Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-08-24
LESSON FOR AUGUST II
JouRNEYINc TO JERUSALEM.

fALtci MS experience III EpneSuS Paui
went to Corinth. where, amidst much
sickness and affection, he cared for
the churches. corrected their wrong
conduct and probably wrote several OF
his letters and epistles Gil Cor. I'll;
IL :2S; 2:20). From Corinth he jour
neyed by way of Phillip to Troas
where he preached his famous long
sermon ". 5-12), that sermon which
had such tragic result. 1t is recorded
as witness to the power of the pray
er of faith and Paul's readiness to
serve in time of need. In his haste to
reach Jerusalem before the Day of
Pentecost "a. D. So Paul did not re-
turn to Ephesus, but, in order to save
inc, he had the elders of that church
meet him at Miletus (See good
map).
!. A Great Review wv. 1929. Paul's
craftsmanship and genius for organi-
zation Is nowhere more clearly set
forth than here. He had plans for a
great eyangelistic campaign Of Latin
lands, Och. 19:21). Before pursuing
his plan he decided to visit Jerusalem,
carrying with him the collections
which had been Systematically taken
up in the various churches on this
tour from. Is 20; Cor. 1915; Acts
24:lD and he was accompanied by q
considerable number of pilgrims (See
'. ~ 1t is ii good thing to pause occa.
sionally and to take stock, to review
our lives and to see what progress we
have made. This Paul did and to this
Ephesian delegation he enumersites %
his character among them (vv. 1879.
They knew his manner of life, how
that, as a bond servant, and with all
lowliness of mind" he had served
their church. They also knew thar
with tears he had wept over their hard
and impenitent hearts ". 31) and ali
of this amidst many testings; (2) his
method of work u POI. Paul not
only worked at his trade of tentmak
ing, but found time for the public
proclamation Of the gospel and also
house to house visitation. He was
after men, not notoriety. He was al
ways and ever ut it, amidst trials, self
denial and the lying in wait" Gam. r
W of mon; 60 his methods (v. 21)
He had the same message for jew and
Gentle. repentance toward God and
faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
Repentance is not for Jews alone. Paul
shrank not from declaring all that was
profitable for their encouragement, re-
proof, warning, help, training in serv-
ice and hard study. He had taught
them publicly in classes, and had vis-
tied them from house to house and had
invited them to his own home. Pauls
aim, as is the teachers aim, was to
make all people patriotic citizens Of
the kingdom of heaven while on earth.
that they might fight the good fight OF
faith against all evils, even the prin.
cipalities and powers Of evil.
1t was great undertaking, and he
knew not what might befall him, nut
lie did know that bonds and alllctiop
awaited him; however, none of those
things could move him from his pur.
pose.
FIe counted not his life as dear unto
HIMSELF if so be he night hold out
until the end ami accomplish his
course and ministry. This epoch-mak.
ing journey. one Of the greatest in his.
tory. suggests in many points our
lSavior's last journey towards that
same city Nulle 8 :51). Like his mas.
ter, Paul knew that ahead of him were
trials, but he also knew that God was
leading him in obedience to the Spir-
its guidance though it was over the
protests of his friends
II. A Great Charge wv. 1888. 1t is
q great experience when one can de-
clare himself pure from the blood Of
all men (v. 26) and that he has moi
shrunk from declaring the whole coun-
sci Of Cod Such conduct always
brings an obligation upon those who
know and hear such men, viz, that
it should be emulated These elders
were to return to the church at Ephe-
sus, not to be servants of themselves
but to feed the church of God ". 2S)
Paul knew, as a prophet. what would
be in store for them wv. 29-30) There
lore ne eAH0TtS Inpul 10 WaIcn, AND
warns them how by his own hands he
had supported himself and had lived
righteous life among them ". BAY.
We have here rescued from oblivion
a new saying of our Lord Jesus
Christ, sit is more blessed to give than
to receive" one not found in the COS
pels.
1t is this giving which produces a
higher quality of happiness and more
noble character.
1T is the blessedness of Christ. of
heaven, and of the Christian religion
1t is also the blessedness that en-
dures.
Paul then poured forth his prayer
on their behalf wv. 36-39)
Blessed is the Sunday-school class
and the church which has such a
teacher and such leader
These friends sensed the Significance
of this final separation from Paul ".
3S) and their greater sorrow seemed
~ HI ~,