The gospel goes up into Europe! “They (Paul and his companions) went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas. During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, ‘Cross over to Macedonia and help us!’ After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them” (16:6-10). And so, the gospel spread farther and farther, until it has come even to us!
Riots, cultural issues, opposition by the Jews, trouble from demons, imprisonments, even disagreements among the disciples . . . nothing could halt the spread of the gospel. It just kept going and going, even as it does today.
. . . Salvation! O salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth’s remotest nation
Has learned Messiah's name.
Waft, waft, ye winds, His story,
And you, ye waters, roll,
Till, like a sea of glory,
It spreads from pole to pole:
Till o'er our ransomed nature
The Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator,
In bliss returns to reign. -- Reginald Heber (1819)
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