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June, 1945
LESSON FOR JULY 29 God’* Covenant with Hi* People
YOUR PRAYERSARE NEEDED IN LOS ANGELES
LESSON MATERIAL) Genesl« 17:1-10. GOLDEN TEXT: Ml will establish my covenant between me atid thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an ever lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” (Gen. 17:7). Outline ond Exposition I. T he M aker of the C ovenant (G en . 17:1-3) W HEN dealing with the earth, God uses one of His names, El Shaddai, or Almighty God. He is the sovereign owner of all the earth. He sets up one and puts down another according to His will (Dan. 2:19-22). He alone has the right to give any portion of the earth to any people. He alone has the power to en force that right. To walk before such a God in a perfect way, Abram must recognize that right, bow to that authority, and be upright and sincere in his conduct. Almighty God declared that He would make His covenant with Abram and multiply him exceedingly. In awe, Abram fell on his face while God talked with him. It is El Shad dai who disposes of the peoples of the earth. He chose one nation above all others to represent Him. He is also Jehovah—Redeemer and Deliverer of that nation (Ex. 6:1-3). II. T he C ontent of the C ovenant (17:4-8) (El Shaddai meant to make Abram the father of many nations, hence his name was changed to “Abraham,” meaning “the father of a multitude” (v. 4, R. V. marg.). The purposes of Almighty God are so certain of ful fillment that He could speak as if it were already done: “A father of many nations have I made thee.” When God thus speaks, He has Abraham’s posterity in view (vs. 6, 7). Nations would spring from Abraham and kings would be among his de scendants. His reference to “thy seed after thee,” refers immediately to Isaac, but the one ultimately in view is Christ (Gal. 3:16). To that “seed” all the land of Canaan has been given “for an everlasting possession.” In a coming day that *seed” will take possession of that land according to the purpose and by the power of El Shaddai. Everything in the material realm depends upon Him as El Shad dai, and s p i r i t u a l blessings come through Him as Jehovah, Redeemer and Saviour.
III.- : T he S ign of the C ovenant (17:9, 10)
This month—June—ends our 54th year of service to the homeless men of Main Street. During this time count less thousands have accepted Christ at our altar. We need your financial support and your prayers to continue this great work. Here is what we did in 1944: Meals Furnished ................... 142,788 Beds Furnished .................... 28,633 Gospels of St. John . . ....... 11,548 Professed Conversion ......... 4,727 More than 1,000,000 service men have made use of the many free facilities of £he Victory Service. Club,.which is sponsored by the Mission, and many of them found Christ here since the club was opened. In addition.the Mission sponsors radio programs daily and on Sunday. Write for complete details. We need the help of Christian people everywhere. UNION RESCUE MISSION 226 South Main Street, Los Angeles GOSPEL SOUND FILMS (16mm motion pictures with sound) Scriptures Visualized films are helping pastors and evangelists attain a more effective ministry. They can do the same for you. What the Films Are Doing— s*‘“ 0 r ‘iS' revivals; leading children, young people and adults to the Lord Jesus Christ; increasing inter est and attendance in church and Sunday School. C roo P r e v ie w S e r v ic e — ^ you have not r r c c rrc v ic w se rv ice seen a Scr|ptm.e Visualized film hut have access to a 16mm. sound projector, you may easily see one. Write us about our convenient preview service. Projection Equipment— Jg jector and screen most suitable for yotir needs, at reasonable prices. Write us for particulars. c. O. BAPTISTA FILMS 325 W. Huron St. Chicaflo 10, III. ATTENTION, Pastors, Missionaries, Christian Workers, Students! Summer School at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles June 18— July 27 REGISTER NOW! D enver R ib le College SAM BRADFORD, President LEO LAPP, Dean Set to train workers for the Lord's harvest. Four-year College offering Bachelor of Arts, degrees in Bible and Christian Education; a l s o five-year degree course in Education. Meets highest academic standards . . . the Bible is the center of every course of study. Also two-year ana three-year diplo ma course in Bible. Write for information: address Registrar, Box KB 2047 Glenarm Place, Denver 5, Colorado
While the covenant to give the land to Abraham and his descendants was wholly unconditional, it. was to be sealed by circumcision. This 'Would be true in all generations of Abra ham’s people. To be in thé covenant, “ every man child” must be circum cised. Merely being born an Israelite did not constitute membership in the chosen race. Circumcision was im perative. Centuries later, this sign of material blessing to the land and nation was used as a sign- of spiritual blessing. It is as El Shaddai, the Almighty, that God deals with the circumcision in the material sphere, and in the sphere of redemption He deals with them as Je hovah Saviour (Gal. 5:6). For Israel as a nation, circumcision will be “throughout their generations.” For Christians there is no such thing; it is the cross of Christ that separates the Christian, the cross that works an inward birth begetting a new creation (Gal. 6:12-15). For us, our blessings are not material but spiritual (Eph. 1:3). ' "I am the Almighty God" (Gen. 17:1). The Hebrew word for the deity in this instance is El Shaddai. El means “mighty” or “strong,” Shaddai means “the sufficient one.” Thus the literal meaning of this wonderful di vine name is “the Mighty One Who is Sufficient.” This is the nature of the God whom Abraham was asked to trust in his day. This was the God who had promised him a seed and a blessing that would be world-wide. It did not appear then as if the promise would be fulfilled. He was ninety- nine years old and the son of prom ise was not yet born. But Abraham’s G od was the all-sufficient One. Therefore every promise would be made good. Christians serve the same God to day. He became incarnated in the fullness of time and said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He showed Himself to be everything that a sinner needs, the perfectly sufficient One. Note that following the Lord’s declaration of Himself as “the Al mighty God,” He commanded Abra ham: “Walk before me, and be thou perfect.” The revelation of His all- sufficiency brings with it an obliga tion to obey Him. Points and Problems 1.
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