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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
March, 1939
that Christians will wear in heaven. We will put it on Tim Match. W e will wrap Tom in this black cloth, reminding us of all those who do not accept Christ and who are to go away into darkness forever. Now is the time that every one should accept Christ and be ready to meet Him when He comes.
cause I live, ye shall live also” (John 14: 19). Notice what happens! The match which jumped to meet the magnet before, comes out of the grave now. The other one does not move. Here is a little white robe which repre sents the robes of Christ’s righteousness
SUNDAY SCHOOL litera ture Q U A R T E R L I E S a n d P A P E R S following the Int. Uniform Lesson Topics A free sample pac\ with catalogue sent on request to any Sunday School official. Address UNION GOSPEL PRESS Box 6059 :: :: Cleveland, Ohio %
APRIL 16, 1939 PAUL ESTABLISHES CHURCHES A cts 14
Jews, and some with the apostles, until at last an attempt was made to use physical violence. When this fact became apparent, the apostles fled from that city and went to Lystra and Derbe. They wasted no time in commiserating themselves, but continued about their business of preaching the gospel of the grace of God. Everywhere they went, it was the gospel alone that was their message. Nothing else could break the shackles binding the souls of men to sin and Satan. But the gospel had, and ever has, the power to break the bands that en slave men and give peace to still the yearn ings of men’s hearts. n A t L ystra (19-23) Coming to Lystra, the apostles once again manifested the power of God, this time by being the human instruments through which God worked in the healing of a lame man. So completely did the peo ple misunderstand the incident that they imagined the gods had come down to them, and they desired to offer worship to the missionaries as "Jupiter” and “Mercurius.” The apostles steadfastly refused to claim any supernatural power as belonging' to themselves and gave all the glory to the Lord, whereupon the people were easily in fluenced against them and they stoned Paul and dragged his body out of the city (v. 19). The event illustrates the fickleness of human adoration. Though the people were "supposing he had been dead” (v. 19), Paul, strengthened by the mighty power of God, arose and entered into the city, and the next day departed to Derbe. In Scrip ture, nothing more is said of this remark able recovery of the apostle, but we cannot doubt that God was present, revealing Himself as the God of resurrection who brings life from the dead. Having preached the gospel at Derbe, the apostles retraced their steps to Antioch from whence they had started, going through Lystra and Iconium. Courageously and persistently they went “confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith” (v. 22). W e must not overlook the manifestation of the ster ling faith of these disciples in the cities where Satan’s power was great. It speaks volumes for the sustaining grace of God that these disciples stood firm during those trying days. It is when faith begins to bear fruit that opposition starts. As long as no spiritual fruitage can be seen, probably no opposition will arise. The churches founded in these heathen cities were well ordered and governed. Elders were appointed in every city, and an example was set by the apostles, by prayer and fasting, as to how the affairs of
Acts 14: 1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil anected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7 And there they preached the gospel. 19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded tne people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, ana Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to' the Lord, on whom they believed. Lesson T ext: Acts 14:1-7, 19-23. Golden Text: "As a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon” (1 Cor. 3:10). Devotional Reading: 1 Cor. 3:6-11. Outline and Exposition I. A t I conium (Acts 14:1-7) ECAUSE of persecution, Paul and Barnabas left Antioch (in Pisidia) and went to Iconium. There, as their custom was, they preached first in the syna gogue. A great number, both of Jews and Gentiles, believed. But Satan at once stir red up the unbelievers, and the work of the missionaries became more difficult The apostles’ message concerning the Lord Jesus Christ was "the word of his grace” (v. 3 ). For the obtaining of salva tion the apostles laid down no rules or reg ulations calling for human righteousness as prerequisites, and the early churches thus were established with a freedom from legal ism. As long as legalism was excluded, the churches grew and multiplied, and God’s power was continually manifested. To confirm and vindicate the message of grace, thus providing the apostles with needed credentials, the Lord granted signs and wonders. What these were we are not told, but certainly they testified to the presence of the living God. In spite of the spoken word and the ob servable signs, the city was divided in its reception of the truth of the message, some of the people holding with the unbelieving
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