the acts of the apostles-第38章

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the　true　object　of　life　and　tried　to　impress　upon　their　minds　the　lessons　of
the　divine　Teacher；　which；　if　received；　would　lift　them　from　worldliness　and
sin　to　purity　and　righteousness。　He　dwelt　especially　upon　practical
godliness　and　the　holiness　to　which　those　must　attain　who　shall　be　accounted
worthy　of　a　place　in　God's　kingdom。　He　longed　to　see　the　light　of　the　gospel
of　Christ　piercing　the　darkness　of　their　minds；　that　they　might　see　how
offensive　in　the　sight　of　God　were　their　immoral　practices。　Therefore　the
burden　of　his　teaching　among　them　was　Christ　and　Him　crucified。　He

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sought　to　show　them　that　their　most　earnest　study　and　their　greatest　joy
must　be　the　wonderful　truth　of　salvation　through　repentance　toward　God　and
faith　in　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ。

The　philosopher　turns　aside　from　the　light　of　salvation；　because　it　puts　his
proud　theories　to　shame；　the　worldling　refuses　to　receive　it；　because　it
would　separate　him　from　his　earthly　idols。　Paul　saw　that　the　character　of
Christ　must　be　understood　before　men　could　love　Him　or　view　the　cross　with
the　eye　of　faith。　Here　must　begin　that　study　which　shall　be　the　science　and
the　song　of　the　redeemed　through　all　eternity。　In　the　light　of　the　cross
alone　can　the　true　value　of　the　human　soul　be　estimated。

The　refining　influence　of　the　grace　of　God　changes　the　natural　disposition
of　man。　Heaven　would　not　be　desirable　to　the　carnal…minded；　their　natural；
unsanctified　hearts　would　feel　no　attraction　toward　that　pure　and　holy
place；　and　if　it　were　possible　for　them　to　enter；　they　would　find　there
nothing　congenial。　The　propensities　that　control　the　natural　heart　must　be
subdued　by　the　grace　of　Christ　before　fallen　man　is　fitted　to　enter　heaven
and　enjoy　the　society　of　the　pure；　holy　angels。　When　man　dies　to　sin　and　is
quickened　to　new　life　in　Christ；　divine　love　fills　his　heart；　his
understanding　is　sanctified；　he　drinks　from　an　inexhaustible　fountain　of　joy
and　knowledge；　and　the　light　of　an　eternal　day　shines　upon　his　path；　for
with　him　continually　is　the　Light　of　life。

Paul　had　sought　to　impress　upon　the　minds　of　his　Corinthian　brethren　the
fact　that　he　and　the　ministers　associated　with　him　were　but　men　commissioned
by　God　to　teach　the

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truth；　that　they　were　all　engaged　in　the　same　work；　and　that　they　were　alike
dependent　upon　God　for　success　in　their　labors。　The　discussion　that　had
arisen　in　the　church　regarding　the　relative　merits　of　different　ministers
was　not　in　the　order　of　God；　but　was　the　result　of　cherishing　the　attributes
of　the　natural　heart。　〃While　one　saith；　I　am　of　Paul；　and　another；　I　am　of
Apollos；　are　ye　not　carnal？　Who　then　is　Paul；　and　who　is　Apollos；　but
ministers　by　whom　ye　believed；　even　as　the　Lord　gave　to　every　man？　I　have
planted；　Apollos　watered；　but　God　gave　the　increase。　So　then　neither　is　he
that　planteth　anything；　neither　he　that　watereth；　but　God　that　giveth　the
increase。〃　1　Corinthians　3：4…7。

It　was　Paul　who　had　first　preached　the　gospel　in　Corinth；　and　who　had
organized　the　church　there。　This　was　the　work　that　the　Lord　had　assigned
him。　Later；　by　God's　direction；　other　workers　were　brought　in；　to　stand　in
their　lot　and　place。　The　seed　sown　must　be　watered；　and　this　Apollos　was　to
do。　He　followed　Paul　in　his　work；　to　give　further　instruction；　and　to　help
the　seed　sown　to　develop。　He　won　his　way　to　the　hearts　of　the　people；　but　it
was　God　who　gave　the　increase。　It　is　not　human；　but　divine　power；　that　works
transformation　of　character。　Those　who　plant　and　those　who　water　do　not
cause　the　growth　of　the　seed；　they　work　under　God；　as　His　appointed
agencies；　co…operating　with　Him　in　His　work。　To　the　Master　Worker　belongs
the　honor　and　glory　that　comes　with　success。

