Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-02-25
So 49, 49,
lnR
Sn'loay=Sch0d1
k l# = e ~ $1,000. #s 1865
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-.
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY %.

INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-.
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY %.
Subject: The Gospel in samaria. Act.
S:4-e5-Golden Text, Acts SO
Commit Verses II, 15-Com-
menbUry ON the Lesson.
TIME.-35-s7 "a. D. PLACE
EXPOSITION.-I. Baptized with
the Holy Ghost as Wen as with wat
er, LILY. The apostles gladly ra-
ceived the intelligence that the de-
splsed Samarftans had received the
word OF God. They sent their very
pest men to foster the work. Peter
ana John on their arrival found that
none OF the converts had received the
Holy Spirit. Certainly among this
company OF baptized believers there
were some regenerate persons, but,we
are distinctly told that ''as yet the
HOLY Spirit had fallen upon none of
tnem." They were.precisely In the
position OF many in the church to-
day. They had believed the truth
concerning the kingdom of God and
the name of Jesus Christ, and had
been baptized, butsthey had not re-
ce1ved the Holy Spirit as 4 distinct
III definite personal experience. So
important did the apostles regard It
that believers Should receive the Holy
Spirit that the first thing they attend
ed to was this. They evidently
thought that the way~to obtain the
holy Spirit was by prayer ". IS: ct.
Luxe 1l.13). It was now wears after
Pentecost, and still we find the AMOS
Ties praying for the Holy Ghost. We
cannot Improve. upon their method
The reception of the Holy Spirit by
these Samaritan converts was some
thing so very definite and marked
that Simon saw it. It has been ar
gued from the fact that the apostles
lald their hands upon them that the
Holy Ghost can only be given by the
laying on of an apostles hands. and
a the apostles are no longer with
us the gift of the Holy Ghost is not
for to-day" This is strange logic
n c~ontrad1cts plain Scripture teach
ing, for It was not an apostle, but
merely "a certain disciple" who laid
hands on Saul when he received the
Holy Ghost (Acts 9:1O, III. The
household of Cornelius received the
Holy Ghost without the laying on of
any ones hands Och. 1O:44). The
Samaritan believers did not have to
spend weeks waiting for their Pen
tecost." It came the moment the
conditions were fulfilled. 1t was so
everywhere in Acts after Acts 81.
III. Baptized With Water, but I'm
regenerate, 1925. Simon desired to
buy the power of imparting the Holy
Spirit. His heart was so thoroughly
corrupt with selfshness and covet-
BUSINESS that he would turn Gods gift
into a way Of unholy gain. This
brought a stern rebuke. and awful
warning. 1t is all very solemn. Are
there not to-day those who are long
ing and praying for the baptism with
the Holy Spirit for their own aggran-
dizement OF gain? An evangelist
once spoke on the baptism with the
Holy Spirit. A pastor as he walked
home with him said, .'That is Just
what l need. I must have the bap-
tism with the Holy Spirit. 1 am now
getting $1,000 a year. If I had this
baptism with the Holy Spirit I believe
I could get $780," That was fright.
full, but this pastor only put into
plain words what many another has
dimly felt and for this reason has
longed and prayed for the gift. Let
all such ponder the solemn words In
vs.'20-23. Such a view of the matter
reveals an irreverence toward God
and a ~selfishness SO profound as tc
make pardon almost impossible "
22). The one who thinks that Gods
gifts can, be purchased with money
does not know God nor the methods
of His grace. All Of Gods gifts are
gifts indeed. They are not to be pur.
chased. but received lis. 55:1; Rom
1923; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 1850. Simon
had believed Philips doctrine and
had been baptized with water ". 13)
but he was an unregenerate man, hfs
heart was not right in the sight Of
God, and he had no part nor lot II
this matter. The only one who has
part or lot in the matter of the gift
Of the Holy Ghost is the one whose
heart is right in the sight of God (cf
Heb. 1:9; Acts $500. It matters
little whether our hearts are right iI
the sight of man, the question is, are
our hearts right in the sight of God
We need forgiveness not only for ou>
outward acts, but also for the
thoughts of our heart. Simon was II
the visible church.. but nevertheless
he was Gin the gall Of bitterness an6
the bond Of iniquity." There is nc
gall so bitter as the gall Of sin. There
is no bond so strong as the bond Of
iniquity John 8:34). Simon did not
want to- draw neal to God himself, ge
asked Peter to pray to the Lord for him
He does not appear to have been sc
sorry for his sin as he was frightened
at the possible penalty. According t
tradition Simon did not repent. bu'
became an enemy to the Gospel. The
apostles did two things-they testi
fed of what they themselves knew o,
the Lord (cf. Luke 24:48: Acts 1:S]
and ""preached the Word Of the Lord
The word translated preach" meanl
spoke" They did not preach ser
mons, but lust talked the Word O.
the Lord. Notice carefully what 1
was they talked. not their own ideas
but the Word OF. the Lord On theil
way back home they took opportunit!
OF declaring the good tidings In thu
villages of the Samaritans through
~,AlLf 49, -