The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1960-02-06

joined hard to the synagogue.
AS usual, the Jews in the
synagogue and around oppos-
ed the word of the Lord rails
ed such disturbance that Paul
felt it advisable to go else
where. The place he chose to
continue his preaching and
teaching was the home of a
man named Justus whose was
close to the synagogue. "And
Crispus, the chief ruler of the
synagogue, believed on the
Lord with all his house; and
many of the Corinthians hear
ing believed, and were baptiz-
ed'-In spite of the opposition
which the Jews posed for Paul,
he had a great deal of success
in that area, for even the ruler
of the synagogue, Crispus by
name, confessed the faith and
became Christian. There was
also a goodly number of Gen
tiles that also believed and
were baptized.
THE LORD ENCOURAGES
PAUL:
Then spake the Lord to
Paul in the night by a vision,
Be not afraid, speak, and
hold not thy peace:"- God
gave Paul to understand that
he had divine protection and
approval to continue his min
istry as he was doing. "For |
am with thee, and no man shall
set on thee to hurt thee: for /
have much people in this city"
God would protect Paul in
his ministry, both for the apoS-
ties sake and for the good of
the many people who were
there in Corinth, both Jews
and Gentiles. "And he con-
tinued there a year and six
months, teaching the word of
God among Them - Pauls
long successful stay in Corinth
after he moved proved the wis
dom of the change he made to
break with the synagogue.
PAUL'S M An NER OF
SERVING:
"And l, brethren, when /
came to you, came not with ex-
cellency of speech or of wis
dom, declaring unto you the
testimony of God" - Paul was
greatly concerned in preach
ing the gospel efficiently and
powerfully SO that he might
preach effectively to gIorify
God and win souls to Christ.
Paul sought the fire, blessing,
inspiration and divine wisdom
for his ministry.
For | determined not to
know anything among you,
save Jesus Christ, and him cru
Gifted" Paul said that he
had preached Christ to the
Greeks as thing of foolish
ness, because they could not
rationalize the resurrection
and make salvation a matter of
philoSophic speculation. "And
| was with you in weakness,
and in fear, and in much
trembling" No one knows
better. than the apostle him.
self how he felt then. "And
my speech and my preaching
was not with enticing words
Fof mems wisdom, but in dem
onstration of the Spirit and of
power" = With the power of
the Spirit and of God being
fully demonstrated through
the preaching of the gospel, ii
was not necessary to resort to
human enticing words and
speculative wisdom as the
Greeks had done. "That your
faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the
power OF God" It is our
faith not our wisdom, that
works for our salvation, and
faith is not created by wis.
dom. He that believeth, not
he that knoweth, shall be
saved.
| PRACTICAL POINTS ON
| THE LESSON:
1t is not always easy to wit.
ness for Christ. Persistence is
necessary for every worker
for Christ. 1t may be difficult
to carry on in spite of afflic.
tons but if we are persistent
in our efforts we will be vic.
torious. When Paul went to
Corinth, he faced a discour.
aging situation there. He was
there in Corinth in weakness