The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1916-05-18
LESSON FOR MAY Fl
THE CRIPPLE OF LYSTRA.
TENT Acts "a.

NIAlsl'Ia-N l IN -Iit bANtbAi l''N'' "
the faint; and to them that have ne
might be increaseth strenEth.-ISa 40.@
Make list of the seven cities men
toned in this lesson and locate them
on a map. Let seven pupils attack to
the map a flag. or banner, to locate
each one. The visit to lcouium oc-
Cured probably in the spring of \. ID.
& fRamsey1 Paul and Rafnabas had
n great triumph and a severe testing
at Ieouium, wrought great victory Of
faith and became popular at Lystra,
only TO meet great tribulation On
their homeward journey they con-
frmed saints. set UP rules and gave
account of their labors to the home
church of Antioch
|. In lconium wv. ~. This was
Roman city of great antiquity and
importance. The modern city Konia
Is an important Mohammedan and
trade center. Tradition says Paul was
imprisoned for being a magician and
teaching n woman named Thekla not
to marry. This woman endured great
hardships and trials for the faith. fin
ally becoming nun at Selencia and
dying at the advanced age of ninety.
From this tradition We get most OF our
ideas OF Paurs APPEARANCES small.
bandy-leEEed, large eyed. shaggy eye
hrows. long nose: full Of grace with
sometimes the face of n man and at
others OF an angel. This is tradition
only. but is probably somewhat near
the truth Paul followed his usual
first witnessing in the synagogue, wit
Messing to the entire population, jew
and Gentle. and dividing them efIec-
lively by his words about Jesus.
IT, In Lystra wv. 8-2D. IL Popu-
larity wv S-lNl. Their introduction
here would seem propitious. healing
the cripple and at once gaining the
esteem OF the people. Alteration and
gratitude appeal to the human heart.
Underneath the heather idea that the
gods came down to Us in the likeness
OF men. Is the great and glorious
truth of the incarnation tjohn II;
Phil 90. =. We should hesitate 10
condemn these men OF I.ystra too Sc
verely. for what American community
Is Hot open IL NiAIitlt ilAlsil lR#t III Ni4A'
regard Tee many Christians offer
Ear'ands ~. 13l at the feet of tie men
whom God has used 10 work his
mighty works 1t was common com
plant that in the days of his greatest
victories. men cou,d not find MIR.
Moody when a service was dismissed.
or get into his quarters ut the hotels,
l. G.lf-
glorificatiou Paul and Barnahas had
hard work To restrain these hero wor-
shippers tv ~. and to convince them
who they were and how they had been
enabled to accomplish such wonder
full miracle y. 49,. Paul WAS Of like
stature with them and would not ac-
cept worship as did the Caesars or
Herod G2.22. 22). He exhorted the
Lystrians to turn from these vain
things" T. e. such idol worship. unto
the living Coo" osoe also Cor 5. 4,
| Thess. l.@. Hitherto God had not
miraculously iuterfered TO turn
men from their evil ways ". l6l, but
left them To their own devices To show
their inability to find thor way back
to him tsec Acts l7e20. | Cor I'D. f
Yet God is not without witnesses
". IL. The seasons and the natural
laws point To God. yet men still re-
main blind and uugrateful. Thus by
vehement eNhcrtatioa they prevented
this act Of sacrilege. 90 Persecution
Tvs 10. POI The mob is ever tickle,
" 1S', but II did not turn them unto
the living God " 49,. Conversion
is the simple turning from idols Il f
Thess l-9). rational thing. but one
contrary TO the pride OF men who de-
sire 10 do something whereby they
may merit or can demand their sal
walton Even AS Paul had tiiculty to
turn people aside from idols. so today
II is hard TO keep men ard women
from idclatry. not the gross or vulgar
idolatry OF heathenism. but the re-
fined idols OF culture, success. power.
money and pleasure. TO his Difficult
ties Paul had the added persecution OF
the vindictiye lconians and these from
Antioch ". 1917. God delivered him
from this trial Il Cor. 1l:25. ~. All
loyal witnesses must expect pcrsecu-
ton from the God hating world uI
Tim. 3;l2; John l5:lS-20).
III. The Return wv. 22.2Sl. When
they had preached the gospel to the
city" ". 2D literally having evan
gelized the city" they started home
confirming believers and appointing
leaders in each center visited They
did not take the short cut of 100 miles
to Pauls homo in Tarsus, but they
visited their new converts