Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1282
“And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” Acts 11:21.
THE Brethren who had dwelt together in Church fellowship at Jerusalem were scattered abroad by persecution which arose about Stephen. Their Master had told them that when they were persecuted in one city they were to flee to another. They obeyed His command and in the course of escape from persecution they took very long journeys—very long journeys, indeed, for that age of the world, when travel was exceedingly difficult. But wherever they found themselves, they began, at once, to preach Jesus Christ, so that the scattering of the disciples was also a scattering of good Seed in broader fields. The malice of Satan was made the instrument of the mercy of God.
Learn from this, dear Brothers and Sisters, every one of you, that wherever you are called to go, you should persevere in making known the name and Gospel of Jesus. Look upon this as your calling and occupation. You will not be scattered, now, by persecution, but should the demands of business carry you into different countries, employ your distant travel for missionary purposes. Providence, every now and then, bids you remove your tent—take care that wherever it is pitched you carry with you a testimony for Jesus. At times the necessities of health require relaxation and change of air and this may take you to different places of public resort—seize the opportunity to encourage the Churches in such localities, by your presence and countenance, and also endeavor to spread the knowledge of Jesus among those to whom you may be directed.
The position which you occupy in society is not an accidental one—it has not been decreed to you by a blind, purposeless fate—there is predestination in it and that predestination is wise—and looks towards a merciful end. You are placed where you are that you may be a preserving salt to those around, a sweet savor of Christ to all who know you. The methods of Divine Grace have ordained a happy connection between you and the people with whom you associate. You are a messenger of mercy to them, a herald of good tidings, an Epistle of Christ. The surrounding darkness needs you and, therefore, it is written, “Among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
You are intended to warn and rebuke some, to entreat and encourage others. To you the mourner looks for comfort and the ignorant for instruction. Let them never look in vain. Be the true friend of men, observe their condition before God and endeavor to reclaim them from their wanderings. If Joseph was sent to Egypt that he might save his father’s house, you, also, are sent where you are for the sake of some hidden ones of the Lord’s chosen family. If Esther was placed in the court of a heathen king for the deliverance of her nation, so are you, my Sister, called to occupy your present position for the good of the Church of Christ. Look to it, Brothers and Sisters, lest you miss your life’s calling and live in vain. It would be a sad thing, indeed, if you who profess to belong to Christ should be “creation’s blot, creation’s blank,” by having failed to work while it is called today.
These good people of the early Church, however, with all their zeal, were somewhat narrow-minded and hampered by their national prejudices, for they preached at first to only Jews and it was very hard to make them see that the Gospel was meant for the whole race of man, Gentiles as well as Jews. Their Master had said, “Go you into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” and yet they began with preaching only to Jews. Words could not have been plainer and yet they missed their meaning. It is not to be wondered at, that some in our day are still unable to preach to men as men, when we see how slow the early saints were to learn the lesson.
Brethren, if there is any narrowness about our spirit, let us pray the Lord to take it away. We shall not, of course, be shackled as these Jews were by boasting of our nationality, but perhaps there may be classes of society of whom we despair and, therefore, for whom we make no effort. We say, “It would be useless to attempt the conversion of such charac-
ters. I feel myself quite able to talk to other persons and although I am placed in the midst of these people I cannot bring my mind to speak with them about spiritual things, for I feel hopeless of success.” Beloved, may you be delivered from this snare and learn to sow beside all waters.
The Gentiles, though they were, for awhile, passed over by the Brethren, turned out to be the most hopeful of all classes. From the Gentile fields they reaped harvests such as were never gathered in Judea. Antioch, with its Grecians, became famous among Christian Churches—there the Church of Christ first took its name amid a revival of religion when great multitudes believed and turned unto the Lord! God had, from of old, intended that the great majority of the election of Grace should be gathered out of those very Gentiles whom even the Apostles, themselves, scarcely ventured to address!