The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-01
THE SUNDAY. SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL s.

SuuJeet: FouIb EexoWeh " Spe
H.. 2s-3s-Goidsn Texf. Acts r.. 3d.
Memory Verses, 3i.34 - comn,estsrv
on the Days Lesson.
/. The character OF Paul's ministry ae
Ephesus Tvs. 1921. 1t was, ]. A ministry.
Of urwearied, diiigcnt service. I'D He
served the Lord. 81 He served the people.
He was devoted and faithful, preaching
publicly and privately and laboring with
his hands. His service was constant md
arduous. 2. Characterized by . whole.
hearted conservation. 8. A humble min
istry. Paul had a humble opinion OF him
self. He ascribed to God all the glory. e
A ministry Of fervent sympathy. 5.
ministry OF thoroughness and consequent
unpopularity.
IT,. Paui's faithfulness Tvs. x-27). I'm
the midst of bonds and Affections, while
facing death, he did not falter, but
preached the gospel, declaring the whole
counsel of God, with joy. He says., u am
pure from the blood Of all men" This
form of expression 10 very striking. 1t is
borrowed from the crime Of murder, and
the method by which guilt Is ordinarily
brought home TO the criminal. In many
cases conviction depends on blood being
found IN the clothes Of the murderer. This
j: the conception that leaps into tine apos-
TIC y mluu. Ic u fOUbClO0S VI btb RGk
Torrance of duty, and il any are lost who.
had hard the gospel from his lips, their
blood will not be required at his hands.
III. The elders admonished Tvs. 1881.
q. Take heed" How u~uspcakable tho
loss OF a soul! He shudders at the thought,
and in order to quicken their diligence
when they should return TO their labor he.
endeavor r to Impart some Of his own anx.-
iety to the elders. He. in effect. invites
them to look to their hands and sarmentst
to make sure there is no blood on them"
IAN the flock" The work Of these divine.
" called bishops. or elders, is 20 shepherd
the church Of God; to nourish il with
truth; to lead it to the way OF Christ; to
watch over and guard against the entrance
OF evil. and to administer such rule and
discipline as is d~ivinely delegated. Tbs
term ''Aock" is Christ's fayorite figure.
The supreme motive Is fidelity. Over
sees" I'm the sending forth Of Saul snd
Rarnabas we learn the truth which PauI
here declares. that in every genuine ap-
pointment Of bishops or elders it Is tho
Holy Ghost who selects, calls and appoints
tc the Office and the work. No valid min.
istry is exclusively man.madc." His own
blood" The death Of Christ was an atom
ing sacrifice; He offered Himself TO pur.
chase a peop!e to His OWE service The.
church Is. therefore, Of peculiar ve!neEe
Il. This is here called the blood Of God a.
being the blood Of that man who was God
manifest in the flesh.
%. IT know" From observation, from
exper.ence and from the insight given him,
by the Holy Spirit. Wolves" The enc
mics Of Chris. and His church. Those who
taught false doctrines. evil principles and
bad morals. and who brought worldlinceq
and st.ife into the church. Such were like
" to come in sleeps clothing .fMatt.
I: l5). under the guise Of friends and
teachers. Not sparing." Seeking their
own selfish interests regardless OF the
souls thev might DESTROY.
30. "Of your own selves" The enemies
are described. on the q hand, a. raven
and murderers OF souls, aud. on the other,
as false brethren who arise ia the church
itself. ard who. with specious words. teach
false and dangerous doctrines. The former
may he easily recognized; the latter arc
more insidinus and dangerous. "Perverss
things" Truths distorted from their
true meaning. The mos. DANGEROUS errors
are truths TINS perverted. There II truth
enough to make some believe them and C.
TOT. enomsh to injure or ruin those who 90
81. Watch" As q man on guard.
sRememsss:" Ny essn: FL ar s aanon y.
s s,Sn,i for Tht two wears Years and az shr sss'1 months e..
fchap. 10: s.I0I. and 70 this may be added
the time which probably preceded His
teaching in the synagogue: "The two
statements need not be conflicting. IN the
Jewish mode Of speech. three years need
only consist Of one whole wear and parts Of
that which preceded and followed" with
tears" These show the love. earnestnesa,
humility and tenderness with which Paul
preached even the stsrnest truths.
". The elders exhorted to u~nselRshness
Tvs. $3.50. g. "To God" An almighty
support to those who trust Him: Word
~ His grace" "The truths OF the gospel.
The gospel originates in srsee; reveais
race; produces race" Build you UP,
"The foundation oil. faith had ben laid,
Character was tn he reared through the in.
strumentality Of the gosnel." IAN inner.
itance." Eternal life. The final slorv and
b'essedness OF the redeemed: "Sanctiied."
Those who have been made holy: Il 10
c~loriousiy possible to be sanctifcd-made
holy-:n this life. When the converted
person discovers that sin still exists in the
soul he should immediately come TO Christ
by faith for a complete cleansing. Please
examine the following Scriptures. ]. Pro-
visions are made in the atonement for the
complete removal OF all sin tZech l3: ];
Eph. S: 2s27: Titus 2: Il: Heb. Il: II; !
John 2: 81. 2. 1t Is promised q Thess; 3:
"a: ] John ]: o.. 3. Commanded Il Pet.
i. II: I Tbess. s.: 23j. S. II Is the oaice
work OF the Hoy Ghost to s~anctifv as well
A. to reqenerate rom. Is: Is: I? 'Thess. 2:
10: ] Pet. /: q. 6. It Is received by faith
1895. Coveted" I have not msde IL
m object Of my living among you to obtain
your property. Paul had power to demand
support in the ministry as the reward OF
his labon. but he did not choose 10 exer.
else it. lest it should bring the charge OF
~syarice against the ministry. Yet. in Gal.
6: 6 and l Cor. o.: TIA, he distinctly
teaches that they which preach the so,pei
should live Of the gospel" These hands."
Paul showed, both by example n pre-
cept. that labor Is honorable; lbs
words" etc. The words recorded here are
not in the gospels, but they are In perfect
accord with the teachings OF Jesus. John
are not recorded. More blessed" when
the Lord animated that the blesedness Of
giving is the greater He did not intimate
that the joy OF receiving was small. he
q, ,claims in n sentence the twofoic
truth. that the joy of His people in obtain.
ing is great, aud His W in bestowins u
Y. The closing scene Tvs. 1881. 3e30.
"Kneeied." The usual attitude Of prayer,
and the proper position OF a appellant; Is
indicates reverence and humility" :Weps
the common token Of affection. Sorrow
ING" This was q most tender and affec-
t;onatc parting scene. May God grant 20
every minister the spirit which Paul
evinced at this time.
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