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[[start page]] 270 THE CONVENTION TEACHER Lights on the Lesson By Rev. Bernard O. Byrd, D.D. LIGHT No. 1—Despite the fact that the writings of the New Testament were given to notify the world of the provisions of salvation through the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, in the coming of the Messiah, it does give some historic events in the spread of this good news. In Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, we see that the writers were so much concerned about the message of the Messiah, and the doings of the Messiah, that these things are given with little respect of chronological arrangement. It is true that we can see some historical order in many places but the emphasis is placed on the teachings and doings of Christ. LIGHT NO. 2—The Acts of the Apostles might be looked upon as the historical arrangement of the doings of the early Christian church. It begins with the final appearance of Jesus to the apostles and disciples and then gives record of the empowering of the workers and continues in the acts of the early preachers and workers as they occurred. The book ends just as any history would end. It gives the happenings down to the period of the writing and without summary, or effort to show that anything has been completed, it stops as if there is another chapter to follow. In fact there were many other chapters to follow: some are being written today by the modern religious workers. Editorial Reflections By Rev. S. A. Pleasants, D.D. No one has the Power of God, but those upon whom the Holy Spirit has come. The Power of God is in the Holy Spirit, and is the Holy Spirit. No one can have the Holy Spirit and not have the Power of God, and no one can have the Power of God, and not have the Holy Spirit. No one can be a true witness for Christ without the Holy Spirit. Every one who is a true witness of Jesus has put in him the Holy Spirit: and this one lives in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit lives in this one. The knowledge and wisdom of this world do not give one power to be a witness for Christ. This world's knowledge and wisdom can only be used for things here. To be a witness for Him, who belongs to two worlds, and the Savior of all; one must have the knowledge and wisdom sent from above, that comes to one in the Holy Spirit and Power of the Most High. It grieves the people who do not believe when one teaches and preaches the true doctrine of Christ, as here with the priests, captains and Sadducees. They were greatly angered when the apostles taught and preached Jesus arose from the dead, and He was the resurrection. They put them in jail because of their teaching and preaching. Many who heard them believed, and the number increased to about five thousand. The Holy Spirit told the church to separate Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto He had called them. In obedience to His command they did so. We see here that the Holy Spirit, who calls the ministers always prepares them for the work, and also prepares the work for them. He, when He has prepared the worker and the work, put it into the hearts of the church members to separate, set them apart, and send them to their fields of labour. It is the business of the Holy Spirit to do all this through His church that the minister is a member. No God called, God prepared, God sent minster has to beg for a place to preach or pastor. It is not his nor anyone else's business to do so. The Holy Spirit knows the one He has called, prepared and sent to do His work, and will let the church know on time when to send, where to send him, and will tell him without any other's dictation, as was done here, so it is always done by Him. He not only sends them away, but He goes with them, and directs them daily, where to go, and what to do after going. Always the man of God is ready to do what God wants done even though he has decided to go to some other place the Holy Spirit will always let Him know where He wants him to go. And He speaks to him by signs or in words he willingly obeys what the Holy Spirit says. Although men may imprison the true ministers of God, the Holy Spirit will make them give them liberty to carry on for God, regardless to the Devil in men. [[end page]] [[start page]] THE CONVENTION TEACHER 271 Lesson XI. December 12, 1948 LETTERS IN THE BIBLE SENIOR TOPIC: LETTERS IN THE BIBLE Philippians 1:11-1; 4:8-9 [[horiz line across page]] AUTHORIZED VERSION 1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy. 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you. [[horiz line across page]] REVISED VERSION 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, 5 for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment; 10 So that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 The things which ye have both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. [[horiz line across page]] MOTTO TEXT—I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13. [[horiz line across page]] LESSON SETTING Time: A. D. 64. Place: Written to the Philippians from Rome. LESSON OUTLINE I. Paul an Example to All Christians. (VV. 1-8.) II. Paul's Prayer for the Philippians. (VV. 9-11.) III. Principles of Christian Living. (VV. 8-9.) DAILY HOME READING December 6-December 12 M. To the Philippians. Philippians 1:1-11. T. To Timothy. I Timothy 1:1-4. W. To the Thessalonians. I Thessalonians 1:1-7. T. To Titus. Titus 1:1-9. F. To Philemon. Philemon. S. The Letter by James. James 1:19-27. S. "That Christ May Dwell in Your Hearts." Ephesians 3:13-21. INTRODUCTION The Epistle to the Philippians was written about thirty years after the ascension, about ten years after the first preaching of the Gospel by St. Paul at Philippi. Christianity was still young, in all the freshness of its first youth. It had come suddenly into the world. The world seemed growing old; the old religions had lost whatever power they once possessed; the old philosophies were worn out, the energies of political life had been weakened or suppressed by the all-pervading despotism of Rome. Avarice, uncleanness, cruelty were rampant in the earth. There was little faith in God, in goodness, in immorality. What it truth? was the despairing question of the ages. The Gospel flashed upon this scene of moral confusion like a revelation from heaven. It brought before the eyes of [[end page]]
