The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-12-07
The
Sunday School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTs FOR DECEMBER IL.
Subject: Paul's Last Words, 2 Tim.
4:1-1SG Golden Text: Phil. Ia
21-Commit Verses 6-S-Coms
mentary on the Lesson.

= AAsAk1s---A. ~. Woo.
PLACE.-Rome.
EXPOSITION.--I. Paul's Last
Charge to Timothy, 1-8. This is a
most solemn charge both in its form
and in it's contents. The fact that
Christ is coming again to Judge both
the living and the dead is a mighty
incentive to faithful work The key
note of Pau1s charge is found in the
three last words Of v. 5, r. v. Paul
gives Timothy four reason for fulfill
ing his ministry: Cd v. 1; (2) v. 81
I'D VS.. 3-5; "a VS.. II, 18). In the
closing verses of the third chapter
Paul has urged Timothy to study the
word, he now urges him to preach it.
The word alone has power to save, to
convict, to regenerate, to edify, to
comfort, to cleanse, to do all that
every man most needs to have done
(cf. Acts 2:37; Pet. 1928; 2:2; Jas.
1:21; Acts 20.32; Ps. 1879, Ii;
Jno. 1879, therefore the word is the
only thing any man can afford to
preach. The word should be preached
with energy at every possible oppor-
tunity, in season, out of season."
Every form of earnest preaching
should be made use of, reproof, re-
buke, exhortation. But no matter
how stern the reproof that is demand
ed, it should always be with all long
suffering" and with teaching. ThsN
reason why we should make the best
use of every opportunity is, because
there is time coming when they will
not endure the sound doctrine. The
time Paul speaks of has already
come with many. Itching ears are
ears that desire to be tickled with
No fno ir1r Iof
want to hear the old, no matter how
true and precious it is, but are ever
running after the new, no matter
how false and foolish it is (Acts It's
21). The world is governed by it's
lusts, and demands teachers after
their own lusts. These teachers
never satisfy the real craving of the
heart, so they heap them up What
a picture this is of our own times. In
view of the grievous character of the
time the follower of Christ should be
sober" fclear headed and wakeful)
Sin all things" 1t is not time to
seek easy places, but to suffer hard
ship to do the work of an evangelist
constantly tell the glad tidings of
salvation in CHRISTI, to fulfill our
ministry (make full use of IT'D. Paul
appeals to the fact that his own
earthly ministry was SO near ended
to stir up Timothy to harder EFFORT
The fact that the great workers of
the past are falling out of the ranks
should stir every one of us to more
earnest effort. Paul had poured his
life out for Christ and His people, so
he compares himself to drink Offer
ing that is being poured out (R. ",
Marg.; CT. Phil. 2:17, r. Va. He
also compares his departure from
this world to vessel loosing it's
moorings and putting out to sea-, He
was sailing to better port (Phil. 1 i
20, R. Va. In v. 8 the Christian life
Is compared to fight. a race, and to
sacred trust of faith to be kept.
Looking at the Christian life in each
aspect, Paul could say II have been
faithful. We live in day when but
few are willing to fight, or to rum, and
when few can say, II have kept the
faith The many are willing to give
1t UP at the demand of the first plau-
sible speaker who assures them that
'all the scholars have now given up
this old fashioned doctrine" (cf. Jude
3, r. w. Paul turns his eyes from
the past to the future, from what he
had done to what he should receive, a
crown that would more than compen-
safe for all the hard fighting and
painful running The Lord Himself
would bestow the crown ''at that
day. /. e., at His appearing (cf.
Matt 1920. That crown is only
for one class of people, them that
love His appearing"
III. Paul Deserted by Man. Defend
ed by the Lord, 1915. Paul was
one of the loneliest men that ever
walked the earth. Like his Master
he was deserted by all men in the
hour of his deepest need (cf Matt.
26:56) 1t was cowardly act on,
the part of his friends, but Paul for
gave them and prayed God that He
might forgive them But though de-
serted by men Paul was not deserted
the Lord stood with" him. THAI
was enough (cf Rom. 8:31). Better
to have all men forsake us and the
Lord with us, than to have all men
with us and the Lord forsake us. One
can stand anywhere If only the Lord
stands with him The Lord not only
stood with Paul but strengthened
Paul to stand himself. The Lords
purpose in strengthening Paul to
stand was that ''the message might
be fully proclaimed" Or. VI. The
LORD desired LnaL All the GenCll0S
might hear. Paul Vas in danger of,
being thrown to the lions, but the
Lord delivered him out of the mouth
of the lions. AS the Lord had al
ready delivered him from peril in the
past, he had every confidence that
God would deliver him in the future.
from every evil work With heart
full of gratitude he ascribed glory to
God unto the ages of the ages
ultimate End of Sin.