Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-05-12
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INTERNATIONAL LEssoN COIL.
.aIENTs FOR MAY 10.
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a .r. f. sa g
Subject: Paul's First Missionary
Journey Iconium and Lystra.
Acts 14:1-2s-Golden Text:
:, Psalm 98:5-Commentary.
TDiE.-46 A. D. PLACE.-Lys-
ira. ,tl
ExposrTIoN.-I. A Cripple from
His Birth Made Whole, $40. 1t was
a case of real lameness. The man had
never walked. The case was beyond
mans skill, hopeless. But there are
no hopeless cases with Christ. There
was no magnetic touch, no treatment,
just a look, word, and then a per.
feet and not an imaginary cure. Paul
did not attempt to heal every lame
man he met. God directed his atten-
tion to this man, and gave him to see
that he had faith to be healed. How !
did he get It? BY hearing Paul speak
Gro. 10:17). Something of this kind
was needed to gain Paul hearing In
Antioch. Paul thoroughly studied
and understood the case before he
spoke the word, He commanded the
man to do the naturally impossible.
but "all things are possible to HIM
that believeth" (Mk. 9:23). The
man proved his faith by obedience.
II. Paul and Barnabas Worshiped
as Gods, Ills. The people were now
ready not only to listen to Paul, but
to worship him. The human neart
always wants man to worship. Men
are always ready to render unto the
instruments God uses the adorat1onN
and gratitude that belong only to God
Himself. Underneath the heathen
idea that the gods visited the earth
'.in the likeness of men" there was
great and glorious truth (Jno. l:l4;
Phil. 2:6, ~. The actions Of these
Lystrans seem very ignorant and
foolish to us, but do not many Chris
tians bow down and lay their OFFER
ings and garlands at the feet OF men
God greatly uses, as II the man was
himself something? Paul and Bar
nabas quickly showed the stuff they
were made Of. AS soon as they saw
what the people were up to, they re-
fused their proffered homage with
mingled horror and sorrow. Paul
and Barnabas would permit no mis-
taken notions about themselves. They
would have it clearly understood that
they were of the same stun as otheI
men. 'fWhy do ye these things
These Lycaonians had probably never
stopped to ask that question. They
fust did them without asking. 1t is
great thing to get people to asking
themselves why they do the things
they do. It is a great thing to get
neopIe to thinking; It leads to re-
pentance FPS. 1859; Luke 1877,
1Sf. It is,. indeed, good tfdings" ".
15, r. w to proclaim unto q man
that he can turn from idols unto
God who lives, who has mighty
power, and who fs2ready to hear. and
help those who trust and serve Him.
The idols OF the Lycaonfans were
vain things" because they could not
hear. nor act, nor answer NOT help,
nor save els. s.545:20;a 4647.: Jers 10::o,
"a. f4s7z) The idols of the world
to-day are different in form but eg-
sentfaIIy the same IN character: But
tire God of the Bible is the living
God. Not the god OF the tionalist
and deist, q god who once lfved and
worked. but the God who lives and
works to-day; the God who hears and
answers prayer and .sa res. ne
.nade the heaven and the earth and
the sea. and All that in them Is, and
therefore, there is nothing TOO hard
for,r Him (Jer. 32:17). Conversion
Is simply turning ito God from idoia.
to serve the living and true God. IL
,Thess. 1:s). Conversion, therefore,
is a very rational thing. God has
never in the darkest heathenism left
himself without witness" Cps. Is:
1-6: Rom. 1:a0). His care for men
in doing them good, and giving rain
from heaven, fruitful seasons. filling
tf1eir hearts with food and glad
ness" has borne witness to His faith
erly love and forgiveness Comp.
Matt. 5j:44, 45; Luke 6:S5.s36l. Even
with these wonderful words Paul
found it very difficult to keep them
back from their purposed idolatry,
and it is hard to keep men ana Wom-
en- from idofatry to-day.
III. Paul Stoned by Man, RAISED
by the Lord, 1922. How little De.
pendence is to be placed upon popu'
lar favor. 1t worshiped to-day,
stoned tomorrow. 1t was fortunate
for Paul that he was not depending
upon mans favor, but Gods Il Cor.
as. ~. This was not the only eS.
nerience of this kind that Paul had
I2, Cor. 1925, I'D. This is the sort
of treatment all who are loyal TO
Christ and His truth may expect IN
this God-hating world (2 Tim. 3:l2'
.Jno. 15:lS-20). But there are abun.
dant compensations e Tim. 2:12;
Rom. S:1S; Matt. 5:10-12). There
are some who think that it was while
In this condition Of apparent death al
I,ystra that Paul was caught up to
the third heaven and heard unspeak.
able words" e Cor. 12:2-4). This
treatment did not stop Paul from
preaching. He got up and went bacK
into the city, and then on to DerDe.
where he preached the gospel, and
then back again to Lystra. Oh, foi
men of such courage, persistence and
pnouenchable yilove for Christ and
mani Abundant success attended his
preaching in Derbe. 1t Is not enough
fo bring men to Christ; we must
strengthen and build up the young
converts ". 22).. This is the point
of failure in much modern evan.
gelistic work. 1t IS not enough that
men start in the taith; they must
continue in the faith" GJno. S:3l,
80; 15:4-6. 9, 10; Col. 1:4z. rs;
Rev. 2:10).
POTATO scAB.