Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-08-24

YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Paul Carries the Gospel to Europe.
/. Forbidden by the Holy Spirit to
Preach the Word wv. So.
We have here d lesson on divine
guidance. The inclination Of Paul
and his companions was to larry in
the provinces Of Asia preaching the
word. but contrary to their inclination
they We're INJURED e'ong. They might
have reasoned What difference would
il make as to where We preach, just
SD the Gospel is preachsd?' Though
seemingly small, the question as to
whether the Gospel should be
preached among the people in the
East or in the West has determined
the entire history Of the church. Had
thay preached among the people in
the, East Christianity would never
have become worldwide On the other
hand by laying hold upon the Grecian
intellect and combining with it the
push and energy of the Romans, it
became worldwide. In the guidance
Of the Spirit we find Him just as ac-
tive and as faithful in closing doors
as in opening them The stops as
wen as the steps of good man are
ordered of the Lord" We ought TO
as truly recognize Gods hand in the
"shut-ins" as well as in the open
outs"
II. Called to Macedonia wv. 9-1G).
A vision was given to Paul of man
from Macedonia pleading for help.
This was the solution of the mystery
of closed doors about them. There is
a negative and a positive side to the
Spirits guidance. If we will note
both we shall be able to determine
with a surety the proper course Of &C
ton In order to be led Alright we
must be sure that we are willing TO
be led, pray definitely for leading and
then render willing obedience as fast
as the light comes As soon as the
divine way was known they rendered
immediate obedience.
III. The First Convert in Europe
wv 1870.
The missionaries went 10 Philippi
The Jewish element in this City-waS
very insignificant; SO much SO that
they could not afford a synagogue
therefore the devout people we've &C
customed to worship at the river side
To this humble gathering Paul came
and preached to the women gathered
there. A certain woman from Thy
atira believed his message, and was
baptized Lydia was a woman OF
wealth, culture, and wide experience
and yet she had need of Christ. The
steps in Lydia's conversion are worthy
of note:
/. Attendance at the place of prayer
(v. 13). This is the case with mos
people who are saved.
.. Listened to the preaching of thu
word of God wv. 12-1D. The inStru
ment used by the Holy Spirit in The
conversion of sinners is the word o
God. Faith cometh by hearing. ant
hearing by the word of Cod R0m
10:1O.
8. Her heart was opened by thu
Lord ". 10. Regeneration is a SUI
pernatural work. When the Gospe
is preached the Spirit of God makes
it living and active, opening the sin
ners heart for the reception of Christ
T. She was baptized ". 49,, 1t i
natural for the one who believes il
Christ to desire to be baptized.
5. Her household also believed
". 15). Thus we see that hers wa
a typical conversion.
~. A Spirit Of -Divination Cast on
wv. 1919.
As the missionaries went out from
day to day to the place of prayer the.
were accOsted by young woman pos
sesSed by a spirit of divination. Sh,
was owned by syndicate of men VIII,
derived large gains from her Sooth
saying. This act of the woman be
came a great annoyance to Paul who
in the name of Jesus Christ. com
handed the evil spirit to come out
Here is case of a spiritual medium
a fOrtune-teller, being freed from de
moniacal possession. Many men to
day are making money by the degra
dation of womanhood, and they resen
all efforts TO destroy their inferno
business, even try to destroy thos'
who Interfere with their business
Here as everywhere Satan blocks tn,
way as the Gospel of Christ is car
ried into new fields, but the Lord il
again triumphant.