The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-10-05

LESSON TEXT-Acts 9:1-31.
GOLDEN TEXT-Therefore II any
man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new. II Cor, S:17.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Saul Learning to
Love Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIC-saul Becoming
Jesus Friend.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Saul Becomes a Christian.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-What Is Conversion?
I. sauPs Violent Hatred Of the
Lords Disciples wv. 1. p.
He knew full we'll that unless the
movement set on foot by Jesus was
stopped it would supersede Judaism.
He was ignorant of the genius Of
Christianity. He did not know that
"the blood of martyrs is the seed of
the church." Prosperity may ruin the
church, but persecution never. Steph-
ems testimony intensified his hatred
inestead of softening his spirit.
II. Saul Kicking Against the Pricks
wv. 3-9).
The figure here is that of the east
ern OK driver following the OK with
n sharp iron fixed to the end OF a
pole. If the animal rebels and kicks
against the sharp iron, it but Injuries
itself.
l. A light from heaven ". 81. The
time had now come for the Lord to in
tervene. Saul was stricken with blind
ness and fell to the earth.
2. A voice from heaven wv. 4, 81.
This was the Lords voice calling per-
sonally to Saul. In answer to Saurs
inquiry, Jesus said. II am Jesus,
whom thou persecutest."
8. Saul's inquiry ". g.. The dicta-
tor is now willing to be dictated to.
4. Christ's answer ". g.. He told
Saul to go into Damascus where infor-
nation would be given him as to what
he must do.
S. Saul entering Damascus wv. z
81. The savage prosecutor went quite
humbly into Damascus, led by his at
PENDANTS where for three days he re-
NAMED blind and tasted. The day is
coming when all who oppose the work
of God shall get sight of the glory
of the Son, either in salvation or in
condemnation (Phil. 2:10, IL; Rev.
6:15-17).
III. Ananias Ministers to Saul wv.
1919.
1. Ananias' vision wv. 1922. He
was instructed to 60 to Saul, given
the name of the street and Sauls host.
Q. Ananias' fear and hesitancy wv.
1910. He knew of Sauls ministry
and the authority by which he came.
The Lord encouraged him to go. as
surfing him that Saul was no longer an
enemy but chosen vessel to bear his
name before the Gentiles.
8. Ananias' obedience ". ~. He
went to the house where Saul was
staying, put his hand on his arm. and
affectionately addressed him as BROTH
er. He informed Saul that the Lord
had sent him with a twofold message.
a. '"That thou highest receive thy
sight"
b. BE filled with the Holy Ghost"
4. Saul baptized wv. IS, 1917. After
Saul received his sight. Ananias bap-
tized him. It was fitting that Saul
should be baptized by one not having
official rank, since his ministry as an
apostle to the Gentiles was to be en-
tirely independent Of the twelve.
~. Saul Preaching In Damascus
wv. 20-25).
!. What he preached ". 2O). He
preached Christ, that he is the Son Of
God. This Is the heart of the message
of every minister and Sunday school
teacher.
2. Where he preached ". 20). It
was in the synagogue. Because this
was the place of assembly for the
Jews, Saul took advantage Of the op-
portunity to tell them that Jesus Of
Nazareth was the very Son of God.
3. The effect Of his preaching
wv. 21-25).
a. People amazed ". 2D. They
knew that the very one who had been
the leader in prosecuting the Christi
ans in Jerusalem and had come to
Damascus for the express purpose of
bringing them bound to the chief
priest, was now passionately advocat-
ing that which he had vehemently
sought to destroy.
b. Jews COMPOUNDED ". 22). Saul
increased in spiritual strength and
knowledge so that he COMPOUNDED the
Jews, proving that Jesus was not only
the Son of God. but their Messiah.
C. The Jews sought to kill him wv.
23-25). Being unable to meet his skill
full use of the Scriptures, they took
counsel how that they might destroy
him. So intent were they upon killing
him that they watched the gate of the
city day and night that they might
take him. He escaped their wrath,
being let down at night in basket by
the wall.
WORMS Of WISDOM