Pennsylvania, 1915
Song Service Preceding Address Was Again A Feature of Evening
The evangelistic service in St. James church last evening was largely attended and was expressive of the interest being shown in the meetings conducted by Rev. J. B. Baker, pastor.
The usual fifteen minutes of song service preceding the special musical features were a solo by Mrs. Zinn, entitled "The Light of the World is Jesus," and a duet by Pauline and Jacob Rudisill, "The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago". The Scripture lesson was taken from the story of blind Bartimaeus, Mark 10. The text was taken from the Scripture lesson "Arise, he calleth thee."
Fragments of the sermon were:
"The blind man can read by means of raised type and is often not as blind as many of us. When the blind man cried out, Jesus stopped. Jesus always hears when we call. Do you believe God answers prayers? The blind man was heard because of his faith. No matter how low your boy may be or what he is doing, his prospects are as bright as God's promises. Jesus knew what the man needed but he asked him what he wanted him to do for him. He said he wanted his sight and Jesus said, 'Thy faith has made thee whole.' The man then went his way which was Jesus' way. 'Arise, he calleth thee.' Just as many voices called the man to come to Jesus, so many voices have called you.
"Your childhood has called you. Do you grow in your Christian life as you did when you were a child? You are not growing if you are hanging around some two-story hell-hole drinking beer and whiskey. Your own children call you. The cry of the small child at night suggests how we should cry to God in sorrow and trouble. The child trusts his father, absolutely, and so should you. Nothing appeals to a father like the outstretched hand of a child. So also God has compassion and love toward those coming to him.
"The prayers of your wives call you. Billy Sunday said, 'If the women were as bad as men, God would throw the whole human race into hell.' Women have often asked me to pray for their husbands but husbands have never asked me to pray for their wives, only in times of sickness. When she pleads for your soul, the immortal speaks. These songs call you. Do you have such songs out in the world? You are purer and happier and better for having heard them. Your past calls you. Some people say that it is no one's business what I do but it is God's business. He bought you with an infinite price.
"The Bible calls you. It is an art gallery, a beautiful arbor, a wonderful well. It is to deliver a message but you turned it aside. Your lives are like American coins in Europe — they will not pass in another world. Finally, Jesus' life and death call you. Come and heed all these influences calling you tonight."
Tonight is C. E. night when all the Christian Endeavorers will march in before the beginning of the service and take places reserved for them.
Cottage prayer meetings will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at homes of C. S. Reaser II, Milton Roth, Geo. W. Spangler, Huber B. Miller.
—The Star and Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA, Jan. 15, 1915, p. 2.
Showing posts with label calling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calling. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
God's Method of Working
1910
By His Wise Decree the Little Things Have Been Chosen to Confound the Mighty
If we would find the climaxing proof of God's love we must not go searching for some giant central flaming sphere, but we must come to this little world that, like a weakling, circles in comparative obscurity among the mighty suns. In this world we must not go to Rome with all the pomp of its worldly empire, but to Palestine, subjugated province shut in to its own littleness and poverty. In Palestine we must not go to the capital, Jerusalem, with all its schools and priests and kings, but to Bethlehem, which is only a little village even among the thousands of Judah. In Bethlehem we must turn from the great houses and from the inn and look for the cattle, cavern and there we will find the Prince of Peace lying a helpless babe in the straw.
History was repeating itself there at Bethlehem when God chose that babe to be king over his people Israel. God has always been choosing the weak things to confound the mighty. When Samuel announced to Jesse that one of his sons was to be anointed king, Jesse called in Eliab first of all. He was tall and handsome and Samuel thought: "Surely the Lord's anointed is before me." But the Lord did not choose him. Then came Abinadab, and he was Jesse's second choice among his sons; but the Lord did not choose him. Then Jesse called the third most promising among his boys, but the Lord did not choose Shammah. Then Jesse and Samuel were both at a loss, and Jesse called one after another of his sons and not one of them was chosen. Then Samuel said: Are these all thy children? Jesse answered: No, there is the youngest, but he is only a little lad and we keep him out in the fields tending the sheep. Samuel bade them bring the little shepherd in, David, and, behold, he was the Lord's choice and he was anointed and went from the sheepfold into a kingdom.
—1 Cor. 1:27; Luke 2; 1 Sam. 16.
By His Wise Decree the Little Things Have Been Chosen to Confound the Mighty
If we would find the climaxing proof of God's love we must not go searching for some giant central flaming sphere, but we must come to this little world that, like a weakling, circles in comparative obscurity among the mighty suns. In this world we must not go to Rome with all the pomp of its worldly empire, but to Palestine, subjugated province shut in to its own littleness and poverty. In Palestine we must not go to the capital, Jerusalem, with all its schools and priests and kings, but to Bethlehem, which is only a little village even among the thousands of Judah. In Bethlehem we must turn from the great houses and from the inn and look for the cattle, cavern and there we will find the Prince of Peace lying a helpless babe in the straw.
