LESSON: Hosea, an Old Testament prophet, had one of the most difficult tasks imaginable—that of marrying a woman who left home, and when she was sold as a slave he went, bought her and took her home as his forgiven wife. We see the name of this prophet printed on this piece of paper. The great men of the Bible are often re membered because of one certain thing. Abraham for his faith; Moses as the law-giver; and David as a great king. Hosea is remembered as an exam ple of God’s forgiveness to the chil dren of Israel. If I opened this piece of paper on which HOSEA is printed, we shall better understand the sig nificance of his name. We read, JEHOVAH LOVED IS RAEL, FORGIVENESS GRANTED. The Lord wanted Israel to be sure that He would forgive them, and in addition to the example of Hosea and his wife, we have a statement made in Hosea 6:1, “ Come, and let us re turn unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” And again in 14:4, we read, “ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” Forgiveness has been a frequent theme all through the Bible. Time after time the messengers of God have called His people to repentance, offer ing them forgiveness. In 1 John 1:9, we read, “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un righteousness.” It is wonderful to know that forgiveness is for us, as well as for the people of the day in which Hosea lived. June 27, 1954 W a l k i n g i n H is W i l l OBJECTS: Four paper hearts. (Cut a slot down the middle of 3 of the hearts, 1 inch wide and 4Vi inches long. With one of these hearts placed over the uncut heart, print the word IDOLS on the uncut heart, allowing it to show through the slot. On the heart with the slot, using the word IDOLS complete the following words, KING, MADE, GOLDEN, CALVES
Before fastening the wires to the bolts, bore a hole- in the end ,of each stick and slip one over each bolt. The sticks will serve as nonconduct ing handles. Mark the triangle GOD, and place at one end of the glass dish. Put the globe at the other end of the dish. Fill the dish half full of water. Place the bolts in the water: one hid den behind the triangle,. and the
and WORSHIPPED. Place one of the other hearts over these and using the word IDOL, complete the following words, SIN, FRIENDS, GOLD, SELF, and PLEASURE. Place the fourth heart over these and complete the words, CHRIST, DIED, FOR, ALL,
and SIN. Turn this heart over and using the word IDOLS, complete the following, CHRIST’S LORDSHIP, LOVE, LOYALTY, and WORSHIP. Color both sides of this heart a light red.) LESSON: I brought a heart with me this morning which is in trouble. No wonder it is in trouble, for I see the word IDOLS in the center of the heart. Anything which comes be tween the soul and God is an idol. We will place another heart over this to show the condition of an ancient king, named Jeroboam. We now read, KING MADE GOLDEN CALVES WORSHIPPED. In 2 Kings 17:22, we read, “ For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them.” We forget that the ancients are not the only ones guilty' of having idols. The next heart represents those who live in the present day. Placed over the others, we read, SIN, FRIENDS, GOLD, SELF, and PLEASURE. Yes, all these things can be idols which come between us and God. Even though we do not bow down to idols of wood, stone, gold or silver, we can be just as guilty of the sin of idol-worship as they were nearly a thousand years before Christ. When we know that we are guilty of any sin, there is just one thing to do, and that is to confess our sins (1 John 1:9). I will place this red heart over these others, and we read, CHRIST DIED FOR ALL SIN. What a blessing it is to know that His blood cleanses from all sin. Let us turn this heart over, and see what we find. It reads, CHRIST’S LORDSH IP , LOVE, LOYALTY, and WORSHIP. Isn’t it wonderful to realize that though the heart may have had idols in it, the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin and makes us true worshippers of God? John wrote, “ Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).
other 2 inches from the globe. Con nect the electric fan to the outlet. Gradually sprinkle a small amount of salt in the water and stir thoroughly until the fan begins to turn slowly. Move the bolt to the end of the dish, and the fan will stop. Make the so lution several hours before the les son, as it will advance. A test should be made just before the lesson.) LESSON: The electricity is turned on, but the fan refuses to run. Let’s see if we can find what is wrong. Look at this I. It is far away from God and too close to the world. It is like the chil dren of Israel in the days of the prophet Amos. We read, “Ye . . . that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the afflic tion of Joseph” (Amos 6:6). Not only did Amos tell of their sins, but he told them what to do. Amos 5:14 says, “ Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.” We will move this I representing Israel, closer to the triangle marked GOD and see what happens. The fan begins turning and the closer it gets to the triangle, the faster it turns. This shows why Amos was calling the people back to God. The closer they got to God, the more spiritual life they revealed. People today, who are far from God should turn to Him, forsake their sins, and by faith re ceive Christ as their personal Saviour. June 20, 1954 G iv in g a n d F o r g iv in g OBJECT: A piece of paper 8 Vi x 11 inches. (Fold each end to within !4 inch of the middle, leaving a gap of V i inch. In this space print the word HOSEA. Open the folds, and using the word HOSEA, complete the fol lowing words, JEHOVAH, LOVED, ISRAEL , FORG IVENESS and GRANTED.)
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