Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-04-14
9nternational gessol1s.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ", SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, APRIL 25.

LESSON ", SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, APRIL 25.
Text Of the Lesson, Acts xii, 5-17-Mem-
ory Verses, 7-9-Golden Text, Ps. xxxiv,
documentary by the Rev. D. n.
Stearns.
5. "Peter was therefore kept In prison,
but prayer was made without ceasing Of
the church unto God for him." There Is
no doubt but that God could prevent the
devil from touching one Of His children,
but such is not His way. When on earth,
the Lord Jesus said: "In the world ye
shall have tribulation. Whosoeyer killeth
you will think that he doeth God service"
John xvi, 88, q. From the glory after
His ascension He said, "The devil shall
cast some Of you into prison that ye may
be tried, and ye shall have tribulation"
(Rev. ii, 10Y. But this also we are perfect
ly sure Of, that nothing can possibly come
to child of God without Gods permission
(Job /, 10, 12; Zech. IL, s, 8; Rom. viii,
2s).
6. "Peter was sleeping between two SOL
diers, bound with two chains, and the
keepers before tho door kept the prison. I"
The enemy did his best to make sure Of
his prey. Two words in the Greek tell the
story Of James (aneile machaira) killed
with q sword For Peter, God had other
work yet to be accomplished and suffered
him to be placed in these circumstances
that He might show forth His power. In
the hands Of the authorities and under the
constant guard of four soldiers, to two of
whom he was chained, the deliverance
seemed hopeless, but the believers did all
they could do and cried instantly and ear
nestly to God (margin).
z. "And behold the angel Of the Lord
came" Double guards, chains, bolted
doors and prison walls are nothing to one
of those holy beings that excel in strength,
that do His commandments, hearkening
unto the voice of His word (Ps. Gill, 20).
From heaven to earth as flash Of light
ming, through storm or sunshine, they
haste to do His will and minister to His
redeemed ones (Heb. l, IA; Eek. l, ID;
Acts xvii, 30, 23).
8. "Cast thy garment about thee and
follow me-" Awakened by the angels
touch, Peter, loosed from his chains, arose
from between the still sleeping soldiers
and in the light that shone in the prison
girded himself and bound on his sandals
There is no stealth, nor injunction to step
lightly, nor fear of any,,kind, but the quiet
ness and majesty Of the power of God.
9. "And he went out and followed him,
and wist not that it was true which was
done by the angel; but thought he saw q
vision" In deepest trials God sometimes
gives restful dreams or visions of coming
blessings or deliverances, as when to Jacob
in his sorrowful journey from home He re-
vealed Himself to him at the top Of the
wonderful ladder on which angels were
seen ascending and descending (Gen.
xviii, 10, 13). 1t seemed to Peter as If
this were some such vision.
10. "They came unto the iron gate that
leadeth unto the city, which opened to
them of his own accord. The angel needed
no open gates or doors for him to pass
through, but for Peter In mortal body
doors and gates must open, and they did
without any touch from human hands,
The same angelic ministry attends us to-
day, and all doors will fly open before us
when our Lord desires it.
II. "Now l know of o surety that the
Lord hath sent His angel and hath deliv-
cred me out of the hand of Herod." When
Peter found himself alone out on the street
In the night, he began to come to himself.
There were no chains upon him, no SOL
diers near him, no walls around him, but
Gods earth beneath him, Gods sky over
his head, and perhaps the stars looking
peacefully down upon him. Then he be-
gan to realize that for the second time
(Acts V, l9) an angel had brought him out
of prison. No power can hold those whom
God wishes to set free.
l2 "He came to the house of Mary, the
mother of John, whose surname was Mark,
where many were gathered together pray
ing" He had no difficulty in deciding
whittier to direct his steps, nor did the
God see that when you are free from the
duties Of daily cares you will promptly 60
to where they meet for prayerP Acts iv, %. }
13. "And as Peter knocked at the door
of the gate, a damscl came to ask who was
there named Rhoda" Many women's
names which we would like to know, such
as the mother of David, are not found in
Scripture. Why should this girls name
be here, inasmuch rs the Spirit does moth
ing without a reason? If any one has the
answer, let us hear it.; If not, we can walt,
and some day we shall know.
IA. "And when she knew Peters voice
bo o,,npnl NOT tho IN fnr plu1npca hnt
ran in and told how Peter stood before the
gate" Knowing Peters voice makes us
think of John K, 81, "My sheep hear My
voice, and know them, and they follow
Me-" Yet how many hear His voice, but
because they will not open to Him He does
not come in, and they do not become His
sheep. In this case joy caused Rhoda to
lose her head, US we say, and she left poor
Peter outside the gate while she ran In to
tell.
15. "And they said unto her, Thou art
mad But she constantly affirmed that 1t
was even so. Then said they, 1t is his
angel" Yet they had been praying that,
If possible, he might be released from his
enemies (verse 81. Would we be about as
much surprised If some Of our prayers
were answered, or do we always pray and
expect an answer?
16. "But Peter continued knocking, and
when they had opened the door and saw
him they were astonished." Peter was
bound to get in, and therefore kept knock
ing. That is the way to do, even as our
Lord taught us in Luke 1i, 8, 9; xviii, l.
aye shall seek Me and find Me when ye
search for Me with al your heart" (Jer;
xxx, 13). The fear Of the Lord, the
knowledge Of God and wisdom will be OBJ
taincd when we seek it as silver and as
men search for hidden treasure Prov. IL,
4). Would gratitude or establishment fill us
If we had today the answer long looked for?
II. "But he, beckoning unto them with
the hand to hold their peace, declared unto
them how the Lord had brought him out
of the prison. Shilling them-which per