The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-10-01

when Paul reached the city of
Troas on the shores OF the Aegean
Sea.
THE OPEN DOOR INTO
EUROPE (Acts lS:9-l2)
The man Of Macedonia bcckon-
cd to the southern shores of Eu--
rope. At TroaS Paul had the good
fortune to add another valuable
member to his missionary party.
1t may have been without prear-
rangemcnt or more likely ut the
request of Paul, who was possibly
still emaciatcd from his sickness
in Galatia. that Luke, the below
ed physician, became hcncefortn
the attendant, associate, ana
chronicler of the great Apostle
But the question of questions DC,
fore Paul at TrOaS was the hclo
for his future labOrs. However, ne
was not long kept in suspense BE-
fore him at night in 4 vision there
stood a Macedonian bcsccchlng
him 10 come to that country.
Thus. the path of duty was made
clear and Paul determined to pur-
sue it without a moments delay
Taking the first boat, he and his
party sailed with favoring breeze
10 the island Of Samothracc when
they reached in Il day and there
anchored for the night. The next
day they reached the city Of Ne
apolis. which was an important
harbor on the Macedonian coast
Landing there. they set foot iOf
the first time on the soil OF Eu-
rope. A journey of ten miles IN
land Though they might nave
sailed up the Angas river (oro"ghSS
the missionaries to the city Oh
Philippi. which as Roman colony
was not only military center
but also in its government a MIN
iature of the Imperial City on the
banks of the Tiber.
THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA
(Acts l6:l3-l5)
The merchantwoman OF Phlllp-
nj was the first fruit Of the Cos
pei in Europe. Though the Jews
were not numerous enough IN
Phiippi to have synagogue
there. a Place of Prayer by the
riverside beyond the city limits
was maintained, principally by a
few devout women. Thithcr the
missionaries went on the sabbath
and seized the opportunity to
preach the gospel. One of the lis
tcners was Lydia, a dealer in dyed
goods which were doubtless M
ported from her native city OF
Thyatira. The words of Paul
went straight to her heart which
the Lord opened: she believed and
thus became the first convert IN
Europe; and she showed her faith
by being baptized, by leading her
household to believe and be bap-
tized, and by constraining the mis-
sionarics to be her guests during
their stay in the city. Thus the
Philippian church was founded.
THE POWER OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT (Romans l5:lS-2D
The preacher of the gospel mag
nified his Master and his message.
Paul did not dare boast of his
apostolic achievements but did
honor Christ for what was done
through him in the conversion of
the GentileS. His words and
thoughts were authenticated by
the signs and wonders he was per-
mitted to perform through the
power of the Holy Spirit. In con-
sequence, he had at the time of
writing Romans fulfilled his mis-
siOnary ministry over a wide area
extending from Jerusalem, the
metropolis of Palestine, across
western Asia and southern Eu-
rope to the province of lllyricum
on the east shore of the Adriatic
Sea. And he had deliberately
sought the unevangelized centers
of population, in order first that
ne might not needleSSly duplicate
the labor Of others, and also that
he might plant the gospel seed in
virgin soil. thus fulfilling the
word Of Isaiah (52:15) to the eff
feet that what had not been told
them they should see and what
they had not heard they sould
understand.
BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Cd The Spirit leads in direc-
ton. Had gone throughout .
the region Every step ought to
be under impulse of the Spirit,
No move should be made without
his suggestion. Let him set our
faces and feet in the way he
would have US go.
(2) The Spirit Leads by De-
NAL. Forbidden. to preach the