Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-09-16

at once breaches Christ Jesus and Him
crucified. and 5000 men are converted.
The women are not mentioned. but If
they outnumbered the men in that
early day in their acceptance Of the
Gospel as they 90 to-day there must
have been about $1,000 women con-
verted, too. besides children. But
leaving the women out of the reckon
ing aud counting only the men what
a tremendous ingathering, Jesus fed
5000 men beside women and children.
but Peter. through the Holy Spirit. is
able TO feed 5000 men with the bread
OF life and win them for Christ and
eternity. Greater works. Then fol-
low the days OF mighty miracles which
far outnumbered those which Jesus
performed.
DUT what in our thought constitutes
- greater works? Do we consider
the miracles-the healing, the raising
OF the dead. the feeding of the multi
tudes, the nets filed with fishes-as
the greatest fruits Of Jesus ministry.
and must there be a larger realization
OF such miracles in the service and
ministry OF Jesus disciples to-day in
order that we may feel that Jesus
promise has been fulfilled? Is there
not tendency always TO associate
with the thought OF greater works the
healing of the sick, the giving sight 10
the blind. the raising of the dead? So
often do we hear the mournful regret
expressed that the disciples to-day
have not the gift of healing so that the
preaching of the Gospel might be at
tended by mighty works OF the Spirit
which would bear visible testimony
TO the power OF God. The greater
works has come almost TO be
| synonym for miracles, as though God
dealing with the physical was greater
IMAM God dealing with the spiritual AS
a rule am inclined 10 believe that the
longing and unrest for another day of
miracles such as ushered in the birth
OF the apostolic church is rather an
evidence of unbelief than Of faith. Ii
is that old weakness of the natural
man which desires to see. Seeing
Is believing" is the thought which un-
consciously sways the heart. The heal
ing of the sick, the raising of the dead,
what glorious and indisputable testi-
mony they would be to the world!
Thus we think and reason and almost
believe that God is short-sighted and
careless in not pouring out His gift
of healing upon the church to-day.
Greater works, or in other words,
miracles.
DUT are miracles greater works?
/ Il hid
was His heart heavy, why was He sad,
when the multitude had been healed at
Capernaum and the 5000 fed in the
wilderness? Was IL not because there
was not the greater work OF the crea-
ton OF new heart through faith in
Him? I'VE must be born again" was
Jesus message TO Nicodemus. and the
miracle of the new birth was greater
work than that of physical healing. or
bringing to life again the dead body.
even though the latter were mere
wonderful TO the natural eye OF man.
, That Jesus forgave the sins Of the man
sick OF the palsy before He raised him
UP to health and strength is sigIif-
cant. The greatest need OF that man
was not n healed body for this life.
although his case was so pitiable and
his need SO great. but il was a cleansed
and redeemed soul which would live
with God throughout the eternities. This
Jesus gave TO him first II was a
greater work. 1t is evident from
Jesus first words 10 the manson.
be OF good cheer; thy sins be forgiven
thee'-that the man was troubled
more by his sin-sick soul than he was
by his disease-racked body. Jesus saw
deeper than the physical. and because
the man himself realized his greater
need. Jesus al once met that need and
gave forgiveness and salvation. Then
came the healing as a secondary
work. that We may know that the Son
OF Man hath power on earth to- forgive
sins The miracles were proof Of His
Divinity. The continuation Of the
miracles through the early years OF
the church was for the purpose 81 link
, ing the Christ before the cross with
the risen and assembled Christ and &C.
tablishing the Divinely- ordered wav Of
salvation That which Jesus began to
do. His disciples continued TO more
gloriously and fully do after He had
assembled and the Holy Spirit had
ueS'ehueu upon lnen But greater
work than the speaking with tongues
was the raising from the deafness in
sin TO newness OF life in Christ Jesus
Of 5000 souls. a greater work than
the healing Of the lame man AZ the
Beautiful Gate was the healing of Z. 600
sin-sick souls which followed. a mira
ele might cause the world 10 pause and
wonder. but soul cIeansed in Jesus
blood and given life in Him fs able 10
set all Heaven 10 rejoicing. Think
on 81
A Nd in considering the greater
~ works which Jesus disciples are "a
do in fulfllmeslt Of His promise ,ye
- 80 IL.