Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-05

our Lord shared the good news
with His disciples. He taught the
members of the Apostolic College. who
had responded to His invitation to
learn how to take men alive" by
following Him. the full gospel OF sal
walton and the art of winning others
for His cause. They were masters Of
His message, methods, and motives
when He ordered them to tarry in
Jerusalem until they were endowed
with power from on high. Pentecost
transformed them all into earnest,
efficient evangelists. whose ministry
was blest with such success that
Christianity made great progress in
Jerusalem. This called for the ap-
pointmeft Of deacons to minister untb
the needy members of the rapidly
growing church. stephen and Philip
head the list OF those selected by the
church.
Due To the preaching Of stephen
great persecution broke out over his
Interpretation of the good news. File
paid the penalty OF death for his bold
Interpretation and successful debat.
ing lin the so-calied Synagogue of
the Freedmen Following the death
of the first martyr all the members,
with the exception OF the apostles.
were scattered throughout Judea and
Samaria." Philip. having heard with
out doubt OF the Lords Interview with
the Samaritan woman at the well and
the number who believed the Lords
claim to be the Messiah, commenced
to preach the good news in a city of
Samaria, probably Sycha. Crowds
that heard him and witnessed his
marvellous works of healing were won
for Christ.
Found Century. Old Barriers.
In entering Samaria, Philip had to
overcome religious and racial barriers
of centuries standing. He was obey
ing the Lords commands. who ordered
that His gospel should he preached
first in Judea. then In Samaria, be-
fore an attempt should he made to
win the world. Not only Philip but
all the members did personal work
in spreading the story of Gods re-
deeming love revealed in the cruel
fixion of the Lord Jesus. None but
man of strong faith and convictions
would have tried to do that piece of
home missionary work among the
Sauna ritans, who were q mixed race
and at times denied even the posses
sion of any Jewish blood.
Aside from overcoming the barrier
OF race and religion, Philip proposed
that they accept virtually the Jewish
claims by presenting unto them Jesus,
"a Jew and crucified one at that"
as the Messiah. He would never have
preached to them that the Master was
the Messiah IL he had not had q per.
sonal experience OF His saving power.
The first element of success in win
ming others TO the Lord IL a personal
experience of the JOY of His salvation.
that every Christian imparts by his
daily life, as we'll as by his speech
and service. Philips gospel was
backed up by his life. He followed the
leadership of the Holy Spirit in enter
ing Samaria and leaving a successful
campaign, which had overcome the
opposition OF Simon, the sorcerer. who
had control of the city by his hypno-
tism, to 60 to the desert.
Missions Begin at Home.
We have no record of any of Philips
preaching In Samaria. but 1t prpba.
bly, was along the lines he used in
preaching Christ to the treasurer
of Ethiopia. when the evangelist
preached Christ to him from the pas
sage that he was reading. when, ODE
dent to the Holy Spirits command,
he glued himself" to the oficial's
chariot. He found, just ~ Jesus did, at
the nearby we'll a point of contact,
and from that revealed unto them
Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He.
without doubt, spoke of the Masters
many references to the Samaritans
and quoted His parable about the good
Samaritan. His success in home mis-
sionary work ought to influence us
to try and win by sympathetic atti.
tude the unsaved foreigner at our
door. The presence of go many from
other lands in our country makes 1t
possible that we can do foreign mis-
sion work here for Christ and His
church by winning those who come
to us from the foreign lands without
knowledge Of the Savior's love and
grace.
Paul. whose conversion started with
the death of Stephen. reveals the mo.
tive that prompts evangelistic en-.
deavor. Humanity's greatest need
today II the possessing of a motive
that will MI them withs q. passion
for holiness In their daily life and a
sovereign motive that will keen one
in service continuously and constant.
~. The test of ones life Ia found in
the motive that inspires our actions
The supreme motive OF Christia nity Ia
found In the constraining power Of
Christs love. This Paul reveals in
that portion Of his letter to the Co
rinthtans assigned for our study this