Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-02-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Ix.-First Quarter, For
Feb. II, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Acts vi, 1-7-Msm-
DRY Verses, 2, aGolden Text, Gal. vi,
2-commentary Prepared by Rev. D.
M. Stearns.
Increase of numbers, even in or
binary church membership, does not
always tend to increase or even con-
tinuance of peace, especially If 1t
means pleasing more people. as is
often the case, though 1t should not be
so. Pleasing people is not the business
of the preacher or the session or the
vestry or the committee; not pleasing
men, but God like the apostles In the
last lesson. In our lesson, while the
number of the disciples was multiplied.
troubles multiplied also, for some were
neglected or felt that they were in
the daily ministration. Today some
people are hot happy If they think the
pastor seems to neglect them in his
pastoral calls or in not noticing them
after church or on the street. and no
committee can rectify this.
The twelve decided, wisely or IN
wisely, certainly for their own com
fort, that they could not attend to this
business of serving tables, but must
continue to give themselves to prayer
and Bible study and teaching the
Word. When compared with some
other lines of service that OF prayer
and teaching would be to many a de-
lightful preference, but ordinary serv
requires more grace. The preachers
wife may need more grace and pa
tience for the housekeeping than he
does for the preaching, but any kind
of service needs a special amounting Of
the Holy Spirit.
A committee Of seven Spirit filled
men of honest report was chosen for
this special ministry, the first two OF
whom we shall become better &C.
Quainted with as we go on in our
studies. Stephen, the first of the sew
en-. occupies the prominent place In
this chapter and the next, while Philip
is the most prominent In chapter viii
We do not hear Of Peter again until
chapter viii, IA, and that is the last
mention Of John in the Acts except in
xii, 2 where he is mentioned as the
brother Of James. who was killed with
the sword. 1t Is possible that some
others may have wished that they had
but here are two of seven seemingly
ordinary men honored above some OF
the apostles. 1t Is well to remember
that the Spirit gives to every one sever
ally as He will and to be content to
fill any place be its service small or
great.
1t is written of Stephen that he was
a man full Of faith and of the holy
Ghost, full Of faith and power: that
he did great wonders and miracles
among the people, and they were not
able to resist the wisdom and the
spirit by which he spake verses 5, =,
10): also that by the word Of God the
number of the disciples in Jerusalem
multiplied greatly, and great com
pany Of the priests were obedient to
the faith verse y. In chapter V. "a,
we heard the high priest and others
wondering where unto this movement
would grow. and we still see it grow.
ing even unto this our day, but it does
look as II we had now come almost to
the completion Of the growth of His
body, the church. The one thing to
do Is to be full of faith and the power
of the Spirit and faithfully and fear
lessly witness unto Him and His sal
walton and His coming again until we
are called out of the body or up In the
air to meet Him. The power of Stephen
In overcoming those who disputed with
him Verse 10) was in accordance with
our Lords assurance in Luke xxi. Is.
II will give you mouth and wisdom
which all your adversaries shall not be
able to gainsay nor resist
This and similar assurances, such as
Elk. iv, II; Jer. |, 10: John xiv, IS, II;
XIV, I, are all for US today if we will
stand for Him as Stephen did, for His
eyes are still looking for hearts that
are whole toward Him, that He mag
hold strongly with them Oh Chron.
xvi, 8, margin). If we stand for Him
and with Him, as Peter and John and
Stephen did. we must expect to know
something of the hatred of the adver-
sary as they did. for we cannot know
the power of His resurrection without
knowing also the fellowship of His
sufferings Phil. lii, 1O). Those wha
could not gainsay nor resist the truth
of God in the power of the Spirit by
the mouth Of Stephen could hire men
to falsely accuse Stephen and make
him out liar and dangerous man to
be about
That Ii one Of the wiles Of the devil
which he has practiced so long that
he is very skillful In 1t. He tried 1t
even upo. our Lord Himself, and we
cannot hope to escape, for as the Lord
Jesus was prosecuted. 80 must His fol-