Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-04-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Acts TX, 32-43.
Memory Verses, 80, 40-Golden
Text, Tit. III, documentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. Nj. Stearns.

We leave Saul at Tarsus. his native
town. for time and return for a few
lessons to Peter as the human instru-
ment through whom the risen and
assembled Christ continues to prove
that He is alive and the same Jesus.
The one only thing that believers are
on earth for is to magnify the Lord
and glorify Him In all things and win
people to Him. Unless we are turn
ing people to Him we are not magnify
ing Him, for when He is lifted up be-
fore people in our lives by word or
deed He who was, lifted up ON the
cross for us will draw unto Himself
all whom the Father has given unto
Him to form His body. We must think
of Peter as in chapter viii. %. preach
ing the word of the Lord wherever he
went to save sinners and TO strengthen
and comfort the saints.
So he came 10 LYDIA and was used
by the Lord to give health TO a man
called Aeneas. who had kept his bed
eight years. being palsied. His words
to him were. "Aeneas. Jesus Christ
maketh thee whole; arise and make
thy bed" He was made whole and
arose Immediately. and one result was
that all who dwelt there, seeing this
miracle, turned to the Lord have
often thought that perhaps the Lord
would still heal more people il He saw
that therestored health would glorify
Him or win others TO Him. HeFknows
whom He can trust with health or
trials and which will be best for the
person intrusted with either. When
Lazarus was allowed to die 1t was that
I'm some way the Son of God might be
glorified John Xi. A.. The man of
John tx, 3. was born blind that the
works of God should be made mani
fest in him If only we can say II
have glorified Thee on the earth" we
shall have His well done
Turning to Peter at Joppa. we are
introduced to saint. called Dorcas.
who while she lived was full of good
works and aims deeds which she did
She was not full of talk about good
works which might be done nor did
she spend her time telling of aims
deeds which she knew that others
were able to do and ought to do. but
she was in the Lords hand 10 be used
by Him as the needle was i'm her hand.
a willing instrument Good works are
prepared beforehand for each believer
to walk in (Eph. ii, 10l, not i'm any
way TO add TO our safety which is
wholly dino fn rhn hlnn1 NJ
Christ, His finished work, but as an
evidence TO people that we are indeed
His workmanship. Good works are
not necessary to God TO prove TO Him
our faith, for He reads the heart. bur
the good works of believers are good
and profitable unto men who cannot
read the heart Git iii. 81.
This faithful saint became sick and
died. She departed to be with Christ,
which is far better than continuing
here She was absent from the body
and present with the Lord She rest
ed from her labors tPhil. /. 81. %; III
Cor. V. s; Rev. xiv. i3, Consider this
well and then note the conduct OF
these disciples at Joppa Two men
were sent to LYDIA TO find Peter and
bring him without delay. hoping that
he might bring Dorcas back TO them
from the dead. THIS was all very nat
ural. and the same desire prevails ev-
erywhere today. as rule. TO have
loved ones come back TO earth even
though we know that they have gone
TO be with Christ and have the gain.
the very far better. But quietly con-
slider IL. When our loved ones on earth
go away for a few days or weeks or
months to rest or for their health, and
we know that they are well and hap
py, what would it be but utter self
ishness on the part of those left at
home TO send for them TO come back
after day or two. saying: "Oh, am
so lonely. | can't bear I'd have you
away. Come right back to me-"
Now. what was the difference In this
case? hope that am not misjudg-
Ing those weeping widows. but as I
see them showing the coats and gar
ments which Dorcas had made am
wondering a little if they wanted her
back TO do some more sewing for
them when perhaps she had simply
worked herself to death for them. |
can almost imagine the Lord Jesus
saying to Dorcas after she had reached
her heavenly home and was enjoying
something Of the bliss OF paradise:
"Dorcas, they are asking to have you
come back to earth for awhile. but I
leave IL TO You. I'll be glad to have
you stay. for | love to have my re-
deemed ones with me In glory John
xvii, 2D, but IL you are willing to go
back for time will let you bring
others with you" l think that would |
decide Dorcas to return. and we know
that byNher return to the earth many
believed In the Lord (verse 42).
The result was the same in the case
of Lazarus. brother Of Mary and Mar
tina, for we read that "by reason of |
him many OF the Jews went away and Il