Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-09-02

GOLDEN TEXT-My grace is SUFFICIENT
for thee; for my power is made perfect
This letter raises interesting ques-
tons for research and discussion, such
as:
1. What is the difference between
PauPs heroism and that of a soldier?
2. Is war essential to the development
of heroism? 3. Which courage is high
er, moral or physical?
I.Paul, the Hero Oil :21-22). To man
of sensitive nature, craving perfec-
ton, sarcasm stirs up the deepest Bit
terness of the soul. We do not believe
Paul primarily desired to refuse these
false charges-they were unworthy of
him-but the knowledge of his suffer
ings for the cause Of Christ and the
truth Of the gospel would augment his
power to serve the church. For the
sake of those whom he had reclaimed
from heathenism he was willing to
seem to be boasting. Literally he
says: II speak by way of disparage-
ment (of myself as though we had
been weak" yet he adds: "Whereinso-
ever any is bold, 1 am bold Also" Paul
had as much to boast of as any one
of his Jewish opponents ". 21). "Are
they Hebrews? (Of the purest blood,
of one nation and languageD So am
l." Are they Israelites, worshiping
only one God? Are they of the seed Of
Abraham, inheritors OF the ministry of
the promise and the Messianic hope
and the kingdom of God? Are they
ministers OF the Messiah, seeking to
bring all men into his kingdom? 81
speak as fool. speak as one beside
himself. 1 am more" In labors he
| was more abundant; he had occupied
larger field with greater results. In
| stripes above measure-those inflicted
by the heather were not limited to
forty blows-besides other beatings re-
| ferred to in this list. In prisons oft
| (Acts 16 :23). Frequently exposed to
death and to the perils of robbers by
/ land and sea ". 24). Five times
received forty stripes, save one. from
the Jews" ". 25). Thrice was I
beaten with rods; once was 1 stoned"
| (Acts. IA :19). Thrice suffered ship
| wreck evidently not recorded in Acts,
| for his shipwreck on the way to Rome
! was later. "a night and a day in the
deep this not otherwise recorded.
| I'm journeyings often" suffering from
the perils of hard travel, often on foot
in uncivilized regions. I'm perils of
water" literally sin rivers" Bridges
| were rare, and floods sudden and fire.
| quent. I'm perils of robbers" Every
| road in Asia Minor then as now was
/ infested with robbers. I'm perils Of
his own countrymen :" I'm perils by
| the Gentiles; ;" I'm perils in the city; ;"
I'm perils in the wilderness ;" I'm per-
| lis in the sea" from storms, rocks, pi-
1ates; I'm perils among false breth-
ren'-Judaising teachers who were
self-seeking instead of making the Cos
pei first (Gal. z a; II Cor, IL :13). I'm
| WEAKNESS end paInfuiness,'' literally in
labor and travail; '1n watchings Oft
en- repeated nights of sleeplessness
due to anxiety or pain. "In hunger and
thirst. in Hastings often" hunger I'M
satisfied for long time. ''In cold and
nakedness - IN the mountain passes
badly shod and badly clothed. Besides
| these things which were without, in
Vulnerable other trials such as the
| care of or anxiety over the churches
Wv. 30, 33).
II. Gods Sustaining Grace (12 :1-10).
To Paul God gave one of the greatest
tasks over committed to man, viz, the
planting of the gospel in heather
lands; founding churches; teaching
them the gospel truths of the Lord Je-
sus. He wrote to these churches two
fifths of the New Testament, thirteen
of it's twenty-seven books, and this
work was accomplished under the
greatest difficulty, trials and suffering
To sustain and guide, the Lord gave
him visions and revelations" ". -.
These revelations came to him from
the very beginning of his Christian life
and continued in every great crisis
The first was given at his conversion
| twenty years before this letter was
written, when he saw Jesus in His
glory and received his marching or
ders- Again wv. 2-D, fourteen years
before, or about A. d. 43, when he was
in Antioch and first entered upon his
foreign missionary work He obtained
his gospel directly from the Lord. Sub
sequently he had other visions to sus
tain and guide him.
Teachers ought to study this entire
section. beginning at chapter 10. Pau
says that as an apostle he did not Ia
Dor in the fields of others (10:14-15).
He was not much concerned by wha
his enemies might say.
As to his opinion of them, reat
chapter 10. Ashamed to boast, yet fol
| their sakes he meets their foolisl
charges by giving us this record.
Because of these sufferings (v. 1O) b,
| takes pleasure in infirmitfes, reproach
es and. prosecutions For when az
| weak Tin NV own strengthl then