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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
I n t e r n a t i on a l Se r i es of Sunday School Le s sons EXPOSITION OF THE LESSON^ - Frederic W. Farr DEVOTIONAL COMMENT, - - John A. Hubbard COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARIES, H. G. Dean ELEMENTARY, - - - ~ - Mabel L. Merrill
the power of the truth to which he testifies. A good case may be lost by a bad witness. The best definition and demonstration of the reality and power of Christianity is a life. It is not so much what we say as what we are. The sun does not argue with the gas jet and the candle. It sim ply shines. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” No doubt the murderers of Stephen (Acts 7 ) 'thought their action would put fear into the hearts of the other Christians and thus check, in some measure at least, the spread of the gospel. They were greatly mistaken, how ever, for instead of being an extin- DEVOTIONAL guisher, “it acted as a fan to scatter COMMENT the gospel flame.” John A. Hubbard The “great persecution against the church” resulted in believers being “scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.” Thus God overruled the evil designs of wicked men, using them for the carrying out of His own purpose, as revealed in Acts 1:8,— “Witnesses in all Judea and Samaria.” Many years later Paul, the prime mover in this first great persecution (Acts 8 :3 ), gave expression, while in prison at Rome, to this same great, blessed, comforting, encouraging truth of the overruling power of our Lord. “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which have happened unto me” (his arrest and imprisonment) “have fallen out rather unto the further ance of the gospel” (Phil. 1 :12 ). Do you, dear reader, find yourself just now in very untoward circumstances? Are things happening unto you which seemingly are a great hindrance in your life and service? Are you crying out with Jacob: “All these things are against me” (Gen. 42 :36 )? Look up. Trust Him. He can and He will over rule. i It is very significant that the beginning of “the out reach of the early church” was accomplished through “lay workers”— “they were all scattered abroad, except the apostles” (Acts 8 :1 ). It is a wonderful privilege to en gage in “full time service”— as minister, missionary, etc. — and very necessary for many to thus work. But it is just as necessary that laymen find and faithfully perform their work for Him. God accomplishes things through laymen which cannot be done through ministers. Note well the message which these people bore in this outreach.” “They that were scattered abroad, went every where preaching the word. “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ” (Acts 8:4, 5 ), In deal ing with the Ethiopian, “Philip opened his mouth, and be gan at the same Scripture, and preached unto him JESUS” (Acts 8:35). Began at what Scripture? Isaiah 53. And he preached, not Jesus the marvelous teacher, not Jesus the social reformer, but Jesus who “was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities,” Jesus upon whom was laid “the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:5, 6).
DECEMBER 9, 1923 THE OUTREACH OF THE EARLY CHURCH Golden Text: “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. Lesson Text: Acts 8:4-8; 14-17, 25. (Devotional Read ing: Psa. 96:1-8). Prior to this time the Gospel seems only to have been preached by the twelve Apostles. . Now, under the blast of persecution, the scattered church goes everywhere preach ing the Word. Laborers are multiplied as the field is en larged. Luke tells us how a city of LESSON Samaria was evangelized by deacon EXPOSITION Philip. Stephen had started the work Dr. F. W. Farr by going to the synagogues of the Hell enists. Acts 6:9. Philip now carries it for tRe first time beyond the city walls. This was a new departure. While the Apostles remained in Jerusalem, the Gospel was preached by others. The Samaritans were the half-way house between the Jews and the heathen world. Jesus had ministered to the Samaritans, (John 4 ), although his distinctive mission was to Israel. (Matt. 15:24). The gulf between Jew and Gentile was too great to be taken at a single leap. God permitted it to be bridged by easy stages. As the Samaritan revival is a new work, the mirac ulous features of Pentecost are repeated. As the work ad vanced, Divine power intensified. Opposition was swept away and the whole city was moved. Considerable space is given to Simon, the sorcerer, to show what the Gospel had to meet and overcome at the beginning of a new work. He who had deluded the people with his incantations became a suppliant at the feet of the Apostles, beseeching that the penalty which he deserves might not fall upon him. Another peculiar feature about the Samaritan work of grace is seen in the gift of the Holy Spirit. Philip could convert and baptize the people, but he could not confer the Spirit of God. Apostles must come down from Jerusalem to do that. Does this carry the suggestion that the ex traordinary gifts conferred at this time were only temporary, given at a time when signs were needed? (1 Gor. 14:22). The>twelve Apostles could not travel the world over and lay hands on everybody and they would not live forever. The time would come when the Church would have to get along without them, but the time would never come when the church could get along with the Holy Spirit. He would abide forever. (John 14:16 ). A miracle does not prove that a man comes from God or that a work is Divine. It is to be classed among the evidences of Christianity. The best way of dealing with error is to proclaim the truth and leave the results with God. The expansion of the church depends upon the witness-bearing of its membership. The best preaching is testimony. The eunuch to whom Philip preached Jesus was a representative of a far-off land. The obvious lesson which Philip could hardly fail to grasp was that the Gospel was intended for the whole world. To be a competent and successful witness, one must experience
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