Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-05-13
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR MAY 1G. !.

Subject: Paul's First Missionary
Journey : Iconium and Lystra'
Acts 1A:1-2S-Golden Text:
Psalm 96:5-Commentary.
rTME.-46 A. D. PLACE.-Lys-
ira.
EXPOSITION.--I. A Cripple from
His Birth Made Whole, $40. tt was
a case of real lameness. The man mao
v walked. The case was beyond
mans skill, hopeless. But there are
no hopeless cases with Christ. There
no magnetic touch, no treatment,
lust a look, a word, and then a per-
feet and not an imaginary cure. Fanl
did not attempt to heal every lame
man he met. God directed his atten-
ton to this man, and gave him to e
that he had faith to be healed. How
did he get it? BY hearing Paul speak
(Ro. 1O:17). Something of this kind
was needed to gain Paul a 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 call things are possible to him
that %believeth" INK. 9:23). The
man proved his faith by obedience.
III. Paul and Barnabas Worshiped
as Gods, Ills. The people were now
ready not only to listen to Paul, but
to worship him. The human heart
always wants a man to worship. Men
are always ready to render unto the
instruments God uses the alteration
and gratitude that belong only to God
Himself. Underneath the heather
idea that the gods visited the earth
''in the likeness of men" there was a
great and glorious truth (Jno. ia:
Phil. 2:6, y. 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 If 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 stuff as other
men. 'Why do We these thingso"
These Lycaonians had probably v
stopped to ask that question. They
just did them without asking. 1t is a
great thing to get people to asking
themselves why they do the things
they do. 1t is a great thing to get
people to thinking; it leads to re-
pentance FPS. 1859; Luke 1877,
49,. 1t Is, indeed, good tidfngs" ".
Is, r. W to proclaim unto a man
that he can turn from idols unto a
God who lives, who has a mighty
power, and who is ready to hear and
help those who trust and serve Him.
The idols of the Lycaonians were
vain things" because they could not
hear, mol act, nor answer. nor help,
nor save Us. 1920; 46:7: Jer. 10:5,
IA; 14:22). The idols Of the world
to-day are different in form. but es-
sentially the same in character. But
the God of the Bible is "the living
Cod" Not the god of the nationalist
and deist. a god who once lived and
worked, but the God who lives and
works to-day; the God who hears and
answers prayer, and saves. He
made the heaven and the earth and
the sea, and ain that in them is" and
therefore, there is nothing too hard
for Him (Jer. 32:1D. Conversion
is simply turning Ito God from idols
to serve the living and true God" Il
Thess. 1:9). Conversion, therefore.
is a very rational thing. God has
never in the darkest heatbenism left
Himself without witness" Cps. 10:
1-6; Rom. 1:2T(. His are for men
in doing them good, and giving rain
from heaven, fruitful seasons. filling
their hearts with food and glad
ness" has borne witness to His faith.
erly love and forgiveness Comp,
Matt. 5:44, 40; Luke 6:35, 36). Even
with these wonderful words Paul
found it very difficult to keep then,
back from their purposed idolatry
! and it is hard to keep men and worn.
en- from idoIatry to-day.
by the Lord, 1922. How little. de
pendence is to be placed upon pUpu
lar favor. It w%orshiped to-day
stoned tomorrow. 1t was fortunate
for Paul that he was not dependin:
upon mans favor, but Gods & Cor
4:3. ~. This was not the only ex
perience of this kind that Paul hat
e Cor. 11:95, 27). This is the sor
Of treatment all who are loyal tt
Christ and His truth may expect ii
this God-hating world G. Tim. 1912
Jno. 1~5:tS-20). But there are abun
dant compensstions G. Tim. 2:12
Rom. :8:1S: Matt. 5:10-12). Their
are some who think that it was Will
in this condition Of apparent death a
Lystra that Paul was Caught up t
the third heaven and heard unspeak
able words" e Cor. 12:2-4). Thi
treatment did not stop Paul fro1
preaching. He got up and went bac
into the city, and then on to Derbs
where he preached the gospel, an
then back again to Lystra. Oh, fc
men of such courage, persistence an
unquenchable owe for Christ an
man! Abundant success attended b
preaching in Derbe. It is not enoug
to bring men to Christ; we mu;
strengthen and build up the youn
converts ". 22). This is the poll
Of failure in much modern v
gelistic work. It IS not enough til;
men start in the faith; they mu
continue in the faith (Jno. 8:3
50; l5:4-6, 9, 10; Col. 1922, 2:
Rcy. 2:1O).