r~0ctbber~T9, 1947 .Heb. 11:1-8

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J l i t is not well founded. r&?'u Can unseen reality be brought into

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\k J ? " v assmwice of fbrngP expression through the exercise of 1 hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. , f , ? ° ' , 2. For therein the elders had witness lMtb/

borne to them. ' It can be and has been done count-3. By faith we understand that thefless times. The bringing of unseen

- worlds have been framerTby the word oihz^Hty into expression is the legitimate God, so that what is seen hath not been *w o rk 0 f faith. made out of things which appear. TT . . , -

4. By faith Abel offered^unto God : a H™ ts tt done? . more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through,! When we Steadfastly hold in mind

i which he had witness borne to him that hefa conviction that what we believe in" was righteous, God bearing witness in re-*exists and is to become visible, we at-spect of his gifts: and through it he being} t r a c t UDXea aergized substance to us' uCciu vet soe&ketxju • *

i. By faith Enoch was translated d ^ ^ n d give it the form of our conviction, he should not* see death; and he was n b t \ C ° n v i c n o n is m e mold in which un-round, because God translated him: foreseen substance crystallizes and be-ne hath had witness borne to him that be-^r;omes visible: ~ fore his translation he had been well-pleas- \ What jpirit does ^ ^ prove tJ mg unto God: % , ' , , ,J_t , f . r . ,.

6. And without faith it is impossible to * ' ref and helPfttl t0 u* *» time °f;. be well-pleasing unto h'tm; for he that need? *_ cometh to God must believe that he is, J The Holy Spirit moving within our and that he is a rewarder of them that%ieart. seek after him. • f- How is the cumulative effect of faith,

7. By faith Noah, bang warned of God | , . „ _ , ,. , ' , ' concerning things not seen as yet, rnoved Vhown m the textof thts lesson?

with godly fear, prepared an ark to the:" By a resume of what Abel, Enoch, saving of his house; through which heaNbah, and Abraham accomplished condemned the world, and became heir of ^through faith. All these men repre-the^ righteousness which is according p> ̂ s t a t e o r C O I K U t i o n s ^ ^ a r e y ^ \'By faith Abraham, when he w ^ " i n ^ e scale man the purely material

called, obeyed to go out unto a place which P* fleshly. Through faith they all made he was to receive for an inheritance; and Connection with the abiding realities "htwentout, not Knowing whithoTjhe went, bf Truth. amor—*;? '-• ..-..-.. &*»•ir «*i'n-». • - • •

I Which is hearer to spTrtTitalr~coh> Jsciousness, the mental realm or the \ physical realm? :§ The mental realm. The record of l a person's mental work lives after him, "."so that "he being dead yet speaketh," "whereas the memory of his physical

activities is short-lived. Abel repre-sen ts man in the mental realm; Cam, *• man in the physical realm.

What difference does faith or un-belief make in the life of any one?

The same difference that exists be-tween peace and satisfaction on the one hand, and defeat and disillusion-ment on the other hand. Through faith we create our destiny and deter-mine what life is to mean to us. Faith in God helps us meet life's daily de-mands with high courage instead of with shrinking despair,

Is faith always well founded? Faith is a conviction that what we

believe in exists even though we ha^e no direct proof of its existence. So long as our faith is in the eternal Truth of God, it is well founded;

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faithls assurance of things hoped for", a convicnoi ef things not seen. -••• - -"•"'. -/"-''. ,.".-'"_ii. j; '''For therein the elders bad witness borne to them, i $ By faith we nnderstand that the. worlds have framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not] been made out of things which appear. S^By-;rfaah Abel offered unto God a more excellent iacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to! turn that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of bis gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. ,

i 'By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see!

iffiT2c3r«Ea that it is bis pi^i ' l^ 'powet 'W .ow forth the perfection ^ \ X ! ^ s t 2 ; ' : ^ § ^ ^ . ; f * i ^

Do the senses or the intellect always give toirmffldS Jhal one is fallowing theright course when acting ufoPZ jaith? . \ E J r ^ t V f > ; ~- •~\\:-f:iy^-&M

No. Faith often causes one to act in direct opp*§ sition to sense testimony and mteUectual reasoning.. ^ - What k the difference between what is called "hlinM aiih" and what the Truth -student knows as^mtwm landing faith"? .:'.-,'.-••. • ,-•',••'• 'r~-, .",~-.-":. - - ~ ' 4 ^ | |

