Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-03-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON x. MARCH 8; ACTS s:3-l3;
THE DISCIPLES SCATTERED.
GoIdcn Tcxt-"Therefore They That
Were Scattered Abroad Went Every
where Preaching the word"-Acts S;4
The Unworthy Convert.

L. The Great Persecution and its Unin-
tended Rosults-Ns. IA. Tie martyrdom
OF Stephen was the beginning of the first
general persecution of Christians. The
severity of the persecution is seen In the
activity OF Saul, who CD made havoc OF
the church" stephen was not the only
one who suffered death tActs 22:ii 26:lO.
Paul prosecuted the church beyond
measure" (Gal. l;l3). ana used every ef-
fort TO make the Christians blaspheme
that Holy Name whereby they were
called Acts 26:lD. His fame as an in
quistor was notorious far and wide.
Scattered abroad" They were as seed
scs tered I'm all directions by the farmer
sowing his field broadcast. They went
through Samaria, Galilee, and as far as
Phoenicia, Antioch and cyprus. Preach
ing the word" The persecution not only
sent them over the country but opened
ths way in each town or village where
they found shelter FOR speaking about
Jesus and his gospel: for they must eN-
plain why they LETT Jerusalem, ana were
now wanderers. Their persecution would
excite the sympathy OF many. Many
would be devout ana earnest to know
the truth, and were waiting TOR the ldrg-
er hope.
First. Persecution, opposition, difHcul-
ties, ridicule, are sitting process. Ihey
keep away most hypocrites, and prevent
the careless and the unS0dly from JONI
inE the movement from unworthy mo-
tiVcs or from the current of popular
feeling. The wind that makes tSs real
fire burn brighter blows away the1mitn-
ton, and cools Whatever Is heateu ohlS
from without.
Second. Such things reveal US to our
selves Serving God when It costs to
serve him. and working for Jesus IN spite
Of opposition and temDtation' prove to
ourselves that We love him, and aid US
to the assurance OF faith and hope.
Third Persecution is often one OF the
means God uses for the spread OF the
gospel This is not saying that persecl-
ton is ever right. 1t is always wrong
But If men will do wrong. things. they
shall be compelled also to do good.
Fourth. 1t enlarged the church in its
quality, character, and power; II broad
ened the vision and widened the view.
Thus this persecution kept the church
from the danger Of stagnation. and OF
living for itself. seeking it's own good.
II brought in new work, new activities,
new interests.
II. The Unworthy ConYert, Simon Ma
gus.-Ns. 9-24 "A certain man, called
simon" Little Is known Of him. USED
sorcery." Simon doubtless exercised tho
same arts as the modern fortune-teller.
with, perhaps a knowledge OF chemistry
and the, powers of hypnotlsm mesrner-
ism, and OF our spiritual mediums to-
getncr with the sleight-of-hand perform
ances common here, ard especially in In
dia. And bewitched far beyond their
ordinary conditions: nc CCnfounded their
judgment. That himself was some great
one" According TO lrenaeus l., u, l,
Simon claimed to combine In himself the
Three Persons in the Trinity. alleging
that he appeared to the Jews as the Son,
to the Samarltans as the Father. and
among the Gentiles a. the Holy Ghost
Bible Com. ut may he that he set him
self up for the Messiah. ."-Know owing.
Contrast this man who preached himself.
with Philip who preached Christ.
but when they believed Philip" When
from the feeble worldly light that had
attracted them before. % Philips teach
ing met their needs brought forgiveness
and salvation, hope and JOY. t2b Philip's
works were not only more wonderful, but
more gracious, more loving, more divine;
and they were such that all possibility
produced woTder, but he did not bring
religion. He touched the mind but LETT
the heart as 1t was. t4) simon was sel-
fish. seeking money and honor; Philip
sought nothing for himself, but only the
good of others.
"Then Simon himself believed also" He
believed that Jesus was, the Messiah He
knew all about the tricks of magic. and
the character of magicians, and he knew
that miracles wrought in the name OF
Jesus J were real and divine; Yet this
telectual, without having as its result
a change of the inner life; hence. he was
soon ;n. a,fterwardss capable Of what is re-
baptized" Thus making a public profess
sion of his faith. Perhaps he was self
deceived, and thought that he possessed
Showing the kind of belief he had.
The Delegation from Jerusalem. '"The
J6hn Not as Sg rneTs 'q but g as Gtse friendy
delegation of leading apostles who could
be trusted. John once" says Barnes.
would have called down destroying fire
upon the Samaritans duke $50. Now
he gladly seeks to bring upon them the
blessed baptism OF fire from the Holy
Ghost" The two apostles found that the
conversions Were real. but that the con-
verts had received only a portion of the
blessings Of the gospel There wac more
to follow
prayed for them" The best spiritual
gifts come through prayer. "That they
might receive the Holy Ghost" Not the
ordinary Influences Of the Holy Spirit
who had already convicted them OF sin,
of Righteousness, and of judgment" and
changed their hearts 30 that they were
born anew of the spirit" but the larger
special gifts of the spirit for greater de-
Vction. for power in service as Jesus had
promised (Acts 1:0. and. in fuller degree
the divine indweling of the Spirit whiea
makes the Christian the temple Of God
(Gal. SO: Rom S:l5) knowing.
Then laid they their hands on them
10 express that the gift came from God
through his apostles 1t was a connect
ing link between the giver and the re
ceiver. And they received the Holy
Ghost, probably with the outward mani
festations OF Pentecost, and the inward
grace which they represented
Note, How little OF the best things can
be bought for money The best things OF
God are free to all men, as the
most beautiful forms and lines
are the most common. The apostles
reproved the richest and most powerful
man in the church. The church was
stronger without him than with him so
long as he was not real Christian.
Even In the first church we have met
with three spurious disciples Judas An
anias. Simon Magus. and yet only three
out of many thousands. About the pro-
portion we notice i'm the modern church
of those who have fallen into crime "rry
to be John, no matter who Is Judas
says DIR. Maltby ID. Babcock