Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-08-20

PRIMARY TOP1C-PauIs Wonderful
Vision.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Paul Called to Eu-
rope.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Macedonian Call and What 1t
Led To.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Hand of God in Missions
!. Forbidden by the Holy Spirit to
Preach the Word in Asia wv. $50.
The inclination of Paul and his COM
panions was to tarry in the provinces
OF Asia Minor preaching the Word,
but contrary to their inclination they
were hurried along There were many
people in Asia who yet needed the
Gospel. They might have reasoned.
what difference would it make where
we preach so the Gospel is preached?
We have here fine lesson on Divine
guidance The Holy Spirit is as active
and faithful In closing doors as in
opening them. "The stops as well as
the steps Of good men are ordered
of the Lord" We ought as truly TO
recognize Gods hand in the "shut-ins'
as in the open outs"
u. The Call to Macedonia (vv. 9-12).
The Gospel having broken the con-
fines of the Jewish city and country.
the middle wall of partition having
been abolished, the time has come for
it to leap across the Aegean sea and
nent. Christianity thus ceased to be
an oriental religion, and through the
centuries has been mainly occidental.
/. The Vision ". 81.
Being hemmed in ON all sides,
vision was given to Paul of a man
of Macedonia pleading for help. This
made plain to him the closed doors
about him. In finding the Divine will
we should look both ways. Before
there can be any great forward move
ment, there must be a vision. There
is no victory without a vision.
2. The Advance wv. 1929
As soon as the Divine way was
known, they moved forward therein.
Visions must be quickly translated,
and aggressive action taken or else
they are bIotted from our skies. Paul
never questioned the wisdom of God
nor delayed action. This is character
istic of all Gods true servants. With
a straight course. Paul moved out of
his own country to the strategic center
of. new continent.
Ill. The First Convert in Europe
(vv 1870
The missionaries first went to Phil
ippi and spent several days in
studying conditions there. The Jew
ish element in this city was com
paratively insignificant SO much so
that they could not have a synagogue
Therefore. the devout people were ac-
customed to worship by the river side
To this humble gathering Paul came
and preached to the women assembled
there. A certain woman from Thyatira
named Lydia, proselyte, believed his
message and was baptized The steps
in Lydia's conversion are worthy of
note, for they are TYPICAL:
1. Attendance at the Place of Wor-
ship w. 13).
Usually those whom God is calling
are found at the place of prayer Lydia
was a woman of wealth. culture and
wide experience, and yet she had need
Of Christ. She was seeking the
heavenly light. God sends many an in
quirer TO the prayer meeting.
.. Listening to the Preaching Of
the Word of God wv. 1910.
The instrument used in the CONVEX
sion Of sinners is the Word of God.
Faith cometh by hearing. and hear
ing by the Word of God" (Rom 10:1O.
1t IS highly important that at every
prayer meeting the Word of God shall
be spoken so that the inquirer after
God may find the light
3. Her Heart Was Opened by the
Lord ". 14).
Only the Lord can convert a SOUL
1t is our business to preach the Word
Of God, and it is Gods business to
open the heart of the inquirer Re-
generation is a supernatural work.
When the Gospel is preached the Spirit
of God opens the sinners heart for
the reception Of Christ
4. she was Baptized ". 10.
Every one whose heart the Lord has
opened desires to confess Him in bap-
tism. Baptism is an outward sign of
inward grace.
3. Her Household Believed ". 15.)
Real conversion cannot be concealed.
When one is converted those in the
house will find it out
g.. Practical Hospitality ". 49,
Those who have experienced Gods
saving grace are thus disposed to have
part in His work BY rendering aid to
His ministers.
True Humility