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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Bible is inspired; this is a true story; no human author would have staged such a scene for such a character as Paul, the apostle. Paul preached the Gospel. He preached it with the power o f the Holy Spirit sent down from Heaven. God uses human agencies; the Gospel is committed to men, not to angels. The Gospel is simple and understand able, and Lydia heard and believed. “ Faith cometh by hearing; hearing by the Word o f God” (Rom. 10:10). The light o f the Word flashed into her heart, the door was Opened to the truth, and the Spirit o f God entered and took possession o f her life. God had a new dwelling place among the heathen. The first convert in Europe was a woman. The Gospel o f Christ changed the character o f the life o f womanhood; lifted her from a life o f thralldom and servitude to a sphere o f service in which she has been able' to glorify God through pure, true womanhood. She has been ever since a faithful, untiring friend and helper in the spread o f tlie Gospel, and the exem plification o f its power to save from sin and to keep in peace and quietness. The other scene is in strange contrast: A prison; Paul and Silas, with lacerated backs, feet in the stocks! Where is the God o f Elijah? Where the power vouch safed in Matt. 28:18? The prophet suf fered; why not the apostle? They sing praises. How could they do it? Faith in God’s unfailing Word sus tained them (Luke 6:22, 23). Paul said to those Philippians (Phil. 2:17), “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service o f your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.” All things were working together for good. The servant is not greater than his Lord. Paeans o f praise rose above the tumult and hard hearts were hushed in wonder and were led to worship God. The music was heard in heaven. Men’s hearts were affected, but so was the heart of the Son o f God. The encore came from Heaven, and a mighty shaking o f the earth resulted. The prison was shaken and the shackles sundered. The jailer himself was shaken in soul and sunk at the feet
of Paul and Silas, a convicted sinner. A Roman jailer at the feet-of his pris oners, pleading for salvation! The tables are turned. Bound in bonds o f sin, tortured in soul, trembling in limb, the jailer is the suppliant and the prisoner becomes the preacher and points the way with unerring certainty in answer to the question “What must I do to be saved?” W e know what Paul preached: Man’s sinful nature; the grace o f God in providing a Substitute whose blood atoned for sin; how that Saviour arose from the grave to justify the believer; how He intercedes in glory, and is coming again; the old, old, Gospel, “ sweeter and sweeter as the days go by,” was Paul’s Gospel. A cold-blooded, brutal, ignorant sinner in an hour’s time becomes a baptized saint. What would philosophy, or Theosophy, or Eddyism or Spiritualism have done with this sinner in one hour’s time? It would have plunged him into a suicide’s grave. The saved sinner, a new man in Christ, gives evidence o f a new birth by tenderly caring for the prisoners. He opens his home to them and leads his household to the same Saviour and Lord. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The leading o f the Spirit will be in the lanes o f service. (2) There must be light, before there can be life. (3) Some demons are wiser than some col lege professors, for they testified to the truth. (4) A bleeding back may be a badge of honor. (5) The paeans o f praise proved a power in prison. “ Praise the L ord !” ( 6 ) An old-fashioned revival would shake the shackles from many a sinner. (7) Faith is believing the finished work which God hath wrought through Jesus Christ our L ord.' ( 8 ) Faith is manifest in service. (9) The saved sinner becomes a serving saint.
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