The Coolidge examiner., 1939-05-11

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EpheSans 2:13
The Christian Church Chat great
organization which outwardly rep
resents in the world the mystical
organism which is the true church,
seems to be stalled" if we may
borrow a word from the automo-
bilist. Just like well-designed and
carefully built machine which has
died" on the road.
Perhaps the lesson for today may
serve to stir up some of us to the
sponsibility of the Church, and
particularly of its individual mem
bers, for an aggressive testimony
for Christ. Certainly Paul knew
nothing Of the defeatiSm which
seems to have laid its paralyzing
hand on present-day Christianity.
Our lesson finds him again making
the rounds of the churches he had
earlier been used to establish. He
knew of their dangers, the tend
encies to backslide, the need of new
life in the daily conversion of 9TH
erS, and he went about that business
with the flaming zeal of an evan
gelist, with the tender compassion
Of a pastor, and always with the
vision of the heavenly goal before
him. Let us learn of Paul
/. The Evangelist-Fearless and
Tireless (Acts 1871, 8-10).
At Ephesus Paul did the work of
an evangelist with such a passion
for souls and such power from God
that even his enemy, Demetrius,
testified (Acts 10: 26) that mot alone
at Ephesus but almost throughout
all Asia this Paul hath persuaded
and turned away much people"
from their heather worship He met
great opposition both in the syna-
gogue (v. 81 and from the worship
ers of Diana (Acts 19:23-41. But
he also found that God had opened
for him "a great door and effectuaP'
Il. Cor. l6:9), and we read that
many believed and showed their
faith by destroying the books of
heathendom which were in their
homes (Acts 19:1O.
Are the days of such evangelism
gone? Since only the power of God
can explain what was accomplished
by Paul, the answer would depend
on the reply to the question, Has
the power and purpose of God
changed? Obviously the answer is
NO" God is the same, and when
we are ready to meet His spiritual
requirements He will move again in
mighty power. Am I ready? Are
you ready?
III. The Pastor-Lover of Souls
(Acts 20:17-2D.
Having completed his journey
through Macedonia and Achaia,
Paul is hurrying back to Jerusalem.
and not having time to stop at Ephe-
sus he sends for the elders to meet
him at Miletus, the nearest seaport.
He recalls to them the experiences
which he has passed through, tells
them of the bonds and Affections
which await him, but above all he
wants to admonish and encourage
them to go on for Christ. AS a
pastor who has been true to God
and faithful in his ministry, he is
able to point to his own walk and
work among them as an example,
doing this in all humility. Pastor,
shall we ask ourselves if we could
do the same, or would we need to
blush in shame over our failures?
Especially noteworthy is Paul S
reference to having gone from
house to house as well as teaching
publicly. The work of the pulpit or
from the teachers desk loses much
of its SAVIOR and usefulness if not
backed up by personal contact
Some men who preach well, excuse
themselves from pastoral work on
the ground that they are really
preachers, not pastors. Others love
to do pastoral work but do not apply
themselves to the work of the study,
and so they say their calling is that
of pastor rather than a preacher.
Brethren, let us face that matter
honestly and perhaps we shall find
that we are simply taking the line
of least resistance. Paul had none
of that spirit. He preached with all
zeal and power, but he also went
from house to house, serving the
Lord with all humility of mind and
with many tears"
Ill. Fellow Citizen in Gods House.
hold (Eph. 2:19-2O.
The evangelist and pastor here re-
minds his Ephesian converts that
they have entered goodly fellow
ship-"the household of God"-and
have become fellow citizens with
the saints"
Some folk are called 'joiners" be-
cause they like to join every pos
sible society, organization, lodge, or
what not. Well, here is the supreme
fellowship of all, which knows no
barrier of race, creed, social posi-
ton, age, sex, or nationality, and
which brings us into fellowship with
the eternal God Himself. You may
.sioin" if by faith YOU will take the