Ephesus
189
earth and of His cruel death of shame. He told them how the Lord
of life had broken the barriers of the tomb and risen triumphant over
death. He repeated the Saviour’s commission to His disciples: “All
power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Matthew 28:18, 19
. He told them also of
Christ’s promise to send the Comforter, through whose power mighty
signs and wonders would be wrought, and he described how gloriously
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this promise had been fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.
With deep interest and grateful, wondering joy the brethren listened
to Paul’s words. By faith they grasped the wonderful truth of Christ’s
atoning sacrifice and received Him as their Redeemer. They were then
baptized in the name of Jesus, and as Paul “laid his hands upon them,”
they received also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, by which they were
enabled to speak the languages of other nations and to prophesy. Thus
they were qualified to labor as missionaries in Ephesus and its vicinity
and also to go forth to proclaim the gospel in Asia Minor.
It was by cherishing a humble, teachable spirit that these men
gained the experience that enabled them to go out as workers into the
harvest field. Their example presents to Christians a lesson of great
value. There are many who make but little progress in the divine life
because they are too self-sufficient to occupy the position of learners.
They are content with a superficial knowledge of God’s word. They
do not wish to change their faith or practice and hence make no effort
to obtain greater light.
If the followers of Christ were but earnest seekers after wisdom,
they would be led into rich fields of truth as yet wholly unknown to
them. He who will give himself fully to God will be guided by the
divine hand. He may be lowly and apparently ungifted; yet if with
a loving, trusting heart he obeys every intimation of God’s will, his
powers will be purified, ennobled, energized, and his capabilities will
be increased. As he treasures the lessons of divine wisdom, a sacred
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commission will be entrusted to him; he will be enabled to make his
life an honor to God and a blessing to the world. “The entrance of Thy
words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
Psalm
119:130
.
There are today many as ignorant of the Holy Spirit’s work upon
the heart as were those believers in Ephesus; yet no truth is more