July 1928
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should the Holy Spirit ever forbid a man to preach the Gospel anywhere? Simply because God knows the opportune time better than we do. Wait His time (see 19:1, 8, 10, 26, 27). Obeying the Spirit’s voice, they pro ceeded to Troas. “A vision appeared to Paul in the night” (v. 9). He saw a man of Macedonia, beckoning him to come over into Macedonia. Paul perceived this, dream to be of God and immediately he and Silas endeavored to go into, that country (v. 10). They reached Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and on the Sabbath strolled out of the city toward the river-bank where i they had heard that a. prayer meeting was . in progress. It turned out to be a women’s meeting; nevertheless the missionaries soon found opportunity to testify (v. 13), and a prominent woman named Lydia, a busi ness woman of Thyatira, was brought un der divine conviction and saved.' She and her whole household were baptized. This was the first convert on European -soil. The man of Macedonia turned out to be a woman. She was not even a na tive of Macedonia but of Thyatira, in Asia. The ship in which Paul and Silas had reached Macedonia, carried in it the seeds of all that has developed in Europe. The very elements, prospered the voyage, /and the course was direct. What an epoch-making meeting on that quiet river-bank that Sabbath morning! The Gospel stole upon Europe like the dawn and began in a women’s prayer meeting. Does it not pay to obey the heavenly;vision? How little do we know what may come out of a cottage prayer meeting? Despise not the day of small beginnings. Paul must have put much into that lit tle talk that morning (v. 14). It reminds- us of the earnestness of Jesus in dealing with the woman ,at the well. Many can not speak except before large audiences. Every occasion should be considered; unique. We should be our best, however small the audience. A youthful chicken fancier placed an ostrich egg before his- bantam hens. On the shell of the large egg, he printed: “Keep your eye on this- and dp your best.” Is there not a good hint here for all who serve God? “Keep your eye on Jesus and always do your best.” P ith and P oint Men who are called of God do not al ways work well together (15 :39), The marvel is that God can do any thing with the different kinds of material He has to work with. Some modern Marks who have no re spect for their engagements, need a jack ing up (15:38). God orders our stops as well as our .. steps :,'(16:6J§cf. Psa. 37:23). It is not enough to be in a good place doing a worthy work; we must be where God wants us when He wants us (16:7). A woman was the first convert on the continent where Christianity was destined to win its greatest victories (v. 15). When the Spirit won’t let you speak for Christ in one place, go to another (v. 9). Don’t try to dictate to God as to the method He shall use in guiding you (v. 10), Lose no time getting to the place where God has ordered you (v. 11). People may be shy of you even when you are called of the Spirit (v. 12).
The parting of Paul and Barnabas is recorded in the closing verses of chapter 15. This was a second painful incident. We may be thankful that the. Scripture writers do not withhold the facts. There is no coloring of the story, and this en courages us to believe we have an authen tic record. Even Paul was not placed upon a pedestal. Barnabas wanted to take Mark along on the second missionary journey. Mark was a cousin , to Barnabas.; (Col. 4:10) and no doubt Barnabas had an earnest desire to see his cousin engaged perma nently in Christian work. It is true that Mark had not stuck to his guns, but why shouldn’t he have another chance? . Paul was not willing tos risk Mark again (15: 38). Some find it very difficult to trust a man who has once failed to make good in Christian work. It is. possible to be come so stern as to' forget the spirit of the cross. ;Jesus trusted Peter—and who ever made worse shipwreck? It turned out that Barnabas was right in giving Mark another trial (2 Tim. 4:11), but', possibly Paul’s distrust may have helped to straighten Mark up. Thus those who are much condemned may turn out to be good helpers. “The contention was sharp between - Paul and Barnabas” (v. 39). The word for “contention” is paroxusmus, indi cating, to use a modern phrase, that they 1“had it hot and heavy;” A little fire sometimes kindles a hot blaze. They were both wrong in exhibiting temper and in not trying to understand each other’s viewpoints.' Great men, when over wrought, may become exceedingly un reasonable. God overruled and sent out two .mis sionary parties instead of one. “Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus; Paul chose Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia.” In chapter 16 we follow Paul and Silas to Lystra. Here they found young Timothy, who possibly was converted un der Paul on his former journey. Some imagine he. had seen Paul stoned, as Paul had seen Stephen stoned. Paul saw great possibilities in this youth and pressed him into the Lord’s, service., Paul thought it best, since Timothy was part Jew, to have him'circumcised (16:3). This seems like another case of incon sistency, since Paul had firmly maintained that- .circumcisioti was: not essential. Did not Paul refuse to allow Titus to be cir cumcised at Jerusalem (GaL 2 :3-5).i? Yes, but here we have a different case. Titus was a Greek, heathen-born. Those who demanded his circumcision did.'fit, upon the ground that a Gentile must sub mit to Jewish law before, he could become a Christian, thus making it essential to salvation. In this case, Paul was intoler ant in defenSe of a vital principle. Tim othy, being part Jew, would not have ac cess to the synagogues to preach the Gos pel, unless he could show that he had met the requirement. For the sake of winning Jews to Christ, Paul was tolerant of Jew ish prejudices. Bear in mind that this was in no way connected with his salvation. As the missionaries went through Phry gia and Galatia, they were “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia” (v. 6); God sometimes guides us by hindering us. We court failure when we try to jump the bars He puts up. He may as clearly guide us by a closed door as by an open one. We must know the Spirit’s leading if we would succeed. Why
FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTLINE
ILL TVSCERNED ORK J L J e LEGATED Concluding God had called. KSSjActs 15 :10.
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Christians. So the church chose some men to go with Paul and Barnabas and take the letter. Do you like to get let ters? You would if it was such a good letter as the one of our story. Finish telling how letter was received, and emphasize how difficulties often arise among Christians/: but we can talk and pray them over, and always remain true loving friends. (Prayer.) A ugust 19, 1928 Paul Carries the Gospel Into Europe Text: Acts 15:36-16:15 L esson in O utline I. The Peaceful Separation of Paul and Barnabas. Vs. 36-39. (Disagreement in Judgment.) II. Paul’s Second Missionary Tour. 15: 40-16:39. 1. First Stage of Journey through Syria and Cilicia. Vs. 40, 41. 2. Circumcision of Timothy and his Joining the Missionary Party. 16:1-3. 3. Delivery of Apostolic Letter and Confirmation of Disciples. Vs. 4, 5. 4. The Missionary Group Guided by the Lord. Vs- 6-8. 5: The Macedonian Call. Vs. 9, 10. - (Luke joined party here.,) 6. The Journey from TroUs to Philippi. Vs. 11, 12. 7. Conversion of Lydia®first European . Convert. Vs. 13-15. PAUL and Barnabas continued in Anti- ■och, teaching and preaching the Word (15:35). It was during this interval, ac cording to the order of Paul’s narrative, cropped .out, causing him practically to disown his recent interest in the Jerusa lem council, and to disregard its decision. Someone had put on the thumb-screws. Peter withdrew from the Gentiles and led others to do likewise, “fearing them whichwere ofthe circumcision.” Paul charged them! all with a lack of backbone and with promoting a divisive spirit at a critical time. The rebuke was apparently, effectual. Peter later refers to Paul as "our beloved brother Paul.” These tem porary defections cropping out in the lives of great men*perplex us. We need to be reminded that they are human. On the other hand, there is a warning here to the strongest and mostactive workers against compromising. that the strange con duct of Peter record ed in Gal. 2:11-21, occurred. Peter came to Antioch and Paul “withstood him to the face’’ Under pres sure f r o m Jews, Peter’s old cowardice
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