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Yet he 'obeyed at once,' unburdened by ignorance of his destination.
Basil observed that these saints possessed such extraordinary courage and confidence amid their sufferings that watching heathens witnessed their heroic zeal and constancy—and turned to Christ themselves.
The ground of the mistake lies in misinterpreting the word "remaineth": taken to point to rest after the sorrows of this life are finished.
Its acquisition presents such difficulties that it is seldom truly found in our age.
First, consider the effect of the gospel truly preached.
Spurgeon identifies four critical matters that constitute our main concern in prayer.
On the night of Matthew 14:24, wind descended with such fury that experienced fishermen-apostles, after nine hours of *ponos* (toiling), had advanced merely three miles against it.
A great many cannot afford to have Christ.
This is no mere coincidence of timing, but the visible sign of a profound spiritual principle: unbelief seals the mouth; faith unlocks it.
Yet understand: there is no opposition between Christ and His people requiring conquest.
Because all members share identical stakes in eternity.
The material vine one might observe by the wayside becomes merely shadow; the truth resides in Him alone.
These unnamed men, bearing no vision, no command from Jerusalem, no precedent to guide them—only truth in their minds and the impulses of Christ's love in their hearts—solved the question that had vexed the apostles: whether salvation belonged to Gentiles.
Exell's *Biblical Illustrator* offers three principles for this conquest.
The Greek word *parakletos* means 'one who is summoned to the side of another'—a Champion clad in celestial armour, dispatched directly from God's throne.
Only *sections* of these households became Christian; notably, the masters themselves remained outside the faith.
Rather, He sets him apart for Himself—to converse with him, to communicate Himself to him as a friend and companion, making him His delight.
Christ does not warn His disciples of persecution as an unfortunate accident; He presents it as the necessary consequence of their union with Him.
The diseased crowded for healing; the teachable gathered for celestial wisdom; the curious witnessed stupendous miracles.
Yet Scripture is unambiguous: the heart (*leb* in Hebrew, the seat of will and intention) cannot be good while its practice remains evil.
The Sanhedrin spoke solemnly of 'putting down error' and maintaining doctrinal purity, yet their true motive was *zelos*—jealousy, not genuine zeal.
Before conversion, the Galatians possessed neither natural knowledge of God—imperfect and weak as it is—nor revealed knowledge through Christ.
He names it twice in his opening movement (verses 1 and 4), and again when addressing the Corinthians themselves (verses 6-7).
Our confidence in missionary labor rests entirely upon the prophecies of God's Word declaring it His will.