Evening star., 1920-02-07
BY REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON.

the persecution OF the church. During
the period Of peace the apostles sought
to build up the churches that had been
established by the brethren, who when
driven from Jerusalem went every
where preaching the gospel. This
weeks study contains incidents that
took place during the visit of Peter to
the various churches that were to be
found throughout Palestine. especially
at LYDIA and Joppa. During the period
of danger the apostles had stayed in
the very center of the persecution, but
the period Of freedom from pressure
by their opponents found them visiting
the newly established interests, SO that
they could counsel, encourage and in
spire the members and by personal
visitation become personally scquaint-
ed with their conditions and needs.
Two of the three remarkable expert
ences of Peter during his tour OF in
spection call for our consideration. At
LYDIA, Aenas. who had been confined
to his bed by paralysis for eight years,
was cured, and, arriving at Joppa In
! response to the petition Of the ch,srch
! for him to come speedily to them, he
restored Dorcas, whose deeds of philan-
| throptc endeavor are recalled today by
| the various religious organizations that
have adopted her name and follow her
practical efforts to help the poor.
While there is much in the character
of Dorcas that could command a les
son. yet it is evident from the golden
text and the two miracles that are
found in this weeks lesson that we
ought to give first place in this weeks
| study to the miraculous events that
trsnspired at LYDIA and Joppa.
In these two miracles OF comfort
that Luke, the physician, has record
ed in his story of what Jesus con-
tinued to do after His resurrection.
one is impressed by the great sim
ilarity that exists between these mir
acles, especially the restoration Of
Dorcas. to those performed by the
Lord Jesus during the days Of His
public ministry among men. Peter
pointed Aenas. who probably was not
| follower Of the new faith, to the
One who could help him. when he as
| Christ healeth thee." Peter had
| aroused a trust in the palsied ono
| that the Lord would heal him. He
then, following tho Methods Of the
Master. ordered him to rise and make
his bed" The cure was immediate, for
| he arose. :,
Petsr had sought to aid the poor
suffering man SO that he could ad-
vance the kingdom Of God. He had
not healed him so that he could be
free from the palsy. Many a one
| would be healed today II they trusted
Christ Jesus to remove their infirm-
+! ity so that with their body they might
! glorify God. He is healing many to-
I day through the work Of physicians
| as wen as in answer to the prayer
! Of the faithful men and women. The
/! marvels and triumphs of modern sur
gerry and medicine are methods that
God is using today to restore people
who have fallen under the influence of
the prince Of the power Of the air or
| satan. who is the author Of sickness.
The last enemy that shall be de-
stroyed is death.
The result Of that miracle was q
great revival at LYDIA. 1t extended
to Joppa. where the faith of the saints
| was increased to such an extent that
request for the apostle to come and do
the unheard-of thing Of restoring their
beloved benefactor from the dead. Be-
! ing full Of good works and aims
deeds" did not protect her from seri-
GUS sickness and death. 1t does not
prove that one has Wandered away
| from Christ and His work because
they become the victims of sickness.
In seeking to restore Dorcas from
the dead to life, Peter followed the
methods that he had witnessed Christ
perform when the Master restored the
daughter Of Jairus. The restoration Of
DorcaS created more than wonder in
Joppa, for it was the means Of many
being won for the Lord Jesus, SO that
the number Of believers was increased
| in Joppa as result of the miracle.
Many who in former days questioned
the miracles Of Divine healing are
confronted today by the fact that the
Lord and His disciples practiced meth
DDS that now have the sanction OF
leading scientists. No one discredits
the power of prayer to heal the sick
! today. although fifty years ago it
would have been discredited by many.
Psychologists have taught the world
the value Of suggestion in curing the
ills of humanity. Whenever one
. depressed, discouraged or diseased
turns with an earnest prayer of faith
| unto Him that is able to do exceed
ing abundantiy above all that We ask
or think" there will come the power
full suggestion. that will tend to pro-
mote health and restore strength that
his cry will not be in vain. for, as the
Golden Texte teaches. "the praper of
faith shall save him that is sick, and
hath committed gins. it shall be for
given him." We Know that it is true
in reference to sin. which frequently
is the cause of sickness; then let us
not hesitate to exercise faith in the
Lord. who "giveth power to the faint
and to them that have no might in
creaseth strength" to cure the moral
and physical ills Of life.
While we emphasize the power OF
mind over matter and the necessity of
controlling our mental powers in
harmony with Gods will. we should
not refuse to use the knowledge or
secure the benefit of the trained physi-
clan who has specialized in psychiatry
SO that you may have the benefit Of
his psychological knowledge. 1t is
miracles that helped advance the work
in I.y6da and IoDpa
Faith without works is dead. James
not only advised the prayer Of faith,
but also the amounting with oil. which
possessed healing value. to be usel
put into the hands Of the medical
workers marvellous knowledge Of the
value of the use of antiseptics in
surgery. anesthetics and antitoxins
that should be used with faith that
the eternal and everything God alone
dies that His Holy Spirit has revealed
unto men. The value Of electricity in
blood test examinations and in the
diagnosis, made possible by the
Roentgen rays, are the Fathers gifts
to US and should be used along with
power ends it does not limit Gods
power to cure in answer to the prayer
of faith.
In emphasizing the fact the i'm
provement Of the spiritual life is the
first work Of life there has been a
tendency to neglect the healing OF
the body. Some that practice mental
healing neglect to emphasize the for
giveness of sins. Whenever Christi
anity commences to teach the gospel
that gives a place for healing the
bodies for the service Of the Lord
Jesus by uniting faith with medical
science the results that followed
Peters efforts in LYDIA and Joppa
will he seen among men. 1t is still