The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-28
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR AUGUST S
Subject: Paul's Instructions to the
Thessalonians, I Thess. 5:12-24
Golden Text: 1 Thess. 5:15-
Commit Verses 1918.

Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 5:12-24
Golden Text: 1 Thess. 5:15-
Commit Verses 1918.
TIME.-A. D. So. =
PLACE.-Corinth.
EXPOSITION.-I. Christian Con-
duct Toward Those Who Are Over
Them in the Lord, IL, 10. Paul was
an apostle and had the authority of
an apostle, but he was absolutely
free from the domineering. spirit. He
besought men rather than command
ed them (cf. CHI. 2:6, y. His exam
pie is worthy of consideration and
imitation by all ecclesiastical rulers
to-day. While all believers are breth-
rem, 1t Is the appointment of God
that some be lover" others. The
duty of those who are "over'' others
is to labor among them (the word for
Tabor" is a very strong word; it
means not merely to work, but to
work hard) and to admonish them.
Those whom they admonish are I'M
der obligation to esteem them very
highly (R. W in love for their
works sake.
II. Christian Conduct Toward All
Men at ALI Times, ii, Is. The dis
orderly" particularly those who
would not work, CT. 2 Thess. 3:6, II;
1 Thess. Aid, they should "admon-
ish," "the faint-hearted" they should
encourage" "the weak" Chose spir-
ltually weak they should support"
The word for support" is a very eX-
pressive me-. 1t means to take hold
of so as to support (cf. Gal. 81, 2;
Ro. 1871; 1 Cor. 9:22). Long suf-
fering toward ALL" There is no be-
lever who needs not the exercise of
patience toward" him; there is none
to whom a believer should not show
it," Under no circumstances must we
pay back the evil that any other man
does US (cf. Ro. 1917; 1 Pet. SO;
1923; Luke 1884; Acts 1850. We
should ALWAYS follow after Gas a
matter of eager pursuit) that which
is good, n toward another" and not
only so, but toward ALL" even the
bitterest infdel and prosecutor.
III. The Will Of God, 1918.
Three things every believer should dc
all the time-rejoice, pray and give
thanks, this is Gods will in Christ
Jesus to usward. A Christian should
rejoice every day and every hour (cf.
Phil. IA, 6; Rom. 14:17; 1912;
Acts Sal, Jas. 1:2). A Christian
should, pray, not internationally, but
constantly. Every day should be a
day of prayer" (cf. Eph. 6-18) Phil.
4:6). Only as he prays without ceas-
ing will the Christian rejoice always.
In everything, absolutely everything,
should the Christian give thanks (cf.
Eph. $500.
w. Entire Sanctification, 1924.
When any one receives the Holy
Spirit he receives a holy fire (cf.
Matt. 3:11; Acts 2:3;,2 Tim. lie, R.
", Marg.). This fire should not be
quenched. We quench this fire in
ourselves by not yielding to the fire
that burns within. We quench this
fire in others when we throw cold
water upon them as they seek to obey
the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Some in Thessalonica thought lightly
of the utterances of others who spoke
under the Holy Spirits influence. Yet
they must not accept every mans
claim to speak by the Spirit. They
should prove all things" (cf. 1 Jno.
4:1). They should seek to find out
whether the claim vas true or false.
Every claim to speak by the Spirit
should be tested by a comparison
with the teachings of the written
word (cf. lisa. 500; Acts It'll; Gal.
1:8, 81. No mans claim to author
ity and infallibllity should be accept
ed merely because he makes the
claim. That which stands the test
and is found to be good we should
hold fast" (cf. Luke 8:15, R. "; 1
Cor. 11:2. R. "; Heb. 2:l). On the
other hand, that which proves bad,
'every form of evil" GR. W, should
be abstained from. This twentieth
verse is constantly misinterpreted to
mean to abstain from all appearance
of doing evil If we can without doing
actual evil in order to avoid the mere
appearance Of doing evil (cf. 2 Cor.
500, Ply. Nevertheless it is not the
outward appearance, but the heart
and its purposes at which God looks
(cf. 1 Sam. 1877; Luke 1919. Man
consists Of three parts, the spirit, re-
ceived directly from God and linking
him to God (cf. Gen. 2:7; 1 Cor. Is:
45); the soul, i. e., the animal soul
(cf. Jude 10, R. w., and Marg. and
Creek, and the body. Paul's prayer
is that each part of this threefold
man be preserved entire, without
blame" This means the absolute
I ERECTION of the whole man (cf. Phil.
500, 21). When is this absolute
perfection to be attained? AT the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christi
&C.. CHI. 1913; 1 Jno. 3:2). And now
follows, if we take it in its connection,
one of the most cheering statements
in the Bible: Faithful is he that
calleth you, who will also do it." Do
what? Do what Paul has just prayed
-@anctify US wholly and preserve our
spirit and soul and body entire. The
pledge of this is not our f~aithfulness,
but His. What He has called us to
He Himself will also perfect (cf. Phil.
1:6; Ro. $500. Faithful" lea
true to His word. What He has
promised He will do (cf. Jno. 1927
20; / Cor. is, 9, 10, 10; l Jno. /:
81. If we would have hearts filled
with hope and strength, we should
look neither at our foes nor at our
selves, but to our faithful God (cf.
NJ. 1890; 14:8,9). Never discount
a promise of God, no matter how STU
pendous it seems. Faithful is He,
who also will do it."
Stop Music After 10 P. NJ.