The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-08-23
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 20.
Subject; Jesus the Good Shepherd, John
X" ZIG - Golden Text; John T., IL
Memory Verses, oil Commentary
ON the Days Lesson

Subject; Jesus the Good Shepherd, John
X" 1-10 - Golden Text; John T., II =
Memory Verses, oil - Commentary
ON the Days Lesson.
l. ''By the door" The shecpfolds of tbo
East are not covered like our stables bnt
are mere enclosures surrounded bv a wall
OF loose stones with thorn-bushes iipon the
TOP, but usually an effectual barrier against
utne wolves. There is only one door TO
oriental sheepfolds Here the door IL tho
way appointed by God for entering iis
kngdom, and the leadership in il. II in.
cludes conservation to God IS service. unscl
nsh devotion to the good of others prcpar
ation by the knowledge of the truth. by
Gg'lIi'uul experience, by the presence OF
Eod, to enable the disciples to sbcphcrd
the sheep. Later, Christ Himself is rcpre.
sehted as the door, all the above being
found m Him. The shceplold " Tho
true church OF Christ "A thief aud n rob.
her. y thief endeayors to gain his booty
siNly ana avoid detection robbcr is n
hrigand prepared 20 do violence. These
lalse teachers. who rejected Christ and
who were devourng the sheep from a purc
~ mercenaty standpoint. were the thieves
ana robbers. The application was easy.
:. 'By the door Openly, with no need
TO conceal His purpose BY the way which
lie directs the sheep TO enter. There is
not one salvation for the teacher and an
to ALL SUNNI
3. TO him the porter oucneth." The
Holy spirit Is one who opens the door TO
the shepherds, see frequent uses of this
symbolism 10y the apostles Acts l4:27; |
Dor 1853; > Cor. PIP: Col. 4:3. The
Holy SPIRIT recognizes true shepherds bv
especially Amounting aud qualifying them
lp1r thG work OF rescuing lost men. THE
sheep. True Christians Those who like
shecp, are innocent. trustul. tcachable
obed'cut.' Hear His voice. His voice
Is a pleasant voice. II sometimes seems
severe, hut is always in love. by name"
IN the Enst IN flock of hundreds each
sheep would have its own name. Christ
Knows us and loves us as individuals
Leading them out Psa 90 When we
trust ourselves TO the leadership OF our
great Shepherd, He will lead us out of our
lriais ana dliieultics, INTO green pastures
oil Joy and blessing and heavenly sunshine
!. The sheep follow Him We must
follow where Christ leads. Sometimes the
best pastures and the waters OF rest lie be.
yond deserts and mountains. and rough
ways lead 20 them; still, Jesus leads His
chosen ones there.
.. "A stranger will they not follow"
lhis Is true among the sheep in the east
ern countries, and it is equally true among
God speople Shrewd men may deceive for
time, but some day the mask will be torn
oil by Christians themselves.
b. Understood not Aware that these
descriptions were levelcd at themselves
Matt. 2l:45; Luke 2O;l9, they did not sec
the exact hinge on which the application
turned. They did not wish to understand
Him. The blind heggar found no trouble
in knowing what He meant.
L Il am the door, Works. ordinances,
character, are not the door; the church is
not the door; Christ alone is Eph. 2:IS
]. Jesus brought the truths of salvation.
= lie made an atonement for sin. 3. He
brought new spiritual life 4. The sheen
enter this door by faith
8. "All that came before Me" Those
who came pretending to be pastors or
guides to the people. The scribes and
Pharsces claimed to be instructors of the
people; claimed the right to regulate the
affairs OF religion; whose only aim was to
promote themselves and oppress the pco-
pie.
9. ''If any man enter in" What are the
benefits to be received by entering in
through Christ? |. salvation" shall he
saved ,. Liberty OF soul-"go in and
out, ,. Soul satisfaction" pas
ture. lisa. jS:ll. H. Protection and care
Go in and out We must go in" to
trust, to rest, to think, to pray, before we
can go out to do effective work for the
Lord.
TO- AVID may have it abundantly." R.
W Christ is able to give His people
abundant life. Many are seeking more"
life what such need is life the Christ
life. the abundant life. by this is meant.
!. Fulness OF life. .. Overlooking life !"
Such life is d growing, increasing life.
II. "Giveth His life for the sheep"
Precious truth? John 3:l6 John 4:l0.
What contrast was this, between Him
h,l Il.
ing.
ID ''An hircng," The hircling is the
one who labors simply for wages, with no
love or concern for the work. Such per.
son seeks his own interest and happiness,
and neglects and destroys the flock. He
sacrifices the sheep for himself and not
himself from the sheep. "The wolf" The
wolf IS the enemy OF souls in any of his
manifold dlsgulses such as persecution.
heresy, worldly living, or "A low standard
Of morals
II. - am the good shepherd" Watch.
ing, feeding, guarding, teaching diving for
the flock. Know Ny sheep" There is a
mutual affection between the shepherd
and the sheep. There is n mutual affection
between the Father and the Son; one is
parallel with the other AS the Father
knows the Son, so docs the Shepherd
know the sheep; as the Son knows the
Father, so do the sheep know the Shep.
herd. AS His Father read His heart. so
did lie read the heart OF man and recog
nize His own.
Is, "Other sheep | have" The Gentiles
who were soon to be brought into His
church. The Good Shepherd sweeps the
world with His thought. Here is the uni.
versal relation Of Jesus to sinners of all
nations and tongues. "Shall become one
flock, Or. W One flock not in creed
or name, but in what is far more essential
-one in Christ. One in heart. one in pur
pose one in the service of God and man.
Teachings. Christ's sheep. |. Know
the Shepherds voice. 2. They hear--or
heed His voice. This is one OF the surest
marks of a sheep. 3. They follow Him
The way may seem dark and difficult, and
even dangerous, but where He leads they
follow. A. They know not the voice Of
Strangers" and will not follow them.
Strangers talk glibly, and many professed
Christians will go after them, but the
sheep will not. g. On the contrary the
sheep flee from them. The Good Shepherd,
l. Knows His sheep. ., Is known by His
sheep 3. Has personal interest in His
sheep 4. Gives them liberty. s. Gives
soul satisfaction. g. Careth for the sheep,
7. Gveth His life for them. s. Givcth
them eternal life.
Antarctic Expedition.