The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1893-01-10
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Ioplr hoT the WoeN beginning daus 10
Comment BY Rev. s. II. Doyle.
ToPfC.--StrcnRth for Gods work. How 70
obtain II and how to USE Hag. u, 4; Col /, s-ll.
All kind of work requires strength.
He wl.o would do physical labor must
have strong arms and strong constitu-
ton. The man who would successfully
engage in mental pursuits must possess
power and strength Of mind just so he
who would Go Gods work or be success
full in the spiritual life must have suffi-
cient spiritual strength The secret of
success in all these lines is to know how
to obtain the power and then how to
use it. OF each of these. as related to
spiritual labor. we have an example in
the topical references.
1. The command to be strong Hag.
ii, A. BE strong, 0 Zerubbabel. saith the
Lord, and be strcsy q JOSHUA, and be
strong, all we people of tie land. saith
the Lord zcrubbabel was among those
who returned at Cirrus decree from
Babylon. His special work was the
rebuilding of the temple. This work had
been delayed for seven years perhaps un-
necessarily. had they been brave--by the
Samaritans. Hence now comes the com.
mand Of God through his prophet. say
ing. BE strong and work" They were
not to fear the enemy. but boldly and
fearlcssly to push the work of God along.
Gods work was not to be sacrificed for
fear of man. Often for the same cause
Gods work ceases or lags for time to-
day. It may be So in community. Sa-
tan and the world seem to have such O
hold on the people that Christians give
up hope and cease to labor. 1t may be
in u church. Men may oppose the extern
sion of Christ's kingdom. and Gods peo-
pie may become disheartened. 1t may
happen in the individual life. The sneers
and temptations and aliurements of the
world may be too much for us, and we
may have ceased to grow spiritually. To
all such comes Gods command. "Be
strong and work, for | am with you"
"Fear not. for. 10, am with you alway."
In discouragements and defeats make
God your strength and power and push
forward. for-you cannot FAIL
2. The end of the strength derived
from God. Col /. ., That you may be
strengthened unto all patience and long
suffering with joyfulness. Paul knew
from experience the patience and lcrg
suffering that We're needed to licc. Il
worthy Christian. Hence he prays that
the Colossians may derive strength from
God sufficient to make them patient and
long suffering even with ioyfulness.
Gods work needs. above all things. pa
tience and long suffering. Difficulties
will need to be met. 1t is not easy al
ways to do that which is right Dis
couragements will come, for it is nat
ural. neither for us nor our fellows,
to follow the path of Righteousness.
How often we despair of our
own progress and become heartily
weary of the hard heartedness of others.
Trials and Affections will also come upon
us. 1t is indeed meet. therefore, that we
should pray to God that he would give us
and others strength to go forward, even
in the midst of such discouragements;
that he will give us power to rejoice in
tribulation. to take joyfully the butfeting
and ridicule of the world, to rejoice that
we are counted worthy to suffer for his
name, to have joy as well as patience in
suffering. For this we must be strength
ened by Gods grace.
Bible References-Ps. xvii. 1; Xvii,
l-0: lisa. xii, 3; Joel, iii. l6; Matl. xviii,
10, 20: Rom. i. 1915; | Cor. tx. 1929; x,
13: ii Cor. xii. 0, 10; Eph. iii, 1919; iv,
Is; Phil. iv, 49, Tim. iv, 10; Heb. xi,
1924: ii Pet. ii, z.