The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1957-12-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
December Is, 1857
By Rev. Geo. A. Harper
511 Ave. G.,

By Rev. Geo. A. Harper
511 Ave. G.,
Greenwood, Miss.
CHRISTIAN JOY
Philippians 4; Print Philip
plans Alb.
MEMORY SELECTION: -
My God shall supply all your
need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus. -
Philippians 4:19.
This great text, which is a
divine crescendo, will enlarge
with our increasing need for
help. When considered in its
proper setting, and the con-
text is studied, we learn that
it applies to those who have
been considerable of the poor,
who have given literally and
have supported Gods minis
tiers. This verse has been
likened to a note upon the
bank of faith. The name of
the banker is God. The prom
Use to pay is assured in the
words shall supply" The
value of the note is equal or
adequate for "all your need" "
The capital of the bank is
Gods riches. The address of
the bank is, sin glory" The
signature at the foot of the
note, which without would be
worthless, is that of Jesus
Christ. Faith endorses and
claims this promise which will
be made good by Jesus Christ.
S T E A d F A S T N E S S
ENJOINED:
Therefore, my brethren
dearly beloved and longed for,
my JOY and crown, SO stand
fast in the Lord, my dearly
beloved" Therefore" con-
meets this section with the
previous chapter and also pre-
pares the way for the deve-
lopment of the theme of JOY.
The sense of the passage may
be expressed thus: 'In view
of the glorious hope of our
calling - stand fast in the
Lord" 81 beseech Euodias,
and beseech Syntyche, that
they be of the same mind in
the Lord" The women who
bore these Greek names were
evidently well-known and had
been active in the church from
the beginning. Their points of
difference probably resulted
from the fact that they were
dynamic leaders with strong
personalities. "And I entreat
thee also, true yokefellow,
help those women which la
boured with me in the gospel,
with Clement also, and with
other my fellow labourers,
whose names are in the book
of life" The true yokefel-
low" whom Paul addresses
was probably the leading ell
der in the church. Paul re-
quests that he give personal
help to Euodias and Syntyche.
CHRISTMAS JOY:
Rejoice in the Lord al
ways: and again / say, Re-
joice." 1t seems strange
that a person in Paul's situa-
ton should exort others to re-
joice in the Lord always. Paul
had suffered much for Christ
and the gospel, yet he re-
joices in the Lord and exorts
the church to do likewise with
him.
Let your moderation be
known unto all men. The
Lord is at hand" The ex-
pectation for the return of the
Lord Jesus was still strong.
Christians were looking for
the Lord to return for them
and take them to heaven. Paul
was among those who believed
that the coming of the Lord
was close at hand, and he of
ten made mention of it. To
behoove every Christian to
live a moderate temperate life,
for no one knew just when
the Lord would appear and
catch many of them unprepar-
ed to meet him. "Be careful
for nothing; but in everything
by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your re-
quests be made known unto
God" The first phrase
counsels Christians not to be
over anxious, and the balance
of the verse gives the means
by which the Christian can be
free from anxieties pray
er, supplication, thanksgiving.
'And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding,