In this address, Dr Needham brings to us lessons that we can learn from part of the Apostle Paul's second missionary journey. He was accompanied by Silas, eventually Timothy and then the 'beloved physician', Luke.
Through the Scriptures, in which Timothy, for instance, would have been well grounded, we can see that the way of salvation through Jesus Christ is explained to us, and that such teaching as to how we can be saved from our sins, is plain, clear and obvious enough, that even a child may understand.
Is it ever right to compromise? Dr Needham again uses Timothy as an example, and draws our attention to the important lesson that can be learnt when Paul circumcised Timothy before ministering among the Jews, contending that by doing so it gave him opportunity to gain a hearing for the gospel, when otherwise he may not have had such an opening to speak of Jesus Christ and the way of salvation. We should not compromise, however when the truth of the gospel is at stake. We need to ask God to grant us wisdom, so that we may know when it is right to compromise and when it is not.
The circumstances surrounding the so-called 'Macedonian Call' were tremendously significant. They signalled that God was to use the Apostle Paul and his companions in the advance of the gospel into what we may call Europe. This was a turning point and one that should not be missed.
It was on this journey that Lydia, a seller of purple, from the city of Thyatira, had her heart opened by the Lord, and was converted. We credit praise to God for such an act of grace, and it is only through the same grace of God that we ourselves may learn of Christ and be similarly converted.