Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-08-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.--Third Quarter, For
Aug. 8, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, I Thess. v, 1924.
Memory Verses, 16-1S-Golden Text,
Thsss. Y, 15-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

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copyright, 1905, by American Press Association.
The topic Of our lesson is Pauis in
structions to the Thessalonians, ant
yet we are assigned very small poi
ton of this most helpful epistle lie
those who would profit most by ou
study today note how much Paul ha.
to say about the word Of God, the COS
pei Of God and the faith Of these peo
pie. See in chapter l, 1, where thi'
great salvation placed them and places
every true believer "in God the Father
and In the Lord Jesus Christ" thai
we might walk worthy Of God, who
hath called us unto His kingdom and
glory while we wait for His Son from
heaven, whom he raised from the dead
even Jesus who delivered US from the
wrath to come I'll, II; 1, 10Y. The word
comfort" In Nv, 10; v, IL. reminds US
that, being In God the Father. we are
In Him who Is ''the Father Of merciea
and the God Of all comfort" that we
who enjoy Him might bear His com.
fort to others, the comfort Of His
great salvation, Of His continual care
Of His redeemed and Of the glory OF
His kingdom. In the opening verses Of
the portion given US as lesson we are
exhorted to esteem those who bring
US this comfort In His name, which
must certainly mean that, while we
esteem them, we give Him always the
pre-eminence In all things, that the
Lord alone may be exalted (Col. !, IL;
lisa. ii, II, 10 Having obtained peace
with God through Him who made
peace for US and who is our peace and
who will give us peace always by all
means If we will let Him (Eph. II, -,
IA; Col. /, 20; II Thess. Ill, 16), we are
exhorted to be at peace among our
selves, for all envying and strife are
from beneath, not from above Oas. Ill,
1913. In chapter ", II, we hear Of
an ambition to be quiet and to attend
to ones own business, for the word
study" In that verse Is word used
elsewhere only In Rom. XIV, 20; II Cor
v, 8, and really signifies holy ambi-
ton In these matters.
There will always be some disorder
ly ones who need warning, some fee
BILE minded who specially need COM
fort and some weak ones needing sup
port, and with all classes we are to
manifest the love Of God and the pa
thence of Christ Oh Thess. ill, D.. Col.
4, II, Is most wonderful word on pa
tience and the need of 1t and the kind
the Lord loves To return good for
evil is Christ-like and to bless those
who curse US and pray for those who
prosecute US (Sfatt. v, AZ. A Chris
tian should be happy person, rejoic-
ing evermore, rejoicing in the Lord
and before the Lord and in spite Of all
manner of circumstances phil. ", 4;
Deut. xii, -. 10; Hab. iii, II, 49,, be-
cause He is worthy to be praised, al
ways loving US, always caring for US
and fulfilling Rom. viii, %. 30. 1t Is
our privilege to be In constant touch
and communion with God through
Jesus Christ, to talk with Him about
everything and thus to pray without
ceasing, be free from all anxiety and
enjoy the peace which passeth all un-
Outstanding phil. ", 6, y. II we only
knew the blessings which we might
bring from God to people In the name
Of Jesus Christ and the strength and
encouragement we might bring to
many a lonely, weary missionary, 1t
does seem as II we would be most
gladly talking with God about some
one all the day long. TO say, Father,
! thank thee" thus accepting all that
comes or that does not come as the
will of God for US is the only proper
attitude of a child Of God, knowing
that He so loved us as to give His
only begotten Son to die for our sins,
cannot withhold any real good, but
will with Him freely give us all things
Cps. lxxxiv; Rom. viii, 32). Compare
Eph. v. co.
Unbelievers resist the Spirit by re-
fusing to receive Jesus Christ Be-
levers grieve Him by sin or Quench
Him by disobedience or by despising
His message through the prophets.
God has told us by the prophets all
that He intends to do, and If we would
walk with Him as He would like us to
we must be perfectly agreed with
Him by believing all that the prophets
have spoken; otherwise our Lord will
count US foolish people (Amos Ill, 3. Z;
Luke xiv, 25). We cannot believe all
that men teach, but must try the spir- |
its, for there are many false teachers. !
All who do not accept Jesus as God J
manifest in the flesh, truly q man, a |
sinless man, but truly God, the Crea-
tor of all things, are not sent Of God.
Those who deny the supernatural birth
of Jesus or His literal resurrection from
the dead and His ascension to the right
hand of the Father are not in accord
with the Scriptures. Those who deny
that Christ died for our sins, the just
for the unjust, made sin for US, and !
that, apart from His sacrifice, any one
can be saved. are not Of God. We must
stand with Christ In all that He said |
and did; otherwise we are against
Him. BY His word we must prove all
things and reject all that Is not &C.
cording to Scripture. holding fast the
faithful word Crit. |, 81.
AS we are here In Chrlst's stead to
manifest His life in these mortal bod
les, we cannot be His faithful wit
nesses If anything unholy Is seen In /
US. There is q filthiness Of the spirit ;
as we'll as Of the flesh from which we |
must cleanse ourselves If we would be
such sons and daughters as the AL
"a q oil ~