The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-06
LAST WORDS
TO DISCIPLES
concluded from Page 8. !

thcm on the contrary, they will be in full har.
mony. One has had grace patiently TO endure
affiction; another has had grace and strength to
triumph over some strong temptation; another is
bearing some bereavement like u loving child Of
God; another takes delight in visiting the sick,
or the aged, or those who dcspondent and
destitute; another tells some hayward one the
story of rcdccning love, and thanks God that
lie has been instrumental in saving a soul from
death, and in plucking q brand from the burn
ing; another takes delight in the work Of Chris
tian missions and he csteems it pleasure to
give OF his means according to his ability, for
the extension of Cnrists kingdom--and this all
Christians should do; another bears witness for
Christ by visiting the ilthcrless and widows, in
their atiiiction, and by taking deep practical
interest in homes for the fricndless-thus, in a
thousand ways. Christians may become Christ 5
witnesses There is not a Christian on carth who
may not be- and who should not be. wtn.ss
for Christ. Christ needs them, His church needs
them. They are needed at home, they needed
abroad, and they will continue 10 be needed
until the blessings of Christs gospel will reach
the uttermost part OF The earth.
MUST HAVE POWER.
.. But witnesses must have great power be.
fore they accomplish this result. So Christ
says. and lie tells us what is the secret as we'll
the source of this power: "Ic shall receive
power after that the Holy Ghost is upon
YOU" Hence it appears that mere conversion is
not enough TO make one an efficient witness for
Christ. The apostles converted when Christ
told them that they needed power, and that they
could not be Ills witnesses until they received
that power
A mere profession OF faith in Christ is not
enough to make one strong witness for Christ.
4 witness that will stand the test before the
worlds jury and under the severe cross-cSamin-
alton, must have some stronger power TO lean
upon than a mere profession of his faith. In the
trial CT cause, the character OF the witness is
not always fully cxemplifed in his dircct.eXam.
nation. 1t is the crosseXamnation that tests
his character and his truhfulness. And it is even
with Christs witnesses. Some OF them can.
not stand the test Of even mild much less ot
rigid crosscXamination. Their manner Of life
contradicts their profession. They profess that
they know God, but in works they deny Him
Titus il I6) At times all looks fair. On the
Sabbath, and at the Lords table they act like
Christians. But at homc in business, in con-
versaton, in conduct, in fidelity to their rclig'
ious obligations-on these points many wit
ncsses will break down under cross-eXamination.
Hence it is well to emphasize the fact that Il
mere formal profession of faith in Jesus Christ
is not enough to make one an efficient witness
for Christ. We need power above and beyond
that. We need the power which Cmst'S apos-
ties needed, namely, the power of the Holy
Ghost.
Peter vowed allegiance to Christ, and declared
that he would die rather than deny Him. But
he did deny Him and forsook Him. But look at
Peter after he had received the Holy Ghost. See
him on the day of Pcntecost. There he was II
loyal and true witness, and it would be easier
to move n mountain from its base than TO in
duce him to deny his Lord and Master. SO James
and John vowed allegiance TO Christ, hut now
inconsistent they We're. and how destitute Of
Christ's spirit when they wanted TO cal! down ire
from heaven to destroy the samaritans. They
did not fully realize until they received the Holy
Ghost that Jesus came not to destroy mems lives,
but to save them.