Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XII. SEPT. l9-ACTS
2O:22-S5
Golden Text-Remember the Words OF
the Lord Jesus, When He said, 1t Is
More Blessed to,Give Than to Receive
Acts 20. 1916.

TIME.-Sunday, April %, A. D. So Paul
arrived at Mletus on Thursday, April 20
AS from Metus to Ephesus was about
forty-tive miles, If Paul sent for the elders
on Thursday afternoon they might Wen
arrive by Sunday. We follow the dates
given by Levin:
February q TO March q, A. d. 50, jour
aey by land from Corinth to Philippi.
March 26 or 81 arrival at Philippi.
49, And now''-Now that I am leaving
ana can admonish you no more COM
mend you to CODA mighty support.
VINO would more than take the apostle
place. And to the word of His grace
The truths of the Gospel, Gods message
or grace, which they had received ana
could remember The Gospel originates
IN grace; IL reveals grace; Ii produces
grace Able to build you up'-The foun-
cation of faith had been laid. ana the
structure of a complete Christian char-
acter was to be reared by the almighty
builder through the instrumentality OF
MS word. Heaven is the abode or holi-
ness, and none but the holy can enter IL.
10 give you an inheritance'-The maj
glory of the redeemed, which VIII more
than compensate for all their present
trials. Them which are sanctined -
Ihose who have been made holy, or
iully devoted to Jesus Christ. IL Is the
WORD of God which makes CHRISTIANS
strong; therefore We should feed upon IL
constantly. "a. These hands have min
istered unto my necessities other
mention is made of Paul's trade at Ephe-
sus, but in Acts 49, 3, we learn his occu-
patton. and from various epistleS IL Is
evident that he supported himself as tent
maker in all places where he preached'
common custom among jewish teach-
ers, adopted by Paul so that he might be
independent, and not seem to be seeking
gain while founding churches. 80. so Ia
boring The Industrious man enriches So
ciety He produces what would not have
been without him, and thus adds to the
common stock of wealth. The lazy man,
on the contrary, consumes without pro-
ducing, and thus impoverisheS society.
But these Christians were urged to labor,
not that they might gain, but that they
might give. support the weak'-Those
unable TO support themselves. The words
of the Lord Jesus"-"This beautiful par
adox nowhere found in the Gospels. is in
perfect accord with the teachings of Je-
sus. We might construct a Popean
apothegm: To receive is human to give.
divine. To consider this referring only
TO liberalty with earthly goods would not
do justice to Paul. He means also the
giving of spiritual help, the divine aban-
donment of ones entire resources for 9TH
ers sakes, whereby the soul enters into
the fellowship of Him who took no ac-
count of His own, but became poor and
gave himself to us. So Paul advises us
in other places to have a care for the
weak brother (Rom 1D, and to fulfill the
law of Christ by bearing one another's
burdens Gal 6. 2).'-Horswell
We turn our map, and take up the
thread of Pauls journey from Ephesus to
Macedonia, where he must have looked
in upon his beloved Philippians and Thes-
salonians; thence to Corinth; then re-
turn for farewell to the Macedonian
churches: then a voyage with throng of
companians across the AEGEAN Sea to
way, to Miletus. Explain the purpose OF
his journey, why he stopped at Miletus,
and whom he met at that place.
/. We find in this address a look forward
Verses 22-30. The eye of the apostle peers
into the future and behoids the times to
come. l. 1t is a vision of his own future.
He sees awaiting him bonds, Affections,
imprisonment. and death at the end.
Trouble foreseen is always hardest to
bear, and this picture would daunt the
bravest man. But Paul can look upon 1t
not only without fear, but with joy; for
his faith beholds the crown beyond. and
hears the Masters voice saying, We'll
done" True faith is an insight into spir-
,itual realities. The believer sees what
others only hope for, and the vision en-
courages and gladdens his soul. 3 1t is
a look forward into the future of the
Church Verses $3.50. He beholds the
gathering clouds of persecution ''rhe
gr.evous wolves" from without History
shows how terrible these We're But more
TO be dreaded were the dangers from,
within the fold, of men speaking per-
verse things" An enemy within the camp
L. more dangerous than an army outside
of it. Some of these traitors are named
in l Tim. l. 20; Tim. .. II; and the dan
gers are enumerated in / Tim T. 1-3:
Tim. 3. Is. Note that these eSjstles we've
sent to Timothy at this Very city of Ebh,1
sus The second generation after the
apostles life witnessed fearful decline
and corruption in the Church, which be-
came almost entirely paganized. What
are the perils OF our day against which
the Church should be on its guard?
III. We find also a look backward
Verses 31-S5. The apostle points to his
own life among them for three wears
Notice the traits of his conduct: /. it had
been Faithful, warning everyone: .. Az
fectionate, with tears" g. CnseIfish
(verse 33); 4. Industrious verse 3D.
Helpful oversees a. $50. Is not this a wor-
thy example for every Christian worker?
Call attention to few OF the brief and
suggestive commands in this address:
Take heed" Watch" Remember, etc
Notice, too. the rewards which are prom
Used for faithful service: ]. Building up
(verse 3d. 2. Inheritance (verse S2): =
Biessedness (verse 80.