The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-05-02

were scattered abroad went everywhere
preaching the word.-Acts "a
In time characterized by ma
terialism and commercalism, II is
refreshing to consider the manner
In which the early church spread
the gospel far and wide. They did
this without thought OF personal gain
or advantage, and with a sacrifcial
devotion to Christ which caused men
and women to be willing to die for
HIM, and, what may sometimes be
even harder, to live for Him in the
face OF persecution. Here was 10y
atty that puts expediency to shame.
and sacrifice Of self for Christian
principle which needs emphasis in
this soft" age.
The charging Of the church is re-
vealed by our lesson as being
1. BY Death or by Life wv l-4).
Stephen, one Of the deacons, "a
man full OF faith and OF the Holy
Ghost" (6:5). was stoned because
OF his testimony for Christ He be-
came the first martyr OF the church.
leading the line Of those noble men
and women who down to our own
day have been ready to die rather
than to deny Christ The day may
not be too far distant when some OF
us may face that decision. Are we
ready?
To every one OF us who is a Chris
tian comes the necessity of living
| for Christ. Some in Jerusalem died
". ~, some were imprisoned ". 81,
but notice that the others were scat
tered abroad, like brands from a
fire, carrying the message of Gods
Word. They were not afraid, did
not 60 into hiding, nor did they lad
Just their message to meet the cir
cumstanccs. They went every
where preaching the word"
While persecution may sometimes
hinder the spread of the gospel, it
also frequently stirs the zeal OF
Gods people to preach and teach.
Just now in the midst Of the havoc
of war and persecution the good
news Of salvation is spreading in
lands which hitherto knew it not.
Are you and doing our part?
ii. BY Preaching That Brought
| Joy wv. 5-8).
, Philip, a layman (the first of
many great eVangelists) and a Jew,
went to the despiscd Samaritans
with the gospel, and God so signally
blessed his ministry that q great re-
vival broke out and there was
much JOY in the city"
What we need is more gospel
preaching and teaching You lay
men, please note that you are not to
wait for the preacher to do it,
Spread the good news yourself. And
note too that it is to be preached to
all people, even to those whom we
might (humanly speaking) be tempt
ed to despise, either by reason OF
race or position in life. 1t was a
glorious thing that happened to Phil
ip in Samaria. 1t can happen again,
and "it can happen here"
III. by Fellowship That Brought
Blessing wv. AID.
When the church at Jerusalem
heard what had happened in Sauna
ria, they were overjoyed, and sent
two OF their leaders, Peter and John,
to encourage and counsel with the
new converts.
Such fellowship always brings
blessing, and In this case it was un-
usual blessing; namely, the gift of
the Holy Spirit. On this occasion
| God thus gave these new Samaritan
! believers the blessing and power OF
the Holy Spirit in such way as to
bind them in fellowship to the church
in Jerusalem. Jew and Gentle be-
levers in Christ thus were joined in
one communion Of love and faith.
Nv. BY Broadened Vision That
Brought Action ". 25).
Peter and John had completed
their work in Samaria and we're on
their way home to Jerusalem. but
what they had seen had given them
a new vision. They acted on that
vision, and as they passed through
the villages OF Samaria they
preached the gospel with joyful
hearts What an interest and stir
they must have created!
II is one thing TO see an oppor.
tunity and need; it is quite an
other to do something about it. For
that, one needs determination Of pur-
pose. AS Lloyd George put it, "You
cannot fight winning battle with a
retreating mind" These apostles
we're reaching out for God, and UNI
der His leadership and blessing, into
the villages OF Samaria.
The Christian church needs more
real consecrated action; that is, in
the name of Christ and for His
glory. The business man who con-
ducts his secular affairs with en-
thusiasm and dispatch, often forgets
all that in his church duties. He
adVertises and seeks new markets
for his goods, but is not interested
in the outreach OF the church. He
can get excited about the Rotary
Club or the Lions or what not, but
never develops the slightest enthu-
siasm about the Lords work. II
goes without saying that such q
"picture" is all out of focus Let's