THE KING’S BUSINESS
187
the gathering out of those who will accept it. The church is a called out body. A well instructed preacher of the gospel is not endeavoring to establish the kingdom of God universally among men; that belongs to a future dispensation; he is simply seeking to bring some into an intelligent faith, knowing that many will harden their hearts and will not believe. Those who did believe threw in their lot with Paul and Silas; true converts always seek the society of other Christians. The gospel caused division as well as union in Thessalonica: union of believers, division between believers and the world. The* gospel when preached fully and boldly in the power of the Spirit always causes division between those who accept the truth and those who reject the truth. Paul’s success aroused the envy of the Jews. Every successful preacher must expect to be envied by some of the smaller meh. The envious Jews were utterly unscrupulous in their methods, they were willing to seek help from any kind of people, no matter how vile. It Js marvellous to what unscru pulous methods even religious people who oppose the truth will oftentimes resort to carry out their schemes of hindering the preaching of the full gospel, and it is equally marvellous the kind'of people they will call upon to help them in their resist ance to what in their hearts they know to There was much truth in the charge that the mob brought against Paul and Silas that “these that have turned the world upside down have come hither also.” No other man did as much to turn the world upside down as this man Paul. What was intended as an accusation was really a com mendation. There is great need today of preachers who turn things upside down, for things in society and politics and commerce^ and sometimes in the church, are wrong side up, and the man who turns tliem upside down will thus get them right side up. But the man who does find things Wrong side be the truth of God. Tuesday, February 20 , Acts 17 : 6 , 7 .
up and turn them upside down and thus get them right side up, will always get in trouble for doing it. While part of the charge brought against Paul was true, part was false. Paul did do contrary to the decree of Caesar, he was very scru pulous in upholding the authority of the powers that be (Rom. 13:1-4), but he did say that there was “another king, one Jesus.” He not only said it, but it needs to be said again and again to' those who see no king but some king of this earth. Some day all must recognize the kingship of this King Jesus (Ps. 2:8-12). But while Paul doubtless did say that there was another King, even Jesus, he did not seek to turn any man from his duty to Caesar (cf. Acts 25:8). The man who recognizes in his life the kingship of Jesus is.the one who is most likely to render his whole duty to human authority. Wednesday,-February 21 . Acts 17 : 8 - 10 . God did ,not permit the persecution at this time to go very far. The converts were young and God will not suffer any of His children to be tempted above what they are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13, R.V.). As we learn from Paul’s Epistle to the Thessalonians, the converts proved true under persecution. While they were young converts they were genuine converts,' and though they were persecuted of men they rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:6). It was not an act of cowardice on the par-t of Paul and Silas to leave Thessalonica at this time, it was simply prudence, and they were acting in accordance with the specific directions Christ Himself had given (Matt. 10:23). The cjiurch did not go to pieces upon the departure of Paul (1 Thess. 1 :3-6), nor did Paul lose his interest in the converts whom he left behind (1 Thess. 2:18, 19; 3:1, 2, 5-7). The plan of Satan and his emissaries to silence Paul and Silas, failed, for driving them out of Thessalonica simply extended their testi mony to other places. Here again God made the, wrath of men to praise Him (Ps. 76:10). As soon as Paul and Silas reached
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs