Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-11-23

they did not then possess God nor did
God possess them. They We're COM
Danions of Christ, but they did not
possess His spirit. But now they were
wholly possessed by the Spirit Of God,
and that was the first step toward the
solution of the problem before them.
And it is the first step to-day. You
and l can never help the lame man
until we not only possess God but are
possessed by Him.
Another element in the solution OF
the problem was that the two were IN
perfect accord. Six months before
Peter had forsaken Christ, While John
alone ran the gantlet in the terrlnc
blast of passion in the city or nate,
but Peter never again shirked MS
duty. John had been ambitious for
the supreme place among the apos'
ties, but now he had grown in grace
and lost the passion for prominence.
Friends. the same conditions are neces-
sary to-day in solving the problem or
the morally lame on the part OF the
Church of God as were manifested on
that day.
The love of prominence must 60,
whether it be Of individual or church'
or denomination. Passion must cease.
One of the reasons why the chlrch
of God is not omnipOtent is because
there is still this lust for prominence
ON the part of individuals, churches
and denominations, and instead OF self
abandon we are absolutely too sell
conscious, every one Of us. Again
tbey solved it in giving the power OF
lo S1n thn OF
Jesus Christ rise up and walk" The
communication of ideals will never
save men from moral lameness. ldeals
must live in personality. That IS the
difference between Christianity anu
everything else. 1t is the communlca-
ton of power. the touch OF God-the
touch of divine power in the heart.
Let us feel it this morning. I'm the
name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up
and walk" Let it touch upon your
weakness. It is here. Let it do for
YOU and me what it did for that lame
man.
It breaks the power Of cancelled sin,
And sets the prisoner free.
That is what Peter and John did.
Think of it! There was the lame man.
there was the critical public: there
was the memory of their own past
failures, and there was the power or
Christ. 1t conquered them all, anu
the man arose, and stood up. Not
only did he stand. but the solution OF
this problem included every other. he
can earn his own living now, ana
needs not assistance Every problem
of life Is bound I'D in the problem
of the lame man being Strengthened
and strengthened. II is smooth sail
ing after that. Lastly, the man pc
came a benefactor and praised God.
He inspired the faith of men. Before,
his very presence created pesslmlsm;
now It was faith and praise. The at
mosphcre of the man became factor
and m asset in the progress or the
| world. We are either contributors 10
or eyhaustcrs of the moral life of the
world. Which is it: Ny subject
gathers round these two points: FIRST
the lame man, and. second, the men
who through the instrumentallty OF
Jesus Christ cured him. We as
Christians stand in the apostle
place. Let us, under Christ, cure the
| lame. and ii we stand in the lame
| mans place Christ will make us
whole. May we, like Peter and John,
helm the lame man to praise his Goa
and inspire our fellow men for Chrlsts
| sake.