Americus times-recorder., 1920-01-08
IMPROVED UNIFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGISOOOL
LESSON
tby REV. p. b. FITZWATER. d. d.
Ieacher OF English Bible In the Moody
bloie Institute of ChicagoJ
ICopyright. 1929. Western Newspaper Uniou)
LESSON FOR JANUARY II
PETER AND JOHN HEAL A LAME
MAN.
LESSON TEXT-Ants 4

LESSON TEXT-Acts J.
GOLDEN TEXT-Freely We have re-
ceiyed. freely give.-Matt. 1913.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI-Matt. 1877.
!; Mark 1884; Luke 4:4O; John 14:2: I Pc
ter All.
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Lame Man Made
Whole.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Peter and John at the
Beautiful Gate.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Faith and Helping Hand
The indications are that some
months had elapsed since Pentecost.
The believers were being taught by the
apostles, who were showing their ere
dentials by their mighty works e :43).
l. The Lame Man Healed wv. ILL.
l. The occasion ". y. Peter and
John were going to the house of wor-
snip, They were going up to Jerusa-
lem to worship though they knew full
well the corruptions of Judaism. What
is needed today is not separation from
denominational bodies so much as for
those who know the Lord and the
higher things Of the Christian life to
help lead those who lack these things
into the better way.
2. The place ". p. 1t was at the
beautiful gate which led from the out
er to the inner court of the temple.
This man was placed at the entrance
of the place of worship, because
where man comes closest to God he
also comes closest to his fellow man.
Human instinct is quick to discern
this. Beggars are seldom found at
doors Of theaters and infidel lecture
halls.
8. The man (vv. 2, 81. This beggar
was infrm from his birth.
q 4. The method (vv. 4-S). ID Gained
the mans attention ". ~. Peter and
John commanded him to look on them.
Having secured his attention they gave
him more than he asked or expected.
He asked for money and got healing.
(2) Peter commanded him In the
name Of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to
rise up and walk ", 81. This was the
very thing he had been unable to do
for so many years. Was not this mock
ing his very impotency? No! mol 1t
was in the name Of Jesus, With the
commandment went the ability to do.
(3) Peter took him by the right hand
". y. This act was meant to give i'm
To hiC Faith ctr Nth f. 30
ankles. (4.) The mans response ". 81.
Strength came to his feet and ankle
bones at once. He stood, he walked,
he leaped and shouted praise to God.
He thoroughly advertised the miracle.
He ascribed the honor to God for his
healing and walked into the house Of
God The one who has experienced
the life of Christ will surely make it
manifest
5. The effect wv. GID. The people
were filed with wonder and amaze
ment The multitude ran together to
see this wonderful thing. There was
no question as to the genuineness Of
the miracle, for this man was a fa-
miliar figure for many years. This
miracle may be regarded as a parable
setting forth the work of the church in
the world (1) The helpless beggar
had to be carried to the temple gate.
Men and women out of Christ are spir-
Itually helpless; they need to be
brought where the life of God can be
applied to them. We should bring sin
ners to Christ. (2.) Taking him by
the hand shows the manner Of the
Christians help.
II. Peter Witnessing of Jesus Christ
Before the Multitude (vv. 1926.
This miracle focused the attention
of the people upon Peter and John.
Peter Immediately turned their atten-
tion from himself to Christ. This is
most unlike the claimants to divine
power today. Disciaiming power Of
his own, he seized the opportunity to
preach Christ to the people who had
assembled. He fold them it was faith
in Jesus Christ, whom the God of their
fathers had glorified, whom they had
deliberately delivered up and denied
before PLATE when he desired to set
him free, and that they desired a muir
derer to be granted freedom instead.
He showed that the disciples were also
witnesses that God had raised Jesus
from the dead, and charged home upon
them their awful guilt; for they thd
denied the holy one and the Just. and
chosen Barabbas, a murderer, instead
of Christ, and killed the Prince Of Life
He appealed to them to repent ". 19),
telling them that they had committed
this awful crime in ignorance. God
would pardon their sin If they would
repent. He assured them that Israel
would yet enjoy refreshing seasons
from the Lord, when God should send
Jesus Christ back to earth to cOnsum-
mate the work of redemption. He ap-
pealed to the Scriptures as the basis
of his warnings and promises (vv.
22-26).