Middletown transcript., 1899-09-02
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.

Topic For tine Week BEGINNING SepSs
3-Commemt by Rev. $. III. Doyle.
ToPIc.-Holding up the pastors hands. What
can we do to help our pastor?-Ex. xvii, l:ia. I
Every pastor needs the help Of his
people. His hands, like those of Moses.
become weary and heavy and need to
be held up by the Aarons and Hurs.
Every pastor deserves the help OF his
people. Duty demands of them that
they shall eupport him in all bis labors.
They have coyenanted with God and
with Him that they will hold up His
hands. And the wonder is that, in the
face of these solemn vows, SO many can.
often for the lightest reason. turn
against their pastors, and, instead OF
helping them, hinder them in every
conceivable way. Those who do SO in
cur the condemnation Of God, for He
has said, "Touch not Mine anointed
and do My prophets no HARM" The
first step In doing our duty toward our
pastor is to realize that we owe it to
God and to him to hold up his hands.
/. We can help our pastor by prayer.
The elevation Of Moses hand with the
rod in it was an appeal to God for aid
and must have been accompanied by
fervent prayer and have even symbol
ized prayer. When Aaron and Hur as
sisted Moses in holding up the rod,
they Joined with him in prayer. How
many pastors would be blessed and
helped in their arduous toll if constant
ly held up to God in prayer by their
peoplei 'sYou are always remembered
in our family prayers, said lady to
her pastor, and he,went from that home
having received benediction and an
uplift.
.. We can help our pastor by speak
ing well and never i'll Of him. Araon
helped Moses here, but how he hindered
him when, with Miriam, he spoke i'll
Of himi What we say Of our pastor has
q greater influence upon his life work
than we ever imagine. If people speak
well Of their pastor, they help them; it
iii, they hinder and harass them. Com
mendation is better than criticism.
Very often criticism Of the pastor is
thoughtless and meaningless. but it is
no less injurious in its effects
8. We can help our pastor by follow
ing his leadership. He is called and in
stalled to lead us, and yet, wonderful
to tell, in many cases he is no sooner
settled than the people want to lead
him rather than to be led by him. This
is inconsistent, dishonorable. It is also
un-Scriptural. The Bible demands Of
us that we shall obey those who have
authority over us In spiritual things
1t is also detrimental to the cause Of
Christ's church. Success demands lead
ers, and unless the leaders are followed
confusion, disorder. disaster, are the
inevitable result.
He had been her pastor for years.
But In all those years she had never
said word Of commendation or Of ap-
probation to him, but now he was go
ing to leave, and she came with many
expressions Of appreciation and regard.
Wellsand, good, sbut how much better
il the helpful words had been spoken in
the midst OF the years Of toll and labor.
It was like placing flowers upon the
grave Of one to whom we had never
spoken kind word in life. Yet how
many are like this Christian woman.
A kind word lie often like a soothing
balm to the wearied heart Of an earn
est, hard working pastor.
Bible Readings.-I Kings xviii. 81
%; / Chron. xvi, Fl, 90; Ps cv. IA,
is; ! Cor. iii, 10; xvi. is, 16; Eph. vi.
1920; Phil. ii. !, 2; ! Thess- v, 10, 13,
25; Tim. ', II, 49,; Heb X, "a, %;
xiii, 2, IL. IS; Jas j. 22; Rev. il 1920.