Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-12-10
CHRISTIAN ExpEAvoR.


Iepfe FER the Week B~gtaagpE Dee.
N 14-csmas~at ~ Rev. :. ". Doyle.
kTopic.-cur fell0wships-PA exxxia Ia
The word 'sbrethrenr Ia the One
EunCred and Thirty third Psalm re-
fers 10 the descendant Of a com
luou ancestry, but not only are
chose brethren who are bound together
hy physical ties. but also those who
gre bound together by spiritual ties.
JAIL the children Of God are brethren.
They have one Father. one faith. one
Bsyiour and elder brother and ole
eternal home toward which they are
an travelling Race. eoior. nationality.
% not enfs into the calculation. II
IRE have been born again and are Nv
fng spiritual lives. we are ali one in
Sesgs Christ, and there should be mani
Tested In cur lives the fellowship that
= consequent upon such unity.
l. The source OF Christian Fellowship
= spiritual Gods people are a splr-
feusI building The tie that binds them
fngetiser il spiritual one. A Chris
fisn is a living soul In vital contact
with the Lord Jesus Christ through the
power of the Holy Ghost The Chris
fian church consists Of all these per
sons bound together. The tie that
binds the people OF God together In
unity and In fellowship ~ not nation.
a or a social one, but spiritual tie.
Eniess We have the spirit Of Christ
and are bound together by the Holy
Ghost we do not Belong to the house
hold OF faith. are not one with the
people Of God and have no fellowship
with God and with His people. BY
personal acceptance Of Christ alone
can we come into this union with His
saints. and this should lead all outside
70 accept Hi
/. .. Christian fellowship Is beautiful
and attractive. Behold how good and
how pleasant II In for brethren to dwell
together In unity" This is specially
true Of Christian brethren. IL was
beautiful sight to see divided Israel as
q nation once more united: but even
more beautiful than this IL II to see
unity and fellowship among those who
are spiritually related. Nothing pre-
sents Christianity 30 aftractiveiy to the
NCTtD- W ptu the WBft0 EAU say. SPE
bow those Christians love one anoth-
x" Its people win be drawn to the
church: but when II must say. See
how those Christians rcnd one Anoth-
e. there Is no hope for conversions
A church In which the people dwell
together In loving union and fellowship
need scarcely say. Come" The peo-
PIE will come almost without invita-
uou. while a church rent with fac
lions and divisions can offer no induce
mcnts 10 those outside her borders
Let US stand. therefore. for fellowship
Let US be brethren In deed as well as
In name. Our own lives viii be there
by the happier. and we viii he enabled
the sooner TO win the world to Christ
3. Christian fellowship IN useful as
well as beautiful There the Lord
commanded the blessing. even life for.
eyermore." God blesscs Christian uni.
ty. The united church Is the special
object Of His favor and blessing. For
discurd and contention He has no place.
and this fact above everything else
should inspire His .aeorie 90 cultivate
unity and fellowship.
BIBLE READINGS
Ecci- Nv. ei2; John xviii. 20. 81: Acts
II. 4c4T: H. %. 30: Cal Il. 8. 10; Vi.
Ito; Eph- II. 1922: Phil 1. sc: Nv. Ia,
Thess. III. lilo: John 1. 81.