Cleveland County herald., 1919-08-14

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 GOLDEN TEXT-Go ye into all tho world and preach the Gospel to every creature.-4dark 1915.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Matthew 2S:1S-20; Luke 2:45-5s; Acts 2612-20
 PRIMARY TOPIC-Helping everybody to know Jesus.
 JUNIOR TOPIC-The whole world needs Jesus
 INTERMEDIATE TOP1c-Talxing the gospel to the whole world
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Chris- tian missions aims and results.
 |. The Obligation of Missions {Mark 16:15).
 God saves men for a purpose. That purpose is to be laborers together with him in the salvation of others Christ's parting message, yea, his final con- mission to the disciples was, Go, preach the Gospel to every creature" This obligation still rests upon the church. Since the command is to preach the Gospel to every creature, this obligation will obtain as long 8, there is one unreached soul.
 II. The Power of Missions (Acts 1:S).
 This power is the supernatural in- ducement of the Holy Spirit. Mission ary endeavor without the Holy Spirit is doomed to failure. Power to witness for Christ is the purpose of the gift of the Spirit. Success will crown the efforts of those who go forth under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was not given pri- marlly to make Christians happy, but to make them strong to carry the Gospel to the heathen. However, those who go forth in this blessed serv- ice in the Spirits power are truly happy.
 III. The Scope of Missionary En- deavor (Acts 1 :S).
 The disciples were to begin their witnessing where they were when the Holy Spirit fell upon them-Jerusa- lem. But they were to go out from there to the "uttermost parts of the earth" This is the program for ev- cry disciple of Christ. Begin witness ing where Christ saves you, and then go to your neighbors next to you, and on to the remotest bounds of the earth. There is no such thing as "home mis- sions." except that you begin at home.
 W. The First Foreign Missionaries (13:1-14; 2S).
 l. Who they were (13:2). Bar nabas and Saul were selected-the very best two men in the church. The evangeliZation of the world is a task of such tremendous importance that it challenges the church to offer her best men and women. Since an institution is judged by it's representatives, it be- comes the church to put her most capa- ble men to the front.
 2. By whom sent (13:2, 4). The Holy Spirit chose these men and sent them forth to their work. The church at Antioch seemed to have deliberate 1 ly planned this missionary enterprise. It was after prayer and fasting that the Spirit ordered the church to send forth these missionaries. It should be | the business of the church to constant l ly seek the mind of God relative to sending forth laborers into the Lords vineyard. The Spirit calls and sends men forth, but he does this through the church.
 8. Some experiences of the first for eign missionaries:
 CD Withstood by Elymas the sor- cerer d3 :6-12). Elymas moved by the devil, sought to turn the mind of Sergi- us Paulus from the faith, thus barring the Gospel e it enters upon it's widest mission of salvation. The most vfl- lainous act which one can commit "a to turn a soul from the Gospel. (2). Worshiped as gods G4:S-fS). (a} The occasion tvv. S-10). God accompanied l the testimony of these missionaries by l his mighty power He wrought a mir ace through Paul. At his call the | inveterate cripple-one who had never walked-leaped up and walked. The cure was instant. (b) The method (vv. 11-13). They called Barnabas. Jupi- ter, and Paul Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. They declared that the gods had come down in the like ness of men, and they brought oxen and garlands to offer sacrifice. (c) Their efforts foiled (vv. 14-1S). 1. The mis- sionaries rent their clothes and ran in among the people, saying they were rot divine but beings of like passions with themselves. ?. They urged the people to turn to God. g. Paul stoned (vv. 19-22). Stirred up by wicked Jews from Antioch and Iconi- um, the rabble who a moment ago were worshiping are filled with satanic hate Doubtless Paul remembered Stephens experience. God raised him up and he went forth to discharge his duties as missionary. Such men of courage are needed today.
 Without Loyalty to Christ