Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-03-04
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM,
MENTS FOR MARCH y.

MENTS FOR MARCH ..
Su' >lect: Philip and the Ethiopian,
Acts 3:26-4O-Golden Text, John
5:39-Commit Verses 29-31-
Commentary on the Lesson.
TIME.-35-37 A.. D. PLACE.
The Desert.
EXPOSITION. AGreatP Preach.
er Sent Into a Desert, &c, 27a. Philip
was in the midst of a great work ia
Samar1a, 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 bids you.
He was a man guided of God, because
he was SO earnestly looking for
guidance, and SO prompt in obeying.
Falth,s best proof is obedience (Heb.
IL. A Great Statesman Seeking the
Way OF Life, 27b. %. If we just go
the way God bids, asking no cues
lions, it will soon begin to develop
why God has sent us. This man was
a great person, but that was not why
Ph1l1p was sent to him, but because
ne was a sincere seeker after truth
~. ~, last clause, 80, 81, "a, 36:o
comp. Jno. 1917; Ps. 25:9). This
statesman evidently considered relig-
ION a matter of sufficient Importance
to bestow much time, trouble and ex-
pense upon it. He 'thad come to
Jerusalem for to worship" No won
der God gave more light to a man
VINO was SO earnestly following the
light he had. In v. 20 r. V. Is a les-
son on How to Study the Bible and
now to Improve the time when trav-
el1ng. 1t was while engaged in the
study OF the Word that God revealed
10 the eunuch the fuller truth. This
indicates the reason why some of us
never get these revelations from God
II. Personal Work i'm a Chariot.
$3.50. 1t is evident from the record
mere that God does not expect us to
speak to every one we meet about
His salvation; but that, If we watch
HIS leading as to whom to an
proach, He will give it. There are
many OF us who never heard the
spirit say to us, go, speak to that
is it because we are not list
ening keenly enough to catch "the
st1ll, small voice?" 1t is we'll to note
carefully the first two words the
spirit spoke to Philip, "go near" II
we are to win men to Christ that is
the way to begin. One of the great
mistakes OF a large portion of the
cnurch to-day is that we are trying
70 save men from a distance. It Is 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 |
Hufo Wlsnes us to ave. We wait for
70 come and seek us. oh, for a
Pnli1ps to run after meni "Un-
thou what thou readest?"
a very pertinent question, and vet
would not some of us think it imper-
men II put to us? But If We were |
20 tell the truth about our Bible read |
what would we have to answer
that question? The eunuch an
swered, "How can I, except some ono
shall guide me?" There is one OF
ways ready and always at hand to
guide us Ono. 1926; 1913: / :Jno
z:11). 1t Is very important that we |
should understand what we rod
Matt. 1919, 20; 1910: 24:151-
n eunuch was thoroughly IN earn.
in his search for truth. He he-
this unknown worker to come
INTO his chariot and sit with him tha+
ne might point out to him the mean
OF Gods Word. It was indeed
that he was reading q
passage that so clearly expounds the !
atonlng work Of Jesus. The eunnch
asked a question that went right at
tne heart of the matter. "of whom
speaketh the prophet this? Of himself
OF OF some other MANI" # is 81 !
ways well to know exactly Of whom
any scripture speaks. But there ia |
passage where this question ia
more vital than in Isaiah 53 IF ~
re1ers to the Messiah. then bevond
possibility Of honest ouestion
Jesus OF Nazareth was the nredicted
Messiah. And it does refer to tho
and to Jesus. Infdels and
ratlonallsts have labored hard II IN
rent some other Interpretation. Rnt
every attempt has ended in utter fail.
The most plausible theory that
they have advanced is that e refars
70 suffering Israel" But this theory
goes all to pieces on the rock that the
sufferer is represented as sufferine
the sins of others than himself
lisa. 1874, 5, s, g., II, 12). and the
otners for whose sins he is snfferine
are my people," i. e.. Israel 1Isa
$3.50. So evidently the sufferer car.
not be Israel. o"n
II. Relieving, Baptized and Re-
1olclng, 1910. The treasurer nromnt
" accepted the truth and Jesus r
the eunuch had been like man mod-
ern seekers after truth" he would
thought Of a score of things that
hinder his being baptized. Rut
ne was not merely in p~retence, but IN
reality an honest inquirer; so. when
found the truth he threw dificn1-
Ties to the wind and obeyed it. Philin |
does not hesitate, but Immediately
baptlzes him. Philips work is dona
and the Spirit takes him away (seem.
1ngly he is caught away as by a hurri,
cane, ct. 2 K. 2:16). The eun,1eh
must now learn to look directly to
Jesus Himself. This he does. He
Ices not ask for Philip now that he |
has found Jesus. He went on. his wav
rejoicing" with a new-found low .
Joy those only know who rocoi,,a