The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-02

Following the commissions report
al Antioch OF the decision Of the Ieru-
salem church. Paul and Barnabas and
others continued their evangelism In
that city (ch. 1880. These leaders
soon felt the need Of revisiting tho
scenes OF their former labors ". 3e),
but when II 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). 50 sharp q con-
tention arose that two parties were or.
ganlEed. That Paul later forgaye
Mark is evidenced by his tender refer.
ences to him.
!. A Closed Door. Oh. 1918. Pauls
companions for this second mission.
airy tour were sllas (15:40), Luke
tsee use of word we" v. 49,, and
Timothy ". 49,. 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 WIS to
promulgato 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.
all Pauls commission (s: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
Troas. At later time Paul spoke
the word Of the Lord Jesus" in Asia
with wonderful effect ne: /. 8, 10,
2s. 2D. It 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 be came to Troas.
u. Tho M ;edonlnn Call. v. s.13.
Paul had s.veral epochmaking vi.
sions; on the Damascus road (s:3, a
and 2s:1s); In Jerusalem (2a:1l); at
the time Of his shipwreck (27:23),
and the one We are now considering.
A vision Is knowledge Of the need
and Of the resources. at ones com.
mand. Greclan 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 Macedon I'VE"
1.-THE first use Of that pronoun in the
book Of Acts). Paul and Luke. imme.
diately essayed to obey.
III. Tho Open Door. '. IA. Is. On
what seeming trifes does history
turn! An outcast wandering Jew
coming to help q proud, cultured, in.
1uential foreign city. but he bears the
Gospel which alone can be Of help
to them. Paul did not wal. to "in.
vestigate the field" nor to establish
o working Organization. He knew
better point & 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, Q
faith which evsporates In words and
does not give tangible, concrete evi.
dence in works may well be chal.
lensed as to Its 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 1nce to the prin.
cipal city. He did not begin at once
to preach the Gospel ". Il R. W,
but waited and watched for N oppor.
tunity, doubtless praying much for q
favorable opening (ch. 10: Il: 17:2;
1870.
The man of Macedonia" seems to
have been q woman unless we consider
the Philippian Tailor. Th' 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 8:44. As; Eph. 1:17, 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,. (a) She
heard the word ". Is. Il; see also
John $3.50. (g She had her heart
opened BY the Lord ". ~. ~ She
gave heed to the things which were
spoken" ". 10 and Mark 1919. (5)
She made public confession Of her
nevly.found faith BY baptism.
ts) She carried with her the whole
household, perhaps children. workers
tn her business and servants ". 81
%; I Cor. 1870.
The use Of the word Constrained"
In verse Is indicates q heart hunger
TO be helpful BY being allowed to
serve.
The Phiiippian church often helped
Paul subsequently and doubtless Lydia
was o leading spirit In such service.
The history Of The Christian church
relates many Illustrators Of the lead.
Eship and prominsnes q women Of
wealth and culture.