Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-07-05
IMPROVED GNR0RM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYSQ[lOOL
LESSON
tBy REV. Z. Il. FlTZWATER, D. L..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright 1915 Western Newspaper
Union)
LESSON FOR JULY 7
BEGINNING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE,

ton 22;l7.
DEVOTIONAL READING-John i54-lt
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Fol
TEAcHERs-Acts 2:S7-47; s;26-aOi Roman
till.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Loving and trustin,
Jesus, John 1861.
MEMORY vERSE-We love because HI
first loved us.-I John 4;19
!. How Lydia Began the Christian
LIE wv. 1870.
Lydia was the first convert tC
Christ In Europe. Hers was n typical
conversion. Note the steps therein
/. Attendance at the place of pray
er ". 10.
The accustomed place here was Mt
the river side. The accustomed place
today is In church. God can and does
save men and women without any
seeming connection with places of es-
tablished worship, but ne appears to
most people at such places. The very
fact that he has established and sus-
talns churches here and there Is an
urgent call to all men and women 10
place themselves in the way of saliva
ton. While no one can save himself,
yet all can put themselves In the way
of salvation by attending church, read
lag the Bible, etc. The very fnct that
such opportunities are placed before
men and women Is prcsumptiye call
of God.
.. Listening to the preaching of the
Word of God W.. 10, a.
Paul took advantage of the oppor-
tunity which was given him by the
assemblage of this group Of devoted
women to preach Christ to them. lie
was alert for and priced highly the OPP
portunity to tell the people about
Christ. He knew also how perilous
II was 10 neglect TO witness for Christ
at time when unsaved people are
together. The opportunity is Gods
call to preach Christ. 1t is Il great
thing 10 have faithful men and wom
en- who can intelligently minister at
such times.
3. Her heart was opened by the
Lord ". ri).
The individual may place himself
in the way Of salvation by coming
near TO the means of grace, and the
preacher may preach the Word of God,
but there is no hope of salvation until
the heart is opened by the Lord John
GA. 45). While. the salvation Of
every one is dependent upon this SOW
ereign act of the Lord yet we can be
sure that he is willing at all times TO
do this for those who, like Lydia.
place themselves IN the way of his
saving grace.
4. She was baptized. ". 49,.
This ordinance follows belief in
Christ. The invarinbe rule in the
early church was for believers to be
baptized. While there is no salvation
in the water of baptism, yet hearty
obedience should be rendered In this
respect (ActS 2:3S-4l SIP; Mark 10: /
16). Lydia brought her household TO
Christ. This is as II should be. She /.
showed signs of the new life, in that
She expressed gratitude toward those
who had been Instrumental in her con I
version ". 80 by constraning them /
to share the hospitality of her home. |
II. How the PhIippian Jailer Be-
gan the Christian Life wv. $500
l. The occasion wv. %, 26).
The casting out Of the spirit of d. |
from the damsel landed Paul
and Sias in prison. The pain of bleed
ing backs, and of feet In stocks, kept
them from sleeping; but not from
praying and singing. The Lord heard
their prayers and sent an earthquake
which shook the jail opened the doors
Of the prison, and loosed the bonds
from the prisoners hands
2 The method wv. 27-34).
~ Visitation of the supernatural
(vv. 27-29. The Jaller was awakened
from his sleep by the earthquake. This
earthquake was unusual In that II
oosed the bonds from the prisoners
hands. In his desperation the jailer
was about to commit suicide. This
vas averted by Paul's assurance that
Ill were safe. The fact that the doors
we're opened and the prisoners free
md yet no one escaped, showed him
hat something unusual had occurred.
Therefore, he came trembling and
himself before Paul and
SilaS.
t2) The great question ". 30). In
he presence of the supernatural he
,ried out, what must | do to be saw
'df Ones salvation is not far Off
when he utters this cry with sincerity.
CD The vital answer wv. 81, 32).
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ"
g the only way to be saved. There
S none other name under heaven Civ
m among men, whereby we must be
saved" (Acts 4:12). Though the way
If salvation is restricted, 1t is simple
md easy. No one who has believed
IN Christ has failed to receive 1t. The
alters faith was not blind faith, for
hey spake unto him the word of the
Lord, and to all that were In his house.
they were taught the meaning of be-
lief in Christ.
az The evidence Of transformed
lie wv. 80, 34).
(a) He was baptized ". 33). As
'oon as one believes on Christ he
wants to be baptized.
(b) He tenderly washed the stripes
If Paul and Silas, showing that he
vas no longer the brutal TALLER ". 84).
tc) He rejoiced ". 34). The one
sh0 really accepts Christ is filled with
oy.