The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1960-01-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
By Rev. George A. Harper
511 Avenue c.,
Greenwood, Miss.

511 Avenue c.,
Greenwood, Miss.
THE CONVERTING POW
Err OF THE GOSPEL.
Lesson Text - Acts 1886
1910; Philippians 2:12-18.
Print - Acts 16:13-15, 1884.
MEMORY SELECTION =
Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saw
ed.-(Acts 16:3D. Salvation on
the human side is one of the
most simple matters in all the
world. Many people stumble
over its simplicity. The one
time, all time and only time
condition on which God will
save a sinner is faith in Christ.
When God stipulated faith in
Christ as the means on mans
part to be saved. He stipula-
ted a condition which is pos
sible for all men to meet. What
else could God have stipulated
that all men, of all time could
do? Not only is this the SIM
plest matter to do, it also is
the most reasonable thing
which all men can do. How
ever, here is where Satan
makes his attacks and fills
mems hearts with unbelief.
Faith in Christ is a matter
of the will, even a will to do
what God requires, which is
to believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. God always does as He
has promised when men obey.
THE CONVERSION OF LY-
Ola:
"And on the Sabbath we
went out of the city by a river
side, where prayer was wont
to be made; and we sat down,
and spake unto the women
that resorted thither" - For
some reason these people had
followed the custom of going
out of the city every Sabbath
and having worship b ythe
bank of the river. where
prayer was wont to be made"
No mention is made of the
presence of men in this prayer
service. "And certain wo-
man named Lydia, a seller of
purple, of the city of Thyatira,
which worshipped God, heard
us: whose heart the Lord open
ed, that she attended unto the
things which we're spoken of
Paul" Making and sell
ing purple was a very rich
trade and the principal indus
try of Thyatira. Materials dy-
ed with dye from this city
were very expensive. Lydia ev-
identity was not a JewesS by
birth, but a Jewish proselyte
who had become very devote
to the faith she had accepted.
And when she was baptized
and her household, she be-
sought us, saying, If We have
judged me to be faithful to the
Lord, come into my house, and
abide there. And she con-
strained us" Lydia's way
of showing her Christian love
and gratitude was to do some
thing kindly and helpful for
the men of God. She offered
this hospitality, and she did
it with persuasion. That is to
say that she urged the apos-
ties to come into her home |
and accept her hospitality.
PAUL AND SILAS ARE
IMPRISONED:
"And at midnight Paul and |
Silas prayed, and sang praises |
unto God: and the prisoners
heard them The jailer |
put the apostles in the inner
compound of the prison, bound |
them with chains, and put |
their feet in stocks. Because
the jailer was given strict
charge to keep them with all |
safety and not let them escape.
1t was under these conditions
that Paul and Silas we're heard |
singing hymns and praying.
"And suddenly there was
great earthquake, SO that the
foundations of the prison were
shaken: and Immediately all |
the doors were opened, and |
every ones bands were loosed"
These prisoners did not play |
the part of the railing male
factor that was crucified with |
Christ, jeering and mocking, |
but they listened to what was
being done and were rewarded |
with freedom, for the earth
quake set everyone free. "And |