The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-07-11
CHRISTIANITY EXPANDS
in ASIA

III
! in ASIA
! LESSON TEXT-Acts 1870. 1882.
I, GOLDEN TEXT-So nightly grew the
4 word OF God and prevailed.--Acts 1920.
War is the order OF the day, and
much as we may regret il the life of
every one Of US IS affected by its
feverish touch. Certainly no Chris
tan has any pleasure in the violent
hatreds of wicked men, and can only
pray that somehow righteous peace
may come to this troubled world.
There is warfare, however,
which we do seek to foster and pro-
mote. We encourage it, and as
Christians make q holy resolve to
battle to the end. That is the war
fare against Satan and his hosts.
AS long as he rules in the hearts Of
men, and sin and wickedness are
here, we say, Flight on. my soul"
Christian life and service are pre-
sented in Scripture as a fight. We
do well to learn the methods and the
weapons of this great spiritual con-
fiict; not stressing a belligerent
Il I,
and particularly not between the
divisions Of Gods army in the earth,
but standing shoulder to shoulder
in the battle against the Evil One.
!. Attack for God Wv. 8-l0).
The vigorous prosecution of a
strong attack on the enemy's posi-
ton is good military strategy, and
I good spiritual warfare. The COM
! mand of God is "Forward!" and
His forces are not to hinder their
J effectiveness by weak INDIGESTION or
fear. Paul sets us an example in
his
l. Bold Preaching Wv. 8, 9a).
Paul had, met some disciples
| Q9:1-8) who knew only the baptism
of John and did not have the Holy
Spirit. DR.. Erdman rightly says
4, that "there are many more like
these twelve disciples in the pcws
of Christian churches. They are
sincere men, they hate their sins,
they believe in the teachings of
! Jesus, they admire the Sermon on
the Mount, they yearn for the high
| est and best things, but they lack
spiritual power. Why? Because
they are disciples OF john they
| have not fixed their hearts and their
! hopes upon a divine, risen, glorified
[ Christ; they do not know the grace
of God When, however, they
learn the full gospel and yield
themselves to Christ, they are not
merely baptized with water, but also
the Holy Spirit"
2. Careful Teaching wv. Oh, lO).
| Three months of such preaching
| brought many converts, but there
were also hardened and disobedi-
ent' men whose opposition caused
Paul to withdraw the disciples
| Qearncrs) TO the privacy of a lee
ture room for thorough instruction
| in Christian doctrine, a sort of Bible
| Institute of Ephesus. The church has
largely failed in its teaching minis
, try and has thus weakened its effec-
| tivencss against the enemy. To be
| strong workers for tie Lord, Chris
| tianS must know the doctrines of the
Bible.
III. Counter Attack by Satan wv.
1882.
The enemy of our souls is often
content to let us go on in compara-
! tive peace as long as we do not both
er him unduly, but once we put I'd
the banner of holy life and service
! in Gods army, he begins a terrific
counter attack. Paul had felt it
already in the hardening of listen
ers' hearts ". 81, but now it began
in dead earnest.
/. By Selfish Opposition wv. IS
27).
One way to bring violent rCac-
ton against spiritual truth is TO let
it interfere with business. Dcmctrius
| and his fellow silversmiths pro-
fessed to be concerned about the
threatened destruction of the heath
en- worship of Diana (and what q
fine testimony that was TO the eff
fectiveness of Pauls preachingD,
T but in reality they were worried
! about the loss Of their ungodly bust
ness in charms wv. 25-27).
Many of the enemies of the gospel
in our time are fighting against
! Gods Word because they arc in
business which is condemned by it.
They know that every time a new
convert is won 20 Christ they lose
customer and it troubles them.
Reader, if you are in that kind Of
business, get out of 1t quick before
Gods judgment falls upon you.
2. Senseless Tumult wv. 28-32).
knowing that their opposition was
without true foundation, they in
! spired and agitated a wild demon
stration. Is it not astonishing how
many thoughtless and foolish poo
pie there are in the world who Will
scnsclcssly follow the lead of some
one who opposes Cod?
Shouting a slogan which had no
real meaning, they lent their voices
TO the tumultuous agitation against
God. Finally, one sensible man.
fearing the punishment of CITY Of
ficials, quoted them. The Tphe-
SLAMS were just like many in our
day who fear man more than God.
But, may we ask, if you fear the
1 .ssx H.. a e