+I. The word picture here presented.+--1. _The figure_--slave-brands,
στἱɣμɑτɑ. 2. _The facts_--Paul's historic experiences (1 Cor.
iv. 9-15; 2 Cor. xi. 23-30). 3. _The challenge_--"Let no man trouble
me."
+II. The suggestion the picture makes.+--1. He who follows the Lord
Jesus must expect some will try to trouble him. 2. He whose marks are
most conspicuous will be troubled the least. 3. He who has marks may
take comfort in knowing how much his Master paid for him. 4. He who
is owned may remember that his Master owns and recognises the marks
also. 5. He that has no marks is either a better or a poorer
Christian than the apostle Paul. 6. Satan outwits himself when he
gives a believer more marks. 7. A sure day is coming when the marks
will be honourable, for the body of humiliation will be like the
glorious body of Christ.--_Homiletic Monthly._
_Marked Men._
+I. Ill-marked men.+--Think of the marks left on men by sickness,
intemperance, impurity, crime, sin of any kind. Evil will always
leave its mark.
+II. Well-marked men.+--1. _Christian marks_--the marks of Christ.
Paul was the slave of Christ. Some of his marks for Christ were
literal, as the _weals_ caused by the rods of the Roman Cæsars, the
_red lines_ caused by scourging in Jewish synagogues, the _scars_
caused by repeated stonings. The marks of the Christian are mainly
spiritual--marked by trustfulness, gentleness, purity, unselfishness.
2. _Distinct marks._--Marked that he may be recognised. If you have
the marks of Jesus, confess and obey Him.
3. _Deep marks._--Branded on the body, not lines that can easily be
removed, but going down to the flesh. Our Christian life is often
feeble because it is not deep.
4. _Personal marks._--The marks of Jesus of no avail unless you
possess them. No man can really trouble you if you bear branded on
your body the marks of Jesus.--_Local Preacher's Treasury._
_Suffering for Jesus._
I. The scars of the saints for the maintenance of the truth +are the
sufferings, wounds, and marks of Christ Himself,+ seeing they are the
wounds of the members of that body whereof He is Head.
II. +They convince the persecutors that they are the servants of
Christ who suffer thus for righteousness' sake.+
III. +If men be constant in their profession--in faith and
obedience--the marks of their suffering are banners of victory.+--No
man ought to be ashamed of them, no more than soldiers of their
wounds and scars, but rather in a holy manner to glory of them.
Constantine the Great kissed the holes of the eyes of certain bishops
who had them put out for their constant profession of the faith of
Christ, reverencing the virtue of the Holy Ghost which shined in
them. 1. By suffering bodily afflictions we are made conformable to
Christ. 2. They teach us to have sympathy with the miseries of our
brethren. 3. Our patient enduring of affliction is an example to
others and a means of confirming them in the truth. 4. They serve to
scour us from the rust of sin.--_Perkins._