the acts of the apostles-第66章

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for　him。　He　who　has　determined　to　enter　the　spiritual　kingdom　will　find　that
all　the　powers　and　passions　of　unregenerate　nature；　backed　by　the　forces　of
the　kingdom　of　darkness；　are　arrayed　against　him。　Each　day　he　must　renew　his
consecration；　each　day　do　battle　with　evil。　Old　habits；　hereditary
tendencies　to　wrong；　will　strive　for　the　mastery；　and　against　these　he　is　to
be　ever　on　guard；　striving　in　Christ's　strength　for　victory。

〃Mortify　therefore　your　members　which　are　upon　the　earth；〃　Paul　wrote　to　the
Colossians；　〃in　the　which　ye　also　walked　sometime；　when　ye　lived　in　them。
But　now　ye　also　put　off　all　these：　anger；　wrath；　malice；　blasphemy；　filthy
communication　out　of　your　mouth。　。　。　。　Put　on　therefore；　as　the　elect　of
God；　holy　and　beloved；　bowels　of　mercies；　kindness；　humbleness　of　mind；
meekness；　long…suffering；　forbearing　one　another；　and　forgiving　one　another；
if　any　man　have　a　quarrel　against　any：　even　as　Christ　forgave　you；　so　also
do　ye。　And　above　all　these　things　put　on　charity；　which　is　the　bond　of
perfectness。　And　let　the　peace　of　God　rule　in　your　hearts；　to　the　which　also
ye　are　called　in　one　body；　and　be　ye　thankful。〃

The　letter　to　the　Colossians　is　filled　with　lessons　of　highest　value　to　all
who　are　engaged　in　the　service　of　Christ；　lessons　that　show　the　singleness
of　purpose　and　the　loftiness　of　aim　which　will　be　seen　in　the　life　of　him
who　rightly　represents　the　Saviour。　Renouncing　all　that　would　hinder　him
from　making　progress　in　the　upward　way　or　that　would

478

turn　the　feet　of　another　from　the　narrow　path；　the　believer　will　reveal　in
his　daily　life　mercy；　kindness；　humility；　meekness；　forbearance；　and　the
love　of　Christ。

The　power　of　a　higher；　purer；　nobler　life　is　our　great　need。　The　world　has
too　much　of　our　thought；　and　the　kingdom　of　heaven　too　little。

In　his　efforts　to　reach　God's　ideal　for　him；　the　Christian　is　to　despair　of
nothing。　Moral　and　spiritual　perfection；　through　the　grace　and　power　of
Christ；　is　promised　to　all。　Jesus　is　the　source　of　power；　the　fountain　of
life。　He　brings　us　to　His　word；　and　from　the　tree　of　life　presents　to　us
leaves　for　the　healing　of　sin…sick　souls。　He　leads　us　to　the　throne　of　God；
and　puts　into　our　mouth　a　prayer　through　which　we　are　brought　into　close
contact　with　Himself。　In　our　behalf　He　sets　in　operation　the　all…powerful
agencies　of　heaven。　At　every　step　we　touch　His　living　power。

God　fixes　no　limit　to　the　advancement　of　those　who　desire　to　be　〃filled　with
the　knowledge　of　His　will　in　all　wisdom　and　spiritual　understanding。〃
Through　prayer；　through　watchfulness；　through　growth　in　knowledge　and
understanding；　they　are　to　be　〃　strengthened　with　all　might；　according　to
His　glorious　power。〃　Thus　they　are　prepared　to　work　for　others。　It　is　the
Saviour's　purpose　that　human　beings；　purified　and　sanctified；　shall　be　His
helping　hand。　For　this　great　privilege　let　us　give　thanks　to　Him　who　〃hath
made　us　meet　to　be　partakers　of　the　inheritance　of　the　saints　in　light：　who
hath　delivered　us　from　the　power　of　darkness；　and　hath　translated　us　into
the　kingdom　of　His　dear　Son。〃

