The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-28
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MAY g.
Lesson Text: "Paul Begins His First
Missionary Journey" Acts kill,
1-13-Golden Text: Mark
xvi, 16-Oommentary.

/. "Now there were in the church that was
Mt Antioch certain prophets and teachers, rs
Barnabas, etc., and Saul" Tue work began
at Antioch through the preaching OF those
who were scattered oy the persecution about
Stephen, and was followed up by Barnabas
ami Saul teaching the people for whole
year (chapter r., 19, 26). The church 1T
Antioch, hearing OF the need. in temporal
things, of the believers in Juda, sent hem
relief by the hands OF Barnabas and Saul,
who, having fulfilled their ministry, re-
turned to Antioch.
2. Separate Me, Barnabas and Saul for
the work whereunto I have called them"
Thus .pake the Holy Ghost. as the believers
ministered to the Lord, thinking much more
OF His business than Of any comfort OF their
own, and even mortifying the body IL per-
things eternal. 1t Is written OF Job that he
said, II have esteemed the words Of bis
mouth more than nv necessary food" (Job
xiii, 12). When the disciples brought our
Lord food at Jacobs we'll, he said, 81 have
meat to eat that ye know not Of" "Mymeat
Is to do the will of Him that sent me and to
finish His work" (John w.. 32. 34). When
the things of the Lord are of more impor-
tance to US than aught else, We have the
spirit OF fasting.
8. And when they had tasted and prayed
away" The Holy Spirit is the One who has
full control of all the affairs of the church
during the time of our Lords absence
4. $50 they being sent forth by the Holy
Ghost departed unto Seencia, and from
thence they sailed to Cyprus" The Holy
Spirit called them, sent them forth, and
would use them as He saw fit that God
might be goriied. All that the Lord Jesus
said or did was by the Spirit. and He alone
can do in and through US that which ought
to b. done.
S. "And when they were at salamis, they
preached the word Of God In the synagogueS
OF the Jews, and they had also John as their
minister" As servants of Christ we have
but one book, the word Of God, and but one
Teacher, the Holy Spirit. This word we
must make our constant study. and this
word We must ever speak in whole hearted
reliance upon the Holy Spirit, and "To the
Jew first" seems to be the unchanged order
CRop. l., 16; H., 10) The promise to Moses
still holds good, 'Now, therefore, go. and I
will be with thy month and teach thee what
thou shalt say" (Ex. w., 12).
81. Coming to Paphos, the deputy OF the
country, Sergius Paulus, sent for them, de-
string 10 hear the word Of God" Thus the
Spirit leads together those who are ready to
hear and those who ore ready to speak the
word OF God, as when He brought together
Philip and the eunuch, Simon Peter and Cor
nelius. When 1t is thus His doing, some
thing Is always accomplished to the glory OF
God, as in each Of these cases. What. there
fore, can be more desirable than to be filed
with and controlled by the Holy Spirit? For
our comfort we remember that our Lord
Jesus said, "If ye, then. being evil. know
how to give good gifts unto your children.
how much more shall your Heavenly Father
~ NJ, Qpir to fhat
Iuke Il, 13). We have also the comfort
Knowing thai II we are filled with the word
of God and controlled by the Spirit OF GOD
He will fit into our lips the right message at
the right time prov. xii, 1S). And Math.
Z, 20. will he true OF us as OF the disciples.
g. "But Elymas, the sorcerer, withstood
them, seeking to turn away the deputy from
the faith" The same old serpent, the devil,
and satan, who turned Adam and Eve away
from God, Is ever at work. He seeks to keep
people from hearing the word OF God by
making believers Indifferent to the command
to preach the gospel to every creature, and
when the word has been preached he will. II
possible, take away the word ous OF their
hearts lest they should believe and he saved
(Luke viii, 12); or il It is received, he will II
possible, choke It that 1t may not bear fruit.
Resist the devil GAS. w.. y.
9. "Then Saul, who Is also called Paul.
filled with the Holy Chest, set his eyes on
him." The Holy Spirit can look through
our eyes as we'll as speak with our voice, and
our eyes will then be searching In some little
measure as Christs WERE But we Will be
unconscious OF 1t, for anything like self con-
sciousness is In opposition to being filled
with the Spirit. Moses wist not that the skin
of his face shone (Ex xxdv., 29). And no
doubt Stephen was unconscious that his face
was as the face Of an angel (Aets VI. 15).
This Is the first time that Saul Is called Paul.
10. "Wilt thou not cease to peryert the
right ways of the Lord?" Thus the Spirit In
Paul addressed him, calling him child OF
the devil and enemy Of all Righteousness.
Some good people to-day would say thar ne
Father, though he was wandering from Him.
But the Spirit Of God does not talk so. The
Lord Jesus said to certain religious people,
"Ye are OF your father the devil" (John Will.
AZ. It is also written Of Cain that he was
Of the wicked one IJohn ill.,, 12).
II. sand now. behold, the hand OF the
Lord Is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind.
not seeing the sun tor season." Instantly
It came to pass, and he sought some one to
lead him by the hand. His outward condi-
tion was now like his inward condition. he
was truly a child Of darkness. II his dark
ness was only for this life or only for sea-
son, IL was VIGIL lOr ullI. DuI Oul LoAu oPohO
OF some who would be cast into outer dark
ness where there Is weeping and gnashing OF
teeth (Math. xii, 1S). In Jude KILL, we
read OF some to whom is reserved the black
ness of darkness forever. Happy are those
who, receiving the light, become children OF
light, and happier still, II as such they walk
in the light.
70, ''Then the deputy, when he saw what
was done, believed, being astonished at the
doctrine Of the Lord" Thus the devil over.
did it and lost his man, and the Lord gained
him. The word OF the Lord will always &C.
complish the Lords pleasure, and prosper IN
that whereto He sends 1t Elsa. w., ~. 1t is
ours to be filled with it, and let the Spirit
accomplish by 1t through US that which He
pleases. Where the word Of king Is there
is power (Eccl.. viii. H. and ours is tho word
of the King Of Kings.
13. "They came to Perga in Pamphylia,
and John, departing from thom, returned to
Jerusalem. Having gone through Cyprus
with the record OF but one convert, though
there may have been Others they now cross
over to the mainland.-Lesson Helper.