The Ozark spectator., 1916-09-06
INTERNATIONAL. SUNl6YSC1OOL
 LESSON By E. O. SELLERS, Acting Director of the Sunday School Course of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago) Copyright, 1916, Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR SEPT. 3
PAUL, THE HERO.

LESSON TEXT-II Cor. u:21-12:10.
 GOLDEN TEXT-My grace Is sufficient for thee for my power is made perfect in weakness.-II Cor. 1929.
 This letter raises interesting ques- tions for research and discussion, such as:
 1. What is the difference between Paurs heroism and that of soldier? 2. Is war essential to the development of heroism? 3. Which courage is high CT, moral or physical?
 l.Paul, the Hero Q1 :21-22). To a man of a sensitive nature, craving perfec- tion, 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: 'I speak by way of disparage- ment (of myself) as though we had been weak" yet he adds: "Whereinso- ever any is bold, I am bold also" Paul had as much to boast of as any one of his Jewish opponents (v. 21). Are they Hebrews? (Of the purest blood, of one nation and languageO 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 l bring all men into his kingdom? '1 speak as fool. 1 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 1 (Acts 16 :23). Frequently exposed to death and to the perils of robbers by land and sea (v. 2G. Five times l received forty stripes, save one, from the Jews" (v. 25). Thrice was l beaten with rods; once was I stoned' 1 katlS. N .lJJ. liIlOt | SulltiNu NiiP
 wreck" evidently not recorded in Acts, for his shipwreck on the way to Rome was later. "A night and day in the deep" this not otherwise recorded. Tn journeyings often," suffering from the perils of hard travel, often on foot in uncivilized regions. Tn perils Of water" literally lin rivers" Bridges l nd floods SnHHpn and trp- quent Tn perils of robbers" Every road in Asia Minor then as now was infested with robbers. Tn perils of his own countrymen :" "In perils by the Gentiles:" In perils in the city" Tn perils in the wilderness :" Tn per i ills in the sea" from storms, rocks, pi- Iates; Tn perils among false breth- ren"-Judaising teachers who were self-seeking instead of making the gos- pei first Gal. 2 4; II Cor, II ;13). Tn weariness and painfulnesS," literally in tabor and travail In watchings oft en-" repeated nights of sleeplessness l due to anxiety or pain. Tn hunger and 1 thirst, in fastings otten," hunger un- satisfied for long time. 'ln cold and 1 nakednesS :" Tn the mountain passes badly shod and badly clothed. Besides these things which were without, in- 1 numerable other trials such as the care of or anxiety over the churches (vv. 32, 33).
 n. Gods Sustaining Grace G2:1-1O. | To Paul God gave one of the greatest tasks over committed to man, viz, the 1 planting of the gospel in heathen 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 l 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 l him visions and revelations" (v. D. 1 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 (vv. 2-4), 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. Paul says that as an apostle he did not la Dor in the fields of others (10 :14-15). He was not much concerned by what his enemies might say.
 As to his opinion of them, read chapter 10. Ashamed to boast, yet for their sakes he meets their foolish charges by giving us this record.
 Because of these sufferings (v. 10) he takes pleasure in infirmities, reproach- es and prosecutions; 'For when I am weak" Gin my own strength) then am strong through Christ who StrengthenS me-"