1007
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
the Bible, facts of th e Gospel, facts of experience, facts of world-wide signifi cance, of influence, of blessing,— “rea sons on reasons.” (Eccl. 7:25) “I ap p lied m in e h ea rt to k n ow , and to search , and to se e k ou t w isd om , and th e rea so n o£ th in g s.” (Isa. 1:18) “Come n ow , and ie t u s reason to g eth er, sa ith th e Lord.” (Rom. 12:1) “I b eseech you , th erefo re breth ren , b y th e m ercies o f God, th a t y e p resen t you r b odies a liv in g sacrifice, w h ich is you r rea so n a b le serv ice.” (2) Separating th e Saints, v. 9. Often th e only way to deal w ith un reasonable men, even in th e synagogue, is to separate from them . If, after gracious and faith fu l effort, we cannot dwell in peace, we can dwell apart. The pu rity of the faith, th e security of the..unstable, yes, and th e conviction of sinners, demand separation from erring and contentious b reth ren ju st as much as they demand separation from a godless world. (3) Ephesian Evangelism , v. 10. The Separation was justified. F ree from controversy, th e indoctrination of believers led to the proclamation of the Gospel. Not only Ephesus, bu t Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadel phia and Laodicea, w ith Colosse and Hieropolis, and still other churches were th e result. “W hat m an” said th e town clerk, “ knoweth not how th a t th e city of Ephesus is a worshipper of th e g reat goddess Diana and of th e im age th a t fell down from Ju p ite r? ” (1 9 :3 5 ). And th e church could say, “W hat man is th e re th a t knoweth not th a t th e city of Ephesus has in it worshippers of th e g reat God and Saviour Jesu s Christ (T itus 2 :13 ) the image of God th a t came down from H eaven?” (Heb. 1: 3). (4 ) Special Signs, vs. 11, 12. Note th a t these m iracles were special signs. They are th e la st th a t we should expect to see duplicated. It does not seem th a t P aul had augh t to do w ith
them , h u t th e Lord was pleased to work His will th rough them. The im itations of the p resen t time are calculated to foster superstition. “ Blessed bones”v and “ blessed h andker chiefs” are not now blessed influences. They confound a pure Christian faith w ith th e fetishes of Rome, w ith clair- voyancy, Christian Science and h eath enism, and greatly hinder th e hygiene of th e community. Let us pu t less emphasis on the cure of bodies, and more on the cure of souls. (5 ) Exorcists Exercised, v. 13. These strolling sons of Sceva were like Simon of Samaria. H e desired the gift of th e Spirit th a t it m ight increase his power and multiply his pennies. They probably had some success in th eir trad e (Matt. 1 2 :27 ). Demons and spirits are realities, whatever humbug is associated w ith them . We are solemn ly w arned to have nothing to do w ith them . (Deut. 18:9-14). The sorcerers saw more power in Jesu s’ name th an in th e ir incantations. Mystic words and names were among th e chief medicines in th e chest of such strolling doctors in magic, and these misguided men thought to add th e name of Jesus to th eir repertoire. Much evil is done today in th is Name. How many profess to cast out devils in th a t Name who have less knowledge of P aul and Jesu s th an the devils them selves! Wp cannot frigh ten th e devil in th e name of Jesus w ithout faith in Jesus and in th e Spirit of Jesus. You .can never charm th e devil ou t of a man, or out of society, by merely label ling your theory “ Christian,”— whether it be “Science,” or “ E thics,” or “ Thought,” or “ Philan th ropy .” The devil will surely get th e b etter of you in the long run and one devil can give no t only seven men, h u t seventy times seven, more th an they can handle and catch them a t last, too.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker