Christ. Their gift was taken by Paul and Barnabas to the leaders of the Chris tians who were in need. How faithfully the early Christians worked together for their Lord! None of them selfishly tried to keep all they could for themselves; each one was so filled with God’s love that others were always first in his thoughts. There are many things in our Lord’s work that we cannot do alone; we must work with a group of His children if we would see them done. Sin makes us want to do that which will bring glory and praise and honor to.ourselves; the Lord Jesus’ love causes us to want to do only those things which will be well-pleasing in His sight and which will bring the greatest joy to His children. Paul reminded the Chris tians that they were workers together with God. Pray that in your church and in your home your Lord will be allowed to control all of your plans so that truly you will be workers together with Him! The two passages chosen for this week’s lesson give us a look into the future and a look into the present. In the Isaiah passage man’s future condi tion is presented; in the Acts passage his present nature is set forth. A Look Into the Future Isa. 65:17-25 The prophet sees the coming day when Israel will come into an experience of blessing such as that nation has never yet enjoyed. In the passage before us both the millennial and the eternal states of Israel are seen. The passage is main ly a description of the millennial state. However, in verse 17, a declaration is made of what will be brought about after the millennial period is over. The latter will eventually merge into the eternal state at which time “the former shall not be rememheredj nor come into mind” . Then in verse 18 the prophet reverts to a millennial description. This continues to the end of the chapter. What will be the nature of this pe riod? It will be a time of rejoicing (w . 18, 19). Jerusalem will be the center of worship and the object of wholesome in spiration in those days. Sorrow will be at a minimum because Satan will be bound and Christ will be reigning. All evil will be under severe restraint. Longevity of life will be restored (v. 20). One who is a hundred years old in that time will seem like a youth. There will be death and sin during this time but they will be rare. The economic sit uation will be ideal in that day (w . 21- 23). The glaring inequalities so preva lent today will be removed. Every man will own his own home and his table will be full of satisfying food which he can afford to buy. Then, too, prayer will be immediately answered (v. 24) in those September 23, 1951 WORLD CITIZENS Isa. 65:17-25; Acts 17:24-28 Pointers on the Lesson
days for the reason that those who pray will be in perfect harmony with the di vine will. This reminds us of the great prayer of Daniel. Even before he fin ished his prayer, the angel Gabriel in dicated to him that his prayer was an swered (Dan. 9:20-23). This was because Daniel was praying in the perfect will of God. It is not always so today. God’s children do not always pray in the will of God. Sometimes there is a bit of pride or selfishness in their praying and there must be delay therefore in answering that a purging may take place. Finally, there will be peace in that glorious fu ture time (v. 25). Even nature itself will be restored to peaceful ways (cf. Rom. 8:21). And man’s relation to man will be wonderful. Fear and hatred of one another will be removed. A Look at Man’s Present Condition Acts 17:24-28 We have it revealed in this passage that God is the creator of this world and of everything that is in it (v. 24). He is not to be worshiped by anything that man can bring to Him. Salvation is only by the gift of Himself to men (v. 25). So many times men get this matter backwards. They think salvation depends upon what they can give to God, rather than upon what God wants to give to men by His grace. It is further revealed in these words that from the standpoint of creation, all men are of the same blood (v. 26). There is no difference in this respect between the white man and the black man. There is therefore such a thing as the natural brotherhood of man. This is in no sense the same as the spiritual brotherhood that comes about through the new birth. In the first sense all men are the created offspring of God. In the second sense only those who are born again by the Spirit of God are spiritual brethren. Paul was waiting in the city of Athens for two of his missionary helpers to join him. While he waited in the wicked city, he was greatly troubled at the idol wor ship there. Some of the false teachers began to talk with Paul; others said that Paul was telling them of strange gods, for they had never heard of the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. At last they brought the great missionary to one of their chief meeting places and began to question him concerning his beliefs. Because the Athenians spent most of their time either telling or hearing some new thing, Paul knew that this was a won derful opportunity to witness for the Lord Jesus. Boldly Paul stood up and told of the Saviour. The Athenians were so afraid that they would neglect to Helps for the Children God’s Love for All Acts 17:16, 17; 17:22-28 Memory Verse: “Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?” (Mai. 2:10).
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