Arizona republican., 1907-12-30
THE CHURCHES
'iiIIIImHIIIIIIlIIIlliIiIIlIIIIIIIuIlIIIHiII
THE HEAVENLY VISION.

from Acts 26:l9. Where upon. q King
Agrippa, / was not disobedient unto
the heavenly vision"
The text this morning suggests 4
scene of beauty OF a high color-gor-
geous Caesares. built by Herod The
Great. II was beautifully situsted up
on the seashore. All the coast line in
Palestine is subject TO the widest
storms. and Herod built a great break
water. like that which our government
is building at San Pedro. The ancient
port was so large that a great fleet OF
warships could find shelter there in
stormy weather The city was the mill
itary capital of Palestine.
On this particular occasion the king.
Agrippa and his queen. Bernice. and
many OF the. great men OF his court,
were being entertained bv Festus. the
governor Bands were playing. flags
flying and soldiers marching and
COMMUNICATING in the streets. One
particular thing at this time over
Swallowed everything else in interest
\ notable man was in prison there.
and he had inspired the interest OF thf
governor. Some Of the civil officers
Hdu DtllAlpiitu ltiF 6ONfibpi w PAN
Paul into everlasting sleep: but Fes-
tus would not do 50. saying that he
had no right 10 put the prisoner TO
death. or e:en TO imprison him without
fair trial under the laws. So. when
the trial was over. the governor told
these men that Paul had done nothing
worthy OF death or Imprisonment.
The governors guest. King Agrippa.
was anxious TO hear Paul in his own
defense. having learned somewhat OF
the wonderful ability of the young
Pharisee So the king and his queen.
and many of the chief citizens OF Cae-
sarea. were invited TO be present. and
Paul had the privilege of making his
defense before an august assembly.
God never fails TO put a big man.
and the right man. into every great
crisis Of life. So Abraham became the
father OF the faithful. and when God
wanted "A grand deliverer. He saw in
Moses the sort OF man He could use.
Moses was a man familiar with all the
lore of his time-a laweiver. a master,
military leader So Daniel-who
could not be seduced by all the bland
ishment OF courts. and John the Rap
fist. who would rather lose his head
than prove recreant TO the cause or
his beloved Master And John Knox
adm Martin Luther. and many others
since thev passed away.
So we find Paul prominently man
whom God could use: man who
would rather die than desert his prin-
cipIes. And this maps defense was
a most adroit. able and convincing eff
fort II is one OF the classics Of liter
allure. Orators. legislators. preachers
and lawyers turn to it as a model of
eloquence and forensic skill. II de-
tends the authenticity of the scrio-
lures. affirms the supreme Lordshiu
OF Jesus Christ. and the reality OF His
miracles.
King Agrippa. when he heard this
remarkable deliverance said: Paul
almost thou uersuadest me 10 be a
Christian" And YOU remember Paufs
response: 81 would To God that not
only thou. but also all that hear me
this dav were both almost, and alto
ge;her such as am. except these
bonds
But this morning ! want to make
particular use OF this text. You re-
member when Paul was on his way
to Damascus. the city of irrigation. At
noontime a light appeared TO him
brighter than the light Of the sun. and
he heard a voice saying: Paul. Paul,
why persecutest thou me-
II was heavenly vision which Paul
had. That Is the kind OF vision We
need We are satisfied with earthly
visions-the kind that never reveals
objects to us in exactly the true per
spective. and compared TO which Paul's
was a marvellous revelation. He. HIM
self. had been guilty Of aiding in the
death Of the first Christian martyr and
others. He realized in that moment
that all his philosophy was at fault
that he was going counter TO God. This
knowledge. so suddenly thrust upon his
consciousness. changed his purpose
and all his plans-and he changed his
allegiance He was like Julian. this
! Apostate. who had tried TO establish
paganism throughout his empire. anC
who. when dying. exclaimed, "Thol
/ hast conquered. - Nazerene,"
At the time of Paurs conversion. thu
young Pharisee was one of the mos
/ remarkable men in the world. II
/ asked. who art thou. Lord?" and
voice answered. II am Jesus whom
/ thou persecutest,"
I so Saul of Tarsus Immediately sur
rendered to Jesus Christ that morning
I and the wonderful life and ministr,
I of the great apostle Of the Gentle
we're due to that vision. and TO his in
/ cisive insight and Interpretation Of IT.
II we were 20 have. this morning
/ such a vision as came 10 Paul. w
: should have a new idea OF sin, a new
idea of its enormity and OF its loath
/ somenesS. 4 vision of Jesus Chris
: will make us distrustful of ourselves
! il will give us a loyalty TO the Kin
| OF earth and heaven. We will realiz
/ what God is able TO do. And as Pau
] cried out. 20 King Agrippa, | wa
I not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
so may we. this morning. obey tn
| heavenly vision. and follow. as he die
the footsteps of the Divine Master.
THE SHEPHERDS WERE WATCH
II ING.
a. - -