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INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON By KEITH L. BROOKS (Managing Editor “The King’s Business,” Secretary Correspondence Courses of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles) June 12, 1927. Peter Delivered from Prison. Lesson Text —Acts 12:1-17. The touching story of this chapter brings out three features of the ex perience of every Christian who is loyal to Christ—persecution, prayer, protection. The three men promi nent in the narrative are Peter, James and John, the close compan ions of our Lord. Herod was vexing the Church. To confess Christ was to hazard the life. For three hundred years Christianity was a persecuted religion in the Ro man Empire. No wonder Paul wrote “All godly shall suffer persecutior\.” At the King’s command James h^ been slain with a sword (v 2). This was in line with our Lord’s own words to His disciples: 1“ came not to send peace, but a sword (Matt. 10:34). He was the first martyr among the apostles, and as his Mas ter had foretold, he drank the mar tyr’s cup (Matt. 20:23). James was the first of the apostles to be restored to the actual presence of his Lord. He is the only apostle whose death is recorded in the Scrip ture, and only ten words are used to tell the whole story (v 2). One may get a scanty obituary on earth, yet have an abundant entrance to heav en. Herod persecuted Christians be cause he saw that it pleased the Je sus (v 3). There are plenty of peo ple who will throw up their hats and cheer the man who is in some devil ish business. Great applause usual ly means nothing. The man who gets the most of it is usually on the wrong tcrack. The offficers were widely congratu lated when they finally landed Pet er—that persistent preacher—behind the bars. They took no chances on his escape, for they placed sixteen soldiers to guard him (v 4). Peter was “kept in prison (v 5), but as he afterward wrote, he was “kept by the power of God” (1 Pet. 1:5). Again we meet that litlte word BUT. “But prayer was made with out ceasing of the church (v 5). The saints petitioned heaven, not Herod. They had the key to the prison and knew it not. Prayer changes things. If one is on God’s side, he is safe in appealing his case to the King of kings. There is much difference between trying to get God on your side and praying on God’s side. A Southern plantation owner had great confi dence in the prayer life of one of his sJaves. Being greatly concerned about his interests during the Civil War, he asked the negro to pray for the success of the Confederate Army. The darky began to pray, “Strength en de legs of dem soldiers so dey can run” His master stopped him. Did you ever ask God to keep us niggers in slavery?” asked the negro. The master hesitatingly replied, “No.” “Den, Massa, all de prayer is on de odder side. When ah prays, ah prays on God’s side.” Get the picture of Peter’s predica ment. There were Herod’s soldiers watching under arms. Lined up on the other side was a little company of Christians “watching unto pray er.” They prayed “without ceasing.” The original word means “stretch- out-ly,” signifying great intensity. To present a petition is one thnig— to press suit is another. Some people lodge a petition in heaven’s court and let it lie. They are evidently not ex pecting much of an answer, or they would stand by to receive it. Prayer is not only taking hold of God but it is tenaciously holding on. The night before his proposed mur der, “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and keepers before the door” (v 6). Prob ably he was the only Christian in the city who slept. Herod himself did not rest as well. Perhaps Peter had taken for his pillow the words of the Psalmist (Psa 4:8): “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Herod paid Peter no small compli ment by placing him under such heavy guard. The devil is always paying Christians compliments of that kind. Why so many arrange ments and so much effort against Christianity if it is only a powerless Pith and Point. Count it a blessing when (Jod de lays an answer to your prayers to enlarge your capacity to receive (v 6). Make it your business to please men and you will be easy prey to the devil (v 3). Times of public distress should be praying times (v 5). The devil may surround a praying man with stone walls and iron bars, but he has no way to roof him in. The promise of God is not simply to the act of prayer but to the habit of prayer (v 5). fake, as the skeptics would have it? One of the best arguments for the ! Bible is the number of volumes print ed yearly in the effort to destroy it. The striking feature of the account is that God did not seem to heed the Christian’s prayers until Peter’s hour was close at hand. Three hours more, and off would have gone his head. God often delays His answer until the very eve of our extremity. W^hat man has not been made a better man for having been brought very close to the fatal hour and then delivered by the mighty hand of God? For seven days and nights those Christians had prayed, and then a light shined in Peter’s prison and an angel brought a legal discharge from i heaven (v 7). What a great conso- I lation such an answer must have 'been to these believers! What con- i fusion it brought to their enemies! ' The morrow’s sport had been spoiled. I If God delays, we may usually figure j that He is working out some greater I blessing. Did you ever notice that God is never in a hurry ? Peter was not told to grab his clothes and run, but to “gird himself,” and even to take time to “bind on his sandals.” “Cast thy garment about thee,” said the angel, “and follow me.” Slowly he was to be led past all obstacles. Would not any prisoner with such a chance to escape have bolted for