Evening star., 1926-03-13
Sunday School Lesson
BY Ret. Hugh T. Stevenson.

their hearts could be untroubied.
His way calls for us to have faith in
God as our Father, in Jesus as our
Friend, Savior. Lord and coming
King, and in n future life. HIS aD-
sence, He assured the eleven. was to
be temporary and that IT would be
advantageous, because He would be
preparing q place for them in the
Fathers home. The privilege OF per
manent fellowship with the Christ
and the loved ones who have gone
on before has taught us that death Is
but an incident in life. We have maze
too much of death. Our Lord seldom
spoke of immortality. He always as
sumed its reality. 1t is the background
of His ministry. He came to give us
life. He Is the way to life everlasting.
The life we received from linn Is
marked by love for God. We prove
our possession of this life by keeping
His comma ndments. which include
the one to love one another.
In holding up the picture OF the
Fathers home as our future dwelling
place, Ile brought heaven near 10
men. There Is no SWeeter word IN any
language than home. 1t is not the
character Of the building but the love
of those who dwell in the home, be II
ever SO humble, that inspires US TO
StTuSSIc, SdCElIiCe anu " Nlii All tAlV
battles of life. The assurance of the
Fathers love and the way OF per-
sonal fellowship with the Lord Jesus
helps us to have faith in His perfect
sacrifice for sin. 1t is only as we
come through repentance and faith
to partake of His sacrificial death that
we can enter into His method of life
in fellowship with God as our Father.
His oneness with God was the basis
of His assurance TO His disciples that
they should do greater works through
their dwelling deep in Him.
The Comforter Promised.
The promise Of the Comforter was
based upon Christ's deity. In the
Lords prayer for the coming Of the
Holy Spirit, as we'll as His prayer for
His disciple" we find that It is not a
petition OF an inferior. but a request
Of an equal. The literal-minded
Thomas had his difficulties to under
stand the promises OF the Lord, just
as many modern doubters have their
problems. When men act on g scien-
tific method Of procedure, they can
come to know the Masters teaching
through doing His will. All can share
His poise, peace and power by exer-
cising faith-that is the foundation
of commerce, civilization and the
Christians religion-by responding to
the high calling Of God in Christ
| Jesus.
The stirring within a man that con-
victs him OF his individual sin and
reveals unto him Jesus Christ as his
Lord and Savior is the work Of the
| Holy Spirit, whom the departing Mas
| ter promised that He would send TO
| dwell with men. The Unseen Pres.
ence, who walks by our side giving US
delightful sense of power from on
! high. gave that same confidence to the
| apostles. He quickened their memory
| SO that they recalled the life, labors
! and the lessons Of Jesus in a way
| that filled them with a mighy, resist.
| less power. The secret of the success
of Christian effort during the cen
| turtles has been the abiding presence
! Of the Holy Spirit, who has helped
men to live the lives Of sons of God.
| He is still directing men to see in
Jesus ''the way. the truth and the
| life" Love is the test Of discipleship
and obedience to Christ's commands
| Is a proof Of our love. II we possess
| the life from above. we will enjoy the
| fellowship of our Lord. do His will
| and work through the presence and
power of the Holy Spirit, whom He
sent to fill His disciples with courage
to have faith in the Father, Christ
and future life and follow Him.