The Coolidge examiner., 1937-06-24

Imtroped N SUNDAY
Uniform cC-~~,
-:-LESSON - -
BY REV. HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST.
Dean of the Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for June 27

LESSON TEXT-Hebrews 1870, IT.
%
GOLDEN TEXT-These all died in
faith, not having received the promises,
but having seen them afar off, and were
persuaded of them. and embraced them.
and confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth.-Hebrews
lib
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Honor Roll.
JUNIOR TOPIC-God's Honor Roll.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Heroes of Faith.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Faith Tested and Triumphant
The great "heroes of the faith"
chapter, Hebrews II, provides an
excellent review summary of the
messages in Genesis, which we
have studied during the last three
months. Fittingly, the entire ac-
count, from the Creation to the hope
for the future expressed by Joseph,
revolves around the word Faith"
The patriarchs had many noble
qualities but these were all rooted
in the fundamental of all virtues,
namely, that faith in God without
which 'it is impossible to please
him" ". g..
Our study may well attempt no
closer analysis of the text than to
note the results of faith as they ap-
pear in the verses of our lesson.
/. Understanding ". 81.
Philosophy and human research
frequently bog down in the confused
bypaths of unbelief and partial
knowledge, but faith cuts right
through the clouds and the confu-
sion and understands" that God is
the creator of all things. If you
want to know, believe God.
III. Worship ". ~.
The world abounds with cults and
religions of almost unbelievable di-
versity, and of appalling insufficient
cy for the needs of man. Only when
man does as did Abel, and worships
God in accordance with Gods holy
law will he obtain witness that he"
is righteous.
I'll. Fellowship ". 50.
Here again faith triumphs. The
societies and associations of man
tumble around trying to establish
good WILL" Fellowship of faiths"
and what not, only to fail. But when
man knows God as Enoch did,
then he is ready for true fellowship
with his brother.
Nv. Assurance ". g..
When a man trusts God implicitly
the uncertainties of life vanish. 1t
is an easier thing to talk about than
to do, but, thank God, it can be
done. We must believe not only that
God is, but by faith we must recog-
nize him ''as the rewarder of them
that diligently seek him."
v. Salvation ". y.
Saved by faith-that is the story
of the Christian, even as it was the
story of Noah. The ark is typical of
Christ. Only in him is there saliva
tion.
vi. Obedience wv. 8, 81.
The world has a ribald saying, II
don't know where I'm going but I'm
on my way" which represents
dangerous philosophy of life. But
faith in God enables one to 60 with
Abraham who when he was called
went out. not knowing whittier he
went" He knew God and that was
enough to call forth unquestioning
obedience.
VII. Vision ". 10.
Men of vision-that's what we
need, we are told. Well, then we
need men of faith who can see the
unseen, who can see "a city which
hath foundations" even in the midst
of the wilderness.
VIII. Resurrection (vv. 17-19).
God gave promise and the only
means of fulfilling that promise was
about to be taken away, but Abra-
ham did not hesitate for he believed
that God was able and ready to
raise the dead if necessary to fulfill
his promise. Have all our prospects
been dashed to the ground? Is ev-
erything hopeless, humanity speak
ing? God is both willing and able
to make all things work together
for good and for his glory.
TX. Hope (vv. 20-22).
The forward look-that is the look
of faith. Isaac's blessing concerned
things to come" Jacob, too weak
to stand alone, leaned on his staff
and worshiped, and passed on the
covenant blessing. Joseph gave
commandment concerning his body,
looking forward to Gods fulfllment
of the promise.
Christian hope is not wishful de-
sire that an unbelievable thing may
somehow occur. That is an unbe-
lieving misuse Of the word hope" "
To a child of God hope means a
well-grounded assurance that God
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