Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-01-27
LESSON FOR JANUARY 80
THE LAME MAN LEAPiNa.
LESSON rExr-Acts q.

tried as TO its efficacy physically, j. e..
has the Holy Spirit power physically
as well as over the spirits of men?
| !. The Appeal to Peter and John, w.
lilo. Following Pentecost the disciples
seem to have continued their accus-
toned mode of life. "a The apostles
and worship ". ID. AS yet, and in
deed for many years to come, there
was no particular separation of Jews
and Christians.
| Praying men like these two leaders,
Peter and John, continued to fulfill
their temple duties. The ninth hour
was the prayer hour the hour of sac
rifice EEK. 1898, | Kings 1896.
All true approach TO God must be on
the grounds of sacrifice John 14:6,
Heb. 1929 and we must remember
that this hour was the one at which
Jesus died for us, our sacrifice (Heb
| 1919, 29).
Emphasize the need and importance
of worship and prayer
(2) The afflicted one (v. ~. This
man had been there often and made
his usual appeal; his expectation was
limited to material aid ". 81; he may
or he may not have been familiar with
Christ and his teachings, but some
thing unusual was about to happen be.
cause the two to whom he appealed
really knew God and on them now
rested this new power In the world.
90 The apostles response wv. At
Peter took a good look at the man
". ~. Peter was changed by look
Matt. 1870. What he saw was the
mans fundamental spiritual need
(a) Demanding the mans undivided
attention, Peter gave the man what he
had not-not what the man wanted or
expected.
Peters words, Look on u.s." and
PauPs be We followers of me" Il Cor
4:16) are in no wise egotistical, but
in each case the fearless appeal of
man wholly Gods. meE conscious of
the endowment Of power. trying to
seize the wavering wills of men that
they might point them to Christ.
(b) Peter aroused the mans expect.
ancy.
1t is usually men lacking in silver
and gold who give to the world it's
greatest blessings and highest good
Il Cor. Aid.
Every effective Christian worker
must base his appeal upon the facts
of personal experience q. Pet. 4:1O.
III. (d) Peter babe the man to do
the very thing he humanity could not
do, but the thing which, lin the name
of Jesus Christ" he would be able to
do
az The result "a Upon the man.
There is no doubt as to the complete
ness of the cure ". 81. He had
Strength" was lifted up" from his
former position of weakness; he
''leaped" Giterally, ecstatic joy); he
walked" continuous activity; and he
"worshiped," thanksgiving and renew
ing of strength. (2) Upon the people.
(a) "All the people saw" They may
not have heard OF comprehended the
words of Peter, but they did witness
the transformation. (b) They took
knowledge" ". 10). they began to OBJ
serve, even as the world always does,
the one who processes his faith
in Christ? Co They were filled
with wonder and amazement" (v
10), they could not understand.
No more can the world of today
(see / Cor. lis, 23) really compre
bend the Christian. There was no
guesswork, however, about this mir
acle, and, of the people who witnessed
it and were so filled with wonder and
amazement, many were converted
(ch. 4:4).
The miracle served to get for the
gospel a good hearing and it accom-
plished it's purpose (Rom. l:16).
II. Peters Appeal to the People,
w. 1926. Notice it was the man who
attracted the crowd, not Peter or John.
for he eagerly held the disciples while
the crowd gathered (John $40. III.
This may suggest the weakness of the
mans faith in that he depended upon
Peter and John rather than upon le-
sus. (1) Peter seized this opportunity
". 12) and began his salutaticn by
taking advantage Of their curiosity.
Peter eagerly turned their thoughts
from himself unto Jesus He wished
to divert attention from himself and
used the miracle for the double pur-
pose of clarifying Jesus Christ and to
convict these men of their sin.
Verses 10, 14,-15 contain the charges,
whereof Peter and John were wit
nesses." They were not to look upon
"us" as though they had done any
thing, nor was it some new God OF
whom they witnessed ". 13). The act
of the crucifixion, he grants, may have
been contaminated in ignorance (v.
I'D, but since God had raised Jesus
from the dead, and this doctrine OF
the resurrection was new, therefore
!, they ought to repent even though
their acts were In accord with proph-
/ ecy.
Peter appeals to Jewish pridA lie
such an appeal )"gitimate7