Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-04-07
LESSON FOR APRIL 9
AND DORCAS.


Titus 2:7.
Step by step the Gospel can be
traced, spreading itself, but begin
ming at Jerusalem" PauTs conver
sion is one of the greatest evidences
of Christianity. The two miracles OF
today's lesson are additional evidence
that it is of God.
1. At LYDIA Tvs. 32-35l. Caligula.
emperor of Rome in A D. 80. ordered
his statue to be erected in Jerusalem
that he might be worshiped as a god
there as elsewhere. The excitement
and conflict which arose in opposition
to this sacrilege lasted for two years,
during which time Christian persecu-
tions ceased. Following Saul's visit
at Jerusalem. and during this time OF
quiet, Peter made this tour of vista
tion. LYDIA (modern Ludd) is about
twenty-five miles northwest of Jeru-
salem. Here dwelt certain saints ".
32) literally holy ones,' converted
disciples of Christ, not ones Of spe-
,cial honor, for all who are members
of the body Of Christ, are saints
(Phil. I'D. Here also dwelt Aeneas,
"a certain man." possibly not a believ-
er, but having great need (v. 26:3:2;
1O:1, 1873; 9:1O, and of years stand
ing ". 33). Notice Luke, the physi-
clans careful record. Peter must have
|, ir
Peter found; he was evidently look
ing for him. Peters pity was not SEN
timental but practical and his words
powerful, for back of them was the
Living and Powerful Christ. He
knew who could work a cure. The
those days of illness gave time for
meditation and probably prepared the
mans heart to respond in faith to
Peter's words. Peter does not attract
attention to himself, but rather to
Jesus. His was but to be the instru-
means to an end, for when those who
dwell in LYDIA and Sharon ". $50
heard of the miracle, or saw this
healed man, it was to them a demon
stration of the power of the risen
Christ, and they turned to the Lord"
". 35). There is 70 comparing Peter
with modern "healers." Peters words
and actions were a living demonstra-
tion, not for profit, Of the power Of
Jesus in his life and testimony. Il
we of this day would show more OF
that same nearness to the same
source of power there would be more
turning of men and women, boys and
girls, to Jesus, and more healing OF
broken hearts. Our power is in in.
verse ratio to our nearness to Jesus
II. At Joppa Tvs. SO: :43). Joppa
/ was the only seaport the Jews ever
/ possessed for themselves. 1t was and
| is still a rather insignificant town
and now marks the beginning OF the
| railroad leading to Jerusalem, 81
miles distant. No name is recorded
! of any of it's rich or prominent citi
! zens, only that of an humble woman
The record of her life, however, is
inspiring w. 36), and her name is g
/
of women. Like her master her life
was full of good deeds; like hin
she was not ministered unto, bur
! ministered. This is real greatness
and it is open to all of US. Her name
'Tabitha" (Hebrew), Dorcas Greek
means gazeIle, which in the East is E
favorite type of beauty. This 'certair
disciple" was beautiful in life as well
for she was first a believer, then :
doer. We believe in order to do, no
do in order to believe. This woman
is an example of the wise and capable
woman mentioned in Prov 31:10-31
picture we'll worth studying in these
days of the feminist movement" She
is a good type to be followed b,
church women, and by US all in the
fact that her reputation rested upol
deeds (which she did, ". 36), no
ones she was about to do, nor did sht
wait for some great opportunity o
service. The life of Dorcas reveal
one of the causes of the triumph O
Christianity in the Roman empire. |
was a source of wonder that thos
early Christians should so love eacl
other. The reason why Dorcas wa
allowed to die lies in the providenc,
of God He loved his work and thi
recorded incident has served to rails
up multitudes of other Dorcases. He
death also reveals that being full O
good works and aims deeds" does no
exempt his servants from sickness AM
death, and that God evidently has 9th
er purposes in sickness than to chas
tise our sin or to humble our prid
John 9:3, II Kings 13:14). The friend
of Dorcas were folks of faith, for a
yet there was no case of apostoli
power to raise the dead SO far as w
know, and it was now about ten year
after the resurrection of Christ
Doubtless they had heard of the cul
ing of Aeneas, and hence dared to ar
peal to Peter on behalf of the one the
loved so dearly. Dorcas had built
monument with a needle, and in tha
upper room ". 39) it was shown t
Peter as a visible evidence of her lif
work. "Post-mortem benefactions d
not count much with God. ."-Torrey
Peter followed the example of hi
Lord duke SO, 54), dismissed al
spectators and prayed" ". 4G). Th
way to revive a dead pastor, church
school, personal experience, or pel
son dead in trespasses and SINS" j
by prayer. Peter also did as he ha
seen his Master do to his mother-i1
law mark 1870, 3I, and gave Dorca
his hand to help her arise.
This gave an opportunity for frui
full work among the converts ". Al
and the enlistment of many new b,
levers ". Az, so that Peter abod
In Joppa for some time in the hous
of Simon, a tanner"
The record does not say that ever,
one believed, that does not occur /
the most sweeping revival, nor in tb
face of even such incontrovertihl
proof as the life and resurrection {
Dorcas.
Those who believed in Joppa h
Iio1ad 0iDD or toni 4bo -