Those of you that were with us this morning will remember that we were thinking a little of the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. I pointed out to you that the Lord Jesus in the twenty-eighth of Matthew, in giving the Great Commission to the Church, said, Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things. whatsoever I have commanded you, and know I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. We saw this morning how very quickly the early church did this very thing. I reminded you that all nations had arisen from the three sons of Noah, Han, Shev and Japheth. And we saw that in the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles was the conversion and the beginning of the instruction of this Man, the son of Ham, the Ethiopian eunuch. This evening we're going to consider something of the tenth chapter of the Acts, and we're going to see how in the tenth chapter, not the son of Ham, but the son of Shev, came to know Christ and began his instruction in the things of God. I was thinking that we might even tonight have linked with it the tenth chapter and consider not the son of Ham or the son of Shem, but the son of Jezebel. But I feel that maybe our time is slipping away just a little too far. I'm going to ask then that before we turn to the ninth chapter of Acts, we might read a few verses from the twenty-sixth chapter of that same book. Acts twenty-six. Now we all know that the Acts of the Apostles is mainly in circling three men. First Simon, then Stephen, and then four. The book divides itself into those three parts, circling around three men, as we all know. When we come to this twenty-sixth chapter, we find this man's soul, and we find him bearing testimony before the last of the Jewish king. I think it's always good for us to remember that from that day to this, the Jews have not had a king. This was last of the Jewish kings, and more than this, they will not have a king until he who was born the king of David to reign over the house of Jacob will reign. But here in the twenty-sixth chapter, we will commence reading for the sake of time in verse four. Says this man, my manner of life from my youth, which wasn't the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straightest sect of our religion, I lived to Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers, unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews? Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I very thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which thing I also did in Jerusalem. And many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly mad against them, I prosecuted them evil unto strange cities. Whereupon, as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and then which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecute us thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute us, but rise and stand upon my feet, for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee, delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sin, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith, that is in me. And then if I may turn back to the tenth chapter of the Acts, please. Acts chapter ten. I'm sorry, Acts chapter nine. Pardon me. Acts chapter nine. And Saul, yet, breathing out, threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Soul, soul, my persecutest thou me. And he said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute us. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Now may the Lord add his blessing to the reading of his own preciousness. I wonder if you'd join me please as we ask the Lord's message. Shall we pray? O God and Father, we lift our hearts to thee of fresh this evening. And in the precious name of the Lord Jesus, we ask that that which we have read from thy word, the Spirit himself may take and make real to each one of us. We realize that unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain and build it. And so we ask thee that thou thyself, the great master builder, what this evening in this place build into the church of God, those who will trust the Lord. We ask it in his name. Amen. I don't think any man or woman would be in a moment's doubt. What I suggest to you, that surely one of the greatest, if not the greatest, one of the greatest of God's servants in the New Testament, a man who has left his mark upon holy writ as much, if not more, than any other, was this soul of Tarsus, this the son not of man, but the son of David. I think he will grant me that to him, God gave the great revelation of the church. This misfit was hidden in times past, but was revealed unto this man. And I am certain that all of us are most concerned that we shall know concerning his conversion, concerning indeed the things that pertain to him his becoming a Christian. And so, if you think, with your permission, I want us to think a little of that which the Word of God tells us of him as a man. Oh, I will be considering a little with you of the things that he taught and the things that he said. But I want us to consider a little of him as a man. I'm going to ask that you will think with me of four very simple things. First, I'm going to say a word about his conviction. You see, I've been preaching the gospel long enough. In this and so many other countries, to no longer have any doubt that the man or the woman that comes to Jesus Christ is the man or the woman who first of all realizes he needs. She needs to come to Christ. The message of the Christian faith has never changed. Or sometimes we have found that God's people have emphasized one part of it more than enough. That the message of the Christian faith has never changed. And this is it. Repentance towards God. and faith in our Lord Jesus. It is not just faith in the Lord Jesus. It is repentance towards God. It is not just repentance. It is faith in our Lord Jesus. And this evening, as we think a little of this man, I think it's essential for us to say a word concerning his conviction. And then I'm going to ask you to consider with me a word concerning his conversion. that conviction is not enough. To realize our need of God is not enough. But acting upon the fact that God hath brought us to know His need, we must pass from conviction to conversion. And that's not enough. Remember the words of Jesus. Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of Father, Son, Holy Ghost, teaching then to observe all things. And so I want to say a word not only about his conviction and his conversion, I want to say a word about his commission. I want us to consider what God said to him and how he went forth to exercise that commission. And then last of all, of course, I want to say a word if you will permit me about his concern. that the man who received the commission from God was the man who in every breath he took, in every word he said, in every place he went, in every prayer he made, was the man that showed his absolute concern for others. Firstly, then, a word about his conviction. Now, I am not sure. And I must ask your permission, as it were, to take a scripture here and a scripture there, and from those scriptures draw a conclusion. You may not come to the faith. Now, girls, please, I don't want to have to sleep. That's it. Now, those people behave very nicely when I was speaking to you. So I'll expect you to behave while I'm speaking to them. Now, don't let me look again, please. Thank you. I think you will grant me that I'm going to draw one or two conclusions, and you may feel that I am not drawing these conclusions correctly. If this be the case, then I do ask you to consider it with me, to think with me, and I believe you will see why I have come to the conclusion that these are the things that led to a tremendous conviction in the heart of this man, Saul of Taz. First of all, you will remember that the first time he's mentioned we find him at the stoning of Stephen. Now the remarkable thing to me is this, that when eventually he stands before the last of the Jewish king and defends himself and at the same time gives his testimony, he mentions nothing about Stephen. But it seems to me that here this young man This young man who stood and observed Stephen as Stephen was thrown to death, that at that time there began in his heart and in his life, there began the great sphere of conviction. There's something else that always strikes me about Saul of Tarsus, you know, is that Saul of Tarsus had a family. He had kinsmen. And the last chapter of the epistle to the Romans tells us that those kinsmen of his, may I read it to you, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners, who are of note amongst the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. What a statement to make. That here he was, this small child. And he had kinsmen. I know not whether they would kill that his sister, that sister that's referred to in the epistle. I know not who they were. I only know that when Paul writes for Rome, he speaks of kingsmen that are his fellow prisoners, but who were in Christ before him. Now does it seem feasible that such a young man as Saul passed? Such a young man who was so adamant in his persecution of the Christian church should be a young man that those who of his family were in Christ would never have prayed for him. I've got a feeling that many a time in the whole of this kinsman prayers are handed to glory. Oh God, there's our remnant. Oh, God, this young man saw that he needs him. Why he's so forceful in his persecution of the church. He needs me. Oh, God, remember him. Save him. And it's the night I find myself speaking to some. Your relatives do not trust. And it seems sometimes that they also will be persecutors of the church. Or whether it's if they've led. Pray on. Pray on. We've got God who answers prayer. go hears and moves and acts and answers Christ. And there that takes quite a while. I don't really want to talk about that. But let me just throw it out for your consideration. Have you ever noticed how almost everything that a practical life of soul of darkness was associated with prayer? You've noticed that. The first time he's mentioned in the Bible, he's at a prayer meeting. First time he's mentioned in the Bible, he's at a prayer meeting. Or it's a prayer meeting. There's a Stephen falling on the ground of a stone's arrow at him, but he's praying, laying off his tin for their charge. Have you noticed the next time he's mentioned in the Bible, the very next time he's at a prayer meeting? But didn't he catch on with it? He's not listening to anyone pray. He's praying. So I know more. What will they have me to do? Have you noticed the next time you've mentioned in the Bible, you've got to pray with him. Ananias is told to go into a home, and Ananias says that this is the perfect kingdom of the church. And God says, don't you worry. Behold, he prays. Have you... For we may remind you before we finished of other occasions that I have a feeling that the man who saturated his ministry in prayer was the man who was saturated in prayer even before ever he came to know. Did you hear this one? Stephen, Lord lay off this thing for their charge. Stephen never lived to see his prayer answered, but hallelujah, it was answered. Praise God it was. His conviction. Oh, then, is there someone here this evening, and you find yourself as the subject of the prayers of many men and women? And though like this man, Saul of Tassus, you may have turned your hand against God, and you're back to the things of God. May I say this to you? is it not a prayer that deep within your very being? Because you have been the subject of many prayers again and again, you have found yourself convicted of the fact that you've never trusted the Savior. Now I don't know you here, you see. Far I've met in years of the past in other parts of America, but it's just a few of you I could catch you on the fingers