Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-15
international gsssnl,.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON vlli, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, FEB. 20.

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Memory Verses :. S-Goiden Text,
Matt. Z, 2S-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. d. NJ. Stearns.
copyright, 1902. by American Press Association
1, 2. "It is not reason that we should
leave the word Of God and serve tables"
This was the decision Of the twelve when
there began to be some murmuring among
the disciples concerning the daily minis
tration of thinSS temporal. AS the num-
ber of the disciples multiplied It could
hardly be expected that in these newborn
babes there would not be manifest some
phases of the old nature, some OF the
works of the flesh. such as wrath. strife,
surgings and such like tGal. v. 2O). Even
Peter. James and John might remember
quite q number of things in their own
lives, even after they had been year or
two with Christ, which were OF the flesh
and not Of the spirit: so it is to be hoped
that while they determined that they
could not take time to see to these SEEM
ingly unspiritual affairs they were patient
with the murmurers.
3, 4. eve will give ourselves contlnu-
ally to prayer and to the ministry Of the
word" They would not serve tables, but
they would pray and search and teach
the word. They recognized the impor-
tance and the difficulty of attending to
the daily ministration. for they saw the
necessity Of a committee Of honest report
full Of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.
5, G. They chose Stephen. man full
of faith and of the Holy Ghost. and
Philip" The other five are not men
toned again after this verse. which is not
necessarily anything against them. Philip
is mentioned sixteen times and Stephen,
who became the first martyr for Christ,
Is mentioned seven times. If the mind
of the majority is a correct guide. then
the appointing Of this committee was
the proper thing. for the suggestion pleas
ed the whole multitude There was some
thing in those days in the laying on or
hands Il Tim. ". II: II Tim. l. %. but it
was not confined to the hands OF the
apostles (Acts tx, II; xiii. 81. The lay
ing on of hands in our day is not unlike
the shaking of hands: sometimes there are
life and inspiration and sometimes chill.
Barnabas, the son of consolation, was
like Stephen, man full of the Holy
Ghost and of faith tchapter xi. 24). There
is no reason why each believer should not
be so filled.
{, 8. "And Stephen. full Of faith and
power. did great wonders and miracles
among the people," The word Of God in
creased, or, as in xii. "a. grew and null
tiplied." and in xix. 20, "grew nightly
and prevailed" The number Of the disci-
pies multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. and
q great company Of the priests became be-
levers. 1t was truly great and mighty
work Of the Spirit Of God and was not
confined to the apostles. for Stephen,
willing to serve tables. was greatly used,
God working wonders and miracles by
him. The gospel is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that be-
lieyeth from. /, 16). and as the word is
preached the Spirit works. convincing OF
sin and righteousness and Judgment.
When a servant Of Christ breaches the
word Of God. he has right to believe
that it will accomplish His pleasure and
never return to Him void lisa. lv. I'D.
We may learn lesson of assurance from
the devil in this matter, for when he
sowed his tares he seems to have had no
his way, sure that they would grow
Matt. xiii. 25>. Let us have faith in God
that He will take care Of His own word
and that no word from God shall be void
Of power tLuke i. 81. r. W.
9. 10. "They were not able to resist the
wisdom and the spirit BY which ne
spake." The Lord Jesus had promised
q mouth and wisdom which no adversary
could gainsay or resist luke xxi. l5).
and this was ful6llment of His promise.
The wisdom was the wisdom of God and
the spirit was the Spirit Of God. AS with
the Lord Jesus the words and works were
all the Fathers. so in these Spirit filled
men the words and works were all the
Lords John xiv. 10: xvii. 49,. We think
of the night in GethSemane when. in re-
ply to their saying that they sought Jesus
of Nazareth. He simply said, 81 am"
and they went backward and fell to the
ground. 1t was the same word that
healed the eper. cast out demons. rebuk-
ed fevers and all manner of disease. still
ed the storm and. away back in the begin
ming, created all things. What do we
know Of the power of His word in US or
through US, or Of the experience Of Paul
in these words: Striving according to
His working which worketh in me might
ilyW tCol. i. 29.)
II, IL. "They caught him and brought
him to the council" The adversary can
stand ten thousand ordinary believers Of
the Laodicean stamp and be not whit
afraid Of them, but let Peter or
Stephen. filled with the Spirit. stand bold
ly for Christ and the resurrection, and the
devil will do his best to stop them. The
power of God in Stephen was more than
Satan could put up with. and so he stirs
up the rulers ard the people to lie about
him and to arrest him.
13, IA. "And set up false witnesses"
So Jezebel did to Naboth. and so these
same rulers did to our Lord Jesus. 1t
was written concerning Him. False
witnesses did rise up: they laid to My
charge things that ! knew not" "They
that hate Me without a cause are more
than the hairs of Mine head: they that
would destroy Me. being Mine enemies
wrongfully, are mighty" FPS. xxxv, Ill;
Xix, ~. We must. If we follow Him
fully, expect the same treatment He re-
ceiyed. for AL that will live godly in
Christ Jesus sha1 suffer persecution" III
Tim. iii. 12). and He Himself said. IF
they have prosecuted Me. they will also
persecute you" lJohn XIV. 20).
Is. "And all that sat in the council,
looking steadfastly on him. saw his face
as it had been the face Of an angel" He
was no doubt thinking of the Lord Jesus
and all that Christ had endured for him.
By faith he saw Christ and not these
wicked witnesses or rulers. and the glory
Of Christ was seen upon him. We are
apt to think it very hard when people
wrongfully accuse us and lay to our
charge things we know not. but we should
consider it as blessed fellowship with
CHRIST romom horinu TJic own words