. 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 bust /
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:9-1S) /
l. Conviction of Sin ~. 81. The
Word of God is quick and powerful /
Heb. 4:12l 1t brings conviction of /
sin (Acts 2:37). 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-
ceiyed and confessed God would not |
have Ills children to be sad, Con
tinued mourning will not atone for the I
sins that are past 1t units one for
present tasks and dishonors a pardon
ing God.
5. They shared Their Blessings
With Others wv 1O-l2). True joy +
manifests itself in giving to others
A. The People Oheyed wv. 1919. I
In their acquaintance with the Scrip I
lures they found that the Feast Of the
TabernacIes had been long neglected.
They went to work and Kept this sa-
cred feast in a way that it had not /
been kept since the days of Joshua
(v. ~.
5. Separation From the Ungodly
(Neh 1919 As soon as they had
heard the Word of God, they sepa-
rated themselves from the mixed null
titude.
6. The House of Worship Was
Cleared and Order Restored (Neh.
13 :414. No nation can be strong
which neglects its worship of the true
God.
Z. Restoration Of the Sabbath (Neh.
1315-2). Israel had long violated the
Sabbath. Unnumbered evils follow in
the wake of Sabbath Dissertation. To
ignore the essential law of the Sab
bath is national suicide
s. 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 disobeGience to
His Word.