Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-06-08


LESSON FOR JUNE 4.
THE CALL OF THE WEST.
LESSON TExT-Acts 1886; 1918.
GOLDEN TExT-Come over into Mace
donia and help us.-Acts 1853.
Following the commissions report
ct Antioch Of the decision of the Jeru.
salem church. Paul and Barnabas and
others continued their evangelism ia
that city (ch. 15:35). These leaders
soon felt the need of revisiting the
scenes Of their former labors ". 36),
but when 1t came to the organization
OF their party, Paul refused to accede
to the decision Of Barnabas that John
Mark should accompany them Tvs. 81,
80. see Acts 1913. So sharp a con-
tention o that two parties were or
ganized. That Paul later forgave
Mark is evidenced by his tender refer
ences to him.
!. A Closed Door. Oh. 1918. Paul's
companions for this second mission
airy tour were Silas (15:4O), Luke
tsee use Of word we" v. 49,, 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 Pauls commission (9:15). The
word Asia" w.. g. mean the Roman
province Of Asia and, wisely obeying
the Spirits direction. Paul passed on
until he came to the seaport town of
Troas. At a later time Paul spoke
the word of the Lord Jesus" in Asia
with wonderful effect (19: l, s, 10,
rs, 30. 1t must have burned within
the bones Of Paul thus to be re.
strained, but it did not serve as an ex.
s 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.
u. The Macedonian Call. v. s-13.
Paul had several epochmaking vi
sions; on the Damascus road 1913, 4
and 26:1s); in Jerusalem (23:11); at
the time Of his shipwreck (27:23), |
and the n 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. I'VE"
1.-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 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-
The vision amounted to a call,
and q response to Gods call must for
all time be the secret Of a happy and
effective life. There is no progress
mere metaphysical speculation.
III. The Open Door, v. IA, Is. On
seeming trifes does history
turn! An outcast wandering Jew
to help a proud, cultured, in
auential foreign city, but he bears the
Gospel which alone can be of help
20 them. Paul did not wait to 'in.
sestigate the field nor to establish
} working organization. He knew
| better point of contact, and that was
o find those in that city who knew
God even though ignorant of Christ,
He began by preaching Jesus, not |
religions. nor did he
eek to found community centers"
With soup kitchens and social uplift.
'aul knew that to elevate the individ.
lal by establishing him In the faith CT |
'hrist would soon result in commu-
lity uplift. On the other hand, q |
aith which evaporates in words and |
oes not give tangible. concrete evil |
in works may well be chal. |
enged as to its being genuine. There
'as no supernatural direction as to |
that part Of Macedonia Paul was to !
isit, and exercising his common |
ense, Paul went at once to the prin- |
ipal city. He did not begin at once
preach the Gospel ". ~ R. W, |
waited and watched for an oppor-
unity, doubtless praying much for |
opening (Ch. 13: IA; 1872;
Bad. When they did. begin it was |
q most modest and humble way. !
Not eve in a synogague-no crowd
aled together by flaming advertise
lents; simply a company Of obscure.
raying women gathered according to
swish custom, apart from the syna-
ogue, by the side Of running water"
The man Of Macedonia" seems to
i've been a woman unleAs we consider
Philippian jailor. This open.air
was one Of the most notable
history. The Lord opened the
,art Of pious Lydia and It was the
rnfnD mint of thoe vouuoJtv ~