of my hand. I only know this, that most of you I know not. And I suggest that there may be even, and in this place tonight, someone who's been the subject of the prayers of a husband, the prayers of a wife, the prayers of parents, the prayers of children. Again and again on Lloyd's journey, you have felt the arrow of conviction as it's come to your heart. But if you will notice his conviction, would you please notice his conversion? Oh yes, he was convicted at a prayer meeting, I suggest. But bless God, he was converted at a prayer meeting. Isn't it good to be at prayer meeting? Do you know, friend, I have a feeling that if only we gathered more in prayer, I have a feeling maybe we would see more blessing. And here he was converted at this prayer meeting. Oh, a peculiar one, I know. He's praying. So ask our Lord. What will thou have me to do? Sometimes when speaking of Saul, I say four things about him. Sometimes I say, here was a man who was a thinking man. Here was a man who was a fighting man. Here was a man who was a fallen man. But praise God, here was a man who was a forgiven man. He was a man who was a thinking man. Why, when he stands before Gryffa to bear his testimony, in I think it is the not part of that twenty-fifth chapter of Acts, which is what he said, I thought, I thought he said to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. He was a thinking man. Or dare him again and again as he sat at the feet of Gamaliel. He had listened to the policies God had made, that one day he would send his son, one day the Messiah would come. Suddenly there begins to walk through the streets of Jerusalem. Suddenly there begins to teach Dan by the peasant pictures of Galilee, someone who claims, and others claim for him, that he's the Messiah. And then those who all never went to see him, and saw they were listening to his preaching. The fool never once heard what he said. Yet there was in his heart he began to ponder, and he came to this conclusion that this man was an impostor, that this man was not the Christ. I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. He was a thinker. But if he was thinking, he was fighting. For that same chapter goes on, and in that same verse it says, And many of the saints shut away out in prison, and even hounded some to death, that not only was he one who taught that the claims of Christ were claims that could not be substantiated, but he went out to point against Christ. But the wonder is this, that if you lift your hand against God, we have a God who's able to deal with it. No problem to him. And he was a fallen man. And would you notice how he fell to the ground? He fell to the ground first of all because there appeared a great light that shone around him. We thank God I thank God who sends a great light and shines it around us. Oh, we don't see a light as Paul saw it in heaven. But I am certain that there are many folk in this very service tonight who would bear witness to the fact that when first they were brought to face the claims of Christ, it was like a heavenly light. I wasn't brought up in a Christian home. I wasn't raised among the folk who say their prayers and read their body. I have heard of the church and chapel of Sunday swore in the light. I was a man before I heard the story of Adam. And the first time I heard it, I didn't hear it in the church, and I didn't hear it in the chapel, and I didn't hear it in the service of any sort. The first time I ever heard the gospel in my life, I heard him in the pub. I was waiting against the bar, having a drink with some of the boys, and suddenly the door of the pub opened. And there won't be a little salvation army, lads, with a bundle of war crimes under her arms. She went from one to another and said, will you buy a war crime? Aha, good! I did not buy a war crime, any of your opinions are solved. Another fortune? I thought if she would, she'd take Daisy's bed, or something like that. Oh, she said, I'll be very happy to sing a song. Will you ask the men to be quiet? And I said many a lot of it. Oh, I didn't mind the girl singing, but I didn't want Matt to. I didn't want to be the chairman of a religious meeting in the pub where I used to drink. But she put me on the spot. And I turned under a crowd of drinking cursing men and said, Man, what do you think? Oh, yes, the girl said. She jumped on the table to a public bar at a high-street hotel in my hometown. She said, I'm a hill far away. She said, I'm old, where are we from? Oh, I didn't know anyone. I'd never heard it before. And I'm not clever enough to learn a hang the first time it's done. But I can remember a response with yesterday, not as a boy, but as a man, leaning on the bar and looking at her. What did I say? A light shooting. Oh, no, I didn't see a light shooting into the windows. I was suddenly dazzled. Jesus had said to his disciples, Let your light so shunned before him. That day I saw a light. I wasn't converted that day. I looked at the girls to caretaker's taker, and to God on the ground. And they prayed, What night did you see? Sunday footage? What will happen again? Oh, God still shines. He showed you. This man fell to the ground, for he saw a light shining, and that always humbles us, doesn't it? Winds us loud. But God not only shone that day, but God spoke that day, and said, Saul, Saul, why persecute us thou me? And this is a marvel to me. There were others with Saul. There were others that fell to the ground. There were others that heard but a sound that couldn't make out the words. And how many times, when speaking for a little company like this, and sometimes to a very large congregation, have I been utterly amazed? the end of the service. One, two, five, and just a few will come forward and sense the more that we like to trust Christ. Sometimes there's a little congregation like this, the one person to whom God spoke. The larger congregation may be many more to whom God spoke, but he spoke to