God's　servants　do　not　all　possess　the　same　gifts；　but　they　are　all　His
workmen。　Each　is　to　learn　of　the　Great　Teacher；

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and　is　then　to　communicate　what　he　has　learned。　God　has　given　to　each　of　His
messengers　an　individual　work。　There　is　a　diversity　of　gifts；　but　all　the
workers　are　to　blend　in　harmony；　controlled　by　the　sanctifying　influence　of
the　Holy　Spirit。　As　they　make　known　the　gospel　of　salvation；　many　will　be
convicted　and　converted　by　the　power　of　God。　The　human　instrumentality　is
hid　with　Christ　in　God；　and　Christ　appears　as　the　chiefest　among　ten
thousand；　the　One　altogether　lovely。

〃Now　he　that　planteth　and　he　that　watereth　are　one：　and　every　man　shall
receive　his　own　reward　according　to　his　own　labor。　For　we　are　laborers
together　with　God：　ye　are　God's　husbandry；　ye　are　God's　building。〃　Verses　8；
9。　In　this　scripture　the　apostle　compares　the　church　to　a　cultivated　field；
in　which　the　husbandmen　labor；　caring　for　the　vines　of　the　Lord's　planting；
and　also　to　a　building；　which　is　to　grow　into　a　holy　temple　for　the　Lord。
God　is　the　Master　Worker；　and　He　has　appointed　to　each　man　his　work。　All　are
to　labor　under　His　supervision；　letting　Him　work　for　and　through　His
workmen。　He　gives　them　tact　and　skill；　and　if　they　heed　His　instruction；
crowns　their　efforts　with　success。

God's　servants　are　to　work　together；　blending　in　kindly；　courteous　order；
〃in　honor　preferring　one　another。〃　Romans　12：10。　There　is　to　be　no　unkind
criticism；　no　pulling　to　pieces　of　another's　work；　and　there　are　to　be　no
separate　parties。　Every　man　to　whom　the　Lord　has　entrusted　a　message　has　his
specific　work。　Each　one　has　an　individuality　of　his　own；　which　he　is　not　to
sink　in　that　of　any　other　man。　Yet　each

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is　to　work　in　harmony　with　his　brethren。　In　their　service　God's　workers　are
to　be　essentially　one。　No　one　is　to　set　himself　up　as　a　criterion；　speaking
disrespectfully　of　his　fellow　workers　or　treating　them　as　inferior。　Under
God　each　is　to　do　his　appointed　work；　respected；　loved；　and　encouraged　by
the　other　laborers。　Together　they　are　to　carry　the　work　forward　to
completion。

These　principles　are　dwelt　upon　at　length　in　Paul's　first　letter　to　the
Corinthian　church。　The　apostle　refers　to　〃the　ministers　of　Christ〃　as
〃stewards　of　the　mysteries　of　God；〃　and　of　their　work　he　declares：　〃It　is
required　in　stewards；　that　a　man　be　found　faithful。　But　with　me　it　is　a　very
small　thing　that　I　should　be　judged　of　you；　or　of　man's　judgment：　yea；　I
judge　not　mine　own　self。　For　I　know　nothing　by　myself；　yet　I　am　not　hereby
justified：　but　He　that　judgeth　me　is　the　Lord。　Therefore　judge　nothing
before　the　time；　until　the　Lord　come；　who　both　will　bring　to　light　the
hidden　things　of　darkness；　and　will　make　manifest　the　counsels　of　the
hearts：　and　then　shall　every　man　have　praise　of　God。〃
1　Corinthians　4：1…5。

It　is　not　given　to　any　human　being　to　judge　between　the　different　servants
of　God。　The　Lord　alone　is　the　judge　of　man's　work；　and　He　will　give　to　each
his　just　reward。

The　apostle；　continuing；　referred　directly　to　the　comparisons　that　had　been
made　between　his　labors　and　those　of　Apollos：　〃These　things；　brethren；　I
have　in　a　figure　transferred　to　myself　and　to　Apollos　for　your　sakes；　that
ye　might　learn　in　us　not　to　think　of　men　above　that　which　is

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written；　that　no　one　of　you　be　puffed　up　for　one　against　another。　For　who
maketh　thee　to　differ　from　another？　and　what　hast　thou　that　thou　didst　not
receive？　now　if　thou　didst　receive　it；　why　dost　thou　glory；　as　if　thou　hadst
not　received　it？〃　Verses　6；　7。

