The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1893-02-14
CHRISTIAN ENpEAvoR.


Topic For the Weok beginning Feb. 10.
Comment by Rev. s. n. Doyle.
ToPIc.-H indrances. How TO meet them.
Neh. Nv. 8: Phil. Nv, ID.
In tho fourth chapter of Nehemiah we
have the opposition of the heather ma
tjves to the rebuilding of the walls of
Jerusalem, the way in which this oppo-
sition was met by the Jewish leaders and
the final result, in which Gods people
came off more than conqHerers, illustrat-
ing that they could do all things through
Him that strengthened them phil. iv,
18). Thus by example we see the char
scter of the hindrances of life and how
they may be successfully met. Notice:
I. The numbered. The hindered in the
illustration referred to were the children
of God who were attempting to rebuild
the walls of the city of their God. They
may represent tho hindered of all time.
SO long AZ men travel the downward
road purposciy or carelessly they do not
meet with much opposition. They arc
like the boat gliding down the stream.
But let them about faces" let them
head the boat up the stream; let them
TURN tiicil upOl ONll tioSOCldICo ttfAO
associations and face God&ard and
heavenward: let them deny allegiance to
satan and the world and declare loyalty to
God and Christ. and soon they find them
selves hindered in more ways than one.
The hindered in particular are those who
are striving to serve Christ, to upblild
His cause and kingdom within themselves
and in the world In general they may
be classified as all who are striving to
forsake evil for good.
2. The hinderers. In those who him
dered the work at Jerusalem we see a
good illustration of those who oppose
good and good people at oil times. Note
the characteristics of the hinderers as
here expressed. (a) They were unani-
nous They ''conspired all of them to-
gether." Though of different interests,
yet they were one when it comes to OPP
posing the work of Gods people. "Herod
and PLATE were that day made friends
together" How necessary, therefore,
that Gods people should present a solid
and united front. Cb) They were crafty.
They laid plans and plots which were
not to be revealed to the Israelites. Evil
always opposes good stealthily. 1t strikes
its blows in the dark and from behind
therefore the great need of dependence
upon God. who sees all things, consta'
watchfuiness, wisdom and shrewdness
in battling against wrong and evildoers
(c) They were determined. They were
ready to take life. for they said, 1--WE
will come and slay them" Opposers o.
good stop ut nothing. To them the ruiz
of character. of honor. of hopes, of life
itself. is as nothing, as they accomplish
their foul purposes.
3. The hindrances. The hindrances tx
Christian life or to even an honest mora
life are many and varied. They are
| within us and without us. They NEE
us at every turn of life. They can only
be successfully met by prayerfulness AM
watchfulness and in humble dependence
upon God and Christ to strengthen us.
Bible References-Gen. xiv, 90; Job
xii, 81; rs. |. Is; xci, Is; lisa. xiv, 40
Zech. xiii. 8, 0; Math. XVI. S7-il; Mari
xiii, 1897; Luke iv, LA: xi, So; JOIN
XIV, 8; Acts xii, Iii: Rom. v, SO; Gal
v, 2; Pet. iii. Z,