"Blind fsuth" is the action of the faith faculty whh4f

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is translated that he should not see & , . . *. . , . __• • .̂n„_«M.«, «* „tW Heath; and he was not found, because God translated h i m : ^ * * balancmg and sfrengthening mfluence of othet, for he hath had witness borne to him that before bis trans-k spiritual faculties. .. Understanding faith a the sure-Ration he had been well-pleasing unto God: I knowledge that all the "powers of being are working t o | | £.£ And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing aether for die attainment of jhe^desbecl^ into him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, 'r and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. i %'J By faithNoah, being warned of God concerning things hot seen as yet, moved with godly fear,; prepared an ark to. foe saving of his'house; tluoughwhicb he-eondemned the-world, and became heir of the. righteousness which is acr :

fording to faith. - -" : :.-"-•;' • ~ - -.;-juf By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go pat unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance;: and he went out, not knowing whither he went -•'..; &.. H By faith he became" a sojourner in foe land of promise; as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and |acob, the heirs with him of the same promise: ...-..• rjsgoi he looked for the city which hath the foundations, '# 1 laeVbuilder and maker is God. "ftfe**-.!̂ .- ~:hsz - ^"j^inF-

What is "faith"? Faith" is the spiritual foundation of that which-;

nan is to bring forth. *.. - --;', -•' How does man become conscious of and increase us faith?

Man becomes conscious of and increases his faith hrough prayer and acting upon the deepest impulses »f his soul.

What U the result if man fails tp exercise the faith « has? : If man fails to exercise the faith foe has he becomes >ound by fear and belief in inefficiency. He falls, short if his capacity to use God-given faculties and powers, md he seemingly stands still, which amounts to stag-larion, death, - . " ' - ' " I What is the "word of God"? V 'c The "word of God" is the creative action of divine Hind.' " -~ <,;.....•"-.-" .*'"'•' -",--• ; How is the "word of God" made active in man?

The "word of God" is made active in man through in and affirmation of divine sonship. Man must

d upon his faith (spiritual foundation) that he is

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June 26, 1937 Heb.ll:3-10

3. By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things -which appear*

4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in reSpect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh*

[ 5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found because God trans- • lated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto.God:

6. And without faith it is impossible to be well- !' pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

7. By faith Noah, after being warned of God con-cerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly

_ NN fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; ) ! through which he condemned the world, and became

heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9. By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not bis own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. • *

10. For he looked for the city which hath the foundations, w;hose builder and maker is God.

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--••;,: - *-: (2) ' - - *.,4 INTERPRETATION — ... .__—_, _ „

WHAT IS THE THEME OP THIS LESSON? ""

The lesson today is devoted to faith: what it is . and what it enables men to do.

EXPLAIN THE VERSE "BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE "1 WORLDS HAVE BEEN FRAMED BY THE WORD OP GOD, SO THAT , WHAT IS SEEN HATH NOT BEEN MADE OUT OF THINGS WHICH APPEAR."

Faith makes clear to us what science has lately proved, namely that the manifest creation has come

• into being from the realm of the unmanifest or invisible. The universal life energy or "word of

----- — — :—God"~is-the motive power or divine will that causes all manifestation.

IN WHAT WAY WAS ABEL'S SACRIFICE MORE EXCELLENT THAN CAIN'S?

Abel believed that God is worshipped most truly In the highest realm of man's consciousness. The animal kingdom, since it is composed of sentient creatures endowed with the faculties of sensation and perception, Is higher than the nonsentient plants of the vegetable kingdom. Abel therefore offered to Go<3. in symbolic form a higher con- ,„,, a sciousness thandid Cain. ,"••' {J

WHAT DID ENOCH PROVE THROUGH FAITH?

Enoch, the grandson of Adam, proved through faith-fully living In God consciousness that the curse pronounced upon Adam "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return" is not a universal law to which all men are subject, but that it applies only to the disobedient. Enoch translated his body from flesh to Spirit, and did not return to dust.

f HOW DID NOAH MAKE USE OF FAITH? *

Noah rested in faith, using It as a guide to future \ conduct, and through relying upon the divine as-\ surance so gained, developed foresight and fore-j knowledge of rthings to come. He was therefore able

to survive the flood when all those without such \ foresight perished.

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— A p r U " a , 1923;. ™r77~~^-tr?*rJy TatST .Abraham, wneiThe' was calledT bbeyeor

> go out unto a place which he was to receive for an in-uitance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went

9. By faith he became a .sojourner in the land of iromise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with saac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: ". 10. For he looked for the city which hath the foutv

nos.jttrkxme builder_and maker is God. —^rXi: ^535* ^nomnrvtti story of Abraham be taken as ruslory? No. Paul refers to this in Galatians 4:24, where

he says: "\vTuch things contain an allegory." In our Jesson today from the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, IPaul treats Abraham as a type of faith. • £_ What is the city "which hath the foundations, whose

Ider and maker is Cod"? - ", : The spiritual body is here typified as a "city." Iri

nidation is the ideal body created by divine mind. ^aith^ceJhring this ideal body into manifestation. | How is spiritual faith used by Christian healers or.

