The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-07
LESSON FOR APRIL 9
lAEnEAs AND ooRcAs.

AENEAS AND DORcA9.
sIEssoN rExr-Aots a:s2.ta. GEO also
PROV. St:10.81.)
fiFGoL1EN TExT-In all things showing
Myself an eusample Of good works.
Titus 81.
Step by step the Gospel can be
traced, spreading itself, but begin
ming at Jerusalem" Pauls CONVEX
ssion 10 one OF the greatest evidences
OF Christianity. The two miracles Of
today's lesson are additional evidence
that It is Of God.
" 4. AZ LYDIA Tvs. s2.35). caliguia,
emperor of Rome In "A. D. 80. ordered
Ills statue to be erected IN Jerusalem
that he might be worshiped as god
there as elsewhere. The excitement
and conflict which arose in opposition
TO this sacrl1ege lasted for two years,
during which time Christian persecu'
lions ceased. Following saul's visit
nt Jerusalem. and during this time Of
quiet, Peter made this tour OF vista
zion. LYDIA (modern Ludd) is about
TWENTY-FIVE miles northwest OF Jeru'
salem. Here dwelt certain saints ".
e2) literally 'holy ones" converted
4 disciples Of Christ, not ones Of spe
cia1 honor; for all who are members
\ Ipf the body Of Christ, are saints"
skPhil. I'D. Here also dwelt Aeneasr
IA certain man." possibly not a believ'
i or, but having great need ". 26:3:2:
10:1, 14:8: 9:10), and OF years. stand
ing ". 33). Notice Luke. the physi'
clans careful record. Peter must have
geen many such yet this man Is one
Peter found; he was evidently look
ing for him. Peters pity was not SEN
kimenta1 but practical and his words
powerful, for back OF them was the
living and Powerful Christ He
knew who could work q cure. The
long Ewearlness Is to be relieved. Yet
those days OF illness gave time for
meditation and probably prepared the
mans heart to respond in faith to
Pcter's words. Peter does not attract
attention to himself, but rather to
9esus. His was but to be tho instru
ment of the cure. The healing was a
means to an end, for when those who
dwelt In LYDIA and Sharon ". $50
heard of the miracle, or saw this
healed man, It was to them demon
sStratlon of the power Of the risen
4 Christ, and they turned to the Lord"
sty.sS5). There is no comparing Peter
with modern "healers." Peters words
and actions were living demonstra-
tion, not for profit, of the power OF
Jesus in his life and testimony.
II. At Jeppa Tvs. 36::43). Joppa
was the only seaport the Jews ever
possessed for themselves. It was and
rs still, a rather Insignificant town,
and now marks the beginning Of the
railroad leading to Jerusalem, 35
&miles distant. No name is recorded
8of any: of it's rich or prominent citi
gems, only that Of an humble woman.
The record Of her life, however, ls
Inspiring ". 36), and her name is a
common one adopted by organizations
ofSwomen. Like her master her life
was full Of good deeds; like him
The was not mlnistered unto, but
ministered. This is real greatness
and is open to all OF us. Her name
ssTabitha" (Hebrew), Dorcas (Greek),
knsansi gazelle, which in the East is a
fayorite type Of beauty. This certain
disciple was beautiful IN life as WE'LL
kor she was first a believer, then
deer. we believe IN ordeEzto do. not
do IN order to believe. This woman
ksgany example OF the wise and capable
woman mentioned in Prov. 31:14;31,
kspicture we'll worth studying in these
days Of the feminist movement" She
8Es5 d good type to be followed by
church women, and by US all in the
TACT that her reputation rested upon
leeds (which che did" w.. 1867, not
SAones she was about to do, nor did she
wait for some great opportunity OF
4 Service. The life Of Dorcas reveals
one OF the causes of the triumph Of
christianity in the Roman empire. It
WAS q source OF wonder that those
SafIy5 Christians should so love each
other. The reason why Dorcas was
allowed to die lies in the providence
nfg God. He loved his work and this
Recorded incident has served ito raise
Sip8multitudes OF other Decreases. Her
tdeath also reveals that being full OF
Sood works and aims deeds" does not
exempt his servants from sickness and
death; and that God evidently has 9TH
IerIpurposes in sickness than to chas.
stises our sin or to humble our pride
,CJohn 8: g. II Kings 1919. The friends
SRI orcas we're folks OF faith. for as
Yet there was no case OF apostolic
power to raise the dead so far as We
know, and It was now about ten years
after the resurrection OF Christ,
Peter followed the example OF his
Iord (Lnke $50, 54), dismissed all
spectators and "prayed" tv. 4o). The
Way TO revive dead pastor, church,
school. personal experience, or Per.
son sdead in trespasaes and sins" is
SbySprayer. Peter also did ns he had
seem his Master do to hissmother.in'
Law mark $50, 81, and gave Dorcas
,hiSE hand 10. help her arise. =.
ThiR gave an opuortunity for fruit.