Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-17
ReliaioMs department.
POWER FOR SERVICE.

The gift of the Holy Spirit for
service is distinct and separate en-
tirely from conversion. The minis
tiers will bear me out when l state
that nine-tenths of the church mem
bers cannot perform any work be-
cause they are not qualified. Indeed
SO true is this, that their pastors will
not allow them to talk with anxious
souls for fear of their doing more
harm than good. Some have been
members of the church for more than
twenty years, and yet they do more
to retard the cause of Christ than
anything 1 know of. We have no
use for this blessing. to knock for it
and search and find out why it does
not come. II we regard iniquity in
our hearts, If we have some hidden
sin, God is not going to give it to
US; and if we don't get it, it is as
well to stop short and ask the ques-
ton why He does not give it. 1t is
not because God is not. willing or able
not because He does not want to
give it, for we all know that He is
always ready to impart it, but be-
cause there is something wrong with
us. We are not as san empty YES
sep-we are not ready to receive the
blessing, and it does not come.
How much do you suppose those
early Christians would have accom-
plished had they gone out preaching
before the power came? The rank
and file of this world needs reinforce
ment of the Holy Spirit just as much
as the preachers. A woman with
ten children to take care of needs it
just as much as anybody. A man
harrassed with business needs it {;
there is not a child on earth but
needs it. / would rather have one
drop of Gods power than all the
wisdom in the world one drop of
his power is worth all the wisdom
and intellectual strength of this
earth.
1 believe this gift for service is the
thing that the church has mislaid.
Hundreds and thousands come into
the church without even seeking this
power. A great many say they have
this blessing because they received
it ten years ago. They live on that,
and seem to forget there is such a
thing as losing it. How many men
can you remember who did mighty
work ten or fifteen years ago who
have none of the power now? Men
must have fresh supplies. We do
not get enough of Christ at once to
carry us through life. The mamma
came down fresh every day for the
Israelites and the reason we have
so many lean and starved Christians
is because they live on stale mama.
We are leaky vessels and lose the
power. Hundreds of men lose the
power without knowing it, and they
go on with their forms of preaching,
and are astonished at their want of
success. A minister came to me one
day and asked Chow can keep free
and not be trammelled when l at
tempt to preach? ?" eff" 1 replied,
ga man is filled with the Holy Ghost
he is not trammelled-he has perfect
freedom" When a man is filled
with God he don't care about public
opinion. He is simply mouthpiece
to deliver Gods message.
1 believe that for every work we
have to do for God we should gel
new power. The strength God gave
for Chicago won't do for Boston.
When man is thirsty he wants
water, and SO when Christians are
thirsty they want the Holy Spirit
above everything else. A man came
to me the other day and said his
pastor was troubled about something
and was in great distress.
"Well,' said l, ''let him alone
he is all right; he is thirsty and go
ing to get filled now"
Stephen was filled with the Holy
Ghost and no man could resist his
wisdom; Paul and Barnabas were
filled with the Holy Ghost and many
people were added to the church
the disciples were filled with thu
Holy Spirit and great multitudes be
lieved. There will be great multi
tudes believing everywhere if we ge
filled with the Holy Ghost. M.
friends, shall we seek this power
Let it be solemn question between
you and God. How many want thi
new power? Shall we just stand be
fore God and ask Him for this bless
ing? Let us send up one united pray
er that God will empty us of every
thing contrary to his will, and fill u
to-day with the Holy Ghost that W
may be like Barnabas and Stephen
and the holy Christians that lived il
days gone by Christian at Work.
BEGIN EARLY.-"EducatiO com
mences at the mothers knee an
every word spoken within heresay G
little children tends towards the fol
nation of character" EndeavC
always to talk to your children. The
hunger perpetually for new ideas