785 apostolic method of obeying Christ’s command, and much in it is worth care ful study. 1. How the Field was Chosen. By direct and definite guidance from the Holy Spirit. Paul was “ a debtor” owing the Gospel to all men. He must preach Christ somewhere. Shut out from two sections of Asia (practically our Asia Minor) by definite action of the Spirit, that same Spirit through the vision of the man of Macedonia directed Paul to cross from Troas in Asia to Philippi in Europe. How divinely simple! When the Holy Spirit is given His proper place in our missionary undertakings we can depend upon His co-operation and blessing, not other wise. Suppose Paul had been sent eastward instead of westward what a difference it would have made to us. Think of Chinese, Japanese, Indian mis sionary societies organized after 1800 years to send the Gospel to the heathen in Europe (there would not have been any United States to send it to). 2. How the Start Was Made. This ancient missionary did not seek the government officials nor literati of Philippi. He sought to locate the place of prayer that he might get in touch with any who were seeking God. He knew that “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, . . . and the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;- and base things of the world, and things which are despised . . . yea and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are.” When he found the little handful of seekers after God he preached Christ to them, and when Lydia and her household became believers he baptized them, just as he had been told to do. Fulfilling further his commission he cast the evil spirit out of a demon possessed girl, as Jesus had said he should do (Mark 16:17). This landed him and Silas in prison, but they praised God, and He sent an
THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S Included also would be the truth con cerning His own earthly life, His death, His resurrection and return, His new standard of ethics, and His immanence in every day life. It would include also how sinful men can be forgiven by a Holy God and delivered from the power of sin; how rebels can become sons, and how beg gars can become princes. The glory of His coming Kingdom, its certainty and its everlastingness, are also subjects to be taught. Not to be left out, either, is God’s command to all men everywhere that they repent, and accept His offer of mercy and grace. ' The teachers, too, are to baptize the converts in public confession of their new discipleship; the recruit is to put on the uniform that marks him as Christ’s man. 3. The Power. His presence with them in obeying His command is guaranteed and never has He failed. Have we any right when we fail to obey the command to claim the promise? Would you individually, would your Sunday School, would your church be willing to lose His presence? Have you lost it? Is this the reason why you have lost it? How much of the actual power of the risen Christ have you known during the past year? This is the real question of the “real presence.” Added to His presence is the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts is the account of what Jesus by His Holy Spirit wrought through His messengers, fulfilling His promise of Acts 1:8. All the power of all the nations of the world is as noth ing to the power of the Holy Spirit, and yet how much so-called “Christian work” is being attempted these days forgetful of, or ignoring, this fact. II. How Paul Obeyed the Command. Acts 16:6-15. This is a .striking illustration of the
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