The Jones County news., 1921-07-14

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stss eeUe nto ahr ecfia io save sim
rtls. tl phem 2 am ehiei.-l Tim liS
tSEFhhHNlE MArhHiAl~~Acis Z-l-
PRIMARY roric-Lsarnins TO oDsy
Isses
grNlpR roric-saui Becomes a Chris
taa
lNFEsNEpIArE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-res rrarfte neeomes Christian
toNNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A st-ty oi faurs Conversion.
O. saurs Burning Hatred Of Jesus
CIV !. %.
saul kneu fun well that unless the
movement set on foot ~ Jesus was
stopped li would supersede Judaism,
but he was entirely Ignorant 20 the
genius OF Christianity. Christianity
thrives on persecution. Prosperity may
ruin The church. but persecution
never.
Tie noble display Of faith by
stephen in sealing hls testimony with
bis blood did not soften Sauls spirit,
but rather intensified his hatred for
Jesus and His disciples Il made him
more determined than ever 10 stamp
out this Nazarene heresy. The in
fensity of his madness and the extent
90 iis operations are best set forth In
bis own words (see Acts p; 4 and
Acts 261O12). lie obtained authority
from tie chief priests 20 carry on this
murderous work.
". Saul Kicking Against the Pricks
wv. 3-H). The figure here is that OF
the eastern oN-driyer following the OK
with sharp iron fixed to the end
OF pole. The animal Is prodded on
with this instrument and n il Is re-
fractory II kicks against this sharp
iron and Injuries itself. This Is a
picture Of Saul as be was madly fight
Ing against Jesus.
l. A light from heaven wv. 3, 4a).
The time had come for the Lord
10 Interfere Saul Is stricken with
blindness and falls to the earth. This
physical demonstration accentuated
the workings Of hls conscience which
doubtless were going on. qulckened
by the Holy Spirit as He used Ste
phen's testimony.
2 a voice from heaven wv. 4b. 3D..
This was the Lords voice calling Saul
by name aud asking, "Why persecutest
thou mef' This moved Saul to in
qulre. 'Who art thou. Lord2n The
answer came, Il am Jesus whom thou
persecutest," rs II to say persecution
OF the church is persecution Of Jesus.
E d. 40
levers that He feels their sufferings
and regards treatment OF them as
treatment OF himself.
g. "What will thou have me to dor
". 90. The dictator is now willing to
be dictated 10. The Lord told him TO
go into the city where information
would be given him as TO what lie
must do.
4. Saal entering Damascus wv. 7-9)
The naughty prosecutor goes quite
humbly into Damascus led by his
attendants For the space of three
fasting. what went on In his sou
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 h
cot hold Of the truths which he late
proclaimed 10 the world; for his con
version was the basal fact OF hi
theology In these awful days hi
whole soul and being were being re
organized hy Jesus Christ.
i. ~. Ananias Sent to Saul tvv. Il
: l0a).
Here appears upon the scene
+ hitherto unknown disciple.
= 1. Ananas' vision wv. 10-l2).
this vision the Lord appeared and u
n structed him TO go to Saul. lie gay
e him the name OF the street and Saul
It host, and Informed him that Saul wa
& now praying man ana that he ha
,e prepared Saul by the vision for Il
n coming of Ananias.
.. Ananias' fear and hesitancy "
Ne 1870 He knew of Sauls mission al
re- The authority by which he came. n
y. Lord encouraged him 10 20, assuril
'i him that Saul is no longer an enem
O. huA q 'ANN'h NfNN'i ~ N'oi TIE A'Ai
before the Genules, kings, and d
children Of Israel.
3. Ananias' obedience ". ~. Il
on fears being removed Ananins Went
the house where Saul was stayir
II put his hands on him and Affect,
ntely addressed him MS brother" T
savage prosecutor is now brother
cn Christ He informed Saul that {
Lord had sent him with twof,
mission u) "rhat thou migiitC
receive thy sight:" t.l "Be flled W
the Holy Spirit" lie received sis
forthwith. II is not said as 10 whetl
he received the Holy Ghost then,
his life's work proves that he did
i. Saul baptized tvv Is. l9a). Az
Saul received his sight Ananias b
tized him. Since Ananias was not
church official il is clearly impl
thut Official rank is not necessary
the administration of baptism.
Lord hes,owS the gift Of the Sp
upon whomsoever He will and Il
designate anyone. whether occupy
an official position or not TO
hands upon individuals This Is
pecially significant since Sauis mi
try was to he entirely independent
the other apostles.