Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14

- -O.i--a
PRIMARY TOPIC-Learning to Obey
Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC-saul Becomes IA Chris
tan.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC |
The Pharisee Becomes a Christian.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Study Of Paul's Conversion.
|. sauPs Burning Hatred Of Jesus
| (vy. l, y.
Saul knew full well that unless the
noNement set on foot by Jesus was
stopped 1t would supersede Judaism,
but he was entirely ignorant of the
genius of Christianity. Christianity
thrlves on persecution. Prosperity may
ruin the church, but persecution
never.
The noble display Of faith by
| Stephen In sealing his testimony with
! his blood did not soften Sauls spirit,
/ but rather intensified his hatred for
Jesus and His disciples. II made him
more determined than ever to stamp
out this Nazarene heresy. The III
| tensity of his madness and the extent
of its operations are best set forth In
| his own words (see Acts %: and
Acts 26:10-12). He obtained authority
from the chief priests to carry on this
murderOus work.
u. Saul Kicking Against the Pricks
wv. 3-9). The figure here is that of
/ the eastern OX-driver following the OK
with a sharp iron fixed ts the end
of a pole. The animal is prodded on
with this instrument and if II is re-
| fractory it kicks against this sharp
iron and Injuries itself. This Is
picture of Saul as he was madly fight
| ing against Jesus.
/. A light from heaven wv. 3, 4a).
| The time had come for the Lord
| to Interfere Saul is stricken with
blindness and falls to the earth. This
| physical demonstration accentuated
the workings of his conscience which
doubtless were going on. Quickened
by the Holy Spirit as He used Ste
| phen's testimony.
.. 4 voice from lieayen (vv. Al. 81.
This was the Lords voice calling Saul
by name and asking, "Why persecutest
thou me?" This moved Sdul TO in
qulre. "Who art thou, Lord?" The
answer came. 81 am Jesus whom thou
persecutest," as II to say persecution
of the church is persecution Of Jesus.
Christ is so closely identified with be
levers that He feels their sufferlngs
and regards treatment of them as
treatment of himself.
5. what wilt thou have me to do?"
| ". 6)). The dictator Is now willing 10
be dictated to. The Lord told him to
go Unto the city where information
would be given him as to what he
must do.
f. Saul entering Damascus wv. 7-9).
The naughty prosecutor goes quite
humbly) into Damascus led by his
atten6fRts. For the space of three
days he remained in blindness and
fasting. What went on In his soul
in those days no mortal can know.
but we may be assured that he, like
the Lord in the wilderness. was too
deep In meditation and prayer to de-
sire food Doubtless in this time he
got hold of the truths which he later
proclaimed to the world; for his con-
version was the basal fact Of his
theology. In these awful days his
whole soul and being were being re-
organized by Jesus Christ.
III. Ananias Sent to Saul (vv. 10
19a).
Here appears upon the scene n
hitherto unknown disciple.
l. Ananias' vision wv. 1O-12). In
this vision the Lord appeared and in
structed him TO go to Saul. He gave
him the name of the street and Saul's
host. and Informed him THAT Saul was
now a praying man and that he had
prepared Saul by the vision for the
coming of Ananias.
.. Ananlas' fear and hesitancy (vv.
1916. He knew of Saul's mission and
the authority by which he came. The
Lord encouraged him to 60, assuring
him that Saul is no longer an enemy.
but a chosen vessel TO bear His name
before the Centiles, kings. and the
children of Israel.
8. Ananias' obedience ". ~. His
fears being removed, Ananlas went to
the house where Saul was staying.
put his hands on him and affection
ately addressed him as brother" The
savage prosecutor is now a brother in
Christ. He Informed Saul that the
Lord had sent him with a twOfOld
mission: ~ "That thou mightcst
receive thy sight," (2) "Be filled with
the Holy Spirit" He received sight
J forthwith. II is not said as to whether
he received the Holy Ghost then, but
his life's work proves that he did.
l. Saul baptized (vv. Is, l9a). After
J Saul received his sight Ananias bap
tized him. Since Ananias was not
J church official 1t Is clearly implied
that official rank is not necessary for
/ the administration of baptism. The
, Lord bestOws the gift of the Spirit
, upon whomsOevCr He will, and may
designate anyone, whether occupying
} an official position or not. to lay
hands upon individuals. This Is es-
, pecially significant since Saul's minis
J try was to be entirely independent of
the other apostles.