Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-23
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.


Topic For the Week Beginning Feb. 10.
Comment by Rev. S. II. DoyIa-
ToPIc.-Hindrances. How to meet them.
Neh. iv, Q; Phil. Nv. ID.
In the fourth chapter of Nehemiah we
have the opposition of the heather ma
lives to the rebuilding of the walls of
Jerusalem, the way in which this oppo-
Bition was met by the Jewish leaders and
The final result, in which Gods people
game off more than conquerers, illustrat-
Ing that they could do all things through
Him that strengthened them phil. iv,
iS). Thus by example we see the char
letter of the hindrances of life and how
They may be successfully met. Notice:
1. The hindered. 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 the hindered of all time.
So long as men travel the downward
road purposely or carelessly they do not
meet with much opposition. They are
like the boat gliding down the stream.
But let them "about face;" let them
head the boat up the stream; let them
turn their banks upon evil associates and
associations and face Godward 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 upbuild
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 all 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. (b) They were crafty.
They laid plans and plots which were
not to be revealed to the Israelites. Evil |
always opposes good stealthily. Itstrikes
its blows in the dark and from behind:
therefore the great need of Deepen lence
upon God, who sees all things, constant
watchfulness, 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 Stay them" Opposers of
good stop at nothing. To them the ruin
of character, of honor, of hopes, of life
itself, is as nothing, as they accomplish
their foul purposes.
3. The hindrances. The hindrances to
a Christian life or to even an honestmor
life are many and varied. They are
within US and without us. They meet
us at every turn of life. They can only
be successfully met by prayerfulness and
watchfulness and in humble dependence
upon God and Christ to strengthen us.
Bible Instrumentation. xiv, So; Job.
xxi, 81; Ps. |, IS; xci, 10; lisa. xiv, 49,
Zech. xiii, 8, o; Math. xvi, 37-4l; Mark
xiii, 1887; Luke iv, LA; xi, 90; John
xv, 5; Acts xii, Ill; Rom. V. SO; Gal.
V, 4; Pet. iii. Z.