The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-16
TOO MANY UNWILLING TO woRH
Rev. Or. Jordan's Sermon on Temp
tatiOns.

tatiOns.
The various temptations thrown around
the Lord while on earth and the way he
overcome them, were discussed by Rev.
John D. Jordan at the First Baptist
Church last night in sermon fun OF
thought and suggestion. The position was
that as the Lord had suffered being
tempted. He is. therefore, able to succor
those of earth who are tempted
That the point of the sermon might be
put more clearly, Rev. DR.. Jordan graphic
ally reviewed the three efforts made by
satan to lead the Lord away from the
purpose of His coming, by methods which
only the strongest resolution could resist.
After being led away into the wilderness
to be tempted, he said, the Lord resisted
in the same manner that men should repel
the influence of vice. Some were of opin-
ion they were wicked when tempted, but
the evil come, he said, in yielding to the
temptation.
Discussing the three temptations thrown
before the Lord, DR.. Jordan said they
were all Of a defying nature. Things which
satan wanted done were put in the way to
indicate an inability on the part of the
Lord, the contrary of which could only
be shown by yielding to the temptation.
The first, he said, was that where the
Lord was asked to turn stones into bread.
In order to accomplish his purpose the
evil one approached the Lord when he
was hungry, thinking, possibly, that its
pangs would prove an aid to him in full
filling his purpose. Satan knew the Lord
had power to perform the miracle, and
also that he had tasted forty days and
nights, which would be a strong incentive
to produce the food. There
would be no wrong in chang
ing the stone to bread, however, but the
evil would come in yielding 10 satan's
challenge in order that the appetite might
be satisfied. There are many men though.
he said, who would commit sin and did
il daily, Ia order TO satisfy their appe-
tites.
Jesus was next taken into tower, the
pinnacle OF the temple, and there told by
satan: IF thou be the son of God, cast
thyself down." 1t was written that the
angels of God would bod him up, and
there could be no harm from the fall.
What was wanted, however, was not an
evidence of the power of God, but a dis
play for no purpose 1t would not have
| behooved the Lord to make any such
poses and not to show the universal power
of the prince Of peace. The answer given
| satan was: Thou shalt not tempt the
Lord thy Cod" which was the manifest
and known object Of the challenges.
Dr. Jordan said the third was the great
est. because of its offering what Jesus
| came to the world to attain. Around
| through the mountain passes Jesus was
| taken 10 the highest pinnacle, from which
| a thousand hills and all kingdoms could
| be seen. As satan was then potentate OF
! 20 he al inc IN
| Lord If He would fall down and worship
! him. Such an allurement, in view of the
! fact it was an a sense the object of The
| Lord 8 coming upon earth, carried with
! 1t a force that 1t would scarcely seem pos
| sible 10 resist. But the third and last tina
| satan was met with the Scriptural com
mand, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
God and He alone serve" The Lord pre-
ferred to wait, he said. and accomplish
His mission by work and suffering
If men were willing to wait. he said
many would have accomplished the things
they once wanted, but which are now
past An Illustration was given of the bank
| employee who wanted to earn a sum Of
money, but allowed his cupidity to in
| Yeigle him into taking that which be.
| longed TO others This was followed by
publicity, which ruined the man and pos
| siby his family He said Jesus was wiIns
| to work, nOtWithstand. ng He was just en-
tering upon HIS ministry and had Ions
| labors yet to perform. He could have Sc
UP a temporal dominion, but His mission
was to establish spiritual kingdom TO
the redemption of men.
| There are too many men unwilling Il
work, sad De-. Jordan. They expect /,
earn a living by some easy method or II
any manner to avoid toll. He deprecate,
this and pointed to the unceasing effort
by Jesus while striving to establish Cod
| truth on earth.