History was repeating itself there at Bethlehem when God chose that babe to be king over his people Israel. God has always been choosing the weak things to confound the mighty. When Samuel announced to Jesse that one of his sons was to be anointed king, Jesse called in Eliab first of all. He was tall and handsome and Samuel thought: "Surely the Lord's anointed is before me." But the Lord did not choose him. Then came Abinadab, and he was Jesse's second choice among his sons; but the Lord did not choose him. Then Jesse called the third most promising among his boys, but the Lord did not choose Shammah. Then Jesse and Samuel were both at a loss, and Jesse called one after another of his sons and not one of them was chosen. Then Samuel said: Are these all thy children? Jesse answered: No, there is the youngest, but he is only a little lad and we keep him out in the fields tending the sheep. Samuel bade them bring the little shepherd in, David, and, behold, he was the Lord's choice and he was anointed and went from the sheepfold into a kingdom.
—1 Cor. 1:27; Luke 2; 1 Sam. 16.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Counting the Cost (Luke 14:25-35)
1916
By G. H. Morrison
The fact is, that in all the highest courage there is the element of quiet calculation. The truest heroism always counts the cost. The bravery of passions is not a shining virtue. I think that any ordinary man could storm a rampart, if he were a soldier. They tell us there is a wild forgetfulness of self in that last rush that would fire the blood and thrill the most timid. The test of courage is the long night march, under the fire of invisible guns; it is the sentry duty in the darkness, when the shadows and silence might shatter the strongest nerve; I think that the man that deliberately faces that, who goes through it quietly because it is his duty is just as worthy of the Victoria Cross as the man who has won it in some more splendid moment.
Do not forget that when Jesus says, "Count the Cost," he is really sounding the note of the heroic. He does not want any one on false pretenses. He will not issue any lying prospectus. He comes to you and says, You are a thinking man, with powers that will take eternity to ripen, look life in the face. Look death in the face. Sum it all up, measure the value of things. And if you do that quietly and earnestly, with sincere prayer to God to enlighten you, my claims, Christ means, shall tower above all others.
I have been struck too, in studying the Scriptures, to note how the great men there learned how to count the cost. They were not suddenly dragged into the service. There was no unthinking and unreasoning excitement. God gave to every one of them a time of silence before their high endeavor. It was as if He had laid down His hand upon them and said, "My child, go apart for a little, and count the cost." Moses was for forty days alone. Paul, touched by the finger of Lord whom he had persecuted, took counsel of no flesh, but departed into the loneliness of Arabia. Moses, Elijah, Paul — yes, even Simon Peter going out into the night — were learning the deep lesson of our parable.
And whenever I read of the temptations of Jesus and how the spirit of God drove him apart, and how Satan came and showed him all the kingdoms, and taught him a less costly way to sovereignty than by the sweat of Gethsemane and the water and the blood of Calvary — whenever I read that and recall how he stood fast, I feel that our Savior has counted the cost himself. We shall never understand the calm persistence of the glorious company of martyrs and of saints until we go back to that quiet hour at the beginning when they faced every difficulty, weighed every cross, forecast the future, looked at life whole, and then, having counted the cost, like reasonable men, took up their stand upon the side of God. — Western Recorder.
By G. H. Morrison
The fact is, that in all the highest courage there is the element of quiet calculation. The truest heroism always counts the cost. The bravery of passions is not a shining virtue. I think that any ordinary man could storm a rampart, if he were a soldier. They tell us there is a wild forgetfulness of self in that last rush that would fire the blood and thrill the most timid. The test of courage is the long night march, under the fire of invisible guns; it is the sentry duty in the darkness, when the shadows and silence might shatter the strongest nerve; I think that the man that deliberately faces that, who goes through it quietly because it is his duty is just as worthy of the Victoria Cross as the man who has won it in some more splendid moment.
Do not forget that when Jesus says, "Count the Cost," he is really sounding the note of the heroic. He does not want any one on false pretenses. He will not issue any lying prospectus. He comes to you and says, You are a thinking man, with powers that will take eternity to ripen, look life in the face. Look death in the face. Sum it all up, measure the value of things. And if you do that quietly and earnestly, with sincere prayer to God to enlighten you, my claims, Christ means, shall tower above all others.
I have been struck too, in studying the Scriptures, to note how the great men there learned how to count the cost. They were not suddenly dragged into the service. There was no unthinking and unreasoning excitement. God gave to every one of them a time of silence before their high endeavor. It was as if He had laid down His hand upon them and said, "My child, go apart for a little, and count the cost." Moses was for forty days alone. Paul, touched by the finger of Lord whom he had persecuted, took counsel of no flesh, but departed into the loneliness of Arabia. Moses, Elijah, Paul — yes, even Simon Peter going out into the night — were learning the deep lesson of our parable.
And whenever I read of the temptations of Jesus and how the spirit of God drove him apart, and how Satan came and showed him all the kingdoms, and taught him a less costly way to sovereignty than by the sweat of Gethsemane and the water and the blood of Calvary — whenever I read that and recall how he stood fast, I feel that our Savior has counted the cost himself. We shall never understand the calm persistence of the glorious company of martyrs and of saints until we go back to that quiet hour at the beginning when they faced every difficulty, weighed every cross, forecast the future, looked at life whole, and then, having counted the cost, like reasonable men, took up their stand upon the side of God. — Western Recorder.
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