The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-06-03

et Antioch Of the DECISION OF IN" Jeru--
salem church. PAU and harnabas and
others continued their evangelism IN
that city DcH. 1850. Thcs" leaders
soon felt Ia" need OF rcylsItIng the
scenes rt their former labors Is. 80,
b., when il came 60 the organization
al their party. Pau refused 20 aocede
10 the decision of Iaruabas that John
Mark should accompany them 'ys -.
as. s,e Acts lf.iaJ. 80 sharp con
tentIOn arose that two parties were or
gained. That Paul later Iorgave
Mark is evidenced by his tender reiec-
euccs t. him.
/. A Closed Door. On. 1918. Paul.s
companions Tor this second mission
any tour were Siias tl@:iO'. Luke
lsrc use OF word we, Y I3', and
Timothy ~. 10. The latter came Of
good ancestry. had good training and
was OF good report. still 10 avoid con
tentiOn he submitted 70 the rite OF
circumcision. PauIs work was to
prOmulgatc the Jerusalem decree. 10
establish or TO confirm the churches
and 20 add to these churches new con
verts. But that did not entirely full
fill Pauls commission t9:l5D. The
word Asia" ~ 81 means the Roman
province of Asia and, wisely Obeylng
the Spirits direction, Paul passed on
until he came to the seaport town of
Troas. At a later time Paul spoke
a. Ain,
with wonderful effect Cl9: |. ). ~.
&c. "a. Ii must have burned within
the bones of Paul thus to be re-
strained, but il did not serve as an eX-
Cuse for him Ia take vacation. but
rather to seek new fields wherein to
preach. Thus he came TO TrOas. II
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.
Paul had several epochmaking vi
sions; on the Damascus road 1913, 4
and 2G:19); in Jerusalem (23:1D; at
the time of his shipwreCk t27:23D.
and the one we are now considering.
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"
Cthe 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 tor
all time be the secret of happy and
tlltCllbe lilt. mere 10 uO plOSlt S'
In mere metaphysical speculation.
~. The Open Door, V. IA. 10. On
what seeming trities does history
turn, An Outcast wandering Jew
coming to help a proud. cultured, in
fiuential foreign city, but be bears the
Gospel which alone can be of help
to them. Paul did not wait to in
vestigate the field nor TO establish
a working organization. He knew
a better point of contact, and that was
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 uplft
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, {
faith which evaporates in words anC
does not give tangible. concrete evi
dence in works may well be Chal
lenged as to its being genuine. There
was no supernatural direction as t
what part of Macedonia Paul was t,
visit, and exercising his common
sense, Paul went at once to the prln
cipal city. He did not begin at ono,
to preach the Gospel ". l. r. W
but waited and watched for an oppOr
tunity. doubtless praying much for f..
favorable opening och. Il: IA. 17:2
1870. When they did begin it wa.
in most modest and humble way
Not even in a synoCaEue-nO Grove
called together by flaming advertise
ments, simply company OF obscure
praying women gathered according &
b Jewish custom, apart from the syna
gOgue. by the side of running water
The man of Macedonia seems L
have been a woman unless we conside
the Philippian jailor. This opcn-ai
meeting was one OF the most nOtahl,
I'm history. The Lord opened tn,
heart Of pious Lydia and il was th,
turning point of the eyungelization %
Europe and America and the world
God must open tho hearts of men an,
women John GA. A.. Eph. III, Is
LUX" $3.50, and this he is willnl
ana glad 10 do. The steps Of THU
T,man'a conversion are Clcarl,
marked and present a good type. Il
HhH went out 10 pray ". 49,. 90 Sh,
heard ia" word ~. l3. "A: see alst