The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-09-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER Ie.


22. "And now, behold, I 60 bound in the
spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the
things that shall befall me there" After
the uproar at Ephesus Paul went to Mace
donia and Greece, then returned through
Macedonia to Asia, and, aiming, II possible,
to be at Jerusalem by Pentecost, he tarried
n little at Miletus and sent to Ephesus for
the elders Of the church to come and sec
him. Our lesson is part Of his address to
ing the Lord with all humility and in many
trials, he had both publicly and privately
taught both Jews and Greeks repentance
toward God and faith toward our Lord
Jesus Christ.
49, Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth
In every city, saying that bonds and afflic-
tions abide me-" The Lord had said to An
anias, 81 will show him how great things
he must suffer for My names sake" (Acts
ix., 16), and He said to the apostles. "In the
world ye shall have tribulation" (John xvi,
33).
"a. "But none OF these things move me-"
He thought of nothing but Of magnifying
Christ phil L., 20), ready to be bound and
imprisoned and to die for the name OF the
Lord Jesus, II thus God would be more
glorifled acts XXI, 13). He was intrusted
with the gospel of the grace Of God, and he
fearlessly lived It and spoke it day by day
under all circumstances, not ms pleasing
Thess. H., ~.
25. "And now, behold, I know that ye all,
among whom have gone preaching the
kingdom Of God, shall see my face no
more" The last we hear Of Paul I'm this
book he is in Rome prisoner, but he is
preaching the kingdom Of God, and teach
ing those things which concern the Lord
Jesus Christ (Acts xviii, 3D. Thus he was
one with Him who had chosen him, for in
Acts L., 8. we find that our Lord Jesus dur
ing the forty days between His resurrection
and ascension spoke OF the things pertain
ing to the kingdom of God.
20. Wherefore take you to record this
day that am pure from the blood Of all
men," He said In ii Cor. viii, 2, 1--WE have
wronged no man, we have corrupted no
man, we have defrauded no man." He had
sought to live as an ambassador for Christ,
in Christs stead, beseeching men to be
reconciled to God UI Cor. ", 20), and he
had been, by the grace of God, such faith
,ul witness that the blood OF none to whom
ne ever testified could be required at his
nand (Ezek. xxxiii., 7-V.
27. "For have not stunned to declare
1nto you all the counsel of God" All that
Paul has on hand to pass on to others is OF
God. He breaches the gospel of the grace
of God, and the kingdom OF God, and the
counsel OF God, to gather out and to build
lp the church of God, and in IL all he aims
,nly to please God. He spoke the word
faithfully and diminished not word DER.
Sxvi., 2).
2s. Feed the church of God which He
hath purchased with His own blood" There
8 no redemption but by the blood of Christ,
oy which alone we receive the forgiveness
II sins Eph. l., 9, Z; Rev. l., s; ", 8; Heb.
*, 22), and each one who truly receives
The Lord Jesus, trusting only in His finished
work, becomes part Of the church OF God,
whether he ever becomes part Of any church
rkl, ,AA lxatv Sss
;he privilege Of every saved one to unite
With some company Of Gods people called
I church, but they ought to be sure that II
s n church where their souls will be fed
with the word OF God, for nothing else will
:ruly nourish the soul q Pet. H., p; W, 2;
lob xiii, 10; Jer. xv., 16).
20, 80. For know this, that after my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock" Since
The serpent slandered God in Eden there
1ave always been those who follow him,
seeking the destruction of souls; some.
lines they seem bent simply upon the ruin
" people, and sometimes II is to get follow
ers for person or n doctrine or Sect
81. Therefore watch and remember,
that by the space of three years ceased
aot to warn every one night and day with
;ears." Paul had no fear for the loss OF
any soul that had truly received the Lord
Jesus; his words concerning them are al.
Phil. l., 6; Cor. 7, 8; John ", 27|29), but
ne did fear lest they might have knowl.
edge Of Him without truly receiving Him
Heb. vi, 4-6; X, 26), and also lest, having
truly received Him, they might lose their
works and wages q Cor. ill.,, IA, Is; ix., 2O;
hence his earnest admonition to take
heed" and "watch."
80. "And now, brethren, commend you
to God and the word OF His grace, which is
able to build you up" When our Lord was
about to leave His disciples, he prayed the
Father Gas He said to Mary, my Father
and your Father, My God and your God"
John XXX, ~, that He would keep from
that He would sanctify them through the
truth, His word (John xviii, II, Is, 17l
And when He said, II have given them Thy
word, the words which Thou gavest Me
(John xviii, 8, 14), he must have believed
that these words were the very best thing
that He could give them. In another
place He said, "The words that I speak
unto you they are spirit, and they are life"
(John vi, 63).
SO. 'T have coveted no mans silver OF
gold or apparel" The people testified OF
samuel, "Thou hast not defrauded us nor
oppressed us; neither hast thou taken
aught of any mans hand" q Sam. Kill, 81.
To the Thessalonians Paul wrote, remind
ing them Of his labor night and day that
he might not be burden to any one q
Thess. H., 0, 81.
"a. "Yea, We yourselves know that these
hands have ministered unto my necessities
and to them that were with me-" He was
very grateful for all gifts from the Lords
people AID speaks Of such as ''an odor Of
sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well
pleasing to God"
So. Remember the words Of the Lord
Jesus, how He said, 1t is more blessed tc
give than to receive" perhaps referringt tG
such teaching OF our Lord as is found II
Luke vi, 80; XIV, IS, IA, or possibly refer
ring to some unrecorded sayings Of oul
Lord. God SO loved that He gave Hi
only begotten Son; the Son Of God so loved
that He gave Himself. The grace OF ou
Lord Jesus Christ was manifest In His be
coming poor for us that we through Hi
poverty might be rich. The love that HI
manifest cd In laying down His life for u
should make us ready to lay down ou
lives for others (II Cor. Will, 81 John Ill
l6). But most OF US are more ready to re
ceive than to. give, and 30 John ILL.,, 10, l