The midland journal., 1946-11-29
A LETTER ON CHRISTIAN
LIVING


LESSON TExT-Acts 1e:23-30: Ephesians
MEMORY SELECTION - Finally. my
power of his might1Ephes%ians % s:io. :nH " '''
The war is never over for the
Christian. He is called to a con-
slant strife against the world, the
flesh and the devil, which knows no
armistice or peace conference SO
long as he lives or the Lord tarries.
Paul, who had now set out on his
third missionary journey, was this
time permitted of the Holy Spirit to
witness and minister in Asia.
For three months he spoke in the
synagogue, as was his custom, but
when his ministry resulted in many
converts others hardened them
selves in opposition. So he withdrew
"a bit Of strategy in this spiritual
warfare) to neutral ground in the
"school Of one Tyrannus," where he
could teach and reason with them
daily.
Paul knew by experience that this
could not 60 on, for he had learned
as we should learn to
1. Expect Opposition - 1t will
Come (Acts 19:23-30).
The comfortable and contented
Christians of our day who just want
to be let alone to carry on their
worship are certainly not related to
the real Christians of Paul's type.
The enemy of our souls is often
content to let us go on in compara-
tive peace as long as we do not
bother him unduly, but once we put
up the banner of a holy life and
service in Gods army, he begins
terrific counterattack. Paul had felt
it already in the hardening of lis
teners' hearts ". 81.
l. Selfish Opposition wv. 23-27).
One way to bring violent reaction
against spiritual truth is to let it
interfere with business. Demetrius
and his fellow silversmiths pro-
fessed to be concerned about the
threatened destruction of the heath
en- worship of Diana.
Many of the enemies of the gos-
pei in orr time are fighting against
Gods Word because they are in
business which is condemned by
| it.
2. Senseless Tumult wv. 2s-3o).
Knowing that their opposition was
without true foundation, they in
spired and agitated a wild demon
stration.
Shouting 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, quieted them (Acts 19:35-4D.
The Ephesians were just like
many in our day who fear man
more than God. But, may we ask,
if you fear the judgment of men, how
think you to escape the judgment
of God? After all, it is God and
His Word you oppose, unconverted
friend. Do you think He will hold
you guiltless?
Paul was not afraid ". 30), for
he had also learned that the servant
OF the Lord can
III. Count ON God-He Will Deliver
(Eph. 6:13-18).
Writing to the church in this very
city where the Lord opened "a great
door and effectuaT' for Paul Il Cor.
16:9), he admonishes them and US
to make full use of the provision
which God has made for victorious
warfare.
There is complete armor. and a
mighty weapon, the sword of the
Spirit, but none will do US the slight
est good unless we put it on and go
into battle. If we think we can do
without the breastplate of righteous
ness (and some Christians and
church workers seem to think they
can), or neglect to carry and use
the shield of faith, we can only ex-
pect defeat. We fight great spiritu-
al enemies (see Wv. II, IL of this
chapter) and we need the best in
both offensive and defensive equip
ment.
The girdle of truth binds up the
|
ORANGES to rapid movement. The
breastplate is righteousness, not his
own but Christ's, but it must be
appropriated and used.
The soldier must be well shod for
the long rough journeys and to give
him a good foothold in the day of
battle. Peace in the heart provides
such firm vantage point in the fight
for God.
Faith is the quickly moved shield,
catching all the fiery darts. Here
again it is not. my faith or yours
1 alone, but our. faith in God, put
ting him between us and our enc
mics.
The sword of the Spirit, which is
the Word of God, is our all-powerful
weapon. Let us not neglect to use it.
We are so prone to talk about the
Bible, to defend it, to argue for its
truths. Talking about a sword does
not make il effective. Let's reallv