Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1945-06-22

dom of God. and his righteousness,-Mat'
thew 633,
The church is worldwide In its
ministry, It's first experiences OF
both advance and attack were in
Jerusalem, but in due time the Lord
pressed its members out into the
Gentle world to preach the gospel.
These believers had to meet the
challenge Of pagan world, rich.
powerful, and stepped in age-old
PHILOSOPHERS which ran counter to
the teaching OF Jesus Christ.
The story Of how the church met
that situation and came through VIC
torious is one of the most thrilling
and important sections of world his
tory We catch but few glimpses Of
that time in the writings Of Paul and
Peter which make up our lesson to-
day, but even those are full OF in
struction and inspiration. The church
appears here as 1t went on:
I. Fighting the Good Fight Of
Faith Il Tim. 6:ll-l6.
In the letter to Timothy. the Holy
Spirit used Paul to instruct the
early church regarding Its life In
the midst Of an unbelieving world.
In the verses Immediately proceed
Ing our lesson we find a solemn
warning against the wrong attitude
Of heart toward worldly possessions.
Goodness with contentment" Is de-
clared to be great gain.
But there Is more to Christianity
than inward grace, for that must
show itself In daily fighting 1.-THE
good fght Of faith" That IL done In
three ways:
l. BY godly living ". ll). Be.
levers are to fee those things
which hinder spiritual progress. and
give themselves to the cultivation
Of graces Of a true Christian life.
Space does not permit discussion
Of these fine virtues Of the faithful
follower Of Christ, but note how ire
mcndously effective they could be
Eyes. and are today against pagan.
ism. It is so true that the best argu.
ment for Christianity Is Christian,
but he must be a real one.
2. In holy warfare ". Ia. Living
for Christ Is not accomplished BY
sitting In 4 spiritual rocking chail
while the enemy II on the attack
7, No indeed. There Is a good fght t.
be waged. both personally and as 4
body Of believers.
THE Son of God goes forth to
war" against evil in our day. WHO
follows In His train?" Thank God,
there are those who are on the
battle line for God, but they need
reinforcements. Who will volunteer
today?
;. With blessed expectation wv.
1870. The soldier Is ready to bear
the blood. sweat, and tears" oil
deadly conflict because he look,
for victory. The soldier Of Christ has
a sure hope. for he follows Jesu,
Christ. already victorious over
death, and one day soon to appear
again as King Of kings and Lord Of
lords.
In view Of that expectation, the
Christian 10 to live a consistent,
clean and irreproachable life. And
why not, II we look for the glori
Gus and blessed and only Potentate
should we not be ready?
II. Meeting the Fiery Trial Of Per.
secution Il Pet 4:l2-l6).
As Peter comforted the sorely
tried believers in the early church
he urged them to meet their perse,
cutions:
1. Without confusion ". ~. w
should expect trials IN this world
yes, severe. fiery trials. Such thing,
are common to all mankind, and the
Christian should not expect Il
escape.
To them. such trials are rea
tests Of their faith, an opportunit,
TO show to the unbelleving worlt
that God Is able to deliver thos,
who put their trust In Himi
To be forewarned Is to be fore
armed. Think 1t not strange con
corning the fiery trial"
2. With exceeding Joy wv. 1919
The believer Is not to be ashamed
Of the troubles he bears for Christ!
sake. A glory rests upon the on,
who Is privileged to be a par
taker Of Christs suffering" ". IA.
as he stands with Him who was -,
man Of sorrows and acquainted viii
GRIEF lisa. $3.50.
Note that the believer Is not to d,
anything which would justify other,
In making him suffer. II Is a dis
grace. a shame. which Injuries tn
cause Of Christ. when a believer ha,
to suffer because he has broken tn,
law, or because he Is "a busy bod,
(R. v. "meddler') In other men,
matters"
g. For the glory Of God ". l6
The entire life Of the believe
should be lived for Gods glory. II
then, he Is called to pass through
trials or to be prosecuted for hi
faith. that too. Is something to b,
90 borne as to glorify God.
The follower Of Christ does no
hang his head In shame as the din
culties Of life come upon him. H,
trusts God. and by his poise an,