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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Christ. He was the most dangerous enemy the church ever had, but further on we shall see him transformed into the might iest servant that’ Christ or the church ever had.
Thursday, November 23. Acts 8:9-11.
This lesson brings before us a notable character, Simon, the magician. He was one o f a class that abounded in that day and are multiplying in our own day, men who by the exercise o f occult powers or trickery or demoniacal influence bring to pass results that the ordinary run o f men can not explain. By the performance o f these inexplicable tricks they win the confidence o f the wondering people and cajole'them out o f their money. The Samaritans as well as the Jews were looking for a Mes siah (cf. John 4:25) and Simon took advan tage o f this expectation and encouraged the people to say “this man is that power o f God which is called great.” He was the idol o f the hour, all gave heed to him “ from the least to the greatest.” . One o f the most, discouraging things about human nature is its eagerness to worship some man and its readiness to go crazy over any man who for the hour displays powers in any direc tion superior to those o f the mass o f men,' even though these powers be in the low realm o f the hypnotic and demoniacal. The man who can do something amazing will gather a crowd about him no matter how utterly without character he may be seen to be. Even persons o f apparently real piety will run after a blatant, abusive, vulgar and blasphemous false prophet if he makes sufficiently pretentious claims and if he seems to back them with stories o f won derful healings and other strange things accomplished. Every new Simon Magus who arises will find a. fertile and lucrative field to cultivate in the gross credulity o f the human race. Amazed with his sorcer ies they, will give heed to -his false doc- trine^. Friday, November 24. . Acts .8:12, 13. The way to meet the false is n ot by denunciation, but by the bringing o f some thing better. Philip brought the people o f Samaria something better than the magic o f Simon: he brought them the Gospel which is the power o f God (Rom. 1:16),-
Wednesday, November 22. Acts 8 : 4 - 8 .
W e pass here from the story, o f the events qf one deacon, Stephen, to that, of another deacon, Philip. These men had chosen and were ordained o f the church “to serve tables” but God had chosen them and ordained them to preach the gospel. There was a general scattering o f the Christians. All o f the prominent Christians, except the Apostles, thought it prudent to Teave the city for the time being. Those “that were scattered abroad went everywhere preach ing the Word,” and the Gospel was no longer confined to Jerusalem. Every mem ber o f the church became a preacher. They took the commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel as applying not only to the apostles, but also to them selves. The fourth verse sets forth the only way in which the world can ever be evangelized, that is, by every one that is saved becoming a preacher o f the Word. They did not proclaim their own notions and fancies, but the revealed truth o f God. “ The Wbrd.” Philip arose at once t o .a place o f prominence by his remarkable suc cess. He threw his prejudices to the winds, and,' recalling the words o f Jesus that they were to witness not only in Jeru salem^ and “all Judea” but also “in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth;” he'went down to the City of Samaria and heralded the Christ unto them. God set His seal upon his ministry by work ing miracles o f healing by his hands and giving him power over unclean spirits. His preaching, and the divine power that worked through him brought great joy to that city. Nothing else brings such joy to any city or to any individual or to any heart as the preaching o f the Gospel and manifestation o f God’s power.
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