The Coolidge examiner., 1936-08-07

GOLDEN TEXT was not disobedient
unto the heavenly vision.-Acts 26:19-
PRIMARY TOPIC-Saul Becomes
JUNIOR TOPIc-on the Road to Da-
| mascuS.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Appointed for Service.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-After Conversion What?
The conversion of Saul of TarsuS
is one of the outstanding events Of
Bible history. 1t presents one OF
the strongest evidences of the truth
of the Christian faith, for only on
the ground of regeneration can we
account for the change in SauPS
life, and only on the assurance that
he met the Living and Risen Christ
can we account for his conversion.
AS our lesson opens we find the.
brilliant, Jealous, young Jew, Saul,
as: :
/. A Bold Persecuter g: l, y. /
He was yet breathing out threat
ening and slaughter against the dis
ciples of the Lord" The death of
the godly Stephen had only in
creased his determination to wipe
out those who were "of this way
the followers of the One who is ''the
way" But as he carries letters
from the high priest to Damascus
which would authorize him to i'm
prison them, he meets the Christ
whom he persecutes and he be-
comes
III. A Convicted Sinner wv. 3-9.
Stricken down by a brilliant heav-
emily light, he finds himself talking
to the Lord Jesus. He hears from
his holy lips the solemn indictment
of those who persecute Gods peo-
ple-"Why persecutest thou me?'
He who lays unkind hands, or un-
true accusation upon Gods children
had best beware, for so closely is
our Lord identified with his people
that when they suffer, it is he who
bears the hurt
In a single sentence the Lord dis
poses of the prosecuting zeal and
the sinful skepticism of this proud
young Pharisee, and Saul enters
into Damascus not as the naughty
persecuter, but as a man trembling
and aStoniShed at his own sin. He
spends three days shut in with his
own soul and God, not seeing, not
caring to eat, losing all conscious
ness of earth, but entering into COM
munion with God. BY Gods grace
the old life is pulled up by the roots
as it is displaced by the new life in
| Christ Jesus. And now God is ready
to send his servant AnaniaS to ad-
dress Paul as
III. A Converted Brother WV. IT.
19).
The fears of Ananias that Saul
might still be worker of evil ". 13)
are soon overcome by Gods assur-
ance that in the praying Saul he
had prepared for himself "a chosen
vessel (v. 15) to bear the gospel
to the Gentiles and to kings, as well
as to the children of Israel. Let US
not fail to note carefully that the
greatest of all Christian leaders.
the apostle Paul, was led out into
his life of loyalty and service to
| Christ by a humble layman. Re-
peatedly Gods Word by precept and
example stresses the vital impor-.
tance of personal work on the part
of lay men and women. The lead
ers OF Christian work during the
coming generation are now in the
| Sunday School classes of our
churches, perhaps in a little way
side chapel in the country, in the
village church, in the mission or
| settlement house, or in the great
city church. Reader, he or she may
be in your Sunday school class.
Have you really tried to win him
| for Christ?
Saul knew nothing of that subtle
hypocrisy known as being "a secret,
believer" for at once he made open
confession of his faith in baptism.
and ''Straightway he preached
Christ in the Synagogues that he is
the Son of God" (v. 20). He be-
came indeed
~. A Mighty Preacher Il Tim.
| 1:12-1N.
In this passage Paul is writing to
his son in the faith, Timothy, about
thirty-four years after his conver-
sion. AS he looks back over the
years he forgets the trials and sor-
rows, the beating with rods, the
shipwrecks, the bitter disappoint-
ment over false brethren (Read II
| Cor. 11:23-28. He remembers only
the matchlesS grace of God that
showed mercy toward a blasphemer
and persecuter, and counted him
| faithful, appointing him with his
| service"
Paul summarizes that which we
know to have been the great life of
the worlds mightiest preacher by
attributing it all in true humility
| to the grace of our Lord" which
''abounded exceedingly with faith
am love which is in Christ Jesus"
For to him ''to live was Christ
! (Phil. LID. Life was cherished by
him as giving opportunity to preach
| Christ.