The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-05-30

donia and help us.--Acts 1879
Following the commissions report
at Antioch of the decision of the Jeru-
salem church, Paul and Barnabas and
others continued their evangelism in
that city (ch. 1888. These leaders
soon felt the need of revisiting the
scenes of their former labors ". 36),
but when it came to the organization
OF their party, Paul refused to accede
to the decision of Barnabas that John
Mark should accompany them Tvs. 81.
SO, see Acts 14:13). So sharp con-
tention arose that two parties were or
ganized. That Paul later forgave
Mark is evidenced by his tender refer
ences to him.
!. A Closed Door. Oh. 16:1:S. Pauls
companions for this second mission
airy tour were Silas (15:4O), Luke
(see use of word we v. 49,, and
Timothy w. 1-3). The latter came of
good ancestry, had good training and
was of good report, still to avoid con-
tention he submitted to the rite of
circumcision. Pauls work was to
promulgate the Jerusalem decree, to
establish or to confirm the churches
and to add to these churches new con-
verts. But that did not entirely full
fill Pauls commission (9:15). The
word Asia" (v. g. means the Roman
province Of Asia and, wisely obeying
the Spirits direction, Paul passed on
q 90 IN tIn npff Of
Troas. AT later time Paul spoke
the word of the Lord Jesus" in Asia
with wonderful effect 90: /, 8, 10,
26, 20. 1t must have burned within
the bones of Paul thus to be re-
strained, but it did not serve as an eX-
cuse for him to take a vacation, but
rather to seek new fields wherein to
preach. Thus he came to Troas. 1t
must have appeared strange at the
time, but God was working out larger
plans for his faithful servant and for
the advancement of his infant church.
In this connection it is suggestive
(see Revised Version), that the name
given to the Spirit is the Spirit of
Jesus indicating his nearness to and
directions in every advance step.
II. The Macedonian Call. v. 9-13.
Paul had several epochmaking vi
sions; on the Damascus road 1913, 4
and 26;10; in Jerusalem (23:1D; at
the time of his shipwreck (27:23),
and the one we are now considering.
A vision is a knowledge of the need
and Of the resources at ones COM
mand. Grecian beauty, philosophy,
art and culture needed Christ.
Christ as resource was adequate
and available to supply that need.
This vision Paul saw: through it God
called him to Macedonia I'VE"
(the first use of that pronoun in the
book of Acts, Paul and Luke, imme-
diately essayed to obey. Tradition
tells us that Luke 'the beloved physi-
clan" was a native of Antioch and
had met Paul at the university of Tar
sus.
The promptness with which these
men responded is worthy of empha-
sis. The vision amounted to a call,
and response to Gods call must for
effective life. There is no progress
in mere metaphysical speculation.
III. The Open Door, v. IA, Is. On
what seeming trifles does history
turn! An outcast wandering Jew
coming to help proud, cultured, in
fiuential foreign city, but he bears the
Gospel which alone can be of help
to them Paul did not wait to ''in-
vestigate the field nor to establish
working organization. He knew
better point of contact, and that was
to find those in that city who knew
God even though ignorant of Christ
He began by preaching Jesus, not
comparative religions, nor did he
seek to found community centers"
with soup kitchens and social uplift
Paul knew that to elevate the individ-
ual by establishing him in the faith CT
Christ would soon result in commu-
nifty uplift. On the other hand, a
faith which evaporates in words and
does not give tangible, concrete evil
dence in works may well be chal-
lenged as to it's being genuine. There
was no supernatural direction as to
what part Of Macedonia Paul was to
visit, and exercising his common
sense, Paul went at once to the prin-
cipal city He did not begin at once
to preach the Gospel ". II R. VI,
but waited and watched for an oppor-
tunity, doubtless praying much for a
favorable opening (Ch. 10: IA; 17:2;
18:4). When they did begin it was
in a most modest and humble way.
Not even in a synogague--no crowd
called together by flaming advertise
ments; simply company of obscure,
praying women gathered according to
Jewish custom, apart from the syna--
gogue, by the side of running water"
The man of Macedonia" seems to
have been a woman unless we consider
the Philippian jailor. This open-air
meeting was one of the most notable
in history. The Lord opened the
heart Of pious Lydia and it was the
turning point of the evangelization Of
Europe and America and the world.
God must open the hearts Of men and
women John 6:44, As; Eph. III, IL;
Luke 24:45), and this he is willing
and glad to do. The steps OF this
woman's conversion are clearly
marked and present good type Q)
She went out to pray ". 49,. CD She
heard the word ". 13, IA see also