New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-05
Ilp10vID uNleoAs INTERNATIONAL
NNMSQO0L
LESSON
(By REV. p. B. FITZWATER. d. D.,
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago.)
Copyright. 1918, Western Newspaper
UniOn.)
LESSON FOR JULY 7
BEGINNING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

LESSON TEXT-Acts 16:l3-34.
GOLDEN TEXT-WhOsoever will. Il
him take h water Of life freely .-Revela
ton 22:l7.
DEVOTIONAL READING-John 15A-l,
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOL
TEACHERs-Acts 2:s7-47; $3.50; Roman
SILL.
PRIMARY TOPlC-Loving and trustin
~Jesus.-John 1851.
MEMORY VERSE-We love because h
hrst loved us.-I John AIS.
I. How Lydia Began the christia,
Life (vv. 1879.
Lydia was the first cOnvert Il
Christ in Europe. Hers was a typica
conversion. Note the steps therein
l. Attendance at the place of pray
er ". 1877.
The accustomed place here was n
the river side. The accustomed plaCt
today Is in church. God a and doe
saw men and women without an!
seeming connection with places OF es
tablished worship, but ne appears K
most people at such places. The yer!
4WNl tbb6l UC mas NStuDtlNliVu 0tES ou'
tains churches here and there Is ar
urgent call to all men and women tt
place themselves in the way OF saliva
ton. While no one can save himself
yet all a put themselves In the way
OF salvation by attending church, read
ing the Bible, etc. The very fact that
such opportunities are placed before
men and women Is a p%resumptive cal
of God.
2. Listening to the preaching of the
Word of God wv. Is, 14).
, Paul took advantage of the oppOr
tunity which was given him by thu
assemblage Of this group Of devoted
wOmen to preach Christ to them. tie
was alert for and priced highly the op-
p%ortunity to tell the people about
Christ. He knew also how perilous
1t was to neglect to witness for Christ
at a time when unsaved people are
together. The opportunity is Gods
call to preach Christ. 1t Is Il great
thing to have faithful men and wOm-
en- who can inteliigently minister at
such times.
3. Her heart was opened by the
Lord ". 14).
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
6:44, 45). While the salvation OF
every one is dependent upon this o Y
erelgn 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. ". li).
This ordinance follows belief In
Christ. The invariable rule In tine
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-41 S:12; Mark IS:
1877. Lydia brought her household to
Christ. This is as 1t should be. She
showed signs of the new life, In that
she expressed gratitude toward those
who had been instrumental in her con-
version ". 15) by constraining them
to share the hospitality Of her home.
u. How the PhiIippian JaiIer Be-
gan the Christian Life wv. 25-34).
1. The occasion wv. %, 26).
The casting out of the spirit of d.
vinatiOn from the dnmsel landed Paul
and Silas 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 sen nm earthquake
which shook the Jail. opened the doors
OF the prison, and lOOsed the bonds
the prisoners hands.
2. The method wv. 27-34).
az Visitation Of the supernatural
wv. 27-29). The jailer was awakened
from his sleep by the earthquake. This
earthquake was unusual ia that 1t
the bonds from the prisoners
In his desperation the jailer
was about to commit suicide. This
was averted by Paul's assurance that
nil were safe. The fact that the doors
opened and the prisoners free
md vet no one escaped, showed him
hat something unusual had occurred.
Therefore, he came trembling and
Frustrated himself before Paul and
Silas.
(c) The great question ". 3O). In
he presence Of the supernatural he :
:ried out, "What must l do to be saw
,d?' Ones salvation Is not far Off
when he utters this cry with sincerity.
(3) The vital answer wv. 81, 32).
"Relieve On the Lord Jesus Christ"
8 the only way TO be saved. There
8 non other name under heaven CIV
N among men. whereby we must be
Saved" (Acts 4:l2). Though the way
4 salvation is restricted, 1t is simple
md easy. No one who has believed
n Christ has failed to receive it. The
faith was not blind faith, for
hey spake unto him the word of the
ord, and to all that were in his house.
hey were taught the meaning Of be-
Ief in Christ.
az The evidence of a transformed
Ife wv. 30, 34).
(a) He was baptized ". 33). As
DON as one believes on Christ he
ANTS to be baptized.
(b) He tenderly washed the stripes
( Paul and Silas, showing that he
'as no longer the brutal jailer ". 34).
(c) He rejoiced ". 34). The one