THE KING’ S BUSINESS
203
In Acts 1 :8 the promise o f the Holy Spirit is given, and connected with wit nessing throughout the whole world; in c. 2 the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles and filled them all, with the result that they testified to men o f every nation and tongue and tribe ; in c. 3 we are told they were all filled ’with the Holy Spirit and went everywhere preaching the gospel; in 13:2 the Holy Spirit is seen separating Barnabas and Saul for missionary work ; in 16:7 He is seen guiding the missionaries into their appointed fields o f labor. It is apparent then that wherever the out-pour ing o f the Holy Spirit is recorded in the book o f Acts, missionary activity is always the outcome. 2. That the Holy Spirit is the instigator of missionary activity' is also mani fest in the history of missions. Wherever in a single heart or com munity there is an out-pouring o f the Holy Spirit there you will find unusual interest in missionary activity. Thé spirit Of Mis sions is the result o f the constraining Spirit o f Sod. When the mother o f Christian Frederick Schwartz was dying in Sonneberg she said to her weeping husband, “ I have dedicated my youngest son to the service o f God. Assure me that when God shall call him you will encourage him.” In ,the process ,of time young Schwartz went to college, and there listened to a remarkable address by Francke on the Holy Spirit, from which meeting he went home and told his father that God had called him to India. After three days o f wrestling in prayer his father gave the lad his consent. At thirty years o f age Schwartz entered upon his mission ary activity, and for forty-three years he labored in India. What is true o f Schwartz is true also o f Zinzendorf, the founder o f the great Moravian church. At one time he exclaimed, “I have one passion, and that is Christ, and He alone ! Henceforth that place is my home where I can have the greatest opportunity o f laboring for my
Saviour.” Reading the story o f Zinzen dorf’s life reveals to us the fact that his passion for and surrender to the great missionary cause came at a little prayer meeting conducted by Spener and Francke, and on which the Holy Ghost fell in a remarkable way. II* The Holy Spirit is the superintendent of all missionary activity. Acts 13:2, 16:7. “A s they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul fo r the work where- unto I have called them." “A fter they' were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” This is a fact we must constantly recog nize: it is the Spirit who calls men and sends them forth; He is “the Lord o f the harvest.” The first word in the history o f Missions is, “ Separate unto me Barna bas and Saul.” The Spirit not only creates within the human heart the desire- to do missionary work; but also sends men out to do it. It should also be noted in this .connection that the Spirit sometimes sends men whom the missionary boards will not send. Some o f the greatest missionaries have gone out against the consent o f the board or the vote o f the church, but sim ply because the Spirit has moved them to go. Carey, the great missionary to India, went out by virtue of. the stubborn minor ity o f one—himself. Dr. Hyland, speaking o f Carey’s call to Missions, said, “I believe the Holy Spirit Himself infused into the mind o f Carey the solicitation for the souls o f India, which cannot fairly be'traced to any other source.” John Paton, the great missionary to the New Hebrides, went out against the protest o f the congregation and the churches, but surely under the guidance o f the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit calls out men as missionaries, and when He calls, His chosen ones will hear and go forth, even though at times the .church, the clergy and the missionary board may have had no notification o f the appointment. W e should never forget that the Spirit is He who thrusts men out into
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker