The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-08-24
LESSON FOR AUGUST n
JoURNsvINo TO JERUSALEM.


GOLDEN TENT commend you 10 God
and TO the word OF his grace.-Acts nm
After his experience In Ephesus Paul
sickness and affection. he cared for
the churches, corrected their wrong
conduct and probably wrote several OF
his letters and epistles uI Cor. 4:7-11
II :2S: ~ :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 q tragic result. II IL recorded
rs n witness to the power OF the pray
or OF faith and Paul's readiness to
serve In time OF need. In his haste to
reach Jerusalem before the Day OF
Pentecost "a. u. $50 Paul did not re-
turn to Ephesus, but. In order 10 save
time. he had the elders Of that church
meet him ut MIletus (See good
map).
"A Great Review wv. 17-2s). Paul's
craftsmanship and genius for organi-
zation Is nowhere more clearly set
forth than here. He had plans for
great evangellstic campaign Of Latin
lands. tCh. 1920. 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. 10 lis; Acts
"a I'D and he was accompanied by q
considerable number Of pilgrims. (See
" ~ II Is a good thing TO pause occa-
sionally and TO take stock, TO review
our lives and 10 see what progress we
have made. This Paul did. and to this
Ephesian delegation he enumerates ~
his character among them (vv. 1S-l9).
They knew his manner OF life. how
that. as n bond servant. and with all
lowliness OF mind" he had served
their church. They also knew that
with tears he had wepi over their hard
and impenltent hearts ". 30 and all
~ this amidst many testings; (2) his
method Of work ". 20). Paul not
only worked nj 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 at Il. amidst trials, self
denial and the Lying inwait," Gam. X.
W OF men; t3) his methods ". 2D.
He hnd the same message for Jew and
GENTLE. repentance toward God and
faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ"
Repentance II 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 Wis
invited them 10 his own home. Paul's
aim. as Is the teachers aim, was 10
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.
II was a great undertaking. and he
knew not what might befall him. but
he did know that bonds and affection
awaited him; however. none OF these
things could move him from his pur-
pose.
He counted not his life as dear unto
himself II so be he might hold out
until the end and accomplish his
course and ministry. This epDch-mak-
Ing journey. one 0f-the greatest In his
tory. suggests In many points our
Savior's last journey towards that
same city Uake 9:51). Like his mas
ter. Paul knew that ahead OF him were
trials, but he also knew that God was
leading him In obedience 10 the Spir-
It's guidance. though II was over the
protests of his friends.
10. A Great Charge (vv. 2s-3s). II Is
great experience when one can de.
clare himself pure from the blood o.
all men ". 26). and that he has not
shrunk from declaring the whole coun-
sci OF God. Such conduct always
know and hear such men. viz. that
II should be emulated. These elders
were to return To the church at Ephe-
sus, not 10 be servants OF themselves
but 10 feed the church OF God ". PSI.
Paul knew, as a prophet, what would
be IN store for them wv. 29-30). There
fore he exhorts them to watch. and
warns them how by his own hands he
had supported himself and had lived a
righteous life among them ". 34).
We have here rescued from oblivion
new saying OF our Lord Jesus
Christ. at Is more blessed TO give than
10 receive" one not found In the gos-
pels.
II IL this giving which produces a
higher quality OF happiness and more
noble character.
II Is the blessedness OF Christ. Of
heaven. and OF the Christian religion.
II Is also the blessedness that e<s
dures.
Paul then poured forth his prayer
on their behalf tvv $500.
Blessed Is the Sunday-school class
and the church which has such Q
teacher and such leader.
These friends sensed the significance
Of this final separation from Paul ".
3s). and their greater sorrow seemed
TO be TO miss his personality than 10
lose the helm of his teaching.