Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-05-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson W.--SeCond Quarter, For
May 10, 1903.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, John xvi, Ais.
Memory Verse, 13-eolden Text, John
xiv, 1s-commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.

|
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Copyright 1908, by American Press Association. ]
While q definite portion of this great
discourse is assigned as our lesson fol-
the day, 1t is evidently intended that
we should take specially the portions
of the whole discourse which refer to
the Holy Spirit, who is four times
called the Comforter. or Paraklete, one
ever ready to heed every call for help
and to be to the redeemed all that
Jesus was to His disciples xiv, 16, 20;
XIV, ~26; xvi, y. The same name is
! given to the Lord Jesus Himself in /
John ii, l, where He is called our Ad-
vocate. So we have an abiding ,yom-
forter, Helper, Friend, at the Fathers
/ right hand and another in us always.
From xiv, II, %, we learn that the Fa-
Their, Son and Holy Spirit are willing
to make their home in us and live in US
the heavenly life which it is so impos-
sible for us to live ourselves. They de-
sire to possess us fully. The spirit
which He made to dwell in us yearn-
eth for US even unto Jealous envy
(Jas. iv, 8, r. V. NJ What He would
do in us and for us and through us, to
the glory of God, perhaps no one has
yet fully learned. He is the Spirit of
truth, and everything that has the least
faint of deceit, not merely outwardly,
but in the inward parts. grieves and
hinders Him. He is the Holy Spirit,
and everything that is unholy in
thought word or deed is a hindrance
to His filling US as He would like to 1
and using US as He might. He is the
Great Teacher, guiding us into all
truth, testifying of Christ and show
ing us things to come When He fills
us we will never be occupied with our
selves but with Him whom He de-
lights to honor. He is also our Re- |
membrancer, bringing to our minds, as
we need it, all that we have ever read |
or heard of the sufferings and the |
glory Of the Lord Jesus. The world |
seeth Him not neither knoweth Him, |
but they ought to see Him in u.s. |
Israel vexed His Holy Spirit, and it is
possible for us to resist or grieve or
quench Him Qsa. xiii, 10; Acts VII, 81;
Eph. ", 80; Thess. V, 19). The one
only thing to do is to so behold the
Lamb of God that His love shall con- |
strain us to be all that He wants us to |
be. and then, opening our hearts wide
to the Holy Spirit He will purify us
and work in US all the will Of God.
Then shall we learn the meaning Of
abiding and of bearing the fruit for
which He has chosen and ordained us
Then shall we know the meaning of be-
ing hated by the world as He was and
chapter XVI. He told the
disciples that they would be put out
Of the synagogue and even killed by
those who knew not the Father nor
Him, but that they must not be Of
Tended. The seemingly strange thing
IS that those who would so i'll treat
them were most religious people and
DrOfesSed friends Of God. When He
sent word to John the Baptist about
lot being offended, it was evidently
cemed like neglect or Indifference on
he part of Jesus. The words of Mar
ha and Mary also sound as if they
we're offended at Him because He had
ot come to them. What is much the
pirit of complaint among Christians !
because He does not do as
hey think He might. but simply be-
Nc offended at Him?
Either self or Christ is on the throne /
( our hearts. and it is the enthrone-
lent Of self that makes all tie diff
ulty. BE had spoken Of going away,
ut none of them asked Him whittier
lie was going, because they were
linking more Of themselves than of
lin. Imagine yourself saying TO some
Ultimate friends that you are going
way for an indefinite period, but that
will undoubtedly be Of great benefit to
Op. and they at once begin to say how
'nely they will be and to wonder what
ley will ever do without you. You see
once the prominence of self and their
lterest rather than yours. If you can
lsO add that you are going Oh their
ehalf and that it will be greatly for
leir gain to have you go, they may Z
2 Quoted as possibly the disciples G
ere Verse y, because of the benefit ! S
} self. Some one has defined conse. Q
alton as persistent determination c
ever to please yourself, but where do s
e see it? Is it in us by His grace?
Note the threefold work Of the Spirit a
'nvincing of sin, of righteousness and d
judgment. The great sin, the sin of v
sins, is that of not believing on or u
ceiving Jesus, for "he that believeth n
It is condemned already" Oil, 49,. n
Inversion that does begin with q con- e
ction of sin is not true conversion,
Id the awfulness Of sin is but little
pretended. Until men see them.
Ives as sinners they will be going a
,out to establish their own righteous G.
,ss and will not submit to God, but g
Ice truly convinced Of sin and seeing 81
} hope in their efforts they will turn b.
Him who has gone to the Father IL
ID who is the Righteousness Of God al
ito all and upon I'll who believe Il
.om. Ill, 10, "a; X, A.. This world has
ruler who blinds people to the light
the glorious gospel, but he is al
ady judged and only waits to be cast pl
due time into the lake of fire. All pl
ho will not receive Jesus Christ are ca
ready condemned and must 60 there ~
Ith him unless they repent and turn OIL
God. DR.. McLaren says, "Sin is I'll
rs; righteousness may be ours; judg- al
emit must be ours" CT