Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-06-15
INTERNATIONAL J
SUNDAYS01OOL
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright BY Western Newspaper Union.)
s~sc~~~s~~~o~~~~~~~~~ -~~>~~~~~~>~~~~.~s
LESSON FOX JUNE 10.
LESSON FOR JUNE 10.
THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER.

| Loan fduSuA ndc Sciu VI luib lCooCAS
that in it I'VE have an epitome Of the
whole history of the gospel" The time
was A. D. SO or So and the place was
Philippi, an important city, as before
suggested.
!. The DamseI Delivered of Demons
wv. 1919. On their way to the pray
ing place where they had met Lydia,
the disciples met this maid who had
spirit, Python" Greek soothsayers
were supposed to be inspired by Apol-
10, who killed a great snake at Mt.
Parnassus and left it to rot. The girl
was probably possessed of hystenS
and thus spoke strange words, and heF
condition brought much profit to her
masters, who protested to interpret
her words. This evidence of evil pos
session awoke sympathetic response
in Paul's heart. Her misery and
degradation were a symbol Of the
degradation, as Lydia's sweet and be-
nevolent Christian character was Of
the TRANSPORTATION Of womanhood. -
Stalker Her cry after Paul was per-
haps that they we're the slaves or some
| 6OO, CfC1l co dig Woo LILO SldfC VI &ApOi-
10. The Gadarene duke 1929 used
similar language. Paul did net at once
stop her ". 81, perhaps to avoid con-
troversy, but his deliberation made
more profound the final deliverance
wrought. Worn out at last with her
cries, but taking no credit himself,
Paul spoke the name of Power which
| had fnrofn1d met NH.
1917; Lk. 81; Tx. 10:1O.
II. The Disciples In Prison wv. 49,
24) OF no further commercial value.
the slave drivers sought revenge by
melting mob to attack Paul and his
companions. So today the liquor in
terests would seek remuneration for
the loss of their business" and
anathematize their opponents, while
the underworld tries to overthrow all
who seek to restrain them. Paul and
Silas were accused of troubling the
city, for the trade has been interfered
with. 1t, indeed, went hard with them
thus to be unjustly set upon and final
ly, through the connivance Of the
spineless authorities, to be incarcer-
ated in filthy dungeon. Still, though
the majority was against them, yet the
mob was not right Compare 17:5; 10:
IL; 19:2S29), and they had One on
their side who was sufficient Rom.
1929. I
Ill. DeIiverance and Salvation wv.
25-35). Christ before Plate was ac-
cused of sedition, and these logged dis
ciples were likewise innocent suffer-
ers. "a Prayer and praise (25-26).
Note the circumstances-dar
torn and bleeding, aching backs and a
morrow filed with blackness. There
was no sleep for the disciples at that
midnight hour, but often strength is
better gained in prayer than sleep.
Praying, they sang hymns,"-in the
midst Ct that heterogeneous lot Of pris-
oners they did not, could not, keep ST.
lent. The result was attentive listen
ing by the other prisoners and by a.
loving Heavenly Father. who shooks
the place to evidence his interest
". 26). (2) The Jailed delivered. The
place was SO shaken that every barred
door was opened and the staples Of the
stocks were SO loosened as to, liberate,
every prisoner. (3) The jailer saved.
The brutal one is now the anxious in-
quirer and becomes a good type for
all to follow who are out of Christ. (a)
He saw he was lost He was subject
to the same death as his escaped pris-.
oners. "Supposing" ". .27) has dark
ened many lives, and our greatest sor-
rows are often imagined Face to
face with death, the jailer would
plunge into an eternity for which he
was not prepared. Paul's clarion call
brought the jailer to express his ankle
ty ". 29), and it was not trifling nor
skeptically Indifferent man who ap-
pealed to Paul. He was brought face
to face with two holy men, with God
and with eternity.
These to whom he came knew the
facts, had faith, and could meet the>,
emergencies of life with confidence.
~. The HumbIed Magistrates wv.
35-40). The jailer evidences joy, hos
pitality ana a changed home, which
news must have reached the magis-
trates. Their early command was to
"let these fellows co." Paul here.
rises to his full dignity. Beaten OPEN
ly, condemned without trial and ver
dict, does not allow them to cover
their crime and blunder by stealth.
TIE magistrates were liable to less.
Of pcsitioaa, goods, and even life, and
heIce willingly did all that Paul re-
quirej.
Thus the imprisonment turned out.
to tho honor of the apostle and the
glory CT God.
Nor did Paul hasten at all il leaving
the city.
After recovering strength to travel
and encouraging the members of the,
infant church they departed, taking
Timothy d7:14) with them
Thus God gloriously delivered those.
who labored amidst sore trials, and
there was established in Philippi a.
church which was doar RI po,,J "a