Magyar Egyház, 1969 (48. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-02-01 / 2. szám
10 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH Louis Nagy: Semper Para tus Read Acts 8:4-8, 26, 27 The coast line of the United States is defended hy the Coast Guard. Their motto is Semper Paratus (always ready). These men are always on the alert to protect our country against the enemy and to help vessels and people in trouble near the coast. The Christian belongs to the cosat guard of the Kingdom and stands ready (semper paratus) to obey God’s commands. Late in January all our congregations had their annual meetings where new officers and elders were elected. God’s voice through the vote of their fellow churchmen called them to service. Are you ready to obey Him? From the Acts of the Apostles we learn that the apostles in order that they might give themselves to prayer and the preaching of the Word asked the first church to choose seven co-workers for them. The qualifications of these men were that they were to be members of the church, men of good report whose lives were controlled by the Holy Spirit, who had wisdom, Christian common sense and who were believers. These seven men were chosen for practical service — they were the elders and deacons who took care of the business affairs of the church. The apostles were then freed to do their vital work of praying and preaching. Because of their faithfulness the Word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied. God exalted them very highly and one of them, Stephen, became the first Christian martyr, the second, Philip, became a golden bridge between the Jews and the Samaritans. The Lord of the Church used him to carry further the torch of the Gospel to the Gentiles. God called Philip so that He might teach us that along with the five qualifications, the man of the church must he an obedient man, always ready to serve. Philip was elected to serve tables hut God sent him to a city in Samaria whose people were hated by the Jews. From being a deacon, he became a witness for Christ and converted the people of Samaria to Christ. He healed their bodies and souls and through him they came to know Christ. Because of his preaching there was much joy in that city. During the time of Philip’s service there was apostolic visitation in the church. Peter “the rock" and John “the beloved”, visited this place where three years before John wanted to call down fire from heaven upon them. Philip was the second after Peter who could boast of real success. How wonderful it would he to enjoy success and to live where a city is rejoicing that in the name of Christ sick people are healed and sins are forgiven, where lives can begin anew and where everything is made so beautiful! How good it is to see the tree of faith blooming especially when we have sowed the seed. Who of us would not like to live where the Christian life is bubbling. While Christians were being persecuted in other places, here in Samaria, men and women were yielding to Christ and the Word of God was victorious. Into this happy peaceful, life came an interruption from heaven. “But an angel of the Lord said to Philip: Rise and go”. But the angel of the Lord. This means that the Gospel steps out into the world. Now it starts “to the ends of the earth.” Philip must tear himself away from this joyous environment and must carry the torch further. This but changes life and the whole world. Something must pass away and something new is being born. Philip must leave the comforts of the city — he must go to the desert. He leaves his friends and starts toward loneliness. He doesn’t know where or to whom he is going, hut since he has been ordered hy the angel of the Lord to rise and to go he can only give one answer: and he rose and went. He didn’t argue, he didn’t question, he didn’t count the cost — he left a flourishing congregation and went to the desert to one man. Philip was ready to leave Jerusalem to go to Samaria when he did not know how he would he received and now he is ready again to go so that he might find one who is seeking God, and he gives him the light which he received so that this man might give to his country the same Illessed light. He starts without delay — he doesn’t think of whether
