Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-06

Golden Text: eye shall be my
Witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in
all Jude1 and SaInaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the EARTH" Acts
1:9.
When the members of the assem-
bly, at Antioch saw the grace of God
as revealed in the conversion and
salvation of the Gentiles at Antioch,
working such complete reforma-
ton in their lives, it occurred to
them that that same marvellous
grace might do similar things for
the Gentiles in other lands. AT Je-
rusalem some ten years before this,
Saul had been told by God that he
would send him far thence unto the
Gentiles. AS they were worshipping
and fasting and thinking of their
lion sin-laden inhabitants, the Holy
Spirit said to the leaders Of the
chuch, 'Seperate to me, now at once,
Barnabas and Saul. for the work to
which L have called them"
That was d, rather remarkable
group of prophets and teachers
Barna bas heads the list and Saul is
the last of the five named Slmeon
whose Roman name was Niger-Si-
mon Black, may have been one of
the black Jews. d whole tribe OF
which is now living in Abysslnia and
Tor VIII Jm SpeclaI missionary work
is now being done; or he may have
taken the Roman surname from some
other circumstances. Luclus or
Cyrene, may have Deen one OF the
original CyrenianS who mad gone
outside OF Jewish bounds to tell the
glad story OF the love and grace OF
Christ. And Manaen, who was a
foster brother OF HerOd ~. AnClpaS,
the Herod, who had caused the head
OF John Baptist to be brought to
his paramOur on plate; the Herod
to Wnom Jesus LID referred as That
fox" This hel Cd and Mdnaen had
been nursed from the same breast,
had grown UP under the same en-
Vironment; but now different had
been the result, for Manaen had been
the recipient OF the grace OF God by
yielding to His Spirit. Grace is al
ways greater IMAM environment.
What a cosmopolitan group! BAN
abas from Cyprus; Simeon Niger
from some unknown part, LucIus
from way off Africa; Manaen OF
royal rearing, and Saul OF Tarsus.
1t was this group, mixed, but re-
cipients OF Coos grace, That the
Holy Spirit spoke, calling for forty
per cent in quantity OF their num-
per, but tor quality the very best,
not to be measured by percentages.
1t was no doubt d great sacrifice the
"A
make. They might easily have ar
gueu the great need OF the half
million people of that unSpeakably
wicked city, of the difficulties their
own church would have II the best
were taken. But there is none OF
that spirit of selfishness. The sim
pie, but inspiring language Is so,
after fasting and prayer and the
laying on OF hands, they let them
60"
Putting Them Forth
There is a very interesting thing
to be noticed IN the change Oh the
Greek verbs in verses and 4. In
verse 3, referring to the church, 1t
is, they let them go; in verse 4,
referring to the Holy Spirit, it is
sent out" 1t was the Holy Spirit
which broke into the delightful work
Barnabas and Saul had been having
for a whole year in Ant jcei1a a4 40
continue until all Antioch was saved;
it was the Holy Spirit which spoke
to the prophets and teachers as they
were WorSnlpping and fasting. II
was the Holy Spirit (not the church)
which sent them forth on their jour,
ney. The church just let them go,
did not resist the Holy Spirit. Inc
churchs part is passive, IN actively
Obeying. Here is the clue we need
today. In practically every field
there are fewer leaders than before
the war, and the opportunities were
never so great as today In one
great denomination in this country
there are 500 churches without a
pastor and 81 per cent more minis
ters died last year than entered the
ministry. Can this need be supplied?
Does God care? His plan is prayer.
He has no other plan. Pray We,
therefore the Lord of the harvest
that He would thrust forth labor
ers into His harvest" AS they
were praying, He said, Separate
me, etc. Christians, Christs men
and women, descendants by faith of
those who were first called Chris
tians, shall we not adopt Gods plan
and follow their example? If you
pray, God may be gracious enough
to call your own son or daughter
AG Cyprus
He went down the Orontes SIX
teen miles to the, coast, and LOOK X
! ship at Seleucia, for Cyprus. This
was the home of Barnabas, and 1t
was most natural that he should
have desired his native people to
have the blessings of the grace OF
| God. Saul had already evangellzed
! his own home country. They land I'd
at Solamis in the southeastern end
| of the island. Here were great
numbers Of Jews C'synagogues, V. 81
! to whom they gave the gospel mes
| sage! Here in later years Barnabas
! was martyred and buried. The re-