Wjtsloring the body to health? - •; ' • -. - J ft_- Christian healers find that they can restore to per-; Section the most interior functions of the body by realiz-, ang in faith that in divine mind these functions are al-: aeady perfect. .. * ' ; " ;; m, What is the meaning of the statement that Abraham; jpy faith, "when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a %lace which he Was to receive for an inheritance; and me went out, not knowing whither he went" ? If. This statement is another form of that definition of faith which Paul gives in the eleventh chapter of He-fjbrews: "Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen." This means that we in-dherit or come into possession of the ideals that we firmly hold to in Spirit.

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J u l y 6 , 1 9 3 0 H e b . 1 1 : 8 - 1 0

FsWsoy^BK" Abiiham, " w l S ^ T w a t died, obeyed to ge out unto"" "

which he was to receive for an Ttnce; and he went out, not •hither he went. .- .. : ; _«

j l9 . By faith he became a sojourner jri *he land of promise, as in a land not hi»

dwelling in tents, with Isaac andi Jacob, the heirs with him of the same mromise:. • •*_- ••« iS\F°lhe l o o k e d for the city which ath the foundations, whose builder and

% Mow is spiriiual jaun^usi^!viii Christian healers m restoring^ tt\e% body to health? ..'.."" -•' -, :-:~- ' i \ ,%£i |

Christian healers find that they can^ tore to perfection the most mteriorji

jparts of the body by realizing infai'tifc ihat in Divine Mind these jaar ts juje l Sfeady perfect. - : -; •.." i^-fifsmM l^Whdt is the meaning of the st— nent ihat "by faith Abraham, wht fe was called, obeyed to go outunigjj, fcplace which h% was to receive 'rf<ft§, pi inheritance* ami he went otxl,rtoh}

Knowing whither he wenif'?-, :?-;5,^SS fe This statement is another form p£|

e definition of faith ffehat is jgivenf | n t h e - l l t h chunter^of . HebrewstY

ST faith is assujrancTr of fTti hoped for, a conviction of things n o Been." This means that we inherit or come into possession of the ideals t ha t we firmly hold to in Spirit. ".:•.'̂ >.~-"5?8

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August'2, 1942 Heb. 11:8-12'

i 8, By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to : go out unto a place which he was to receive for an ; inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went,

9, By faith be became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10, For he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God,

11, By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

12, Wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.

INTERPRETATION

WHAT IS OURJ CHIEF DEBT TO ABRAHAM?

We owe to him bur"first clear knowledge of the true God, His spiritual and holy nature, and the undivided devotion that we are to render Him,

HOW WAS ABRAHAM MADE GREAT?

First he was great in faith in God. Next he was great in patience, in working toward the realiza-tion of his hopes and desires. He lived at peace with the Canaanites among whom he was a stranger. He built up a Godlike> character and realized the joy of achievement in the spiritual realm. These attainments all fitted him to be-come the founder and the inspiration of an en-during people.

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June 27, 1937 I Heb. 11:17-22

17. By faith, Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea he that had gladly received the prom-ises was offering up his only begotten son;

18. Even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19. Accounting that God Is able 'to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

i 20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

21. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each one of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

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INTERPRETATION

WRY IS ABRAHAM A TYPE OF FAITH?

Abraham's faith was counted righteousness in him beoause he employed It so habitually that he Ident-ified himself with this faculty. He called the Father of the Faithful because he remembered to use his faith when it was needed. Faith saved him from offering a human sacrifice in the person of Isaac, a son of promise.

HOW DID ISAAC AND JACOB DEVELOP FAITH?

Both these men used faith to steady and clarify their vision of character and were able to dis-cern what their sons and grandsons would become in later years. $

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HOW DID JOSEPH'S GIFT OF FOREKNOWLEDGE COME TO — HIM?

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Joseph developed the faculty of imaginative in-sight and perception through his unshakable faith in God and nis vivid consciousness of omnipresence and omniscience. Throughout his long period of preparation for his life work in Egypt, Joseph held fast to his faith In God, and through that faith gained wisdom and understanding*

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ByraifH" Abraham.being tried, offere"3 Up Isaac : yea, he ' ' that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only be- '• gotten son;

18 Even he to whom it was said, In Isaac Shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead ; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back. ;

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning • things to come. 1 >

21 By faith, Jacob when he was a dying, blessed each of the -sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning- upon the top of bis staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel ; and gave command-ment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly.child ; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ;

26 Accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the "treasures of EgyptT for he looked unto the recompense of reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 1

28 By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

G O L D E N T E X T — Now faith is assurance of things •. hoped for, a conviction of things not seen,-!-- H e b . 11:1.