them as individuals. And others heard the voice of the preacher. They heard the voice of God. What he said was it. Sir, he's speaking to you tonight, and now he's speaking to you tonight. Would you notice God not only shines, and God not only speaks, but oh, blessed be his name, God says, for the man who was thinking, and the man who was thinking, a man that fell to the ground and glory to his name, he was forgiven. Forgive him. Oh, there's mercy with the Lord that he might be feared. the salvation without God. Oh, may I ask you tonight, have you such a conversion as this? Make disciples of all nations. But if there was his conversion as well as his conviction, never let us forget that there was his commission. And is it not remarkable? I suggest to you that in his conviction he was at a prayer meeting. And his conversion he was at a prayer meeting. I know this, that the outcome of his commission was that here was a man who fulfilled it completely in prayer meetings. Did you hear that? He fulfilled it completely in prayer meetings. He received his commission. He started out on his first missionary journey. And where did it begin? Did it not begin at Antioch? And are we not told that the elders heard the voice of the Spirit separate unto me, Paul and Barnabas, for the work of the ministry? Where unto I have called them? I won't pass any comment very much about that. Sufficient to remind you that those that were called to work of God were those that had proved themselves in their own district. They'd be working in Antioch long enough for the whole church to know that they were capable and able. They did not come from some other place. And then someone say, we will commend you to the work of God. But they worked it out, they proved themselves. And the Spirit of God said, separate unto me, Paul and Barnabas for the work of the ministry, where unto I have called them. And is it remarkable that when God calls, he calls the best talent that's in the church, the very best Why the church in Antioch would have said that we can't spare Barnabas, but the rest of it we have. Separate them, separate them. Very like Pallad God. And here, blessed be his name, it was for the prayer meeting, for the scripture dares to say this, that they fasted and they prayed. They set them forth. Have you noticed the second missionary journey? Wasn't it a prayer meeting? But suddenly this man saw four men of Macedonia praying, come over to Macedonia and help us. And away they went. And it's remarkable the first city they arrived at in Macedonia was Philippi. And where did they go? They went down to the water's edge where the women had gathered to pray. They like that. You know, one of the best churches that ever was founded in Macedonia was the church at Philippi, and it was founded by women. Oh, have God blessed them. It was a prayer meeting. And here Saul received his commission, and he went about the task, and he went about it in prayer. Oh, God, give us to pray. I'm glad that you mentioned, sir, that you have two prayer meetings this week, a brethren's prayer meeting, and a sister's prayer meeting. And you said it was down by the water's edge, didn't you? The sisters were down by the water. Who knows? God may work in this district because the sisters gather down there in prayer. Oh, bless God. But would you notice something more? Would you notice that this commission? Oh, you must please forgive me running through things quickly, but there are so short times. Listen. First of all, that commission that Paul received. This is what the risen Christ said. I want you to go to the Gentiles to open their eyes. So the first commission that Paul received was to go forth and open eyes. It was the commission of revelation. Would you notice the second thing, not only revelation to open their eyes, but repentance to turn them from darkness to light. And would you notice then release the power of Satan unto God? Then would you notice that they might receive remission, the forgiveness of sins, and hallelujah, riches and inheritance with those that are sanctified. Oh, sir, I want to tell men and women this, you know. I don't want to be quiet about this. I want to tell men and women that there is revelation, that our eyes can be opened, that we can see the Lord. Oh, you must pardon me, talking about myself. I don't pray often in my testimony. But I owe everything to you, sir. Everything in my hand, I have everything to you. I left school when I was a lad of thirteen and a half. And I owed to Jesus Christ, I was a man when I trusted the Savior, not a boy. I owed to Jesus Christ the fact that I was ever able, ought to, depart from the matriculation. I owed to Jesus Christ the fact that I was able to stand here and speak to you as him and as you claim. I owe to Jesus Christ the fact that it's my privilege every year to conduct the Bible readings in the University of Cambridge. But I was the first nun to condemn it for forty years last year to preach to the university, sir. Don't you tell me that Jesus Christ is real, sir. Don't you dare? We will take our food so ever. We'll have to be the daddy and be able to transport it. Now, I'll tell you what, he won't. He was going to give me the same name. And I never went to a low knowledge. I sat at that deep elders in an assembly who taught me, taught me the things of God. I owe to him and to his word. All that I am are ever hoped to be. Oh, he's a woman. He's a woman. Oh, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with these things. What I'm trying to do is blow up by the Lord. I'm trying to tell you that Christ is real. that he's real. But if you and I prepare to come to him and turn to him, we'll receive the commission and he'll say, open their eyes. Turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan unto God. And brethren, sisters, I know something about that. I wouldn't cross the road to listen to a man tell you how bad he'd be. I wouldn't cross the