The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11

verses. 6-s
GOLDEN TEXT.-"For to me to live
is Christ. and to die is gain Phil. III
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Pauls battlefields, victories and
crown
I. A Picture OF One of Pauls Battle
fields-vs. Is. The advice which Paul
urges upon the younger Timothy was
counsel he himself had often acted
upon. He knew il was good, for he
had tried it. So that in the evils and
difficlties which Paul knew were con-
fronting Timothy, we may see enc
mics which Paul had been compelled
to meet And in the weapons and
methods of warfare Paul charged Tim
othy to use, we see the means By
which Paul gained the victory.
The Three Kinds of Enemies. I.
Paul, like other men, had to fight enc
mics within himself. When we see
good man we are apt to think that he
has natural qualities of goodness, or
favoring circumstances that make 1t
easy for him to be good.
z.
and difficulties with which to contend.
Many of them were brought before us
in Lesson VIII. where we studied his
account of his life. His wrestling
was against the principalities. against
the powers, against the world rulers
Of this darkness. against the spiritual
hosts of wickedness."
3. In the lesson to-day We find a
series of dangers and enemies within
the company of disciples which must
be overcome.
8. For the time will come when
they will not endure" the sound,
healthful, saving doctrine" teaching
which Paul had preached, and all the
apostles.
4. They shall turn away their ears
| from the truth" They are well pic
tured in Southey's poem, The Inch.
cape Rock" The holy abbot of Aber-
brothock" had placed bell over this
| rock, in such way that 1t was rung
| by the motion of the waves.
ii. How Paul Overcame These Enc
mics to the Truth-Vs. 1, 2. s. Paul
| gave to Timothy the most solemn
charge, using the motives which had
influenced his own life.
| 1. Before God, that is, I'm the sight
of God" r. w., who was always with
him and watching to see If he did hi:
duty" watching, not to find fault. buI
to encourage and help.
And the Lord Jesus Christ. His Mas
ter and Teacher and Friend. Who
shall Judge the quick. the living ant
the dead. This was more than the
| consciousness that he himself must bt
| judged according to what he was ant
what he did: but 1t added the ever
stronger motive that the fate of thos,
to whom he preached depended on hi
faithfulness.
The coming again of Christ. At hi
appearing and his kingdom. Christ
glorious second coming, possible a
any time, should spur Timothy to be
faithful steward, and he should do hi
work well because it would help t
establish Christ's rule on earth, hi
kingdom of peace and righteousness
Preach, proclaim like a herald, tn
word, the gospel message, the Word @
God, embodied in the life and teach
ings of the Word who was made fest
Be instant, urgent, importunatt
pressing on against all obstacles. L
season, in the regular course of worl
when the opportunity is favorable
and people wish to hear the gospel.
III. Paul's Victory in the Conflict
VS.. 6, Z, s. For l am now ready
be offered" r. VS. margin, Il al
already being poured out as drin
offerirg." His life was wearing ava
in ioul dungeon, the infirmities {
age after a life of great toll and e,
posture were upon him, and at an
time the sword of Nero might en-
mis- life by a martyrs death. But TIL
was merely death; his dying was
libation in honor of God, willin
sacrifice of sweet SAVIOR, holy and a
ceptable. 1t was the giving to &C
the choicest and most precious of a
his possession. 1t was the fifth
c'ose of a life which had been fl
years a living sacrifice. Pauls vel
death was victory.
w. Pauls Crown.-v. s. "Henc
forth" Paul's life struggles wei
over; there remained only to receiV
the reward. There is laid up f,
me-" Deposited. reserved. put by
store out of the reach of all enemi,
and sorrows. Bishop Wilson.
r. v. the" crown of Righteousness
The leaf garland of the Grecian game
taken by Paul as symbol of h
; eternal reward in heaven. Of rigt
eousness Is the name of the race [,
/ which the crown is awarded, just
Pindar wrote: "Pytheas, broad-shol
dered son of Lampo, won the crow
of the double contest wrestling al
boxing) at the Nemean games"