The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1892-11-29
MI. STERLING. KENTUCKY, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 1892

WORTH lnlBiiL De Dlesseu ana conquered
for Himself. And now there comes
to Israel the high privilege of taking
the land of Canaan for their God. But
they despised their opportunity.
They rebelled against their God.
They disregsrded his promises. They
cried There are giants in the land
and we are not able to possess it."
So the Lord turned them back again
to the wilderness where they are to
wander until a generation has passed
away, before they can enter upon
their promised habitation. Oh, Israel,
what opportunities were yours when
you stood ON the border land of
Canaan at Kadesh Barnea! But how
little were they esteemed
We have spoken thus far of Israeps
opportunity. What shall we say of
the church's opportunity? For those
who make up the church having been
washed in the blood of the Lamb are
no less the chosen people of God than
were the Israelites. The command
comes to them also, "Behold the Lord
thy God hath set the land before thee !;
go up and possess it." Or let us read
it as the reyised,version gives it, ego
| up and take possession" For it is
not so much that the church is to pos
sess the land, but it is to take posses
sion of the land for the Lord. This
command of our text comes to the
church double power, for years after
it was given to Israel, it was renewed
to the church by Him who purchased
it with his own blood. As he stood
on the Mount of Olives giving his
parting words to his disciples, he
said: "Go We therefore and disciple
all nations" not only in Judea and
Jerusalem and in Samaria, but unto
the uttermost parts of the earth. 1t
was but repetition of the command
given at Kadesh Barnea: 81 have set
the land before thee go up and take
possession" But how little heed
has been given to the command ali
these yearsl Instead of taking pos
session we have been only skirmishing
as ic were, along the borders of the
land. We have gained so little, where
we might have taken possession Of
the Whole. Not long since a young
man SAID to me !: "Why is it that
4 Christianity has not made more
progress 1t was begun 1900 y ears
ago. and the world is not conquered
for Christ yet" All, why is it, Chris.
tian? Does not your own heart give
the answer? Why is it, sinner? Car
you not give a reason? Why has
your heart not responded 10 the Low,
ing invitations of Him who poured
out his life blood for you? You are {
part of the world that is to be won fol-
} Christ. Who can better tell why you
have not been won than yourself?
Do we not know assuredly that one
reason is because of the unbelief anC
hardness ofmen's hearts! The words
} Of Christ which he spoke to the disbe
lieving Jews are still true, "Ye viii
: not come unto me that ye might have
: life" Is it not the case to-day as i
, was in the days of Chrisis life OF
f earth? He did not many might,
works in his own country, because o
/ their unbelief. So also as much ha
, not been accomplished by the churcl
! as might have been because of its un
!. belief Men do not follow Christ be
cause their hearts believe not on Hin
2 They think more of the possession G
: gold and silver than of the possessio
g of the world for Christ They harde
. their hearts continually against Hin
{ In the second place Christianity ha
not made greater progress becaus
Z the church has been so slow in takin
t advantage of its opportunity. Tn
+ same Christ who said, $50 and dis
: ciple all nations" also said, 40, 1 an
with you always" 1t is not as the
4 had to do the work alone. The wa
: is prepared and the leader goes before
{ The Lord himself leads to the con
: quest. But like Israel of old the
a stand in awe of the giants in the land
: and refuse to go up to possess it. An
e so we have been wandering in tn
f wilderness. Oh, that the Lord woul
open our eyes, as he did the eyes {
Q Elisha's servant, that we might sc
g the mighty hosts that are round abou
ready to assist us, and that we migt
n understand that they that be for us al
| Al Al. A 4 L.