The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-11-05

churches in Galatla. and Phrygia
and then proceeded to Ephesus,
the capital of the province, the
chief emporium of western Asia,
and a stronghold of paganism,
where he spent three Of the most
successful years of his ministry.
About 62 A. ID. Paul was in
chains under guard at Rome,
where in addition to the work of
preaching and teaching in his own
hired house, he wrote that notable
group of letters generally called
the Prison Epistles. One of them
was the letter to the ,Ephcsians
which was sent with other epis-
Ties Mt the hands of Tychicus.
THE CONFLICT WITH EVIL
(Acts 1882, 1920
The Christian leader faces un-
afraid the forces of evil as Paul
showed in his ministry at Ephe-
sus. We note our phases of 1t: ~
In the synagogue. AS usual Paul
began work in the Jewish syna-
gogue. Here he spent three
months. Some accepted his teach
ing but others bitterly denounced
Christianity. These opponents
were sufficiently influential to
convince Paul that the work he
planned at Ephesus could not be
carried on with the synagogue as
base. (2) In the School of Ty-
rannus. Withdrawing from the
synagogue Paul found a strategic
meeting place in the lecture hall
of Tyrannus who was evidently a
sympathizer if not disciple of
Paul. Here for two whole years
Paul held daily meetings. (3) In
the Province of Asia. Visitors to
Ephesus from nearby cities and
villages came to hear the Apostle
and scattered his teaching far
and wide over that region. Some
Ephesians were probably sent out
on evangelistic tours. Paul him.
self may have gone to various cit
les in the neighborhood to lay the
foundations of some Of the seven
churches of Roman Asia. (q
Confounding the magicians. In a
city where magic arts were widely
practiced and exceedingly popular
it is little wonder that Paul was
endowed with miraculous power
far surprising tn cir highest
achievements. In fact, handker-
chiefs and aprons which came in
contact with his body were car
ried by the people and applied to
their sick and demoniac friends,
effecting wonderful cures and
| casting out evil spirits. Thinking
that the name of Jesus was SIM
ply the magic secret of Pauls
wonder work some strolling Jews
who professed to deliver from the
influence of wicked spirits deeid-
ed to use it in dealing with cases
brought before them. But when
the seven sons of Sceva, a Jew
ish priest, tried it, the evil spirit
rebuked and wounded them. Like
wild fire the news of this utter
rout spread through the city and
| everybody magnified the name OF
Jesus. Many of the magicians be-
lieved in Christ and made a pub
lie bonfire of their magic books
| to the. value of $4,000 to $780,
900.
THE CALL TO ARMS
(Ephesians 6:l3) ,
The Christian warrior needs the
call to arms. Paul was surround
ed by soldiery, and in letters for
the truth when he appropriated
these sublime military metaphors
and penned one of the best-known
passages in the Bible. (D There
is the call to strength. BE
strengthened and become power
full in the Lord. We must have
strength from him in order to be
strong in him. To possess the pow
err of his might we must use the
means he has provided. We can
not have the needed strength
without the specified armor. (2)
There is the call to stedfastness.
Stand firm against the subtle, de-
ceiving schemes of Satan who is
the slanderer, accuser, and adver-
sary of God and men. Such sted-
fastness is possible only to those
who have put on the whole armor
of God. No piece or part of that
armor can be ignored OF rejected.
60 There is the call to conflict.
Christian warfare is personal and
perpetual. Our wrestling with
wickedness is not against flesh
and blood as such but against far
subtler and more sinister foes
The curtain is drawn aside so that
we can see the unseen forces ar
rayed against US: The evil spirits
of high rank; the united mighty
demoniacal agencies; the power
full, invisible potentates of error
in this sin-darkened world; the
captive spirit-multitudes of great
er power and knowledge than un.
aided men. How numerous, pow
erful, and insidious our enemies
are! (4) There is the call to vic
tory. In a conflict naturally so
unequal, how may we conquer
"Take unto you the whole armour
of Cod" says Paul with renewed
emphasis. Then we shall be able
to resist assaults in the evil day
of temptation and trial, and we
shall be able also to maintain the
ground we have won. eel. e.,
THE ARMOR OF GOD
(Ephesians 6:14-l7)
The Christian armor is the ar
NOR Of God. The armor of the Ro-
man soldier, except spear and
greaves, is employed by the Apos-
tie to picture the equipment of