The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-14
ELISHA AND FAITH
THE EXPONENT AND THE BELIEF
ARE TREATED BY REV. j. f.
STOUT.
STRENGTH OF INDIVIDUALS
PROPORTIONAL TO STRENGTH
OF THE INIMICAL FORCES
ABOUT THEM.
LESSON FROM THE PROPHETS
Drawn Before a Large Congregation
at the First Nj. f.. Church
Yesterday.

Elisha's life and work were discussed
by Rev. ]. F. Stout, in his morning
sermon at the First M. E. church
yesterday. His text was the prayer of
Elisha, IL Kings, vi, 1917: Lord
pray Thee open his eyes that he may
see And the Lord opened the eyes
of the young man; and he saw; and, be-
hold, the mountain was full of horses
and -chariots of fire round about Eli
sha."
He said: Elisha took UP the work where
his illustrious predecessor, Elijah, dropped
it, and not only organized the results OF that
wonderful life, making them of practical value,
but also laid the foundations of better things
for the future and gave to the world the
first system of religious education, out of
which has come so much of value to the race.
AS a man Of faith, he is a pattern for all
the ages
The great struggle of the world is over the
individual. He is the object of heavens
love and helFs hate In the present instance
a campaign is undertaken by the Syrian
hosts against Elisha alone. Under the in
spiration of God, the prophet had kept Israel
posted with reference to the plans of the
enemy. so that all their plots and purposes
were foiled. For this reason they desired to
capture him, so that they might plumber
Israel at their pleasure. The other struggle
is wider than this. Not only is select per-
son the object of attack, but every person.
Inc N1leS oil the Kingdom OF darkness are OIL
rected against not the community, but the
individual. Not only is this true, but the
agencies of the kingdom of God are directed
toward the individual, lest by any means he
be destroyed through the Wles of the wicked.
Jesus dies, not for the world, but for each
individual in the world, and offers his serv-
le to each struggling heart. The apostle
gives vivid picture of this struggle in this
familiar passage, in which he cnumerates the
ranks Of opponents that range themselves
with all their power agAnst every son Of
God. He says: I'VE wresSS not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the world rulers of this dark
ness, against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in heavenly Tor supernaD places
The struggle the individuals side seems
to be hopeless one. The morning light
veals a host surrounding the place of refuge;
there is no escape, every path is guarded,
and the hosts preparing to storm the
gates, and the cry of the servant to his mas
ter can be easily understood: "Alasl my
master, how shall we do?" This picture but
family suggests the situation of the individual
soul, surrounded by the hosts of evil Just
one look often makes the soul hopeless, and
he surrenders to the enemy without cast
OF his spear or thrust of his sword.
The larger hosts are on the side where they
seem not to be, the side of the seemingly
beleaguered individual. This is made sure
by the promises of God, and by human expe-
rience in complete harmony with It, In the
Old Testament these promises abound and
In the New the central revelation is the as
surance that God Is eternally with His chill
dren This truth is to be apprehended by
faith. and when so apprehended the individ-
ual is restful In the presence Of all dangers
to himself and the church. knowing that
they that be with US are more than they
that be with them Elisha needs no special
revelation, it's the servant who has not yet
come to know God who is in need. The secret
OF all Christian courage, by which the king
dom OF God is to be made triumphant has
Its inspiration in this restful faith
The opened eye sees the host that is pres
ent to help, that which to all others is un-
seen The servant of Elisha could only see
the surrounding host, his eyes were not
opened, hence the prayer Of the prophet. And
10! they are opened, and he beholds not merely
Syrian chariots and horses Of war, but the
whole mountain on which Dothan stood filled
with horses and chariots Of fire round about
Elisha. He saw no dream, but the real rela-
ton the prophet had always with God This
Is the revelation of eternal truth for
the angelry of the Lord encampeth round
about them that fear Him..