Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-15

Philip Preaching IL Sann%Csa AcSs 5.
5-25-Septc 1oer 4, 80.

CENTRAL TRUTH.-It is our duty and privi-
| lCge TO preach the gospel TO all the world
Tbs section Ct history embraces q glance at
the rev Gus chapters, as well as the verses of
the lesson.
TIAE,-2robably the early summer of a. D.
81 The weeks Immediately following the last
| lesson.
PLACE.-The country of Samara; either the
city Sanaria, or Sychar, a city in Samaria.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACES. - 3. Then
Philip" the evangelist one of the seven dea-
cons (6:5) ~ ''Uncean spirits" called unclean
| because they defled both body and soul
'Falsies:" paralysis. 9 simon sorcerer,
or magician. lie pretended to be q great man,
and to do wonders. He probably had knowl-
edge OF natural science, and used it as fortune
| teners and s2eiEht-of-hand performers and SIR
itual mediums co now "Bewitched:' AIMED.
- They believed Philip" he brought
good ncUs Of s2-v2tion. Got mcrcly n
yels, and he confirmed his words with greater
deeds than Simon dreamed of. Baptized" to
profess tECir faith in Jesus, as Jesus Himself
commanded IS Simon belioycd:'' with
his mind, not his heart: believed that tho mir
acles were real, but did not trust Christ to
yield himself up TO Him. IA They sent
Peter and john" to indorse the movement, to
help it on, and to see that the Samaritans were
true converts. This was a great step. for there
was strong prejudice against the Samaritans
10. Receive the Holy Ghost" i. e.,not the CrIi
nary influences, but such as appeared ct Pcnte-
cost; some visible power of tongues or healing
or experience to Ct them for their work in
spreading the gospel 20, Thy money perish
with thee" not a curse or wish Of evil b11r a
statement Of fact that Simon was lost if he kept
such o heart as he had. The gift of God etc "
this was total misunderstanding OF the nature
Of Gods gifts. %. Repent there is hope for
| the worst Of sinners if they repent. If per-
haps:" but there is danger that they will not
repent. %. In the gall of bitterness" the bit
Of 10 cro1
venom in poisonous serpents. Such is the bit
terncss Of sin. in the bond Of iniauity:"i e.
chained and fettered by sin. "a. Then answered
Simon" Simon was sorry for his danger, not
for his sin.
LESSON NOTES.
Years before this the disciples had
been much amazed that Jesus was
willing to talk to a Samaritan woman,
for the Jews hated the Samaritans. and
the Samaritans by no means loved the
Jews. In fact, at one time in one of
the villages Of Samaria they would not
let Jesus and HIS disciples stay at all,
and in turn for this treatment John
| and James wanted Jesus to permit them
to burn up the town, men, women,
children and all, This Jesus refused to
let this bloodthirsty couple do. At one
time when the Master was in one of the
cities Of Samaria there was a blessed re-
vival there, and many believed on Him.
But, so far as we know, there had not
been any revival in any city of Samaria
from that day to this. So the experience
that came to them at this time was
quite novel one.
The Jew had no dealings with the
Samaritan. But the spirit of Christian
ity is larger and more full than that of
Judaism, and the disciples soon per-
ceived that, SO they went to those whom
in former days they had despised, and
brought to them the glad tidings of sal
walton. This was right. We may, as
Anglo-SaxOns, not like the Chinese or
the negro, but our Christianity, if it is
not counterfeit, will take them in Just
as well as those with white skins Jesus
died for the Chinaman just as much as
for the most cultured American, and
when we let our action be governed by
the Outcry of those who are filed with
the spirit of this evil world, we are any,
thing but followers of the blessed Mas
ter. In Christ there is absolutely no
difference, for He loved the world, and
gave Himself for the salvation Of all.
Notice that ii this revival there wera
many miracles performed by Philip
This was wise in those days, for the
power of the truth was not then as full
ly acknowledged as it is to-day But
the real proof of the good work that
was done there lay not in the miracles
Of healing, but in the conversions that
were to be seen on every hand. 1t was
not the miracles that were the most i'm
portaDt thing there, but the change Of
heart that came to the men and women
of that city. s. it is to-day. 1t is not
the crowds that make a revival a sue
cess, or the big choir, or the wonderful
sermons, but the fact that there are
real conversions. Without these all the
other things might be present in vast
prominence, and there would not be
any Joy among the angels Of God. The
fact is that no preaching is of any use
to the sinner, unless it causes him to
repent and fOrsake his sins. To merely
attend the meetings may, in fact, make
man worse than he was before, be-
cause he has more light and yet refuses
to obey what he has. Preaching either
makes Us better or worse, according as
we obey its truths or refuse to accept
them.
1t seems as If Simon Magus really
thought that he was converted man.
At all events, he professed to be, and
was baptized. Yet he was no true fol-
lower Of the Master, and when the time
of trial came he proved that he was
never really a converted man. SO in
every revival there are those who won
der, and are touched by the powerful
preaching of the Word, and even con-
Tess the Master, and yet are not changed
IN heart. This is one of the great dan
gers of revival meetings.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. It is our duty to preach to all the
world, even to enemies.
2. Christ, not civilization, not culture,
not knowledge, alone, but Christ. is the
power that changes the world.
8. The good works of the Gospel must
accompany the good words of the
Gospel
f. Nothing adds SO much joy to this
world, and to Heaven, as the turning of
multitudes Of sinners to Christ and to
Righteousness.
5. The Gospel works and the Gospel
words far outshine all others.
6. Bad men think all others are as
false-hearted as themselves.
7. The false convert still seeks him
self in his religion. The true convert
seeks God and the good Of his fellow
men.
s. The best thinCs-as love, faith, sal