The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-09
Sunday Study
HE LORDS MESSENGER SPRl
ING THE GOOD TIDINGS.


ING THE GOOD TIDINGS.
The International Sunday school lesson
for March is found in Acts viii. S-17.
The golden text is the fourth verse. The
work of Saul did not prevail against the
church
Therefore they that were scattered
abroad went everywhere preaching the
word" So the disciples could say to
Saul and his company as Joseph said to
his brethren, Eye thought evil against
me, but God meant it unto good to save
much people alive These scattered
preachers of good tidings were not the
apostles, they were the Lords messen-
gers with the Lords message. If all be-
levers now were ready to tell to others
the love and grace of God, telling His
salvation from day to day, how soon the
gospel might be preached to every one.
Then Philip went down to the city
OF Samarta and preached Christ unto
them. Philip was the second Of the sew
en- who had been appointed to minister
to the needy in things temporal, and now
that Stephen had been so honored and
promoted he is also honored as the Lord s
messenger. If we are content to do the
ordinary work of the daily life, the Lord
VIII In His own time lead us into greater
service
The adversary who opposes God and ex-
ats himself is always to the front ever
since he slandered God to Eve in Eden.
He is seen in the willfulness and and self
assertion OF Cain, in the endeaVOr of
the builders Of Babel to make themselves
name and in all who oppose themselves
to God and His truth from Cain to the
one VINO shall exalt himself and magnify
h1mSelf above every God, so that he shall
sit in the temple of God showing himself
that He is God. An example Of this is
seen in the Chicago man, who proclaims
that ne Is Elijah, and who has thousands
of believers and followers. Bewitching
people with sorcery might possibly de-
scribe many of the teachings of today
which captivate such multitudes A great
Following Is not sufficient proof that the
leader is right, nor are few followers
necessarily an evidence that the leader is
wrong.
Simon himself believed also was bap-
tzed, continued with Philip and wonder
ed, beholdlng the miracles and signs"
The power of God is able to break the
hardest heart, and the fact that Simon
was baptized and continued with Philip
after he believed would seem to indicate
real conversion. 1t would seem from
verses Is to "a, however, that Simon had
not truly received the Lord Jesus, or
they may mean that he was not right in
the matter of the gift of the spirit.
Simon, the Sorcerer, is not a comfortable
study. There is much CT himself from
first to last and little, if any, of Christ
even after he believed.
Now, when the apostles which were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had re-
celVed the word of God. they sent unto
them Peter and John" These two who are
so prominent in the early chapters are
still evidently the foremost among the
apostles, and especially honored by the
others; Notice what it was the people of
Samar1a had received. They had received
the word Of God. We give our Lord
pleasure when we receive His word 1t is
to be received with faith and meekness
and then held fast
Who, when they were come down,
prayed for them that they might receive
the Holy Ghost?" They were somewhat
like the apostles and other believers be-
fore Pentecost. They had believed. were
baptized and had become children Of God
and temples of the Holy Ghost. but they
had not been endued with the power
which all believers need to enable them
to serve the living and true God
Then laid they their hands on them.
and they received the Holy Ghost" Hav-
ing prayed, they now with expectation
lay hands on them. and the special gift
Of the spirit is received. Our Lord de
clared, ASK, and it shall be given you"