Evening star., 1923-12-29

ary messages of the Bible. We have
traced Gods program from the call
Of Abraham to the elimination Of the
missionary endeavor in the universal
reign Of Christ Jesus. We have fol-
lowed the course of missionary prog
ress in both the Old and the New
Testaments.r We have noted that the
enterral purpose OF Jehovah, which
was revealed by the prophets, palm
lists. priests and potentates of the
Jewish dispensation. was identical
with the Program of Christ and His
commission to His church
One result OF the quarters studies
that has come to us is a correct
Christian conception of our national
and International relations. We have
found that missions were at the very
tap root or true religion, commerce
and civilization. Our studies have
convinced us that Gods program for
a new era, when all men, enjoying the
Fellowship of a spiritual life, Will be
united into brotherhood of friend
ship, love and service depends upon
the carrying out of the Masters mis-
sionary program.
Missions originated in the heart
of Jehovah. Out of his love for a
demoraliZed world was born his de-
sire to save men. Throughout all the
ages he has sent his missionaries,
who have pleaded with ignorant and
erring men as the Lords ambassa-
dors, beseechipg them "to be recon
ciled unto God" The geFnlinal idea,
which underlieS the missionary move
ment of today that seeks TO win the
world for Christ, has PROMPTED every
missionary who has responded to
Gods cali to- carry the message of
the Fathers love to the lost.
Abraham, Jehovah's friend, was the
first missionary, whose message we
considered. He heard the Divine
summons that called him TO leave
the degradation and decentralization
of the city Of Ur of the Chaldees to
enter upon missionary work. He
was inspired by the promise of His
seed multiply and becoming as hume
rous as 1.-The stars of heaven. Je-
hovah's program TO make of Abra-
ham a source of blessing to all man
kind was continued in Israel as
people. They were called to be
missionary nation. God made known
to them through Moses that their
mission was to unity all nations INTO
a spiritual brotherhood. Jehovah 10
Gated them at the most strategic
place in all the world at that hour
Palestine was the world center then
as America is today. There In the
midst of the nations. COD placed
Israel SO that His chosen nation
could make her spiritual con,rlou.
ton to mankind. 1t is Significant
In xhis connection to remember that
the only world wide religious, Juda-
ism, Mohammedanism and Christian :
ity, are all of Jewish origin. some
hold that in this religious contribu-
tion the nation has fulniIeu heI
spiritual mission.
The prophets caught the vision OF
Gods program for Israel and sought
TO keep the chosen loyal to Jehovah
especially in the hours of darkness
and despair. Isaiah gave what one
Christian philosophy of history. he
claimed for Jehovah OF an author-
ity over all nations, to use them as
instruments to work out dis proEi-
dence." The great prophet sough'
to influence the nation by MS states-
manship and spiritual efforts aions
lines that would make Israel 1ac'
tor. in working out world peace
The missionary messages of the pro-
phets was based upon the charactei
of God. They proclaimed the gospe
of Jehovah's light, love ana Ia" 70,
lived and the lessons they taugn'
Israel. especially when they were sur
feriug from the aftermaths or war
They. based their hope for 2 war.
less world upon a resenerallon Va
men and the renovation OF nature
through the grace of God ineS
hoped that Israel through her en-
deayours to exhibit in her nafloila
life the results of the high mora
ideals Of Jehovah would molo the
history of the world until the I'M
PIGMENTS of warfare would be trans
formed into those OF aSTicuieu Oh -"
Last tuesday, the world paused II
its rush to remember God Shl I.
men. The birth of our Lofa Is tn'
central point of all history. NO great
er event ever occurred in the Annals
of men than the advent of the Chris'
child in BethIehem's manger. Iht
world turns from it's course upon tht
anniversary of his birth ana pays
tribute to our Lord, who came as
missionary to reveal the Father
love for men.
catjonal missionary effort resulted II
the calling out His church, whom Ht
appoirlted to be missionaries 10 neil
win a lost world for their LORD: Al
though He endowed them with tnt
power of the Holy Spirit so as TO n
proclamation of the gospel. we saw
the church forgetting its mission
They tarried in Jerusalem ana eHl'
IDENTIFY started to make chrlstianitA
another sect of Judaism, until tht
fires Of persecution forced them ou'
of the capital city. When drfVen ps
trial they went everywhere preaching
the gospel Our lesson showed no"
the early church was gulded In en-
larginG its missionary actlVil1eS py
Ste phen'S work and preaching Wnici
brought on his death as martyr T
Phillip then came to the IIomf ;ne mi.e
his success in Samaria ana Wlhhihs
the Ethiopian official for Chrlst.
The success in establishing the
churches called for an inspection o.
the young communities ana the eH
tension of the right hand or feliow'
ship. We; follow Peter and saw no"
proyidentiaily he was guided 10 ac
cent the work done In Samaria ane
then among the gentiles through th'
gift of the Holy Spirit to Cornellus
We saw Christ's vital interest IN TN
welfare of the church by His conques
of Saul. the persecutor, upon ms
IN DESTROY the Christians in Damas
cus The conversion of Paul provided
the man trained and fitted for th'
extension of the work among the gen
tiles. The development OF the gentii'
church at Antioch ana MS summon
to he the associate of Barnabas IN th'
pastorate of the Antioch churcn open
missionaries to carry the gospel be
yond. we followed Paufs mission
ary work planting the principles o
Christianity in Europe and carryint
modern civilization to the strategi
centers of population, preparatory t
winning the world for Christ.
No one can study the lessons or tn'
quarter without recognizing the FAC
that missions Is the greatest business
| of life. 1t possesses greater resources
and has greater promise of success
than any other endeavour. Slowl;
hut surely through missionary worl
tbe lord Jesus has been changing
the current OF civilization and tn
destiny of men and nations. Whil sIl,
and the apparent successes wer
meager yet we are living in an hou
when the opportunity to win tn
| woria for Christ is the greatest eve
PRESENTED to Christian men.
nsla wnrld war which grew out o