The Coolidge examiner., 1936-08-21

Son that whosoever believeth in hin
Should not perish, but have everlasting
- PRIMARY ToP1c-Peter Learns ;
JUNIOR ToPIC-Peter Makes Grea
Discovery.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
TC-First Steps in World Brotherhood
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IIC-Universal Brotherhood in Christ.
Christianity early found its prog
ress impeded by a difference O.
opinion. Such a difference wher
met in Christian spirit will not be
a stone of offense, but when prop
erly and tactfully settled may be
a stepping stone to progress.
Jewish Christians at Jerusalem
were disturbed by the report thai
Peter had received the gentle Cor
nelius as a Christian brother with
out requiring him to fulfill the Jew
ish law of circumcision.
Peter defended his action not by
asserting his position or appealing
to his apostolic authority, but by
relating what God had done. Henry
Drummond once said, 1.-THE best
argument for Christianity is a
Christian. The best proof that
God has actually been at work is
to present the unansWerable evi-
dence of a redeemed soul. In thus
making his plea Peter reveals that
/. He Had a Vision of Gods Pur-
pose (vv. 5-10).
God had spoken to him. When we
meet a man who is in touch with
God, we should at once give heed.
He may be, and perhaps should be,
the minister or a Christian leader,
but he may be and frequently is
some humble. unknown servant of
God. But if God has spoken to him
we will do we'll to listen. Peter had
learned the great lesson that what
God had cleansed man should re-
ceive as clean.
III. He Had Seen God Work (vv.
l1-15).
The Holy Spirit had fallen on the
gentiles and they actually had been
saved. Is it not singular that in the
early church they could hardly be-
lieve that a gentle could be saved?
Now we are astonished if Jew is
saved! Why will we in our unbelief
limit the Holy One of Israel?
The all-powerful gospel of the
grace of God is still saving men and
women, Jews and gentiles, from
their sins. Have you seen it hap
pen? 1t is a great inspiration to
faith and service. God is ready so
to encourage us-he is the same to-
day as he was when he sent Peter
to Cornelius. Are we willing to run
his errands, proclaim his message?
HI. He Had Received Fresh In
sight Into Gods Word ". 16).
The best way to learn the mean
ing of Gods Word is to use it, live
it, obey it. IF any man will do his
will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God" (John It'd.
Peter had learned anew that
Gods Word meant just what it said.
We who are his servants should be-
lieve his Word and act on it in faith.
Nv. He Knew Better Than to With
stand God ". I'D.
When God has not raised any bar
riers of race, creed, color, class.
or social position, it is not for his
followers, and assuredly not for his
servants, to build fences" which
he would not authorize or counte-
nance. If God intended to save gen.
tiles, Peter wanted to be an instru-
ment in his hand, not a hindrance
in his way.
One of the needs of our day is
that those doing Gods work should
not Withstand him and his will. He
who is the same yesterday, today,
and forever is ready to work as
powerfully today as he did in the
days of Finney and Moody, and in
the days of Abraham, Moses, Dan
iel, and of Peter. Let us give him
liberty to work in and through us,
not as we may wish, but as he de-
sires. Who are we that we should
withstand God?
V. In Conclusion (Romans lis
I'D.
This portion presents magnifi-
cent declaration from Peters CO.
worker, Paul, the apostle to the gen
tiles, that the gospel is the power of
God unto salvation for everyone that
believes, Jew or Greek. Regardless
of race or condition, we are all un-
righteousness, and there is but one
way Of salvation-through faith in
Jesus Christ. It is our responsible
ity and privilege to make this mes
sage known to all men everywhere.
Your neighbor and mine, whether
in the next house or on the other
side of the world, is our opportu-
nifty. Not one is unclean or un-
touchable, although he may be
stained with the dark pollution of
sin. God is ready and willing to
save. Let us tell men the good
news!
Good Things
1t is only by thinking about
great and good things that we come