Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-02-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR FEB. 20
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nSSVssStNN ~ I'LL
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Text Of the Lesson, Phil. ii, ILL
Memory Verses, 5-7-GOlden Text,
ii Cor. VIII, documentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. M. Stearns.
Christian Brotherhood at Jerusalem"
but as half OF the portion assigned tells
Of the failure of that brotherhood In
the case Of Ananias, Ind we have no
further study In chapter v, the re-
mainder OF the chapter being very i'm
portant, It would seem wise 10 devote
most OF our time to the further test
mony OF Peter and its results.
The one heart and soul of the be
ievers and the common fund from
which al were helped was certainly
beautiful brotherhood, but the de
ceit of Ananias and the murmuring
of the Grecians rather spoiled the har-
mony The self life which remains in
the believer and the deceit and wicked
ness OF every human heart makes II
next 20 impossible for even the small
est company OF Christians 10 be OF
one mind very long about anything
If all could be fully yielded and have
no will E@t Ills. no self pleasing and
no pride or ambition 1t might be pos
sible. Be ause of human frailty i
No. In
our prayer service. but invariably
omit It,
While Barnabas. the son OF consola-
ton, sold his land and laid the pro
ceeds at the apostles feet, IL would
seem that his sister Mary, the mother
OF John Mark. kept her dome and had
the believers meet there for fellow
ship and prayer facts xii. Il; Col iv,
10). We must not follow others in
what they do. but each for himself say,
Lord. what wilt thou have me TO do2"
Ananias and Sapphire did not need
to sell their property because others
did It, and when sold they did not need
to bring all the proceeds. Their sin
was In their processing to give all, but
keeping back a part, and thus lying to
the Holy Spirit. God is the God of
Truth, the Spirit is the Spirit of Truth,
and Jesus Christ is the Truth. They
desire truth In the inward parts (Ps.
Il, O., and aught else is grief to them.
II all deceivers and liars were dealt
with as these two were, what a lot OF
funerals there would be and what a
thinning out OF church members
1t surely becomes US all to pray the
prayer OF Ps. cxxxix, %. "a, and TO
aim at nothing less than an honest.
whole hearted surrender to Him who
has bought US with such a great price.
In verses 1910 of our lesson chapter
chapter W we see the risen Christ
showing Himself alive by signs and
wonders and dealings through these
human channels, and multitudes OF men
and women believed and were added to
the Lord (verse Ia. IL does not count
for anything to be added to a list OF
church members unless truly added TO
the Lord. He said, Every plant which
my Heavenly Father hath not planteth
shall be rooted up Matt. XIV, 49,.
The power OF God so stirred the ad
versary that his followers were filled
with indignation and laid hands on
the apostles and put them in the COM
mon prison verses IL. 49,. The Lord
In Heaven was watching over His own
and sent messenger from heaven TO
open the prison doors, bring the pris-
oners out and send them to speak in
~ he 80
the morning came there were no apos-
ties In the prison. but they were found
In the temple teaching the people. and
the high priest and council and SEN
ate being assembled, the officers found
them and brought them and set them
before the council. Now, for the sec
ond time, Peter has the privilege of
honoring Jesus Christ before this au-
gust assembly. The high priest asked
how II was that when forbidden to
teach In the name OF Jesus Christ they
had persisted In doing so and had
filed the city of Jerusalem with their
doctrine. That was a good testimony
to the zeal OF the apostles in their de-
votion TO the Lord, for II would be
difficult today TO find n city filed with
their doctrine. 1t sounds strange to
hear him say that the apostles intend
ed to bring the blood Of Jesus upon
them verse 29 when they them
selves had said TO PLATE, His blood
be upon us, and upon our children"
Matt xvii. 25).
Peter was very clear and decided in
accusing them of killing Jesus Christ,
and now for the fourth time he repeats
It (Acts II, %, "a; III. IA, 10; iv, 10;
V. 30, 81 and more often asserts the
fact OF HIS resurrection AS to ODE
dience, there Is only One to obey
I'VE ought to obey God rather than
men" As In the case Of Daniels
friends, there was no room for argu-
ment, but simply a matter OF right or
wrong. and the wrong they would not
do. Peter did not hesitate to declare
that the risen and exalted Prince and
Saviour would give even to them re-
pentance and forgiveness OF sins II