Mexico Missouri message., 1916-01-27
LESSON FOR JANUARY 80
The LAME MAN LEAPINe.
.EssoN TExT-Acts 8.

| Christ OF Nazareth. walk."-Acts 3;6 X. v.
The coming of power (chapter % is
soon tested outside OF the circle of
believers. It is put to 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?
I. 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 ". ~. 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
rifce eek. 29:39, Kings 1886.
All true approach to God must be on
the grounds of sacrifice (John 14:e.
Heb. 9:22) and we must remember
that this hour was the one at which
Jesus died for US, our sacrifice (Heb
1919, 29).
Emphasize the need and Importance
of worship and prayer.
(2) The afflicted one ". o.. This
man had been there often and made
his usual appeal; his expectation was
limited to material aid ". 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 wv. 40.
Peter took a good look at the man
". A.. Peter was changed by look
Matt. 16:7). 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
PauIs "be ye followers of me" Il Cor.
4:16) are in no wise egotistical, but
in each case the fearless appeal Of a
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 mans 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.
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 humanity could not
do, but the thing which, "in the name
of Jesus Christ" he would be able to
do.
"a The result. ~ Upon the man.
There is no doubt as to the complete
Strength" was lifted up" from his
former position of weakness; he
"leaped" Qiterally, ecstatic joy); he
walked" continuous activity; and he
"worshiped," thanksgiving and renew
ing OF strength. (2) Upon the people
ta) "AIl the people saw" They may
not have heard or comprehended the
words of Peter, but they did witness
TIE 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" "
10), they could not understand
1 No more can the world of today
(see l Cor. 1913, 23) really compre
/ hend the Christian. There was nj
/ guesswork, however, about this mir
] acle. and, Of the people who witnessed
it and we're so filed with wonder ant
amazement, many were converted
(ch. 4:4).
The miracle served to get for thu
r gospel good hearing and it accom-
t plished its purpose (Rom. 1:16).
n. Peters Appeal to the People
d w. 1925. Notice it was the man VIII,
d attracted the crowd, not Peter or John
for he eagerly held the disciples Will
d the crowd gathered (John $40, III
9 This may suggest the weakness of tn
mans faith In that he depended upoi
!. Peter and John rather than upon JIG
q sus. ~ Peter seized this opportunit,
n ". 12) and began his salutation b
taking advantage Of their curiosity.
10 Peter eagerly turned their thought
: from himself unto Jesus. He wishe
! to divert attention from himself an
used the miracle for the double pal
l. : pose Of glorifying Jesus Christ and t
convict these men Of their sin.
Verses 13, 14s15 contain the charger
whereof Peter and John were wi
nesses." They were not TO look upo
" "us" as though they had done an!
D. thing, nor was It some new God {
q whom they witnessed ". 49,. The al
r of the crucIixion. he grants, may hav
p been consummated in ignorance &
AZ ~, but since God had raised Jesu
from the dead, and this doctrine {
1t the resurrection was new, therefoI
y they ought to repent even thong
IL their acts were in accord with prop
Sc ecy.
1t Peter appeals to Jewish pIida
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