road. I don't want to hear him. When God puts his promise to him, he forgets it. And the Bible says, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Oh, I wouldn't ask my own to listen to a man, tell you how bad he'd been. I didn't know this. But I knew I was bad enough ahead. But hallelujah, he turned. He hobbed up with delight in what the power of Satan under God. Oh, there's freedom in Jesus Christ. And will you notice not only revelation, and would you notice not only repentance, but release, and would you notice not only release, but remission, to receive the forgiveness of sin? Oh, my love. Forgive. Oh, I think that's a wonderful one. I wish I could tell you all that was in it, but I really haven't come. But if you come with me in the hundred and third song, You remember, bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, bless the Lord, O my soul, and let it go so long, and he gives us that long list of things, for which we can bless him, he says, who will give us all my iniquities? He said, I will give you all my needs. You know, one of the most interesting things to me is that when I open my new head, shouldn't I? I notice that the same word that's translated in the hundred and third Psalm, the same version of the Bible, the same word that's translated in the hundred and third Psalm, he forgiveth all my enemies for me. I notice that he's translated three different ways into the New Testament. None of them. If you've got a New Testament, a Greek New Testament, you've got a whole other way. You know, when in the fourth chapter of Matthew, one Jesus called the disciples and said, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. This is what we mean. And they left, left, left, and followed him. And the word that translated left is the same word that translated to him. Just as those disciples said, he's finished with the next. We want to have nothing more to do with them. So when we trust Christ, God says, I'm finished with your sin. I don't want to have anything more to do with it. He's left it. He's forgiven. Glad of that. I'm glad. Sometimes old Satan had a go at me when he said, don't you remember? I'm very active on all the needs of you. I'll tell you a lot more as well. that the blood of Jesus Christ is God's plan for all sins. He let us in. If you want to get away there in that eleventh chapter of John, when Jesus climbed with a loud voice and raised ladders from the dead, this is what he said, loose him and let him go. You've got what was it? The same word that's translated that into the same word. It's translated to the same word. And the most marvelous thing is this. That if you turn to the twenty-seventh of Matthew, when Jesus died on the cross, he cried with a loud voice, and he said, Yell be not the ghost. And that double expression, Yell be not, is the same Greek word that was translated to that. Loose. He forgives. You know, it's never written that you let. The old brethren used to put it this way, that the termination of God is from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and hallelujah, one day from the presence of sin. He left after him. He loosed upon his power. One day he had taken us away to return our presence, and it's always his forgiveness. He forgives. Oh, no wonder the Apostle could hear the risen Christ saved. they may receive you the forgiveness of sins and then go on and hear him say and an inheritance with those that are sanctified or the riches not only the revelation and repentance and release and remission but the riches of God's salvation and inheritance with those who are sanctified or brethren I believe it's better on the floor listen it's good to live with Christ now but I believe it's better on the floor absent from the body at home of the Lord. To be with Christ which is far better. And then may I come to a close. His conviction, his conversion, his commission, his concern. What is our concern? We've been convicted? Are we converted? Have we received his commission? His concern. Let me quote it to you again. In that twenty-ninth verse of that twenty-sixth chapter of Acts, when the Caleb said almost, I'll persuade us me to be a Christian. This is what Saul of Tarsus said. This is what Paul the preacher said. I would to God. that not only thou, but all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether, such as I am. Then he looked down at the chains and said, except these bonds. Here's his concern. But what he himself had received, Want he himself? Come into it. It was his concern that others should not. Let's go back then. Let's see a fresh sat-ridden Christ. Let's hear him as he looks into the face of his disciples and said, Make disciples of all nations. Tan, the Ethiopian unit. Atlite, Shem, Saul, Tarsus, Agnoth, Jesus, Cornelius. Atlite. Eight, nine, ten. Praise God, whoever you may be. son of hands, Shemmer Jacob, there's mercy with the Lord that he might live. If by chance tonight there's someone here, I don't know, but if by chance there's someone here who's never trusted Christ, please God you may trust him. I may trust him now. Praise me tonight. It's true, Joseph, prayer. For God and Father, we rejoice together this evening for the wonderful fact that Jesus Christ is Lord for the glory of God the Father. And we pray that we pray. We thank thee that banquets live aside the heavens and cry, This is my beloved Son. In whom I am welcoming, here he is. We ask that tonight is in this place, and that he knows how eternally all are willing to say Christ in me. We pray again, Lord, that by our spirit that we exercise our mind, that we harm one from another, but not one thing. By the love of God the Father, the grace of God the Son and the fellowship and communion of God the Holy Spirit, the abiding, joyous portion of all who love the Lord in the sincerity of the Church, now is it then? And until that day shall dawn these shadows clear red, and we see his face again, whose foreteeth was set. Amen.