Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-06-02


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. 15:35). These leaders
soon felt the need of revisiting the
scenes of their former labors (Y. 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,
50, see Acts 14:13). So sharp a 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. Ch. 1918. PauTs
companions for this second mission
ary tour were SiIas (15:40), Luke
tsee use of word 'we," V. 13), and
Timothy ". 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. Paul's 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 Paul's commission (9:15). The
word Asia" ". 81 means the Roman
province Of Asia and, wisely obeying
the Spirits direction, Paul passed on
until he came to the seaport town of
/ Trnoc a lo%a Do,,I
the word Of the Lord Jesus in Asia
with wonderful effect (19: /, s, 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 vacation, but
rather to seek new fields wherein to
preach. Thus he came to Troas. It
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.
Iis he MdCSQOnidn Oails ". S-1Os
Paul had several epochmaking Vi
sions; on the Damascus road (9:3,
and 26:19); in Jerusalem (23:11); 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 a resource was adequate
and available to supply that need.
This vision Paul saw: through it God
called him to Macedonia. We"
(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-
cian' was 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
all time be the secret of happy and
effective life. There is no progress
in mere metaphysical speculation
III. The Open Door, V. IA, Is. On
what seeming trifes does history
turn An outcast wandering Jew
coming to help proud, cultured, in
fuential 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 OF
Christ would soon result in commu-
( nifty uplift. On the other hand, a
J, faith which evaporates in words and
: does not give tangible, concrete evil
: dence in works may well be chal-
: lenged as to its being genuine. There
n was no supernatural direction as to
e 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 (v. IL R. W,
e but waited and watched for an oppor-
e tunity, doubtless praying much for a
+ favorable opening (Ch. 19: IA; 1872;
/ 1S:4). When they did begin it was
S in a most modest and humble way.
2. Not even in synogague-no crowd
called together by flaming advertise
ments; simply a company of obscure,
i praying women gathered according to
). Jewish custom, apart from the syna-
e gogue, by the side of running water.
The man of Macedonia" seems to
/ have been a woman unless we consider
Il the PhiIippian jailor. This open-air
I- 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. lit, IS;
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. ~
She went out to pray ". 49,. (2) She
heard the word w. 13, IA; see also
. John 5:24). 80 She had her heart
: opened by the Lord ". 14). (4) She
. gave heed to the things which were
spoken (v. Is and Mark 1870. (5)
She made public confession of her
newly-found faith by baptism.
!. (6) She carried with her the whole
). household, perhaps children, workers
: in her business and serva5ts (v. 81
So; Cor. 1:16).
The use of the word constrained
in verse 15 indicates heart hunger
to be helpful by being allowed tc
e serve.
/ The Pkilippian church often helped
4 Paul subsequently and doubtless Lydia
i was a leading spirit in such service
IS