Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-03-01
5nternatiunal gessu,a.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON X, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH 9.

Memory Verses, 3-S-Golden Text,
Acts Will, documentary Prepared
by Rev. d. NJ. Stearns.
copyright, 1902 by American Press Association ]
8. "As for Saul, he made havoc Of the
church." The Revised Version says that
he laid waste the church, but our Lord
had said, 1.-The gates of hell shall not
prevail against it" Matt. xvi, 49,. So
that this Imprisonment Of Christians and
power of Saul and the authorities over
them did not really hurt the church any
more than the fiery furnace or the lions
hurt Daniel and his friends.
4. 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, "Ye thought evil against
me, but God meant it unto good to save
much people alive" (Gen. !, 20). When
we are prosecuted and in the midst Of
trial, it seems very difficult to see any
good in it, and not to see our prosecutors,
but faith sees only God and is quiet be-
cause He controls all people and all
events. These scattered preachers OF
good tidings were not the apostles, but all
except the apostles Verse y. and they
were Just the Lords messengers with the
Lords message alag. i, 13). If all be-
levers now were ready to tell to others
the love and grace of God, telling Lis
salvation from day to day FPS. Xxi, 10,
24), how soon the gospel might be preach
ed to every creature!
SO. 'Then Philip went down to the
city of Samaria and preached Christ unto
them" Philip was the second Of the
seven who had been appointed to minister
to the needy in things temporal. 2Qd now
that Stephen had been so honored and
promoted he is also honored as the Lords
messenger. If we are content to do the,
ordinary work Of the daily life, the LORD
will in His own time lead US into greater
service. Very helpful words on this are
found in II Sam. XIV, Is; I Chron. xviii.
21. In verses 4, II, 25 We get good
idea of the preaching of those days. They
preached Christ; they preached the word
Of the Lord and the things concerning
the kingdom of God. AS Philip preach
ed the Lord wrought with and through
him, confirming the word with signs fol-
lowing Mark xvi, 20), and, seeing the
miracles and hearing the message, the
people with one accord gave heed, and
there was great joy in that city. Whether
the messenger be the woman Of Samaria
or Philip the evangelist, If Christ Is
preached the Spirit works, and whenever
Christ is truly received there follows JOY
and peace Ps. xv, 13). :,
9, 10. The adversary who opposes GOD
and exalts himself is always to the front
ever since he slandered God to Eve IN
Eden. He is seen in the willfulncss and
self assertion of Cain, in the endeavor OF
the Babel builders to make themselves
name and in all who oppose themselves
TO God and His truth from Cain to the
one who shall exalt himself and magnify
himself above every god, so that he, as
God, shall sit in the temple Of God show
ing himself that lie is God dan. Xl, III;
III Thess. ii, y. This Simon. like Theu-
das Of chapter V, 36, was just one or
the great host who magnify themselves
and always end following. AS write
man in Chicago, whom many follow
and who seems to preach the gospel has
lust given out that he is Elijah. And SO
it goes and will till Jesus comes.
II, II. Bewitching people with sorcery
might possibly describe many of the
teachings of today which captivate such
multitudes 4 great following is not
sufficient proof that the leader is right
nor are few followers necessarily IN evil
dence that the leader is wrong.
Is. "Simon himself believed also, was
baptized, continued with Philip and won
dered, beholding 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
utter he believed would seem to indicate
a real conversion. The sequel in verses
Is to "a may indicate, 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. II he had no part in Christ, he
certainly was not saved, but If Peter
meant that he had no part in this gift OF
the Holy Spirit he was just in the condi-
ton in which most church members are,
and it may hS.e been in reference to
serving God that his heart was not right.
Simon the sorcerer is not q comfortable
study. There is much of himself from
first to last and little, if any, Of Christ
even after he believed.
IA. Snow, when the apostles which
were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the word of God, they sent
unto them Peter and John" These two
who are so prominent in the early chap
ters are still evidently the foremost
among the apostles and specially honorcd
BY the others. Notice what it was the
people Of Samaria had received. They
had received the word Of God, and, like
the Thessalonians, they doubtless receiv-
ed It, not as the word Of men, but as it
Is in truth, the word Of God, which ef-
fectually worketh in those who believe
q Thess. ii, 13). Our Lord Himself said
to His Father on the night before His
cruci6xion, II have given unto them the
words which Thou gavest Me, and they
have received them" John xvii. 81. We
give our Lord pleasure when we receive
His word. 1t Is to be received with
meekness and then held fast and held
forth Gas. i, 21; Tit. i, 8; Phil. ii, 16).
Is, 16. "Who, when they were come
down, prayed for them that they might
receive the Holy Ghost" They were
somewhat like the apostles and other be-
levers before Pentecost. They had be-
leved, 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. All who truly receive Christ
are saved and have become children Of
God John j, 12) and temples of the Holy
Spirit, who dwells in every believer. but
1t is possible for such to be only babes
and carnal Il Cor. vi, 10, 20; iii, 1. ., and
therefore the necessity Of being filled
with the Spirit and endued with power
TO live the life Of faithful testimony.