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Paul's　letter　to　the　Philippians；　like　the　one　to　the　Colossians；　was
written　while　he　was　a　prisoner　at　Rome。　The　church　at　Philippi　had　sent
gifts　to　Paul　by　the　hand　of　Epaphroditus；　whom　Paul　calls　〃my　brother；　and
companion　in　labor；　and　fellow　soldier；　but　your　messenger；　and　he　that
ministered　to　my　wants。〃　While　in　Rome；　Epaphroditus　was　sick；　〃nigh　unto
death：　but　God　had　mercy　on　him；〃　Paul　wrote；　〃and　not　on　him　only；　but　on
me　also；　lest　I　should　have　sorrow　upon　sorrow。〃　Hearing　of　the　sickness　of
Epaphroditus；　the　believers　at　Philippi　were　filled　with　anxiety　regarding
him；　and　he　decided　to　return　to　them。　〃He　longed　after　you　all；〃　Paul
wrote；　〃and　was　full　of　heaviness；　because　that　ye　had　heard　that　he　had
been　sick。　。　。　。　I　sent　him　therefore　the　more　carefully；　that；　when　ye　see
him　again；　ye　may　rejoice；　and　that　I　may　be　the　less　sorrowful。　Receive　him
therefore　in　the　Lord　with　all　gladness；　and　hold　such　in　reputation：
because　for　the　work　of　Christ　he　was　nigh　unto　death；　not　regarding　his
life；　to　supply　your　lack　of　service　toward　me。〃

By　Epaphroditus；　Paul　sent　the　Philippian　believers　a　letter；　in　which　he
thanked　them　for　their　gifts　to　him。　Of　all　the　churches；　that　of　Philippi
had　been　the　most　liberal　in　supplying　Paul's　wants。　〃Now　ye　Philippians
know　also；〃　the　apostle　said　in　his　letter；　〃that　in　the　beginning　of　the
gospel；　when　I　departed　from　Macedonia；　no　church　communicated　with　me　as
concerning　giving　and　receiving；　but　ye　only。　For　even　in　Thessalonica　ye
sent　once　and　again　unto　my　necessity。　Not　because　I　desire　a　gift：　but　I
desire

480

fruit　that　may　abound　to　your　account。　But　I　have　all；　and　abound：　I　am
full；　having　received　of　Epaphroditus　the　things　which　were　sent　from　you；
an　odor　of　a　sweet　smell；　a　sacrifice　acceptable；　well…pleasing　to　God。〃

〃Grace　be　unto　you；　and　peace；　from　God　our　Father；　and　from　the　Lord　Jesus
Christ。　I　thank　my　God　upon　every　remembrance　of　you；　always　in　every　prayer
of　mine　for　you　all　making　request　with　joy；　for　your　fellowship　in　the
gospel　from　the　first　day　until　now；　being　confident　of　this　very　thing；
that　He　which　hath　begun　a　good　work　in　you　will　perform　it　until　the　day　of
Jesus　Christ：　even　as　it　is　meet　for　me　to　think　this　of　you　all；　because　I
have　you　in　my　heart；　inasmuch　as　both　in　my　bonds；　and　in　the　defense　and
confirmation　of　the　gospel；　ye　all　are　partakers　of　my　grace。　For　God　is　my
record；　how　greatly　I　long　after　you　all。　。　。　。　And　this　I　pray；　that　your
love　may　abound　yet　more　and　more　in　knowledge　and　in　all　judgment；　that　ye
may　approve　things　that　are　excellent；　that　ye　may　be　sincere　and　without
offense　till　the　day　of　Christ；　being　filled　with　the　fruits　of
righteousness；　which　are　by　Jesus　Christ；　unto　the　glory　and　praise　of　God。〃

The　grace　of　God　sustained　Paul　in　his　imprisonment；　enabling　him　to　rejoice
in　tribulation。　With　faith　and　assurance　he　wrote　to　his　Philippian　brethren
that　his　imprisonment　had　resulted　in　the　furtherance　of　the　gospel。　〃I
would　ye　should　understand；　brethren；〃　he　declared；　〃that　the　things　which
happened　unto　me　have　fallen　out　rather　unto　the　furtherance　of　the　gospel；
so　that　my　bonds　with　Christ　are　manifest　in　all　the　palace；　and　in　all
other　places；　and

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many　of　the　brethren　in　the　Lord；　waxing　confident　by　my　bonds；　are　much
more　bold　to　speak　the　word　without　fear。〃

There　is　a　lesson　for　us　in　this　experience　of　Paul's；　for　it　reveals　God's
way　of　working。　The　Lord　can　bring　victory　out　of　that　which　may　seem　to　us
discomfiture　and　defeat。　We　are　in　danger　of　forgetting　God；　of　looking　at
the　things　which　are　seen；　instead　of　beholding　by　the　eye　of　faith　the
things　which　are　unseen。　When　misfortune　or　calamity　comes；　we　are　ready　to
charge　God　with　neglect　or　cruelty。　If　He　sees　fit　to　cut　off　our　usefulness
in　some　line；　we　mourn；　not　stopping　to　think　that　thus　God　may　be　working
for　our　good。　We　need　to　learn　that　chastisement　is　a　part　of　His　great　plan
and　that　under　the　rod　of　affliction　the　Christian　may　sometimes　do　more　for
the　Master　than　when　engaged　in　active　service。