Paul　plainly　set　before　the　church　the　perils　and　the　hardships　that　he　and
his　associates　had　patiently　endured　in　their　service　for　Christ。　〃Even　unto
this　present　hour；〃　he　declared；　〃we　both　hunger；　and　thirst；　and　are　naked；
and　are　buffeted；　and　have　no　certain　dwelling　place；　and　labor；　working
with　our　own　hands：　being　reviled；　we　bless；　being　persecuted；　we　suffer　it：
being　defamed；　we　entreat：　we　are　made　as　the　filth　of　the　world；　and　are
the　offscouring　of　all　things　unto　this　day。　I　write　not　these　things　to
shame　you；　but　as　my　beloved　sons　I　warn　you。　For　though　ye　have　ten
thousand　instructors　in　Christ；　yet　have　ye　not　many　fathers：　for　in　Christ
Jesus　I　have　begotten　you　through　the　gospel。〃　Verses　11…15。

He　who　sends　forth　gospel　workers　as　His　ambassadors　is　dishonored　when
there　is　manifested　among　the　hearers　so　strong　an　attachment　to　some
favorite　minister　that　there　is　an　unwillingness　to　accept　the　labors　of
some　other　teacher。　The　Lord　sends　help　to　His　people；　not　always　as　they
may　choose；　but　as　they　need；　for　men　are　shortsighted　and　cannot　discern
what　is　for　their　highest　good。　It　is　seldom　that　one　minister　has　all　the
qualifications　necessary　to　perfect　a　church　in　all　the　requirements　of
Christianity；　therefore　God　often　sends　to　them　other　ministers；　each
possessing

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some　qualifications　in　which　the　others　were　deficient。

The　church　should　gratefully　accept　these　servants　of　Christ；　even　as　they
would　accept　the　Master　Himself。　They　should　seek　to　derive　all　the　benefit
possible　from　the　instruction　which　each　minister　may　give　them　from　the
word　of　God。　The　truths　that　the　servants　of　God　bring　are　to　be　accepted
and　appreciated　in　the　meekness　of　humility；　but　no　minister　is　to　be
idolized。

Through　the　grace　of　Christ；　God's　ministers　are　made　messengers　of　light
and　blessing。　As　by　earnest；　persevering　prayer　they　obtain　the　endowment　of
the　Holy　Spirit　and　go　forth　weighted　with　the　burden　of　soulsaving；　their
hearts　filled　with　zeal　to　extend　the　triumphs　of　the　cross；　they　will　see
fruit　of　their　labors。　Resolutely　refusing　to　display　human　wisdom　or　to
exalt　self；　they　will　accomplish　a　work　that　will　withstand　the　assaults　of
Satan。　Many　souls　will　be　turned　from　darkness　to　light；　and　many　churches
will　be　established。　Men　will　be　converted；　not　to　the　human
instrumentality；　but　to　Christ。　Self　will　be　kept　in　the　background；　Jesus
only；　the　Man　of　Calvary；　will　appear。

Those　who　are　working　for　Christ　today　may　reveal　the　same　distinguishing
excellencies　revealed　by　those　who　in　the　apostolic　age　proclaimed　the
gospel。　God　is　just　as　ready　to　give　power　to　His　servants　today　as　He　was
to　give　power　to　Paul　and　Apollos；　to　Silas　and　Timothy；　to　Peter；　James；
and　John。

In　the　apostles'　day　there　were　some　misguided　souls　who　claimed　to　believe
in　Christ；　yet　refused　to　show　respect　to　His　ambassadors。　They　declared
that　they　followed　no

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human　teacher；　but　were　taught　directly　by　Christ　without　the　aid　of　the
ministers　of　the　gospel。　They　were　independent　in　spirit　and　unwilling　to
submit　to　the　voice　of　the　church。　Such　men　were　in　grave　danger　of　being
deceived。

God　has　placed　in　the　church；　as　His　appointed　helpers；　men　of　varied
talents；　that　through　the　combined　wisdom　of　many　the　mind　of　the　Spirit　may
be　met。　Men　who　move　in　accordance　with　their　own　strong　traits　of
character；　refusing　to　yoke　up　with　others　who　have　had　a　long　experience　in
the　work　of　God；　will　become　blinded　by　self…confidence；　unable　to　discern
between　the　false　and　the　true。　It　is　not　safe　for　such　ones　t