Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-10-25

! Just 1 ne same with the church.
A little thing at first may result in los
Of power in the entire church. a wron;
financial policy might do it. 4 spin. o
criticism might ACCOMPLISH II.
There Is an insldious disease whic.
/ s.owiy and secretly turns the vital organ,
! OF the body 10 bone. 1t begins by ossity
ing little fragments of tissue here ant
there. No medical skill can arrest its pro
gress. Nature IS perverted from her
healthy process of assimilating and nutri
iion to the creation in the system of moth
ing but bone. What should be lie TO mus
Gle and nerve and sirew and arteries
turns to solid and lifelcss bone. At length
the heart is reached and vital parts of il
become bone. and its beautiful work oil
pu.sation. bv which lie is sent in red
streams to the very tips of the fingers
ceases and death ensues. Such is the
moral induration which the sensibilities
of soul suffer when long Appealed to bv
the services of religion. 10 which it will
not give back throb OF responsive feel.
ing"
II the church is to be governed by the
Spirit. every ofice-hearer in the church
should be influenced hv the Holy Ghost.
Ministers should be filed. Paul gives an
illustration OF one phase of this truth:
Acts l3: 9-l2-"Thcn Saul. (who also Is
called Paul.. filed with the Holy Ghost.
set MS eyes on MIN. ana Sllu. " luil OF all
subtiity. and all mischief. thou child OF
the devil. thou enemy OF all righteousness.
wilt thou not cease to pervert the right
ways of the J.ords And now, behold. the
hand of the Lord is upon thee. and thou
shalt be blind. not seeing the sun for n
season. And immediately there fell on
him a mist and a darkness. and he went
about seeking some to lead him by the
hand. Then the deouty. when he saw
what was done. believed. being aston.
ished at the doctrine of the Lord"
The Holy Ghost only fills the man whose
desire is TO honor Christ. Philosophy.
poetry. art. sociology. ethics, are well
enough in their places, bIt their place, is
not in the pulpit. The Holy Ghost has
pledged Himself to witness only to the
story of Jesus and the resurrection. Paul
thought this whole thing out. and while
he was schoo.ed in all the learning of the
day. he said:
I'VE preach Christ crucified. unto the
Jews stumbling block. and unto the
Greeks foolishress. but unto them that
are called, Christ the power of God and
the wisdom of God"
Peter is another illustration: Acts 4: s.
Then Peter. filled with the Holy Ghost,
said unto them: Ye rulers of the people
and elders OF Israel" Acts IL: Is. l6-
And as | began to speak the Holy. Ghost
fell on them. as on us at the beginning
Then remembered the word OF the Lord
how that He said. John indeed baptized
with water. but We shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost"
/ do not know of any one in the New
Testament Scripture furnishing us a bet.
ter argument for the use of the word OF
God in preaching than Peter himself. Take
the sermon at Pentecost. If You will. 1t IS
simply a string nj texts of Scrinturc. Ii
YOU should ask. But is this all he said?'-
/ answer: The words OF Scripture are all
that TIE Holy Ghost thought worthy oi
record" Peters words would have passed
away with his own generation. The word
OF God abides forever
Stephen furnishes an illustration Of the
fact that to be filed with the Holy Ghost
does not always mean human success.
Acts 6: 5 to Sand the saying pleased
the whole multitude. and they chose Ste.
phen. a man full of faith and of the Holv
Ghost, and Philip. and Prochorus. and Nj.
canor, and Timon, and Parmenas. and Nj.
colas. proselyte of Antioch: whom they
PRAYED they laid their hands on them.
And the word of God increased. and the
number of the disciples multiplied in .Icru-
salem greatly and a great company OF the
priests were obedient to the faith. And
Stephen, full OF faith and power. did great
wonders and miracles among the people"
Acts Z: 55-"But he, being full of the
Holy Ghost. looked up steadfastlv into
heaven and saw the glory of God. and
Jesus standing on the right hand of
Cod
One might be filed with the Spirit. and
pass through the greatest disappointment
Of his life. for Stephen was just as truly
filed. although he was stoned to death. es
Peter. the preacher of Pentecost. God
great guns which are used in the defense
of our country are always tested before
thew leave the arsenal.
The position of the minister is an exalt-
ed one. /. Peter 1: l2-"Unto whom it
was revealed that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister the things
which are now reported unto you by them
that have preached the gospel unto you
with the Holy Ghost sent down from heav
en-. which things the angels desire to look
into
There is not an angel in the skies to-day
but who would leave his post of honor to
take your place and mine in the preaching
of the gospel. The position is divine
one: Acts 20: 2S-.Take heed. therefore.
unto yourselves. and to all the flock over
the which the HOLY Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church OF God which
He hath purchased with His own blood"
1t greatly dignifes ones work to know
that we are here to do just what jesus
would do il He were in our place. The
message of the man of God is inspired:
Matt 10: 2o-"For it is not We that speak,
eth in YOU" MseE Is: 10. li-.:And the
Gospel must first be published among all
nations. But when they shall lead YOU
and deliver you up. take no thought be-
forehand what We shall speak. neither dc
We premeditate, but whatsoever shall be
given you in that hour. that speak We: for
it Is not We that speak. but the Holy
Ghost" Luke u: II - For the Holy
Ghost shall teach you in the same hour
what We ought TO say
The Holy Ghost never encourages idle
ness. We are not teaching the lesson that
one need simply open his mouth and ey.
pect the Lord to fill it: but the ideal posi-.
ton is for everyone to be so filled with the
message all the time that if he were called
to speak any number OF times during the
day he would always be sure that he had
n message from God. Notice what the
Scriptures say: Rev /: l0-"1 was in the
Spirit on the Lords day and heard be.
hind me n great voice. as of a trumpet"
Rev. 4: 2-"And Immediately | was in the
Spirit; and. behold. n throne was set in
heaven, and one sat on the throne" II
one is saturated with His message. and j.
in the Spirit, there will be no question as
TO his power in the presentation of what
he has to say.
These conditions having resulted the re.
suits are guaranteed: Mark l6. l5-lS-
And He said unto them. Go We into ali
the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is bap-
tiled shall he saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned. And these SIGNS
shall follow them that believe: in Ny
name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues: they shall
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