The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-16

subject: The Creative Power in the
commands Of Christ" taking his tex.
from Matthew xii :I3--"Then said He TO
the man, Stretch forth thy hand And
he stretched il forth. and il was restored
Whole, ike as the other" The preacher
said:
The hand Of that man hung q linn.
aisless thsng At his side; il was withered.
mist, looking upon him, commanded,
stretch forth that hand Plainly the
man could not move that iifeiess limb; he
nad no power over il. Did Christ mock
nifnf 30, there was no power in the
man, but there was power in the Being
who commanded. Power to obey was
communicated 10 the man The hand
was slowly stretched out, the blood began
TO dow until in the very finger tits The
man tett there sas life and strength.
he condition OF that man IS an ex-
ample OF the condition by nature Of all
men IN relation 70 God A friend might
haVe held out . helping hand 10 him, but
ne could not grasp it. Though God is
near to help. tbs hands of our faith are
sithered; We cannot grasp them The
current OF no human life runs naturally
toward God Human nature is essentially
the same as when Jesus was on earth In
many things great has been the progress
during the centuries, in philosophy, in
morality; bit your morality is not religion
nor 10 philosophy faith. Notwithstand-
ing, however. this impotent condition OF
humanity God demands our Implicit love
and oeedience. Stretch forth the hand of
love and OF faith. He will not IN mercy
TO Us excuse our condition. We will not
say that lie Is moeking US By requiring
what We are by nature unable TO perform:
tnere IL another explanation. The COM
mand IS rather proof that power TO do
n a
connection with the effort which We make
70 obey that command.
10 make this truth plain let Us note,
nrst, thai commandment Is evidence
that all things have been provided to make
obedience possible. When the sailor calls
Cast on. steam Is up. the engine is ready
20 move. bis command is evidence that
everything IS made ready for the voyage.
When the soldier standing by the cannon
says Fire. that's evidence that the gun Is
sighted and charged, that everything is
ready for the fight of that hitherto dead,
inert iron mass. When Christ speaks
TO the soul dead In trespasses and sins
believe and obey there is evidence that
lie had prepared the soul to do what with
out His power IL could not accomplish.
"God has never commanded without
giving assurances of His power TO help.
Before the law of Sinai was given God dis
played His power in opening the Red sea,
and before the law was proclaimed He
assured His people of His presence and
power to aid them. Before Jesus began to
teach he displayed His power in turning
water into wine. Every epistle written 10
the church began with an assurance of
Gods loving desire for HIS people. God
reveals His very self before He commands.
But again, the command Is evidence that
power TO obey is actually bestowed-is in
volyed in the commandment Itself
1--WE know the effect of hearty word
upon the apparently drowning or the de-
spondent man. The will OF another in
vades the mind and arouses unused ener-
gies. The will of Christ invades the soul
when men hear His voice, but the will
does not arouse unused energies; il i'm
parts new energies. Christ came into the
world, with Him new life entered. He
spake as one having authority. Where
the commandment of Jesus is heard there
Is Jesus himself ready 10 give lie and inn
part strength.
III. then. \ command Is evidence that
power 10 obey Is prepared and impaired,
what remains for Us to dot Stretch fdfTh
the hand Of effort. God comes 10 you In
this very message. Believe on Him. The
fAintest desire after Him Is proof today,
that lie speaks Is proof further that He
waits TO give Himself in the fullness Of His
poweFp