The Coolidge examiner., 1939-05-04

LESSON TEXT-Acts 1871. All: Co.
rinthians 2:1-5
GOLDEN TEXT can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians Alb.
SISSY" That one word uttered
with the depth of scorn of which
only a school boy is capable. is
enough to ruin the happiness Of the
one toward whom it is directed.
The writer of these notes has
manly son of eight years of age who
has many ambitions in his young
heart, but one great fear, namely,
that he may do something that will
mark him as a sissy" 1t is
commendable thing that boys
should feel that way. provided, Of
course, that they are properly in
structed in home and church so that
they know that real manly courage
does not mean being a ruffian or an
ungodly person.
One could wish that more of that
spirit were evident in the Christian
Church. We really have all too
many professed believers who are
"soft" afraid of the hard blows of
life. These people tell young folk
both by word and deed that Chris
tianity is a religion for the soft
hearted and sentimental, when as
matter of fact it calls for all the
red-blooded vitality of the strongest
man and woman. Here is a place
for the boy or girl, man or woman
who has backbone and the spirit
of the pioneer. 1t is a great and
glorious battle in which we are en-
gagged. Paul knew it and lived it.
In the progress Of his ministry we
find him at Athens (Acts I'D, where
a brilliant appeal to the philoso-
piers of that place brought little
result. From thence he comes to
Corinth, one of the greatest and
most wicked cities of the day. Here
he meets a difficult task.
l. Human Inability (Acts 1871, A.
81.
To call a man a "Corinthian"
was to label him as a drunkard
and libertine. The town was really
tough and Paul walked right into
that impossible situatio to preach
the gospel He naturally first went
to the Jews in the synagogue, but
when he preached Christ they made
short work of putting him out.
Rather we should say he very def
initely separated himself from
them. Consider the graphic picture
in verse 6. But he didn't go far,
he set up his testimony for Christ
in the house next door, where God
had believer all prepared to re-
ceive him. The preacher of the
truth may move, but he does not
run away from Gods appointed
place.
Opposition was evidently keen,
and as Paul came and went the
leaders in the synagogue would
probably meet him and make
known their plans to destroy him.
This, added to the opposition of the
wicked city, was enough to discour-
age any man. He had some results
". 81, but on the whole he had to
struggle with the heartbreak of an
impossible task. But the hour Of
mans extremity is the time of God S
opportunity. There comes
ii. Divine Encouragement (Acts
18:9-1D.
God never tries His people be-
yond their ability to bear. 1t is not
always given to His servants to have
the assurance of success which
came to Paul, but in all probability
they do not face such staggering
encouragement. In any case, those
who have walked in the valley as
well as on the mountain top with
the Lord testify that He gives
strength in the hour of weakness
to all those who trust Him.
Paul was assured that no bodily
harm would come to him and that
he was not to think that he was
alone, for there were many of God s
people even in that wicked city.
Safety and fellowship were thus as
sured, and none too soon, for al
most at once a bitter persecution
broke out against him. Read verses
l2-17. Note that the assurance of
Gods protecting care does not mean
that we shall escape trials and sor-
rows, but that we are to be kept in
the midst Of them.
III. The Secret of Victory Il Cor.
2:15.
Looking back on his ministry in
Corinth, Paul writes of the secret of
his successful work there. This is a
passage that every teacher and
preacher of Gods Word should
prayerfully ponder. Eloquence, hu-
man wisdom, and self-confdence
may be the basis of success in the
things Of the world, but not in the
ministry of the gospel. How well we
know that the most carefully rea-
soned and well-phrased message
may be utterly fiat and powerless,
while the stumbling utterance from
heart full Of the love and grace
of God becomes a fire and a
searching and burning, because