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The Sunday School

The Sunday School image
Parent Issue
Day
2
Month
April
Year
1897
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

32. " A nd i t aune to pass as Peter passed througbout all quarters, he carne down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. " The last we heard of Peter he was with John preaching the word of the Lord as they returned from Samaría to Jerusalem, having witnessed the great work of the Lord i through Philip in Samaría (chapter viii, 25). In Jerusalem the number of disciples multiplica greatly, and a great company of the priests believed (chapter vi, 7). In all the land the churches had rest, and were baing built up, and were multiplying, walking in the fear of the Lord and 'in the comfort of the Holy Ghost (chapter ix, 31). Peter seems to be itinerating a littte and helping the saints here and there. Notice this name "saints. " We are not called te be eaints, but we ara called saints (Rom. i, 7, omitting the italics; also I Cor. i, 2) by virtue of our oneness with Christ Every believer is a saint. 83. "And there he found a certain man named nas, which had kept his bed eight years and was sick of the palsy." Wo would infer that Enas was one of th saints to whom Peter came, and finding him in this helpless condition he hadcompassion upon him. Possibly Enas an others had been praying that the Lorfi would send some one that way through whom health might come, remembering Math. xviii, 19. How very suggestive oT the utter helplessness of the sinner is the condition of this paralytic who had been eight years in bed. 34. "And Peter sa id unto him, JEoas, Jesús Christ mnketh thee whole. Arise and raake thy bed. And he aróse immediately. " Peter was greatly used of tbs Lord in the henling of the body as well a of the soul. Seechapteraiii, 6, 7; v, 15, 18. It woulrl seem that some were healed even by the shadow of Peter falling upon them. 85. "And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw Hirn, and turned to the Lord." God saw that this showing forth of HU power through Peter would be the meang of many turning to Him. He does not heal all who are sick, but to this day He does, bothwith and without medicine, heal many who are sick. Ho knows whether il is best for us to abide here or be with Him at homo, and whethor, abiding here, it is best for us to he sick or well. The great thing is to glorify God that people may turn to Him (Phil. i, 20; John xvii, 4). 86. "Now, there was at Joppa a certain disciple namecl Tabithu, which by interpretution is called Dorcas. This woinaa was f uil of good works and alms deeda which ehe did." She was a Christian iadeed, ono of the kind that is missed when she goes away. All who truly receive Ciirist ara saved (John i, 12). Disciplej are those who live upon His word and follow Him inlly at any cost (Luke xir, 36, 27). Those who are both of these and also full of good works and kindness to the poor must come specially near to the heari of Christ, for He, being full of the Spirit, went about doing good and healing the qppressed. oí. aoh ic carne to pass minóse days that she was siclc and died, whom, when they had washed, they laid her In au npper chamber. " Her workdays over, he ís absent from the body and present wiih tho Lord; she has departed to be with Christ, whloh is far botter (Phil. i, 21, 23; II Cor. v, S,); she has truly experienced a great guin. We are not told if lier sickness was long nor if sho suffered much, but she haa gone from them, and all they have of her is the body in which she lived and wroughi among them. Xo, they have also her gooi works and blessed memories of her. as. " They sent urvto him two men, desiring him that he wonld not delay t come to them. " Lydda was not far froin Joppa, and thedisciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent thus urgen tly for him, for they longed to have Dorcas with them once more. This is the natural longing of the heart to keep our loved ones with us even though we know that their dcparture is thoir gain. 39. "AU thowidows stood by him weeping and shewing tho coata and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. " i'ondly renicmbered by what sha had done, they mako ns tliink of tho wordt Blessed are the tiend which dio iu th Lord from heuceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them" Rev. xiv, 13). 40. ' She opened her eyes, and when she Faw Peter she Bat up. " Many miracles of healing bad been wrought through Peter, but this is his flrst case of resurrection from tho dead. Alono witli tiie dead body, hc poured out his soul to God, doubtless pleading the promlses of God, the commission in Math. x, 8, the assurance of Joha :iv. 18, andwithal iisking in complete submission to the 111 of God (John xiv, 13, 11; I Jolin v, 14, 15). Ho must have rei-eiveil soine assurance that hisrequestwaa granted, forheturnedto the body and said, '■Tubitha, arise. " And she sat lip, lookiug opon hira. il. ''And lio pavo her his hand and lifted lier up, and wlicii he had ealled tho saints and wldows presentad hér alive." are tliree resursectlons of the dead in the üld li-staincnt, three in the lifoof Chrlat, and this ia the flrst of threo after His ascensión (Acts xiv, 19, 20; iï, 12). We have no record of any utterances of thosc who had been dead and l;ad been brouglit hack to this world. Paul says ie was not possible lor him to utter what ha heard In paradiso (II Cor. xii, 4), doubtlesswlien bewas stoned to death at Lystra. 42. "And it was known throughout ali Joppa, and many beliaved in the Lord. " ïhe resurrection of Lazarus led to many believlng on Jcstts (John xii, 11), and hens is anothcr case in which the Lord saw that a resurrection would be the means of leading mauy to Him. It does not seem as i f Dorcas would have been sent froi paradise back to eartii without her consent. She inay liavo been informed of tho i-esults that would follow, and for tho saki) of winjQlng tliese souls to Christ and forChrist's sake she doubtless came back cheerfully for His pleasuio. We do noe know of any resulta from tlie resurrection of the many who rose when Christ did (Math. xxvii, 52, 53), but there was a reason for their resurroctiori, and do doubi the result whioh God intended. I think tliey went witli Christ to glory, while the nine previously referred to probably died again. 43. " And it carae to pass that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simón, a tanner. " And horo wo will flnd him in our next lesson. Preaching the gospel, healiug the sick, raising the dead or just terrylng with Simon, he is about his Master's business and doiiig as occasion serves him, knowing that God is with hiia (I Sam. x, 7).

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat