The midland journal., 1946-12-27


to the wise. and to the unwise.-Romans
1:14.
The gospel is for the whole world.
God wants all men to hear and come
to repentance (John 3:16; II Pet.
3:9).
For the establishment of the great
missionary program with its world
wide sweep, he called a man gift
ed, prepared and anointed for that
work, namely Paul, whose life and
ministry have been our interesting
portion these three months.
Now we find him at the very
center of the then known world to
claim it for Christ. Politically, COM
mercially, socially and religiously,
Rome was the very heart of the
known world which centered around
the Mediterranean sea (the name
of which means ''the middle of the
earthly.
Having preached almost every
where else,- Paul had a longing to
face heathendom at its very center
and claim trophies for Christ and
the gospel.
Our Scriptures present:
I. Gods Plan and Mans Purpose
(Acts 9:16; 19:21).
Choice involves the thought of Sc
lection because of certain qualities
or abilities. The Lord had prepared
Paul for just this ministry, and now
he chose him to carry it out. That
encourages us to believe that God is
leading in the experiences of our
lives, preparing us for the day when
he will call and use us. Let us be
yielded and ready.
Our second Scripture (Acts 1920
tells us that the plan of God was
put into operation by the purpose in
Paups heart. God does not have
to depend on man to do his work,
but he does just that! We may him
der his full use of us if we fail to
purpose in our spirit to do his will,
as Paul did. God wanted Paul in
Rome. That was his plan, and that
was the purpose of Paul's heart.
III. Gods Confirmation and Mans
Determination (Acts 23:11; Rom. /:
1916; 15:22-24).
Man needs to have his good pur-
poses confirmed by the Lord, and
so it was in the case of Paul. He
had been taken prisoner for the gos-
pers sake. His trial had resulted
in an uproar. Things did not look
too promising for him. Humanity
speaking, there was question
whether he would get anywhere, let
alone to Rome.
In mans hours of discourage
ment God stands by with a good
word. "Be of good cheer" he tells
Paul; "as thou hast testified of
me in Jerusalem SO must thou bear
witness also at Rome"
In his letter to the Romans, Paul
expresses his determination to come
to them. There were hindrances,
there was contemplated trip to
Spain (which he probably did not
make), but in spite of all these
things he would come in due time.
The reason for that determination
is tremendously interesting and per-
tinent to our own lives. He saw
himself to be debtor. The gospel
had been committed to him, not as
a deposit for his own good or
pleasure, but as something he
must give out to everyone who had
not heard, including Rome.
We, too, who know Christ are in
debt to a world which has not heard
of him. That includes the cultured,
whom we often forget, and the un-
cultured, the men of every race
everyone who has need of Saviour.
The tremendous urge which
moved Paul should be characteristic
of every believer. Think what it
would mean for the evangelization
of the world if every Christian said:
"As much as in me is, I am ready
to preach the gospel ". 15).
iii. Gods Salvation and Mans
Declaration (Acts 28:28-3D.
A slight change in the arrange
ment of our Scriptures brings us
W Jul CONCLUDING tilOuSuI' 6OO Ldu
sent salvation to the Gentiles and
they would hear it ". 28), even if
the preacher had to come as a pris-
oner, for Paul came thus to Rome.
How wonderfully God arranged it
all, for Paul was given the privi-
lege, even as a prisoner, of living
for two years under guard in a pri-
vate house. Here he won his guards
to Christ, many members Of Cae-
sar's official household (Phil. 4:22),
and others who came and went as
he preached and taught, mo man
forbidding him" ". 31).
When man declares the gospel
of salvation which God has sent,
mighty things are wrought for the
glory Of God and the good Of men.
It is just that which we should be
about with renewed zeal and dill
gence during the new year just
ahead. We are in debt, and we
must discharge our indebtedness by
declaring to all that Jesus saves,
keeps and satisfies.