Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-01-28
LESSON FOR JANUARY 80
THE LAME MAN LEAPlNe.
.EssoN TExT-Acts 8.

ana SOlQ nave L none, DuI Wnat L HdFo
that give l thee. In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth lk."-Acts Sc r.. v.
The coming of power tchapter y is
soon tested outside of the circle OF
believers. 1t is put toia public test. is
tried as to its efficacy physically. i. e..
has the Holy Spirit power physically
as well as over the spirits of men?
|. The Appeal to Peter and John, w.
1-10. Following Pentecost the disciples
seem to have continued their accus-
toned mode of life. a. The apostles
and worship ". H. As yet, and in
deed for many years to come. there
was no particular separation of Jews
and Christians.
Praying men like these two leaders.
Peter and John, continued to fulfill
their temple duties The ninth hour
was the prayer hour. the hour of sac
rifice tEx. 29:39. Kings 1886.
All true approach to God must be ON
the grounds of sacrifice (John 1876
Heb. 9:22) and we must remember
that this hour was the one at which
Jesus died for us, our sacrifice lHeb-
1919. 29).
Emphasize the need and Importance
of worship and prayer.
CD The afflicted one (v y. This
man had been there often and made
his usual appeal; his expectation was
limited to material aid (v. 81; he may
or he may not have been familiar with
Christ and his teachings, but some
thing unusual was about to happen be-
cause the two to whom he appealed
really knew God and on them now
rested this new power in the world
(3) The apostles response (vv. 4-Ds
Peter took a good look at the man
". A. Peter was changed by look
Matt. 16:D. What he saw was the
mans fundamental spiritual need
(a) Demanding the mans undivided
attention. Peter gave the man what he
had not-not what the man wanted or
expected.
Peters words, Look on u.s." and
Pauls "be ye followers of me" q Cor
4:16) are in no wise egotistical, but
in each case the fearless appeal OF .
man wholly Gods. men conscious of
the endowment of power, trying to
seize the wavering wills of men that
they might point them to Christ.
(b) Peter aroused the mas'c expect
ancy.
It is usually men lacking in silver
and gold who give to the world its
greatest blessings and highest good
Il Cor AID.
The appeal to curiosity is perfect
ly legitimate one. (c) Peter gave o
personal testimony. What he was
about to do for the man was not In
or of himself.
Every effective Christian worker
must base his appeal upon the facts
of a personal experience q. Pet. 4:10,
III. (d) Peter bade the man to do
the very thing he (humanly) could not
| do. but the thing which, Gin the name
of Jesus Christ" he would be able to
| do.
The power of that mighty name
came into the lame feet the moment
he believed ". z; CT. v. 16).
Notice how full the account given
by Luke, who was physician
/
mony and of command by personal
touch ". Z; see also Mark 1:3D.
The personal testimony plus the per-
sonal touch, and both 'ein the name Of
Jesus" are sure to produce results
"a The result. ~ Upon the man.
There is no doubt as to the complete
ness of the cure (v 81 He had
strength" was lifted up" from his
former position of weakness; he
'leaped" Cliterally. ecstatic joy); he
walked" continuous activity; and he
"worshiped." thanksgiving and renew
ing of strength. (2) Upon the people.
(a) "All the people saw" They may
not have heard or comprehended the
words of Peter, but they did witness
the, transformation. (b) They took
knowledge" ". 10), they began to OBJ
serve, even as the world always does,
the one who processes his faith
in Christ? (c) They were filled
with wonder and amazement" (v.
10), they could not understand.
No more can the world of today
(see l Cor. 1:1S. 23) really compre-
|
guesswork, however, about this mir
acle, and. of the people who witnessed
it and were so filled with wonder and
amazement, many were converted
(ch. 4:4).
The miracle served to get for the
gospel a good hearing and it accom-
plished its purpose (Rom. 1:16).
|
w. 1926. Notice it was the man who
attracted the crowd, not Peter or John
for he eagerly held the disciples while
the crowd gathered (John $40. III
This may suggest the weakness of the
mans faith in that he depended upon
Peter and John rather than upon Je
sus. % Peter seized this opportunity
". 12) and began his salutation BY
taking advantage of their curiosity.
Peter eagerly turned their thoughts
from himself unto JESUS. He wished
to divert attention from himself anG
used the miracle for the double pur
pose of glorifying Jesus Christ and tt
convict these men of their sin.
Verses 13, 14,-15 contain the charges
whereof Peter and John we're wit
nesses" They were not to look upor
"us" as though they had done any
thing, nor was it some new God o
whom they witnessed ". 13). The ac
of the crucifxion, he grants. may ha*.
been consumnated in ignorance (v
I'D, but since God had raised Jesu
from the dead. and this doctrine O
, the resurrection was new, therefor
they ought to repent even thougl
their acts were in accord with propr
, ecy.
Peter appeals to Jewish pride.
such an appeal legitimate?