El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-05
BAPTIST CHURCH.
make This Valley Full of bitches. ;

Rev w. o. MiIlican preached in
the Fir.s Baptist church yesterday
morning from the text: Inquire of
the Lord. Make this valley full
Of ditohe+." II Kings BILLIE. The
3olowin Is part OF the sermon:
Ahab WAS one of the most powerful
but meanest kings of the ten tribes.
During his life the Moabites paid q
very heavy tribute to Israel. But At
his death they refused longer to pay
the tribute. This meant war with Is
rael. But Jehorum, the young. king
of Israel, wicked like his father, though
not so wicked, was afraid to go against
the Moabite King alone. So he went
to Jehosaphat, king OF Juda, the man
he had wronged, for help. Now note
the man in the good king OF Juda.
but Jehosaphat will rot Withhold his
help. So together, taking with them
the Edomite king, they go against the
Hoabites.
Passing near the same territory
where their fathers on the journey
from Egypt sd met with the water
canine, they fnd again the water cour-
ses all dried up; and soon the army Is
in a peri.hing condition for water.
Ami now l want you 10 notice the DIFF
5erens charac of these two men.
Jeb Drum, then urgodly, lost all hope
and Was reauy to despair at once. He
said that it was Gods way; that he had
Just brought these kings out there to
destroy item But Jehosaphat, the
xodly, said not SOTO be sure the ST.
suation Is desperate, but God Is behind
the skies: God looks on the burhlng
sand: God can visit the thirsty land;
let u. Inquire of him. Hope thou In
God.
On nouiring through the prophet
God sent aswer, promising them album
dance OF wa .er and complete victory
over their enemies, but before this
blessing would be sent they must get
ready for il. MAKE this valley full of
ditc hes.'' When they ehaG complied
with the demand, water came from an
unseen source, the people drank and
were ready WHEN the enemy came and
Won q glorious victory.
Now, fed in this incident and our
texts two general thoughts; first, faith
and courage; second, obedient works.
Brethren, there come many times in
she life of individuals and churches
when we seem to be hedged in by in
surmountsbie difficulties; when it
seems that every fountain from which
the church or the soul needs to drink
has been dried up. And just here you
6nd the test of Christian character.
frst one to sound the note of despair.
But there are many fsint-hearted
Jehorums whose lives are not so ungod-
" Is his, but who have allowed them
selves while holding streneously to q
part Of the right to fall 80 grievOusly
into other wrongs so es to destroy their
eour age aad cause them to be constant
ly espalring OF the situation when
they really should be enquiring OF the
the o.her hand there are always some
Acr-hearted Jehosapbats who while
they can but see the peril refuse to
lsteu to the notes of despair, but are
ever ready to sound the note OF hope
and deliveranoe through the great ON
nipOtent.
o, what blessing such people have
been to many life and many church.
Here is poor soul who has resolved
over and over again not to sin again,
but they did. And now they have lost
shurch or community has lost confid-
ence in them. They are just ready to
plunge themselves into the very depth
Of sin and seek to drown their despair,
when some brave heart stands by and
with a warm pressure of the hands
says, go to God ms the matter, try
once more, hope in him." And many
the life that tries and is saved. Or
here is Q church in the very thrones of
encouragement. Dissens1on. mlsun-
derstandlng and strife have well-pigh
dried ND the fountains of refreshing.
Some like Jehorum are rising up from
within the ranks and crying out "all Is
lost. despair, Gespair!' Bat these
ones will not have it 80. They send Us
On our knees iuquiring Of God it there
be not some way By which the thirsty
church and souls may have their thirst
Stacked again; come way out of the diff
iculties: some way into beautiful sue
cess and golden victory. . Lord, give
as more men and women like these.
But it is not enough simply to hope
in God and look for better days. Be-
fore these people got water they had to
get ready for it. make this valley
full of bitches " God moves a long ma
tUrsl lines wherever possible and prac-
teal. He might have scaused water
spout to come on the camp, or bub-
bling spring to burst up at the fest of
each beast and man, but he sought to
enlist the cooperation of men. see no
reason to believe that God will do for
DIR. Henson tells of man who lived
many months by faith, but, says the doc
sor, "we must not forget that his wife
kept boarding house" Some senti-
m mt Il CHRISTIAN may feed a sluggard,
but God will not Go 1t until he goes to
work. she that will:not work, neith-
er les him eat"
This is why many prayers are not
answered that are prayed for the sal
walton of souls and the success of the
eh orch. w e fail to recall the fact that
God has taken US into coopera ton with
him and to at we must do our part In
talking last week with persons who are
take it, for the church and
the unssve6 Z asked one' Did you invite
your peiGhb Dor to attend church last
"Well resliy."was the re-
ply,'I did not think 10 do that"
And yet the same good person told me
that she rad talked so long to this
same neighbor on Sunday morning