Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-11-17
The SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson VII. Fourth Quarter,
For Nov. Fl, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, u Cor. XII, Fl, to
XII, 1o-Memory Verses, "a, 25-Gold-
on Text, u Cor. xii, 9-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

on Text, u Cor. xii, 9-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
The topic Of this lesson Is "Paul's
Story of His L!fe." and yet that seems
to be more fully told In his testimony
before Agrippa In chapter XVI. or even
I'm his address from the castle stairs
In chapter XII. or more conclsely in
Phil. Ill. or more fully by putting these
three records together. The verses as.
signed us for tOday's study are rather
\ resume OF his suilpriiIGs. with spe-
cial reference to his being stoned to
death at Lystra and his marvellous eI-
perence ut that time. With such a
record as that in chapter xi, 1928. who
Is there today who has anything that
can begin 10 compare with it In the
matter Of suffering for Christ's sake?
At the time of his conversion the Lord
said to Ananias. II will shew him how
great things he must suffer for my
sake" (Acts *. 10. and this seems in
our eyes as II He had filed the bill
quite fully. Let us understand lit
tie more fully the service Of suffering
as set forth In Rom. V, 3: Phil. |. %:
Col. |. "a; Rev. ii, TO- aud elsewhere.
1t Is made Enthusiastically plain that by
the suffering Of Christ in our stead.
as our sin bearer all who receive Him
are made meet to be partakers Of the
Inheritance, having in Him redemption
hn 81
sins (Col. |, 12-14.
There Is, however, another phase Of
the suffering question In Heb. II. 10.
where it speaks Of bringing us to His
glory and Of Him as the captain Of
our salvation being made perfect |
through sufferings. He is our high |
priest, who can be touched with the |
feeling Of our infrmities. for He was |
in all points tempted like as we are
(Heb. ". i5). Now. since by His |
atonement He has made us kings and |
priests unto God. having washed us
from our sins in His own blood. and |
we are TO reign with Him on the
earth REV. |, 3. 6; V, 10. we must re-
member that to be fitted to reign with
Him we must suffer with Him III
Tim. II. ~. by His atonement made
ct for his presence. but by our suffer
ing with Him here as His redeemed
ones made fit to Oil the place in His
kingdom which He Is preparing for us
while He prepares us for 1t; hence we
have little light on the great mystery
Of the believers sufferings as seen
everywhere In greater or less degree.
II by His grace we are patient under
all our trials we are winning for our
selves a special crown-the crown OF
life JAS. 1. II; Rev. II. 20D. which we
shall have to cast 81 His feet IN that
lay. And not only so. but the powe"
If Christ Is seen upon US TO His glory.
he patience under trial M 1t could not
otherwise be SEEN Paul therefore
ays. Most gladly will ] glory in my
nfrmities that the power Of Christ
nay rest upon me- xii %. This Is
like Phil. 90 where he says.
Christ shall be magnifed In my body.
whether It be by life or by DEATH
While Paul had unusual fellowship
0 suffering. be had also some unusual
eyelations. Not only was his con-
ersion unique. but the various mani
estations Of the Lord to him after
yard were very remarkable. rs was
lso the revelation Of 1.-The mystery" Of
Thich he so often speaks. He tells us
hat, lest the abundance Of the reve-
,tions should unduly e1alt him. there
vas given him q thorn in the flesh. the
passenger Of Satan. to buffet him. He
Ellis US that be asked the Lord three
mes to deliver him from it. but the
nswer was, MY grace is sufficient =
,r thee, for my strength Is made per-
,ct In weakness verse o. | do not
now how we can be quite sure as to
hat this thorn in the flesh was till
aul himself shall some day tell us
1t is best for us to know. Some one
rs said that we are not told what
was in order that IL any one has
lorn In tho flesh be may find bit IN
comfort in supposlng that that was G,
st what Paul had. This certainly is IT
ue-that IL any believer has phys 70
al inarmity and cannot get 1t remov-
by prayer or by the physicians skill a
en- the answer to Paul must be ac- -
pied and the Lord trusted for grace ",
bear 1t meekly for His glory, for. clc
bile these words were said to Paul. to-
ey were written for US. lp
AS to the special vision and revela- o,'
ID Of our lesson. 1t seems to have "
en- about the time that Paul was or
Dned to death at Lystra. aud It IL tn
lite probable that while Pauls dead a
dy was being dragged out Of Lystra wi
cts xiv. l9l be was IN the third Ia.
aven, or paradise. which he here de- pa