the Holy Ghost, and it was left for them to follow the guidance of the
Spirit.
The entire body of Christians were not called to vote upon
the question. The apostles and elders—men of influence and
judgment—framed and issued the decree, which was thereupon generally
accepted by the Christian churches. All were not pleased, however, with
this decision; there was a faction of false brethren who assumed to engage
in a work on their own responsibility. They indulged in murmuring and
faultfinding, proposing new plans and seeking to pull down the work of
the experienced men whom God had ordained to teach the doctrine of
Christ. The church has had such obstacles to meet from the first, and will
ever have them to the close of time.
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42: Paul’s Years of Ministry
Paul was an unwearied worker. He traveled constantly from place to
place, sometimes through inhospitable regions, sometimes on the water,
through storm and tempest. He allowed nothing to hinder him from doing
his work. He was the servant of God and must carry out His will. By word
of mouth and by letter he bore a message that ever since has brought help
and strength to the church of God. To us, living at the close of this earth’s
history, the message that he bore speaks plainly of the dangers that will
threaten the church, and of the false doctrines that the people of God will
have to meet.
From country to country and from city to city Paul went, preaching
of Christ and establishing churches. Wherever he could find a hearing,
he labored to counterwork error and to turn the feet of men and women
into the path of right. Those who by his labors in any place were led to
accept Christ, he organized into a church. No matter how few in number
they might be, this was done. And Paul did not forget the churches thus
established. However small a church might be, it was the object of his
care and interest.
Paul’s calling demanded of him service of varied kinds—working with
his hands to earn his living, establishing churches, writing letters to the
churches already established. Yet in the midst of these varied
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labors he declared, “This one thing I do.” (Philippians 3:13.) One aim he
kept steadfastly before him in all his work—to be faithful to Christ, who,
when he was blaspheming His name and using every means in his power
to make others blaspheme it, had revealed Himself to him. The one great
purpose of his life was to serve and honor Him whose name had once
filled him with contempt. His one desire was to win souls to the Saviour.
Jew and Gentile might oppose and persecute him, but nothing could turn
him from his purpose.
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Paul Reviews His Experience
Writing to the Philippians, he describes his experience before and after
his conversion. “If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might
trust in the flesh,” he says, “I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as
touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Philippians
3:4-6.
After his conversion his testimony was:
“Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I su