The mind is a s trange and wonderful thing. The more we investigate it the more we are fascinated with its mysteries . The wonders of Alladin 's Damp are child's p l a y compared with the producing ability ofj rfhemlncL Who can listen to the classical notes of a I finished tenor issuing accurately from a simple me-

chanical contrivance called a phonograph, and not be astonished at the faith and audacity of the mind that conceived it? When, a few years ago a phonograph was exhibited before the most noted body .of scientists in France, several of them protested that it was net what it claimed to be, a mere mechanical device, but that by some trick of ventriloquism the voices were reflected into it . And they could not be convinced, although its simple construction was fully explained to them. The most of us confess to like incredulity — the mechanical explanation does not seem to cover the evidence of intelligence.

Wha t quality of mind in the inventorigave him the boldness of conception of such a possibili ty? W a s it anything l e s s ' t h a n faith in the very substance of

•• sounds? The mathematical achievements of astron-[ omy have caused us to marvel , and when Leverrier

computed the location of the planet Neptune before its discovery, it was said that the mind jof man had reached the climax of scientific prophecy. Yet more daring things are being achieved without even the algebraic X as an invisible mathematical surety.

What quality hothe mind causes men tb~ persist I S doing that which to the sense perception seems im? possible? A short name for it is faith. Fa i th is t h e assurance of hope. Columbus began with which gradually strengthened in his mind until i fbe - j came substance j which is the ultimate of every ideaj one firmly believes in afid assiduously cultivates, -*_.

Faith, then, is not confined to religion, but bas t o do with every department of life. Fai th is one of the fundamental ideas in Divine Mind and is made active in man's consciousness in whatsoever place he may elect to put i t . I t works in small things as well as great — take your choice. If you want to remove mountains you must have the faith of God. A very; small quantity of that kind of faith will do it, accord-ing to the teaching of J e sus . 7 -

" Lord, increase our faith." Fai th grows in the mind—rather it expands. This expansion is most rapid when associated with other mental qualities, such as judgment and Jove. Peter represented Fa i th , in the mind of Jesus, and he was associated with John (love) and James ( judgment) . All things are possi-ble to those who believe in the One Supreme Mind working through them in love and righteousness. ~

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!p 5 r -"Kmi wKrf-shlJI f ^ e W ^ y ^ t o f ^ ?fime will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, tSamson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel Sad the prophets: | j 33- Who through faith subdued king-|doms, wrought righteousness, obtained

ises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34. Quenched the power of fire, escaped

jthe edge of the sword, from weakness were knade strong, waxed mighty in war, turned Uo flight armies of aliens. . f 35. Women received their dead by a ^resurrection: and others were tortured, not iaccepting their deliverance; that-they might ."obtain a better resurrection: 0' 36. And others had trial of mockings iand stourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: ' . . : ;i fe, 37. They were stoned, they were sawn rasunder, they were tempted, they were slain |with the sword: they went about in sheep; |skins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted^ pUrreated -; - - ^ F 38. (Of whom the world- was mqf v3vofthy), wandering in deserts hnd mourj-. dains and caves, and the holes of the earth? fe 39. And these alL having had witness |bome to them through their faith, received mat the promise, . '-?'. *?.. 40. God having provided some better lining concerning us, that apart from us they phould not be made p«rfect.^ :.;._,,. •_•./*?£

^ttsutrection rfime Ttrsmfest?^ ... This power is made manifest in those who observe the principle of prayer and praise under adverse as well as favorable drcaimstances. -:--",'.'

What is the "secret place of the Most High"? « ; • • - -,-- '"•'•- v

It is the deep inner consciousness of. man, where through exaltation of thought and feeling he is able to form his highest conception of God and have unshakable faith in Him.

What is the basis of a temperate life? The basis of a temperate life is the

love of what is true, honorable, just, J3nreJ'':lpvelyJ. and .of good reoorL _ ^ ;

October 1 9 , 1947 Heb. l i t 3 9 , 40

borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

40. God having provided some better ttung wnceming us, that apart from us

_ W-BOI "advantage has the Vettever, tn God over the materialist or the un-believer?

The believer is convinced that all creation rests on a spiritual foundation and that the manifest comes out of the unmanifest—that invisible realm of causation which is completely charged •• with the creative principle of .life or "word of God." The materialist or unbeliever, having no such faith on which to stand, lacks understanding of the source or first cause of life He rejects the firm foundation of faith