The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-25
The
School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 5.

Subject: Paul's Third Missionary
Journey-Farewells, Acts 20:2-
3S-Golden Text: Phil. Ais
Commit Verses 81, 80.
TIME.-A. D. IS.
PLACE.-Miletus.
EXPOSITION.-I. How Paul Had
Lived and Worked at Ephesus, IL
81. If ever there was a man who had
a right to be puffed up over trials
endured and victories won it was
Paul; and If ever there was a place
in all his history when it would have
been natural for him to have become
exalted because Of the wonders
wrought by his hand 1t was Ephesus.
He had served with tears" too;
tears over the hardness and impeni-
tence of their hearts ". 10; CT. 81.
Paul's trials never kept him from de-
claring the whole truth ". 20, R..
W.. Paul never declared truth for
the sake of startling people and
arousing opposition or for the sake Of
parading his knowledge; he only
sought to find what would be profit
able" for people. He taught wher-
SFcl uC gu OIL OpPoi IuAitJ PooiASiJ
and from house to house." 1t was
men he was after and not the noto-
riety that comes from large au-
diences. He was at it, always at it.
He had the same message for both
Jews and Greeks-repentance toward
God and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ.
II. Take Heed, Watch, Trust God
and His Word, 1882. Paul had ap-
pealed to his own faithfulness as an
incentive to faithfulness on the part
of these Ephesian elders or bishops.
Only the one who takes heed to him.
self is in q position to take heed to
others. Many of US are so occupied
with our work that we neglect our
own spiritual life comp. l Tim a:
16). While we should first take heed
to ourselves, we should not stop with
taking heed to ourselves. We should
go on to take heed to our flock, Our
flock may be a church or a Sunday
school class, or a family, or something
else, but we all have one, and let us
never forget that it Is the Holy Ghost
who has made us overseers ove 1t.
This verse brings out, beautifully, the
glory of the church: Cd 1t is, "the
Church of Cod" (2) He purchased
it with His own blood; 60 the Holy
Ghost presides in it's government. The
verse also brings out the purpose for
which the Holy Ghost appoints bish-
(see Prov. 1921; Matt. 24:45). Paul
proceeds to utter solemn words OF
warning. These dark words of warn
ing came true e Tim. 2:17, IS; 1
Tim. 1:19, 20). Grievous wolves,
false teachers, come sooner or later
to every church and community. They
were never more numerous or raven
GUS than to-day. But the most dan
gerous part of it was that some of
these g~rievous wolves were to arise
from among your W selves" The
great danger to-day is not from out
side wolves, but the wolves that arise
from among the ministry. One skep-
tic or false teacher who writes Rev"
before his. name, or ID. D." after it,
is UNNECESSARILY more dangerous to
the flock than the wolf that Is outside
the fence. What a moving and in
spring spectacle; this great man,
loaded with many labors and cares.
going up and down the streets of
Ephesus and from house to house,
night and day, with burning tears,
warning those he met, and keeping
this up for three years. How could
our love for souls appear in contrast
to this. The Holy Ghost has record
ed this for our imitation. Paul was
to depart, but God and the Word
were to stay. Gods servants are ever
passing away, but God Himself and
His Word always abide. Paul points
to the Word as the great safeguard
against error (cf. 2 Tim. 3:13-15).
Nothing makes m proof against
false doctrine like the persistent
study Of the Word. 1t Is the woeful
neglect of the study Of the Word on
the part of the churches to-day that
makes them so easy q prey to the
devils ]pretentious and smooth talk
ers. This verse tells two other things
the Word has power to do: Cd build
up" (2) "give an inheritance among
the sanctifed."
Ill. Paul's Unselfshness, 1885.
Paul was a mighty preacher by word,
but he was a mightier preacher by eX-
ample ". $50. He had not worked
for personal gain Of any kind. He
desired to get for his own use nothing
that belonged to any other man Il
Sam. 12:3). 1t was mems souls, not
their money and clothes, that he was
after. He had worked hard with his
own hands to make a living for him.
self and his co-workers (cf. oh. 1873;
1 Cor. Alp; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 8;
81. He sought not Injuries, but nc
cessities." In all things he set an
example for those to whom he
preached to follow ". IS, R. W..
Two lessons in particular he desired
them to learn from his example: Cd
"to help the weak" (cf. Rom. IBID,
CD to give out to others rather than
to take in from others. Jesus Hin
self had said, 1T is more blessed to
give than to receive" Jesus said
this, and yet a large portion of the
church does not seem to believe it.
Get as much as you can and give as
little as you can seems to be the prin-
ciple that governs many in the church
as we'll as those in the world. 1t was
by experience that Jesus knew that,
it was more blessed to give than to
receive" g Cor. SO; Matt. 20:2S).
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Self Control.
Self control is an essential to man.