Arkansas State press., 1944-04-14

"A changed man"-that ofi-ased
expression assumes real meaning as
it is applied TO one who has exreri-
eneed the redeeming grace Of God
in Christ In a special way this vas
true Of Paul whose transformed Me
amazed those who knew him before
he had met Chris, on the Damascus
read,
In Cur lessen We find hin in three
different cities. serving bis rev
found Master ard Lord.
1. Al namaseus-CaAfeunding the
Jews 10 I92sl,
''Ssraightway.' What a good word
10 apply % the servant Of the Lord
Paul did not hesitate 10 declare his
faith in Christ, to proclaim that TIE
One who had redeemed him was
able also 60 save others,
II is the normal ard proper ex.
preston OF Christian talsh to give
testimony to others, That should be
true 81 every believer With Paul
there was the added element Of his
call to preach. for God had ordained
that he should be His chosen vessel
for that purpose Acts 2 Isl.
One is impressed BY the prompt
and unQussiioninE obedience Of 50
many Of chrjst's followers n whom
We read in the New Testament Ne
doubt that explains their power and
wide usefulness Ne could learn Of
them.
Paul's message Mas Christ He
proved to the Jews that Jesus vas
the Christ (v. 80. tire One u whom
their Old Testament Scriptures
spake and for when they protested
to be looking. Fie declared Him to
be the Sen Of God ". 2al.
They were unwilling to accept the
message. They were amazed al
Paul and "confounted'' by The truth
he proclaimed, hai they rejected
both 1t and him, aa6 he had % eS-
cape for his life, But another city
must hear his witness. 50 We find
him
II. At Observation-Disclosures With
the Grecians 20 AS~S0l
knowing his violent persecution az
the church, the disciples Ia JerlSa-
lem were suspicious. Perhaps there
was Z measure Of justification for
such an attitude. bat one Is glad that
there mas present the generous,
open-hearte6 Rarnabas, ready to be-
lieve In his new brother in Christ
and to sponsor him in the church,
A word of adnonitioa to the
church Of our day is necessary, re-
garding the making Of a new M
vert or q stranger az home In the
fellowship Of the saints, There Is
no need ot putting such a n quick
ly into ofice or a place oi honor,
but let him know that he Is accept
ed and believed in. and thus give
him an opportunity to gTow
Paul remained in Jerusalem this
time for two weeks tGsL l:iE', 60
ing in and out that is. in friendly TEL
lowship. That is last @tst the yslng
Christian needs and should seek
He also had something 10 r.ake
right. lie had 3a-.ea the Greclaa
Jews when tray elsPl:e5 with
Stephen gs.@ an5 stirred him Pali
had agreed WITH and aolnea them on
thas occasion Nqw ay 1he miracle
Of regene-Etsan as IS q new creature
and is or the exactly opposite sl6e
Now he disputes with the Greciars
declaring that Jesus is the Carist
Wat a blessed caAnpel
Thsy refused 70 tolerate that word.
and prepared Ia A4 hln But The
servant o. The LORD was kept by
Esrr. and delivered through the good
caices Ct Christian brethren Haw
otten il is true thst TIE minister
must hook to the brethren tor that
kindness which delivers hl-a from
distress ana danger.
Paul returned for a time 10 his
horne city al Ta-suS. but when Q
need Of his services arose he was
called out. ard we And hlrn-
III. AT Antioch - Teaching the
Christians III 8. 81.
Persecution spread the believers
abroad tAeis ll,l9l. ana Ike The
scattered brands az a beaten fire
sAey carried the aSme Of CHRISTIAN
lily far and WIDE Thus the gospel.
came To Antioch. tine third greatest
city In TIE world Of that DAY A re-
vival erose 0ut and Barnaaas Was
sent from Jerusalem TO be o, help
Coed and spiritual ma ira, he
VAS CActx 70 22 "a. Bsrnabas did
nothing 20 hinder this work Of Cod
hu. sdrnaaishe5 the people 10
'Helsave urto the Lord hai IS 20
follow Him closely. Wogll5 ths; all
spiritual s6viscrs had such a spir.;
and such sound s1a rrrert
Ee was also Wlse in sensing his
need os help So re went after
Paul. the very ran 10 tesca these
young Christians and to lead them
out into q radiant Rna abundant
Life for tire Lord
Here IL Was that the besGiifll
name Of CHRISTIAN was frs; ap-
Piled 10 believers 1t Is believed
to have originally been . term o..
rieicule. bu; even then II gss a test
rrcny. for N aeelarea .hAi thase be-