THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
818 To believe th is is to believe on th e I.ord Jesus Christ (Rom. 4 :5 ). “This is the work of God th a t ye believe” (John 6 :2 9 ). “Jesu s” is His human name, th e Babe of Bethlehem , th e name of th e ' One who died on th e cross of Calvary. “Christ” is His title in resu r rection glory. “Lord” is His Sovereign name ( Acts 2:36 ) A cold-blooded, b ru tal, igno ran t sin n er in an hou r’s tim e becomes a baptiz ed believer. The Gospel is simple, bu t it is th e power of God. W hat would philosophy, Theosophy, Eddyism or Spir itism , have done for th is sinner in an hou r’s tim e? It would have plunged him into a suicide’s grave. The certain ty of th e new b irth in th is man was manifested by his works. His whole being was transform ed. He was a new creation. He confesses Christ by baptism . He tenderly cares for the prisoners. He opens his home to them . He leads his household to the Lord. (4) The Mandate of th e M agistrates, “Let those men go.” * The m agistrates had a change of h ea rt by morning and ordered the pris oners released, b u t P aul demanded his rig h ts as a Roman. “They m ust come themselves and tak e them ou t.” So th e prisoners are escorted by th e offi cers, and now th e officers become beg gars-—they besought them to dep art out of th e city. Mark the trip le victory in th is lesson. Over th e devil in th e curing of the slave g irl; over the jailer, oppressed by sin; over th e m agistrates. The girl w as delivered from S atan; th e jailer from his bondage, and th e Apostles from prison. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The voice of th e people is not the voice of God. (2) A bleeding back may be a badge of honor.
(3 ) The paeans of praise are a power even in a prison. P raise th e Lord! (4 ) An old-fashioned revival would shake the shackles from many a sinner. (5) Do w hat God commands. Believe on th e Lord Jesus Christ and do it now. (6 ) F aith is believing in th e Finished Work which God h ath w rought through Jesus Christ our Lord. (7) F a ith is manifested in works; the saved sinner becomes a serving saint. (8 ) God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform . The root of th e first antagonism to the Gos pel in Europe was mercenary.—Ma- claren. v. 20. Trouble COMMENTS PROM b u r city. , Noth- MANY SOURCES ing troubles th e K eith h . Brooks city in th e eyes of some people like the revival th a t upsets th eir illicit gain and brings in righteousness.—Tor- rey. v. 25. A t m idnight P au l and Silas prayed. This is'one of th e most inspiring and instructive prayer an d praise ser vices on record. (1) The circum stan ces— in a dark hole, w ith to rn and bleeding backs and a very d ark out look for th e morrow. (2 ) The tim e B -m idn igh t. It m ight seem as if Paul and Silas would have been b etter em ployed sleeping and getting streng th for the next day’s trials, b u t streng th can often b etter be gained by prayer th an by sleep. (3) The resu lt— th e g reat earthquake, the foundations shaken, bands loosed, conversions and rejoicing. -—Torrey. The m erriest bird whose tiny b reast God has filled w ith treasu res of cheerful melody would become silent in a cage so dreary and dark. Like larks, they soar up and bathe in th e sunshine of God’s favor.— Saphir. Perplexity drives us to prayer and prayer drives away perplexity.—Melancthon. Sang praises. The sorrow of many Chris tians to-day is due to the fact th a t they are resting th eir faith in circumstances instead of th e God of circumstances. The apostles had- fixed th e ir faith on Him who is above all circumstances and above every change of condition— on a v. 19. Hope of th e ir gains.
“ The refore le t all th e h o u s e o f Is ra e l k n ow ass ure dly , t h a t G o d h a th m a d e t h a t s a m e Jesus, w h o m y e h a ve c r u c i f i e d , b o t h L o r d an d C hr is t.”
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