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THE KING’S BUSINESS
work. He put the Jews at Damascus to confusion, for he proved with absolutely unanswerable arguments that Jesus was undoubtedly the fulfiller o f the Old Testa ment Messianic prophecies. Saturday, December 9 .' Acts 9 : 23 - 26 . Saul’s enemies could make no satisfac tory reply to Saul’s arguments; so they sought to silence him by putting him to death. The Jews have not ceased to this day trying to silence by the most relentless and unscrupulous persecution the men they cannot answer. But, alas! this strange method o f argument is not confined to the Jews. Many who call themselves Christians use it too. The plot o f the Jews against Saul’s life was well laid, but as Saul’s time to glorify the Lord Jesus by dying for Him was not yet come, God defeated the skilfully laid plot. Cast out by the Jews, Saul found great difficulty in being received by Christians. They were afraid that there was some plot or scheme behind his pre tended conversion. Many feel that same way today when a Jew claims to be con verted. If any true disciple o f Chrsit is under suspicion, let him take comfort in the fact that the most devoted follower whom Jesus Christ ever had was under suspicion at first. Indeed, he was under suspicion until the end (ch. 15 :2; 21:20-24). But Jesus, our Lord, trusted him, even if His disciples did not (ch. 22:17-21), and Jesus today trusts many a man whom His disciples distrust. The faith o f the disciples in Jerusalem did not as yet arise to the point o f believing that so bitter an infidel could become so devoted a believer in so short a time. Has our faith reached such a pitch even yet? Sunday, December ioj Acts 9 : 27 - 3 1 . While the great body o f disciples could not believe that their great enemy Saul had become a true disciple o f the Lord Jesus, there was a man in the Jerusalem church “ full o f the Holy Spirit and o f faith” (cf. ch. 11:22-24), and he had con fidence in the new convert and espoused Saul’s cause. Thus Saul got an opening in
He is our Lord. Saul’s eyes were imme diately opened. Seeing the Lord in the glory had blinded his eyes, but now the same Lord opened his eyes and restored his vision. Not only was his natural vision restored, his spiritual eyes were opened too. Though three days and nights had passed since the Lord had met him, he had not as yet come out and made a public con fession o f Jesus as Lord in Baptism. This, however, he now did (cf. ch. 22:16). Friday, December 8 . Acts 9 : 20 - 22 . As soon as Saul was filled with the Spirit he .began to preach Jesus. That is one o f the inevitable results o f being filled with the Spirit. It is the work o f the Spirit to bear witness o f Jesus (John 15:26), and so, o f course, when we are filled with the Spirit, we cannot but bear witness o f Jesus also, A heart and a mouth full o f testi mony for Jesus is a far better proof that we are filled -with the Spirit than any ecstatic experiences that we can tell about. Notice well, that when Saul was filled with the Spirit, it was not the Spirit thlat he preached, but Jesus. Saul’s doctrine about Jesus can be summed up, and is here summed up, in six words, “ He is the Son 1of God.” That is a fine summary o f Chris tian doctrine, and rightly understood car ries much else with it. That doctrine has saving power in it : the one who really believes it, believes it not merely as a theo logical tenet, but with the heart, obtains eternal life through believing it (John 20:31). That Saul, who had been the fiercest persecutor o f Christians, should become a bold preacher o f the very gospel he had tried so hard to blot out, amazed people beyond measure. It was indeed a proof o f the truth and power o f the Gospel he had so fiercely opposed. But over and over again has this proof o f the truth and power o f the Gospel been repeated in the history o f the church. And those who today are the most fierce and dangerous enemies o f Christ may tomor row become His most devoted followers. Saul’s strength constantly grew, doubtless through feeding on the Word, prayer and
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