Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-14

cary, who became the prophet Of a new
age In missions; David Livingston, who
discovered new continent, az Wen In the
realm Of spirit as In the region Of matter;
General Booth, who organized a Gideon's
band. the host OF simple believers unher-
these ave ,beir insniraso ma snstnnnrco
from that power OF God which manifests
Itself in evangelism.
The divine power in the messenger helps
to growth In holiness Of character, In
consciousness OF an increasing likeness to
the IDEAL Il have finished MY course; |
have fought the good fight; desire to de-
part now and be with Jesus, which is far
better"
The divine power in evangelism reveals
Itself not only In the messenger, but In
the message. The words Of the Gospel
preacher arc strong words crammed with
the potenCies Of the skies Heaven and
never pass away" Inhreathed with power
the message becomes the bread and water
Of life. Never man spake like this man"
was the ancient testimony. Thou hast
the words Of eternal life This f. why
the words Of Jesus must linger forever in
the minds and hearts Of men; they are true
words, ideal words, words Of life and love.
The spirit unseen catches up the accents
OF the Master and multplies them into
myriad voices proclaiming. release to the
the setting at liberty them who are bruised.
The power in those to whom the message
comes.
Promise of the Power.
one Of the striking features Of the Gospel
Is its glorious optimism. Can the dead
live the blind see, the deaf hear? Was
Jesus a dreaming enthusiast when He COM
manded His followers to preach the Gospel
OF self-sacrfce TO every creature whose
fundamental instinct Is selfShness. So
ciety in that day lay under the shadow of
great darkness Hate had become a
virtue injustice and tyranny the common
lot of ali but the few, despair spread It's
dark wing over every 1dE raor, mora no hetter
days; philosophy could but point forward
to a darkness so terrible that men refused
to think about it. Is 1t possible that Jesus
to stop and listen and obey? Yes, for they
knew the need Of the human heart, which
the gospel alone can meet Upon the chaos
OF the human spirit the spirit OF power
breathes and there is light. 49,
This Is now and always has been the
one need Of the church: power In evangel-
ism Nothing else matters, all else is sec
ondary; this Is the minister's business, and
the members business church without
possible FORM general and individual, is a
church that denies its right to be, II Us
a dead contradiction; II processes 10 De
one thing. II does another. IL becomes q
| stumbling block rather than beacon lgh!
| toward which the weary hearted shall
turn for help In spite OF It's Is wssi t hunts I6s
| bers of true Christian members, the MOD
| ern church is decadent not because OF
! these great possessions, but because II
| lacks this one thing-power in evangeHsm
! To obtain this power, we must ooey. NO
| in machineries, strivings, institutions, is
power to be found, but in obedience to
! he elemental laws Of the kingdom of God
| Christianity is a life. Life expresses itseli
! in energy. The life of God in the soul OF
! man makes that man Gods mouthpiece
! and when God speaks even though IT be
| through a man, His words have weight
| These are the days when we should humble
| ourselves, seek the upper chamber ahs
| wait until once more upon our chasteneo
| shirts shall fall the power to DO tht
! things which Christ commanded
| At the close OF Or. Eaton's talk, Prot
Towner sang Evening Bells which
proved so popular the first evening OF the
| convention