the door, dressed or not? We are impa tient and run ahead. If we regulate our pace to fall in with God’s will, | we will make better progi*ess. Peter thought he was walking in his sleep (v 9). Nevertheless, he obeyed orders and marched right up to the iron gate. If God is with us, no obstacle can stand when wet get to it. The door opened. Peter found himself in the street and the angel I left him standing there (v 10). God • is economical of His miraculous pow- 1 er He does not reveal Himself in I I continuous miracles. He does not do ; for us what we can do for ourselves. I “Where do I go from here?” thought i Peter (v 12). He might have taken to the open country, but something : drew him straight to the house where I the prayer meeting was going on. I In the time of stress, there is noth ing like the fellowship of God’s peo ple. We would enjoy the church more if Herod got after us oftener— and he would if we stood as we ought for the Gospel. Peter’s knuckles thumped impetu ously on the door. Rhoda recognized his voice without, but in her joyous emotions opened not the door, but ran back to tell those present that Peter was without. It was harder for Pet er to get into the prayer meeting than to get out of jail. In the meantime the believers whose prayer had been interrupted were trying to convince the girl that she was crazy (v 15). She insisted it was Peter. “No,” they said, “it’s an angel.” Bang, bang! went Pet er’s knuckles on the door till some one ventured to open it, and there was the answer to their prayer. Perhaps we had best not cast any stones at these Christians. It is easy to pass judgment on the faith of oth ers, and say they did not believe the answer to their own prayers. “They were astonished” (v 16). The word “astonished” contains no thought of unbelief. It describes the joy of faith. They certainly looked for Pet er’s deliverance, but who would have expected him to show up at the pray er meeting? Have we not often found when the answer came that it seemed too good to be true? iflE PILOT Prayer has put light into many a dark prison place (v 7). We never know how precious the Church is until we’ve been among its enemies for a spell (v 12). The prayer closets of Grod’s people are where the roots of the Church grow. Suggestive Questions. What other sleeps of Peter are re corded? (v 4; cp. Lk. 9:32; 22:46). What may Peter have recalled when he was taken prisoner just fol lowing James” n^artyrdom? (Mk. 14:31). Was this the first time Peter had been helped out of jail? (Acts 5:19). Of what do the unusual precautions of the authorities remind us? (v 6; cp. Mt. 27:65). What may be the believer’s assur ance, even though surrounded on all sides? (Psa. 34:7; 27:3). If we desire guardian angels to di rect us, what must we do on our part? (Prov, 3:6). Who can break our chains (Isa. 61: 1) and make us free indeed? )Jn. 8: 36). Was Rhoda the only damsel who recognized Peter’s speech? (v 14; cp. Mt. 26:69-73). Golden Text Illustration. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all—(Psa. 34:19). A blacksmith who had been con verted, and who had been a faithful witness for Christ, was subject to much persecution from his rough companions. One day one of these unbelievers asked him how he stood so much persecution. “You have had a constai t string of trouble,” said he, “ever since you became a Chris tian.” The blacksmith was temper ing a piece of iron for a carriage spring. After heating it, dipping it in water, and pounding it, he finally cast it aside to the scrap heap. “Too brittle,” he remarked, as the unbe liever waited for his answer. He found a good piece and hammered it unmercifully, finding it satisfactory. “Well, I’ll tell you,” he remarked, “when God wants a man for His serv ice, He has to temper him with per secution. I am in His hands. I am kept by His power, and His word says that ‘when He has tried me I shall come forth as gold.’ That’s how it is.” Far- Reaching Expansion of The Chevrolet Sales Organization. In order to adequately meet the requirements of the record business now being done by the Chevrolet sales and service organization, R. H. Grant, vice president of the Chevro let Motor Company in charge of sales, today announces a far-reaching expansion of the Chevrolet sales or ganization. This includes the appointment of two assistant general sales managers, the promotion of several sales execu tives and the opening of three new zone offices at El Paso, Texas, Wich ita, Kansas, and Ch^rlteston, West Virginia. Following closely the appointment of H. J. Klingler as general sales manager, today’s announcement promises a further development of the Chevrolet sales organization through which improved sales and service facilities will be extended to Chevrolet owners and the million who will join the ranks this year. Addition of the three new zones provides the Chevrolet organization with 41 sales headquarters in the field, giving the company the most comprehensive sales representation in its history. Leghorn hens will eat about 70 pounds of grain a year. Larger breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks, will eat about 85 pounds. Friday, June 10, 1927. tention of being a mighty helpful citizen. Follow the small grain with a planting of soy beans or cow peas for hay and seed. M. L. 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As y( interest* agricultj for ovei 1 have signifies and ui source McBee. questioi ties of table gj ity can hill ]an( many o] further son of from Ji cate th< on the a large] ities of On tl velopmi few wo] promisii have fal reachini ure to effect a! No quel ( The grown
The Pilot (Southern Pines, N.C.)
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June 10, 1927, edition 1
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