The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-04-29
LESSON FOR APRIL 80
PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON

one day the SONS Oh E'b'"'' ''
sired Jesus To grant a cart" blanche
petition. Pressed further a. 10 their
particular request, they p"uuoned lpi
the seats of authority on the right
and LETT hand of Jesus in glory. la
reply Jesus said that such a petition
was not a proper one nor intelligent.
" asked. but according to their III
trepid assertions of willingness they
should be baptized with his baptism
Of death MARK 1O:35-i5l, and that
the greatest OF his followers should
be servant of all Today lesson is
a fulfllmcnt of that prophecy.
I. Peter in Prison, the Church Pray
ing Tvs. l-GD. Prosecutions had been
resumed ODD after temporary lull.
Some people serve Christ by living,
others by yielding up their lives for
his sake. James mot the one men
toned in chapter 49, was slain and
Peters death delayed in order not TO
pollute the feast of the Jewish Holy
week. Peters position was perilous.
Sixteen soldiers guarded him in Ro-
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 a force Herod 8
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
~ the name of God. Literally ". 81
this was a "stretch-out-edly" prayer,
and its earnestness was such as to
cirCumvent this vile grandson of
Herod the Great. (2) 1t was made
without ceasing" earnestly" X. W.
There was a sincerity and an intensity
Of desire on Peters behalf which Ian
guage can scarcely express (See also
Rom. $500. 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"
duke 22:44. Rom. 1870, Col. Alp,
13. r. W There is little such prayer
to be found, but once found it is an
swered CD 1t was 'of the church, Z"
/. e., 1t was a united prayer. Such
unity is the evidence of the Spirits
presence (Eph. 4:1-16). 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. ca
prayers of definite individuals for def
mite purposes will produce definite re-
suits.
u. Prayer Answered, Peter at Liberty
Tvs. lid. The messenger of God
". y brought light, yet the servant
of God needed awakening. a sugges-
ton to apply to our modern church
life His method Of awaking Peter
suggests that 1t 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 than
sleep. Neglect is more dangerous than
rebellion. Half-awake Peter neverthe-
less obeyed Gods messenger Nor
did he seemingly stop to argue or ask
for further particulars and explana-
lions 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 another
of the seemingly unsurmOuntable diff.
culties which lay between him and
freedom, melted away. even before he
had time to lay so much as his finger
to the task. II we obey God, what
seems to man to be an absolute bar.
rier, will be overcome, though fire.
quently il is not removed until we are
face to face with it even as Peter
stood before first one gate and then
another Looking back many of us
can exclaim of our deliverances that
we twist not that il was true"
~. Joy and Amusement Tvs. 1910
Peter. finding himself untrammeled
and free upon the streets of the city
and no longer angel-aCcompaRied, al
once repaired to his friends. Do We
seek the prayer meetings. 1t was
startling indeed for the subject Of their
prayers to knock at the door; perhaps
he should have been more consider
ate of their feelings. One, Rhoda
readily responded, and It was her per
sistent faith that finally overcame the
lack of faith on the part of the others
While they were yet speaking God
had answered lisa. 65:24), but such
n prompt and complete deliverance
was not expected, and it amazed ant
be.wildered them, -'r =,
Ia are that the calves get all tn