The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-03
THE SUNDAY School.
Lesson X. Third Quarter
For Sept. 5, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text of the Lessen, Acts Xxx, 1875.
Memory Verses, 81, 81 Golden Text,
Phil. ", 1s-commentary Prepared
by Rev. .. M. Stearns.
fCopynght 1902 BY American Press Association. i
After leaving Ephesus Paul visited
the churches In Macedonia, giving
them much exhortation, the nature Of
which we may gather from his epis-
Ties. Then, passing into Greece, he
abode three months, and he would not
fail to open to them the Scriptures at
every opportunity. Hindered In his
purpose to sail from Greece to Syria,
he returned through Macedonia, some
Of the brethren having gone to Troas
to await him there. Luke evidently
accompanied him to Philippi and sail
ed with him to Troas, where they tar
ried seven days Xxx, 81. The next
verse looks like commemorative our
Lords death on the first day OF the
week, and in connection Herewith
Paul held an all night service, talking
even till break Of day. AT this service
a young man fell out of the window
and was killed, but Paul was permit
ted to restore him to life. This may
have been an exceptionally long dis
course of Pnuls, but we have some
times wondered, with so much to tell,
how long he did talk. While all the
party sailed from Troas, Paul prefer
red to walk across to Assos and Join
them there, perhaps coveting to be
alone with his Lord. something so nee
essary for a laborer with God. A mis-
sionary wrote from the heart of Brazil
recently, ut is prayer that strikes the
winning blow"
Having reached Miletus and hasten
Ing to be at Jerusalem by Pentecost,
instead of visiting Ephesus he sent for
the elders of the church to come to
him at Miletus, and his address to
them covers the greater portion of the
verses assigned as our lesson for to-
day. With this farewell discourse the
teacher should read his epistle to the
Ephesians and also our Lords epistIe
to the same church in Rev. ILL., He
here reminds them of his behavior
and his zeal and his teaching during
his three years sojourn among them.
The phrase serving the Lord with all
humility of mind verse 19) gives the
key to his whole life since he saw the
Lord on the way to Damascus. Put
with 1t Acts xvii, %. whose / am,
and whom / serve;" also Rom. vi, 10,
his servants We are to whom We obey"
Being such servant Of such Master,
he would of course keep back moth
ing that they ought to know, for he
lived not to please men, but God, who
trieth the heart Ct Thess ii, A.. His
preaching was summed up In repent
ance toward God and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ (verse 21), and this
he proclaimed alike to Jew and Greek.
testifying the gospel Of the grace of
God and the coming kingdom of Gcd
GA, 25l He knew that bonds and af-
hictions awaited him everywhere, but
this did not move him, and he was
always ready to lay down his life for
Christ. The time did come when he
wrote to his beloved Timothy: Il am
now ready to be offered. and the time
of my departure is at hand. have
fought good fight; have finished
my course; ! have kept the faith" QI
Tim. iv, G, y. Knowing that 1t is our
privilege to suffer with Christ and to
fill up that which is behind of the af-
fictions of Christ, he ever taught that
we must through much tribulation en-
ter the kingdom of God Phil !, 20;
Col. 1, "a; Acts xiv. ~. Impressed
that this might be his last talk with
them, we listen with great interest to
his farewell words, which we do well
to lay to heart. He reminds them that
they are purchased with the blood of
Christ (2Sl, In whom we have redemp-
tion through His blood, the forgive
ness of sins (Eph i, -, and that they
can be built up only by the word OF
His grace, which is the only food for
the soul.
What word to sound out every
where to all preachers and teachers
today, iced the church Of Cod re-
membcring that He Himself said, II
am the bread Of life, " II am the living
bread which came down from heaven"
John vi, S5. 81. Again He quoted
from the law, MAN shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word Of
Cod duke iy, Al. Paul forcsaw that
wolves would enter In among them,
not sparing the flock. and our Lore
said to His disciples, II send you forth
as sheep in the midst of wolves,
Fear not them which XIII the body
(Afatt. K, is, 2S). He also warned ther
that from among themselves fills
teachers would arise to draw ava
disciples after them.
BY his own example Of earning hi
own living while he sojou-Eod amoEf
them he warned them against cor
etousness and taught them to care to-
| the weak, reminding them Of soai
words OF the Lord jesus. 1T is NOR
blessed to give than to receive (Tcrse
1885, In his epistle he wrote, "Le
him That stole steal no more. but rati
er let him labor, working with n
hands the thing which Is good, that 4
may have to give to him that needeth
Eph ", 2s). 1T Is not popular W.T.
many to earn money in order to hay
something to give away. People do tn
| churches sing "If ever loved Thee.
my Jesus, it's now" but when tllr
Lord sees the offering on the collectlo
plate and their manifest failure other
wise In showing their love BY their