Evening star., 1925-10-24

| that time. It's dissipation was due to
the presence of the temple of Diana.
which was 'one of the seven wonders
of the world
| When Christ ianity commenced its
career the pagan slories Of this great
city were at its height. The vast
| courts of the temple 20 Diana. which
was "342la feet long and l6l feet
wide, with its hundred columns So
! feet high" was usually filed with
Worshipers. who came from the ends
Of the empire 20 participate in its
worship. j. was so fearful and
wicked that Paul, when alludinG to its
degradation, said thai 1T is a shame
, even to speak of those things which
are done OF them in secret" He right
ly called them "the unfruitful works
OF darkness" although the city was
called the light of Asia
Laying Christian Foundations.
IIowson suggests that the first
seeds Of Christian truth were sown
at Ephesus Immediately after Pente
cost" While this is possible. yet
there is no evidence that Paul found
any disciples, much less an organized
church, when he passed through
Ephesus Or his way TO Antioch at the
close CT his second missionary jour
ney. He left Priscilla and Aquila
there to follow up the excellent i'm
preston THAI he had made on the
minds of the Jews by his address in
the synagogue. He recognized that
the city was the key 10 Asia and prom
Used TO return 10 Ephesus after he at
tended the coming feast AZ Jerusalem.
Having attended the passover and
visited Antioch and the Galatian
churches. he hastened over land to
commence one OF his longest periods
OF personal work and persua sive
preac ching. He succeeded in establish
ing a church tbat was second to none
OF the other apostolic churches in
influence and numbers. There is lit
tie told US concerning PaulS early
efforts OF evangeliZation, enlistment
and education.
During the apostles absence Apol-
los, a we'll educated and eloquent
AleXandrian Jew. had visited EphesuS.
The Ephesians. who had d thirst to
know God. and the Jews had been
pleased with his MESA ses concern
ing the coming Messiah. Aquila and
Priscilla by personal instructions con-
vinced him that Jesus was the Mes
siah. Paul just missed meeting him
az EphesuS, but he found q small
group of disciples. who may have been
won by Apollcs. since they knew only
Johns baptism. Their religion was
one Of repentance, without the illu-
minat ting touch of faith; of ethics,
without the transforming power of
! grace. They had open minds SO that
when Pau asked them Did YOU re-
ceive the Holy Spirit when you first
believed?" they replied. NO. we did
not even hear that there is a Holy
Spirit" When Paul made known unto
them the relation Of the Holy Spirit
to salvatio.. sanctiflcation and SER
vice. as he stated to them the sum
mar OF the gospel, they willingly
accepted the light and made public
confession OF their faith in the Lord
Jesus by being baptized in His name.
Then followed the laying on of hands
by the apostle, with the result that the
Holy Spirit caine upon them and they
began to speak with tongues and to
prophesy. The evidence of the Spirits
presence is lacking in the lives of
many profeSsed followers of the Christ
who can enjoy the privileges of
Christian life by taking the required
step. God is desirous of inparting to
ali the gift Of the Holy Spirit. but we
must be in the proper spiritual posi-
ton TO receive the power from on
high.
Paul supported himself by his trade
working from before daylight until
he had put in a good days work. He
then devoted his efforts at the time
men were in the habit of thinking
of home and recreation to advancing
ChriSt's kingdom. Priscilla and Aquila
shared his labors with him and he
was assisted in carrying on his mis-
-."-- -----------