Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-03-11
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON coM.
MENTS FOR MARCH IA.
I

MENTs FOR MARCH IA.
Subject: Aeneas and Dorcas, Acts 8:
32-43-GoIden Text, Acts 9:34
Commit Verses 40, 41-Com.
mentary on the Lesson.
TIME.-40 A.. D. co PLACES
LYDIA, Joppa.
EXPOSJTION.-T. A Great Revi-
val in LYDIA and Sharon. 32-35. Sten
by step God was leading Peter on to-
ward the opening Of the door to the
Gentiles - LYDIA, Joppa, Caesarea.
Aeneas is the only citizen Of LYDIA
whose name is mentioned in the BIZ
bic. The only great thing about him,
apparently. was his great need. But
there is nothing more likely to attract
Gods notice than need duke 1881.
Aeneas was apparently not even a
disciple when Peter met him. He is
spoken Of as "a certain man" (comp.
v. &c; CHI. S:2; 1871; 1873: 9:1O).
There did not appear to be much hope
for this man. That day opened as all
others had for eight years. 1t closed
differently from all others. because
h day he met a man who knew
Christ and brought the mighty power
of Jesus Christ into his life. Doubt
less Peter had met with many af1ict-
ed ones in his journeys from place to
place, but God had not spoken the
word to him and so he had not spo-
ken it to them. But now God did
speak it to Peter heart
and with unhesitating faith. peter
coid nnfn him Aonooc Too,. VL...L
maketh thee whole" Wonderful
words. Words that might be spoken
to many a palsied man to-day. Pet
er's pity was not of the sentimental,
but active kind. He saw the mans
dire need. He knew one who could
help him. He brought the two to-
gether. Peter was an apt scholar
Comp. Jno. SIS; comp. also, v. 40
with Luke S:54). 1t is noteworthy
how Peter keeps himself in the back
! ground. He fixes the attention of
Aeneas on Jesus Christ. His perfect
confidence is also noteworthy. He
| saw very clearly that he was only an
instrument. He saw. with equal
clearness. that Jesus Christ could and
| would use v him. Aeneas' faith
responds to the word of power; he
arises straightway. The miracle sim
| ply opened the wav for the Word.
There is a wide gulf between Peter
and many modern so-called "healers."
III. Great Revival in Joppa, 36-43.
.Joppa was no Insignificant town.
There were people of wealth and in
fiuence there. But the name of only
a single person in that place has
come down to us. the name of a hum
BILE M Her name shines very
brightly on the pages Of history, and
her story has been an inspiration to
many. Why? This m was full
of good works and almsdeeds which
she did" That is real greatness, and
it is open to all. Note that she was
full" of these good works and aims.
deeds. She was a disciple indeed
(Jno. 1873: comp. also, Jas. 1927:
Jno. 3:14, 16, II; Tit. 2:14; 3:8; Col
i1:10). Note, also, that she was MOI
full Q. good works which she intend.
ed to 40. but was full of good works
(which she did" She seems to have
had no relatives, but instead of muir
murirg about her lonely lot she made
herself sister and mother to all, an6
SO she had many friends. Being "ful
Of coed works and almsdeeds" die
not exempt her from sickness. sick
ness ever unto death. God evidentl!
has other purposes in sickness thar
the chi.stisement of our sin and tn,
humbling of our pride Comp. Jno
9:3; Jno. 11:3, 4; 2 K. 1910. I
won't do to decide too hastily that tn
one who falls sick, or eve dies, ha
in some way wandered away from
God. these disciples had a might,
/ faith. There lad been TO cases o
resurrection, so far as we know. il
the ten years that had elapsed sine
{ the resurrection of Christ. Yet thos
: humble discinles believed in a livin'
God and a living Christ, and thai
row that there was need Of a resur
rection from the dead. God woul'
grant it. and He did. Showing tn
coats and garments Dorcas made,
It was a most worthy monument tina
Dorcas had built with a needle. Man,
have gazed at it and been inspired t.
acts OF love and sacrifice. Note the
she made these garments while sh
was with them" Peter puts Their
all forth" Peter was following yer
closely in the footsteps of his Maste
(Luke 1852, 54). In such a suprem
moment as this one wants no specta
tors; he must be alone with God. II
pTdy0U. AL, Wudt power IuSIS
in prayer! 1t can raise the dead
Have you a dead minister, try it o
him. Have you a dead church, try
on it. Have you a friend dead i
trespasses and SINS" try it on him
If Peter had spent his time grumt
ling at that corpse it would neve
have come to life. Praying, nc
grumbling, is what we want to-da!
He first turned to God, then to tn
corpse. Here is a lesson for Chri!
tan workers. When you have lai
hold of God by prayer as Peter dit
then you can lay hold of corpses b
word as Peter did also, and they wi
rise. Turning to the sleeping one, b
said: "Tabitha, arise" Those eye
so long closed. open. Oh. som
bright day Jesus Himself will "a
, to all our sleeping loved ones, an
| their eyes shall open, and they, to-
shall arise, neve to sleep again (Jn'
6:28, 29). Peter gave her his han
. and raised her I'D Just as he had see