The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-24
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR MARCH =.

Subject: Philip and the Ethiopian
Acts S:26-4O-GoldenT Text, John
5:39-Commit Verses 29-31-
Commentary on the Lesson.
TIME.-S5-S7 A. D. PLACE
The Desert. t
EXPOSITION.-I. AGreatP reacli.
er Sent Into a Desert, 20, 27a. Philip
was in the midst of a great work In
Samaria, and now he was to leave all
this and go down to a desert road to
meet a single individual and lead him
to Christ This shows the Importance
OF personal work and the value OF a
single soul. Philip had learned the
highest form of wisdom-the wisdom
OF doing Just what the Lord bidssyou.
He was a man guided Of God. because
he was SO earnestly looking for
guidance, and so prompt in obeying.
Faiths best proof is obedience (Heh.
11:8).
II. A Great Statesman Seeking the
Way Of Life, 27b, 20. If we. just go
the way God bids, asking NJ ques-
tions, it will soon begin to develop
why God has sent US. This man was
a great person, but that was not why
Philip was sent to him, but because
he was a sincere seeker after truth
". 81, last clause, 80, 81, "a, 36;l
comp. Jno. TIT; Ps. $500. This
statesman evidently considered relig-
ion a matter Of sufficient Importance
to bestow much time, trouble and exc
pense upon it. He had come to-
Jerusalem for to worship" No won
der God gave more light to man
who was so earnestly following the
light he had. In v. 2S r. v. issa les
son on How to Study the Bible and
how to improve the time when tfay-
cling. It was while engaged In the
study of the Word that God revealed,
to the eunuch the fuller truth. This
Indicates the reason why some Of us
never get these revelations from God
III. Personal Work in q Chariot,
1885. 1t is evident from the record
here that God does not expect US to
speak to every n we meet about
His salvation; but that If we watch,
for His leading as to whom to APP.
proach, He will give it. There are
many Of us who never heard the
Spirit say to US, Go, speak to that
man." Is it because we are not list
ening keenly enough to catch "the
still, small voice?" 1t is we'll to note
carefully the first two words the
Spirit spoke to Philip, "go near" IL
we r to win men to Christ that is
the way to begin. One of the great
mistakes of a large portion Of the
church to-day is that we are trying
to save men from a distance. tits an
unusual sight to see n man running
after another, to speak to him about
Christ. This was the only way Philip
could catch his man. It is the only
way we can catch many whom the
Lord wishes US to save. We wait for
few Philips to run after men! "Un-
derstandest thou what thou readest?"s
A very pertinent question, and yet
would not some OF. us think It imper-
tinent If put to us? But If we were
to tell the truth about our Bible read
Ing, what would we have to answer
to that Question? The eunuch an
swered, How can I, except some one
shall guide me?" There is One all
ways ready and always at hand to
guide US (Jno. 1926; $685. Jno.
2:27). 1t is very important that we
should understand what we read
Matt. 1919, %; 1910; 24:15l.
The eunuch was thoroughly In earn
est in his search for truth. He be-
sought this unknown worker to come
into his chariot and sit with him that
he might point out to him the mean
ing Of Gods Word. 1t was indeed
providential that he was reading q
passage that so clearly expounds the
atoning work of Jesus. The eunuch.
asked a question that went right at
the heart of the matter, "of whom
speaketh the prophet this? of himself
or Of some other man." It Is al
: ways well to know exactly of whom
any Scripture speaks. But, there is
no passage where this question LIS
more vital than in Isaiah SO. II It
refers to the Messiah, then beyond
the possibility of honest question
Jesus Of Nazareth was the predicted
Messiah. And it does refer to the
Messiah and to Jesus. Infdels and
rationalists have labored hard to in
vent some other Interpretation. But
every attempt has ended in utter fall
ure. The most plausible theory that
they have advanced Is that it refers
to suffering Israel" But this theory
goes all to pieces on the rock that the
sufferer is represented as suffering
for the sins of others than himself
lisa. 1914, 5, 8, 9, II, 12), and the
others for whose sins he Is suffering
are my people," j.. e., Israel lisa.
$3.50. So evidently the sufferer can
not be Israel. Y
III. Believing. Baptized and Re.
ioicing, 1910. The treasurer prompt
ly accepted the truth and Jesus. If
the eunuch had been like many mod
ern seekers after TRUTH" he would
have thought Of a score of things that
would hinder his being baptized. But
he was not merely in p%retence, but in
reality an honest inquirer; so. when
he found the truth he threw difficult
ties to the wind and obeyed it. Philip
does not hesitate, but Immediately
baptizes him. Philips work Is done
and the Spirit takes him away (seem-
ingly he Is caught away as by a hurri-
cane, CT. 2 K. 2:16). The elnuch
must now learn to look directly to
Jesus Himself. This he does. He
does not ask for Philip now that he
has found Jesus. He went on his way
rejoicing" with a new-found Joy, a
JOY those only know who receive
Jesus
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