April, 1939
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
143
BLACKBOARD LESSON
3. " Opposed themselves, and blas phemed" (v. 6 ). Do not pass over this word "blasphemed” too quickly. It has a tremendous doctrinal significance here. To "blaspheme” means to speak injuriously of God. Now Paul was in a Jewish syna gogue speaking to Jews. And these ex tremely religious Jews would have drawn back in utter horror at the suggestion of saying anything injuriously against their great God "Jehovah.” How then did they “blaspheme,” as Luke declares they did? There is only one possible answer: W e know that they spoke against Jesus, deny ing that He was the Christ as Paul had preached Him (v. 5 ). Now if Jesus had been only a man, although the best of men, the Jews’ opposition might have been very unfortunate, but it could not have been termed "blasphemy.” And the fact that Luke does call it "blasphemy" proves that Paul and the other apostles not only be lieved that Jesus was Jehovah, but actually preached Him as such in the Jewish syna gogues of the ancient world. The truth of the deity of our Lord is not dependent on a few proof texts, but is literally ploughed into the New Testament records. To re move it is impossible without destroying the records. An officer in France told General French that it was impossible to hold out any longer. "Well, we want you to do what is im possible,” replied the General. Similarly, workers in the Lord's forces too often clamor for the easy and nice posts instead of facing the difficult and unlikely with "I can do all things through Christ” (Phil. 4:13).— 1,000 Tales W orth Telling, by P ickering . Courage in the Night A cts 17:16 to 18:17; 1 C orinthians 2:1-5 Memory Verse: “The day is thine, the night also is thine” (Psa. 74:16). Approach: Last week we talked about Paul’s crossing over into Europe. You re member he found only a handful of women gathered at the river bank, at Philippi. They listened to his message, but soon ene mies came, stirring up the people of Phil Golden Text Illustration P hilippians 4:13
some Christians are like this coconut. There is water in the coconut, but it has to be broken with the hammer in order to get the water. Many people are “Coconut Chris tians.” The world does not know that they have the Water of Life until the hammer of death or some other sorrow has smitten them. This kind of Christian is not used of God to bless others very much. Have you ever heard of the "Sponge Christian”? Here he is. There is water on the inside of this dry-looking sponge, but it has to be squeezed out. I have known Christians whose lives were so dry that they had to be pressed before they would reveal that they had the Living Water. Here is a clean glass with pure water in it. It is ready to give some thirsty person a refreshing drink. This is the way with some Christians. Rivers of blessing flow from them to the thirsty. As I look at this glass, I am reminded of Paul, who did not wait to be smitten or pressed, but gladly gave the Living Water, to both Jews and Greeks. Let us ask God to make us glasses filled with the Living Water, in order that the thirsty may be satisfied as they come to us.
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*Awm$ WOCKfD ACTS. I7!I5,5Z M 7/ 11 ' V \ r- / I ■coft/nm-ofiposso- /WÛBlASfWM£0 ■ ACT5 ta: I, b Bu+“ c o n DO OIL TWinoS through CHRIST WHICH 5TREnGTHE.n€TH m£"iwuua must have felt! But I am sure that even at this time he felt God’s presence. God never lets His helpers have more sorrow than they can stand, and we find that God had arranged a pleasant home for Paul during the time he was to be in Corinth, a home with Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They needed Paul and his teaching, and he need ed a home. Just at this time, too, his fellow workers, Silas and Timothy, joined him. And that wasn't all. God spoke to him again and said, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” So Paul did not need to be discouraged. Neither do we, if we know God’s will and are obeying it. Object Lesson W ater for the T hirsty Objects: A coconut, a sponge, a glass of water, and a hammer. Lesson: Jesus Christ Himself provides the Living Water, and when we have ac cepted Him as Saviour, there should flow from us rivers of blessing to those who have not yet been saved (John 7:38). But Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples, 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and be lieved not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the wqrd of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, wnich befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was rofitable unto you, but have showed you, and ave taught you publicly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lora Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2 :1 9 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed to gether groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Lesson Text: Acts 19:1, 8-10; 20:17-21; Eph. 2:19-22.
MAY 14, 1939 PAUL EVANGELIZES A PROVINCE A cts 18:18 to 20
38; E phesians 2 Golden Text: “But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). Devotional Reading: Eph. 2:1-10
Outline and Exposition I. O pposition from the P eople (Acts 19:1, 8-10)
ippi, and Paul had to flee. The same thing happened at two other cities, and Paul fled for his life. At last he reached the g re a t c ity of Athens. L e s s o n S t o r y : But things were not different yet. T h e whole city of Athens
A RRIVING at Ephesus, Paul went into /A the synagogue and there reasoned J - JL with the people concerning the kingdom of God. He continued this prac tice for three months. But the prejudices and traditions of the Jews were all against what Paul preached, and opposition began to appear. However, while the majority of these hearers rejected the message of life, some received it. The opposers were “hardened”—a word that has a twofold meaning. First, it means "to be dry,” parched, as a desert. It im plies a condition that is the result of a lack of some kind. For instance, let water be supplied to some deserts and the barren waste may be transformed into a garden. The second meaning of the word “hard ened,” which is the one used here, is "to render stubborn," unyielding. In other words, to continue the figure, water may be
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worshiped idols. Their lives were filled with superstitions, and they scorned Paul when he spoke of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. Some mocked, some wanted to hear more, and a few believed. So Paul left Athens and crossed to the southern part of Greece. This time he stop ped at the big port city of Corinth. He was alone, and how discouraged and lonely he
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