The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-03-06
TILE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON X, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH 8.

| by Rev. ID. Nj. Stearns.
copyright. 1908, by American Press Association.l
IL. IA. We adjure you by Jesus. whom
Paul preacheth.
Thus the unbelievers, though profess
/ eddy priests of God, used that beauti-
full name as if il was charm or car
ried with Ii some magic spell that any
one could use, like people who now
say concerning Jesus, I'll try Him and
see if He will do anything FOR me. He
Is to be known and trusted, whole
heartedly received and relied upon, for
He is worthy and true and faithful,
| the living God. He is not TO be treated
as people treat patent medicine-try
il and see If it will do you good; but
because He is indeed the only Saviour
of sinners and the Judge of all man
kind He is to be honestly received as
such.
Is, l6. And the evil spirit answered and
said, Jesus l know, and Paul l know, but
who are ye?
These Jews had called the name Of
the Lord Jesus over man possessed
with an evil spirit, resisting and OPP
posing Paul somewhat as the magi-
clans in Egypt withstood Moses, but
God permitted the evil spirit TO rebuke
them and by the man possessed by the
spirit TO overcome them and cause them
to fee from the house naked and
wounded. 1t could hardly be possible
that they would ever again attempt TO
play tricks with that holy name.
| What shall be said OF those who now
use that sacred name in every thought
less and evil way? And because no
Judgment falls upon them they wax
worse and worse (Eccl. viii, III.
II. And this was known to ali the Jews
and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus. and
| fear fell on them all, and the name OF the
| Lord Jesus was magnified.
In verses to 10 we read that Paul
continued at Ephesus over two years,
not without much opposition. but also
with marked results to the glory OF
God. In verses IL and II we read of
special miracles TO confirm and en-
phasize the gospel message, and now
through the DEVILS own children the
name of Jesus is magnfied. In his let
ter to the Philippians Paul said: Some
indeed preach Christ even of envy and
strife and some also of good will The
one preach Christ of contention, not
sincerely, supposing to add affection to
my bonds, but the other of love, know
ing that | am set for the defense of
the gospel" Yet Paul said that as long
cs Christ was preached, whether in
| -. 10, lot
phil /, 1913. The "all things" Of
Rom. viii, %, must include the opposi-
ton of the devil as well as the mani
fest blessing of God, and whatever He
permits the adversary TO do must in
some way be overruled for His glory,
the highest good of His people and the
Fastening of His kingdom.
49, And many that believed came and
confessed and Showed their deeds.
While salvation is wholly Of grace
through faith, where faith is real there
will be good works manifest as an evil
dence before men of the faith that Is
really in the heart before God (Eph. ii.
$40: Tit Iii, 3, 8. The faith that Is
not manifest in works cannot be liv-
IL.
on our part, however good or great.
can save us. but being saved by His
work alone QRom. iv, 81, He having
been received by us, having come TO
live in us, must work out the salvation
which He has wrought in us phil. ii,
10; Heb. xiii, 30 2D. Hearers who are
not doors are only self deceivers Matt.
vii. PC, %; Jas. i, 22).
10. Many of them also which used curl
Gus arts brought their books together and
burned them before all men. and they
counted the price Of them and found II
$4,000 pieces of silver.
What an illustration of unto you,
therefore, which believe He is precious"'
q Pet. ii. a. SO precious had the Lord
Jesus become to them that things
which were before of much value now
seemed worthless and were ut once
committed to the flames lest they
might ensnare and injure others. Their
affections were now on things above,
not on things on the earth (Col. iii, y.
Like Paul. they could testify what
things were gain To US those we count
cd loss for Christ" (Phil. ii. y. This
Donnre cost perhaps SlO'OoO ana WAS
glorious triumph for Christ over the
adversary. 1t was like the victory on
Mount Carmel over the priests of Baal.
The day will come when all that is
against Christ shall perish and the
people who resist Him and their lead
ers shall be given to the lake of fire
(Rev. xix. %: Xxx, 10.
90 SO nightly grew the word OF God
and prevailed.
In chapter xii. "a, it is written "the
word of God grew and multiplied"
The work of God is done 10y the Spir-
it of God using the word of God. As we
have seen i'm former studies. the preach
ers used the Scriptures. and all the
Scriptures. and preached from them the
things concerning the Lord Jesus and
the kingdom of God. They did not in
the least discount any portion of the
word of God: but. like the Lord Jesus
in all His teaching. they honored it all.
IL is safe TO say that those who i'm our
day make light of any portion of the
word of God are not causing il To grow
or multiply or prevail. and they are