Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-23
rIHE SUNDAY SCHIWWL LESSON
Lesson April 80. Acts 12;1.1s.
BY ZEN NEWSCME

two weeks ago. we find that the con-
version of the centurion Cornelius had
- decided effect upon the sentiment
of the church 1t Jerusalem and, fol-
lowed by The news of great events at
Antioch, hushed forever the carping
of those who esteemed the religion of
Jesus as a variation of the Jewish
faith. No longer do we hear of the
opposition that once was so strong
against the reception of the Gentle
. world into the blessings of the
4 new dispensation. Barnabas was COM
"A missioned 10 take charge Of the work
y At Antioch, and he brought to his aid
sothat converted prosecutor of the
4 saints, Paul. Working together, these
n men brought the church at Antioch
y TO high degree of success and spir-
Ituality and 1t was here that the new
y organization first received its name of
4 Christian Here il is that we learn
of the new zeal of Herod. the grand
son of the notable potentate of that
name. who thought to increase his
popularity in MS kingdom by init
tting fresh prosecutions of the Chris
ians. James was seized upon and
oeheaded by the sword and Peter
vas apprehended and thrown into
prison. with the intent that his exc
>>~ution should feature celebration OF
the Jews after Easter. But the Lord in.
posed and delivered the apostle from
prison by miracle, notwithstand-
ing the heavy guard the king had set
ever him and the chains with which
he found him. He could not be exc
Cuted during the feast Of the Jews
without mourning their passionate
Gisapproval, but that they were con-
iidently expecting the leader of the
home church ana the boldest advo-
cate of the faith of the crucified
Naznrapa Ia cnffat Iaath his hp-
lief is indicated by the words of the
text. Both the Jews and their alien
monarch were destined to disappoint-
ment however. for whom the Lord
you'd preserve man cannot destroy.
It was not that Peter was more
worthy to live than James. who had
fallen q victim of the kings machi-
NAations, but the LORD had much more
I Work for Peter to do. and Gods plans
4 cannot be interrupted by the designs
Of men. As long as God needs you
in his work no accident no disease, no
- plans of your enemies can suffice to
RI prevent you from living on. 1t may
rot be u miracle that saves you, but
\ the Lords will VIII be done some
y way. nc matter what human plans
! may seem to interfere with it. The
horrible butcherv ir Europe, although
{ seems to have submerged all the
! influence of the teac hings of Jesus in
IA holocaus of destruction. yet in the
81 md will have carried out to a greater
a extent the purposes of the Almighty
and the world, tried and purified by
its calamaties, will be the nearer to
> the time when every knee shall bow
tc the Lord of all the earth.
Pandcring to the People.
p This man Herod Agrippa seems to
habe been considerable of a politician.
t,Aiming, by reason of intermarriage,
the ties of Jewish blood. he eXerted
himself to please the people of that
\ race and strengthen his hold on the
throne by playing for popularity. OF
course his office was held by grace
Of the emperor of Rome, but he had
managed to make himself solid, as
we say it. with the supreme powers,
and the contentment of the Jews un
der his reign served to strengthen his
grip on authority at both ends of the
line II was this that induced him to
order the death of James. an act
which was so pleasing to his subjects
that he determined to go farther in
this direction and make an end of
him who was looked upon as the
chief of the new creed. II was this,
too that caused him to delay the exc
.ution until the Passover week was
oTer. so as to not to do violence to
Jewish law and custom, which forbid
the shedding of human blood during
the festival Blu, Herod had mis-
Judged on two points. He did not
knew or understand anything about
the power of Jehovah. nor did he
take into account the earnest prayers
Of the brethren for Peters deliver
ence. The answer to their petitions
came to them while they were yet
braying, but they were slow to be-
lieve il even when tley saw him pres
t. l,t VAt. mol
ity. We often do not recognize the
znswer to our prayers when it comes
TO u.s. and often are constrained to
doubt the efficacy of our petitions.
one reason is because the answer is
often veiled and we do not know that
wexhave been heard until afterward.
Another is that sometimes we are
praying for something that would not
he the best for us, and the answer
comes in a way better suited to Gods
infinite knowledge than to our limited
faith and finite understanding. Some
times our faith Is so small that we
are backward in recognizing the an
swer because 1t seems too good to be
true. Often we think we have not
been answered at all, yet in later
days we look back and see where the
Lord has given Us far greater and
more enaficen. blessinps than the
specific favor wo asked. Just as lit
lie children will ask earnestly and
teaffully for thirrs that the parent
knows would be a damage for 1t to
have so we In cur petitions to the
Almighty must bear in mind that in
,fifs wisdom he may do us kind
ness by refusing literal answer.
Prayer without Ccasirg.
1t is well to note that the prayers
tf the brethren were going up to God
without ceasing. 1t was not a spas
modic effort or n half-hearted be-
seig.ns of the throne of mercy. In
this materalistic and skertical age
there are many, even among those
who call themselves children of God,
who down deep in their hearts. no
matter what their tongues may say
are doubtful ABOUT the effectiveness
of prayer. When we pray without eX-
pecting an answer We cannot hope to
get the benefit Cf prayer. The fault
IL prayer fails is in him who prays.
More things are wrought by prayer
than this world dreams Of" and the
lrayer of the righteous availeth
much" If these brethren had been
wGrtliy- minded, they would probably