The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-09-16
IE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER ie.

Lesson Text: "Paurs Address to ths
Ephesian Elders" Acts xx.. 1885,
Golden Text: Acts Xxx. 35-Commen.
tary ON the Lesson by Rev ID. NJ. stearns
~. "And now, behold, 60 bound in the
spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the
things that shall befan me there" After
the uproar at Ephesus Paul went TO Mace.
dOnla and Greece, then returned through
Macedonia to Asia, and, aiming, II possible
to be at Jerusalem by Pentecost, he tarried
little at Miletus and sent to Ephesus fol
the OILERS of the church to come and see
him. Our lesson Is part of his address to
heseelders. He reminded them that, serv-
ing the Lord with all humility and in many
trials. he had both publicly and privately
toward God and faith toward our Lord
Jesus Christ.
23. "Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth
in every city, saying that bonds and afflic.
tions abide me-" The Lord had said to An
anias, II will show him how great things
he must suffer for My names sake" (Acts
tx, 16). and He said to the apostles. I'm the
S3).
"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 1t day by day
| under all circumstances, not as pleasing
men, but God who trieth our hearts q
| Thess. H., A..
25. "And now, behold, know that We all,
among whom l have gone preaching the
kingdom OF God, shall see my face no
more" The last we hear Of Paul in 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 t., g. we find that our Lord Jesus dur
| Ing the forty days between His resurrection
and ascension spoke Of the things pertan-
| Ing to the kingdom of God.
26. 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 Christ's stead, beseeching men to be
reconciled to God QI Cor ", 20), and he
had been. by the grace Of God, such faith
ful witness that the blood Of none to whom
he ever testified could be required at his
hand (Ezek. xxxiii., 7-9).
] 27. For have not Stunned to declare
unto you all the counsel Of God" All that
Paul has on hand to pass on to others is OF
God. Ho breaches the gospel OF the grace
| OF God, and the kingdom OF God and the
counsel Of God, to gather out and to build
up the church OF God, and in it all he aims
only to please God. He spoke the word
faithfully and diminished not word DER.
kxvi., q.
2S. Feed the church Of God which He
| hath purchased with His own blood" There
Is no redemption but by the blood of Christ
| by which alone we receive the forgiveness
| Of sins (Eph. L., g. Z; Rev. l., 5; ", 0; Heb
tx., go and each ono who truly receives
the Lord Jesus, trusting only in His finished
| work, becomes a part OF the church of God,
whether he ever becomes part Of any church
on earth or not Now, being saved, 1t il
the privilege OF every saved one to unite
with some company Of Gods people called
church, but they ought to be sure that 1t
v church where their souls will be fed
with the word OF God, for nothing else will
truly nourish the soul q Pet. H., 9; ", 9;
Job xiii, IL; Jer. xv., 16).
| 20, 30. 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
| have always been those who follow him,
seeking the destruction OF souls: some.
times they seem bent simply upon the ruin
| OF people, and sometimes II is to get follow.
ers for person or u doctrine or sect.
81. Therefore watch and remember,
| that by the space Of three years ceased
| not to warn every one night and day with
| tears" Paul had no fear for the loss OF
! any soul that had truly received the Lord
| Jesus; his words concerning them are al-
| most as strong as our Lords own words
(Phil. l., 6; l Cor. Z, g. John X, 27-29), but
| he did fear lest they might have a 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, 10; ix., 2I;
| hence his earnest admonition to take
| heed" and watch"
| 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 dod"
John XXX, ~, that Ho would keep from
evil those whom He had given Him, and
that He would sanctify them through the
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 l speak
unto you they are spirit, and they are life"
| (John w., 63).
oo. HdNe cONeteu no Huu = 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" USam. xiii, 81.
To the Thessalonians Paul wrote, remind
ing them OF his labor night and day that
he might not be burden to any one Il
| Thess. H., 6, 81.
81. "Yea, ye 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 and speaks Of such as "an odor Of
a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable. well
| pleasing to God"
35. "Remember the words Of the Lord
Jesus, how He said, 1t is mere blessed to
| give than to receive" perhaps referring to
| such teaching OF our Lord as is found in
Luke vi, 80; xiv, 13, IA, or possibly refer.
ring to some unrecorded sayings Of our
Lord. God SO loved that He gave His
only begotten Son; the Son Of God so loved
that He gave Himself. The grace Of our
Lord Jesus Christ was manifest in His be-
coming poor for us that we through His
| poverty might be rich. Tho love that He
manifested IA laying down His life for us
| should make us ready to lay down our