The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ", FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JAN. 26.
Text of the Lesson, Acts III, 1-16-
Memory Verses, 6-S-Golden Text,
Ex. Nv, documentary Prepared by
Rev. ID. M. Stearns.

1-3. Ii was the hour OF the evening sac
rifice, the hour when Jesus died on Col
gotha Matt. xvii, 46, 50), that found
Peter and John going into the temple ON
this occasion. While the unbeieving
Jews continued their forms the believers
In Jesus Christ met for prayer, knowing
that the true and only sacrifice for sin
was in heaven on their behalf and that
they, His witnesses, could do nothing
without Him.
40. AS Peter and John said, Look ON
u.s." he looked expecting to receive some
thing in the way of money, for he knew
not OF the durable riches and righteous
ness OF Prov. viii, Is. "He gave heed,
expecting to receive" and that is more
than many believers do when they pray,
for they ask, and wonder If they are
heard and are surprised if they receive,
and talk about its being so wonderful
and so strange. How much better it
would be when we pray to expect, ac-
cording to Ps. V, 3; xii, .; John xiv, Is,
IA. This lame man was expecting from
people. but Peter and John had learned
to expect from God. If believers would
lay hold of or be laid hold OF by these
words: Cease We from man, 1T is God
who worketh" Qsa. ii. %; Phil. ii, 49,,
great things might be seen.
6. "In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, rise up and walk" Silver aud
gold could not do this nor all the power
Of man, but those who have neither gold
nor silver can be friends of and partners
with Him who doeth all such things.
There is something better than money
which can be had without money lisa.
lv, / Rev. xxi, 10 Many profess 10
have the gift of God, but some really
possess Him. 1t would be well to con
slider, "Have Christ. or do ! only seem
to have or think that | haveY luke viii,
Is, margin; | John V. 12). Peter could
say: Il have" Il give"
Z, 8. walking and leaping and prais-
ing God" This by a man over forty
years OF age who had never walked
Well might the people call it notable
miracle (chapter iy, 16, 22). 1t was ac-
complished in n moment. As soon as
Peter took him by the right hand imme-
diately his feet and ankle bones received
strength. 1t was written by the prophet
that the lame man should leap as a
hart lisa. xxxv, 60. But how few would
ever expect that such words would have
such literal fulillment? And that Is
one Of our great difficulties and him
ORANGES. We seem so slow 10 believe
that God means just what He says.
o, To- The people saw Him and knew
Him and were filled with wonder and
amaZement. SO on the day Of Pentecost
they were all amazed and marveled
Chapter ii, I. ~. The change in this
man was so manifest and unmistakable
that it could not be denied Gv, 1t1, yet
the authorities would. if they could. stop
all such doings. \ lady whom | know,
whose eyes were miraculously healed aft
er all the doctors had failed TO help. put
the story in tract form, and a doctor who
read il told her she was doing wrong. as
others might think they could have q
similar experience. What are we ON
earth for if not that the works Of God
may be seen in us. John tx, 81
II. The lame man which was healed
held Peter and John" The healed man
naturally chung 10 his delivercrs, and the
crowd ran 70 see the healed and the heal
ers. There is SO little power of God in
the church today that the crowd has 10
be drawn 10y entertainments, suppers,
concerts etc: but let some Of the power
that was seen on this occasion be again
manifested. and the things which now
disgrace the church might speedily van
ish. This mans help came through Peter
and John, and he chung TO his visible de-
liverers. When we learn to say sincere
| ly, My help cometh from the Lord, who
made heaven and earth" we will no
longer look to the hills for help Ps. cxxi.
!. 2, margin, and Jer. ill., 23).
-. "Why look We so earnestly on usT'
Not knowing the invisible God. people
gaze with wonder upon the visible in
struments by whom God Is graciously
pleased TO work. but if those whom God
uses would continue to be used by Him
they must be careful to give God the
glory, for no flesh shall glory in His pres
ence II Cor. i, 29-3D. As soon as the in
| strument is willing TO be magnifed the
power ceases Concerning Pharaoh 5
dream, Joseph said that it was not in
/ him to interpret it. but that God would
do it, and Daniel said that there was no
wisdom in him more than in others, but
that the God in heaven, who revealeth
secrets, would make known the dream
Gen. XII, 16; Dan. H. $3.50.
| 1916. His name, through faith in His
name, hath made this man strong" As
on the day Of Pentecost, he told them
that Jesus, whom they had crucified had
by God been raised from the dead and
received up into heaven, so now he again
tells them that the God Of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob had glorifed His Son
Jesus, having raised Him from the dead,
and that the perfect soundness OF this
man who had been lame was due wholly
to the risen Christ, whose witnesses they
were. We do not know that the man
had any faith in Christ. but Peter and
John had, and as the faith Of the woman
OF Tyre and Sidon brought health to her
daughter and the faith OF the centurion
brought health to his servant Matt. viii,
10, 10; XIV, 2S), so their faith brought
health to this man. Who can tell the
possibilities of faith in God, and what do
we know Of the faith of the Son Of God ?
Mark xi, 1924; Gal II. 20) As Mephib-
osheth was lame through no fault of his
own, yet was made to live with the king
and eat continually at the kings table
/ Oil Sam. Nv, 4; tx, 49,, so we who are
all lame through Adams sin. without
strength, ungodly. may be healed by Him
who, having died for us, is now alive for
evermore from. v. Lie: iii, 24). Peter,
In the power Of the Spirit, breaches unto
them Jesus and the resurrection, as