The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-07-04

MIA and help us.-Acts 1879
America is coming to tie furo in
the thinking of a confuse world rs
the final hope of democrat, and
religious freedom. Europe, or At
least most of Europe, rcprcsrnts in
our thinking dictatorsh,p. a totali-
tartan disregard for the personal
rights of man, including his freedom
to worship God accordiug to the die
tates of his own conscience.
1t is therefore very appropriate
that on this Fourth OF July" Sun
day, when patriotism has been much
in our thoughts, that we remind our
selves in the study OF our Sunday
school lesson that the roots of Amer
lean life, both cultural and religious,
reach back into the European soil
on which our forcfathcrs dwelt.
Much of that which We as Chris
tlanS count precious has come TO us
because Paul, the missionary, was
responsive to the leading of the Holy
Spirit and carried the gospel into
the heathcndom of Europe, from
whence, in due time, it came to our
own land.
1t was a crucial point in the his
tory OF Christianity; ycs. and of the
world, when the gospel came to
Europe.
l. BY Providential Hindrance (vv
$50.
Not only are "the steps of a good
man ordered by the Lord" ops. 81
23), but his stops as we'll. That is
not an easy lesson to learn. Let us
remember that we may be as much
in the will of the Lord when all our
efforts are thWarted as when they
prosper.
Paul had set out on a second Jour
ney to carry out a folow-up cam
paign in the cities where he had
already preached. This was a good
plan and had Gods blessing (see
V. 81. But soon we find that word
forbidden" ". o and then "suf-
fcred not ". y. The Holy Spirit
began to close doors to the gospel
preacher. Now what? Shall he 20
on in determined self-Will? Or shall
he become discouraged and embit-
tered in his soul? No, let him wait,
for God is guiding him by providcn-
tlal hindrancc, which is soon TO be
followed
ii. BY Divine Guidance Wv. o,
10).
The Spirit spoke TO Paul in a
lslon, revealing the divine purpose
that the gospel should 60 over into
Macedonia. The Spirit leads in our
day, possibly not BY visions, but by
lmpclling inward prompting COM
plementcd and checked by the teach
ing of Scripture and by providcntial
circumstances, and thus a man may
know what is the will of God for
him.
A word of caution is needed al This
point. Some earnest Christian pco-
pic 90 astray by projecting their own
desires and purposes into the place
where they seem 10 be the Will OF
God, and thus do themselves and
others, and Christianity itself, much
harm. The three things should
agrcc-W the inner promptiag Of
the Spirit, (2) the teaching of Gods
Word, and CD God s hand in our
outward circumstances.
If these three do not agree. the
Christian does well TO wait, PRAYER
fully, eXpcctantly, for the Lords
further guidance.
III. Through a Faithful witness
wv. 1l-l4a).
The gospel came to Europe be-
cause Paul and his fellow workers
were faithful 10 their calling. When
Cod led, they went to Macedonia
wv. II, ~, where they sought out
those who were iu the place of
prayer ". 49,. Pau spoke TO them
about Christ ". ~. There he met
the man Of Macedonia who turned
out TO be a woman. For some reason
the men were absent from the place
of prayer on that all-important Sab
bath morning. They we're undoubt-
cdly the ancient counterpart Of our
present day men who are brothers
in-laW' to the church, these foolish
men who seem TO assume that bit
Of religion second hand through
the wife or children will suffice.
w. Through a Receptive Heart
wv. l4b-l5).
God sent an obcdient messcnper
to the place where lie had pre-
pared heart Lydia was q woman
Of distinction, business ability. and
high moral character. But she
knew, and Paul knew, that even
good people need to be saved. We
do well TO keep that fact before us.
Paul spoke the truth Of God who
opened Lydia's heart Observe that
she not only received the Word of
God into her own heart, but at once
gave herself TO the task of passing
ton. The first thing she could do
was to give aid and comfort TO the
messenger Of the truth, and she did
that at once. Be assured that from
that day on she did all she could TO
prosper the gospel on its way
through Europe and 10 the ends Of
the earth. Have We done likewise !?