Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-16
DIR. MARION MICH. HULL.

The gospel was brought into Europe
first by four men, Paul. Silas, Timothy
and Luke. They landed at Neapolis and
made their way to Philippi, the most i'm
portant city in that district and a Rom
an colony. Had there been enough Jews
there to form a synagogue these mis-
sionaries would have undoubtedly fol-
lowed their usual plan of going to speak
10 them first. In some way they learn
ed that there was a small group of peo-
pie who met outside of the city near the
water for prayer so the missionaries
joined them and spake the Word of God
to them.
THREE TYPES.
Amongst the number was woman Of
wealth whose home was i'm Thyatira,
who had come to Philippi to increase her
stock of purple, in which she dealt. Her
life had been bost exemplary and all she
needed to make it complete was the in
dwelling presence of the Christ. The
Lord opened her heart and He, who had
been knocking at the door all this time,
entered, bringing her everlasting life.
She insisted on the missionaries accept
ing the hospitality of her home as long
as they were in the city. for 1t is prob
able that Paul found little market for
his tents and was i'm need
Just how long they stayed in Philippi
we DO not know. but we do know that in
going to and fro they encountered every
day a poor wretched girl who had once
been all that she ought to be; but she
had taken a downward course and had
given herself up to evil. Under the in
fluence of this spirit of the evil one she
would prophesy; and her masters used
for gain, receiving money for having her
tell the fortunes of as many as they
could inveigle.
As Paul and his friends passed her each day
she would cry out in loud voice. These men
servants Of the most high God who show
the way Of salvation" She knew the truth
but not Welding to it. and therefore. u
was not doing her any good. This went on day
after dnv until Paul could stand it no longer.
The testimony Of such a witness was not worth
much to them (nor Is the testimony of some
witnesses TODAY who know the truth hut who do
not Yield thelr lves to ~ ana then Pan
heart was bleeding in nifty for the moor girl
herself. One tlav when she had spoken he
turned end commanded the snirit in the name Of
Jesus Christ to come ont of her. She yielded.
became normal, prophesying no longer, and was
cured.
Ver conversation was the direct cause Of Paul
and Sias heina cast into prison. luke and
Timothy escaned probably because they had not
had any nublic work to do and not 90
well known to the crowd ms members of th'S
party. Paul and Sias. however. without trin'
were beaten. bound in the stocks and cast into
| inn~r n~ison. Whiln the Of God vc~'
bound the Word of God not. At midrieI'
thpv ved and praises unto God. While
thew were singirT and tn" other prisoners wer'
Hstnnin" aarthnuake shook th@ v"rv foundn
tionS &c tn" prison. shaking the ha"s which
closed ~" H"ors and lo0sen'nT the "hnins frotN
tho w"f The Jar woke M the tailor who dre,v
his sword and aboat to commit suicid"
L~owino th"f ~ the nrisone~s had ascan"d his
life would not he worth ANYTHING But he was
rnstrain"d hv Paul, who called out to him TO 40
himself no h"rm that they were all thers
Casting himself Mt PauTs feot ho cried 'Whn y
must 7 do to he saved 2" Paurs was
| Relieve in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
snall ne saved ana INV mouse. lie dld o'-
lieve: he ives hantized and showed p complete
change i'm his life bv the way In which ha be-
haved towards the prisoners. Instead IT treat
ing them cruelty like he had done. he batheh
their backs and anointed their wounds hroro',
thom into his apartments and fed them. Alto
explaining to them little bit more fully. tn"
/ Tailor and his whole family wer~ baptized there
/ in the hall between midnight and morning.
And so have here three different typt'
| Of conversion Every one is not born into tho
kingdom the same way. lydia had to Simply
! open her heart to receive Christ to make her
/ life complete. The girl had to get rid Of the
demon which possessed her and stop fortune
telling whereas the Tailor had to give up his in
/ fidelity and believe in the Christ who was pre-
scented to them by the prophets.
THREE PHASES.
But here is the good news-the gospel Is
/ still good news. It. makes no difference how
| strong the power Of the devil is over any IN
| dividual or individuals, that power can be bro
| ken, and always is broken by the power of
| Christ. Nor is II broken N any other way. The
| devil was defeated and the girl was cured.
Tho devil was defeata and the tailor gave up
/ his cruelty. ] 10 not know whether the mag
1 istrate or the masters became members of the
| Philippian church not. but l should not be a.
| all surprised If they did Certainly they could
have been delivered from the power OF them
/ selves and the devil had they accept the invi-
! tation which Paul gave taem.
DO not let yourself ne deceived in thinking
! there is only one way 10 be converted. There
| is only one way of salvation. but there are just
| as many WAYS of being converted as there are
| individuals, because the devil exerts his infln-
ence over each one in IN individual way. Let
| Christ into your life and whatever influence
! the devil Is exerting upon YOU today will ~
conquered 1t may be unwilngness or selfish
ness. or impotence, or anger. or greed. or
what not: II may be just Incompetence like
| Lydias, but what you need is Jesus Christ