Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

city."city."valor."Lesson Helps for the Week of September 25, 1955C.Y.P.U. TOPICFor September 25, 1955Comments by Rev. J. E. McElroyPsalms:"FOLLOW UP"I Corinthians 15:57, 5848:1, 7-10, page 12284:1-3, page 205128:1, 2, page 323134:1, 2,page 331"Victory through Jesus Christ ourLord."This song of triumph given by Paulto the Corinthian Church is one to encourage the heart of every church-member. Then he gives thanks to God forvictory over death, for the blessed hopeof eternal life. After the thanksgivingthere is a discourse urging them to unshaken firmness and earnest work.Their labor is not in vain though therebe suffering and trials to come.This topic is intended to help thosewho have made decisions recently, perhaps some who dedicated or rededicatedtheir lives to Christ Jesus as Lord. Itis intended to helpon to know the Lord."everyone to "followHere is a plan that should help everyone to grow in Grace, to be living avictorious life in Christ.I. REMEMBER ALWAYS: NOW GODIS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE1. Give God the first hour of eachday. Get Bible Strength before the dailyrush. Pray in the morning and at night.2. Give God the first day of theweek (I Cor. 16:2). The entire Lord'sday belongs to Him.3. Give God the first portion ofyour income (Prov. 3:9; I Cor. 16:2).4. Give God the first consideration inevery decision (Matt. 6:33): Choice ofhome, friends, work, church, school,etc., all to God's glory.5. Give God's Son first place alwaysin your heart (II Cor. 8:5). Live, talk,walk, sing, pray, work, play, think,serve always conscious of His presence.n. PRAY MUCH . . . Just talk to Godabout everything. Be sure to thank Him.m. LET NOTHING DISCOURAGEYOU!Expect temptations and testings(Rom. 8:35-39).IV. SHUN EVIL COMPANIONS LIKETHE PLAGUE.Avoid bad people, bad books, badthoughts (Psalm 1). Do not associatewith their sin by compromise.V. WIN SOME ONE TO CHRIST.Win your friends,warn yourfriends,September 7, 1955witness to them soon (Prov. 11:30;Ezek. 3:18).VI. USE A BIBLE STUDY PLAN.Use one that some one recommends,the C.Y.P.U. study-sheets, or others.Topics may be assigned from thesedivisions.PRAY for those who gave indicationsof new decisions to follow Christ, forthose who rededicated themselves toHim. Pray for your schools and yourcompanions and teachers.JUNIOR TOPICSeptember 25, 1955A SEVEN DAY'S MARCH andFALLING WALLSMartha G. Henderson, Newburgh, N. Y.MemoryScripture Text: Joshua 6:1-27Verse: "And it came to passat the seventh time, when the priestsblew with the trumpets, Joshua saidunto the people, Shout; for the Lordhas given you thePsalmsJoshua 6:16.Memory Psalm for September: Psalm147: 1-3, page 354.44:1-6,page 11026:1-3,7-9, page 6189:13-17, page 2173:1-5, page 5Who of us, whether young or old, isnot thrilled by the marching of soldiersand the blaring of trumpets?In the story which we are to studynow God used the marching of soldiersand the blaring of trumpets to carry outHis plan for destroying the city of Jericho, a strongly fortified city and onewhich stood in the way of the Childrenof Israel in entering Canaan.Seven priests, each with a trumpet,passed on before the Lord and blewwith the trumpets and the Ark ofthe Lord followed them. Behind thisthousands of soldiers followed the arkbut the women and children remainedin the camp at Gilgal.They marched around the city on thefirst day as God had commanded them,the priests blowing the trumpets andthe soldiers remaining very quiet. Thentheycuriosityreturned to their homes. Theof the people of Jericho wasaroused but they could not decide whatthe soldiers were going to do. For sixdaysthey marched around the city,returning each night to their homes asGod had commanded them.On the seventh day they marchedaround the city seven times, and on theseventh time around the priests blewloud blasts on the trumpets and Joshuawho was leading the hosts cried:"Shout, the Lord has given you theAs the multitudes shouted thewalls of Jericho fell down. Jericho wasnow open so that all the soldiers couldenter.The people of Jericho were so surprised that they could do nothing, soas God had commanded, the Israeliteskilled all the inhabitants of Jerichoand even the cattle. Only Rahab andher family were saved because she hadasked Joshua to spare her and herrelatives because she had protected thespies. She afterward lived with theIsraelites and worshiped their God.The Israelites had to learn that theland was a gift to be received by faith,not by effort. God required of them onlyto obey and wait and trust while theDivine Captain led his celestial hosts tothe assult and achieved the victory. Andthe Lord said unto Joshua: "See I havegiven into thy hand Jericho and theking thereof and the mighty men ofThe walls of Jericho could fall downonly by the exercise of divine power:but the children of Israel must needsencompass them.Qustions:1. What three things we do that theIsraelites had to do?Answer: Have faith, obey and bequiet. Wait until God tells us whatHe wants us to do.2. Why did the Israelites have to destroy Jericho?Answer: Because it stood in the wayof their entering Canaan.3. How many times did they have tomarch around the city?Answer: Thirteen.4. What sign did God give them ofHis presence?Answer: The Ark of the Lord.5. Where in the New Testament isJericho mentioned?30.Answer: Luke 10:30 and Hebrews 11:These questions and their answersmight be copied in the children's notebooks.The perfection of the Gospel systemis not that it makes allowances for sin,but that it makes atonement for it; notthat it tolerates sin, but that it destroysit.We cannot improve the content ofChristianity, but we can improve thecontainerourselves.155