The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-06-13

dren of God by faith IN Christ Jesus.
4 Galatians 1926.
"All people" are included in Gods
plan of redemption. When the angel
OF the Lord announce the birth of
Christ to the shepherds he said.
Fear not: for behold | bring YOU
good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people" Uukc 2:l0). The
invitation is: "Let him that is
athirst come. And whatsoever will,
let him take the water Of life freely"
(Rev. 22:l7. The disciples natural
ly and properly first preached the
gospel to the Jews, but the time
came when God was ready to send
them to the Gentle that they too
might hear the message of rcdemp-
ton. That historic turning point is
found in our lesson. As Paul and his
fellow workers proceeded from
Paphos on the isle Of Cyprus to the
mainland with thc.r message of
Christs redemption, they met both
I. Popularity and Persecution
(Acts 1874, 45).
al viz "a AilllOCn oil
Plsldla they were invited to preach.
and Paul was blessed in the Ircscn-
tatlon of powerful gospel message.
Read 1t in Acts l3:16il. 1t met with
such a response that the people DO
sought that these words NIGH: be
preached TO them Tho next Sabbath"
". Az. So great was the popularity
of PauPs message that the whole
city came the next Sabbath ito hear
the Word of God" What won
derful sight that must have been
and how the disciples must have re-
Joiced as they preached the Word.
But wait-there's worm in that
red apple of popularity, and its
name is jealousy ". 49,. 1t caused
the Jews to blasphcmc as they CON
tradlcted Pau's preaching. Jeal-
ousy always makes a fool out OF the
one who yields 10 it. Yet this green
eyed monster is permitted to 90
right on destroying, hinder:ng, hurt
ing. In the church and the home
as well as in the social orden we
let jealousy come in and wreck
friendship, break down regulations.
yes, even block the work of God
May someone learn The lesson Of our
text and turn away from that evil
way-right now!
III. Rejection and Accordance
(Acts 13:45-52).
All through the record Of Scrint,Irc
and TIE history OF man to his dav
we md some rejecting the grace Of
God-othcrs accepting. Those who
REJECT only prove themselves "un-
worthy of eternal life" ". 40 and
are themselves rejected of God.
The disciples now turn from thc
Jew to minister to the Ccu,,lrs
even as had been prophcsicd Usa'
4Z:6; 1910; Luke 2:3l, 32). They
accepted the word Of truth and
were glad, ana elorifcd the word
OF God Rejection bruucht eternal
death, but acceptance BROUGHT ctcr-
nal life and joy.
They could Mt keep the good ne.ys
to themselves, bu, had TO spread II
aDroad~ a lighted candle BEGINS at
once TO shine. Il redeemed soul
longs TO bring others TO Christ
persecution continued; in iact. was
intensified 10 the point o. rhysic;,l
election Of the disciples. were thcv
co"nhcarted? No. for the low az
the Lord filed their Holy SpIrit-Gllrd
lives. Being filed with the Su,rif
means being filled with joy. cycn IN
inc midst OF persecution.
1t really works, Have you niycr
God a chance to prove it - ,o.u
life? ed" '-''
1926, 81. '''
This selection from the Icucr
"nich Paul 'Trot, some ten wears
later TO 'Lc people Of the area in
winch &c had now preached reveals
lpc same truth, that faith in Christ
is primary-and csscntial-in Chris
tan experience
In this carly lie We rccopnilc
distinctions based on nationality.
sex, social position. and many other
grounds. While these are ovcrcgu-
phasizcd by most people, they are
legitimate and necessary distiuc-
tons. But in Chrat-ah. there tie
differences diSayp ar. We are al
one in Him (v. 20 This is q lesson
which we have not earned even yet.
but our sloWness Oh heart and mind
does not alter God truth.
The church is talking much these
days about ccum.nicity, which in
plain words means the unity OF the
people of the various branches Of tho
church all over the world. All Toe
often, however, the proposed basis
of unity rests on surrender or 3
partial surrender Of what Paul de-
Clares 20 be the essential Che sine
qua non i YOU wis.), which is faitl
in the Lord Jesus Christ. No Other
unity but that which centers in Him
and personal relationship TO Him
is sufficient either flr this life or fol
the life TO come.