The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-07-09


NOR TOPIC - Saul Prosecuting
Christians.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR IOFlC
"A Young Pharisee.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Saul Prosecuting the Church.
l.. SauPs Training as Pharisee
(Acts - "a; 70 :4,5).
l. Taught to love his own nation. L
am jew" The PhariseeS were
the nationalists of their day. Those
who are intelIigently loyal TO their own
nation can more effectively help others.
=. Taught to love Gods law. Taught
according to the perfect manner OF the
law of the fathers" Love for the
Holy Scriptures is a valuable asset
in life. One may misinterpret it and
dangerously miSapply it; but If he
has love in his heart for it there is
hope of getting him to come into right
relationship TO it.
3. Was jealous toward God" The
root of the word Jealous" signifies
ito boil" 1t means a passion for God
that made Saul think of and plan
for his work. This zeal for God ex-
pressed itself in persecution OF the
Christians whom he regarded as do
ing that which was contrary to Gods
law and purpose. lie. spared neither
age nor sex, even to Imprisonment and
| death (Acts 22:D
u. Saul Thoroughly Conscientious
(26:9, 1O).
| In his cOnscientiousness he opposed
Jesus, for he regarded Him as an
| impoStOr Saul is TO be commended
/ in that he responded TO his conscience,
| but he is To be condemned for his
attitude toward Jesus; for there was
overwhelming evidence that Jesus was
| Gods Son and came in fultillment OF
the Scriptures. The resurrection of
/ Christ was such an outstanding mira
! cle-a proof of the Deity of Christ,
| that there was no room left for doubt.
Saul was to be blamed for mis- ig-
norance. Conscience is the law of
life for every man., but it should be
regulated by the Word of God.
III. Stephens Martyrdom (Acts z:
"a; s:3).
In order To understand the signifi-
canoe Of his martyrdom we must OBJ
tain a synthetic view of his life.
l. Who Stephen was GID. He
was one of the seven who were APP
pointed to look after the temperate
ties of the church. A division of the
newly formed church was averted by
the appointment of properly qualified
men to look after the distribution of
the benevolences.
3 Why Stephen was opposed (6:S-
! l5). In mis- work he testified of Christ
and by the Holy Spirit wrought mira
cles. These mighty works aroused
the people. The following features
characterized him: % WISDOM
which means common sense; (2)
grace, which means beauty of charac
ter; (3) power. He had the ability
TO do wonders and great signs and
speak the truth effectively. The mel
of the opposing synagogues were not
able to withstand the wisdom anC
the Spirit by which he spake." They
arrested and brought him before the
great council. Even here they could
not silence him by argument, so they
decided TO do it by violence. When
the~.hearts of wicked men are sci
against the truth, the testimony OF
Spirit-filled men only exasperates them
They accused him of blasphemy anC
employed false witnesses to prove thai
he had made an attack upon the TEN
pie.
3. Stephen stoned q $4,000. Before
the council he made magnificent de
Tense. This he did by tracing the
history of Israel from the call of Abra
ham TO the cruclfixiOn of Christ. Hi!
aim in this review was to show tina
God never had been localized and tina
the temple was but small part o.
Gods plan. In his address he die
not speak against the temple, bu
showed that God did not in the full
est sense dwell in it at any time. III,
proved this from Scripture lisa. 81
/, 2; / Kings S-27). In his conclu
sion he declared that the Jews hat
always been a stiff-necked people, re
sisting the Holy Spirit, and now thei
stubbornness mad reached its culmina
ton in the betrayal, rejection ant
murder of the Son of God. Thi
charge cut to the heart. His argu
ments were unanswerable. Being un
willing to answer him and at the sam
l time to accept the truth presented
{ their anger was stirred to its highes
, pitch; so their only answer was stones
They CRASHED upon him as a mad dog
l In this hour of trial God gave him
: wonderful vision. He was permitte
E to see into heaven itself, and Their
e he got sight of the glOrified Son o
5 Man standing at the right hand o
| God.
3 4. Stephens burial Glib. Hi
death is described as a falling asleeI
v This is really all that death is to tn
D Christian. Devout men buried hin
Y making great lamentation over him.