As　their　example　in　the　Christian　life；　Paul　pointed　the　Philippians　to
Christ；　who；　〃being　in　the　form　of　God；　thought　it　not　robbery　to　be　equal
with　God：　but　made　Himself　of　no　reputation；　and　took　upon　Him　the　form　of　a
servant；　and　was　made　in　the　likeness　of　men：　and　being　found　in　a　fashion
as　a　man；　He　humbled　Himself；　and　became　obedient　unto　death；　even　the　death
of　the　cross。〃

〃Wherefore；　my　beloved；〃　he　continued；　〃as　ye　have　always　obeyed；　not　as　in
my　presence　only；　but　now　much　more　in　my　absence；　work　out　your　own
salvation　with　fear　and　trembling。　For　it　is　God　which　worketh　in　you　both
to　will　and　to　do　His　good　pleasure。　Do　all　things　without　murmurings　and
disputings：　that　ye　may　be　blameless

482

and　harmless；　the　sons　of　God；　without　rebuke；　in　the　midst　of　a　crooked　and
perverse　nation；　among　whom　ye　shine　as　lights　in　the　world；　holding　forth
the　word　of　life；　that　I　may　rejoice　in　the　day　of　Christ；　that　I　have　not
run　in　vain；　neither　labored　in　vain。〃

These　words　were　recorded　for　the　help　of　every　striving　soul。　Paul　holds　up
the　standard　of　perfection　and　shows　how　it　may　be　reached。　〃Work　out　your
own　salvation；〃　he　says；　〃for　it　is　God　which　worketh　in　you。〃

The　work　of　gaining　salvation　is　one　of　copartnership；　a　joint　operation。
There　is　to　be　co…operation　between　God　and　the　repentant　sinner。　This　is
necessary　for　the　formation　of　right　principles　in　the　character。　Man　is　to
make　earnest　efforts　to　overcome　that　which　hinders　him　from　attaining　to
perfection。　But　he　is　wholly　dependent　upon　God　for　success。　Human　effort　of
itself　is　not　sufficient。　Without　the　aid　of　divine　power　it　avails　nothing。
God　works　and　man　works。　Resistance　of　temptation　must　come　from　man；　who
must　draw　his　power　from　God。　On　the　one　side　there　is　infinite　wisdom；
compassion；　and　power；　on　the　other；　weakness；　sinfulness；　absolute
helplessness。

God　wishes　us　to　have　the　mastery　over　ourselves。　But　He　cannot　help　us
without　our　consent　and　co…operation。　The　divine　Spirit　works　through　the
powers　and　faculties　given　to　man。　Of　ourselves；　we　are　not　able　to　bring
the　purposes　and　desires　and　inclinations　into　harmony　with　the　will　of　God；
but　if　we　are　〃willing　to　be　made　willing；〃　the　Saviour　will　accomplish　this
for　us；　〃Casting　down　imaginations；

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and　every　high　thing　that　exalteth　itself　against　the　knowledge　of　God；　and
bringing　into　captivity　every　thought　to　the　obedience　of　Christ。〃　2
Corinthians　10：5。

He　who　would　build　up　a　strong；　symmetrical　character；　he　who　would　be　a
well…balanced　Christian；　must　give　all　and　do　all　for　Christ；　for　the
Redeemer　will　not　accept　divided　service。　Daily　he　must　learn　the　meaning　of
self…surrender。　He　must　study　the　word　of　God；　learning　its　meaning　and
obeying　its　precepts。　Thus　he　may　reach　the　standard　of　Christian
excellence。　Day　by　day　God　works　with　him；　perfecting　the　character　that　is
to　stand　in　the　time　of　final　test。　And　day　by　day　the　believer　is　working
out　before　men　and　angels　a　sublime　experiment；　showing　what　the　gospel　can
do　for　fallen　human　beings。

〃I　count　not　myself　to　have　apprehended；〃　Paul　wrote；　〃but　this　one　thing　I
do；　forgetting　those　things　which　are　behind；　and　reaching　forth　unto　those
things　which　are　before；　I　press　toward　the　mark　for　the　prize　of　the　high
calling　of　God　in　Christ　Jesus。〃

Paul　did　many　things。　From　the　time　that　he　gave　his　allegiance　to　Christ；
his　life　was　filled　with　untiring　service。　From　city　to　city；　from　country
to　country；　he　journeyed；　telling　the　story　of　the　cross；　winning　converts
to　the　gospel；　and　establishing　churches。　For　these　churches　he　had　a
constant　care；　and　he　wrote　many　letters　of　instruction　to　them。　At　times　he
worked　at　his　trade