The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-06-01
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNIlNSCI1O0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR JUNE a.
THE CALL OF THE WEST.
(By D. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course Of the Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago.)
Copyright 1915. Western Newspaper Union.)

| LESSON TEXT-Acts 1886; 1915.
GOLDEN TExT-Come over into Mace
donia and help us.--Acts 1919.
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 ". 36),
put 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,
SO, see Acts 14:13). SO sharp 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. Oh. 1918. Paups
companions for this second mission
ary tour were Silas (15:4O), Luke
(see use Of word "we,' v. 1S), and
Timothy ". 1-3). Tho 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" ". g. means the Roman
province of Asia and, wisely obeying
the Spirits direction, Paul passed OH
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 (19: 1, s, 10,
26, 2D. 1t must have burned within
the bones Of Paul thus to be re.
strained, but it did not serve as an en-
cuse for him to take vacation, but
rather to seek new fields wherein to
preach. Thus he came to Troas.
u. The Macedonian Call. v. 9-19.
Paul had several epochmaking vi.
sions; on the Damascus road (9:3, 4
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 knowledge Of the need
and Of the resources at ones com.
mand. Grecian beauty, philosophy
art and culture needed Christ
Christ as resource was adequate
and available to supply that need
This vision Paul saw through 1t 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.
| III. The Open Door, ". II, Is. On
| what seeming trifes does history
turn! An outcast wandering Jew
coming to help proud, cultured, in.
huential 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
q working organization. He knew
q 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
fa1th which evaporates in words and
does not give tangible, concrete eyi.
dence In works may we'll be chal-
lenged 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 once to the prin.
cipal city. He did not begin at once
to preach the Gospel ". IL r. W,
but waited and watched for an oppor-
tunity, doubtless praying much for
favorable opening (Ch. 13: ID; 17:2;
18:O.
The man Of Macedonia" seems to
have been woman unless we consider
the Philippian jailor. This open.air
meeting was one Of the most notable
In history. The Lord opened the
heart Of pious Lydia and 1t was the
turning point Of the eyangelization Of
Europe and America and the world.
God must open the hearts Of men and
women John 6:44, IS; Eph. 1:17. 18;
Luke 24:45), and this he is willing
and glad to do The steps Of this
womans conversion are clearly
marked and present good type. U)
She went out to pray ". l3). (2) She
heard the word ". 13, ID; see also
John 5:2D. 60 She had her heart
opened by the Lord ". 14). (4) She
gave heed to the things which were
spoken" ". 13 and Mark 16:16). (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 servants (y. 81.
33; Cor. 1910.
The use OF the word constrained"
III verse 15 indicates a heart hunger