Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-04-28
LESSON FOR APRIL 80
PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON.

him, and delivereth them,-Psalms 34:7
One day the sons of Zebedee" de-
sired Jesus to grant carte blanche
petition. Pressed further as to their
particular request, they petitioned for
the seats of authority on the right
and left hand of Jesus in glory, IN
reply Jesus said that such a petition
was not proper one nor Intelligent
ly asked, but according to their in
trepid assertions of willingness they
should be baptized with his baptism
OF death Mark 10:35-45), and that
the greatest of his followers should
be servant of all" Today's lesson is
a fulfillment of that prophecy.
|. Peter in Prison, the Church Pray
inc Tvs. 1-6). Prosecutions had been
resumed (9:3D after temporary lull.
Some people serve Christ by living,
others by yielding up their lives for
his sake. James (not the one men
toned in chapter 15) was slain and
Peters death delayed in order not to
pollute the feast of the Jewish Holy
week. Peters position was perilous.
SlAL0SH MN Ill d 1eO-
man dungeon. But his enemies had
left God out of their calculations and
the believers had linked Themselves
through prayer with the source of all
power. Against such force Herod's
cunning plan, whereby he might curry
favor with the Jews ". 81, is power
less. But it is now almost the hour
for Peters execution. Why the de-
lay? The greater to demonstrate
the power of God. Herod and the Jews
cared not for, nor recognized, Easter,
but God cared for his servant and hon.
ored the prayers of his saints. Peters
faith in the plans and purposes of
God is indicated by his slumber and
the need of being fully awakened by
the angel. There are four things about
that vigil of prayer ". 81 offered by
the church on Peters behalf, which
was SO wondrously answered. ~ 1t
was directed unto God" Some pray
| ers are offered to audiences or the
ears of man, but not such as are an
swered. We have heard prayers, so
/ called, offered where the name of
! Jesus is never mentioned, and scarce
| ly the name of God. Literally ". 81
this was ''stretch-out-ed-ly" prayer,
and it's earnestness was such as to
circumvent this vile grandson of
Herod the Great. (2) 1t was made
without ceasing" (''earnestly,' R. W.
There was sincerity and an intensity
Of desire on Peters behalf which Ian
guage can scarcely express (See also
Rom. 1920. The same word is used
Of our Lords prayer in the garden
when His sweat was as great drops
of blood falling down to the ground"
(Luke 22:44, Rom. 1880, Col. 4:12,
13, r. W There is little such prayer
to be found, but once found it is an
swered. (3) 1t was ''of the church, ;"
i. e., it was a united prayer! Such
unity is the evidence of the Spirit S
presence (Eph. 4:I-16). One shred
of hemp is not very strong, but many
united form the strong and mighty
rope. Multiply individual prayer by
the united prayer of the church and
see the mighty works of God (4)
1t was definite, for him" Definite
prayers of definite individuals for def
mite purposes will produce definite re-
suits
II. Prayer Answered, Peter at Liberty
Tvs. 7-11) The messenger of God
". y brought light, yet the servant
of God needed awakening, a sugges.
tion to apply to our modern church
life. His method of awaking Peter
suggests that it often takes SHARP
blows to arouse us to our duties and
privileges. The sinner has to be
awakened before he can be delivered
Deliverance is more needed thar
sleep. Neglect is more dangerous thar
rebellion. Half-awake Peter neverthe
less obeyed Gods messenger. MOI
did he seemingly stop to argue or ash
for further particulars and explana
tions as so many sinners do. The rec
ord of this deliverance is most graph
ic. Peter did nothing but to follow
and as he obeyed, one after anothel
! OF the seemingly unsurmountable diff
culties which lay between him ant
freedom, melted away, even before b,
had time to lay so much as his fnge
to the task. If we obey God, wha
seems to man to be an absolute bar
Tfer, will be overcome, though FIRE
quent1y it is not removed until we ar
face to face with it even as Pete
stood before first one gate and thel
another. Looking back many of u
can exclaim of our deliverances tha
we twist not that it was true
: III. Joy and Amazement Tvs. 12-17'
, Peter, finding himself untrammele
and free upon the streets of the city
and no longer angel-accompanied, a
once repaired to his friends. Do w
seek the prayer meetings? It wa
startling indeed for the subject of thei
prayers to knock at the door; perhap
he should have been more consider
i ate of their feelings. One, Rhod;
) readily responded, and it was her pc
5 sistent faith that finally overcame th
lack of faith on the part of the other,
While they were yet speaking Go
r had answered lisa. 65:24), but sue
a prompt and complete deliveranc
{ was not expected, and it amazed an
> bewildered them. Rhoda seemed I
be expecting Peter, for as soon as st
answered Peters rap at the door sh
recognized his voice ". 14), and frol
sheer joy over the good news she wa
= able to communicate it to those pra,
o ing, but she neglected the importar
]. duty of opening the door for Pete
d She was only maid and her me
y sage was but foolishness duke q
J. IL, which her elders sought to e
,. plain, but poor Peter still outsid
y continued knocking" which soon co
vinced those within, and upon one
ing the door they saw him" and we,
n "astonished."
Calming their fears and admonis
ing them to hold their peace (v. II
Peter turned their thoughts from hir
o self to Jesus and commanded tn
It James, the leader of the Jerusale
70 church, and "the brethren" be
If formed Of hia da1iuoraooo