The midland journal., 1946-10-25
PAUL'S WIDENING FIELD OF
SERVICE

|
LESSON TExr-Acts 1915, 10, IA, 44-4e.
MEMoRY SELECTION = But when it
| pleased God to reveal his Son in me,
that might preach him among the heathen.
| Galatians lis, 49,
God uses men to accomplish his
high and 1oly purpose of preaching
the gospel in all the world They
must, however, be men who have
been called by the Holy Spirit, pre-
pared and sent out by him. They
must be willing to labor and to sac
rifice without limit for his glory.
Paul was such a man, and as
we study rhe widening sphere of his
service and influence, we catch a
vision of what missions should mean
in the church.
1. A Missionary Call (Acts 13:1-).
Much discussed among earnest
Christians is the question of what
constitutes missionary call.
The need must be brought home
to the individual believers heart by
the Holy Spirit, and he must give
conviction that one is to 60 out
to meet that need.
Note TINT the call came through
live, active and well-equipped
church in Antioch, city of Syria.
1t was cosmopolitan church-read
the names of those who served
there. They were of many nationali-
! ties and Of various occupations and
social positions. In the midst of that
group were two exceptionally able
preachers, Barnabas and Paul.
They all loved the Lord and served
him.
To such a church the Holy Spirit
can speak, be heard and obeyed.
Notice that they gave of their best,
at the direction of the Spirit, not
withholding it for themselves (cf. II
Sam. 24:24). Good wants our best.
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit these
men went promptly and willingly.
( Why should the Lord have to plead,
and prod, and wait for his people
to obey him?
ii. A Missionary Conquest (Acts
1874, S, II, ID. 44-46, 48, 49).
To trace this first missionary
journey it is well to look at the map
illustrating the Acts and epistles at
the back Of most Bibles.
1t will appear at once that it was
not an easy itinerary these men
undertook. 1t involved travel by sea,
through difficult country, and often
among hostile and hateful peoples.
God does not call his servants to
an air-conditioned armchair evan
! gelism. His Word must 60 out
where it has never been heard, and
that means pioneering among the
most backward of peoples, the need
| lest of this earth. 1t means work.
ing in rescue missions, in thank
less and difficult pastorates; yes,
anywhere the Divine Executive, the
Holy Spirit, may direct.
Paul met both popularity and per-
secution, and that not far apart.
After the experience of acceptance
and rejection on the island of Cy-
prus (Acts 1877, 81, Barnabas and
Paul went to Antioch in Pisidia "a
different city than Antioch in Syria;
see map). Here they were invited
to preach in the synagogue and
Paul was blessed in the presenta-
ton of a powerful gospel mes
sage. Read it in Acts 13:16-41. It
met with such response that the
people "besought that these words
might be preached to them the next
Sabbath" ". 42). So great was the
popularity Of Paul's message that
the whole city came the next Sab
bath "to hear the Word of God"
What wonderful sight that must
have been.
But wait-there is something else
here beside popularity, and its
name is jealousy ". 45). 1t caused
the Jews to blaspheme as they con-
tradicted Paul's preaching.
Jealousy always makes fool
out of the one who yields to it. Yet
this green-eyed monster is per-
mitted to go right on hindering the
work of God. The result in this case
was that Paul turned from the Jews
to the Gentiles with the gospel, to
their great joy and delight. This is
a great turning point in the history
of the church.
Now the preachers turn home
ward to Antioch in Syria, and there
they had
III. A Missionary Conference (Acts
4:26, 2O.
Nothing stimulates missionary
giving, and praying, and going in a
local church like live missionary
conference, where those who have
been on the field come back and
tell what the Lord has done as they
! went out to serve him.
It is good to know that what the
Lord led men out to do has been
fulfilled. That completes the circle
of divine guidance and blessing, and
strongly encourages us to go again
M r. Al