Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-04-22
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~ INTERNATIONAL LESSON con-.
MENTs FOR APRILs25. J.
- q. ~. 49,. N#N. H*Nt V%HEtsr n ..suN NJ - .#%sE
ouIeect: The Gospel in Antioch, Acts
11:19-8O; 12:25-Golden Text.
Acts 11:26-Commit Verses %.
o3-Commentary on he Lesson

fAcIS ll:26-COmmit Verses %. |
documentary on the Lesson.
TIME. D. AZ. 43. PLACE
ExPOSTTION.-I. Great Revival
at Antioch, 1921. 1T took years for
them to learn thai the Gospel was for
men OF every nation. But while these
early Christians had not as vet
learned all things, they had learned
some things we'll: Cd whatTto preach
the Word" l2l how to preach.
speaking the Word" Or. W. They
just talked the truth in a natural. un-
stilted. conversational way. 60 Who
ought to do the preaching-the rank
and file of the church, for they. that
were scattered abroad" were no the
apostles Comp. CHI. SD. God had
led on step by step; first, Jews, then
Samaritans, then Jewish prose1ytes,-
but at last genuine Gentiles. The
first missionaries to the heather were
just ordinary lay. Christians, who had
gotten SO full ofathe truth as 1t is in
Jesus that they could no longer fol-,
low tho slow lead Of the authorities
In the church, but were forced to,
break the bonds of Jewish prejudice
and narrowness and speak out to the
~ A0AAA6 0OALAAO0s Inv "O1CAAt-Al
was of God and soon carried the
whole church with it. The word for
preaching*in v. 20 is not the same as
in v. 10. It means telling good It'd
ings." Those good tidings which
they told are summed up in three
words-'the Lord Jesus" They did
not expend their strength in attack
ing heather superstitions and immOr-
al practices. They told the good news
of salvation in Jesus Christ. There is
no proof that these men had the hand
of bishops, presbytery or council upon
them, but they had "the hand Of the
Lord with them" The great secret
Of success in Christian work is here
indicated. The outcome Of the
hand Of the Lord being with
them was, "a great number believed
and turned unto the Lord" State
ments similar to this abound in the
Acts ". "a; 2:47; A; 5:14; CT;
1881, So. AZ; 1924, ETC., etc.. we
would do we'll to ask why the Gospel
does not make the same uniform
Roadway to-day. The answer, In part
at least, is suggested in Acts 2:42:
ga: Acts 1:8; 8:4. The faith OF
those converts in Antioch proved its
genuineness by its effect - they
turned unto the Lord" What is
meant by turning unto the Lord is In
dictated by l Thess. 1:9; Acts 26:18,
20. We have in these verses a very
clear setting forth of Gods part, the
workers part, and the converts part
in repentance and conversion. IN
workers preached the word, the Lord
Jesus Tvs. 10, 2O).
II. Barnabas Follows Up the
Work. 1924. AS soon as tidings o.
the Gentle revival at Antioch reached
Jerusalem there was great 1nteres.
there. They sent n OF their bes'
men to investigate and cooperate
"He was a good an" It is Tar more
important that a man be good thar
that he be brilliant If he Is to ed11!
young converts. He was also u O.
, the Holy Ghost" He was also '1ul
of faith" and no man that IS no. neee
undertake the work OF tnstructlne
and developing young converts espe
ciaIlv converts from heathenism 81
!, dark as that in Antioch. He was FREE
!, from the love OF gold (ch. 4:36, 80
He was free from personal amD1tlol
and jealousy In his work Tvs. Is, 20
He was very sharp-eyed to see tn'
| sincerity and promise Of a young con
!, vert (ch. 9:27). when he wa
come. and had seen the grace OF COG
was glad" Barnabas was In sympa
thy with God and His work. 1t Is sax
to say that not a few who see tn
grace Of God wrought through othe'
hands than their own. are mad, ant
try to belittle it. Note the ~cnaracte'
> Of the working of Gods grace in An
tioch: it was a grace that couid o.
"seen." We need more Of this v1sl
Bile grace in our churches to-day. Bar
nabas knew just what to do. Exnor
tation was Barnabas' forte Och. 4:36
R. w. His exhortation was precise
" that which should be given to al
young converts. 1t is not enough t
turn unto the Lord" they mus
; "cleave unto the Lord" or continu
in the Lord. This must be done wit
s.purpose Of heart" There is Away
much in the way Of persecution o
worldly allurements OF n KIM o
: another to draw a young CONVEX
away from the Lord, and unless the
| cleave to Him with fxedness OF pun
! nose. there is little hope.
| III. The Ministry of an
i. Saul at Antioch, $3.50. BarnaDa
showed his largeness OF spirit IN SUI
another way. He said to himself
ssThis is just the place for Saul.
will 60 get him." For a whole yea
Barnabas and Saul worked togethe
, in Antioch, and their work was great