0139. Antioch Was a Church That Did a Valiant Work at Home

Antioch Was a Church That Did a Valiant Work at Home

"And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord" (Act_11:21).

There were two striking things that marked the work of the Lord, as wrought out through the Church at Antioch.

1. At Antioch, "Much people was added unto the Lord". Oh, how sad it is to see, month after month go by, in many a church and no one saved, no one added to the Lord.

Many a church seems to be no more than a mutual admiration society, a kind of social club, where people congregate for passing a pleasant hour on Sunday mornings. There is no vital Gospel message; no going out into the byways and hedges to bring in the lost; no passion and no compassion for the man that needs a Saviour.

Why should churches exist unless they are going to be God’s light-houses upon an angry shore; unless they are going to man the life-boats and rescue the drowning from eternal despair?

We realize that it may be harder today to win souls to God than in any other day of the Church’s history. Yet, the Gospel is still the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. As long as there are unsaved people lying around us, there is no reason why much people should not be added unto the Lord.

Some of our great denominations have actually lost membership during recent years. The revival fires are burning low. The cry of the new-born soul is seldom heard. May God help us to weep before Him, as we seek out the reason for this sad condition.

It may be that the church is turning away from the old story of grace. We are not emphasizing as we should, sin and its punishment, the Cross and its saving power, the Risen Christ and His ability to keep.

2. The Church at Antioch had heard that a great dearth was coming upon the earth, and they deter-mined, every one as they were able, to send help to their brothers in need.

We do not believe for one moment in the new social gospel, which is being presented as a substitute for saving grace; but we do believe with all our heart, that the Church should manifest the spirit of Christ in caring for the poor, and especially for those who are of the household of faith.

How can any one, who has the love of Christ abiding in them, see their brother in need and shut up his bowels of compassion against them?

Illustration: The story is told of one church where a brother was in destitute circumstances. There was an appointed prayer-meeting at his house. While the prayers were going up, some young fellow opened the door and astonished the gathered friends, by saying: "Father sent his prayers, and they are out in the wagon." And so it was. The wagon had all the poor man needed.

Our sick and needy brethren need more than our sympathy and our prayers, they need our help.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR